Chapter 40
Aditi's Perspective
The rain was coming down in thick sheets by the time Kabir and I left the auditorium. It felt as if the world outside was mirroring the intensity of what had just unfolded between us inside. Kabir's words still echoed in my mind: "Because I care about you. Seeing you with Aditya tonight... it just made me realize how much I don't want to lose you."
My heart hadn't quite settled since he'd said that. The playful teasing and flirting we shared had taken a backseat to something more serious, something deeper that I hadn't quite allowed myself to fully acknowledge before. As we stepped into the cool night air, the rain immediately soaked through our clothes, but I barely noticed it. My mind was too preoccupied with the way Kabir had held me close when the lights went out, how natural it had felt.
"Are you sure about this?" Kabir asked, his voice cutting through the sound of the rain. His expression was a mixture of concern and determination as he glanced at the storm raging around us. "We can wait it out if you want."
I shook my head. "My mom called while we were inside," I said, clutching my heels in one hand and walking barefoot alongside him. "The roads near my place are flooded. She wants me to stay at your house for now since it's closer, and the water isn't as bad here."
Kabir's brows furrowed as he processed this. "It's pretty bad, huh?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "The water's already knee-deep on my street, and there's no way I'd make it home safely."
Kabir turned to me, his brow furrowing with concern as the rain soaked us both. "Are you sure we should walk?" he asked, glancing at the puddles that had already started forming on the pavement. His hair was drenched and messily clinging to his forehead, making him look effortlessly handsome.
I nodded, him understanding the situation. "Okay. But I'm not letting you walk barefoot." He glanced down at my feet, still bare from when I'd taken off my heels earlier. "You'll hurt yourself."
I shook my head stubbornly. "It's fine, Kabir. These heels are a nightmare to walk in, especially in this rain. I'll be careful."
But Kabir wasn't having any of it. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking at me with a mix of determination and protectiveness. "Aditi, the streets are full of sharp rocks, glass, and who knows what else. You could step on something and get seriously hurt."
I sighed, trying to reason with him. "I'll be careful! It's not that far—"
"No," he said firmly, stepping closer and giving me that look that made it clear he wasn't about to back down. "Either you wear your heels, or I'll carry you. There's no middle ground."
I blinked, caught off guard by the intensity in his voice. "Carry me?" I repeated, incredulous. "Kabir, come on. I'm not a damsel in distress."
He chuckled, that familiar smirk tugging at his lips. "I know you're not. But I'm also not letting you walk barefoot through this storm and risk cutting up your feet. So either you put on your heels, or you're going to end up in my arms."
The thought of him carrying me sent a strange mix of butterflies fluttering in my stomach, but I wasn't about to admit that out loud. I huffed, holding out my heels to him. "Fine, but you carry these instead."
He grinned, clearly pleased with his victory, and took the heels from me. "Deal."
With my heels now safely in his hands, we continued through the rain, the water pooling on the street, and I felt the cool pavement under my feet. Despite Kabir's worrying, there was something oddly calming about walking in the rain with him. The world felt quieter, like it was just the two of us moving through a storm.
We kept walking, the rain growing heavier with each passing moment. I tried to keep up with Kabir, but the puddles were growing deeper, and every step felt like a struggle. I glanced at Kabir, who looked effortlessly messy now—his neat hair was drenched and tousled, clinging to his forehead, and his perfectly ironed shirt was plastered to his skin. He still looked annoyingly handsome, even soaked in rainwater.
I wish I could just run my fingers through his hair, I thought, my fingers twitching slightly as I imagined the feeling.
Kabir glanced at me from the corner of his eye, shaking his head slightly. "I don't understand how you're so calm about this. You're walking barefoot in the middle of a rainstorm."
I grinned, playfully nudging him with my shoulder. "You're overreacting. It's just a little rain."
He chuckled, his usual smirk returning. "If this is just a little rain, I'd hate to see what a downpour is."
Kabir had started saying something about the storm, his voice barely audible over the pounding rain, but before I could respond, I felt a sharp pain shoot through my foot. I gasped, stopping in my tracks as I stumbled slightly. I tried to hide it, but Kabir noticed immediately, turning around to see me standing awkwardly in the rain.
"Everything okay?" Kabir asked, glancing down at me with concern etched on his features.
"Yeah, just a little slippery," I replied, attempting to brush off the discomfort.
We continued walking, and I tried to focus on our conversation, laughing at Kabir's jokes about the ridiculousness of the weather. But with each step, the ache in my foot intensified, and I could feel the warm trickle of blood beginning to seep.
I bit my lip, trying to maintain my fa?ade. Kabir, oblivious to my struggle, was engrossed in recounting a funny moment from earlier in the night. I chuckled, but my mind was clouded with worry about how badly my foot was hurting.
Suddenly, I stumbled a bit, and Kabir stopped in his tracks, spinning to face me. "Aditi, are you sure you're okay? You're looking a little pale."
"Really, I'm fine! Just a little tired from all the dancing," I insisted, forcing a smile, though it felt like my heart was pounding against my ribs in protest.
He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly unconvinced. "You can't fool me that easily. Let me see your foot."
"No, it's really nothing," I said, half-laughing, half-pleading.
He stepped closer, his expression turning serious. "Aditi, I'm not kidding. Show me."
Sighing, I relented and lifted my foot slightly. "See? It's just a little cut. I must have stepped on something sharp."
Kabir's expression shifted from concern to frustration. "Just a little cut? Aditi, that looks pretty bad! Why didn't you say something sooner?"
I looked down, feeling embarrassed. "I didn't want to ruin the moment. I thought I could just walk it off."
Without hesitation, Kabir crouched down, inspecting my foot more closely. "You're not ruining anything. You need to take care of yourself." His eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of worry and determination.
"It's nothing, really—" I began, but Kabir stood up abruptly, sliding one arm around my waist and the other under my legs. Before I could protest, he lifted me off the ground, carrying me in his arms as though I weighed nothing at all.
"Kabir!" I gasped, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck. "You don't have to carry me. I can walk!"
He glanced down at me, his jaw set. "Not with that cut, you're not. I should've carried you from the start."
I opened my mouth to argue but then hesitated, feeling the warmth of his body against mine, the steady strength in his grip. There was no point in protesting now. I sighed, leaning my head against his chest. "I'm not that fragile, you know."
Kabir's lips quirked up into a smile. "I know you're not. But I'd rather not see you get hurt any worse than you already are."
His words sent a flutter through my chest, and I felt an odd sense of comfort as he carried me through the rain. His steps were steady and sure, even as the downpour continued to drench us both. It was one of those moments where the world felt small, intimate, like it was just the two of us moving through this storm together.
A few minutes later, Kabir glanced down at me and smirked. "And don't you dare say you're too heavy."
I blinked, caught off guard. "I wasn't going to—"
"Yes, you were," he interrupted, giving me a teasing glance. "Don't even think about it. You're not too heavy, Aditi. Not even close."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Okay, fine. But I still think this is unnecessary."
He chuckled. "I don't care. I should've done this earlier. Besides, it's not like I'm complaining."
As we approached Kabir's house, the rain was still coming down hard, but there was something peaceful about being in his arms, something that made me feel safe and cared for. When we reached his front door, Kabir stopped and shifted me slightly in his arms, handing me the keys. "You'll have to open the door," he said, grinning. "My hands are full."
I rolled my eyes again but took the keys, unlocking the door while still in his arms. The door swung open, and the familiar warmth of his house greeted us. Just as we stepped inside, Kabir's little cousin, Arjun, came racing down the hall, his face lighting up when he saw us.
"Bhaiya!" Arjun shouted, running over to greet us. But when he saw me in Kabir's arms, his eyes widened in surprise. "Didi! Why is Bhaiya carrying you? Are you a princess now?"
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "No, Arjun. I just hurt my foot a little, so Kabir's helping me."
Arjun tilted his head, his expression serious for a five-year-old. "Oh, okay. But you still look like a princess!"
Kabir grinned, clearly amused. "And what about me, Arjun? Do I look like a prince?"
Arjun scrunched up his nose and shook his head. "Nope, you don't look like a prince."
I couldn't help but laugh, and as Kabir gave me a mock-offended look, I leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "That's because you look like my knight in shining armor."
Kabir froze for a moment, the playful smirk on his face softening into something more sincere. His eyes met mine, and for a brief second, the world around us seemed to fade into the background. He didn't say anything, but the warmth in his gaze said enough.
As Kabir gently set me down on the couch, he pulled out the first-aid kit, focused entirely on cleaning and bandaging my cut. Arjun stood nearby, watching intently.
"Is Didi going to be okay, Bhaiya?" Arjun asked, his voice filled with concern.
Kabir smiled as he finished wrapping my foot. "She's going to be just fine. Your knight took care of it."
I glanced up at Kabir, and the way he looked at me made my heart flutter all over again.