"You should start acting like a grown-up."

• ♡ •

Heer glanced at Kabir. "You really dance?" She broke the silence that was becoming slowly uncomfortable.

Kabir looked surprised at her question. "I used to. College dance team."

"Seriously?" Heer asked finding it hard to believe.

"Yeah," Kabir answered bewildered at her doubt. His eyes rested on her left hand that was on the bottle as she took another sip. She had a simple ring on her left hand's ring finger. They hadn't had a ring ceremony to exchanges rings. It was just the wedding ceremony. Was it always there? He wondered. 

Heer's feet were tapping as one of her favorite songs played. She missed her crazy lifestyle. There was a time she wouldn't leave the dance floor until her feet began hurting. She looked at Kabir. She badly wanted to dance but it was awkward to go alone. "I still can't digest the fact that you can dance." She began looking at him.

"Why would I lie?"

"Men lie all the time for various reasons generally to paint a better picture of themselves." Heer reasoned. 

"You're mistaken. I am not lying and I think you have a really stupid opinion about men. Rather childish!"

"Prove it!" Heer said confidently. "See you're scared."

"Excuse me!" Kabir muttered staring at her. 

She did a mental happy dance. She successfully triggered Kabir Jaisinghani. She got to her feet walking to his chair. "Dance!"

"Heer, have you lost it?" Kabir asked dumbfounded staring at the waiter who was looking at them. "Can you just go back and sit on your chair."

"Come on, Kabir. Just move a little, I really want to dance! I need some company. We'll hit two birds with one stone. Come on, just five minutes." She said loudly reaching to hold his hand.

"Heer, are you nuts? People are looking!" Kabir muttered in a soft voice. 

"Stop acting like you're sixty. You're young and you should definitely show me that you can dance!" She said tugging at his hand. Kabir exhaled looking around. Heer was acting worse than his daughter. Kabir quickly got up and she led him towards the floor.

"I am not dancing," Kabir repeated.

"Yeah, don't. I know, you don't know. Just stand and move a little. I am going to dance!" She said climbing the two steps.

Kabir was now pissed. Firstly she made a scene at the table, then she implied that he was acting like he was sixty and now she wanted him to just stand beside her and make a fool out of himself. He made a mental note to never go out alone with her ever again. He turned to find people dancing and then back at Heer who was dancing to the music too. The song was louder than it was heard at the table. He noticed a guy stare towards Heer who was also swaying. Annoying people. He shifted on his feet and walked around standing such that he was blocking that guy from walking up to Heer. 

She leaned closer to him, "come on, show your moves."

Kabir frowned as she pulled back and by now she was dancing with the group beside her. A minute later he walked away. She was a freaking adult who could do as she pleased. He wasn't going to stand there and make a fool out of himself. He stood aside watching. Heer was loud, almost crazy, and beautiful. But she wasn't Varsha. She would never take Varsha's place. 

However, he could not understand the sense of protectiveness that was getting the best of him. He tried looking away but within seconds he looked back at her. She was nice. In a very platonic way. She danced beautifully but that stupid guy who was trying to match her steps annoyed him. He gave up and walked up to her. 

* * *

"You should dance often!" Heer told him once they settled back on their table. The waiter served the sizzler they had ordered.

"You should start acting like a grown-up."

"Grown-ups are generally boring," Heer spoke trying to shift the sizzler plate.

"Be careful, it's hot."

"I can't see the steam, thanks for letting me know," Heer muttered sarcastically pushing the sizzler to the middle. She picked up the knife and fork to slice the stuffed ball into two.

"Heer, wait, let me," Kabir intervened before Heer could mess up, he pulled the sizzler plate a little towards himself. Heer stared at him. He didn't have manners whatsoever. His manners only showed up when he was in front of his daughter. She looked on while he skillfully served the sizzler onto her plate then onto his.

She decided to shut up and eat. Her withering stomach needed attention before it started growling. They were almost done with their dinner when a man who seemed in his late forties walked up to them. Kabir and Heer looked on puzzled as he came and stood before them.

"I am sorry to bother the two of you. Umm," he looked at Kabir. "I am Raghav Dixit, a theater director."

Kabir looked on curiously. "Uhh, I am sorry I-"

"No, you didn't know me. I actually umm, saw the two of you dancing. If I may take the liberty to say your partner is a wonderful dancer.  Um, I am currently working on a dance play. Might sound a little crazy, but uhh," he turned to Heer, " you are very close to what I imagined the heroine of the play to be. Just thought I'd drop my card if you'd be interested to audition. I am sorry again, it might come off as strange and bizarre. But, I wouldn't want to regret later. So here's my card it had my VIP number. Have a good night!" He smiled at Heer and then Kabir.

Heer couldn't even contain her shock, she stared at the man dumbfounded. He seemed crazy but not drunk. He definitely seemed bizarre but he was very polite. Kabir glanced at her and found her even more shocked than he was. "I, uh, Heer." He called out to her breaking her off the shock wave.

"Umm, I, I am not into that kind of stuff. Thank you, though."

"Well, call me if you change your mind Heer. We have only begun recruiting so you can always get back. Good night to you and to you Sir!" He smiled cordially at Kabir and walked away.

Heer stared at the man's retreating figure. She picked up the card and looked at it. That seemed like a pretty expensive card from the material. She looked up at Kabir. "Weird!" She muttered.

"Totally, don't call that number. For all, you know he may be scheming some sort of crime."

Heer giggled. "Yeah, we are in a mystery plot right now!"

Kabir held back his smile. "You want to leave or dance some more?" He mocked.

"Well, umm,.."

"We are leaving!" He declared cutting her off. Did she really not get his sarcasm? Had his sarcasm gone so stale? He signed the waiter to bring the bill.

Heer grinned ear to ear. She actually enjoyed with Kabir Jaisinghani. Weird but true. It was raining when they stepped out. "Damn," Kabir cursed. She smiled looking up at the sky. Kabir looked around for a solution. Their car was parked in the open parking. They had to make it down the staircase and almost three meters on the right. A girl and a guy were making their way down the staircase giggling. The girl was teasing the man while he was laughing trying to get hold of her asking her to be careful at the same time. "You will drive me nuts!" She heard the guy shout, as he held on to her and they ran to the car. An involuntary smile shone on her face. 

"Heer, we have an umbrella!" She heard Kabir's voice an turned to find Kabir standing under a huge black umbrella with the guard who was wearing a raincoat. She nodded walking up to him. He motioned her to come to his side. She followed and they slowly walked down the stairs with the guard holding the umbrella for them. Kabir was close behind her. He helped her sit in the car and the guard then followed him around to the driver's side. He sat inside and held out a fifty rupee note to the watchman who returned a million-dollar smile with a salute, mumbling a "Thank You, Saahib!"

It barely took them fifteen minutes to reach home, contrary to the forty- five minutes it took them while coming. It was past eleven on the clock. Heer stepped out of the car, to be greeted by the scent of rain-wet earth. She inhaled deeply rubbing her arms as the chill got to her. They hadn't exchanged a word throughout the drive. Heer was pretty used to that silence now. She was lost in her own thoughts. She felt nice after a long time. The kind of nice you feel when you feel yourself. "Come on!" Kabir's voice made her turn from the bushes and she nodded following him into the elevator lobby. The rain had transformed to light drizzle.

Heer stared at him as his eyes were fixed on the changing numbers in the display screen of the elevator. He was a nice man, just closed up tot he world due to his loss. She smiled sadly feeling bad for him. Why did life have to screw such good people so bad! 

He walked to the door unlocking it. He held it open for her. She entered inside walking to the shoe rack. It was a habit now. The living hall was dark except for the small bulb that they left on during the nights. "Seems like both are asleep." He whispered walking to the shoe rack to slip out of his shoes. He crouched down to untie his shoelaces. Unintentionally his eyes came in direct view of her legs. He focused his gaze on his shoes getting his feet free as soon as he could. While standing up his gaze grazed over the length of her legs. What the hell was wrong with him! 

Heer slipped out of her heel sandals and placed them on the rack following Kabir into the room. She shut the door of the room so that the sound wouldn't wake up Misha and Advi. She turned to find him walking into the bathroom with a towel. "Kabir wait!" She exclaimed walking over to him. Kabir turned, looking at her puzzled. 

"I need to pee badly!" She muttered rushing past him. Kabir's brows arched up, "okay". He muttered and a smile broke loose. Crazy woman!

* * *

"Mom? Wake up!" The faint words reached Heer's ears. She hummed and ignored it. 

Advika turned towards the door to look at her father and aunt. "Come on, let her sleep. She must be tired!" Kabir spoke summoning Advika. She pouted and gave a glance at the sleeping figure. She wanted to talk. But her father said she must be tired. Maybe she could wait for her to finish her sleep. She scrambled out of the bed and with quick light steps reached the door. Kabir shut the door.

"Why is she so tired?" Advika asked frowning. She had to tell her mom about last night, how Misha bua and she watched The Polar Express last night!

"She slept late," Kabir answered as he put the sandwiches on the plate and then looked up to find Misha smirking. Penny to her thoughts! 

"Seems like I have to go alone to invite my friends," Misha spoke feasting on the sandwich. "You want to come, Advi?"

Advika frowned. She was now in dilemma. It was always fun going out with Bua. But, she wanted mom to come along. After thinking a little more she realized that her mom would always be there Misha bua will go away to her new home. "I will come!" She answered smiling proudly of her solution.

"Cool, then." Misha turned to her brother.

"You want me to...."

"No thanks, Rohan is coming to pick ...us up!" Misha grinned.

"Fine!" Kabir muttered, happy for her sister. She was definitely in love with Rohan, he was a nice guy.

* * *

"Wow, you're alive!" Kabir remarked when Heer finally woke up. He was reading a few food blogs when she sat up on the bed beside him.

"What's the time?"

"Quarter to ten," Kabir answered looking at the corner of his laptop screen.

"Wow, that's late. Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Advi tried. But well, obviously trying to wake you up is pointless."

Heer frowned, why was he so jealous of her sleep? "Umm, where's she?"

"She and Misha left forty minutes back." He answered looking up from his screen and turning sideways. Her arms were working on putting her hair into a bun. Her act caused her tee to ride up giving a quick look of the flawless fair skin at her waist. Kabir quickly looked back at his screen. 

Heer got off the bed slipping into her bathroom slippers. Damn, a full Saturday with Mr. Grumpy. Oh, she was already missing Advika. 

* * *

Heer lay on the bed watching a movie. Weirdly she no longer liked serious movies. She had grown to like kids' fantasy movies. She shut her laptop and got off the bed. It was a few minutes past twelve. She had called Advika and she was having the time of her time while Heer was getting bored. She walked into the kitchen to get herself some juice. Kabir was putting on his apron. She wondered how he never got bored with cooking. 

"You'd like some juice?" She asked as she poured some into a glass.

"I already had!" He replied.

"Yesterday was fun..." she started the conversation leaning against the counter next to the refrigerator sipping from the glass. No response. Heer tried a little more, "You should dance often." No response again. Heer tightened her jaw, and also the hold on the glass. It would be so satisfying to pour the contents of the glass on his head. 

"Can I help? I am bored." She said minutes after finishing her juice and washing her glass. 

"I can..."

"Never mind!" Heer muttered cutting him off making her way out of the kitchen.

"You can, just don't litter the place." Kabir's voice stopped her in track. Did she hear right? She turned to gape at him.

"I am making dal makhani for dinner and bottle gourd gravy for now." He spoke as she walked up to him.

"So, what do I do chef?" She asked thrilled. She was finally getting the rare opportunity of working in Mr. Touch-My-Kitchen-Not's kitchen. 

Kabir's lips twisted at the way she addressed. He pushed a few tomatoes and onions towards her. "Chop them. Fine chopping."

Heer nodded and started. Luckily she hadn't forgotten how to work in the kitchen.

Some weird sort of improvement?