Changing dynamics

Anay's words were ringing in Kabir's ear... he ran his finger through his hair while being frustrated!!!! He took a cigarette and started smoking...after a few hours when he felt a little relaxed he got up and went to his bedroom....lights were off and Erica was asleep just the moon light was peeking through!!!

He went near the bed and stood near her face , he looked at her sleeping face with a Stoic expression and then said " I don't care how you came into my life , but now you will be with me forever!" He said

He then took his side and slept ...after more than a week Kabir finally slept in his room.

Anay took a bottle and started drinking he was constantly thinking about his conversation with Kabir ...he was rattled because he thought Kabir is himself stuck in this marriage for his business ambition so he will do what he wants!!! But the way he reacted surprised him!!!! Anay always got what he wanted every girl , every car , every type of things that he desired and he wanted Erica from the start he always wanted to get close to her but she didn't give him a chance...and because of this yearning that he had towards her at one moment he was ready to even get married to her...till rachit's call happened....and now when she is living under same roof as Kabir's wife he feels like a looser who lost her to Kabir!!!she reminds him that he wanted her and didn't get!!

Erica got up early and she saw Kabir sleeping beside her ...his long lashes were kissing his cheeks and he was looking as innocent as a kid ...she was looking at him with amusement when his previous words rang in her mind...and she immediately turned her face and went to the washroom.

In the afternoon Erica was getting bored so she asked Sunita if there is any kind of novels which she could read and also see wanted some blank papersheets for making her distant education notes!

" The paper sheet should be in Kabir sir's office room and even bade sahab's office as well and There are so many books in Kabir sir's Study room , you can get it from there!!! Sunita said

"Kabir reads novels!!!" Erica asked being surprised

"I don't know about novels mam but there are so many books ..and maybe you can get papersheets as well!!!!"

"Ok !!!! Where is his study room!!" She asked

" In the left wing of the mansion" Sunita said and taking a hesitated pause she said "mam plz try not to disturb any arrangements their...Kabir sir will not like it...he wants everything in its very place"

"Don't worry I won't!" She said putting her hand on Sunita's shoulder with a small smile.

Erica reached Kabir's study and she opened the door ..as soon as she entered she saw a big portrait of Kabir sitting like a king in a black suit hanging on the wall...she couldn't help but admire how good he looked...

"Kya fayda itne good looks ka jab kaam sirf logo ko darana he hai" she said mischievously.

Then she saw a few more photos of Kabir some of his school days ..some of his graduation day...she saw a pic of him where he was smiling with his graduation degree...

It's the first time she saw him smiling

"Pakka photographer ne bola hoga smile karne ko !" She said to herself

Then she saw his books there were autobiographies , finance related books , few spiritual texts and many other business related books but nothing like fictional stories!!! She mocked herself for thinking Kabir would read fiction!!!

Then she started searching for blank papersheet she was looking for it in the drawer..she got the sheets but there was something else underneath that drew her attention she pulled it out and found it was a "child scrap book"

She opened the book and found a pic of kabir and his mother from childhood

After seeing Kabir's pic with mom...Erica turned the page where the introductory questions were asked and the answers were written in childish writing something like this

Name - Kabir randhawa

Age -8 years old

Birthday - 8/07/1992

Class - 3rd standard

School - Mountain high school

Favorite subject - Maths

Favorite color - black

Favorite food - gulaab jamun , gazar ka halwa , kheer and so many other things made by mom 🥰

Who do you love the most - I love my Mom the most🥰

What do you want to become - business man👑

Favorite hobby - swimming

What you think about yourself - I'm so handsome and intelligent .😌 (Erica laughed reading this line)

Erica turned the page and found one more pic of Kabir and his mom

She turned the page again and the scrap book ended.... She put it back from where it was..... And left the study room!!!

She came into her room but The images of Kabir and his mom were moving in front of her eyes ...Kabir looked so happy in both the pictures....she remembered what tai Said that Kabir was such a happy child...she thought everyone in the house says Kabir doesn't eat anything sweet where it was clearly mentioned in the scrap book that he so loved sweet dishes!!!! So does that mean Kabir left sweet dishes because of his mom....she thought

'how much it would have been tough for Kabir to cope with the loss he was such a fragile child . It was so evident that Kabir was very emotionally dependent on his mother" Erica said to herself. She felt a sudden surge of protectiveness towards Kabir..she thought smriti aunty loves Anay so much but when she was dating Anay , he never mentioned anything about his mother or even anyone , it was always like I am this , I am that and Kabir who is perceived as emotionless person has quit his favourite food because may be it reminded him about his mother!!!

She was in deep thoughts when her phone rang she picked up and saw her mother was calling after approx 2 months of her marriage....she thought of calling them but didn't get the courage because she was so ashamed she slowly picked up the call

"Hello! Mumma" Erica said

"Erica !!!! Beta how are you?" Her mother asked

" I'm good " Erica said her voice was cracking

" Beta ...I have called to invite you and Kabir for lunch tomorrow at home. We didn't even do the pagphera rasam because of all the rush...so do come tomorrow ok" she said

"But mumma!!! She said

"No questions ..come tomorrow ..we are waiting ..ok now I have to go for the preparations inform damaad ji ok!" With this she hung up the call!

Erica thought what she will do now her mother invited her with so much love but what about Kabir!!!!

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It was late at night ...

Kabir was reading a file standing near his work table in his office room when a knock happened on the door!!!

"Come in " he said

Erica came in ...Kabir looked up and saw Erica standing there wearing a beautiful golden nightie with a shrug. it wasn't revealing but it was perfectly fitting her curves ..her hair were open and her bare face was shining!!! Kabir 's eyes got stuck for a micro second until

" Kabir"!!!! She said

It was the first time she took Kabir's name in front of him...it felt different to Kabir!!

Raising his eyebrows he asked her to continue....

"K...Kabir my mumma called me today she...aaa...asked us to come..fffor lunch tomorrow at my home." Erica was shuttering because she knew his answer.

"Ok!!" He said casually.

Erica blinked her eyes in surprise!!! She didn't know what to do so she turned to leave...but her foot tripped over the carpet and she was going to fall but a strong arm held her waist and pulled her towards him ,within seconds she got caged between Kabir and the table... everything happened in such a swift motion that Erica's hand went to his neck and her eyes squeezed closed... When she opened her eyes she saw herself so close to Kabir!!! He held her waist so firmly and their face was so close!!!....it was the first time when they were this close after marriage... Erica's shrug went uneven showing her neck and shoulder...she corrected it with hesitation..and then she again looked at Kabir who was just looking in her eyes Erica gulped in nervousness and thought to leave , she tried to go but Kabir didn't release her waist...she looked in his eyes with suprise.

"Be careful next time!!!" Kabir said in a deep voice ,still looking in her eyes and then slowly with his figures lingering on the fabric he left her waist....

Erica hurriedly went away...

While Kabir silently watched her leaving.......