by Varsha Dixit
“No Aisha, you sit. My granddaughter and I will take care of the coffee and dessert. C’mon, Kiara.”
Kiara groaned mockingly. However, she got to her feet. “Never be the youngest in a household.”
“Let me come and help you guys.” Aisha stirred.
“Don’t be silly. You can’t leave our guest alone! Stay with Kabir and that’s an order.” Her father waved her down and walked back in the house with Kiara trailing him.
Chapter 59
Suppressed nerves began singing again. “Hope you enjoyed the food.” Aisha glanced at Kabir sitting across from her.
“Aisha, I have to confess something.” Kabir’s tone was urgent. He leaned forward and took her hand. Aisha braced herself for the worst even as she enjoyed the feel of her hand in his. “That afternoon when you were in my room, the reason I stopped when I did was because I did not want to take advantage of you. You were vulnerable and emotional and so was I. I didn’t feel it was right to . . .” His hold on her tightened possessively. “You know I—”
“Are you hiding something from me, from everyone?” Aisha blurted out.
“Are you scared of me?” Kabir’s smile was wry. He gently let go of Aisha’s hand and placed it back on the table, fleetingly caressing her fingers. Aisha felt cold at the loss of his touch.
Kabir sat back and a familiar aloofness came into his eyes. “I’m not an easy person to be with Aisha.”
Every time he takes my name, I feel like somebody just poured liquid chocolate on me.
“Stop looking at me like that.” Kabir cleared his throat.
Aisha averted her face and inhaled sharply. Every instinct of hers screamed at her to kill the physical distance between Kabir and her.
“So, which nights of the week do you cook?” Kabir attempted to lighten the intense moment between them.
“Which nights are you free?”
Kabir chuckled and then sobered. “I just wanted to tell you—”
“Kiara, take out the cups with those golden things.” Her father’s voice fell on their ears.
Kiara’s dry response followed. “Those golden things are flowers, Dada. You don’t know flowers?”
Aisha and Kabir shared a smile. “Those two are funny. They should have a show of their own.”
“They probably will. Papa is bringing out the best chinaware. After all, we don’t have royalty over every day.” Aisha teased, rolling her tongue against her cheek.
Kabir’s smile fell off his face faster than a coin in a slot machine.
“What? What did I say wrong?”
“That title never brought me happiness. It is where all my problems began. I have left that part of my life behind even though it refuses to leave me.” Kabir’s mouth twisted bitterly.
“Hold on,” Aisha acted as if she were getting up. “I’ll ask Papa to take out the steel or the disposable glasses.” She tried to inject some levity. I’m already missing his smile! Kabir’s austere expression lightened. “So how is the villa in Goa? Was there a lot of damage due to the storm?”
“Nothing that can’t be repaired. You really helped me that day. You know how thankful I am, right?”
“All in a day’s work.” Aisha rested her chin on her hands and gazed at him. Kabir fell quiet, returning her gaze unblinking.
Desire and longing seeped the silence and their eyes.
A sudden breeze blew some loose hair on Aisha’s face. Kabir caught the strands and tucked them behind her ear, letting his fingers trail over her cheeks. Aisha turned her cheek against his fingers. Kabir inhaled sharply. “Aisha . . .” His voice was husky.
“Coffee is here.” Kiara’s emergence made Kabir drop his hand from Aisha’s face. Aisha too moved back on the bench.
“Kiara has awful timing.” Kabir mumbled, his gaze still heated.
Aisha grinned. “I know.” Her cheek still held the warmth of his touch. “Where’s Papa, Kia?”
“Right here with tiramisu.” Her father followed Kia.
Content and relaxed, Aisha let the conversation flow above her head as she ate her tiramisu.
“When do we get to see the calendar pictures, Kabir?” Kiara asked.
“They are nearly done.” Kabir replied, even as his gaze kept wandering to Aisha’s bent head and the soft smile on her delectable and distracting mouth
“So, you are based in Goa?” The retired judge asked.
“No, Sir. Mostly Mumbai and wherever else my shoot takes me. I usually go to Goa around March and again around New Year.” Kabir remarked, sipping coffee.
Aisha looked up. “So, around March and December?”
“Actually, end of February and December for sure.” Kabir said. “This tiramisu is very good.” He complimented.
“Thank you,” Aisha forced herself to smile. She felt the warmth of the past hour slip away. She simply waited for Kabir to finish his coffee and dessert. She faked a yawn and acted as if she were trying to cover it.
“The Chef is tired.” Kabir teased.
“Sorry, I just . . . please ignore that.” Aisha said, knowing very well Kabir wouldn’t overstay his welcome.
Kabir rose to his feet. “It’s almost eleven. I should go. I really enjoyed the evening.” He included the retired judge and Kiara in his glance, but his eyes kept straying back to Aisha.
Aisha bit her lips, guilt gnawing at her.
“Thank you for a lovely meal, Aisha!”
Aisha kept her smile causal. “You are welcome. It was our pleasure.”
Kabir stared at her until Kiara coughed rather loudly.
“Spare the rod and spoil the child.” Aisha muttered under her breath.
Kabir left soon after.
Aisha went to the kitchen and helped Pinky clear and put everything away even as Kiara and her father discussed the dinner and their guest.
Fifteen minutes later, Aisha snuck in her room and locked the door behind her. She went to the bathroom and locked that door too. She was quick to dial a number.
After a few rings someone answered.
Chapter 60
“Okay, so you saw the news?” Parth said.
“No, what happened?” Aisha frowned. “Did you find another . . .”
“No, not another body. A prominent local newspaper ran the story with some inside leaks.”
“That’s not good. Not good at all.” Aisha shook her head. “The fact that he leaves the bodies on display clearly reeks of attention-seeking personality. This kind of news coverage will only make him want more attention.”
“I know. And the copycats.” Parth said.
“Yikes. Did the article give away a lot of confidential information?”
“Enough to know that the leak is an inside job.” Parth barked. “I’m glad you and I withheld the shoe element from the rest of the team.”
“That the killer takes the shoe from each victim as a souvenir?” Aisha nodded, lowering herself on the bathroom floor. “Why did you ask me not to mention it to the others?”
“Because CBI and local police are never the best of friends. I learned it the hard way. And today’s article just confirms that it was the right thing to do.” Parth added. “Why does he take a shoe? Not some jewelry or a piece of clothing?”
“The shoe probably means something to him. It must be connected to what happened to him, what made him who he is. If we catch him, we will have an answer to that.”
“When we catch him, not if!” Parth corrected. “Do you think he could be a shoe salesman?”
Aisha’s smile was wry. “He’s too smart to be that obvious. He will be anything but a shoe salesman.”
“Hmm! So why did you call?”
“Um!” Aisha hesitated. She remembered Kabir’s face as he had brushed her hair from her face. “Um!”
“Miss Aisha?”
“Uh” Aisha exhaled. “Yeah! So, Kiara, she went to work today. And she is going tomorrow.”
“Okay?” Parth waited.
“That’s it!” Aisha grimaced. “So, should I let her
go to work?”
“Don’t worry. I told you your niece is protected. Just keeping her shadows invisible.”
“Shadows?”
“The cops who are protecting her are staying out of sight.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“One more thing, Aisha. I’m not your buddy, so don’t just pick up the phone and call me randomly. Only call when you have something important. Good night.”
Parth hung up.
“Jerk!” Aisha glared at the phone. Why did I not tell Parth about Kabir’s travel plans? She rested her chin on her knees. I will investigate Kabir but on my own. Resting her head back on the tiled wall, Aisha touched her cheek where Kabir had touched her. It felt cold.
#
Several Hours Later.
Kabir again turned on his side. He saw the faint light of dawn behind the dark silk curtains of his bedroom. “Dammit!” He got up from his comfortable bed. Adjusting his pajamas and thin tee, he used the remote on his bedside table to draw the curtains. Sliding the balcony doors open, he stepped out.
His second-floor apartment overlooked The Marine Drive and the brownish gray ocean beyond it. He rubbed the overnight stubble.
I thought I was too old to spend a sleepless night over a girl.
The whole night he had reminisced over Aisha—her face, her varied expressions, her gestures, her sweet lilting voice, and her body. He had seen her curves on the day they had gone running—all tight and voluptuous in those skin-hugging tights. And the dress she wore at dinner last night? He was already imagining taking it off her. Kabir ran a hand over his eyes. “Horny bastard!”
I know her for merely a week and here I am, lusting after her. What the fuck is wrong with me? Why can’t I resist her?
“Dammit!”
Kabir went back inside. Aisha was nothing like the models he dated on and off, or even his late wife. Aisha was simple, grounded, and funny. Last night, I saw another side of her, Kabir thought while brushing his teeth. The binding force of her family. Can so much goodness heal someone? Even someone like me?
Kabir’s onyx eyes held hope and anguish. He hurriedly washed his mouth and went into his room.
“I should call Shreya. She will set my head straight and put an end to all this bullshit!”
Sitting down on the bed, he dialed a number and put the phone to his ear. Shreya did not answer. Kabir smacked the phone against his thigh. “Dammit, Shreya, talk to me. I don’t want to hurt Aisha. You have to stop me before I do!”
Chapter 61
Next Day
“So, are you seriously going to pick me up from work?” Kiara asked, getting off the car.
“Yes, Ma’am!” Aisha pushed the food basket toward Kiara’s recently hired spot boy sitting at the back. “Raju, take care of madam, okay?”
Only Aisha knew that Raju was a martial arts expert and a perfect marksman, security for hire.
Nodding, Raju took the basket and got off the car.
“What are your plans for today, Boo?”
“I need to run a few errands,” Aisha lied. “SMS me when you know what time the shoot will get over.”
“Aren’t you overdressed just for errands?” Kiara gave her a sly smile.
“Bye!” Aisha hurriedly turned the car around and drove some distance and pulled to the side of the road.
Grabbing her cell, she dialed a number. It did not go unanswered. “Hi Vikas, this is Aisha Khatri, Kiara’s aunt. Kia gave me your number.” Aisha bit her lip at the lie. She had scrolled Kiara’s contact list hoping to find Kabir’s number. Not finding Kabir’s number, she had settled for the second best—Vikas, his PA.
“Yes, it is very important that I speak with Kabir. It is about Kiara, yes. Do you know where I can find him?”
Vikas promptly gave her the address to Kabir’s studio.
“Thank you. I appreciate this. You take care. Bye!”
Ignoring the palpitations, Aisha drove to the address Vikas had given and lied about an appointment with Kabir to get inside the complex.
Aisha walked to the second-floor apartment. This seems like a residential complex. Taking a deep breath, her fingers wrapped in tissue, Aisha pressed the doorbell.
A man wearing a crisp white uniform opened the door. “Yes?”
“Hi! I’m here to meet Kabir Rana. Is he here?”
“Do you have an appointment, Madam?” The man asked, stifly.
“Here, give him this please!” Aisha handed him her card, which he took rather dubiously like she was handing him something covered in mold. “He had dinner at our place yesterday.” That thawed the man’s expression—somewhat.
“Please wait here!” The door closed on her face.
Aisha adjusted the butterfly pendant around her neck. Today, her skirt was white with colorful embroidered flowers and pale blue brocade kurti with light silver thread work on the cuffs and collar. She had blow-dried her hair and her make-up was just right to highlight her eyes and cheekbones.
Aisha didn’t have to wait for long. The door opened within minutes. Kabir stood there—a surprised expression riding his handsome face. “Hello Aisha!”
Aisha felt her insides melt just looking at him.
Kabir stood back and opened the door wider. “Please come in. What, no leftovers from last night?”
Confused, Aisha hesitated at the threshold. “Was I supposed to? Did you ask—”
Catching her wrist, Kabir pulled her in. “I was kidding,” he teased.
“Oh!” Aisha tried to keep her expression casual but Kabir was warming her simply by the way he looked. His tall lean body was clad in a navy blue T-shirt that clung perfectly to his ripped chest and he wore snug blue jeans while his feet were bare. His hair was damp from the shower and was curling over his forehead. I want to sink my fingers in his hair.
Taking quick steps, Aisha walked past him and stopped. “Wow!”
Kabir’s spacious apartment was decorated in black and white with stunning pictures of people and nature dominating the walls, adding color and ‘oomph’ to the minimalistic and masculine décor. “I just hired a good interior designer.”
“But you did take all these pictures.”
“It’s my hidden talent,” Kabir joked. “Have a seat please,” he gestured at the sofas.
“Thanks!” Aisha took a seat facing the windows that overlooked Marine Drive and the sea. “Do you live here?”
Kabir took a seat across from her. “Yes, were you expecting someone else?” he looked amused.
Aisha shook her head. “No, no! What I meant was that I had asked your assistant where I could find you and he said that you would be in your studio. And then he gave me this address.”
“This apartment is a duplex. The upper portion is the studio and my bedroom.”
“Oh!” Aisha nodded and sat quietly, chewing on her lips, and tapping her heel. There was silence for a few seconds.
“The way you are fidgeting, I’m guessing this is more than just a social call?” Kabir murmured.
Aisha smoothed her skirt over her knees.
Kabir kept the conversation neutral. “What will you have, coffee or tea or something else?”
“Coffee mixed with Red Bull!”
“Serious?”
“No.” Aisha shook her head. “Just coffee, thanks.”
“Sure.” Kabir got to his feet and disappeared in a room to the side of the hall. He was back within seconds.
“Hi!” Aisha swallowed.
“Hi . . . again.” Kabir watched her, his eyes bent at the ends, his look tender. “What’s going on, Aisha?” He reached out and lightly took her hand in his.
Okay, screw everything, I’m just saying it. Aisha inhaled sharply. “Do you like me?”
Kabir jerked his head, his eyes narrowed even as his grip tightened on her hands. “Like you? What do you . . . mean?”
Aisha gripped his hand back. “You know exactly what I mean.”
“Aisha, it’s not that simple.” Kabir’s eyes held pai
n as he let go of her hands and got up. He walked up to the glass and leaned against it. Aisha watched him, her eyes huge. “I’m not right for you.” His eyes were dull. “You deserve better!”
“That’s not what I asked.” Aisha cleared her throat. “Do you like me? Because you give mixed signals.” She adjusted her cuffs, her voice sounding as troubled as she felt. “Blow hot, blow cold all the time. It confuses the hell out of me . . .” She trailed off while watching him.
Kabir come back and sat down next to her. “I’m sorry, I’m such as asshole!”
“You are. But I seem to like it.” Aisha blurted then closed her eyes. “I’m sorry, I think I’m losing it,” she opened her eyes as Kabir cupped her cheek.
“I do like you.” Kabir stared deep into her eyes. “Probably more than I should.”
Aisha returned Kabir’s tender gaze with everything good she felt for him.
“Please don’t. My self-control isn’t the strongest around you.” His voice was thick.
“What am I doing?” Aisha asked, her face still against his hand.
Kabir rubbed the soft skin of her cheeks with his thumb. “Just being yourself, sweet Aisha. Honest, open, loving. And so darn sexy!”’ His thumb slipped near to her lips.
Kabir’s eyes followed his fingers. The hunger in his eyes was unmistakable. He brushed the edges of her mouth and Aisha’s breath hitched in her throat. She forgot all about the investigation, her suspicions of the man in front of her. Everything except how Kabir was making her feel simply by the passionate look in his eyes and his tender touch on her skin. Aisha’s lips parted, and her eyes darkened.
“You are driving me mad!” Kabir growled.
Unknowingly, she leaned toward him.
Chapter 62
A sudden cough interrupted Aisha and Kabir. They jumped apart.
“Dammit!” Kabir moved his feet to make way for his help wheeling in the coffee.
Aisha shifted back, trying to calm her uneven breathing down. The man placed the coffee cups and a tray of mini pastries and crackers and cheese on the table.
Kabir waited till they were alone again. “Aisha, you should leave before I hurt you.” He said, his head hung down.