Chapter 44
Kabir's Perspective
As I left for the exam center, I couldn't help but think of Aditi. She had called me last night, just as I was finishing my final review. "You've got this," she had said in her confident voice. And somehow, those words had stuck with me. She had a way of making me feel like I could conquer anything.
The exam itself was challenging but manageable. As I went through the questions, I felt a sense of clarity, my mind sharp and focused. I could almost hear Aditi's voice in my head, teasing me, pushing me to do my best. Each time I hesitated, I reminded myself of the countless hours I had put into this, the times I had pushed through even when I was tired, frustrated, or unsure. By the time the exam was over, I walked out of the center with a smile on my face. I felt confident—not overconfident, but sure that I had given it everything I had.
As I headed home, I couldn't help but smile. I had done it. The biggest exam of my life was behind me, and now all I had to do was wait. But for now, it was time to celebrate. I imagined Mom would be waiting for me with something sweet, maybe even some homemade mithai.
When I opened the door to my house, I was greeted by the sight of my younger brother, Arjun, standing in the hallway, holding an aarti ki thali with an exaggerated serious expression on his face. The moment I saw him, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Arjun! What's this?" I chuckled, ruffling his hair as he tried to balance the thali.
"Mumma and Taiji told me to welcome you like a prince," Arjun said, trying to keep a straight face. "You've conquered your exam kingdom today, Bhaiya."
I grinned, shaking my head at his antics. "Where are Mom and Chachi?"
He rolled his eyes dramatically. "They're getting ready."
"Getting ready? For what?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
Before Arjun could answer, I heard the sound of footsteps. My mom emerged from her room, dressed in a beautiful saree, her face glowing with happiness. Right behind her was my Chachi, looking equally radiant in a traditional outfit. I raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on my lips.
"Ma, Chachi, what's going on?" I asked, folding my arms.
Mom rushed over to me, wrapping me in a tight hug. "First, tell me, how was your exam? Are you tense?"
I shook my head, feeling the tension evaporate under her warmth. "No, Ma. I gave my best. Now the exam ki bala tali."
She smiled proudly and stepped back, letting Chachi step forward. Before I could say anything, Chachi stuffed a piece of mithai in my mouth, grinning.
"Good boy!" she said, patting my cheek. "Now you should take some rest. We're going out for a bit."
"Going out?" I asked, confused. "Where are the three of you going, all dressed up like this?"
Chachi exchanged a look with Mom, and they both giggled. "You'll know soon enough," she said cryptically.
"Rest first, Kabir," Mom added. "Otherwise, if we tell you, you won't resist coming with us."
I groaned, frustration bubbling up. "Ugh, where are you going? Just tell me already!"
Arjun, who had been watching the entire exchange with growing excitement, finally piped up, unable to contain himself any longer. "Bhaiya, we're going to Aditi Didi's birthday party! We're already late, and I want to meet Anaya—she'll look like a fairy today, na?"
My heart skipped a beat. Aditi's birthday. How could I forget? I felt a pang of guilt. She had baked brownies for me on my birthday, even when our board exams were in full swing. How could I forget something this important?
"I'll be right back! Don't leave without me!" I shouted, dashing up the stairs two at a time.
As I rummaged through my wardrobe, trying to figure out what to wear, my thoughts were racing. How had I forgotten Aditi's birthday? She had been on my mind constantly—her voice, her laugh, her words of encouragement—but somehow, I had let the stress of the exam overshadow the day.
Finally, I settled on a dark blue t-shirt and jeans, simple but nice enough for the occasion. Blue was Aditi's favorite color—or at least, I thought it was. I quickly checked myself in the mirror, running a hand through my hair. Good enough.
As we all settled into the cab, Arjun was his usual excited self, swinging his legs back and forth while sitting between Mom and Chachi. He had that glint in his eyes, the one that always spelled trouble, and I already knew I was in for something embarrassing. As I looked out the window, my mind was still spinning from the realization that I'd almost forgotten Aditi's birthday. How could I have been so absent-minded?
Arjun's high-pitched voice cut through my thoughts.
"Bhaiya, you remember when you carried Aditi Didi like a princess?" he asked, leaning forward eagerly.
I froze. My hand had been mid-air, adjusting my seatbelt, but now I turned to look back at him. I knew exactly what he was talking about. "What are you talking about, Arjun?"
"You know! The day of the party! When she didn't wear her shoes, and you carried her all the way home!"
The air in the cab suddenly felt warmer, and I could feel both Mom and Chachi looking at me with curiosity and amusement. I groaned, but Arjun, being five and relentless, kept going.
"She was walking without shoes, and then she got hurt! So, you picked her up! Like in the movies!" he declared, his tiny face full of enthusiasm.
Mom's eyebrows shot up, and a small smile tugged at her lips. "Oh? What's this about carrying Aditi home like a princess, Kabir?" she teased.
I rubbed my temples, feeling a deep flush of heat rise in my cheeks. "It wasn't like that, Mom. She was just... she was walking barefoot, and then she hurt her foot, so I—"
"So, you picked her up and carried her?" Chachi finished, her voice dripping with teasing playfulness. "That's very filmi, Kabir. What was going on in your head, hmm? Did you feel like a hero?"
I let out a sigh. "She couldn't walk, Chachi. I was just helping her out."
Arjun, who had no understanding of the embarrassment he was causing, piped up again. "But, Bhaiya, she was like a princess! You carried her all the way home! And then..." He paused, his eyes wide as if he was holding onto the best part of the story. "Then you carried her inside, too!"
Chachi laughed, and even Mom couldn't hide her smile. "Oh, Kabir," Mom said, shaking her head. "You've been keeping all these grand gestures from us. Next time you carry someone home, at least let us know!"
I groaned again. "It wasn't a big deal. She was in pain."
But even as I tried to brush it off, the memories from that night came flooding back. I had carried Aditi all the way from the farewell party. Her saree had been fluttering in the breeze, her bare feet peeking out as she clung to my neck. She had insisted on walking barefoot, not caring about the hard pavement beneath her, until she'd finally stepped on a sharp pebble and yelped in pain. Without thinking, I had scooped her up, cradling her against my chest.
At first, she'd protested, saying she could manage, but when she saw I wasn't backing down, she relented. As I walked with her in my arms, I remember the way her head rested on my shoulder, her hair brushing against my face. She'd laughed softly, even through the discomfort, calling me her 'knight in shining armor.'
But what Arjun didn't know—and what I would never tell him—was what happened after I carried her into my house. Once I'd set her down on the bed in my room, she'd looked up at me with those wide, soft eyes. Her hair had come loose from the pins, cascading down her back, and she'd looked so beautiful that my breath caught in my throat.
It was then that something shifted between us, something deeper than just friendship. I remember kneeling in front of her, checking her foot for any serious injury, and she had just watched me with a quiet smile. And then, out of nowhere, she'd leaned in and kissed me.
The memory of our first kiss sent a rush of warmth through me. It had been so soft, so unexpected, but so perfect. Her lips had been gentle, hesitant at first, and then a little more certain. I remember how my heart had raced, and how the entire world had seemed to disappear for those few precious moments. Nothing else had mattered but her.
I was snapped back to the present when Chachi nudged me. "Kabir? Daydreaming, are we?"
"No!" I said quickly, shaking my head, trying to hide the fact that I had indeed been lost in the memory of that night. "I was just... thinking."
"Oh, we know what you were thinking about," Chachi teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Something to do with a certain girl, I imagine?"
Mom chuckled, clearly enjoying this more than I was. "Well, Kabir, now I understand why you didn't want to tell us. You've been doing all these heroic things without saying a word. And who knows what else happened after you carried her home?"
My cheeks burned. "Mom, please. It wasn't like that. I just helped her because she couldn't walk. That's it."
"Sure, sure," Mom said, nodding but clearly not convinced. "You're a good friend, Kabir. Always looking out for her."
I tried to brush it off, but my mind kept returning to that night—the softness of Aditi's lips against mine, the way she'd looked at me afterward, her eyes full of something I hadn't seen before. It had been a quiet, intimate moment, one I hadn't expected but had cherished ever since. That night had changed things between us, and even though we hadn't talked about it in so many words, I knew we both felt it.
"Bhaiya, will you carry Aditi Didi again today?" Arjun asked suddenly, breaking the silence with his innocent voice.
I laughed despite myself. "I don't think she's going to need me to carry her today, Arjun. But if she does, I'll be there."
Mom and Chachi exchanged amused glances, and Chachi added, "You better be ready, Kabir. She might just trip again, and we'll all be watching to see if our knight in shining armor comes to the rescue."
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Can we just focus on the party, please? I don't want to be late."
As the cab continued toward Aditi's house, I leaned back in my seat, the teasing from my family still ringing in my ears. They always knew how to push my buttons, but deep down, I couldn't help but smile. Despite all the teasing, they cared, and that made me feel... supported.
And as much as I tried to shake it off, I couldn't stop thinking about Aditi. Today was her birthday, and I owed her more than just a simple 'happy birthday.' After everything she had done for me—baking those brownies during my board exams, always being there to support me—I wanted to make today special for her, just like she always did for me.
As the cab finally pulled up to her house, Arjun jumped out eagerly. "We're here! We're here!" he shouted, running toward the door.
I took a deep breath, readying myself for the celebration, and perhaps another round of teasing. But more than that, I was thinking about Aditi—how today wasn't just about her birthday, but about all the little moments that had brought us to where we were now.
Maybe, just maybe, today would be another one of those unforgettable days.