"I kissed her!"

• ♡ •

Heer just couldn't stop smiling. She was officially offered the role of one of the leads in the play. The musical theater was about two step sisters and mainly revolved around their romantic interests and childhood. Raghav Dixit was delighted to see her. She was actually surprised he remembered her. He had given her the brief overview of the storyline. Heer's excitement knew no bounds when he offered her the contract. She had literally read it twice on the way home. It seemed a sound contract. The only hitch was that the play would be performed in five different cities in India. Heer wondered how they would tackle that. 

Nonetheless she was happy. It was literally like a dream come true for her. She owed it to Kabir. Had he not brought it up she would have let the opportunity go. If she had to join the troop, she had to do it in a week's time because most of the cast was already ready to begin the practice.

"Hey!" Kabir opened the door greeting her. 

"Hi!" Heer greeted, entering inside quickly reaching the shoe rack to get rid off her sandals. 

"Where's Advika?" She asked not seeing her shoes at the rack.

"She had the annual day rehearsal today!" He spoke walking towards the kitchen. 

"Oh, right!" Heer spoke quickly washing her hands. 

"Guess what?" She asked excitedly.

"What?" Kabir asked looking at her as she entered with a box of probably pastries.

"You got promoted?" He asked puzzled. Wasn't it too early for promotion? He wondered.

"Raghav Dixit had called me over," she began, as she placed the box inside the fridge.

Kabir's eyes widened as she grinned looking at him. "And?"

"He said he wanted me to play the role of Laasya!" Heer completed placing a hand on the counter as she stood before him.

"Seriously?" He asked appalled. It didn't look like she was playing him.

Heer smiled widely, "he offered me the contract!" 

"Wow, that's ..." Kabir was at a loss of words looking at her. He was so happy for her. He could see her face glowing with happiness.

"Brilliant?" Heer asked smiling like a Cheshire cat.

"Definitely!" Kabir muttered elated, wrapping his arms around her. Heer didn't see that coming, nonetheless she hugged him back. She definitely needed that hug.

"You should definitely take it!" Kabir mumbled.

"I can't believe it... it's like a dream come true!" Heer gushed basking in his embrace.

Kabir pulled away cupping her face, "I told you nothing wrong in pursuing it!"

"Thank you for that!" Heer smiled. 

Their lips were barely inches away. His gaze dropped to her lips as she spoke. His gaze climbed up to her eyes again only to find them looking at his lips as her own lips parted slightly. In the next moment his lips were on hers. Both unable to contain themselves, gave in, with no thoughts whatsoever. 

Heer had never felt so cherished. The kiss slow, soft and comforting. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek. Her palms fisted at his shirt around his waist. 

Heer's clutch on his shirt tightened as his tongue made contact with hers. She moaned leaning closer refusing to let the contact break. 

Kabir was aware of his heart that pounded crazily. Her scent, her closeness, her soft cheeks and the feel of her luscious lips drove him crazy. She let out a soft moan as he tilted her face deepening the kiss. Oh, he loved those forgotten things his body felt. His body was aroused demanding for attention. He broke away realizing that. 

Heer was breathless, she inhaled laboriously staring at him. Realization slowly seeped in. Oh no! She had kissed him. His eyes were glued to hers. The realization seemed to be hitting him too. 

"I, I will, " Heer's voice croaked, she swallowed hard, her mouth feeling the heated electrifying sensations, as the aftermath of the kiss. "Freshen up!" She managed to say softly. She turned away and quickly walked out of the kitchen. She had just kissed Kabir, and it felt so good. The kiss was mindblowing. What on earth was wrong with her!

Kabir blinked leaning on the counter. He closed his eyes, inhaling sharply. That was something. He had no clue how it happened. But he was glad it did, he felt his every fiber aroused. He wanted that again. He wanted her in his arms, kissing him like that again. He breathed heavily opening his eyes. He turned around and placed his hands on the kitchen counter,  leaning over it. He had kissed Heer.

His gaze flickered and stopped at his engagement ring. He shut his eyes. He didn't want to betray Varsha. But Heer invoked feelings and desires in him. He wanted to be her husband. Like he was for Varsha. He wanted to see Heer as his wife, not just Advika's mother. He walked around and sat on the kitchen stool, running his hands through his hair. His gaze found a way back to the ring. Maanav's words echoed in his ears. He shut his eyes hoping it would shut down everything running on his mind. 

* * * 

Heer was baffled. Off late she had started enjoying Kabir's company. She liked the fact that he was losing his guard around her. They made great companions. But the kiss, oh she couldn't forget about it. It obviously wasn't new to her. But after years being so physically close to a man had her hormones messing with her. But more than that it was the sparks that she felt. Those sparks between two people were dangerous. 

Going back to the kiss, Kabir was a A plus at it. She found herself replaying the scene in her head even though she sat in the front of her laptop pretending to work. She still felt the tingles where his thumbs had brushed her cheeks. This wasn't right. Heer shouldn't be thinking of him like that. He was still committed to his late wife. It was just an act of impulsive excitement. 

Kabir did exactly what Heer was doing. Pretending that the kiss never happened and keeping away from her. He was trying to figure out what was right and what was wrong. The last time he kissed a woman, it was Varsha. The morning of the day she had left them forever. 

A part of him scolded him. Varsha was his past and Heer was his present. It wasn't wrong to have strong feelings of affection for a woman you were married to. They barely exchanged any words or even looks after that. 

In the evening when he was at the gym all alone he decided he needed to talk. His thoughts and feelings were all over the place. "Hi, Maanav!"

"Kabir!" Maanav greeted cheerfully.

"How are you?" Kabir asked.

"Come on, you didn't call to ask that?" Maanav spoke up as he fixed his tie.

"Getting ready for office?" Kabir asked as he noticed his brother fix his grey colored tie on the video call screen.

"Kabir, what is it?"

Kabir sighed, he didn't even know how to put it in words. He raised his hand to let Maanav notice the missing engagement ring.

"Oh wow! So you finally decided to move on!" Maanav smiled.

"Because it made me feel guilty," Kabir spoke dejectedly.

Maanav's smile faded, "What happened?"

Kabir looked away. Maybe calling Maanav wasn't a good idea. 

"You shouldn't feel guilty about moving on, Kabir!"

"I kissed her!" Kabir finally spelled it out.

"Okay, that's step one. Kabir, you--"

"We have been ignoring ea h other after that, pretending it never happened." Kabir spoke up. It bothered him.

"Oh, damn! Are you crazy Kabir? She is your wife. What are you a teenager? You need to talk to her about it."

"What if I crossed the line?" Kabir asked pissed at himself. Everything was going good. 

"Kabir, listen. She is your wife. She is not a teenager either. You guys have to talk it out. Ignoring it altogether won't work. And Kabir, I am proud that you moved on. But if you took of the ring because you feel guilty about it, then put it on back. You are not cheating on Varsha. She is a closed chapter. Accept it and move on. Feeling guilty about it is not right. Heer is your wife now, Varsha was once upon a time. Kabir, don't be so hard on yourself. It's not just Advika who deserves a mother, you need a partner too. Talk it out, please. And... don't give up. Kabir, be yourself... you ar not yourself ever since Varsha left. Moving on isn't forgetting the past, it's accepting it."

Kabir nodded, "Thank you!" 

Maanav smiled, "Thank you, for making me feel like a big bro at times."

Kabir chuckled, "Have a good day!"

"I will. Good night!" 

Kabir ended the call and exhaled sharply. Maybe Maanav was right. He should talk it out. 

* * * 

"Hey," Kabir said stepping into the balcony that night. Heer generally spent a few minutes in the balcony after tucking in Advika. 

Heer turned and looked at him.

He pushed his hands into the pockets of his trackpants. "Heer, what happened today..."

"Kabir, let's not talk about it." Heer replied quickly folding her arms. 

Kabir stared at her. Dressed in a simple tunic and balloon pants she managed to look adorable. "Heer,"

"I know," she cut him off. "It shouldn't have happened. We both just got excited and... I know you made it clear you are not looking for a romantic relationship." Heer spoke looking at her feet. "Let's just forget what happened. I really... appreciate what we have Kabir. You are ...a friend, I wouldn't want to loose." Heer spoke looking up to meet his gaze. "I respect you and admire you for what you are. You have always been there for me. Please, don't let whatever happened today change that." 

Kabir stared at her. She left him puzzled. Didn't she love him? Why was she putting him in the friendzone then? He looked into her pleading eyes. "Nothing will change," he said softly giving in to her plead of her eyes. 

A small smile grew on he face. "Thanks Kabir." 

He nodded and looked away. Few minutes later she walked inside leaving him alone. Kabir rolled his lower lip inward and bit at it. He wanted to be more than a friend. He was clear about what he wanted more than ever now. He wanted more than just friendship from Heer. But he was confused about what she wanted. At one moment she made it clear that she loved him and liked him, at the other she pushed him into the friendzone. 

He replayed her words in head. Did she ... did she think that he didn't want anything other than friendship? Oh, crap. Maybe his ignorance made her think that the kiss was a mistake. She still thought he didn't want anything from her. He sighed. Maybe he could steadily change her mind. That would be the best way to let things sink in for him too. Baby steps. Seemed like a good idea. Steadily his lips curved up. 

Heer quickly slipped inside the comforter. She didn't want to talk to him when he came to the room. She had made sure to place the pillows between them, like they did every night. She didn't like how she was attracted to him suddenly. She didnt like how when he spoke to her, her thoughts wandered to his lips. Kabir was a nice man. She didn't want him to have low opinion about her. She didn't want to let him down. He was there for her unlike anybody else. She didn't want to lose the only friend she had. After so many years she finally had someone she could count upon and trust. She didn't want to spoil everything this time around. But that kiss.... it wouldn't leave her mind.

Woosh finally! What do you think after this one?