I fell straight into the water—
and the next second, Kabir burst out laughing.
Loudly.
I made a face immediately, completely annoyed.
"Someone said she's young and knows how to balance…" he teased.
I stood up, glaring at him—
and slipped again
"Ahh—!"
I fell right back, because my feet were covered in mud.
Kabir laughed even more. "Looks like you do need this 'old man' after all."
He stepped closer and extended his hand. "Come on, get up."
Still pouting, I grabbed his hand and stood up.
He crouched down in front of me, and without saying anything, started washing the mud off my feet with water from the pond.
I froze.
Such a powerful man… and not even a hint of ego.
Just quietly helping.
For a moment, I couldn't even say anything.
Then he stood up—
but suddenly his gaze stopped somewhere.
He looked away almost immediately and handed me the towel he was wearing.
I followed his gaze for a second…
and realized.
My white clothes were completely soaked—almost transparent.
My scarlet bra was clearly visible!
My breath caught.
Embarrassment hit me instantly.
I quickly took the towel and wrapped it around myself, covering up as fast as I could.
A strange awkwardness settled between us.
Neither of us spoke.
As I tried to walk ahead—
a sharp pain shot through my foot.
"Ahh—!"
I stumbled.
Kabir caught me immediately. "What happened?"
"I think… I twisted it when I fell," I said, wincing.
Without another word—
he lifted me into his arms.
My heart started racing uncontrollably.
His bare skin brushed against mine, sending a strange, unfamiliar feeling through me—something I couldn't explain.
He didn't say anything.
He just held me securely… and walked back inside the farmhouse.
He carried me inside and gently made me sit on the bed.
Before I could say anything, he crouched down and held my foot, examining it carefully.
"Don't touch!" I snapped instantly. "You'll make it worse… you don't even know—"
"Can you stay quiet for a second?" he cut me off, calm but firm.
I frowned, but before I could argue—
he held my foot properly and gave it a sudden twist.
"Ahh—! Are you crazy?!" I screamed, jerking back.
He didn't react.
"Now try moving it," he said.
Still annoyed, I slowly moved my foot—
…and paused.
The pain was gone.
I looked at him, surprised.
He stood up casually. "See?"
Then, with a slight smirk, he added, "I'm 'old'… that's why I have experience."
I glared at him again—
A shiver ran through me.
I was trembling badly from the cold.
Kabir noticed immediately. "Wait… let me see if there's something you can wear."
He walked to an old drawer nearby, opened it, and after searching for a moment, pulled out a loose kurta and a pair of shorts.
"Wear this."
I looked at it and made a face. "Are you serious? I'll look like a clown in this."
"Either wear it," he said flatly, "or freeze."
I took it from him reluctantly, still pouting.
"I'll step outside. Change," he added.
"No—wait," I said quickly.
He paused.
"It's not safe outside… just stay. Turn around, I'll manage."
He looked at me for a second, then a faint smile appeared. "Fine."
"But don't even try to look back," I warned.
He smirked slightly. "I've already seen—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Realization hit both of us at the same time.
My face went completely red.
Obviously… that towel moment.
I looked down instantly, embarrassed, while he cleared his throat and quickly turned his back to me.
I hurried and changed.
"Hogaya…" I said softly.
He turned around—
and his gaze landed on me.
The kurta was too big. It slipped slightly off my shoulder, exposing part of my collarbone, and the length barely reached below my knees.
He didn't say anything.
He just looked.
For a moment too long.
I awkwardly fixed my hair, avoiding his eyes, feeling that same strange nervousness creep in again.
I looked at him awkwardly. "Why are you staring like that…?"
He didn't look away.
Instead, he said in a very intense tone, "For the first time… you were right."
I frowned, confused. "What?"
"That you'd look like a clown," he said—
and burst out laughing.
My expression changed instantly. "Don't act over-smart," I muttered, making a face.
I stepped forward—
and slipped again.
"Ah—!"
Before I could fall, Kabir caught me mid-air.
My hand landed on his chest. So soft and warm !
For a moment, everything went still.
He was looking straight at me
.
I quickly pulled myself back, creating distance. "Let me go…"
But before I could move away, he held my wrist again.
Then he placed his hand on my forehead.
His expression changed instantly.
"You have a fever."
"No… it's nothing. I'll be fine," I said quickly.
"Stay quiet," he said firmly. "Sit."
He went outside into the jungle and came back after a while with a bunch of dry wood. Without saying much, he arranged it and lit a small fire.
"Sit here," he said.
I quietly moved closer to the fire.
The warmth hit me instantly… and for the first time since everything happened, my body relaxed a little.
It felt… comforting.
Kabir brought an old blanket from somewhere and placed it around my shoulders. Then he sat beside me.
For a few seconds, there was silence.
Then I finally spoke.
"Kabir… what do you want?"
He glanced at me. "What kind of question is that?"
I looked straight into the fire. "I know you won't hurt me… but then why are you keeping me here like this? At least tell me the reason…"
"I've already told you everything," he replied coldly.
I shook my head slowly. "No… you're hiding something from me."
There was a pause.
My voice softened.
"Kabir… I worked really hard for that exam…"
My throat tightened.
"My father's dream…" I continued, my voice breaking slightly. "Whenever he used to take me out for ice cream near his office there was a hospital and doctor were roaming around the area… he'd say he wanted his daughter to become a doctor…"
I forced myself to continue, holding back tears.
"And then… he was gone."
Silence.
"I don't know what you're doing… and I know you won't explain either…" I said, my voice trembling now. "But please… just let me give that exam…"
I looked at him, my eyes filled with tears.
"After that… I'll do whatever you say. I'll follow every rule… I won't argue… just—please… let me give that exam…"
My voice broke completely.
Tears started falling uncontrollably.
Kabir didn't say anything.
He just sat there.
Quiet.
Unreadable.
Then slowly—
his hand came to rest on my head.
"Rest," he said softly.
That was it.
No answer.
No promise.
Nothing.
I wiped my tears, hurt rising inside me.
"You don't care about my pain… do you?" I said quietly.
He didn't reply.
I got up and walked to the bed, wrapping the blanket tighter around me.
I lay down, turning away from him.
But the tears didn't stop.
Slowly… quietly… I kept crying—
until exhaustion finally pulled me into sleep.
After that, I slowly opened my eyes the next morning.
For the first time in a long while… I had actually slept peacefully. A proper, deep sleep. No fear. No panic. Just silence.
A strange warmth was still around me.
I noticed an arm loosely wrapped around me.
It felt warm… safe… almost comforting.
For a moment, I just stared at it, confused.
I'm dreaming And again the same dreamm ahhh...!
I blinked slowly.
Curiosity took over.
I carefully turned my head, trying to see who it was.
And then I saw him.
Kabir...I whispered!
Why is he in my dreams ???
He was sleeping beside me.
For a moment, I just froze.
This wasn't anger.
Not control.
Not that cold, guarded version of him.
He looked… completely at peace.
His face had softened in sleep, the usual tension gone. His breathing was steady, calm. One of his arms was loosely around me, like it had stayed there without him even realizing it.
He was still half naked.. My body was glued with his bare skin which was intimidating ,i felt different kind of warmth under his arm !
It didn't feel threatening.
It felt protective.
I didn't move for a while.
Just watched him quietly, as if I was trying to understand how the same person could be so different in different moments.
Last night's pain, his silence, his anger… everything started replaying in my mind.
It felt so real ! Is it still a dream ???
I pinched myself and then realised - It's not dream !!!
I rewinded the last night and it hit me that i went to sleep alone !
Then why did he sleep with me???
I jolted awake the moment I felt it.
My mind didn't even think—it reacted.
I pushed him away quickly.
"Kabir—!"
He fell slightly back, instantly waking up, his eyes narrowing in confusion and pain.
"Are you out of your mind?" I snapped, stepping away from the bed. "How dare you—"
He stood up, holding his shoulder. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You were… sleeping next to me!" I shouted, panic rising. "How could you do that?"
His expression changed instantly—less confusion, more irritation now.
"Aaira, calm down and listen to me—"
"I don't want to listen!" I cut him off, my voice shaking. "What did you do to me? Did you —"
I stopped mid-sentence, suddenly panicking, checking myself quickly in fear.
My breath got uneven.
"Did you molest me? What did you do? Did you ra..p** me" I asked, voice breaking slightly.
Kabir's eyes hardened.
In one quick step, he came forward and grabbed my shoulder, pushing me lightly back against the wall—not aggressively, but enough to stop my spiral.
" CHUP EKDAM CHUP (Enough)," he said sharply. "Just stop for a second."
I froze.
His voice was firm, controlled—but not cruel.
" KYA LDKI HO TM ,AAIRA HAAN ??? ( What kind of girl you are ???)
You think I did something?" he continued, jaw tight. "You were crying last night and fell asleep. I stayed there because you were shaking because of cold !. That's it."
He exhaled sharply, clearly frustrated.
"And now you wake up and attack me like I'm some criminal?"
I stood still, breathing heavily.
"Tm kitta jldi conclusion pr aa jaati ho ??? Bina soche smjhe bss kaichii jaisi jubaan chlaani hai aur kucch nhi sunna hai"
( How early you come into conclusion without even considering whole incident?)
DO YOU THINK I'M A RAPIST??? IF I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING NA,I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT EARLIER !OK ???
SO APNE CHHOTE DIMAAG ME YE DAAL LO KI MJHE KOI SHAUK NHI HAII!
Kabir stepped back, running a hand through his hair.
"Think before you react," he said in a lower tone now. "Not everything is what your fear tells you."
Silence fell between us.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
And for the first time, I didn't know what to say.
I firmly said-..s..orr..yy kabir!
He was so Angry! He glared at me and said - I'm a rapist na ! Keep your sorry to yourself..
He tried to move his shoulder to grab the phone but then
AHHHH !HE SCREAMED
His shoulder get twisted because i pushed him down to the floor!
I tried to reach his shoulder but he stepped back and showed me his palm...Leave !!! Stay away or I'll do something bad to you na,in sarcasm !
I lowered my eyes ! This was the first he was disappointed!
I didn't say anything!
Then he called the cops and sent him to arrest kadir and their workers!
Then the ferrari has arrived! I sat in the car !
He told the worker to drop me at the haveli carefully!
I suddenly looked out of the window - And aap kabir??? ( You kabir)
He glared at me and said - No need to care !!!
Then the car started moving.
I sat quietly, staring out of the window… but my reflection kept pulling my eyes back to Kabir.
He wasn't looking at me.
His face was turned away, jaw tight, expression cold in that familiar way again—angry, distant.
And for the first time, it didn't feel comforting like before.
It felt heavy.
My chest tightened a little.
Now I have understood he's in compulsion and that's why he kept me here !
He was angry… and maybe he had every right to be.
He had saved me so many times—without hesitation, without expecting anything.
And I… I had only reacted with fear, doubt, and words that hurt him.
I lowered my gaze.
My fingers twisted nervously in my lap.
A strange guilt started building inside me, slow and uncomfortable.
I thought about everything again.
The jungle… the fights… the farmhouse… the way he carried me… the way he stayed beside me when I was scared.
And then… how I had pushed him away.
My throat felt tight.
I glanced at him again.
Still silent. Still distant.
This time, it didn't feel like his anger was the only thing in the car.
It felt like a distance had formed between us… because of me.
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