Chapter-9 Her past life

On the way back to the home, Muskaan was silent, might be tired. But he was deeply engrossed in thoughts. He looked at her, she was looking outside of the window, and Sanjay's words rang into his ears.

"sister -in-law is too good buddy. You guys are made for each other."

And Nidhi completed his sentence saying," yes, not only she is beautiful, but have lovely and friendly nature too."

When everyone was praising her wholeheartedly, how could Raghav sat silent. He added, “now I know, why you marry late? You want sister-in-law only, right.” And his heart swelled with pride as he took all the praising looking at her lovingly, while she was busy with Raghav's wife Anjali and Sanjay's mother.

To break the silence in the car, he asked her," got tired."

“no, not at all. “she replied slowly.

“So, Now. Any opinion on friends. You like them?” Kabeer asked.

“I love them, Specially Nidhi, we met just tonight and already feeling like a deep bond.” Muskaan relied.

“They were also feeling the same way. We will make a next plan soon, okay.”

Muskaan thought for some moments and said," can I say something, if you don’t mind? "

Kabeer nodded and said," yes, tell me"

“can we make another plan after some days? Actually, I don’t like leaving grandpa alone at home. He too would want you to spend some time with him. And see, this is the matter of some days only. Once he left for Delhi, we can make all the plans.” she softly explained.

Kabeer nodded a yes and feeling a surge of peace prevailed in his nerves. At the same moment, at one side he was overwhelmed on her thoughtfulness than on the other side felt the biggest fear of marriage had suddenly disappeared from his heart.

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" Muskaan, let’s go for a walk.", He asked excitedly.

Muskaan surprised on his demand. They just came back and changed in there night wears. He had sat on the window when she came back in the room after change. She replied," this time, isn’t it late? "

“yes, I want to, please" excitedly he asked again.

Muskaan smiled on his child like excitement. Though couldn't get the reason of so much excitement but nodded a yes and pulled a shawl quickly.

Soon they both were on the road walking beside. They were so close that knuckles were brushing but no one neither closing the gap nor pulling back. Feeling an. Awkward silence Kabeer decided to talk and asked softly," Muskaan, can I ask you something? But reply honestly, okay."

Muskaan hummed only.

“Although, it’s a very small thing, but I want to know that why have been using cold water for two days, but never told me.” Slowly he asked.

Muskaan thought for a moment and replied softly," coz, I never took it as problem. And never knew that only for me this can be changed too."

“sorry, but not getting you. “Kabeer was confused.

Muskaan now got perplexed, rubbed her hands and said," actually I… umm, you won’t understand."

Sensing her nervousness, he slowly moved his hand in her and hold her tight. Then asked," then make me understand. Please Muskaan."

“It’s just that my life never gave me chance to find solutions, but always taught me to compromise with problems.”

Kabeer still didn't get anything. So, asked again," Muskaan, please tell clearly. Why you are talking in riddles? "

Muskaan took a deep breath and started again," When my parents went in that accident, who was there to pamper me? Who was there to tolerate my tantrums? And even if I do, who was there to ask? It’s just, I understood and learn to cope up."

Kabeer felt himself drowning in the pool of pain. Her teary eyes and voice making him restless. " How could someone survive like this. He had a troubled childhood but never this much dependent. He had always grandpa by his side to fulfil all his wishes. And she was all alone fighting with all the problems all her life. Still not complaining." Instinctively he tightens his hold on her hand and asked," And what about you, your dreams, aspirations."

Muskaan smiled in between tears and replied calmly," I never indulged myself with high aspirations, but yeah, something was there. You can call a dream, but now even that is over. "

Kabeer thought for a moment that what could be her dream and why she was saying that it couldn't be fulfilled. And asked again," why over? Tell me what is dream?"

“no, nothing. Ahh, leave it here only.”

“why, tell me fast.”

“Keep that for some other day. Now you tell, why this sudden plan of walk?”

Kabeer looked at her and felt that she didn't want to talk about that, might be not feeling comfortable. So, he didn't ask again but replied slowly, “I like this weather very much. When I was young, dad, took me for walk. We used to have lots of fun. Dad used to tell me lots of stories. It was just…"

“just, just what.”

Kabeer replied," nothing Muskaan. Then he had gone. After that grandpa took me sometimes, but then mom’s marriage and…” He mummed in between again.

Muskaan too felt his pain deep in her heart. Instinctively her hands too went tighten on his. She asked softly," Should I tell you a story?"

Kabeer looked at her amusingly, thought for a second and replied calmly," ummm, I think, you, yourself is like some fairy tale in my life. Now, no need of any other story."

And they both smiled wholeheartedly. Suddenly Muskaan saw something and squealed," Ice Cream."

Kabeer lovingly adored her childishness but said," Muskaan, it’s cold here. You will fall sick."

Muskaan made a cute baby pout and looked at the ice cream cart again. Kabeer chuckled," okay, but just one."

She nodded.

After sometime, when they were returning with only one ice cream cup in her hand. She asked," why you took only one? Won’t you eat?" And kept the first spoon in her mouth. A moan escaped from her lips as she savored the cool chocolate in her mouth.

Kabeer looked at him. His desires again started to trouble him. But he controlled and replied smirking," of course I will.”

And before she slipped another spoon in her mouth, quickly grabbed her hand and leaned slowly, without removing his gaze from her eyes and ate that," ummm, its delicious. I never eat an ice cream sweeter than this.", He said in meaningful way.

On the way back, she was blushing deep when processed his words in her mind. And he was thinking that tonight might be he need not to wait for her to drift into sleep for holding her hand.