"Shams was right when he said you're too good for me." 

"Ouch..." Nisha held her stomach as he frowned, "Are you okay?" 
"Yeah... just a stomach ache." 
"Where?"

"I just said stomachache." She frowned as he shook his head, "No, like it depends on the area. Where?" 
"Ah, no need to think so much. It's just a tummy ache." 

"Nisha. Tell me." Kabir frowned, glancing at her stomach repeatedly. 
"Ah, leave it." She shrugged with a fake smile which died down soon. 
"I think it's because you haven't eaten. Oh god, let's go quickly get you to eat something! Why would you starve?" 
"It's not because of that." She blinked twice.

"Then what?" 

"Just... leave i—"
"I'm not leaving it. Tell me?" 
"Oh. Itisperiods." She said in one go as he stared at her blankly for a second. She wondered if he even knew about it but a soft sigh escaped her lips.
"It took you that long to say that?" 

"Uh, I thought you'd get awkward or something." 

"What's there to get awkward?" He asked as she gave him a surprised frown, "Huh?"
"I know that due to the reserved culture, women tend to hide these from men but that doesn't mean I'd be awkward about it. It's a natural phenomenon, it's fine, Nisha."
"Where did you learn about it?" 
"Everyone knows."

"Oh. Right. But Maa always told me not to mention these in front of men... it's a little immoral though I don't think it is but still." 
"That's just the way the world has made things turn out. Periods are considered awkward."
"Right?" She asked as he smiled, fixing the messy strands coming out from her loosely tied braid. 

"Oh, I think we got into serious discussion." He said and shrugged it off, "Anyway, how do you feel?" 
"Pretty normal..." She said, holding her stomach. 
"This is normal?" 
"Well, the cramps and shit that happen are quite extravagant after all." 

He pulled her closer, resting his hand on top of hers which was clutching her stomach. 
"What can I do for you?" 
"Huh? Nothing... I'm fine." 
"Okay. But if there's something I can do for you, tell me, okay?"

"Okay." She reciprocated his smile as he caressed her cheeks, pressing a soft, long kiss on her forehead. 
"Do tell me about your problems when you're comfortable though. I'll never think of it as a burden like you're imagining. We all have issues, it's okay." She smiled.

For a second, he wondered if he had done something honourable in his past life. Why else would he be gifted with such an angel? 

His heart hurt when he stared at her. There was nothing painful about the situation anymore, but there was a beautiful and fluttering pain in his heart that remained in the depths of his heart every time he looked at her. 
And that pain knocked the hardest right now. 

He gave her a brief look before saying, "Actually, it's not all that... complicated. My family back in my hometown are very toxic. There are property problems and they keep pressuring my parents. But Baba and Maa never pick up their calls. Baba almost cut ties off with his relatives... but a few uncles and aunts still call me now and then. If Baba goes and signs some papers, they'll get the larger share. I don't get this family politics... but these days, the pressure has been increasing on me and I keep getting more of their calls. They're my uncles and aunts yet they're so selfish, it makes me... feel worse."

She attentively listened to him, smoothening the creases on his forehead that appeared due to his frown and caressed his cheeks as he spoke, "And some client we worked for on our very first projects reported against us. I think they were just trying to degrade us because we didn't give them a discount. So, it affected public opinion a bit and some of our recent clients started interrogating. Also, for some reason, the website keeps crashing and I had to postpone the office renovation. I thought I could take a break but working so hard behind a company and going through these ups and downs just... drained me out."

"And I thought I'd just share it with you once the company's stable and the property things are done at town. But... here we are." He spoke as she hummed, intertwining their fingers. 

"I've never encountered such intense property issues within family but I'm sure you will be able to go through it. You're very strong, after all. I'm sorry all I can give you right now is moral support but if you ever need any help from me, or even just a hug, I'm always here, okay?" 

His lips tilted up as he raised their intertwined hands, pressing their hands on the wall. She frowned, "What are you..." 
With a mischievous smirk, he spoke, "I want more than a hug though." 

"What?" A soft gasp escaped her lips when he pressed his lips on hers. 
She attempted to protest but failed as he pressed his body against hers, devouring her lips as if he had been awaiting this for ages. 
Her eyes closed automatically, grip tightening around his fingers. 

He pulled away after a minute and rested his forehead on hers, "I'm sorry for ruining half of your birthday." 
"My birthdays are always ruined anyway. This one feels... happy though." 

He smiled, not leaving her gaze. 
Without further warning, he kissed her again, earning a smile out of her. Their lips moulded together, arousing a fluttering feeling within her heart as she arched further into him. 
He detached his lips from hers — remaining on top as a featherlight touch. He dragged his lips to her neck lazily as she heaved out a few heavy breaths. 
"Kabir..." A breathless noise left her lips as he snuggled into her neck, pressing a soft kiss there. 

A tingling sensation travelled from her neck to her spine, causing shivers to erupt all over her body. 
He hummed lazily, his hot breath hitting her neck. 

His lips came into contact with her neck again, leaving a slightly wet imprint that fucking burned until he kissed there again. Unable to open her eyes at the gush of feelings surrounding her, she asked, "What are you doing?" 
"Does it matter as long as you like it?" 

His lips travelled from the corner of her neck to the base of her throat as he sucked on it ever so lightly, making her groan lightly. 
"S-Stop... Maa will..."
"Ten days, you said?" 

A subtle frown appeared on her face as she breathlessly stared at him. He gave her a small smile before pressing soft kisses on her face.
She didn't know how she gained the power to but there she was, counting his kisses.

One. On her right cheek.

Two. On her left cheek.

Three. On her right temple.

Four. On her left temple.

He pressed his cheeks to hers as she tried to control her uneven breathing.

Five. On her forehead.

Six. On her right jaw.

Seven. On her left jaw.

Eight. On her nose.

Nine. On the corner of her lips.

"You don't know how much I have to hold back seeing you so divine and prepossessing. You're like a celestial angel with halos on her head, glowing and looking looking the most precious thing to exist in the world. You don't know how huge of an effect you have on me, Nisha." 

She swallowed, opened her eyes and whispered, "Do you get to say that to me while having those lashes prettier than women's?" 
She heard him chuckle as his breath hit her ears. The contact of his cheeks against hers felt like the most intimate thing of her life. 

He took a close look at her face and pressed a featherlight kiss on her lips. There went the tenth. 

His hands were intertwined with hers as she was pressed against the wall, caged between his arms, engulfed in his scent, showered with his love and taming the tiny epitome of a blooming flower called 'love' in her heart. It felt sudden, yet like the longest process to ever exist.

It was when she knew. 

She was in love.

He retreated his head back, giving her a pensive stare before smiling widely. He caressed her cheeks again as if he failed to hold himself back. The gleam of happiness in his eyes as he admired her face didn't go unnoticed by her. 

Why was it so obvious?

She had always wondered that when love came, she wouldn't know. It'd be like those times when even if he loved her, she wouldn't know. 
Maybe he wouldn't even love her that deeply. 

But seeing love reflecting through someone else's eyes, in the same intensity as you felt, or maybe... just maybe — even more — felt like a flash of thunder lightning striking her. 

His beautiful face was just there, plainly showering her with love through his eyes. 

Love. 

Love.

Love.

She wondered, repeating the words in her head.

The words that she had always thought would never exist for her were now plaid out in front of her, in the form of a person. 
"I still feel demotivated about many things. But more than being scared about those, I was scared to lose you. If I do something wrong, curse me, punch me, slap me... but correct me, okay? Don't go into avoiding mode." 

She nodded, a soft smile forming on her lips despite the pain in her heart. 

It was the pain she didn't know if she wanted to complain about. It was the pain she wanted to feel. 
The pain she could risk things for.

She opened her mouth to say something but they were interrupted by a loud knock on the door.
"Why is the door closed?!" A loud voice — belonging to Nisha's father — rang throughout the room as they shared a wide stare. 
"Oh shit." She muttered as he gave her a desperate look, "What do we do now?" 
"I have no idea." She spoke. 

"Stay quiet." He whispered gently, repeatedly glancing at the door.

She should've felt panic rush throughout her entire body, knowing her father would find them together in a locked garage, with pressed bodies. But the thought made her laugh. 
She silently giggled as he frowned, "What's wrong?" 
She shook her head as a few other voices erupted.

"Uncle!" Atif shouted as they heard a few footsteps. Who knew what was going on outside? But the chaos said... 

"Something dramatic," Kabir whispered as Nisha nodded. 
Both of them broke into silent laughter when Nisha's father's loud shouts were heard, 
"You smoke?! What a child! ALL OF YOU COMMENCE!" 

"Who got caught?" Nisha mouthed as Kabir held in his laughter, shaking his head, "No idea..." 

Both of them started laughing silently at the sounds outside. 
"Maa!" Adil screamed, crying as Priti was heard shouting, 'Don't go to the garage!!!' 

"Where's Nisha?" Someone asked as their laughter halted. Kabir gave her a blank look as Nisha's mother asked, "Right... I don't see Kabir either." 
"Are they together?" 

"We are..." Nisha whispered to herself, crouching down and resting her head on the wall. Kabir frowned as she whispered, "They'll continue for a while. We can't open the garage door right now. Let's just sit down." 
He nodded and sat beside her, "Is your period better?"
"It'll be fine, don't worry." 

They both stared at the ceiling together and started chuckling among themselves. 
"In the past half an hour, how many things have happened?" She asked. 
"Countless... it's like a rollercoaster ride." 

—Time skip—

"Can't believe we got out from there." Nisha whispered to Kabir who shrugged, "I thought we were done for."
"Sometimes, these useless dudes do useful things." 
"Right? I thought there was no use in having them as friends." Kabir said.

"Oh, I know so well you never thought that." She spoke as they shared a soft smile. 

"Wow. We went through almost five thousand words worth of lectures to save you guys and you're chatting here?" Atif spoke, entering the living room as Nisha pressed her lips.
"He looks like he went through a lot of... pain." She whispered into Kabir's ear who pressed his lips, trying not to laugh. 
"Yeah, very funny. Laugh all you want." Wahi rolled his eyes.

"They confiscated my cigarette." Ajay sighed, looking at the bottle of water. 

"For a second, I thought I'd be divorced... god, my mother-in-law is scary," Shams whispered, resting on the sofa. 
"Good, you don't smoke." Nisha said to the one beside her who smiled, "I'm flawless..." 
"Yet Aunty dislikes you. What are you proud of?" Wahi asked. 

"Yeah, that's for... wait, why does Aunty not like me? I never asked." Kabir looked at Nisha who sighed, "Um, yeah that's irrelevant." 

"No, tell me." 

"Because ever since the first day you met her, you've been gawking at my sister like a creep and the fact you dote on her was more than visible to every naked eye. Only Nisha is stupid to not understand." Priti spoke, rolling her eyes.
"We didn't know either.." Ajay whispered to Atif who nodded. 
"I didn't know though." Shams said.

Priti sighed, "None of you are... capable of being humans."

"That's the reason?" Kabir asked, looking at his girlfriend who pressed her lips, shrugging. 
"Then I can accept it. I thought it was something else." 

"Why are you both sticking to each other? It's gross to watch." Adisha commented, eyeing Nisha and Kabir who seemed unbothered. 
"What is it to you?" Nisha rolled her eyes as Kabir chuckled, "Shams, you should've brought Soha." 

"Why?" Shams asked. 
Kabir glanced at Adil who was busy staring outside the window and shrugged, "Just so..." 
"Is Adil trying to hit on Soha?" Nisha whisper-asked to the male beside her who shook his head, "He's just trying to make friends. I think he feels betrayed enough knowing you're already mine whereas Soha doesn't even talk to him properly." 

She stared at him, confused as to whether he said it intentionally or not.

Already mine? Really? 

A soft chuckle escaped her lips, earning a confused look from him.
"Why are you chortling?"
"Nothing." She shook her head.

"Well, I have somewhere to take you, you know." He said.
"Where?" She asked.

"You'll see." 

A soft smile appeared on his face as she nodded. Where would he take her? She didn't know. But as long as it was with him, she'd likely go anywhere without questions. 

"Uncle and aunty are coming with the cake!" Shams spoke, peeking outside as Nisha pushed Kabir away. He gave her a look of disbelief but sighed, glaring at the others who were laughing.
"So sad, we're official, you're not." Priti gave them a pitiful look to which Nisha replied with a scoff. 

"Don't worry, we'll be official way sooner than you guys were." 

Nisha hid her face in embarrassment as Kabir immediately shifted away, sitting at a corner when her parents entered.
"With that courage? Sure." Shams laughed. 
"What's with the atmosphere? It seems fun. Any secret sharing going on?" Nisha's father asked as everyone shook their head in sync. 
"Wow." Her mother chuckled, placing the cake on the table. 

"This cake is so cute." 
"I know right? I customized the design and placed an order a week ago." Priti spoke proudly as her husband patted her back with an approving nod. 
Nisha apprehensively gazed throughout the room, feeling a sense of warmth overtake her. Everyone was joking around while Ajay and Wahi were busy fighting over who'd take the chocolate piece of the cake just to be dumbfounded by Adil who snatched it away. 
"Why did I even invite them over? It could've been a peaceful day." Nisha whispered to herself, knowing well no matter how much she disliked their chaos, she loved it way better.

— Time skip —

"Where are we?" Nisha asked, frowning as Kabir held her eyes, "I told you, you'll see." 

She stood there as the delicate contact of his palms on her eyes faded, giving her the opportunity to open her eyes and intake the view in front of her. 
"Why are we in front of your car?" 
He only replied with a small smile, heading towards the car door.

He took out some things from the car and turned around, approaching her. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she saw what he had in his hand.

"Seriously?"