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And please read author's note at the end, completely.
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She was in love with Bir.

That's it.

It was the last straw of her resistance which finally broke after seeing him with her favourite people.

Well, their favourite people.

The kids and Kabir together was a magical combination.

And she was glad to be able to feel a tiny part of it.

Mr. Omar coughed and that brought Zara out of her fantasy. She forgot that he was here.

Stupid her!

"Are you done gazing at him or shall I bring some chairs and snacks?" Mr. Omar teased her and Zara felt embarrassed at her open staring.

"Nothing like that, Uncle." Zara tried to cover but heard his laughter.

"You said that I remind you of your father. You also said that I can be your guardian. So answer my questions honestly daughter, without any fear." Mr Omar said.

"Do you love Kabir?" He asked and Zara felt stilled at her place.

It would have been so easy to lie, only if she didn't realise the truth few minutes ago. But now that she knew the truth that she indeed loves Kabir, how could she lie to this man, especially when he framed his question like that?

She looked into his eyes and said, "I do."

And he smiled knowingly.

"Do you want a future with him?" He asked again.

"I do." Zara said as automatically. The idea of having Bir in her future was so amazing that her eyes automatically shined.

"So, Dr. Zara Inayat Ali you want Dr. Kabir Shah as your husband?" He asked grinning and as if in a trance, the words came out of her mouth.

"I do." She said and then realised that she just confessed her feeling to the man who was so close to Kabir. No she can't take the risk of Kabir knowing, not yet.

She should be the one to confess at right time. Hopefully soon but he should not hear from others.

"Don't worry daughter, I won't do anything that will put you in a compromising situation." Mr. Omar said understanding her sudden apprehensions and Zara took a sigh of relief.

"With my age, these things come naturally, these looks that you are giving him; I have also given them to my wife. So, I know what was going on in your mind and hence I asked those questions. They are not for my entertainment but for your own good.

Now you know where your feelings are for him, and you have to take some steps regarding that. Whether you want to act on them or run away from them it's your choice." Mr. Omar advised her wisely.

"Shall we go inside now or do you need some minutes?" He asked and Zara smiled at him.

"Just few seconds, Uncle." Zara said and too deep breaths before entering the hall where he was.

Bir.

The man she loves.

She gazed him dreamily when he noticed her.

"Sunshine, come meet my friends." He invited her and offered his hands and Zara said hey to them.

"Guys this is Dr. Zara Inayat Ali, she will be checking you girls here whereas the boys are coming with me downstairs. Understood?" and they said yes.

Kabir and Mr. Omar walked downstairs while Zara started doing the routine check-up and talked to girls about different aspects of growing.

They left the orphanage after finishing the check-up and promising the kids to come back soon. Uncle Omar fondly kept his hand on her head and said, "I wish you get all the happiness in the world. You deserve it."

There was a silence in car and for once Zara wanted to start the conversation. She really wanted him to notice her.

She could at least try to get his attention, right? One step at a time.

But Kabir was silent, immersed in his thoughts and she didn't understand what happened. As they reached home and he opened his mouth; she understood what was going on his mind and her eyes watered once again.

***

"Sunshine, let's make dinner together. What say?" Kabir asked when they entered and Zara nodded smiling, after they reached home.

Anything to spend more time with him!

They prepared the dinner and were in coordination but didn't talk anything apart from food.

As Zara was setting the table, she noticed few papers on the table.

"Bir, your documents are here on the table. Are they important?" Zara asked and Kabir looked at her intently.

"Sunshine those aren't my documents. They are yours." He spoke and Zara's eyebrows frowned in confusion.

"These are the papers that you need to sign to file a police complaint against Arun." He spoke and Zara's eyes widened.

"But I don't want to file a complaint. I already told you." Zara said feeling anxious.

"Sunshine, we can't let that man roam around freely. He is crazy!" Kabir said feeling agitated.

"He won't come after me again. He is suspended and you scared him enough. I don't want to file any complain and drag this matter." Zara tried to explain but Kabir was not having any of it.

"Don't tell me you are one of those idiotic women who thinks that men like him change?" Kabir asked and Zara could hear the distaste in his tone.

"I don't want to drag this matter Bir. I don't want to file a complaint because it will involve me going to police stations so many times and facing that man again. He got his lesson." Zara tried to reason.

"Wow! You really are stupid. Just because of your laziness you will let him roam freely?" Kabir said in anger and Zara's heart broke at his words.

She was not being lazy.

"Bir, It's so easy for people to say that go and file complaint against the man that did something wrong. But how many of them would actually come and stand with her when she need to go to the police station so many times for that?

How many of them will come and support her when she will have to go for court trials which will be dragged for so many years? The system is hell and I don't want to involve myself in that, over something that is now over.

That man got his lesson and he won't come back for me again. You have beaten him enough to last for an entire lifetime. He got his punishment." Zara said and knew that her words might not be ideal but they were truth.

How many of the people actually like to go to police and court ? And doesn't court promote settling more often? The real intent of law is to punish the criminal and stop him from doing crime and Arun got what he deserved and she was sure that he won't come back.

He lost his job. He was beaten badly. He left. That was enough.

"Well done Dr. Zara Inayat Ali! Well done" Kabir said and clapped and Zara flinched not at his tone but because he called her real name. He was really angry.

"An educated modern girl like you is saying these words, what should I even expect from those who don't have enough knowledge about law and order? You know many women in India are fighting for those laws that you so easily discarded because you are so stupid and weak to stand up for your own self!" Kabir said and Zara's eyes watered with shame and also his words.

She was weak but she was human. Her feelings also get hurt, when he speaks to her like this.

She knew that he might not agree with her thought process but at least respect them. That is the sad reality. How many of the girls outside will go to police to file complain for stuff like this when they are sure that it's over?

And she wasn't being lazy or stupid; she just wanted this matter to end. No harm was done neither will it happen in future.

Why can't someone try to understand her point of view when she respects everyone else's, always?

"I don't know about others but I'll come with you always whenever you need to go to police station, I will sit with you in every court trial even if it takes rest of my life." Kabir shouted and her tears started falling freely.

"Here they come. Water works! Do you even know something other than crying? You cried when he was assaulting you, you are crying while I'm asking you to sign those papers and you will cry again if that man does similar thing to some other woman!

And you know if you don't sign these papers you will be equally responsible for that as him.

So don't worry about going to police station; my lawyers will take care of everything.

I know very well what happens when a woman doesn't have any supporting pillar and I'm being one for you. So don't take it lightly...

Just sign the damn papers or I will always regret meeting a woman like you who can't gather even a tiny bit of courage when she has full support. " Kabir finished his words and saw her trembling.

Do you even know something other than crying?

She took a shaky step in the direction of papers.

You will cry again if that man does similar thing to some other woman!

She took the pen.

You know if you don't sign these papers you will be equally responsible for that as him.

She wiped her tears which continued flowing freely and looked in his ocean blue eyes. He walked near her and opened the papers and held her hand all the while looking at her intently.

I will always regret meeting a woman like you who can't gather even a tiny bit of courage when she has full support.

She kept on looking at him and with the help of him she signed the papers, not breaking the eye contact for a second.

Zara signed the papers and Kabir left her hand and took away the papers.

She entered her room without saying even a single word and was glad that he didn't stop her. She didn't have any strength left in her. Even though she signed the papers his words kept on roaming in her mind.

Do you know something other than crying?

You are weak and stupid.

A fool, who doesn't know anything!

I will always regret meeting a woman like you...

She didn't realise how could this day go so wrong?

This was supposed to be the best day of her life with her realising her love for him and may be try to confess a little bit but it ended with him saying hurtful things to her and her crying herself to sleep.

***

So whose side you are?

Zara

Or

Kabir

Important Note:

Now an important issue here, Kabir is being harsh. True. Was that necessary? Definitely. For the reasons that you can see and for the reasons that you are yet to see.

As for Kabir's words, yes they are harsh. No woman should listen to them if spoken in wrong way.

But is he a chauvinist? NO.

Is Zara weak and stupid to cry? NO.

Two people can be different and both of them can be right at their places.

Trust Kabir guys! He is a child born and brought up by a single mother who has faced the society and he knows the the sufferings of a woman. That's why he always reacts so harshly against anything wrong happening to any woman.

That was the reason he was angry with Rehan when he made Sanaa sign those papers. I'm not justifying that he should speak between them. No. But if possible go back and read that conversation from the pov of a person who has the impression that Rehan is arrogant and heartless and has a past like Kabir.

That's also one of the reasons why he is so persistent with Zara and deliberately used harsh words. Now we can say that explain to Kabir should explain things to her calmly, politely. But he didn't want to. Why? Well we have to wait. Zara will ask him this questions one day and he will have to answer every damn question.

But till then don't think any bad of both of Bir and Zara. They are two grown ups. And they will make mistakes. Everyone does. They will learn in the end. That's a promise.

And the things that you people think of as mistakes...well trust me for them.

Let Sanaa come back. She will explain everything to us. That will be her role in this book. BUT please be patient till then. Don't ask any questions regarding her right now. I want her pregnancy to go smoothly before dragging her into this mess.

I know this story has become longer than I intended. I know it tests your patience to know future and yet not being able to do anything to change it. But please cooperate. Acknowledge the events that are shaping up the future.

Remember it's Kabir's plan. Trust Kabir, a boy whom we have seen growing with our own eyes and if you can not then trust Zoya.

A writer you have seen from DTBT. If not from then then atleast from this book.