Before reading this chapter I want to let you guys knows that this is not just a romantic story.

It is way more than that.

Kavya's POV

For the first time after years, I have laughed so openly and this is the first time I laughed along with him.

I reached my house and unlocked the door and there was a constant smile on my face.

I got freshened up, changed into my night suit and started preparing my dinner.

Kabir was not bad but we had met in wrong circumstances.

While dinner was being prepared, I decided to clean the house.

While I was cleaning the house, my eyes went towards the table calendar.

Tomorrow I have to pay the month's rent.

I sighed.

Half of my salary goes in paying the rent and other half goes in my daily expenses.

It had been years since I bought a new dress for myself.

All of my colleagues, wears different dresses most of the time, but I don't remember the last time I bought a dress for me.

When Sohum was alive, I used to buy many clothes, as from a young age, I liked to collect clothes and bags.

I was not a big fan of makeup or collecting shoes or jewelleries, but I liked to have different types of clothes and bags.

The bag I have been using, was bought by Sohum and I had not changed it till now.

Is it really about money?

My mind mocked, and I chuckled thinking that my mind has caught my lie.

It's not that in these three years, I could not even buy one new kurti but, when Sohum left, he took a part of him with me.

I don't feel like buying anything, after he left.

I feel guilty whenever I make up my mind to buy something.

Few months back I saw a saree hanged on the mannequin and I loved it so much and price was also reasonable but I didn't buy it because it didn't feel right to enjoy life without him.

I lie to myself that my budget is tight, but frankly it is not so tight that I can't even buy a new dress or saree of rs. 1000 but my heart does not allow it.

Sohum could not enjoy life then is it fair for me to enjoy life?

I still remember the look in his eyes before he died.

It was as if he was begging me to save him.

It was as if he was pleading god to give him his life back but, god didn't listen to him and he took his last breathe right in front of me.

And, whenever I try to enjoy my life, those pleading eyes stops me.

I can't enjoy my life when he died with so many dreams in his eyes.

Anyways, I should go back and keep aside the money I have to pay to lanlord.

******

I lied on the bed and took his photo frame in my hand and caressed it.

This photo was taken a week before he died.

I had given him a blue shirt as when I saw that shirt, I imagined him looking very handsome, so I had given him that shirt, he matched my imagination and was really looking very handsome.

So, I wanted him to take a picture of him. That day after we came from work, we went in the studio and took his pictures.

I chuckled sadly, remembering that day.

While taking that picture, I never imagined that he will be gone and the only thing will remain is his picture.

But, life is unpredictable.

Now, he is not with me but this picture is with me.

I kissed the photo frame and kept it aside and tried to sleep.

Tried, is the keyword.

I tossed and turned for some time but when sleep didn't come to me, I decided to watch something on mobile till sleep consumes us.

The same thing I am doing for the past three years.

******

Kabir's POV

I put Raj to sleep and asked him to ring me up if he wants something or if he wants to go to washroom.

And, now I was in my room standing in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around my waist after I took a long, relaxing bath.

I was looking at myself but was seeing her in the mirror.

For the first time I saw her laugh and now, I don't know how will I be able to control myself.

The laugh which will not let me sleep tonight.

There, she must be wrapped in her husband's arms and here I am thinking about her.

There, her husband was taking her to the heights of pleasure and here she is taking my sleep away.

I closed my eyes and wiped off the imaginary face pleasuring her.

How does her husband look?

Is he handsome?

Where does he work?

I cleared my head, wore my night dress, laid on the bed and closed my eyes.

Her laughing image crossed my mind and I suddenly woke up.

This is wrong.

She is married.

Today every time, I looked at her, I wanted to be near her but her sindoor and mangalsutra acted as a sheild.

I tried so hard to act casual in front of her and thank god I succeeded in it.

If I try something with her, I will never forgive myself for ruining a happy family.

But, the lips which curved into a beautiful smile and then curved more and created a beautiful laugh.

I will never forget her laugh.

I should stay away from her.

But, it's just a month.

After a month I promise that I will never meet her.

But, I want to spend these days with her, even if it is just as her friend.

Guilt swamped up my heart when I prayed to the universe that today, her husband should not be intimate with her.

Because, I don't want to share that laugh with her husband while he takes her to heaven.

I want that to be reserved for myself only.

I slapped my cheeks and bought myself out of my crazy thoughts.

Kabir, how can you fall in love with a married woman?

Why are you praying that her husband should stay away from her?

You know what will happen if her husband stay away from her?

She will be unhappy and can you see her unhappy?

No, right?

So, stop your crazy thoughts and act normal in front of her.

Act as a friend, not like some crazy lover.

Nobody knows better than you, what happens when you try to be with a married woman.

No one knows better than you , what happens when a happy family is ruined.

And, if you try something, you will die with guilt of ruining so many lives.

So buckle yourself together and act as a good friend in front of her.

Try to keep distance and yet, be a good friend of her.

I gave myself a pep talk otherwise I would not have been able to sleep.

*****

Kavya's POV

"I will go and xerox all your copies and give it back to you in five minutes," I told to one of my student, and took all his notebooks to xerox.

It was the end of the day and I was happy that his mother agreed to stand for five minutes after the school ends and I had already taken notes of all the homework and other important things from all the teachers.

Within ten minutes I came back and gave him his notebooks back.

"I am sorry. Everything happened because of me," Aashika apologized.

"It's okay. We can't change anything," I told her as we were leaving.

"By the way, his house is very far from your house, right?" Kaira asked.

"Raj's brother said that he will send his driver to drop and pick me up," I told them.

"What? Wow, you are so lucky. His brother is so nice," kaira said making me laugh.

Yes, he is nice.

"Someone would have never did that and left you alone thinking that it is your mistake," Nita said.

"Yes. I know," I told her.

"He looks so handsome and he even has such a nice personality. By the way is he married?" Aashika asked and we all started laughing.

"I don't know about him but, you are married," I told her.

"If only, I was single, I would have flirted with him," she said and our eyes widened.

"I was just joking. I love my husband too much," she said making me smile.

"We know that," kaira said.

"By the way, Raj is alright?" Kaira asked me.

"Yes, he is."

"Our school would have been the gossip among parents if they came to know what happened, but, you saved the reputation, Kavya," kaira said and I gave her a small smile.

*****

Kabir's POV

"As you know Raj is not well, so I will leave early today," I told Mr. Raut.

"Raj sir, will be fine in few days, na?" he asked.

"Yes. Doctor said he will be fine but he feels sad as I have to help him to take bath or even if he has to go to the washroom, he has to depend on me," I told him.

"I can understand," he said and gave me last week's report.

"Wow! Last week our customers has increased by five percent?" I asked.

"Yes, it was a good idea to decrease our price," he said and smiled.

"Okay, now I will leave and stay with our chefs for some time and then I will head home," I told him.

"Okay sir," he said and I left.

*****

"Bhai, you are so early today?" Raj yelled happily as I went inside the room and I could see Kavya's surprised face as I took a chair and sat in front of them.

"Yes, there was not much work today. Good evening, kavya," I greeted her with a smile.

"Good evening," she greeted me back as aunty bought potato bites with tomato sauce for us.

"Aunty, I don't want it," kavya told her.

"It is Kabir's order," she said as she kept the plate on the bed and left.

"Kabir, I don't want it," she told me.

There had been few instances when she called my name but, this time it sounded so soft and not awkward or angry like the other times.

"Please have it, madam," Raj said and she looked at me.

"You have to listen to your student," I grinned as I loosened my tie and took a bite.

"Bhai, have you washed your hands?" Raj asked making me chuckle.

"Yes, Raj," I told him while he took a bite.

I looked at her and she was looking very tired.

"Are you okay? I mean... you are looking very tired," I said as I asked her to eat more.

"Yes. I slept late yesterday and usually I sleep after coming home from school but, today I couldn't sleep so feeling a bit tired," she told me and I nodded in a yes.

I don't want to know why she was not able to sleep at night.

"You have a sauce near your lips," I told her.

"Where?" she asked as she wiped the corner of her lips.

"No. Here," I wiped her bottom lip but hurriedly removed my hand as I realized what I had done by her surprised look.

"Uh--sorry. I will go and keep the plate in the kitchen," I took the empty place and left hurriedly.

"This is the first time you have bought the plate by yourself," Shalini aunty said as I kept the plate in the washbasin.

"I know, aunty. Thank you for taking care of both of us," I told her and she smiled and I thanked god that for the few seconds she was out of my mind.

I went in my room and looked at the fingers that touched her lips.

Her lips were so soft and---

I hit my head few times to bring myself out of the thoughts and went in the washroom to take a bath and hoped that the cold water will make my mind relax.

*****

I hope you liked the chapter.

What do you think of Kavya?

And her thoughts...

What do you think of Kabir?

And his thoughts...

Random question:-what is the costliest dress you have bought?

Please COMMENT and VOTE if you like it.

*****