"I am not grumpy."

• ♡ •

It was when the third song ended that they heard the doorbell ring. Heer was startled by the sound. They were lost in a world of their own. She finally comprehended their closeness. She could still feel his arm wrapped around her waist. She gently pulled her hand back from his shoulder and placed it on his arm. "It must be Misha and Rohan," she said softly. 

"Yeah," he mumbled his eyelashes flickering a little before his gaze interlocked with hers. "Must be," he added, while his hold around her loosened. Heer nodded briefly, she felt like how Cinderella would have probably felt when the clock struck twelve.

Kabir didn't want to let her go. He was extremely lovesick. He needed all of Heer he could get. She was... unique. Her smile, those chocolate brown eyes filled with mystery that looked at him with never ending hope, the warmth that her presence radiated, in short everything about Heer drove him crazy. And of course, there was the big elephant in the room called sexual tension. He needed her more than he thought he did. If she felt he same way, then why on earth would she not accept it?

He held her wrist in time, causing her to turn back slightly to look at him. "Thank you,"

Heer's heart raced. That grip his hand had on her wrist set her skin on fire. "For?" She asked puzzled.

Dancing with me. "Sharing your earphones," he replied and almost instantly a smile broke out on his face. 

An involuntary blush appeared on Heer's face. Somehow his phrase meant more than what he was saying to her. Tossing a smile his way she took hurried steps inside. Her heart was worse than Olaf, it melted away by just one look from Kabir.

Misha and Rohan seemed to have made up, their tangled hands gave testimony. Misha suggested on returning home with her husband. Anxiety hit Heer. Misha leaving meant privacy. With the fire that was blazing between her and Kabir, she was sure there would be fire blasts, of the two of them were left alone. Heer didn't trust herself to not get into anything with him being on the same bed. "Why don't you both stay the night?" She suggested at once. Yeah, that way Advika would sleep with them, preventing anything that could happen between them.

Misha felt Rohan's hand inch up to caress her back and she knew what that meant. "No,umm Heer, we'll go back now. Rohan...uhh, has an important meeting early tomorrow morning. So he'll... you know... need me." Misha could swear she heard Rohan stifle his chuckle under his cough. She smiled at Heer wanting to kick her husband right away.

"Yeah, Heer. Anyway Misha has troubled you all enough!" Rohan added.

"That's correct," came Kabir's voice and Heer could swear it did something to her. From the feels of it, a lot more than her heart was melting.

"Shut up, Bhai," Misha muttered. "Where's Advi?" She asked looking around.

"Busy solving the puzzle," Kabir answered glancing at Heer. Her cheeks seemed slightly flushed. Owing to the light perhaps, he thought turning to look at Rohan. "So, did you guys sort out whatever it was?"

Misha glanced at Rohan sheepishly. "Yes, we did," Rohan replied.

"Good then." Kabir spoke aloud and then whispered something into Rohan's ears, which caused Rohan to chuckle. 

"What are you whispering?" Misha asked folding her arms, narrowing her eyes at the two men. 

"Nothing," Kabir replied moving away from Rohan.

Misha threw a warning glance Rohan's way. He quickly diverted the topic saying, "we two should get going," 

"You two aren't staying the night?" Kabir asked puzzled.

"No," Rohan answered repeating his wife's reason. Kabir nodded thoughtfully. 

"Kabir," Heer spoke as they tidied the hall up after Misha and Rohan had left. "Uh, I will sleep with Advika." Heer finally spoke, gathering a fistful of confidence, hoping he didn't ask for a reason. There was no way she could voice out that she needed to stay away from him.

"Yeah, yeah, sure," Kabir mumbled relieved. Sleeping on the same bed with Heer and not being able to even touch her would be torture. He quietly walked into the kitchen. Heer sighed deeply and hurriedly made her way to their room to change for the night.

* * *

Heer lay wide awake on the bed running the events of the day in her mind. Advika had her slender arm over Heer's abdomen, she was fast asleep. Heer gently caressed the girl's arm lost in her thoughts. She just couldn't seem to stop thinking about Kabir, about their little event in the kitchen or their dance in the balcony. Kabir invoked strong emotions in her just like Advika did. She had begun craving for Kabir. It was hard to not feel those butterflies or the warmth when she was around him. She rolled her lower lip into her mouth biting at it. 

She kept staring at the wall. Her mind just wouldn't stop thinking. She sighed, deciding to step out into the balcony for some cold air. Perhaps that would make help her deal with the twisted and tangled thoughts scattered around in her mind. She quietly slipped out and into the balcony.

When she gently slid the door after stepping into the balcony and turned she was momentarily startled to find a figure against the railing. Her heartbeat began to fall to normal rhythm when she looked into his eyes. "Still up?" She asked walking up to him. 

"Yeah," Kabir replied looking at her. Her hair was open and unkempt. She wore a black full sleeved shrug over the pale pink camisole. His eyes quickly drifted down to the white balloon pants. He held back his smile and looked away. "Couldn't sleep?" He asked knowing the answer.

"Yeah," she mumbled folding her arms as the breeze blew against her frame. Couldn't stop thinking about you.

Kabir glanced at her. Their eyes met. He noticed how she rubbed her fingers on her arm to keep herself warm. He knew he had to address those question looming in his head. Why wouldn't she accept him?

"Can I ask you something?" He spoke finally taking a deep breath. 

Heer blinked hesitantly, "Yeah, shoot away," she pulled her lips into a smile with utmost effort. Please don't ask questions I don't want to answer.

"Why?" He asked softly. 

Heer's forced smile quickly vanished. She knew what he meant. "What do you mean?" She said looking away at the railing. The scent in the air announced the arrival of rain.

"You know what I mean," he said softly,  his eyes looking at her. Judging by the way she refused to look at him, she definitely knew.

"No," she replied glancing at him afterwards.

Kabir stepped closer. Heer felt her heart plummet. Please don't, she silently requested him. Within seconds, he was standing before her. An alarm went off in Heer's mind. Their physical proximity wasn't good. She turned aside to step away but his hands blocked her way in time. She looked up at him caged between him and the railing, with his arms on either side of her.

"Kabir," she pleaded.

"Why is it so hard for you to accept me, Heer?" He asked softly. His eyes not even flickering for a bit. His gaze clawed at her heart. The longer she looked, more the secrets his eyes revealed. He was hurting.

"Kabir, I.." she paused waiting for her mind to come up with words that would help her escape. 

"Don't," he spoke, his warm breath fanning her face, " Don't lie, just answer it Heer. I know. I know what you feel for me."

Heer felt helpless at the moment. Her brain wouldn't coordinate with her heart. She loved him. "I don't know what I feel for you, how would you know?" She spoke her eyes staring at the black tshirt he had on. 

"You're lying, Heer. You know and I know, we both know what you feel, what I feel for you. Am I doing something wrong?"

Heer's gaze flew up to meet his eyes instantly. "No," the word slipped out of her mouth before her brain could process the possible outcomes of being honest. "I mean," Heer tried rectifying the situation.

"I know what you mean, just tell me what's not right?" He asked desperately. 

"Nothing is right," she answered looking away.

"Heer,"

"I don't feel anything for you. I don't want to either," she said stubbornly at the verge of crying. She was trying to convince her heart more than him. Kabir's lips pulled up slightly forming a ghost of smile.

He leaned closer, his lips centimeters away from her cheek. Her hands reached up to his chest with the intention to keep him away. She didn't want to give in. But the instant her palms pressed against the soft material of his tshirt, she felt warmth. The warmth she had been craving for. She felt his rhythmic heartbeat. Her eyes met his partly open ones. "Please don't," she whispered.

Kabir looked at her, longingly. He lowered his eyelids further and kissed her cheek ignoring her request. "I know what you feel Heer. I can't understand why you don't want it..."

Heer's fingers grasped onto the fabric of his shirt tightly. She needed more of the warmth. She needed those arms to hold her. She wanted all the love he felt for her. Her heart was already his. But she couldn't give it to him. She feared it would be broken again. 

"Heer don't you trust me? Is it because of what Rajeev did to you? Did he hurt you so bad that... you... can't trust me?"

Heer closed his eyes taking in a sharp breath. He was reaching close. And the closer he got, the weaker her guards would become. 

He was keenly observing her reactions. "Heer, please trust me. I would never hurt you," he whispered placing another kiss on her cheek as a token of promise.

Heer's right hand moved up to his shoulder. It was now or never. She needed to back out before she ended up in ruins again. She pulled her head away arching backward creating distance between them.

Kabir sighed, his patience jad close to depleted. The constant rejection from her was now hurting him. "Everything's perfect Heer," he tried to change her mind, in an attempt to make her see things as he saw them.

"It always seems like that Kabir. It's fairytale perfect in the beginning and then it all crumbles away like a sand castle. It only hurts in the end." She said aloud this time, irritated at his constant attempt to put down her walls. She feared he was succeeding. She wanted to give in again. 

His hurt bottled up, finally found a vent and he snapped, "Heer just because one relationship went south, you can't assume it will always be like that. It's not fair to me, Heer. Just because one guy broke your heart..." he stopped short seeing tears appear in her eyes. Shit, he never wanted to be the reason behind those tears. 

Before he could say something to erase what he had said, she spoke. This time loud and clear, like fireballs shot with aim. "No. You're wrong. I always end up with a broken heart no matter who I love. Rajeev was a spineless douchebag. I did try to move on. I did move on after everything. Started from scratch after an ugly breakup, abortion and a family who hated me. I did move on Kabir. I freaking did put my self together." A pregnant pause followed while she looked at him like a king defeated in war. "I got hurt again."

Kabir took a deep breath, his eyes followed the tear that rolled down her cheek. He raised his thumb rubbing it away. He didn't know what to say at the moment. He knew Heer was messed up. Every relationship she had had, probably left a scar on her. He was torn between being angry and feeling empathy for her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. At once, she pressed her forehead against his chest. He knew she was silently crying. He rested his chin over her head gently caressing her arms and back.

Heer didn't know how, but she always ended up being vulnerable before Kabir. What was worst? She felt at peace. Maybe this was why Kabir was different. She wasn't the kind to cry and seek comfort from others, but with Kabir she was always like that.She loved the feeling of being in his arms. She felt secure, protected and loved just as one feels at home. She wrapped her arms around the trunk of his body, melting away into the unceasing comfort he provided.

After a prolonged period of silence, Kabir spoke up, "it's raining, let's go in."

Heer opened her eyes, his black tshirt coming into view. She pulled away steadily. Fighting her need to be in his arms. Withdrawing from his warmth made her realise that the night had got unpleasant chillier. She felt his hand press gently against her back leading her in. She quietly walked. She couldn't think at the moment. She was exhausted, emotionally and mentally. She heard the sliding door shut, cutting out the howling wind.  

"Heer,"

"We should sleep," she said quickly meeting his eyes as he came forward.

"Yeah," he nodded in agreement. His gaze fixed on her, seeming to tell he that he was right there for her.

Heer stepped closer and leaned forward, placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, good night." Whispering those words into his ear she turned around and walked until she reached Advika's room. Once inside she made a beeline for the washroom. The tears she had held back cascading down her cheeks one after the other in rapid succession.

Kabir exhaled sharply, and turned to walk into his room with heavy steps. He sat on the bed running his hand through his hair. He was exhausted, he took a deep breath putting out the bed lamp and lay on his bed waiting for sleep to take over.

* * *

"Good morning," Heer greeted Kabir entering the kitchen. As usual, she woke up late. She didn't even know when Advika was gone from her side. 

"Morning," he wished softly looking up at her instantly. Their eyes meeting. His smile disappeared when he saw her puffy eyes. He looked down at the pan. She silently perched herself upon the usual kitchen stool.

"Couldn't sleep all night or ..." he looked up at her, "you were crying?"

"Can we not talk about yesterday," Heer muttered looking aside at the leguminous seeds that Kabir had put into a big bowl full of water to germinate for his salad dressings.

"Technically, it was after twelve," Kabir spoke, pushing a cup of tea before her. Heer's lips instantly twisted finding it amusing. She glanced at him to find him sharing the same amusement.

"You are making dosas," Heer spoke smiling as he flipped the dosa on the pan.

Kabir chuckled softly, "I can't make dinosaurs,"

"Am I in an alternative reality? You don't seem like the regular Kabir Jaisinghani."

"Regular, seriously?" He exclaimed looking up at her amused. "What am I now? A double or a triple?"

"Wrong drink!" Heer answered with a smooth grin.

"Hmmm, hopefully better than regular?"

Heer feigned to ponder, "certainly smiles are better than grumpy faces,"

Kabir frowned, "I am not grumpy." He looked away from her putting another dosa on the pan. No one had ever called him grumpy, let alone the multiple times. He looked up when he heard a soft chuckle. His heart suddenly jumping at the sound and sight. 

"Okay, Mr. Grumpy-Not,"

Kabir didn't say anything. He wanted to make her smile and he succeeded. He focused on making dosas while she sipped on her tea looking at him. He had gotten used to her watching him work, sometimes she looked on with awe, at times attentively as though to learn and at other times, she was simply lost in her mind.

As much as Heer wanted to pay attention to how he made dosas so perfectly and learn from him, she was lost admiring how perfect Kabir was. Could a man like that really fall for a screwed up case like her.

He settled on the kitchen stool beside her. With an easy silence, occasionally broken by phrases to communicate, they had breakfast. Each lost in the workings of their mind. 

"Kabir, I wanted to talk about..." Heer had begun with determination but was broken by the loud ring of his phone. She turned around and pricked up the device from the holder and passed it to him. Her eyes catching the name of the caller - Rhea.

"Hey, morning Rhea," Kabir spoke lifting the call glancing at Heer thoughtfully. The person on the other end said something that broke his gaze and widened his eyes a wee bit. "Yeah, Yeah, I was just leaving home. I will be there, of course. See you." He spoke ending the call. "Crap, I forgot I had a meeting with Rhea,  she's the interior designer." He informed her getting off the stool hurriedly chewing on the last few bites of his breakfast.He looked around the messed up kitchen warily.

"Kabir you go, I will take care of it."

He looked at her with doubtful eyes. "I promise I won't break anything."

"Okay," he said immediately and ran out of the kitchen. Heer had barely finished her breakfast and put the used dishes into the sink when he reappeared dressed in denim trousers and a blue shirt. Heer tried focusing on his face rather than his remaining body. Every time she was building up her cracking guard walls, he appeared like forbidden temptation before her.

"It may take long. Tentatively, I will be back by two." He told her. She nodded. He looked at her, "okay?"

"Yeah,"

"Heer you were talking about something.." he prompted.

"It can wait," Heer gave him a reassuring smile.

"Cool, bye!" He smiled and then in the blink of an eye, his one hand reached her cheek, while his lips pressed agaisnt the other. "Take care!" He mumbled making his way out.

Heer stood rooted at the spot for a minute. Her hand then reached her cheek, her mind replaying his words, a wide smile broke out her face. Was her heart still with her? 

Had an extremely busy week so this chapter took longer. Would love to have your thoughts on it.

Also, welcome to the new readers. I have been getting a bunch of messages from new readers. I am really happy you are on board. 

Do consider voting on the chapters if you're liking this story.

Until next update!