"Okay, time please! A player is down."

• ♡ •

Kabir woke up shutting the blaring alarm. As usual, the lady beside him slept oblivious to her surroundings. It had been more than a month now to their marriage, he still couldn't figure out how she slept peacefully even when the alarm blared. He got off the bed stretching himself.

After freshening up he reached his daughter's room. She was already awake and brushing her teeth. He smiled tidying up the bed. She walked out and ran to him. "Good morning, Paa!" She wished.

He picked her up in his arms kissing her cheek. "Morning, princess!" She giggled hugging him. 

"You said I was a big girl. You must not lift me up then.." she pouted settling in his arms, looking at him.

"Hmm, but, you'll always be my little girl."

Advika giggled. "Where are we going to go today?" She asked excitedly, she always looked forward to weekends.

"Where does my princess want to go?" He asked walking out of the room, towards the kitchen with his daughter in his arms.

"Can we go to film-city?" 

"Hmm, seriously?"

"Please!

"Okay! But we'll have to leave early then. It's quite far."

"Okey-dokey!" She grinned.

"Where did you learn that?" He asked smiling.

"Umm, the movie..."

"Ahaan, too many movies these days." He exclaimed putting her down on the kitchen stool. 

"They're fun and hilarious. You should watch them too, Paa. We watched Charlie and the chocolate factory yesterday."

"Hmm," he answered gathering his ingredients for breakfast.

"Advi, do me a favor, go wake your mom up. If we are going to the film-city we must hurry."

"Okay!" Advika grinned hurriedly getting off the stool. Maybe she could snuggle a bit with her mom on bed. She ran out of the kitchen, Kabir shook his head smiling until the ring of his phone interrupted him. He inhaled staring at the caller id. Misha.

"Hello, Bhai!" Misha's voice was heard loud and clear as he settled the phone putting the call on speaker mode.

"Morning Mish!" He wished.

"Sleeping yet?"

"It's eight... why would I be sleeping?"

"It's a Saturday because?" Misha gave him a reason.

"You called for...?" He cued her to get to the point.

"I am arriving on Tuesday evening."

"Cool, I will be there to pick you up. Drop me a text message with the flight details."

"I can take a cab actually."

"I will be there, Misha." His voice was decisive.

"Fine, bro. So, how is it going with Heer?"

He stopped smashing the potatoes, staring at the phone screen. "So far okay."

"It's been a month. You still haven't warmed up to her?"

"I don't know what you mean by that." He said focusing on preparing the breakfast.

"You know what I mean. Anyway, let me talk to her..."

"She's sleeping." He muttered. 

"Really?"

"Yeah, she's a pretty late riser."

"Wow," Misha exclaimed Kabir blinked trying to understand why she reacted like that. "Where's my cutie pie?" She asked.

"Trying to wake her mom up!" Kabir rolled his eyes. 

"Oh, umm, nice. Any way I will be coming soon. "

"Yeah."

"Show some excitement for your sister's wedding will yaa?"

"Yay, Misha, I am so excited," Kabir spoke in a bland voice.

"Urgh, bye sulk-er!"  Misha spoke ending eye call.

Kabir sighed, what was her freaking problem on earth! He had finished preparing the dough and the stuffing for the parathas and Advi still wasn't back. Unless she was in bed sleeping with Heer. He scoffed washing his hands walking towards his bedroom. 

He entered the room and his eyes widened at what he saw. Heer was on her knees on the bed and Advika was on her feet on the bed. The two were having a pillow fight. "Advi, Heer! What the hell?"

"Mom, attack!" Advika declared charging towards him. 

"What?" He muttered horrified. She was pretty serious about that. He got a soft blow from the pillow. He quickly turned sideways, "Mom!" Advika squealed in excitement. Heer giggled running to her. She hoisted her up so that she could give more blows. Damn, it was fun seeing him get pillow hits. 

"Advi, stop." He muttered backing off, Heer only stepped closer with Advika in her arms. "Girls stop!" He muttered backing off but the two only charged towards him. He gave up protesting and ran around, soon both of them were chasing him. He picked up the cushions from the sofa in the living hall throwing one towards each of them soon the cushions were flying around the living hall as the three kept hurling the cushions and pillows at each other.

"Oww!" Heer groaned as a cushion's cover hit her in the eyes. Her palms covering her eye.

"Okay, time please, a player is down," Advika mumbled running towards where her mother was. She quickly climbed on the sofa so that she reached up to Heer's height. "Mom, are you okay?" She asked concerned bending and tilting her head up to look at Heer's face. Kabir walked up and stood beside Heer. 

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, just...slight irritation," she muttered trying to open her eye. 

"Let me blow over it!" Advika offered, reaching out to Heer's hand. She blew from a distance. Heer smiled, "thanks sweetie" she muttered unable to open her eye.

"Let me, help." Kabir offered feeling guilty that the cushion that caused the irritation was thrown by him. He peeled her hand off her face. He shifted closer, blowing over her face. Soon his thumb ran over her closed eye. "Just relax.... keep it closed a while, it will be fine."

Heer was suddenly feeling things she hadn't felt for a long time. The butterflies, those rippling tingles on a man's touch, and the heat that pooled on her cheeks. "I am okay!" She muttered moving her face away. She felt his hand grip on her hand, preventing it from moving to her eye. 

"Blink, now!" He suggested. Advika looked on worried although she was sure her father would set things right like he always did.

Heer finally felt better. "Thanks!" She mumbled stepping away from him. He nodded realizing he was standing too close to her. Her step away only made him realize that she didn't appreciate his proximity. "Just wash your eyes with cold water. Advika, your milk is on the counter waiting. Quickly have it and go in for a bath."

"Mom, are you okay?" She asked.

"Yes, sweetie I am!" Heer kissed her cheek. Kabir looked on, he was still standing too close to them. He couldn't help but notice her lips pressing against Advika's cheeks. He turned around picking up the pillows and cushions that were scattered around. He couldn't believe minutes ago he was actually participating in creating the ruckus. Advika ran to the kitchen. He glanced at Heer who turned on her heels towards the room, he followed her trail and put the pillows back on the bed. 

Heer stepped out after washing her eyes. "Better?" He asked.

She nodded in a positive utterly surprised that he cared. "Uh, Advika wants to visit.."

"Yeah, I will be ready. She told me." Heer cut him off. 

Kabir nodded, from the past one week she was being, sort of, guarded when talking to him. He didn't blame her. At times he had weird thoughts in his head about her, they were all questions. The most recurrent one being, why did she marry him? 

* * * 

Kabir entered the room to find Heer dressed in a light pink floral tunic with black slacks. Her tunic had notched cap sleeves. She was dabbing gloss over her lips. The room smelt of her shampoo, green apple. He went on to select his clothes for a day. He turned towards her, she was now applying eyeliner. She already looked pretty, why did she need do all of that was beyond him. "Heer," he called to have her attention. 

Heer was suddenly taken aback at his sharp call which resulted in her eyeliner moving upwards. "Damn." She muttered, "what?" She asked surveying closely the damage done. "The parathas are in the hotpot, Advika will be out any minute. The curd is right there in the counter. I have already eaten. And please, don't let Advika have both pickle and curd. Only one of the two."

"Okey-dokey!" She replied, rubbing the wrongly done eyeliner to redo it.

Kabir gave her a last glance before raising his brows and walking into the washroom. 'Okey-dokey'

* * *

Heer was a fan of her husband's cooking. Although she didn't really express her love for his cooking. She knew he knew that he cooked amazing stuff. Heer mentally made a promise to herself for having a strict workout routine even after her work started. Playing with Advika and dancing with her served as a nice way to burn calories although she knew she needed something more solid on her workout routine since she ate a lot lately.

She was savoring the parathas when he entered the kitchen. Her breath hitched momentarily. He was dressed in denim trousers and a wine red collared tshirt. His soft jet black hair was set perfectly in place. Damn. He just didn't know how to cook yummy, he also knew how to look yummy. Heer mentally kicked herself for letting her gaze go all the way down and up again. Checking out Kabir wasn't good. But, damn boy, he was so freaking attractive. Just like a chocolate cupcake.

Kabir glanced at Advika and then Heer. They were almost close to done with their breakfast. He glanced at his watch walking over to the fridge. He brought out the cold sandwiches he had made, and a few juice tetra packs. He put them all in a bag. Heer smiled staring at him. He was the most domestic man she had ever met. Weirdly it made him all the more attractive to her. Her gaze stopped at his neck moving down his back. She squeezed her eyes shut, what was wrong with her! Perhaps she was ovulating, yeah pretty probable given her last dates. Yeah, it was her stupid hormones, not her. Seems like her hormones had suddenly become active from dormant having a man around.

She quickly got up to wash the plates. She took Advika's asking her to wash up and get ready. She began doing the utensils. She felt his gaze on her. "I won't break the plates." She muttered.

Kabir nodded holding back a smile. "Just be careful!"

At the moment, Heer wanted to break the plate against the sink and smirk back at him. Okay, something was definitely wrong with her today. She quickly left the glass plates in the rack and looked at him. "You want to check them?" She asked glancing at the wet plates.

"No." He answered looking right into her eyes and turned. Heer blinked. What was with this sudden infatuation she had for him? Even his bland looks seemed sexy to her. So much for being celibate for a few years. She should focus on Advika and keep away from him. She walked scolding her mind only to run into his back. Her forehead pressed against his back. His perfume hitting her sense. Shit! Wonderful! 

"I am sorry!" She muttered withdrawing. Damn, this collision only triggered more attraction. 

She could hear him sigh and walk ahead. Yeah, he now thinks she's dumb. She made her way to the room and put on a pair of socks. She walked out to see the father-daughter duo all ready waiting for her. She rushed to the tracks and picked up her shoes, crouching to wear them. 

Kabir opened the door with the small picnic bag in his hands. "Come on Advi!" Advika wore her cap walking out, holding another in her hand. "Paa, where is your cap? "

"I have it..." he muttered. Showing that he had fastened it to his belt loop on his trousers.

"Let's go.." Heer smiled walking out. 

Advika smiled. "Here, you can wear this cap." She said giving her a cap. Heer took it and wore it. 

"Oh, it fits," Heer exclaimed smiling.

"Yeah, that's Paa's size," Advika explained.

"Oh.," Heer muttered removing it, she turned to him apologetically.

"Wear it on!" Advika frowned.

"Yeah, wear it. It's a spare." He muttered putting the keys in his pocket. 

Heer raised a brow impressed at his sudden sweetness. No, it was her hormones finding things sweet. There was no smile. 

They stepped out of the elevator on the ground floor to be greeted by Kunal. "Hey peeps," he flashed his charming smile. Kabir as usual only nodded. While Advika smiled saying a Hi.

"Where you all headed to?" He asked Advika.

"Film city!" Advika answered happily.

"Wow,  have fun, and click a lot of pictures." He grinned looking up.

"How did your interview go?" He asked smiling. Damn, he had a wonderful smile. The kind that gets women weak in their knees.

"Oh, that went very well," Heer answered surprised that he actually remembered.

"So you got the job?" He asked grinning.

"Yeah," Heer muttered.

"No party?"

Heer gaped at him. Did he actually ask for a party? They barely knew each other. The thought that he was talking to her so friendly knowing that her husband was present right there, was hard to digest. 

"Relax, I was kidding!" He chuckled. "You peeps have fun." He spoke entering the elevator. "And.."

Heer stared at him, he forwarded his hand towards her for a shake, "Congratulations!" Heer quickly slipped her hand into his and did a brief shake, to make herself feel less awkward. She turned ahead and walked out of the elevator. This guy was over-friendly. Better keep distance from him. She walked ahead to get an analyzing glance for Kabir. She ignored it putting her attention on Advika who was asking her seat preference.

Kabir was surprised that the guy actually knew about her interview. That guy was totally flirting with her. His smile said it all. He couldn't believe he was doing it in his presence. Swear to God, if it was Varsha he was flirting with, he'd not think twice before pulling her away. But then she wasn't Varsha. She was Heer and she looked freaking pretty today. She seemed nervous with his attention on her. There could be two possibilities one she was uncomfortable with the guy's advances, second she was nervous because the guy's charm was working. He glanced at her to search her look to find a clue but got none. Heer sat on the back seat, her eyes met his through the back mirror of the car. He tore his gaze away pulling the SUV out of the apartment.

* * * 

After a long time, Heer actually had fun clicking silly pictures, doing silly things, and laughing a lot. Advika was magic. Heer had needed the magic for so long. She was the fresh air Heer needed to breathe to find herself again. Of course, the grumpy man tagged along. They made him click so many pictures. In a few, he was there too. But he only smiled in those that were with only Advika. Heer didn't care, he could go to hell if he wanted. 

They left the film city late in the evening. Both Heer and Advika were tired and sat silently in the car unlike the ride in the morning. Kabir pulled the car into his VIP parking at his restaurant. "What would you both want to eat? Chinese, Italian, or Indian?"

"I want to have paneer gravy. " Advika squealed from the back seat.

Kabir smiled and turned to Heer. "Advika's choice!" Heer spoke glancing back at Advika with a smile. Kabir nodded getting out of the car. Today the entire day there was only one fact that resonated time and again, Heer and Advika both had formed a very endearing bond. It scared Kabir. He didn't want his daughter's heartbroken. What if Heer realizes in a few months or so that she doesn't want the marriage? He led the two of them inside and to the rooftop. 

Heer was marveled at the interiors of the restaurant. Each member of the staff greeted him with a smile to which he barely nodded. The rooftop was beautiful. It looked straight out from a movie's scene where the guy takes the girl for a candlelight dinner. She looked around and her gaze rested on him. He was helping Advika lay the soft red handkerchief on her lap. The breeze was cool. She hugged her bare arms rubbing them with her palms. Every time she saw him with Advika, a strange longing filled her. A longing she couldn't understand, she didn't even know if it was that or something else. It could be the bitter fact that her father was never like that. She looked away at the dark sky. She missed her Daadi! 

Would love to know your thoughts! 

Feel free to point out errors if you find any. :)