"What the heck?" Nisha stared at the recent text from her elder sister. 

'Kabir's coming over to the room with some hot soup.' 

Her heart had skipped a beat at the text message but now it was replaced with anxiousness. She was alone in the room for fucks sake. Was she going to be in a room alone with him? 
With people around, she could still find ways to cope with the internal havoc his presence caused her. 

But if it was just them, how would she handle it? 

She heard a knock on the door and swallowed, wiping her sweaty palms on the sides of her dress. 
Hesitantly opening the door, she was welcomed by the sight of Kabir with a soft smile. His brows furrowed as he noticed her distressed face. 
"Are you okay?" He leaned in closer, taking a good look. Fuck him for that.
"Your nose is flushed. You must have a bad cold." He sighed, backing away as she cleared her throat, holding in the cough she was dying to let out. 

She moved aside, giving him the space to enter. 

"Ah, they sent some hot seafood soup for you. You should have it while it's warm." Nisha hummed, holding her chest while staring at his back. 
He placed the bag on the coffee table and searched around, "Is there any spoon?"
"Oh yeah... I have one in my bag." 
"In your bag?" He frowned.

"I always have a spoon in my bag, just in case." 

She approached her bag lying at a corner of the room, looking as if it had been neglected for the whole time.

He let out a light chuckle, "Just in case? Do you attack kidnappers with a spoon or something?" 
"No... not for that. I have pepper spray and scissors for that." She casually spoke., taking out a spoon. 

"Scissors...?"
"Yeah, in case some creep tries to do something, I can just cut what they need." She shrugged, turning towards Kabir to see him staring at her blankly. 
He slowly sat on the couch, pressing his legs together. 
She let out a laugh, "Hey! Don't make that expression... It's only for creeps, okay?" 
"You don't seem trustworthy. I need protection now." He whispered to himself, shaking his head. 

She frowned, "Protection from me?" 
"Who else?" 
She smiled, sitting beside him as he opened the packet for her.
"Is your cold very bad?"
"Worsening with time."
"Did you take your medicine?" He asked, cautiously placing the soup in front of her and checking how warm the container was. 

"It's moderately warm. You can have it this way. Also, don't keep the aircon's temperature too low. You'll catch a cold quicker. Better you keep it turned off." A smile adorned her face at his nagging.
"Maa already gave me a long lecture on that. Rest assured, sir." 
He smiled, leaning against the couch.

She cleaned the spoon and stirred the soup, "This looks good." 
"Good to know it does." 
"Why did you return though? Was it to deliver this?" She asked with a slight frown. 

He didn't answer her for a few moments, "Ah, just because..." 

His expression changed, "It was voluntary. I wanted to see you." 

"Huh?" She gave him a surprised look, analyzing his smile.
"What? I told you I like your company the best. Plus, you were sick so I got worried." He blatantly spoke as if his words didn't cause something within her to stir violently. 

Nodding, she blew on the spoon and tentatively pulled it closer to her mouth while his gaze settled on her. 
She put the spoon in her mouth, softly closing her eyes for a brief moment, "This tastes good." 

"Did you eat yet?" Her gaze shifted to him.
"Nope. Why?"
"We could share. There's quite a lot of soup." He gave her a small smile, "I'm good, you eat." 
"Come on. It's weird if you sit here while I eat. Do you want some snacks?"

He shook his head, "Do you want me to leave?" 

She blinked twice, "I never said that..." 

Taking another spoonful of the soup, she asked, "I heard you're very busy with work. What's going on?" 
"Nothing much. We're about to launch our website soon. We're also trying to search for clients who'll be interested in our small business plan service. Many people are trying to build a base for their future companies and we can gain a huge profit if we successfully deliver a few consultations and services for their business plans. That's our project." 

She nodded, sipping some water and asked, "So... you'll be very busy once your business is launched." 
"Yep. We might not be able to meet for a few weeks." The dejection in his tone made her gulp, "I wasn't... saying that." 
He inched closer to her, "But I'm worried about that too." 

Their eyes met for a brief second until she pulled her gaze apart forcefully, looking at the bed. 
"Shut up." She breathlessly spoke. 
"Eat, your food will become cold if you delay it." 

She looked down, "You know, instead of being devious all the time, if you treat your lover girl nicely, she might fall for you too." 
"I am doing that already." He spoke, tilting his head. She glanced at him through the corner of her eye and said, "Good for you then." 
"Do you think she's falling for me?" He asked, leaning closer. 

Feeling the heat of his body radiate towards her, she let out a shaky breath. 

"How would I k-know?" She hated herself for stuttering but the tightening in her chest wasn't aiding her situation. 
He let out a soft chuckle, his hot breath hitting her neck ever so slightly. At this point, his proximity made her suffer. 

"You should know it the best, Nisha." He spoke, looking at her with something inexplicable in his eyes. She turned her gaze away from him, "How would I know best? It's not like we're the same, of course." 
"Do you still not get me—" His voice was interrupted by his ringing phone.

Muttering a curse under his breath, he picked it up. 
"Yes? This is Kabir Zaid." 
She watched how his demeanour changed. There went his tone of professionalism. 

Classy.

And quite sexy too.

She leaned against the couch, watching him chat as he glanced at her a few times. Once he hung up, he heaved out a loud sigh, "Work calls day and night. I hate this." 
His frown dissipated seeing her faint smile. 
He imitated her expression, "So as I was saying—" 

Once again, he was interrupted.

But this time, it wasn't a phone call but rather a spoonful of soup being stuffed into his mouth.
"This tastes very good, right?" 
He scowled at her, tasting it as she curiously stared at him. 

"It is good..." He whispered, eyeing the spoon that was on her hands. Was
"Want some?" 
He shook his head, gaze shifting from the spoon to her blank face. Did she realize what she had done? 

The way her eyes moved nervously indicated that she did. 

She knew well what she had done. Maybe it took her a while to realize the weight of her impulsive actions but not like he complained. 

—Next day—

"Who delivered the soup?" Nisha's mom pried as Priti got up from the hotel room's couch and replied, "Oh, it was Shams. He dropped it by and came back again." 
"Good. I thought it was that Kabir." She sighed, fixing the blankets and lay down, "Aren't you going to your room?" 
"Yeah, I will. Don't worry." Priti looked around, letting out a guilty sigh. Ever since their mother knew that Nisha was sick and someone dropped it by, she kept asking indirect questions whether it was Kabir. 

"Maa, why do you dislike Kabir?" Priti asked, trying not to sound too confused.
"He keeps getting close to Nisha. It doesn't look good." The elder woman spoke, "Why are you asking?" 
"No, I mean... You just always suspect him for nothing. He's a good guy, after all." 
"Yeah, one of those who helped you before to date. Though you're my daughter, I told you I don't like these concepts of dating. I'm fine if my daughters fall in love but taking it further is morally wrong. He doesn't seem trustworthy." 

"Are you saying he and Nisha have something going on?"
"I wish not." Her mother's reply was stern and full of conviction, giving Priti a silent warning. She walked towards the door with a small nod, "Goodnight then. I'll tell Baba to return from his politics chat soon."
"Alright. Sleep well." 

As soon as she exited the room, she noticed Nisha laughing at her phone. She rushed towards her younger sister looking exceptionally happy. 
"Who are you texting? You're laughing so much." Priti asked, trying to peek at her phone but Nisha frowned, moving her phone away. 
"No one."
"Tell me."
"Okay, it's Kabir. He's just telling me some old stories." Priti pressed her lips awkwardly at Nisha's statement.
"Why? What were you doing in Maa's room?" 

"Maa just told me that you and Kabir might have something going on. I think she seriously hates Kabir." Nisha's brows clashed at the statement.
"What do you mean by that?" 
"You know better. Is there something going on between you two?" Priti's tone was calm and collected, yet delivered a sense of nervousness. 

She didn't respond.

"Nisha..." Priti's voice lowered, giving her younger sister a feeling of uncertainty. She tentatively shook her head, "Can I tell you some things after we—"
"Now." She gulped at her elder's intimidating tone. And for all that she knew, they were about to have a serious talking session. 

—Time skip—

"For real?! You like him?!" Priti gasped loudly, suspiciously examining Nisha's face who stayed quiet. 
She craned her neck, "Are you serious, Nisha Anwar?" 
"I told you I couldn't believe it too. It was unprecedented." The younger one sighed, picking on her nails anxiously. 
"If Maa gets to know, she'll become feral." 
"I know. It's not like we're dating or—"
"What if he likes you?" Priti's question interrupted every thought residing within Nisha's headspace. She swallowed a tight lump in her throat. 

Her chest heaved up and down in a gentle manner. Wiping her sweaty palms on her dress, she let out a dejected sigh, "I think he does. I'm not sure but he keeps... I fear admitting it." 
Her gaze dropped to her hands apprehensively.

She raised her lashes, feeling a contact of Priti's palms on her shoulder. 
"Nisha. It's fine to like anyone. It's your heart, you decide who to like. Nobody else can do it for you." 
"Priti-pi, I don't want to disappoint Maa and Baba but, ah... this is pointless." She groaned, falling on the bed as Priti frowned, "What's pointless?" 
"So what if I like him? It's not like we're becoming a thing or..." 
"You sound absurdly disappointed though." She suppressed a smile as Nisha scoffed under her breath. 

"What do you even like about Kabir?" 

Her frown dissipated as his smile flashed in her mind.

Was it his adorable smile? Or the way he said things that made her feel validated? 

Maybe it was his goofiness that always lighted up her mood or the sincerity when he looked into her eyes. 

She hadn't realized it until now but there was something about Kabir that always gave her strength. He was full of conviction and his visceral eyes held a depth beneath that devious smile. There was much more to him than she'd ever imagined on their first encounter. 

"I just like him. There's no reason. Now that I think about it, I think I like everything about him." She let out a low chuckle, making Priti's lips part. The elder one smiled, "I never imagined to see you fall in love. You were the one I'd expected it from the least." 
"Falling in love doesn't equal having a happy love life either. So, chill out." Nisha shrugged, smiling at the ceiling. Her eyes fell on her sister's enlivened face. 

"I'm content knowing you like someone. Kabir, at that. My enemies-to-lovers trope is the supreme." Priti laughed, earning a huff from Nisha.
"What do you mean by enemies-to-lovers? We're not lovers." 
"Sure, I'll see if this status stays the same soon." 

She rolled her eyes at her sister's statement, knowing well she was hoping for something similar deep down as well.

"Holy shit..." Shams whispered, shaking his head. He detached his ear from the hotel room's door and let out a breathless gasp. 
"Nisha is in love with Kabir?" He asked himself, slapping his cheeks repeatedly to ensure he wasn't dreaming. A passerby eyed him weirdly as he moved away, clearing his throat. 

He was simply on his way to his hotel room when he heard two women talking inside. And he knew the moment it was Nisha's voice talking about Kabir, this was going to be juicy.
He ran at the speed of light towards the bachelor's hotel room.

"I'm so sorry for eavesdropping but this is such a big news! ATIF, AJAY, WAHI!!!!"