5.
"Can I play some songs?" She asked. Ekansh gave a small nod in response. He kept his eyes on the road but he was very much aware of her every move.
She played soft music and continued looking out of the window. She was looking out of the window when she spotted a small puppy.
"Can you stop the car please," Ekansh glanced at her, a mixture of surprise and confusion on his face.
"Stop the car?" He repeated, his eyebrows furrowing. "Why?"
"Just stop it," she said hurriedly. He stopped the car and she immediately Opened the door, running behind. She took the puppy in her arms and turned to look at him.
The whole situation had caught Ekansh off guard. He watched as she got out of the car, ran after a puppy, and picked it up. She now stood holding the small, squirming bundle, looking at him with a hopeful expression.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his tone slightly bewildered but not hostile.
"Looks like he is lost, and he is scared too. Can I keep it?" She asked with a hopeful expression.
Ekansh stared at her for a moment, taking in the sight of her holding the tiny puppy. Normally, he would have protested against such a request, but there was something about her pleading expression that made him hesitate.
He let out a sigh, realizing he was outnumbered. "Fine," he said gruffly. "But you're taking care of it, not me."
"Yeah I will," she said and smiled looking at the puppy, she sat in the car and he started driving again, throughout the ride she was talking to the puppy like he will speak back to her.
The entire drive, Ekansh felt a strange mixture of irritation and curiosity. He found her talking to the puppy to be both endearing and incredibly admiring at the same time.
"It can't understand a word you're saying," he pointed out, his tone edged with sarcasm.
"At least he isn't stopping me from talking," She rolled her eyes. Ekansh's jaw tightened slightly at her retort, but he didn't respond. Instead, he kept his focus on the road, the sound of her talking to the puppy filling the otherwise quiet car.
...........
It was evening and the function was in full swing, Kiara was standing with her sister Richa when a lady approached them along with Nidhi, Richa's mother in law.
"She is my daughter in law, Chitransh's wife." Nidhi introduced Richa to the lady and Richa touched her feets to take blessings.
"And she is Ekansh's fiance." Kiara could notice how Nidhi's smile faded as she took Ekansh's name, shrugging that off she touched the lady's feet, and the lady smiled at her, "You are so gorgeous."
Kiara smiled, "Thankyou auntie," Away from the crowd Ekansh was checking something on his phone, His father looked at him and sighed, He walked towards Kiara, "Kiara beta,"
Kiara looked at him and replied, "Ji uncle?"
"Can you go to Ekansh and convince him to connect with people." His father asked, although Kiara didn't know how to convince him, he was definitely a stubborn introvert.
Taking a deep breath she walked towards him, "Mr. Shekhwat."
Ekansh looked up from his phone as he heard Kiara address him. He raised an eyebrow, his face revealing little emotion.
"Yes?" he responded, his voice neutral. He shoved his phone into his pocket, waiting to see what she wanted.
"Can you try communicating with the guests?" She asked. Ekansh let out a sigh, clearly not thrilled with the suggestion.
"You're suggesting I socialize?" he repeated, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "Not really my thing,"
Kiara sucked a breath and spoke,"I know it isn't your thing, but at least try. You are the older son, you should be attentive."
her words stinging a little more than he expected.
"I don't do well in social situations. It's uncomfortable and draining."
"You are impossible," She said and walked away.
As Kiara walked away, Ekansh found himself watching her.
Despite his initial irritation at her suggestion, he couldn't help but admire her boldness and directness.
It was refreshing, in a way, especially compared to the fake superficiality of most people he interacted with daily.
With a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair and scanned the room. He knew he had a responsibility to fulfill, but the thought of mingling and making small talk made his stomach churn.
............
The function was over, and Richa suggested Kiara to stay the night, to which she agreed and her parents left at night only.
Kiara was walking in the backyard of the farmhouse, It was huge and had a swing, She sat on it and stared at the moon. "Life is unexpected, isn't it?" She asked herself.
He looked at her for a moment longer, his eyes tracing the silhouette of her features backlit by the moon.
With a deep breath, he decided to talk to her. He made his way outside to the backyard. As he approached, he saw her staring at the moon, lost in her thoughts.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice soft. "Life does tend to throw us for a loop sometimes."
She flinched and turned back, "You scared me, can't sleep?"
"Sorry," he said, a hint of remorse in his voice. "Didn't mean to startle you."
He paused before responding to her question.
"Yeah. Can't sleep," he admitted, the words catching in his throat. He walked a little closer, standing a few feet away from her.
She patted the space next to her, "Sit."
He hesitated for a moment before complying. He sat down on the swing next to her, leaving a comfortable space between them. The old wood creaked under his weight, and for a moment he was acutely aware of how close they were.
He looked straight ahead, avoiding her gaze, and said nothing. "How long have you been insomniac?" She asked, looking at the sky.
The memory flashed across his mind, the events of that day he had tried to bury away for so long. He clenched his hands at his sides, the muscles in his jaw tensing visibly.
"Why do you ask?" he asked, his voice was calm.
"I am sorry if I crossed the boundary, I was just curious. We are getting married next month, Don't you think we should know about each other?" She asked and looked at him who was already looking at her.
The direct question and the sudden eye-contact caught him off guard. He held her gaze for a moment, studying her face, the honesty and curiosity in her eyes.
Finally, he looked away, focusing on the moon again.
"I guess you're right," he said quietly. "But there are things about us we don't even know ourselves, let alone each other."
"It's never late," She whispered, "But if you aren't willing to, That's fine." She said looking at her hands.
He was still looking at her, "I wanna know, about you. I am willing to know you."
Kiara looked at him, "I am an open book, if you are a reader you will know who I am, What I am. But you Mr. Shekhawat, You are very mysterious, Like a puzzle. And you have to tell me things by yourself."
He bristled slightly at the 'Mr. Shekhwat' remark, but her next words hit him deep.
"A puzzle, you say." He repeated, a hint of a wry smile on his face. He looked at her for a moment longer, his eyes searching hers, as if trying to decide whether to continue this conversation.
Finally, he let out a deep sigh. "You want to know me. That's what you said, didn't you?"
"Exactly," she replied. He leaned back into the swing, the chains of the seat creaking with the movement. He was silent for a long moment, his mind swirling with a mixture of emotions he hadn't let himself feel in a long time.
Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet. "What do you want to know?"
"Why are you like this, It's like you are scared to trust anyone." She turned on the swing, facing him now.
He took a deep breath before answering, his voice low and firm. "You really want to know why I don't trust people? Why I'm the way I am?"
"I do,You see Mr. Shekhawat, We are not just getting married, we will spend our life together. Don't you think I deserve to know you?"
"You're right," he admitted after a moment's hesitation. "You do deserve to know me. But what makes you think I'm willing to open up?"
"I won't force you Mr. Shekhwat, I understand." She was about to get up.
As he saw her prepare to leave, something stirred within him. A strange, unfamiliar feeling tugged at him, a feeling that made him want to reach out and ask her to stay.
"Wait," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. The swing creaked as he shifted, facing her fully.
"yeah?" She asked, she understood he had a dark past, and he needed time.
"You said you're an open book," he said, his voice gruff but less harsh than before. "Then let me ask you something."
"Sure," She replied, His eyes narrowed slightly, his mind formulating the question he wanted to ask.
"how are you so sure I wouldn't judge you, or hold your secrets against you?"
She didn't answer immediately, surprise flickering in her eyes at his unexpected question. She looked at him searching, trying to gauge his intentions.
Finally, she spoke, her voice soft and steady. "I don't know if you will judge me or not. But I believe that if we are going to spend the rest of our lives together, we should at least try to understand each other, don't you think?"
After a moment of silence, he spoke again, his voice low and soft.
"Alright," he said, a small nod. "You've answered my question. My turn now."
"Why are you like this, so distant and reserved?" She asked.
A pang of something unfamiliar went through him at her question. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. No one had ever asked him why he was the way he was before - not even his parents, not that they really cared.
He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes drifting to the night sky above. "I don't know," he said finally, his voice was quiet. "Maybe I'm just built this way."
"You aren't comfortable yet, well nevermind, let's just sit in silence. The sky looks pretty today." She whispered and stared at the sky.
He was caught off guard by her easy acceptance of his answer. A small part of him had expected her to argue, to press him for a more detailed reply.
But as she shifted her attention back to the night sky, he found himself strangely relieved. They sat in silence for a while, the only sound coming from the creaking of the swing and the rustling of leaves.
Ekansh looked next to him just to find her already asleep, He stared at her for a while, the moon light Falling on her face made her glow differently.
He took off his jacket and covered her up, He sat there silently, his eyes casually shifting back to her and the sky.
He was used to silence, but for the first time it felt like a peaceful Silence.
"Kiara," he called out but she was in deep slumber, he tapped her hands but it had no use on her.
He stood up from the swing and Picked her up in his arms, she felt feather light to him, he was used to lifting weights, He was used to heavy weights.
He walked inside, and made his way towards the guest room, he walked inside and gently placed her on the bed, covering her with the quilt.
He looked at her before finally walking towards his room, he sat on the couch, His insomnia was not letting him Sleep at all.
..............