It was half past nine when Ananya finally managed to wind up all her backlog of work. The unprecedented events that shook their lives during the last few weeks had left Ananya totally distracted and disturbed. She was surprised how she had been ignoring so many important tasks for so long. Kabir had left the office with Tarini around seven only after completing the recording for his bulletin in advance.
Ananya quickly packed her stuff in her backpack and took a cab for home.A sigh escaped her lips as she rested her head against the seat. She was still thinking about the events of the morning that passed when the sudden ring of her phone made her snap back to reality. Ananya took the call seeing Tarini's name flash on the screen and started talking to Tarini on phone and alongside she was giving directions to the driver. After a few passing seconds she suddenly asked the driver to stop as Tarini told her that the tyre of Kabir's car had got punctured while they were returning from the hospital and now the two of them were stranded on road deprived of any help.
"Ananya Kabir ke haath mein bahut dard ho raha hai, I don't think who tyre change kar payega" Tarini told in an overtly stressed voice and winked at Kabir.
Ananya's expressions changed to that of concern as soon as she heard that Kabir was in pain.
"Tarini please Kabir ko zyaada hero mat bane dena...pata nahin kya samajhte hain apne aapko. I have the cab main abhi aa rahi hoon tum dono ko pick karne, just message me your location" Ananya told and disconnected the call.
"Thanks Tarini...you are such a savior" Kabir beamed.
"Bahut khush ho rahe ho na Mr. Kabir Sharma...pata hai kitna worried ho gayi thi Ananya tumhare dard ke bare mein sunkar. Bechari poora raasta ab chinta karegi"
"Tarini tum to aise kah rahi ho jaise maine ye sab usse upset karne ke liye hi kiya hai...ye sab main uske liye hi to kar raha hoon" Kabir stated ecstatically.
"You know Kabir I am so happy tum dono ko aise dekhke. God bless both of you" Tarini smiled and then took a cab for home.
After a few minutes Ananya arrived at the location Tarini had messaged her but to her surprise none of Kabir or Tarini could be seen anywhere. She felt amused as even the area didn't look as lonely as Tarini had described and rather the street had been beautifully adorned with lights up to a pathway that led to a lavish resort. Ananya walked upto the other end and started searching for Kabir and Tarini when she spotted Kabir's car in the valet parking of the resort with all its tires intact. She was getting really curious now. She tried calling both of them but their cells were switched off. Ananya was now sure that Kabir was up to something but much before she could fathom any of it, the head waitress of the resort walked upto her and greeted her with a bouquet of stunning carnations and oriental lilies. Ananya sighed as she glanced at their beauty and took in their scent. She loved them. There was a little card attached on the bouquet as well. Ananya quickly opened it and her face lit up as soon as she spotted the familiar artistic hand-writing.
"Sorry yr but agar jhooth na bolta to tumhare chehre pe abhi ye jo woh' wali smile hai who kaise ati ;-)" Ananya giggled as she read the card. A slight blush had already begun to form on her cheeks as she noticed the waitress hide a smirk. Now Ananya could no longer wait to know what Mr. Sharma was really upto.
"Ma'm this way please" Ananya was surprised as the courteous waitress guided her through the reception area down an aesthetically lit hallway that lead to an outdoor sitting. It was a lush lawn wherein there was a table for two over a slightly raised wooden pavement with icicle lights hung from the roof. The pillars were decorated with white roses and violet lavenders and there were dangling lanterns adorned with scented candles. Ananya took a deep breath trying to absorb the exquisiteness of the view. The soft music playing in background, the lingering aroma of delicate floral perfumes, and the soft rustling sound of a few stray twigs that cracked in the bonfire tickled at the fringes of her senses leaving her breathless.
A cool breeze swept past and made her shiver before she heard the sound of a few approaching footsteps.
She turned around to face Kabir.
"You can hug me. My girIfriend thinks I am hot" He smirked and spread his arms.
Ananya ran up to him and he engulfed her into a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face into his chest.
"Ms. KashyapI hope you are not going to beat me black and blue for scaring you off like that" his voice was hot and husky in her ear. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and leanedfurther into his embrace savoring the warmth of his chest against the softness of her bosoms.
"What makes you think your girlfriend is gonna leave you so easily Mr. Sharma" she said with a smug.
He smirked and keeping a finger under her chin lifted her face to make her look into his eyes. "And who told you I am gonna let you leave me either" he whispered and pulled her into a soft kiss closing the negligible gap between their warmed up bodies.Her lips tasted like coffee and smelt like perfume making his senses dance to the tunes of euphoria. "You are perfect, you know that right?" Kabir hissed against her lips, watching the flickering light from the candles bounce off her satiny skin. Ananya smiled and began kissing him again, exploring the dampness of his mouth. Shefelt his hands snake around her waist under her crop top while hers placed gently over his hips. It was their first real kiss after their reconciliation.
"So did you like it?" he asked after they broke from the kiss. She gently coiled her arms around his torso and placed a kiss on his chest. "I love it".
After a few seconds, their heated moment was interrupted by a waiter and then a bunch of waiters who kept on the table, Ananya's favorite Italian dishes, including lasagna, red sauce pasta, raviolis and pepper mushroom pizza. The last waiter kept a bottle of champagne along with two glasses and went. Ananya was stunned by Kabir's splendid arrangements. He pulled out the chair for her and made her comfortable. He then settled down in his chair and the two started having the food. Ananya served him some pasta and raviolis while he poured the champagne into the glasses. The conversation over food included almost everything, from new leads to Kabir's increasing intolerance for Khalid's sarcasm and even to Armaan's career plans or what gifts to buy for Rajveer bhaiya's birthday. After they finished eating their food, Kabir wanted to get the desserts, so Ananya ordered chocolate tiramisu for them, much assured he was going to love it.
A while later, after finishing their meals and clearing the bills, the two of them had settled on the grass below a dimly illuminated tree. Ananya rested her back against its trunk while Kabir lay down with his head in her lap. She quietly grazed her fingers in his hair and they stayed like that for a long moment, simply savoring the bliss of each other's company and proximity. She then took his hand in hers and planted a soft kiss on his knuckles. She was lightly stroking the back of his hand with her fingers, when the ring on his finger caught her attention. It was their engagement ring. Ananya's smile vanished suddenly as guilt took over. A drop of tear escaped the corner of her eye and fell on his hand making him startled. He quickly sat up and cupped her face.
"What's wrong Ananya?" there was a palpable concern dripping through his voice. She neither spoke nor looked up for a few seconds.
"Ananya please tell me, has someone said anything to you" Kabir was getting worried now.
She nodded her head in denial. "I am sorry Kabir" her voice was a faint tremble. She huffed as a few more tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Sorry? For what?"
"For leaving you alone like that" she gasped brushing her fingers on his ring. Kabir understood what she meant. Placing a soft hand below her cheek he made her look up, his intense gaze penetrating through her eyes.
"Who told you I was alone. You were there" he gently took her hand near his chest and placed it on his heart. "Can you hear that?"
Ananya let out a sob feeling the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest beneath her hand.
"You were there Ananya...you were always there. And just because you were hurt didn't mean you left me alone. Because if you did, you would never trust me again. You would never forgive me. Would you?"
Ananya didn't say a word and kept on staring at his face.
"Ananya I did a big mistake. I thought by hiding the truth I would be able to protect you. To keep you away from the shackles of the past. I was so stupid to not realize the pain it would cause you once you knew the truth. You had all the right to be angry on me"
"But still Kabir..."
"Shh.." he kept a finger on her lips.
"Whatever happened it was in the past Ananya. Remember tumne hi kaha tha, humara pyaar koi second chance nahin hai. Balki humein mila first chance hai life ko celelebrate karne ka. To phir karte hain na celebrate. Let's celebrate our re-union" Kabir took out her ring from his pocket and went on his knees.
"Let's get married Ananya...Ab main aur ek din bhi tumse alag nahin rah sakta" his words came as the sweetest melody to Ananya's ears. It wasn't that she hadn't thought about him giving back her engagement ring in the past 48 hours since they had been together. Rather she had once even thought of asking it from him. But the fact that he looked so darn adorable sitting on his knees with her ring in his hand didn't let her give in without a little bit of teasing. She stood up and crossed her arms on her chest leaving Kabir flabbergasted.
"What? Don't tell me now you don't like this ring anymore. Ananya ab agar maine ek aur ring khareedi na to main shaadi se pehle hi bankrupt ho jaunga" he grinned and Ananya gave him a look.
"Kabir don't you think jabse aap Business head bane ho apke sense of humor ko kuch ho gaya hai...itna useless joke!! Like really?" she rolled her eyes.
"Ananya!!! Main yahan tumhein propose kar raha hoon aur tum mere sense of humor mein kamiyan nikal rahi ho. Please yaar my knees are hurting now"
Ananya was totally enjoying his cute duck faces but gave in easily considering how much she had been dying to wear that ring on her finger.
"Theeek hai theek hai but ek shart par"
"Now what?"
"Yehi ki aage se aap kabhi aise mujhe pareshan nahin karenge. Kabhi mujhse jhooth bolkar mujhe aise darayenge nahin and specially about your health. Aur agar kiya na to phir main..."
"To phir tum mujhe couch pe aur Babyjee ke teddy ko bed pe sulaogi...yehi na"
Ananya giggled as Kabir said those words. "Jee haan and not just this..."
"Acha ab bas meri maa main aisa phir kuch nahin karunga please ab to ring pehen lo" Kabir pleaded making Ananya chuckle.
"Ok ab aap itna kah hi rahe hain to...aise kisi ka dil todna acha nahin lagta na" she winked leaving Kabir dumbfounded. He shook his head and took her fingers into his hand. Bringing her hand close to his face he slid the solitaire back on her ring finger and kissed it ever so softly.
"I love you" he confessed looking deep into her emerald eyes leaving a baby pink tint linger on her cheeks. Making him stand she nestled closer to him and took his lips into a soft momentary kiss. "I love you Kabir...I love you ever so much" ❤️
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