Chapter 6 - Walking Slowly

Grandpa was taking rest in his room after lunch, when he heard a knock on the door. And a sweet voice came with," grandpa, may I come in."

“oh yes my dear, no need to ask. What is it in your hands?” Grandpa lovingly asked her.

“your medicines. You haven’t taken your medicines yet, have you?” Muskaan replied.

Muskaan made him take the medicines and about to leave when grandpa called her, " Muskaan, come here dear. I want to talk to you something."

Muskaan came and sat on a corner of the bed.

Grandpa continued," dear, I restrict you to go in that house; then you..."

Muskaan cut him in between," no grandpa, I understand. You don’t worry, I am all right."

Grandpa nodded and said, “Muskaan, dear… I want to give you a responsibility. I know only you can take this up."

Muskaan looked at him questioning and he continued," Muskaan, Kabeer had a very troubled childhood. There are a lot of things for you to know about him, but I want, he himself told you those. But one thing is there that I want to share with you; in all these years, he has been habituated of suppressing his emotions and surpassing his feelings. He has made himself a living working machine. Dear, I just want you to let him know how beautiful life is/ I want you to make him full of life, laughter and emotions once again. I want you to take care of him with all your heart and support him too. Believe me dear, once he would fall, he will love you to the moon and back. But you have to teach him this love. Please do this for me."

Muskaan couldn’t say much but think about his soft behaviour in night and frowned seeing the difference of opinions. Yet she nodded and grandpa caressed her head.

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Kabeer entered in room and got surprised, as he never saw his room such clean and organised. And another shocker was his cupboard which was organised like never before. Then he saw Muskaan who came after him with a glass of water and coffee. He got mesmerised as she was looking very fresh. He thought," how could anyone look so fresh even in evening."

He asked her politely," Muskaan, this room… have you done the cleaning and this cupboard too?"

“yes, but I didn’t jumble your things. Are you looking for something? Has something I messed up?” she got tensed instantly.

“no, I didn’t mean that. It’s just you needn’t to do these things. “Kabeer softly brushed off her apprehensions.

“I saw you getting troubled in morning, so I did… but don’t you like it.

“no, it’s nice… very nice. But… but I just not habituated of this type of caring.”

“if not, then be habituated, coz I am habituated of doing all these stuffs for my….", she couldn’t complete and left the sentence in between feeling a sharp streak of blush under his deep piercing eyes.

Yet, he didn’t tease, but felt touched and warm in heart, even with this small gesture as his life was so deprived and parched of these small caring.

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Kabeer was doing some office work on his study table, when Muskaan entered. Kabeer saw her from the corner of his eyes. She was looking perplexed and rubbing her hands like wanted to say something. He thought to ask but then again thought to wait for her to take initiative.

After sometime Muskaan gathered her courage and asked," listen, I want to ask you something."

Kabeer kept the pen down, turned completely to her and raised his eyebrows while replied," yeah, I am all ears."

Muskaan asked rubbing her hands," ummm, me… I mean… I mean is it a forceful marriage for you? Do you like someone else?"

Kabeer shocked hearing her questions. He thought that she asked to know something to know about him like his choices in food or something. But he never expected these kinds of direct questions. But he chosen to reply calmly," no, not at all.”

Muskaan got more confused," no… then why...”

“what happened Muskaan… what is wrong?” Kabir asked curiously.

“no, nothing... just general curiosity…” she replied softly and stood to change.

Kabeer was observing her every activity attentively. She pulled out a bag from the bed box and then a night suit from that bag and went in the bathroom to change. After she returned and went to bed, Kabeer to close his file and came on bed, sat on his knees and asked her," Muskaan, get up, I need to talk something.”

Muskaan immediately sat up and looked at him.

“are you alright?” he asked.

Muskaan nodded a yes.

“are you sure?”

“yeah, of course... I am absolutely fine.”

“you liar. I just saw you pulling out your cloths from bag. Muskaan, what do you think? Is this a hostel? Are you on holiday? Or are you going to live like this for your life? Can’t you tell me that you need space in cupboard or a whole new cupboard? Why Muskaan… why don’t you?”, all of a sudden his low pitch voice turned high and he snorted in anger.

Muskaan got scared on his high pitch and stammered," sorry, but me… I mean… I..."

Kabeer calmed himself seeing her scared. And said softly," Muskaan, don’t be afraid. I am sorry, I can’t understand such small things at my own, but you should tell me, shouldn’t you?” He cursed himself recalling that grandpa had told him to renovate the room and add some more furniture. But he refused. He shook his head on his own stupidity and said to her," please Muskaan promise me, that you will share with me everything."

Muskaan nodded a yes again as her throat choked due to tears, as she never saw someone so concerned for herself.

Kabeer thought and asked again," okay, then can I ask you something? "

Muskaan hummed only.

“Then tell me why did you ask me those questions? Have someone said to you something?”

“Today Nandini called me, and she told me to…” she lowered her eyes.

“She told you to ask me those questions. But why?”

“Not really, but she told me this is the fact coz…” she replied.

“coz… coz what Muskaan?” he asked.

“Coz last night, when you came… you…” she hesitated.

“I a hearing Muskaan.” He tried to stress her.

“Coz last night, when you came, neither you kissed me nor praised me. And went office today morning itself.” Muskaan slowly said with a cute sullen look.

She said it all in one breath and jet speed closing her eyes, that it took some moments for him to understand. When he understood, he chuckled first then asked," and you curry this meaning out of that."

“No, not me, but Nandini. “once again she took name of her cousin sister.

Kabeer thought for a second, shifted a little closer to her, hold her both hands and asked," okay, then tell me, if last night, I would kiss you or do something to you, do you feel comfortable?"

Muskaan lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, then shook her head in negative.

Kabeer took a deep breath and continued softly rubbing his thumb on the back of her palms," Muskaan, I don’t know about whole world. I don’t know how relationships work in this world. I may not understand this relationship even, but I want to. I want to know, I want to understand, I want to feel; feel it with you, but slowly-slowly. I don’t want to rush. I don’t want to scare you or make you uncomfortable.

Muskaan was looking at him mesmerizingly. she felt touched and warm on his thoughtfulness and nodded a yes.

Kabeer smiled on her nod and said again," but, for that, let’s start with friendship. Promise me that you will share with me everything, like a true friend.”

Muskaan hummed. And he said," now, get sleep" and patted her cheeks.

Smiling Muskaan turned to sleep, when he recalled something and came closer again and said whispering in her ears," by the way, you are very beautiful, really pretty, delicate and innocent like a doll."

Muskaan's eyes widened at first, then squeezed shut and she blushed to the deepest shade of crimson possible, her heart raced and hands turned into fists. Kabeer smiled on her condition and lied down to prevent her from further blushing. Muskaan too laid immediately and she slept very soon. While Kabeer was tossing and turning on bed as sleep was far away from his eyes. He turned her side and saw she too changed side and now was facing him. Her one hand lied on the side of her face. He thought for a moment before sliding his hand into her. And his lips curved in a sweet smile when she folded her fingers and hold his hand, might be unknowingly. But he could see her smile in sleep even. Soon he too closed his eyes feeling the warmth of herself but not before making a mental note to wake up early at least on that "click" sound.