...Kabir...

With the sun peaking brightly from the curtains I opened my eyes, I looked next to me where my wife lied cuddling next to me.I smiled at her pulling her closer. I placed the loose tresses behind her ear.
It was a beautiful moment when she instantly clutched my shirt in her palm.
All this while I could only replay Aryan's words from last night.

##flashback###

The most hurtful thing is to watch tears dripping down her eyes, and it's more hurtful when I myself is the reason behind it. I knew she was scared but I never even thought that even the threat of losing me would affect her so much. I wanted to pull her in my embrace and cuddle her when there was a knock at the door, Preet excused herself and walked to the washroom. I opened the door to find a smiling Aryan with a plate of food. I moved aside so that he could come in. I sat on the bed as he got comfortable besides me.

"How's she?" he asked and I just shook my head negatively.

"You know why is she so scared?" He asked and I looked up at him questionably.

"Right from her childhood she never received the love and time she deserved, yes she had the best of facilities made possible but mom and dad just couldn't give her what she is made for Love, not even me. Yes, I treated her like a Princess but there were still places I couldn't fill in for. But then you walked in her life, you protected her like a father, cared for her like a mother and loved her like an ideal lover. She found her world in you and the mere thought of you leaving, killed her." He explained.

"I am still not perfect for her!" I exclaimed as tears escaped my eyes.

"She never asked for perfection Kabir, she fell for your imperfections that made her perfect, your incompleteness that completed her. " he said getting up and walking out.

###flashback over###

I bent a little and kissed the mole above her lips.
She clutched my shirt tighter, biting her lips, turning redder every second a clear indication she was about to cry, and so she did.
Tears steered down her eyes with her eyes still close shut but I knew she was awake.

"Kitna royega mera baby?" (How much is my baby going to cry?) I asked her pulling her as close as possible.

"Mujhe kabhi chodhke mat jana Kabir, please." (Don't ever leave me Kabir, please) She begged.
By now I had successfully pulled her over me lying straight.
"Uh huh, kabhi nahi!" I accepted.
And she she finally smiled opening her blood shot eyes.
Suddenly it felt something struck her and she moved besides.

"Kabir, your wound!" She pointed out rolling off the bed.
She looked at the watch and rushed getting ready.
Within minutes she walked out of the washroom dressed in a simple dark and light blue suit.

She walked in front of the mirror and applied her eye kohl and lip balm. Combing her straight hair in a side braid.
Getting off the bed I stood behind her.

"What are you doing?", I asked her.
And she gave me a you can see look.

"How many times have I told you not to tie your hair?" I asked nuzzling in her neck. She gasped at that. It is amazing how she still reacts to my touch.

"This is your punishment Mr. Malhotra!" She said as she forwarded the vermilion box towards me.

"Punishment for what Mrs. Malhotra?" I asked back applying the vermilion simultaneously.

"For hiding things from me." She answered before encircling her arms around my neck. She bridged the gap between us coming closer. She traced my cheeks with her sleek fingers.

"Rest!" She said with tears lining her eyes.

"Not again yaar!" I replied moving behind.
She came closer again gripping my right arm lighter towards the wound.

She bent a little and kissed over the bandage.

"You've had heavy sedatives, don't stress yourself." She said.
For the look on her face I could give her everything and anything she would have asked for.

"Okay!" I accepted.

"Great." She said before freeing herself and running away downstairs.
I smiled at her childish antics resting back on my bed.

...Preet...

After forcefully making Kabir rest I stepped downstairs to help kaka with the break fast since whole of the family was here.
I descended downstairs and began my work.
I was almost done when I received a call from Kavya, I excused myself and asked the helpers to set the table walking out to calm her.
After a shit load of explaining and confirming that Kabir was fine Kavya was fine so I walked back to the living area where everyone except Kabir was already settled on the dinning table.

"This girl just doesn't listen." Meera maa complained looking at the variety on the table, she still hadn't noticed me so she kept on with her rant.

"She just returned last night, and all what happened, she will still wake up early for other's, I don't know what to do with her." She continued.

I tip toed moving behind her. I swiftly hugged her from behind kissing her cheek.
S

he smiled at that while Papa pulled me in a side hug laughing, everyone settled again on the dinning table as I served them.

"Where is Bhai?" Kashish asked.

"Resting!" I replied.

"Is he fine?" Aryan asked and I nodded.

"And you?" Papa asked and I nodded again smiling.

Everyone started their breakfast as I was discussing the menu for lunch with Kaka when Maa called me.
I walked back to the dinning area.
"Come on you also sit and have your breakfast."

"Uhm uh, I'll have it later Maa."

"Maa, bhai didn't have his breakfast yet." Kashish pointed and I looked down.

"So?" Papa asked.

"She won't have anything if Kabir hasn't!" Aryan answered with a feeling of pride in his eyes making me.blush.
Papa shook his head making me sit on the chair next to him.

"Princess, I know you love him, but your health is equally important, look at yourself, you look so fragile with all the events from yesterday. I know it was dreadful, but you got to stop blaming yourself for it." He explained calming my inner turmoil.
I hugged him immediately.
Breaking the hug he forwarded a morsel of food towards my mouth.
"Good, now have something." He said.

I looked down shaking my head negatively making him chuckle shaking his head in disbelief Letting the matter pass.

After sometime everyone was in the living area chatting when I heard my name being called.
I instantly got up moving upstairs.
I entered the room only to find him tossing and turning on the bed. I silently went towards him taking a seat, instantly he turned keeping his head on my laps encircling my snuggling against me.
I caressed the nape of his neck, silence capturing us around but I panicked once I felt something wet against my stomach.
I pulled apart making him sit straight. All the while he tried avoiding my gaze. Cupping his face I made him look at me.

"Is it paining?" I asked calmly and he nodded negatively.

"Thinking about Namitha?" I asked again and he nodded negatively again.

"Then?"

"Yesterday when she told me she could have harmed you," he began but couldn't complete the sentence because of the lump in his throat. His eyes displaying badly scared he was. Before I could answer we were intervened by a knock at the door, I opened the door as Kabir sat in a respectable posture, meera maa entered the room along with Anya.
Kabir looked at Anya quizzed while Meera maa placed the breakfast tray before him smiling. Before I could be stopped I descended back downstairs.

....Kabir....
I looked up at Maa confused as Preet moved out of the room. Maa smiled as Anya took a seat next to redress my wound.
"Do you seriously think she can see you in pain?" Anya answered my unasked question. I still kept looking towards the door outside where I knew she was standing.

"She loves you more than anything!" Maa pointed out before looking towards the door too.

"Maa, call her!" I spoke stopping Anya as she smiled to the fullest.
Within minutes Maa was back with a sulking Preet.
She looked at me giving a narrow eyed look. Sensing the situation maa and Anya decided to move out. Before going maa said.
"Make sure she eats with you!"

"Why? I asked back and she gave me a you should know look.

I looked back at Preet who was looking down.

I made her sit next to me opening my button up, handing over the first aid box to her.
She gave me a sulken look but my next words changed it.

"You promised to be with me through my pain!" I said.
She smiled and began her work.
The moment she opened the bandage fully, she took a deep breath to avoid crying. After completing it she kissed the bandage making me smile.
Later I pulled her closer feeding her.

....Next Evening.....

....Preet....

I was looking after the dinner with Maa helping me.
I was busy cooking when clad in well ironed grey suit Mr. Kabir Malhotra stepped down with his tie in one hand and the phone in the other talking to someone. I slapped the knife on the platform in annoyance at which I had all the undivided attention from everyone, be it maa besides me or papa and Kashish in the living area or my very busy husband.
He excused himself hanging up the call.

"Kabir!" I called him.

"Bolo Kabir ki Jaan." He said making my cheeks flush.

"Where do you think are you going?" I asked wiping my hands coming out to the living area.

"Office, have an important meeting." He replied handing me the tie.

"Oh really?" I asked faking excitement.

"Yeah." He replied in utter confusion.

"Great then you aren't going." I answered throwing the tie back on him.
Papa started chuckling at this while Meera maa shook her head.

"I have to go!" He said again.

I took a seat on the chair nearby.

"No." I deadpanned.

"Preet!" He exclaimed moving towards Papa taking his blessings walking towards the door.

"Fine, go even I am going to Mumma's place then!" I shouted throwing my hands up.

"It's holi tomorrow Preet." He informed.

"That's the best part."

"How?"

"I don't like colour." I dead panned irritated moving towards my room.

He laughed at this but still left for his meeting.

"Urghhhh!!" I shouted tapping my foot.

If he was stubborn I was more than him, I actually did turn up to my maternal house. Yes I was angry with Kabir but that was our usual fight, my major reason was Holi, every year the younger clan of Malhotra's hosted a holi party and as per recent years Kabir Malhotra was well known for playing the nastiest Holi.

So coming over here was the safest idea.

I avoided all his calls the entire night irritating him. Maa was at our house with him so I was relieved.

Early next morning, I got dressed in a plain white suit pairing it with bright red dupatta and silver jhumkas.

I was lounging in my bedroom reading a novel when my mom barged in my room with the landline handset.
"Preet it's Kabir, he said he isn't keeping well and is asking for you to come home." My mom shouted from the door.

"Mom he's lying." I shouted back.

"Why will he lie?" Mom asked barging in my room.

"Because he has nothing good to do, that's his favourite pass time now a days to hide things from me or even better lie. And today he is lying because he wants to play holi with me." I elaborated irritated.

"Why will he lie for such a reason, you are no one special."

"Excuse me, I am his wife."

"And what if he is actually sick?"

There's a point what if he actually is sick?
No no no Preet you got to check, and another point is he is calling you to our house and Holi party is at Malhotra mansion.

Quickly deciding to go check on him, I ran downstairs and asked my driver to drive back home.
I hurriedly entered my house calling for him.

"Kabir?" I called again checking in our bedroom.

Worried I ran downstairs asking them about Kabir, they informed me he was feeling weak and decided to rest in the guest room.

Cursing myself I ran towards the guest rooms, I couldn't find him in the first two so I finally opened the third one but strangely enough he wasn't there either.
"Kabir?" I called again moving backwards when suddenly my back collided with something making me turn around quickly.
He stood there behind me shirtless.
"Are you okay?" I asked cupping his face going to my tip toes to match his height.
He held me tightly from my waist me closer and smirking.
I instantly knew it was all his trap.
He kissed my forehead and wished me,
"Happy Holi Shortcake."

I pushed out of his grip.
"Holi huh?" I asked and he smirked.
I moved deadly close to him only to grip some of the colour kept behind him on the side table.

"Red is your favorite colour na?" I asked and he nodded positively.

I smudged the colour all over his face.
Taking the advantage of his shocked state, I called.
"Now happy holi "
Before he could catch me I ran outside unfortunately to the back side.
I ran towards the pool with him hot on his heels behind me.
His leg slipped and he fell into the water.
As he resurfaced I started laughing.
I knelt down to his level and teased, "Aww, tch tch tch."
A cunning smirk grew over his face and within minutes he pulled me with him.
I cursed him on resurfacing.
Luckily we were on the shallow side so both of us were on our feet.
He started moving closer to me cornering me and trapping me in between himself and the edge of the pool.
He smirked looking behind me I looked back only to find a plate of colors there.
I closed my eyes in annoyance, as I opened my eyes I found his hand covered fully with red colour.

"No Kabir, don't."

"Don't you dare touch me." I warned him.

He looked at me and then moved closer to me, instead of applying the colour on my face he applied it on his own cheeks.
I looked up at him confused when he gripped my waist and then applied the colour from his cheeks to mine.
I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Tumne hi bola tha haat mat lagao! Happy Holi." He said shrugging.
He picked me up easily walking out of the pool and placed me on one of the beach chairs kept there.

__________________________________________________________________________________________
( a scene of resemblance from my one of all time favorite show Kaise yeh yaariyan. Hope no one has any issue as such.)
Super Duper Late, I know but was caught up with a million things.
I had my baby's Birthday,
My grandmother's operation and many many more.
Soo sorrryyy and for the people who were worried about me thank you so much....