Anaisha waited patiently for Kabir to say something. He had been quiet since that night! He didn't even utter a single word to her. He just became silent after she asked him about his past. She tried to pester him so that he would open up or at least speak to her but he didn't. She didn't try more because looking at his white, drained face, it was pretty clear, his past was something which was unbearably tormenting for him.

And Anaisha couldn't see him in such vulnerable and broken state, so she just told him, "It's okay, Kabir, if you still don't want to talk about it. Take your time and then open up about that incident. I'll wait for you to be comfortable before speaking out your past. I'm sorry if I hurt you!"

But he just dropped her home and left without a word! She knew she had touched his life's most dreaded phase. And she'll give him as much time as he wanted to share about it.

Though in her heart, she really wanted Kabir to trust her with whatever he was holding in the deepest chambers of his heart. And for that, he need to understand that she would never hurt him and would never leave him alone. And a small voice in Anaisha's mind told her that he would understand that someday, though sooner would be better.

Pretty much true to Anaisha's intuition, her request certainly had shaken Kabir quite badly. His past, that incident from which he had always tried to run away! That incident was something about which he had never dared to open up. Even the thought of that day brought tears in his eyes. That incident which happened 17 years ago!

But even then, he knew Anaisha had all the rights to question him about his past. There should be no secrets between them. Instead there should be total transparency. But he wasn't strong enough to let his worst memories, his most broken part to come out and be a source of pity and sympathy! From a young age, Kabir had only learnt to bottle his feelings up, didn't matter whether good or bad. That's why when he fell in love with Anaisha, he didn't let anyone know about it. It took him time to accept it himself that he was in love with her. And even more time to finally set himself free to accept her in his life.

But this was a different from that. His past! How could he let it out so easily that too, to Anaisha? It'd been just three months since they were in a relationship. And although they loved each other a lot but still it was quite early for this whole revelation thing.

Will she be able to understand him and his past? Will he be able to stay strong and confident after he came face-to-face with his past? Will her views about him change after this revelation? Will she see him as a weak person? Will she sympathise with him and show pity on him?
There were countless questions regarding his past and Anaisha's reaction after knowing about it. And he didn't seem to have answer for any of them, which was enough for him.

It had been three days since Kabir talked with her last. He had become very silent ever since that dinner night. Neither had he talked with her nor anybody else. He had stopped talking with everyone, altogether.

Whenever Anaisha tried to talk to him, he just refused to talk to her or excused himself. He was ignoring her, not because of being angry on her or upset with her but because he didn't know what to tell her or how to answer her questions.

And his this behaviour was not just noticed by Anaisha herself but by his close friends Aarav and Shaina, both whom were extremely worried and annoyed at the same time. Neither of the two could understand the reason for Kabir's indifferent behaviour toward everyone, particularly Anaisha.

As a matter of fact, both Aarav and Shaina were aware of his past, unknown to Kabir, Shaina was informed by Aarav about it. They knew it was painful for him, but his behaviour toward Anaisha was totally unjustified. But Aarav, being Anaisha's brother, didn't want to have a word with Kabir about this, as it wasn't comfortable or right.

But Shaina had enough, and so she decided to confront Kabir about it. Making up her mind to put some sense into her best friend, with firm steps, Shaina made her way to Kabir's office. Without wasting a minute on knocking the door, she walked in. An angry grimace on her face, she crossed her arms and lashed out at Kabir!

"What's wrong with you, Bir? Why are you doing this? Don't you have any idea how your behaviour is affecting other, in particular, your girlfriend, Anaisha? How can you act so dumb? You moron!"

Kabir, who at first hadn't noticed Shaina barging in his office, became startled on hearing her voice, and with shock on face, looked up at her. Her words had just then made themselves registered in his mind and taking a deep breath, he plainly said, "There's nothing wrong with me, Shaina. I'm just busy!"

"Busy my foot!" snapped Shaina, not in any mood to buy his lies. Settling on the chair infront of him, she glared at him, giving him enough clue to guess that she was no way going to take anything but truth from him.

"What's her fault in all this? Just because she asked you something about whose gravity she isn't aware of, you can't distance yourself from her. Why are you punishing her for asking about your past by ignoring her like this? It's not like she is the first person to ask you this. Your best friends, me and Aarav have asked you about your dreaded secrets, but that time you didn't react like this. Then why are you behaving with her so indifferently?" asked Shaina, in a very angry tone.

Kabir's eyes popped out as he heard Shaina mentioning about his past. How did she get to know about the issue between him and Anaisha, he wondered. Trying his best to not look intimidated, he calmly said, "How did you get to know about my issues with Anaisha?

"Is that even a question to ask now? Everyone knows there's something wrong with you two. But that's not important," said Shaina, irked with her best friend's idiocy, "What's more importat is your callousness towards your relationship with her. Just because she loves you, cares about you, doesn't give you the right to be a jerk to her. She's your girlfriend, but that doesn't mean you can behave like this with her. She has all the rights in the world to ask you about your life. You both are in a relationship, infact you say that you see your future with her after just three months of dating, then what's wrong in telling her what you have kept hidden till now? As far as you know her, you know she's not someone who'll give you sympathy or show pity on you. Infact she'll encourage you to come out of it. But to be honest what you're scared of is your own reaction and condition!"

Listening to all this, Kabir just stared at Shaina without blinking his eyes. All the things that she had said just now, made complete sense, but he didn't know if he was ready to believe it or not. His past was really a dark abyss, he didn't want to visit again. And Shaina got it right, his was afraid of his own reaction after revealing his past to Anaisha. He really didn't know how he will be after opening the deepest chambers of his heart or if Anaisha'll be able to handle him after that. The last time he tried to talk about it with Aarav, before he could even tell Aarav, he backed out of it due his emotional and mental state. Aarav being Aarav, never brought that topic up and Kabir was grateful for it.

His heart, which had also been on Anaisha's side, supported Shaina but his brain was telling him a different story, to stop him from accepting what his heart was standing for. And once again, a battle was going on inside him again. This was the second time his heart and mind were not on the same page, the first time when he was confused that whether he should accept his love for her or not.

"I don't know, Shaina," said Kabir, his voice devoid of every emotion except fear, "You're right, but I don't know what I should do. Yes, I'm afraid of my own reaction, because I don't want Anaisha to perceive me as weak and vulnerable after knowing about my past. You don't know how dark it is, the past that I've been carrying with myself for last 17 years. You don't understand that."

"Of course, I do," said Shaina, looking directly at Kabir.

"What?" asked Kabir, flustered.

Shaina looked down and sighingly, with vague embarrassment, said, "Aarav told me about it, after you were unable to share it with me. But trust me, your past really doesn't matter to me. For me, you're still my brave and strong best friend, who's just beyond perfection."

"Aarav told you about my past? But why did you never tell me about it? Why?" questioned Kabir, clearly miffed with this piece of information, he just got to know.

"Because of your reaction. This self-pitying and self-criticising that you do, it's not good for you, Kabir. And I never want you to do that because of me or anyone else," said Shaina, with tears in her eyes. "But this is not the time to talk about that, right? Right now, all I want to do, is to stop you from ruining your relationship with Anaisha, again, because life doesn't like giving second chances."

Just looking down at his hands, Kabir stayed mum. Somewhere inside him, he knew Shaina was right. He indeed was ruining his relationship with Anaisha. But his fears, how will he manage to keep himself together after revealing his mortifying past to Anaisha? He really didn't know.

"You should tell Anaisha everything which you have stored safely in the darkest chambers of your heart. Don't wait for the right time to come now," said Shaina, in a very soft tone, and giving his hand a squeeze.

His heart agreed with each and every word of Shaina, though his brain told him something different, and without looking up, he blankly said, "But what if after seeing my vulnerable side, she distanced herself from me? What if after coming so close to me, she used my past to hurt me? What if she....?"

"The same girl who didn't even utter a single word of hatred and anger when you were leaving her, who accepted you as you are without even thinking twice, who never get irritated with your possessiveness and protectiveness, who is ready to accept your family even after seeing the reality of your house, you're doubting her? Really, Bir? Is that much how you trust her?" said Shaina with disbelief, unable to digest the fact that Kabir could think like that about the only girl he'd ever loved.

Hanging his head down, in broken voice, Kabir said, "I do trust her and please don't doubt my love for her. It's just that, since you know how sensitive my past is to me, it's difficult for me to just open up about it with ease, it's really something so serious and tormenting. And now it all feels like a battle, I don't know whether I should let her in or not."

"You need to trust her with this. Because telling her your secrets might cause bit damage to your relationship but keeping it away from her will ruin your relationship completely! And you surely can't afford to lose her at any cost! Choose you pick wisely, Kabir," said Shaina quietly.

And it all fell silent after this. Kabir was contemplating what Shaina had told him, while Shaina was just staring at the paper weight, looking deep in thoughts. Reasoning out with his heart and mind, Kabir glanced at Shaina and easily guessed that something else was bothering her more than his problem at the moment.

Getting up from his place, he went and stood beside Shaina, completely forgetting his own issues. With his hand on Shaina's shoulder, he softly asked, "What's bothering you, Shaina? It's definitely not my issues that are troubling you so much. So, please speak out." A minute later, he added, "Does it have to do anything with your fertility issue?"

Shaina stayed quiet, trying to compose herself, which just concreted Kabir's doubt. Forcing a smile on her face, she looked up at Kabir and coolly said, "Nothing's bothering me, Kabir. You're just assuming thing."

But this time, Kabir wasn't ready to buy her lies and settling on the chair beside her, sternly said, "Don't tell me lies now. I want only the truth!"

Seeing his firm look, she finally let out a soft sob and few seconds later broke down completely in tears, making Kabir sigh. Shaina, even after being married for almost two years, was still unable to conceive. Being a gynaecologist herself, she got all the tests done and everything was normal. But still, she couldn't figure out what was wrong.

Wrapping his arms around her, Kabir first thought to console her, but then decided to let her cry as it would make her feel better. Shaina cried bitterly, unleashing her pain, as she knew Kabir was one of the few people who won't ever judge her and she could share her sorrows with him.

Some minutes passed in silence and Shaina finally gathered herself together again. Wiping her tears, she clasped her hands, and with a sad tone, said, "I don't know what's wrong, Kabir. After all the tests and regular checkups, I'm still unable to conceive. It's so heartbreaking, and I don't know what to do now."

"Is Sameer and his family troubling you over this? Look if they are, then I'll talk to them. You don't have to worry about anything," said Kabir soothingly.

Hearing this, Shaina immediately looked up at Kabir and indignantly said, "No, Kabir, you're getting it wrong. Sameer and Sameer's family is very supportive and cooperative with me. They are well educated and know these sort of things are not in one's hands. Infact my parents-in-law are very encouraging, and don't entertain anyone who talks rubbish about me. And Sameer, he's just very cool about everything. So please don't think about them like this."

"Okay, I won't. But please don't be upset yaar, everything will be fine. Your reports are normal, Sameer's reports are normal, so chillax. All will be okay, soon," said Kabir, smiling slightly.

"Yes, that's what I keep telling her, Kabir. But she never listens to me," said Sameer, standing at the door.

Both Shaina and Kabir's head turned in Sameer's direction and Shaina shook her head. Sameer walked inside and Kabir stood up to greet him.

"Hi, Sameer. What a pleasant surprise, well at least for me, I don't know about Shaina," said Kabir, forwarding his hand to Sameer.

Shaking hands with him, Sameer smilingly said, "Hello, Kabir. Well yeah I agree with you."

"Shut up, both of you!" grumbled Shaina.

Both Sameer and Kabir broke into splits, making Shaina glare at them. This made both the men to suppress their chuckles, which made Shaina smile.

"C'mon, have a seat Sameer, let's have coffee. It's been quite long since we last had a good conversation," said Kabir.

"I'd love to, Kabir, but," said Sameer, walking over to Shaina and side hugging her, "me and my wife are going for dinner today, so maybe some other day. If you want, you can join us."

But before Kabir could politely refuse for becoming a third wheel, Shaina interrupted them by flatly saying, "No, Sameer, Kabir won't join us today. He has to resolve issues with his girlfriend. So, today he'd think of a way to do so, right, Kabir?"

Kabir sighed and defiantly replied, "Yes, yes, Shaina." Turning to Sameer, he added, "I can't go against your wife now."

"Well, I agree with you, Kabir. But Shaina's right. You should first resolve issues with your girlfriend, it's not good to keep a girl upset, it's unfair with her," said Sameer and pulling Shaina toward himself, he added, "just like I do. I never let her be upset, though I tell you she's quite hard to please."

"Really, Sameer? I'm hard to please. C'mon now, let's go home, I'll show you how hard it is to please me," said Shaina rather sweetly. Turning on her heels, she turned and left Kabir's office.

As she left, Kabir passed Sameer a sympathetic look, which he returned with a small smile. Shaking his head, Sameer said coolly, "Don't worry, this is usual. Though I still stand by my point that she's hard to please, but I'd like to add that I love challenges and so her. I'll see you later. And do sort out things with Anaisha, Kabir. Bye!" And with this, Sameer followed his wife's suit and left Kabir's office.

With Sameer's departure, Kabir was again engrossed by his heart and mind in an internal battle, and he settled on his black chair. Though he was sure that Shaina was right, he didn't know how to go ahead with her advice.

It was evening and Kabir was sitting in his balcony, still contemplating Shaina's advice and a way to subside his fears of being heartbroken. All this, while smoking a cigarette, which he had touched after a long time as his girlfriend clearly had made him know that she wasn't very fond of cigarettes or man who smoked. And certainly, he knew he was once more going back on his words by smoking cigarette again. So extinguishing the half burned cigarette, he was about to take a sip of his black coffee, when his phone buzzed. Picking up his smartphone from the small coffee table, he unlocked it, only to find a WhatsApp message from Anaisha.

Anaisha: I'M VERY SORRY KABIR IF BECAUSE OF ME YOU ARE HURT. I SHOULDN'T HAVE ASKED ABOUT YOUR PAST LIKE THIS. I'M VERY SORRY! BUT PLEASE DON'T BEHAVE LIKE THIS WITH ME. AT LEAST JUST REPLY TO MY MESSAGES IF YOU AREN'T READY TO TALK TO ME. PLEASE! WE CAN TALK AND SORT OUT OUR ISSUES. YOUR SILENCE AND ISOLATION HASN'T DONE ANY GOOD EVER. NEITHER NOW NOR BEFORE!
STILL IT'S UP TO YOU NOW. BUT PLEASE DON'T AVOID ME LIKE THIS.
I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU! :) ❤

A sigh escaped his lips after reading her message. He was going back on his words, wasn't he? He promised her he won't hurt her and leave her alone. But that's what he was doing now.

Damn! This wasn't correct, Shaina was absolutely right. He shouldn't be distancing himself from Anaisha like this. He doing avoid her, for it was damn harmful for their relationship, which he didn't want to happen. And the only way to avoid it, was to tell Anaisha the truth, to let her in instead of keeping her out with the walls he had created around himself. He'd chose her over his fears and he knew this was the right choice.

"Hello? Kabir? I'm very sorry, Kabir. I shouldn't have pestered you like that. It's your secrets, your past and it's your right whether you want to tell me or......," said Anaisha as soon as she received Kabir's call.

"Can you come over to my house now? Please! If you want I'll pick you up. It's important and urgent!" said Kabir with hints of poignancy in his voice, cutting in between whatever Anaisha was speaking.

And for a few seconds, Anaisha became silent. She didn't know why but she felt something was either wrong or was about to happen as she sensed Kabir's pain in his voice. Was he ready to share his past?

Anaisha knew that she shouldn't had asked him about his past, she could guess that from Kabir's behaviour with her for past few days. He didn't talk to her, nor replied to her messages or calls. If he wanted to stay alone for some time then it was okay but ignoring her was not okay and atleast he should've spoken to her about it. But maybe he was absolutely ready now, she hoped.

"Anaisha?" he asked sensing her confused state.

"H-Haan, Kabir?" replied Anaisha stutteringly, startled on hearing his voice as it brought her back from her thoughts.

"You are coming or should I come to pick you up?" asked Kabir once again in the same tone as earlier.

"You come and pick me up in 15 minutes," said Anaisha, trying her best to conceal her anxiety.

"Fine, I'll be there in 15," said Kabir and immediately he ended the call.

As he said, Kabir reached Anaisha's home in record time. Only Aarav, Leher and Advay were at her home, others had left for a wedding of one of their family friends' wedding in Jaipur, for which Kabir's parents and GM had gone too. Anaisha was waiting for him only, dressed in a simple sweatshirt and denim shorts.

There wasn't much exchange of words between Kabir or any of Anaisha's family members. Kabir only spoke before leaving with her for his home.
"Pick Anaisha from my house when I'll call you, okay?" said Kabir, looking directly at Aarav.

His expression, made Aarav want to quiz about something he was doubting but he just gave an affirmative nod in reply. Not just him, but Leher and Advay, also had noticed something strange about Kabir. He seemed.... depressed and broken. And the way he was talking, so serious and dull voice, that was unusual about him, he never sounded so poignant or weak. Aarav just hoped in his heart it wasn't what he thought it to be. But if it was, then he wished it to make everything be right for Kabir.

"Kabir, why did you ask me to come over to your house that too at this hour?" asked Anaisha with concerned filled voice and hints of curiousity. She could guess easily that he was not well, emotionally. Something was just not right.

"I'm sorry, Anaisha, for being a jerk all these days! I'm really sorry! I wasn't avoiding you purposely. It just that I wasn't ready to face my past like this. I wasn't prepared for it. I thought maybe it would ruin our relationship. I'm scared of losing you, Anaisha, that's why I didn't wanted to tell you about it," said Kabir, not actually meeting Anaisha's eyes as he was quite guilty.

He stopped the car, and now with all of his guts and strength, turned his face in Anaisha's direction to look at her. She was looking calm, but he could see her concern for him, which made him firmer in his decision. Taking a deep breath, he resumed speaking, a little more vulnerable, but he didn't care anymore.
"But in these three days, I've realized there's no way I could keep running away from it. You are my present and hopefully my future, and this gives you the right to ask me about anything about my life because then only you will be able to understand me better. That day when you asked me about my family's past, neither was I prepared to open my heart and narrate it to you nor I had the strength to even try doing that. But now I'm prepared for it. This is the right time for you to know about my darkest secrets and my childhood wounds which are still unhealed!"

Once done speaking, he observed Anaisha's face which was calm and neutral and he knew his decision was right, at least it won't cause him trouble later. But in his heart he did fear her reaction, because Anaisha wasn't actually predicable, just like him.

His words made Anaisha sure that relationship was just about to get strengthen and she'd support Kabir through everything. She knew his past would break him, but she'd be his strength and would be him until the end. Though somewhere she did wonder about his past.

But it was just a little bit more wait now. As all the questions will be answered once he opened his heart!