It had been a week.

A week since Kabir had visited Nisha's parents. Ever since, both of their behaviours have changed drastically. Adil and Adisha were acting strange as well, adding to her confusion. 

Trying to subside her thoughts, she heaved a sigh and whispered, "Oh god... what's gonna happen?"
Her phone started ringing, shaking her out of her trance. Her eyes slightly widened at the caller ID.

It was her recent client. Her work was stable but the recent events occupied her headspace in such a way, that she almost forgot about work.
Was this like her? Nisha Anwar would do anything but forget about work.

But maybe that worked differently in this case.
Cases where Kabir was concerned.

— Time skip —

"Have you set the plates?" Nisha heard her mother ask Bindu and approached them awkwardly, staring at their figures working. There was an invitation for Priti and her in-laws at their house today.

Amidst the busy preparations, she was concerned about how to ask her mother about the recent event that occurred last week. She tried to find chances but failed. Because no one was disclosing a thing to her other than Kabir who only said,

"I told them I love you and we're only meant to marry each other. Any other way doesn't work."

She knew that wasn't all. Her parents seemed too calm.

And the confusion was eating up her headspace.

Seeing Nisha's disconcerted face, her mother approached her and said, "Are you only going to stare instead of helping?"
With a confused 'huh', she looked over her mother's figure to see Bindu smiling at her.
Her mother sighed and continued, "We'll have a talk later. For now, go and help Bindu. Stop hanging around if you don't intend to help."

With an uncertain nod of her head, she abided by her mother and approached Bindu, starting to set the spoons and bowls.

As they were setting the table, the doorbell rang, indicating their arrival. Nisha heard the loud voices of Priti and her parents, followed by her in-laws. The chattering faded and she guessed everyone was being escorted to the living room.

She walked towards them, greeted the elders and shared a brief eye contact with Priti who had a different kind of smile on her face.
"Priti-pi!" She whispered as the elder one slowly approached her, pulling her to a side and asking, "Have Maa or Baba said anything about Kabir visiting?"

She shook her head.

Priti sighed.
"Then, I'm not sure yet. Shams told me this morning that Kabir has been talking to his parents about this whole situation. His mother had known and his father didn't have much objections. So, I'm guessing we're not facing any obstacles from his side."

Nisha stared at her sister blankly and said, "And from my side?"
The only response she got for that was a facepalm from Priti.

"I don't know what Kabir said to Maa and Baba but whatever he said seemed to have an impact on them. They're too quiet and chill. And it's concerning as well. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing."

"Maa has stopped ignoring me. She also acts better with me. And baba is baba, he's always in his world but the look of disappointment I felt even a week ago has decreased. They both seem to be thinking about something I'm not sure of."

Priti nodded and said, "Let's see. Don't worry, I'm sure things will go well. Also, I have a news for you."
"Huh? What is that?"

"I'm..."

Nisha stared at her sister's face. She seemed as if a gush of happiness was dying to explode from her face and again, a glint of shyness and anxiousness worked beneath that expression.

That was unlike her bold sister.

"Spill the beans," she demanded.

"I'm pregnant."

The two words seeped into Nisha's brain as she stared at the figure in front of her. A thousand thoughts that had been racing within her brain came to a halt.

A loud gasp escaped her lips as she stared at her sister wide-eyed, letting the information sink in.
"Are you... For real?!"

"You're the first one to know. Shams and I decided to keep it a secret for a month or so. But I just wanted to tell you."

"What the hell?!!?!? You're pregnant! I'm going to be an aunt? A khalamoni?!" Nisha let out a shaky breath and immediately hugged her sister, "That's such great news, Priti-pi! I'm so... so happy for you!"

Her eyes welled with tears as Priti chuckled, "Come on, girl! Don't do that now. It's a secret, okay?"

"Mhm!" Nisha nodded, hugging her sister even tighter.

— At night —

"Maa. You called?" Nisha asked as her mother hummed, fixing the bedsheets.
Once done, she sat down and patted the place next to hers for Nisha to sit down.

She did as gestured and gave the mother a confused look. The elderly woman thought for a while before saying, "I want you to call someone."
"Huh? Is it some relative from Facebook?" She asked, earning a shake of her mother's head.
"No."

"Then?"

"Call Kabir."

Nisha stared at her mother in disbelief.
"Huh?"
"Just call him."

Hearing no response from her daughter for another minute, the elder woman clarified, I won't talk to him. I just want you to call him. I want to see how he talks to you."
"But—"
"Nevermind mind you don't want to. I knew you wouldn't listen anyway."

That somehow made her feel guilty. She was sad enough about the entire situation of dating Kabir and now.....

With a sigh, she turned on her phone dialled in the number and stared at the phone, feeling her heartbeats increase in anxiety. After a few rings, the call was picked up.

"Nisha?"

The familiar voice soothed her insides in the slightest but she wasn't sure if that was enough considering the situation she was in right now. Her mother gestured for her to not disclose the situation as she nodded.

"Hello?" she asked.
"Mhm? Is there anything you need? You don't call me at this hour usually." He said in a concerned tone as she restrained a smile.
She glanced at her mother to see the ghost of a smile play on her lips.

"I just called...."

"You missed me right?" There was a slight mischief in his voice that made her sigh.
"No."
"Of course you did. I missed you too, very much. I thought you wouldn't call me after I refused to tell you the whole story."

Her mother took a deep breath as Nisha gulped.

"No, that's not the case... I'll interrogate you later."
"Nisha. I'm all yours to interrogate anyway."
"Shut up!" She squeaked, anxious about what he might say next. He had no filters, after all.

"You sound down, love. Are you okay?"
"I am."
"You know, you can tell me if something's up."
"I know...." She whispered. She watched her mother, trying to analyse her reaction but she seemed too normal. Her face was blank.

"Nisha. I know I didn't inform you about that and I'm sorry. But it was so you know that I am serious. It's fine if your parents still dislike me. I can wait longer to persuade them. Don't worry. Take care of yourself because if Kabir Zaid marries, the only name on the wedding card besides mine would be Nisha Anwar's. That's how it'll be, okay? You're for me and I'm for you, that's how it'll always... Always be. I promise."

"And if you want to know what I told them, I'll tell you a little later. It's too soon for you to know."

His voice held the depth and sincerity which always reached the bottom of her heart. Somehow, everything he said lay in the deepest chamber of her heart.
She hummed, realizing her mother listened to every single word he had said.

It was embarrassing. But she was glad her mother heard those words. Because her face depicted pure surprise. Of course, she didn't expect Kabir to be that caring.
"Thank you," Nishaa whispered, knowing why she'd been saying those three words if her mother wasn't listening.

"I love you." The words echoed in her ears as her mother sighed. Her hold on the phone tightened.

Her mother gestured for her to cut the call. Despite her unwillingness, she said, "Wait, Kabir, something came up... I need to hang up."
"But you didn't say it back—" His voice was cut off as she hung up in a hurry.

Her mother shook her head, "Should've said it back, nah?"
"Huh?" Nisha stared at her mother in disbelief and the elder woman smiled.
"He has a way with words, doesn't he?" She asked, smiling.

She was shocked to see the smile on her mother's face. Instead of getting a strange stare, she was getting a smile from her mother. Really?
"Maa?" She asked, trying not to let her disbelief radiate too much but acknowledging the failure.

The woman hummed, "If someone made me feel that special and valued with his words and actions, I doubt if I'd listen to my parents. I'd fight wars for that kind of love."

"Maa..." A soft airy breath escaped her lips as she didn't move her gaze from the elderly woman who had a soft smile on her face.
"I still think he's a little too goofy to be serious about you. But, I know what I think isn't accurate. He knows when to be serious. That day when he came to our house unannounced, we were very furious and your father was close to kicking him out but he simply said a few words. He didn't say any filmy lines, which somehow made me realize he didn't memorize what he was saying. He said something that made your father speechless for a few minutes." 

"What did he say?" She asked, mentally hoping to not get an unexpected answer.

"Your father asked him if he was serious and if he was, why he never talked to the elders about it and decided to have this secret relationship with you. He doubted it was because Kabir was just playing around." 
'He wasn't.' Nisha mentally thought but didn't say it out loud. 
"What did he reply?" She asked.

"He said that... he was scared you'd chase him with a stick if he embarrassed you. And he also confessed that the thought of talking to us didn't cross his mind that severely because it was a given. Either way, he'd loved you for such a long time that talking to us wouldn't be an option, but a necessity which was in his plans so he didn't bother much about it. He wasn't stressed because he said that you were in his fate and he didn't believe that it could be otherwise." 

Nisha stared at her mother quietly, unknown to how to react to such sudden words. 

"For... real?" 
"Of course. Why would I lie about such cheesy things?" She chuckled.

"But that wasn't what made your Baba speechless. When your baba asked him if he loved you and how he'd prove it, he said only one thing." 

"One thing?" She asked, frowning. 
"Mhm." 
"What did he..."
"Don't ask me. Ask him that yourself. That one thing was all we needed to hear. Of course, your dad and I still have our share of disappointments but everything has flaws. A person with a great background wouldn't possibly love you the way they do in movies. But I think... Kabir would. He will." 

"So... you both accept him?" She asked.
"If he comes to us with a proposal, I don't think we'd have an option other than to accept him. Your baba is also much more relaxed these days." Her mother said and looked at the family photo on their desk with a smile. 
"When marrying Priti to Shams, your father was assured that he'd keep her happy. Though he wasn't glad about Shams's status and all... now that we're having you in the same situation... he probably just resorted to saving his wealth for his daughters. Though both Shams and Kabir come from good families, both in status and wealth, he wondered if those only would be enough to keep you kids happy." 

"Maa... did it take you all that time to realize this?" Nisha asked, unable to hold her sudden surprise. 
A small sigh escaped her mother's lips, "We live in a society where wealth and status matter so much that... love doesn't exist anymore." 
"It's okay," Nisha whispered. 

"I don't understand you and your ideals but I know that whatever you say or do, you'll always want good for us. That's why, even though your care hurts me, I'll forgive you both. Every time." She smiled.

"That was quite an emotional talk in here." Another voice was heard as their heads turned to find Nisha's father staring at them, leaning against the door frame with a soft smile on his face. He approached the ladies and said, "Well, your mother already told you anything I wouldn't want to say so... I don't know what else to tell you other than that I'm always here for you as your father, Nisha." 
"I know, baba." Nisha smiled.

"I'm sorry if I've hurt you both, Maa and Baba. But... even a year ago when I was telling you both that I'd never have a love interest and I'd gladly accept an arranged marriage, I had no idea what life had on the plate for me. Now... I realize that we can never be too sure about the future beforehand." 

"As long as you do realize it." He smiled, pulling Nisha into his embrace as she smiled, closing her eyes, safe in her father's embrace.

And she wondered about how beautiful the future would be. Because, despite all the troubles, finally they were about to start anew. 

Cause life indeed was unprecedented, in the most magnificent ways ever.