A/N: Had an amazing birthday!!! Went out with my friends and we played escape room (which was an interesting experience that we will never attempt again), watched JJ again and this time I managed to drag my non RanKat fan friend to watch (Honestly??? What's not to like about them?!? They have amazing (Diwali pataka) chemistry, they look great together, they're fun... They're like... (As much as I hate to admit but then again, pyaar dosti hai...) #friendshipgoals and #pleasegetbacktogethergoals), then I ended my day with a quiet dinner with my family (which was not quiet at all) XD So all in all, it was a good day aaannnndddd... I managed to finish this chapter so... Double update week!!! XD

Enjoy!!!

P.s., I want to thank Katrina for introducing me to the unicorn emoji... 🦄 It's soooo pretty!!! It is officially my new favourite emoji!!! XD (When did they add it in??? I'm supposed to be a self proclaimed tech genius and I didn't realize it?!? 😲 OMG!!! How did I miss it?!?)

Ok, moving on to the story...

***

Kabir was stressed out of his wits. It was only less than one week to Tara and Vishal's wedding. Despite having THAT session half a week ago, he found that he still wasn't confident enough to face them. Ayesha and Sunny on the other hand were ecstatic about the wedding. In fact, as of now, they were busy practicing their Sangeet choreography. There was only so many times Kabir could tolerate Ainvayi Ainvayi being played over and over again before actually wanting to break the stereo.

Maybe it was time to pay Dr. Raina another visit at the office? Although it was her job, Kabir really enjoyed talking to her. It was like a breath of fresh air in his boring life. He picked up his phone and dialed the clinic landline.

"Malhotra Psychology & Psychiatric Clinic, how may I assist you?"

"Hi," he said, feeling unsure about this. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. "Is Doctor Raina in today?"

"She is. Would you like to talk to her or do you want to make an appointment?"

"Appointment," he continued. "What time is she available?"

"Sorry sir, but there are no available time slots for today."

Shit! He really needed to see her.

"Are you sure?" Kabir asked. "What about walk-ins?"

"Her last session ends at about 5pm but her official hours are up to 5.30. You can try to walk-in then but she may decline to see you."

"I'll take my chances," he said. It was a long shot but what the heck? 5pm... That meant he had 3 hours to get ready. "Can you maybe give her an advanced notice that I'll show up?"

"Sure. Can I have your name please?"

Although the clinic knew about him being Raina's patient, he didn't need any unwanted attention. He took a deep breath before answering. It had been years since he had last heard that name.

"It's Bir Desai."

***

Bir Desai. Kabir Varma. It suddenly makes sense.

When the receptionist told her that her 5pm slot was taken up, she mentally groaned. Who in the world was this Bir Desai? What was the receptionist thinking? Don't people know that the 5pm slots were reserved to do paperwork?

However, when 5pm rolled around, Raina was utterly taken aback when none other than her 'favorite' rockstar, Kabir Varma, entered her office, decked in the most outrageous outfit. He wore a pair of huge shades,  a cap under his hoodie, some weird graffic tee and cargo shorts. What is Kabir Varma playing at?

"Look," he said. "I'm not here to get you into trouble. Nor am I going to kidnap you for lunch. It's too late anyway, but maybe I'll buy you dinner afterwards. I just need some friendly advice."

Friendly advice?

"Hold on," she told him. "You're telling me that you came all this way, booked a PAYING appointment, just to ask for some friendly advice?"

They could have just done it over lunch or dinner. Rich people problems. However, she isn't going to complain about this either, since, he IS, in a way, contributing to her salary.

"Yes," he answered. "Just because you're my friend and you're a psychologist doesn't mean I can take advantage of your services. Remember that time at Sameer's place? I did insist on paying."

"Psychiatrist," she corrected. "Or therapist."

"Haan, (Exactly)" he dismissed her attempt at correcting him. "Psychiatrist, therapist, psychologist, same to same."

"Difference hai, (There's a difference)" she scolded him. What is wrong with these people?

"Ok," Kabir said as he raised his hands in defense. "Fine. Difference hai. (There's a difference)" Jeez, Raina can be scary sometimes.

"Thank you," she said. Finally! "So, what do need to talk about?"

He took in a deep breath. He already has a nudging feeling that she's going to kill him.

"Canyoucomewithmetothewedding?"

"What?" Raina said, half shocked, half confused. Is this some sort of a joke?

"Can you?" Kabir asked with intervening pauses. "Come with me? To Tara and Vishal's wedding? Please?"

She looked at him, mouth agape. There were so many questions running through her mind. However, she could only settle for one word.

"Why?"

She looked at Kabir's face for answers but his looks never falters. This meant that he has thought this through before coming to see her.

"I need you with me," he said. What? "You're the only one who can take my mind off Tara and Vishal without me touching alcohol. I know that I have finally accepted that Tara and I are over but it still hurts to see her with someone else. There's going to be alcohol there and I'm 100% going to drink myself half dead to numb the pain. Do you really want me to undo all the progress​?"

She was rendered speechless. So far, no one has ever tried this trick on her and no one has ever told her how to handle this sort of situation. She had no choice but to try.

"I'm not your nanny, Kabir," she told him. He has to understand the role she's playing in his life. One day all of these will end and the both of them will have to go back to their own normal lives. "There's only so much that I can help you with. The rest is up to you."

"But I really don't want to do this alone," he replied. "If not as my psychiatrist then as my friend?"

"But I... I don't even know anyone there," she answered. "And I'm not even invited."

"Main hoon na? (I'll be there right?)" Kabir insisted. "And aren't I inviting you? Besides, half of the guest in the party will be people I don't want to meet. I'll just chipak (stick) to you throughout the whole wedding. Pleeeaaase? If you come, I promise I'll do anything you say. No complaints, no demands."

She looked at him with wary eyes. No matter how tempting it was for her to go, she had her responsibilities here. She had work, she had other patients to take care of, she had her family... Her family! The amount of questions from her mom that she would have to face was enough of a put off.

"I can't," she replied. "I have... Work... You are aware that I have other patients besides you, right?"

"Bas? (That's it?)" Kabir said. This is going to be easy. "Main Dr. Malhotra se miloonga and problem solved. (I'll go see Dr. Malhotra and problem solved.) He likes me too much to reject me."

He immediately got out of the chair and headed out. Raina, in a daze, called after Kabir before chasing him when she realized that he wasn't going to stop.

Kabir could manage a quick rap on the door before Raina yanked his hand away and restrained them. However, that alone has caused enough damage as the door swings open, revealing a slightly confused Dr. Malhotra.

"Mr. Varma?" Dr. Malhotra asked. "Raina? Is there anything that I can help you with?"

Before Raina could say anything, Kabir beats her to it.

"Yes. As you can see, your doctor here just cannot simply resist me and is in a dire need to go on a holiday with me."

Raina's mouth widens in shock. The nerve of this guy!

"It's not like that, Dr. Malhotra," she said in defense. "What he meant was..."

"Kabir Varma?"

Both patient and doctor peeked behind Dr. Malhotra to get a look at the other person in the room. Raina immediately tensed up as a pang of recognition flashes through Kabir's face. This wasn't how she wanted him to find out. Not this way.

"Rahul sir?" Kabir said.

"It's been a long time," Rahul Oberoi said as he walked over to them. "How are you?"

"Theek hoon, (I'm fine)" Kabir answered weakly. Waves of doubts suddenly swept through his mind. Was Dr. Raina working for this guy? Did she tell him everything?

"Well, Dr. Malhotra," Rahul told him. "I must be going. Thank you for the reports." On the files, Kabir could clealy see his name printed all over it. He then turned to Kabir and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll see you at the wedding." Kabir lets out a weak smile.

Just when Raina thought she was out of the woods, Rahul turned to Raina. "Take good care of him and keep up the good work." That put the final nail that sealed the coffin.

Once Rahul had left, Kabir forces himself out of Raina's grips.

"Sorry for disturbing you, Dr. Malhotra," he said with a forced smile. "Acha, chalta hoon. (Ok, I'm leaving.) I'll see you soon."

Then he left.

***

A/N: Uh-oh... Looks like the Kat's out of the bag (Another lame joke...) Will Kabir forgive Raina? Will Raina have a chance to explain to Kabir? How will Ayesha and Sunny react? Or rather, how will Ayesha and Sunny explain to Kabir too? Will Kabir still attend the wedding?!? Sooo many questions... All will be revealed in the chapters ahead...

I had the Rahul Oberoi part of this chapter written for awhile and initially I wanted to put this in some part of the wedding but then suddenly a wonderful idea popped into my ullu ka pattha brain so I decided to put it here instead.

Please don't kill me!!! 😁