Chapter Twelve: Out of Pity?

As she lay nestled in Shubman's arms, her breaths steady and tranquil, he found himself gently massaging her scalp with his fingertips. The soft strands of her hair twined around his fingers as he traced delicate patterns across her skin. They had both agreed to take things slow, to let their relationship unfold naturally without rushing into anything. He could sense her hesitation, her fear of moving too quickly and risking everything slipping away. She was a cautious soul, afraid to show too much love for fear of it being misunderstood or rejected.

He didn't want to add to her worries or fuel her overthinking. Instead, he wanted to reassure her with his actions, to show her that she could trust him and that he would always be there for her. So, as she slept soundly in his arms, he let my fingers work their magic, soothing away her doubts and fears with each gentle stroke.

As the minutes slipped by, her breathing remained steady, lulling him into a peaceful state. The rhythm of her inhales and exhales created a comforting melody, and soon, he found myself drifting into sleep alongside her.

The next morning, he stirred from his slumber to the sensation of gentle kisses against his cheeks. A soft yet slightly raspy voice murmured, "Wake up, Shubman. We have to leave for the next location for the test match."

He couldn't help but smile as he looked at her, her hair tousled and her appearance delightfully dishevelled in the morning light. To him, she was more beautiful in this natural state than any other.

Returning his smile, she leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on his nose. "Wake up and get ready. I'll go to my room now," she said softly, preparing to rise from their embrace.

But before she could make her move, he gently pulled her back, their noses touching as he rubbed them together affectionately. "What's the rush? Let your man hold you in his arms for a little while longer," he whispered.

She chuckled at his words, her laughter like music to his ears. With a playful twinkle in her eye, she reached up and gently squished his cheeks, eliciting a grin from him. Leaning in closer, she placed her lips on his in a brief but sweet kiss.

"Do that in flight, but right now, we'll be late if we don't get moving," she whispered against his lips, her breath warm against his skin. "And if we come down together in the lobby, people might speculate."

He couldn't resist the urge to pull her closer, his arms enveloping her in a tender embrace. Pressing a sequence of gentle kisses on her nose, he whispered teasingly, "What if your man wants to be caught with you?"

She chuckled softly, leaning her chin on his chest as she replied, "My man wants to be caught, but what about my Paaji? What will happen when he finds out about us?"

His eyes widened in horror at the thought, causing her to burst into laughter. "Heere mere veere nu mana fir hoosiyari dikha," she said, her laughter bubbling with affection and amusement.

With a grin, she leaned in to peck his lips affectionately before chuckling and slipping away to her room. As she departed, the warmth of their exchange lingered in the air, a reminder of the love they shared.

He watched her depart, a fond smile gracing his lips. As she prepared for the day, she stood before the mirror, straightening the folds of her clothes and applying her perfume after a bath. A gasp escaped her lips when she felt his arms wrap around her from behind, his nose buried in her neck as he inhaled her fragrance.

As his arms enveloped her, he whispered softly into her ear, "You smell like roses." She swatted his arm lightly and turned to look at him through the mirror, a playful glint in her eyes. "For your information," she said, "that's Zara's men's perfume, and it definitely doesn't smell like roses." Her tone was teasing, with a hint of amusement dancing in her voice.

He whined playfully, burying his nose in her neck and occasionally giving it gentle pecks. "Whatever it is, the smell is good," he murmured against her skin. He chuckled softly, admitting, "I didn't know what to say, so I went with roses."

She was about to say something, but he gently silenced her with a finger to her lips, pressing his cheek against hers. "I know we need to leave, but let me start my day with your love," he whispered tenderly. With that, he continued to lavish affection upon her, planting soft kisses against her neck and shoulders, and gently nibbling on her birthmark. Each touch sent waves of pleasure through her, and she closed her eyes, lost in the bliss of their intimate moment.

She lost herself completely as he took her earlobe between his teeth, sending a shiver down her spine. Her grip on his hand, which rested on her waist, tightened instinctively as waves of pleasure coursed through her body. Lost in the sensation of his kisses and nibbles, she melted into his embrace, her breath hitching with each tender touch. His devotion wrapped around her like a warm blanket, soothing her soul and igniting a fire within her. With a contented sigh, she surrendered to the love and passion they shared, cherishing every moment they spent together. She didn't want to let go, even though she knew they would be late. He moaned at the sensation of her lips meeting his. With his hands circling her waist, he stepped forward, forced her to take a step back, and made her sit on the table. Occasional moans left their mouths as they kept devouring each other's lips until oxygen made them stop. Pulling apart, he kissed her forehead, rubbing her back as she breathed heavily.

"Let's go, Neh, everyone will be waiting," he said, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead before stepping out first to avoid arousing suspicions.

They didn't interact much until they found themselves seated next to each other on the plane, the blinds of the business class seat pulled up.

Kuldeep's voice could be heard from the front seat, causing them to turn their heads as he said, "No funny business."

Nehmat shot Kuldeep a stern look, her eyes narrowing in annoyance. Without a word, she grabbed a magazine from the seat pocket in front of her and lightly smacked Kuldeep on the head with it.

"Keep your voice down," she scolded him in a hushed tone, her voice tinged with exasperation. "We're not causing any trouble, so mind your own business."

Kuldeep scowled at Nehmat, but before he could respond, she pointed a finger at him, her expression firm. "One more word and I'll make sure everyone on this plane knows about your little mishap last week."

Kuldeep's eyes widened in alarm, realizing Nehmat wasn't bluffing. He quickly nodded and turned back around in his seat, sulking quietly.

Shubman couldn't help but chuckle softly at the exchange, grateful for Nehmat's quick thinking. He leaned closer to her, whispering, "Nice one."

Nehmat smiled back at him, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Just making sure we have a peaceful flight," she replied, before settling back into her seat, her hand finding its way into Shubman's once again.

Nehmat froze as KL's voice came from the seat next to hers. She couldn't see him directly as the blinds were up, but she felt a pang of anxiety. Hastily, she separated from Shubman, her heart racing with the fear of being caught. Shubman shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and they both turned to see KL standing up and looking over them with a scrutinizing gaze.

Nehmat's breath caught in her throat as she fumbled for words, her mind racing to come up with an explanation. KL's grin only widened at her flustered state, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing. Shubman glanced nervously between Nehmat and KL, silently pleading to god to diffuse the tension.

Well, well, what do we have here?" KL's voice dripped with amusement as he teased Nehmat. "Caught in the act, aren't we?"

Nehmat felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, unable to come up with a response. Shubman shifted uncomfortably beside her, seemingly at a loss for words as well. They both realized they were caught red-handed, even though they were seated at the back of the plane. It was all due to Kuldeep's loud voice that they were exposed. Nehmat felt a mixture of embarrassment and frustration as she struggled to come up with an explanation. Shubman shifted uncomfortably beside her, his expression reflecting a similar sense of unease.

Nehmat's mind raced for a way to turn the situation around. With a mischievous grin, she glanced up at KL and said, "What if Athiya finds out about the secret?" The mention of his wife's name caused KL's expression to shift, his grin faltering slightly as he regarded Nehmat with a hint of concern.

Unfazed by his reaction, Nehmat reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. With a playful twinkle in her eye, she tapped a few buttons and held up the screen for KL to see. "Remember that time you were mimicking Athiya's anger?" she said, her tone laced with amusement.

KL's eyes widened in realization as he saw the video playback on Nehmat's phone. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he realized he had been caught in the act. Shubman stifled a chuckle beside Nehmat, clearly amused by the turn of events.

Nehmat leaned back in her seat, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips as she watched KL's reaction. With the leverage of the recorded video, she knew she had the upper hand in their little game of cat and mouse.

KL laughed nervously as he reached over to playfully pull Nehmat's cheeks. "Of course," he said with a forced casualness. "Anna has his mouth shut tight. He just got up asking if his little Nehmat needed anything."

Nehmat couldn't contain her grin as she watched KL's embarrassed reaction. As KL disappeared behind the blinds, she chuckled softly and leaned her head against Shubman's chest, feeling a sense of satisfaction at how the situation had turned out.

"Ah, you're evil," Shubman laughed, placing his forehead against hers.

She shrugged, saying, "Everything is fair in love and war."

Shubman pulled her closer, their breaths mingling as they leaned in, their lips almost touching. He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he whispered, "Would it be fair to do this right now, on an aeroplane?"

Nehmat moved closer to him, her expression a mix of curiosity and vulnerability. "I can't believe you found me annoying," she confessed softly, "that you didn't even spare a glance at first. And now... now you want to hold me all the time and do things. What changed?"

Shubman sighed, keeping his head against hers, feeling the weight of her words. "Don't get mad at me," he began gently, "but it was something I overheard while you were talking to your niece during sunset."

Nehmat's eyes widened in disbelief, a mixture of hurt and frustration flashing across her face. She pushed him away gently, causing Shubman to frown in confusion. He couldn't bear the emotionless look in her eyes, knowing all too well what it meant.

"So you're with me just because you pity me?" Nehmat's voice was laced with a vulnerability that cut through the air like a knife.

Shubman's heart sank as he realized the gravity of her words. "No, Nehmat, it's not like that at all," he protested, reaching out to grasp her hand."

But Nehmat pulled her hand away, her gaze hardened by doubt. "How can I believe you?" she whispered, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "How can I trust that this isn't just some temporary feeling, born out of sympathy?"

Shubman's throat tightened as he struggled to find the right words to reassure Nehmat. Deep down, he knew she was onto something. Their relationship had indeed begun from a place of sympathy. He had been drawn to her vulnerability, wanting to protect her from the pain she had endured.

But somewhere along the way, his feelings had evolved. He genuinely cared for Nehmat, not just out of sympathy, but because of who she was. Her strength, her kindness, her laughter—it all mattered to him more than he could articulate.

"I know it's hard to believe," he started, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. "But what I feel for you goes beyond pity. Yes, that's how it began, but it's grown into something deeper. I see you for who you are, Nehmat, and I love you because of it."

Nehmat's chuckle cut through the heavy air, bitter and tinged with resignation. It was as though Shubman's words echoed the doubts that had been swirling in her mind.

"Isn't it funny?" she said, her voice laced with bitterness. "That the foundation of our love is built on pity? That I'm supposed to find solace in the fact that it's 'grown into something deeper'? How am I supposed to forget where it all began?"

Her words struck Shubman like a blow to the chest. He had hoped his confession would reassure her, but instead, it seemed to deepen her scepticism.

"I understand," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't erase the past, Nehmat, and I won't pretend that I can. But I promise you, what we have is real. I may have started by wanting to protect you, but now... now I can't imagine my life without you."

Nehmat let out a few tears, her emotions overwhelming her as she laid her head in her hands. She had hoped, desperately, that Shubman genuinely saw through her, loved her for who she was, and not out of pity. Pity was a word she loathed, a feeling she despised. She wanted to be loved for her strength, and her resilience, not for the hardships she had endured.

"I thought... I thought you saw me," she whispered, her voice choked with tears. "I thought you loved me for me, not out of some sense of obligation or pity."

Shubman's heart broke at the sight of Nehmat's pain. He reached out to gently wipe away her tears, his own eyes shimmering with unshed emotion.

Feeling his heart shatter at Nehmat's words, Shubman moved closer to her, wrapping her in a tender embrace. He could feel her trembling against him, her tears dampening his shirt. Gently, he pressed his lips to her forehead, silently promising to mend the wounds caused by his unintentional hurt.

Feeling Nehmat's pain reverberate through his being, Shubman held her tightly, as if trying to shield her from any further anguish. With each tear that fell, his resolve strengthened, knowing that he couldn't bear to see her hurt.

"Nehmat," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Please... give me one more chance. I know I've made mistakes, and I can't change the past. But I promise you, with every fibre of my being, that I'll do everything in my power to make things right. Even if our love began with pity, I swear to you, it's grown into something deeper, something real."

His grip on her t-shirt tightened, and his heart laid bare before her. "Please, Nehmat," he pleaded, his voice trembling with sincerity. "Forget how it started. Let me show you what our love can be. Let me prove to you that you're not just someone I pity, but someone I cherish with all my heart."

Tears welled up in Shubman's eyes, mirroring the pain etched in Nehmat's features. He knew that his words alone might not be enough to assuage her doubts, but he was willing to try—to fight for their love with every ounce of strength he possessed.

Nehmat looked up at him, her tears mingling with his. At that moment, she saw the vulnerability in his eyes, the raw sincerity of his plea. And as her heart softened, a glimmer of hope flickered to life within her

As she continued to gaze at him, their eyes red, their voices kept low to avoid drawing attention, she looked at his sincerity and smiled at the fact someone was willing to fight for her. She pressed her lips against his, weaving her hands through his hair, a sigh of relief escaping him.