by Varsha Dixit
Chapter 28
Aisha, who had been glaring at Kabir’s back, looked down at the ground, her eyes narrowed.
The light around her dimmed unexpectedly. Out of the darkness, letters came rushing at her. They arranged and rearranged themselves.
Thoi.
Julie.
Nafeesa.
Aisha jerked, and the darkness fell away. What is going on? What are these names? Aisha raised her head, disoriented. Her heartbeat was racing. This place is driving me nuts. Why am I so cold? She rubbed her forearms.
Sounds of clapping distracted her. Everyone around her was applauding something or someone.
“What is going on?” Aisha asked the woman standing next to her.
“Uzi,” she pointed at the short man next to Kabir, “when he takes off his cap, it’s a sign that the shoot is over. Pack up!”
“Oh!” Aisha’s glance clashed with Kabir’s. He was watching her.
Aisha steered her eyes away from him. It had been hard not to look at the man dressed in all black, running the show. Kabir knew his work and he did it well. Few words from him were all it took to steering a crew of fifty or more, including the diva models.
Aisha’s gaze somehow found its way back to Kabir who was studying something on the laptop.
Uzi, Vikas, Amee and two more people were gathered around him even as he stood a head taller in the crowd. All of them huddled around the laptop, studying the pictures taken.
Aisha ran her eyes over Kabir’s head full of dark hair with slight gray on the sides. A smooth wide forehead, dark lashes that covered eyes that could laser a person, a long sharp nose, a pronounced jawline that served as a red flag to his mercurial temper and a mouth, perpetually clamped in a line.
Abruptly, Kabir looked up straight into her eyes. Aisha felt jolted. Something passed between them. Her mouth felt dry.
A man carrying a reflector passed between them.
Aisha felt unshackled. Blindly, she headed for Kiara who was coming toward her.
“So, Boo, what did you think?”
Aisha helped Kiara sit in a chair under the canopy. She dropped her backpack near Kiara.
“You were fabulous. Very poised. I didn’t know you were such a pro, Kia!” Kiara could not hide her flush. “I’m sorry, I have been a bitch about your modeling. You are a natural,” Aisha exhaled. This was hard for her too. “Just like your mom.”
Kiara gazed at her, surprised. She blinked her eyes to hide the sudden sheen in them. “Boo, you do pick your moments.”
Aisha’s expression was wry. “I know. I have a knack for timing. Remember that snot-faced, zit-popping machine Roy?”
“How can I forget Roy?” Kiara covered her eyes. “You interrupted my first kiss.”
Aisha laughed. “You can thank me.”
“Thank you.” Kiara did a mock bow.
“Noted. Now, let’s get you into some proper clothes.” Aisha glanced around. She waved to the lady who was chaperoning Kiara. “Kia’s clothes, please.”
“So, what happened to your clothes?”
“Oh this?” Aisha glanced at her jeans and shirt that still held some streaks of dust. “Nothing!”
“You were clicking photographs again, weren’t you?”
Aisha blew a raspberry. “What? No—”
“Photographs?” A smooth voice purred. Kabir’s voice!
Chapter 29
Aisha’s innards cringed.
“Oh, hey Kabir, join us.” Kiara’s smile was mischievous as she sucked in her cheeks. “Boo loves to take pictures. Don’t you, Boo?”
Aisha made a strangled sound in her throat. She refused to look at the man standing next to them.
Unfortunately, Aisha had not raised her niece to be a quitter. “Kabir, you should see Boo’s pictures.” She ignored Aisha’s sharp intake of breath. “Like right now, while you wait for the team to load up and for us to change.”
“Sure!” Kabir drawled.
“No! No!” Aisha shot warning glances at Kiara. “Please, I’m sure you have something else to do.” She did not raise her eyes higher than the topmost button of Kabir’s shirt.
“Actually, no! I’m free.” Kabir reached out and grabbed a plastic chair and kept it behind Aisha. “Sit.”
Aisha gave him a tightlipped, narrow look from the side of her eyes.
Kabir’s eyes glinted. “Please!”
“Here is her camera.” Kiara had unzipped Aisha’s backpack and held out the camera to Kabir.
“Kia!” Aisha tried to grab it but Kabir pulled it away from her reach.
“I’ll be back.” Kiara got up slowly from her chair and hobbled away to change her clothes, giving a wink to Aisha.
What the hell?
Kabir had taken the seat Kiara had vacated. He turned the camera on. “They can’t be that bad.”
Aisha sat down with a thump. She lunged, hoping to get the camera by surprise but Kabir pulled it away. Again!
“Like I just said, they can’t be that bad.” He pressed the play button.
“They are perfect.” Aisha sat back, primly placing her hands on her knees. Her gloves were back on.
Kabir pointedly glanced at her hands, even as he fiddled with the camera.
“Germs. I have issues with germs remember?”
“Hmm, is that the only thing you have issues with?” Kabir glanced up, his look teasing.
Aisha felt warm. She clamped down on a smile. Kabir went back to studying her photography.
Aisha kept glancing at Kabir’s bent head as he studied her pictures. He seemed riveted. Aisha tried not to flash a smug grin.
After a few minutes, Kabir glanced at her, part incredulous part amused. “These are so bad! Seriously crap.”
Aisha’s mouth formed a surprised ‘O.’ She managed to snatch her camera back. “No, they are not. Not all of them.”
“Yes, all of them,” Kabir grinned.
The smile of the Devil! “You know, shooting models who are beautiful is easy, but shooting nature—”
Kabir grabbed her camera back and got up.
“What are you doing?” Aisha muttered, jerking to her feet.
Aiming it at sea, Kabir put his eye to the viewfinder.
“Idiot.” Aisha hissed with annoyance.
Others on the set were stopping to watch them.
Kabir kept clicking, adjusting the lens, switching it from horizontal to vertical. Then he thrust it in front of her face. “Have a look.” Saying that, he stalked off.
Aisha snorted at his back. “Whatever! Jackass.”
Out of curiosity, she ducked her head and started viewing the pictures Kabir had taken. They were beautiful.
It appeared like the land was extending straight into the ocean. The brown of the earth and the dark blue of the water blended seamlessly and the drooping palm tree with its variegated yellow and green leaves added a dash of striking color.
What the! How did he get all that? Aisha resumed her seat and turned to look up at the scene Kabir had framed.
“And?”
Aisha schooled her expression, realizing Kabir had circled back to her. “And whatever! You are just doing your job, I guess.” She did not raise her head.
Kabir dropped back in the chair and leaned toward her. Aisha raised her eyes. Their faces were close.
“I will give you lessons for free. If you…” Kabir paused.
Aisha felt a frisson of awareness toward him. Her eyes widened and Kabir’s grew hooded.
“If?” Aisha wet her suddenly dry lips.
Kabir’s hooded gaze followed the movement of her tongue. “If you…” His eyes stayed locked on her lips.
Confusion and anticipation widened Aisha’s eyes. She dipped her face toward Kabir, for it was a strain to hold it up. “Convince Kiara to go for dinner with me?”
Aisha froze momentarily and then she sat back with a thump. So, this is what an ice bucket challenge must feel like. She swallowed thickly.
Kabir sat back.
Aisha could feel Kabir’s eyes on her face, but she refused to acknowledge his glance.
“So, I’m guessing your silence means yes.”
“Kabir, the buses are loaded.” Vikas interrupted them.
Wordlessly, Aisha got up. She grabbed her backpack and pushed her camera in it and closed the bag with a snap.
Kabir too rose.
Aisha left them and moved to the side, waiting for Kiara. She did not have to wait for long.
“You ride with me in van, Boo,” Kiara said, limping using a crutch.
“Sure, let me get that.” Aisha relieved Kiara of her bag.
Aisha took Kiara’s oversized tote. She slugged a bag and Kiara’s tote on her back. They kept slipping.
“Give it to me,” Kabir appeared from behind. His hand extended forward.
Aisha recoiled. “No!”
Kiara raised an eyebrow at her tone. “So, did you see my aunt’s pictures?”
“They were stunning.” Kabir murmured, an edge to his voice.
Aisha walked next to them, silently.
“So, Kiara, how about you and I go out for dinner tonight?”
Aisha stiffened. He wasn’t kidding!
“Sorry, Kabir. Boo and I had dinner plans. Rain check?” Kiara flashed an apologetic smile.
Vikas, who was waiting near the van, held the door open for Kiara.
“Well, she can tag along!” Kabir purred smoothly.
Aisha bristled. “Because we already have plans and you want to join us, you will be the one tagging along,” Her smile was taunting.
Kabir smoothly turned to Kiara. “So, dinner around eight.” He waved at the models in the van. “See you all at the villa. Excellent work, everyone.” Kabir and his assistant headed to the black SUV parked ahead.
Kiara and Aisha climbed in and Aisha took a window seat behind her niece, not really in the mood to talk. She did not understand the melancholy knocking on her mind. Aisha watched the outside, her glance stony. Then she saw him.
A man in dark blue jeans, a white shirt and a gray sports jacket was standing at some distance. He sported a thin pencil mustache and his eyes were hidden by a dark pair of Ray-Bans. Aisha stared at him, wondering what about the man had caught her eye.
It’s the way he stands—back straight, legs slightly apart, chin up. His arms relaxed at his side, but he seems wired, like he could break into a run any second.
Aisha saw the man take off his glasses. His eyes honed on Kiara sitting ahead of her. As he was about to glance away, his eyes snagged with Aisha’s.
His eyes narrowed when he realized she had been watching him. He put his shades back on and walked past their van.
Chapter 30
Kriti Villa
That Evening
“What are you writing? Your face looks weird.”
Aisha lurched her head up. “What?”
“Your face looked weird, Boo. What are you writing?”
Aisha glanced down at the pad in her hand—the pad she had picked up from the side table.
The hair on Aisha’s nape stood up and her skin started cooling. She read what she had written.
Thoi.
Julie.
Nafeesa.
Sandhya.
Four names now? What the heck, man! Aisha tried to keep her expression casual for Kiara was in the room. Technically, she was in Kiara’s room, getting ready for dinner.
“Just doodling. What was my expression like?” Aisha strove to keep her voice casual as she ripped out the page from the pad.
Looking in the mirror, Kiara plucked her eyebrows. “I don’t know. Very intense, like you were angry. Chillax Boo, it’s all rad.” Kiara went back to her eyebrows.
“Chillax? Rad? Are these even words or just sounds your generation makes?” Aisha mumbled, staring at the page in her hand. She slowly crumpled it and tossed it in the trash can.
Who are these girls? Why am I obsessing over them? Should I talk to Suvabrata about this?
Aisha rubbed her arms.
“Found it!” Kiara held up a blue V-neck high-waist ball flare dress.
“It’s rather short, Kia.”
“Nope, its perfect.” Kiara put the dress on her bed and then started taking things out of her vanity and putting them into a smaller bag.
“Do you like him? That Kabir?” Aisha chewed her thumbnail.
Kiara took her time answering the question. “He is successful and handsome.”
Aisha inhaled sharply. She wasn’t relishing her niece’s tone or her wishful expression.
“Okay, he is a tad older than me, but you always say I am older than my age. So, he and I should work by that logic.” Kiara zipped up the smaller bag.
“Kia, he is even older than me.”
“So what? You are merely eleven years older than me.”
“Kiara Khatri!”
Kiara looked up to reveal a smile. “Gotcha!”
“Shit! Don’t scare me like that ever.” Aisha stretched. She sniffed at her armpits. “I need a shower.”
“You are such a lady. But seriously though, no promises regarding Kabir. We will see how the evening pans out, okay?”
Over my dead body! “Sure,” Aisha nodded.
This grown-up Kiara is going to give me ulcers, stones, and hemorrhoids and all in one night.
Getting up, Aisha walked to the window in the room. I need some air.
She parted the sheer curtains fluttering in the breeze. The window was wide open.
“Gosh, Kia!” Aisha turned to pull the sliding part of the window to close it. She froze.
Chapter 31
A dark form darted and disappeared around the side of the house.
This time Aisha was sure she had seen a man’s back disappearing. She noticed some models walking back into the house from the beach.
Was it someone passing by or someone lurking outside the window?
Aisha shut and locked the window. “Kiara, can you please keep your windows and door locked? Don’t be so careless.” She pulled the sheer curtains firmly over them and the thicker dark ones too.
“Sure,” Kiara grabbed a fresh pair of undergarments from her suitcase.
“Boo, can you use the shower upstairs? There are spare bedrooms that are not being used. Go up the stairs and to your left.”
“Are you mad? I’m not bathing anywhere but in this bathroom.” Aisha’s voice was firm.
“It is 7:40 already. Both of us can’t get ready by eight. Kabir is my boss and he is very punctual. Please, please.” Kiara put her arms around Aisha. “I can’t climb the stairs. Please, Boo! Please, please.”
Aisha started laughing. “Behave, Kia. You are not five that I will fall in—”
Kiara tightened her arms. “Please, please.”
Aisha laughed and pulled back. “Okay, fine, just stop squeezing the life out of me.”
“You can use any bathroom. This house is just a big fat hostel right now. People walking in and out of rooms all the time.”
That is why it is so easy for people to walk in and out of this place unnoticed. Horrible security! Aisha’s eyes wandered back to the window.
“Okay, so you are wearing this and I’m wearing this!”
“What?” Aisha glanced at the clothes Kiara was pointing at. “You got that blue thing for me?” Her frown was dark.
“You are not going for dinner in your shabby clothes.” Kiara pouted.
“Just give a ratty T-shirt of yours.”
“Oh, c’mon. When was the last time you took time off, Boo? When was the last time you did anything for yourself? Your life is me, Dada and work all the time, every day. You need a break. We are in Goa and in a fancy, swanky villa. Let’s dress up. Let’s have some fun. Let’s party?”
Aisha rubbed her face. “Kia, why?”
“Please, please, please,” Kiara came to her, arms extended.
“Okay, stop right there! Fine, I’ll do it.”
“There’s a make-up kit with the dress.” Kiara cla
sped her hands and turned away. “I want some pictures of you and me.”
“Can I be the one taking pictures?” Aisha teased and then sobered, remembering the most recent critic of her photography. Jerk!
“Not a fat chance.” Kiara handed Aisha her clothes. “Now, go. Remember, up the stairs and then a left. And your time starts now.”
“Haha!” Aisha let Kia push her to the door. “Lock this behind me.”
“Yeah, yeah, go!” Kiara gently pushed Aisha out of the room and shut the door and locked it with a resounding click. “There, it’s locked.”
“Of course, you would lock me out.” Grumbling, Aisha took slow steps in the hall.
Katy Perry was loudly ‘Roar’ing somewhere from above, but no one she knew was in the living room or dining room behind her. Just some household help moved around.
Aisha went up the wide, curved marble steps. She hugged her things tightly. At the landing, Aisha came upon a glass wall that overlooked the garden. “Wow!” The view of the lush landscaped garden was stunning. A circular gray seal with a design embedded in the center of the garden caught her eye.
Aisha crinkled her brow. I have seen it somewhere. She followed Kiara’s instructions and ended up in front of a shut white door.
Tentatively, Aisha opened it and went inside. It was quiet in this part of the house. Aisha’s eyes skated over the elegant living room with silk gray and brown furniture with splashes of indigo blue in artistically placed cushions and thick curtains. Her feet sank in the thick and soft gray carpet.
“Damn!”
Aisha saw that her shoes had left a brown stain on the carpet. She hastily stepped off the carpet and bent down, her hand outstretched to brush off the dusty mark. Her fingers lost their grip and the make-up bag slipped out of her hands and hit the floor.
“Who’s there?”
“No one!” Aisha replied and then winced.
Going by his voice, Kabir sounded close.
Chapter 32
Soft footfalls later, Kabir appeared at the door of the room that faced the living room. “What are you doing here?” His dark eyes were narrowed, and his mouth was clamped in irritation.
Aisha could only stare. It wasn’t Kabir’s irritation that had her tongue-tied. It was the fact that he was bare-chested, showing off his muscled ripped torso with dark nipples, flat stomach with a thin line of black hair disappearing in the front of his jeans. His jaw was covered in white foam.