Chapter 15 Kabira

Re Kabira Maan Ja

Re Faqeera Yun Na Ja

Kaisa Tu Hai Nirmohi, Kaisa Harjaaiya?

Aaja tujhko pukaare teri parchhaaiyan.

(Hindi, Song- Kabira)

O Kabira, heed my words

O saint of my heart, know my truth

How can you be so loveless, and so harsh?

Follow the echoes your shadows call you through

(Third person)

They say love always finds a way, no matter what-hurt, shattered, or wretched. We always end up with the person we belong with.

But what about those who completely got lost while finding their way? Standing on the road of regrets, completely drenched in darkness. It just takes one mistake to lose whatever you had before.

It's a poison that brings enjoyable pain; without pain, there's no point of love.

Love is the sweetest delusion a person can feel. It's a gift to have someone who lets you break them twice but still stands by your side.

Fresh henna designs adorned the bride's hands, while the courtyard was adorned with colorful drapes, flowers, and various kinds of sweets. Children played and ran around, their faces beaming with smiles. Everyone was happy.

She was sitting quietly on the wooden swing, watching everyone while the artist was making patterns on her hand. "Can you tell me the name of the groom, ma'am?" she began to reply but was cut short by Kabir.

"Kabir, it's just Kabir for you now" he said with an emotionless expression and left. She had grown accustomed to hearing his cold words over the years.

It had been years, yet he was still angry with her.

"Huh, still as harsh as before," she heard her favorite voice from behind. She gave him some space to sit beside her. The Hena artist left after completing the work on her hands.

"I talked with him, I tried to convince him, but I think it was a waste of time," Cade told her, his eyes focused on her Hena.

"How long are you going to pretend you are happy with this?" He asked, helping her to drink water. 'How long?' she thought to herself.

"As long as Kabir falls in love with me again," there was a smile of sadness on her lips, it ached Cade's heart for some reason.

"I'm sorry, I failed you, Pia," said Cade, picking up the bowl of kheer. Priya smiled hearing his words; he is still blaming himself for her fault. Everyone said he has changed, but he is still the same Cade she met as a child.

"Are you regretting running away?" she asked Cade as he nodded in agreement. "I can't see you struggling because of me, I can't believe Kabir can be this heartless," said Cade, his eyes held sorrow "I messed us up, didn't I?" he asked.

Priya knows too; it was Cade who ran away from the problem, not her. She can't refuse this, but she shouldn't have fallen for him in the first place, knowing Kabir's feelings for her. But you can't change the past now; you have to learn to live with the grief of your mistakes.

"It was always Kabir for me, and it's always going to be. I don't think I can love someone else other than him, Cade. Please stop blaming yourself now; everything is already over," said Priya, staring at the fountain.

"That's what I tried to tell him, everything's over now, everything," Cade sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "But Kabir, I don't know what got into him."

Priya closed her eyes, relaxing herself on the swing. "You know, Cade, One thousand six hundred eighty-four days ago, well who is counting?" she chuckled and continued.

"When Kabir went to California without telling me, I used to sit here and wait. On late summer nights, harsh winters, and heavy rain, none of them bothered me as much as his absence did. Every single day, I told my heart that he would come back, someday for sure my Kabir would come back," she reminisced, her voice carrying a mix of longing and acceptance.

She looked up and smiled at Cade. "Now, even if he doesn't talk to me, I can watch him peacefully from a distance. It's enough for my poor heart."

She was lost on the road of regret, waiting to be finally found by her Kabir. For her, those five years without her Kabir felt like five hundred decades. She cried while falling at the feet of his Krishna, pleading him to bring her Kabir back, just so she could apologize.

Seeing his name on the Henna was reassuring, not now, but maybe someday he would forgive her. Maybe someday, just like he came back, she would wait for that someday.

"And what's with you, Cade?" asked Priya, pointing her eyes at Athalia, who was standing by the fountain with Theiona playing with its water, their giggles floating on the air. Cade's blue eyes shifted from the ground to his lady, and his lips curved into a smile, showing so much affection and tenderness on his face.

It was the same look she wanted Kabir to have for her, filled with so much love. "She is my complicated secret," he said, chuckling, his smile growing bigger with every action of Athalia's.

"Your eyes just revealed that secret," said Priya.

"Look, my eyes still can't lie to you," replied Cade.

He fixed her falling hairs. "I'm sorry that I failed you as a lover, but I won't fail you again as a brother-in-law, I promise. If Kabir does something wrong, just give me a call. I swear I'll come back all the way from California just to kick his ass," he whispered, kissing her forehead, and finally, a tear escaped from her left eye.

"But I'm sure, no one can stay pissed off by waking up to a beautiful face like yours, especially Kabir. It's impossible for him," Cade flirted, gaining a laugh from Priya.

"I pray that our Kabira will listen to your plea, and I eat your kheer again," he grinned, showing her the empty bowl. "I knew your intentions were like that," Priya playfully hit his shoulder.

"Finally, my brother is getting married!" shouted Ronan, carrying a loudspeaker.

"Finally, that old man is getting married!" screamed Avani, holding the mic. In the distance, Kabir's mother sat holding her head

"Here they go again!"

"I should go before they ask me to be their DJ," Cade said, getting up, but it was too late. Avani handed him headphones and a DJ controller.

"A special dance for my useless old brother, Kabir!" Avani cheered, throwing her dupatta in the air. "Play all the Bollywood songs. No one can stop me today!"

. . . . . . . . . . .

"Kabir, at least once look at my henna. Please!" Priya followed him with soft steps.

"I'm not interested!" he growled, making her flinch.

"But look at the color, dadi said the darker the color, the more your husband loves you," she pleaded, stepping into his way.

"Then, I'm sorry to say, but my dadi is completely wrong this time," her fingers trembled under his gaze. How could his eyes be filled with this much hate, hate for her?

"Stupid! Idiot! Jerk! Befkuf! If you're Mr. Stubborn, then I'm Mrs. Stubborn too!" she whispered to herself once he left the room. "At least once, look at my mehndi, Mr. Rathore!" She chased after him in the hallway.

Kabir pushed her against the hallway wall, his hand above her and the other gripping her soft, chubby cheek. "I'm warning you for the last time, if you keep annoying me, you'll end up in bed begging!" he murmured with a scary face, leaning in to meet her eyes.

"That suits our wedding night, Mr. Now, look at my henna design," he groaned, hearing her reply. Kabir took a deep sigh, leaving her cheeks 'with whom he'd been kidding with.'

"Kabir!"

"Kabir!"

"Oh, my Kabira! How can you be so loveless and harsh?" she said, following him down to the garden.

There was everyone, sitting and enjoying their evening tea. Tonight, the sky was dressed in purple and blue, with stars twinkling like glitter. The gentle rustle of leaves and faint smell of flowers lingered in the air. Laughter and conversation flowed freely as they all recalled old memories.

Priya took a seat beside Kabir, passing him a doe-eyed look. "Finally, shall we decide whom to invite to the wedding?" announced Kabir's grandfather, to which he replied by rolling his eyes.

"Priya, are your uncle and aunt coming?" Kabir's mother asked, settling her tea cup.

"They say they'll come on the wedding day," she answered with a smile. At least they are coming.

"Why are they coming only for the wedding? They didn't even show up when your parents..." Mira Bua started to argue but was cut off by a scary glare from Kabir. She nervously chuckled, sipping her tea.

"What about the old fort in the countryside? It's on a large scale land. What are you going to do with it, Kabir?" his grandfather asked in concern, knowing that this marriage was happening partly because of that property.

"I think selling it would be best," Kavya Bua suggested, but all these business talks were out of Priya's mind. She laid her head on Kabir's shoulder and let out a small yawn. Kabir couldn't push her away because his mother and Choti Ma (Zaria) were watching them with adorable expressions, so instead, he squeezed her tightly against his chest.

"I have no plans to sell it. It was Dadu's dream to convert it into a hotel, so I'll go with that idea," Kabir explained, gaining a proud look from his Dadu.

"Huh, what about the rumors? And that place is quite rusty. It hasn't been opened for years," Mira chuckled with a smirk.

"I can't just sell that much land because of stereotypical rumors, Bua. That palace is the key to gaining wealth," Kabir's scary look sent a shiver down Mira's body. She had been trying to take hold of that fort since the day she stepped into the business world.

"And what about your business back in California? If you're going to stay here, then who'll handle that?" Kabir's eyes traveled to the corner of the couch, where Cade tried to leave his sight, but "Cade, my bro, since you're back now, I think you should take responsibilities instead of just stalking around," Athalia pulled Cade back to the couch again.

"Why should I?" Cade asked in protest, before Kabir could say anything. Lewis replied, "Because you are my son, and it's your work that Kabir has been handling since you ran away."

"You ran away? When? For how long?" Zaria asked, and Cade sighed in defeat. "Besides, Athalia and Nathan would help you too," Lewis completed, getting an 'I won't' glare from Athalia.

By the time they all were chatting, Priya was still sleeping against Kabir's chest, listening to his heartbeat. She was craving this warmth.

"I guess this is it. I'll leave after the day of Holi, and Avani wanted to come. She can," Avani smiled in excitement hearing Kabir's words.

Everyone gradually left for their rooms, but Priya was still sleeping, her hair falling on his shoulder. He didn't try to wake her up for some reason; he was unsure why he even smiled at her sleeping figure.

"Kabir," she mumbled in her sleep, "Don't leave me alone again."