Kabir's POV

As soon I entered my cabin, I sat on the chair and looked around and a smile escaped my lips, remembering how Kavya assumed that I am in the mafia.

And, why will I have to learns Piano and take golf classes if I want to be a gangster?

She is so cute.

From the time, I got out of her house last night, I am thinking about her.

Mr. Raut came in my cabin and my attention drifted towards him as he threw some papers in front of me.

'Yesterday after you left with her, you were the talk of the party. Everybody was talking about you,' he told me.

What?

'But this never happened before,' I said.

'Because you never bought anyone with you to the party but, yesterday you became the gossip of the hotel industry and maybe some of our rivals leaked the news,' he said and put some newspapers in front of me.

'Kabir Ahuja, Owner of Hotel Royal Plaza has been spotted with a girl yesterday. The hotel is among the top 10 hotels and soon they will make another branch of the hotel in another state. Who is this girl? Is she girlfriend of Kabir Ahuja or he had been married secretly to her?'

'Thank god. At least there are no pictures as pictures were not allowed in our party,' he said.

'What is this? They never meddled in my personal life, before,' I shouted as I threw the papers angrily.

He took a deep breathe, picked the papers and kept it on the table. 'That's because you never had any personal life, Sir.'

Uncle is right. I never had anyone in my life.

During parties, when few girls used to talk with me or seduce me, I used to push them off and walk away.

Yesterday, so confidently I said in front of Kavya that people don't meddle into my personal life.

How wrong I am.

Shit!

Whenever I am angry why don't I think before speaking?

'Let it be. Now people will be more curious to know about the girl who is with you and this rumour is good for our hotel.' Uncle's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

'So are we using her?' I asked.

'She should have thought before coming here with you.'

'Mr. Raut, please, not a word about her. And, she is just my good friend, nothing more than that.'

'I am sorry. And, now I know, she is just your friend but people don't. Anyways, don't do anything. It's just a matter of few days. People will forget about it and they have no pictures of you two together, right? So if they ask, you can say it's just a rumour but dont say anything by yourself until they ask. Let them think you have a girlfriend.'

'But, this is so wrong, Mr. Raut.'

'I know that Kabir, but we have to do things to survive,' he said the same thing Kavya said yesterday.

'Mr. Raut, I am used to media from the time I was born so I don't mind but what about her? She is not used to all this.'

'Then don't bring her into this world, Sir. If you do, she has to face many things and I don't know if she can handle it or not. Break the relation before it gets hard to leave her,' he said.

'But, she is just a friend. I told you, right? Then what is the relation you are talking about?'

'Okay, break the friendship before both of you get so close that you can't back out. Anyways, I will leave now,' he said and left me alone with my thoughts.

And, then another thought came in my mind.

What if she reads the newspaper? She will come to know I am the owner of the company.

I took out my mobile and thought of calling her.

I hope she doesn't read the news.

I called her but, it kept ringing.

Maybe, she is teaching.

God! Please help me.

I decided to call her in the afternoon, maybe she will pick up the call during her lunch break.

*****

'Kabir Ahuja, Owner of Hotel Royal Plaza has been spotted with a girl yesterday The hotel is among the top 10 hotels and soon they will make another branch of the hotel in another state. Who is this girl? Is she girlfriend of Kabir Ahuja or he had been married secretly to her?'

'Me and my husband go to this hotel often, as we don't get to do anything in our house because of our in laws. Their ambience is great,' kaira said after she read the news.

'You book a room there for that?' Aashika asked and Kaira was blushing.

'You know we dont get to do anything at home, so sometimes we go there and lie to our in laws that we are going to meet my parents,' Kaira said.

'We went there sometimes only to eat. We never booked a room in the hotel. We will try that next time,' Aashika winked and Kaira hit her playfully.

I hurriedly took the mobile from her hand and read the news.

Kabir Ahuja, Owner of Hotel Royal Plaza?

What?

Kabir is the owner?

No, this can't happen?

Why would he lie to me?

What did he get by lying to me?

That explains about him being so rich.

God, I am such a fool.

How could I not realize that he is the owner of the hotel?

But, why did he lie to me?

What are his intentions behind lying to me?

And, spotted with a girl yesterday?

That means, are they talking about me?

Thank god, there are no pictures.

'If only there were pics of him with his girlfriend.' Aashika said.

'Why do you want to know about them?' Nita asked to Aashika.

'I am regular customer of that hotel, so it is natural for me to be curious, right?' Aashika replied and Nita laughed.

'I heard Kabir is young, but I have not seen him personally,' Kaira said.

'You are also becoming like Aashika. You all are acting as if he is a celebrity.' Nita shrugged.

'Regular customers like us are curious that how does he handle everything so perfectly at such a young age. You will not understand.' Aashika retorted back and Kaira and Aashika started laughing.

But, I was not in the mood to join them as only one question was in my mind.

Why did he lie to me?

But one thing made me happy that, other than principal no one knows that brother of Raj and owner of hotel are the same person otherwise my colleagues would have teased me in a playful way as I am getting to spend time with a billionaire but I didn't even know anything, for me he was just Kabirm

My mobile started ringing and I took it out of my purse to see Kabir calling me.

Why is he calling me?

What does he want from me after lying to me?

I cannot understand that why did he lie to me?

My mobile stopped ringing and I looked at the screen to see that there were five missed calls from Kabir.

He called me for five times, half an hour back. I had a class at that time and mobile was in the staff room.

The school bell rang bringing me out of my thoughts and I put the mobile in the bag and walked towards the classroom.

*****

I bid goodbye to the security guard and walked out of the school.

I was the last one to go home as principal called me to asked me about Raj's condition, and once again I realized I am a fool.

How did I not even think of Kabir being the owner of the hotel?

I saw Kabir leaning against the car and he walked towards me as soon as he saw me.

'Why were you not replying to my call?' he asked angrily.

'Mobile was in the bag,' I said and walked past him.

'Are you angry with me?' he asked and I turned around and looked at me.

'Why should I be angry at you Mr. Kabir Ahuja, owner of Hotel Royal plaza?' I asked and gave him few seconds to reply but when he didn't utter a word, I started walking towards the auto stand.

'I will drop you off,' he said and was walking beside me.

I didn't reply to him and when I saw an empty auto, I sat in it and Kabir also sat in it making me surprise.

'Are you both together?' the driver asked.

'No.'

'Yes.'

We both said at the same time.

Kabir looked at me and our eyes met as I was already glaring at him.

I gave the auto driver my address and he started the car.

'Take me to where this madam is going.' Kabir leaned comfortably against the seat which made me realize that we were too close, so close that our arms and legs were touching each other, so I sat away from him at the corner of the auto.

We were both silent.

After some time, a guy waved the auto to stop and told his address and while Kabir started moving to give him space, he hurriedly ran towards the other side and asked me to push myself a little bit and sat beside me.

Whenever I sit between two men in an auto, I get really uncomfortable, but situations like this usually happens and I am used to it.

The guy was pushing himself more towards me which made me push myself more towards kabir.

The time, he ran towards my side and sat beside me, I knew his intentions were not good.

Kabir glared at him and looked at me and slowly I felt a hand on my waist and Kabir pulled me towards him, leaving no gap between us.

I was too shocked to react as I felt his rough fingers on my waist, touching me, protecting me from the other guy.

'Are you okay?' He asked as he once again glared at the guy beside me and I nodded in a 'yes' as I was too shocked to even utter a word.

I am so used to taking care of myself that I dont even know what I am feeling right now.

I should be angry by the way he pulled me towards him without even telling me, but I am not feeling angry.

I looked at him to find him looking outside the rickshaw.

I looked at his hand wrapped around my waist protectively and at that time, I felt thankful rather than being angry.

'Thank you,' I whispered softly, and he just smiled and went back to looking outside of the rickshaw.

*****

I gave our fare to the driver and we got down and we walked towards my building.

'This happens often?' Kabir asked while he was following me but I was too angry at him to reply.

I know he helped me in the rickshaw but that doesnt mean I forgot that he lied to me and enjoyed me making a fool of myself while I was treating him as a mere manager.

'Please talk to me, Kavya,' he pleaded as I got inside my building and walked towards the lift.

'Will you follow me till my house?' I asked angrily and looked around and thanked god that nobody was there as it was afternoon and everybody was resting.

I know, yesterday I told the aunties that he is my friend, and by now they must have told to everybody but still I dont like the looks they give me when they see us together.

It's as if I am committing a crime.

The lift came and I got inside and Kabir followed me and the door closed.

'I know, I did wrong by hiding my identity kavya, I am sorry,' kabir yelled as I clicked the number.

'Don't shout.'

'Sorry, it's just frustrating,' he said and ruffled his hair in frustration.

The lift stopped and we got out and I unlock the door and went inside and Kabir followed me.

'Today you will stay here?' I asked.

'I will stay here as long as you talk with me.'

'What's there to talk, Mr. Kabir Ahuja?'

'Please call me Kabir like you usually do. I am still your friend, kabir.'

Before he could say something, the door bell rang and I opened it to find Farhan, the electrician standing in front of me.

'How are you, madam?'

'I am fine, Farhan, and, I have told you multiple times to not call me Madam. Just call me Kavya.' I said and as usual he just nodded his head in a 'no.'

"Sorry, I went to village when you called me two days back.'

'No problem. First have a glass of water and then I will show you the bulb,' I said as I went in the kitchen and bought a glass of water and I saw kabir and Farhan staring at each other.

Farhan was curious and Kabir was shooting daggers at him.

I gave Farhan a glass of water and he drank the whole glass in a gulp and gave the glass back to me.

'Tea or coffee?' I asked Farhan.

'For the past three years you know me Madam, when did I ever have coffee. You know, I love drinking tea,' he replied making me laugh while he joined me.

'I thought, maybe your preference changed as we are seeing each other after almost a year,' I said and he nodded in a 'no' and asked me about the bulb and I took him to the bedroom and showed him the bulb and went in the kitchen and after few seconds I felt Kabir standing behind me.

As soon as I turned around I bumped into him.

'You are talking so happily with him, and you are not even looking at me.'

'Because he didn't lie to me,' I said with sarcasm.

'You are also hiding something from me Kavya and I know, you will tell me when you feel comfortable,' he said and he was right.

'But, there is a reason behind my hiding. Was there a reason behind you hiding the truth from me?' I asked and he nodded in a 'yes.'

'Then, I want to know the reason,' I said as I made tea for all of us.

'Okay. I will tell you,' he said.

'Thank you for understanding,' he continued.

'I felt like a fool, Kabir. When kaira was reading the news loudly, I could not believe my own ears. I felt like you fooled me and was enjoying it but now that you said there is a reason, I am feeling a bit at ease.'

'I am so sorry, Kavya,' he once again apologized.

'And is it necessary to travel by auto rickshaw everyday? I will ask Suraj to pick and drop you from school,' he said making me sigh.

'It's okay, Kabir. Thanks for caring for me but I can handle circumstances like this,' I told him.

'Then hire one permanant rickshaw driver who will drop you and pick you up from school,' he suggested.

'I thought about it but their charge is too much as they are giving personal service.'

'Don't worry about it. I will find a rickshaw driver for you. Not only at school, but he will drop you or come to pick you up from anywhere you want. You can ask him if you want to go anywhere, outside of school also,' he said as I poured tea for all of us.

'How are you so sure that you will get someone like that and that too at the same price I give outside? And how are you so sure he will always be available for me outside of school duties also. Please dont use your money to convince someone, kabir,' I told him.

'I am not using my money, kavya. I was thinking of asking Suraj. He has few friends who drives rickshaw,' he told me.

'You are a nice friend, Kabir. After so many years I got a genuine friend like you,' I said and looked at him to see that he was not even smiling.

He was just looking at me.

It's as if he is in some deep thought.

I gave him a cup of tea and he thanked me and I was happy that he came out of his head.

Even though I don't know his thoughts and whether they are happy or not but, I know that if they are not happy, they can ruin our mood and I don't want Kabir to be upset whole day.

I went in the bedroom to give Farhan a cup of tea.

'Thank you,' Farhan said as he took a cup of tea from my hand.

'The light is done,' he said as Kabir walked towards the bedroom and looked around.

'Thank you, Farhan,' I said and Farhan walked out of the bedroom and sat on the sofa.

I followed him and asked his rate and he told me his rate.

I opened my purse to see that I only have change, which made me remember I put some money on the night lamp yesterday.

I went in the bedroom to find Sohum's photo frame in Kabir's hand and in the other hand was a picture of me and Sohum looking at each other and laughing wholeheartedly which I kept on the night lamp yesterday.

Yesterday night, while I was organizing my cupboard, I found this picture and took it out to look at it and the memories of us didn't let me sleep yesterday which made me realize I did right by hiding all our photos in the cupboard because, whenever I look at it tears automatically roll down my cheeks.

'I will leave.' Kabir put the frame and the picture on the night lamp, gave me the cup and ran hurriedely making me confuse.

What happened to him?

He left without even finishing his tea?

Maybe, he got an important call.

But, his mobile was not even in his hands.

Our pictures and the frame was in his hand.

What suddenly happened to him?

*****

I hope you liked the chapter.

What do you think of Kavya?

Finally, she got to know the truth.

Did you expected her to be more angry than this?

But, how can she be very angry when she is also hiding something.

And, she still cries for Sohum :( :(

Is he being overboard by suggestting her for a personal rickshaw driver?

Any incident of yours, which happened to you in public transport?

What about Kabir?

Finally, he saw Sohum's photo and Sohum and Kavya picture together?

That was a bonus picture for him😃😃

Random question:- Funny incident about how you got pranked on april fool's day?

Please COMMENT and VOTE if you liked the chapter.

*****