Invisible String

Chapter 16: a root canal, without anesthesia.

"That'll take 10 minutes to be served. Thanks for your patience. What are the names for the cups?" she asked.
I interrupted, "It'll be Sam and Kabira," my grin stretching from ear to ear as I glanced back at Kabir, who gave me an eye roll, muttering a small ‘seriously?’.

As we found a table, the atmosphere between us softened slightly. Sitting across from him, I couldn't help but notice the way his eyes seemed to sparkle despite his usual stoic demeanor.

"Do you always wear heels? Isn't that uncomfortable?" Kabir asked, breaking the silence again.

"I mean, beauty comes at a price, and there's nothing I can't do in heels," I replied, flicking my hand in a sassy way.
"In fact, you can’t go hiking in those heels, nor can you ride a bicycle, and also heels can—" he began, but I interrupted before he could launch into a full critique of my beloved footwear.

"Okay, I get it," I said, a small smile playing on my lips. He grinned back, his dimples showing. Was I seriously being attracted to mere holes in cheeks?

"So, tell me something about yourself," I asked, changing the subject.
"I thought this wasn't supposed to be like a meeting? Someone forgot the memo?" he teased.

"I think I should at least make sure my soon-to-be-husband isn’t a serial killer," I shot back, rolling my eyes.

"I think the fact that you’re alive till now is proof enough that I am not," he said, having a slight smirk on his face, leaning back. "I’m a Harvard grad. I joined my dad’s business even before I had my degree in hand. I’ve been interested in the company’s workings since I was a kid. And you?" he countered.
"I aspire to be one of the top entrepreneurs and show that women can be just as successful. As for my education, I studied at DU, away from my parents. It was the worst time of my life," I admitted, my voice trailing off as I noticed the waiter bringing our coffee.

The coffee was placed on the table, the cursive writing spelling out "Sam" and "Kabira" making me giggle again.
"Oh god, will you ever shut up about it?" Kabir groaned, seeing my amusement.
"Over my dead body," I said, still laughing.

We grabbed our coffee. Watching how Kabir drank his, it seemed not too bad to give it a try. He seemed to enjoy it. I brought my cup forward and took a sip. Immediately, the bitterness of the coffee hit me, and my face scrunched up in disgust. How did he drink this? I forced an awkward smile to hide my discomfort.

"You know you don’t need to hide the fact you didn’t like it," Kabir spoke, taking another sip with a smile stretching from ear to ear.

"I’m not sure. You might have a gun to kill me if I said a word against it," I replied, setting the cup back down.
"How did you know? I think you know too much about me at this point," he said with a smirk, his lips never leaving the coffee. Why was he torturing himself with this? I felt nothing but pity.

"So, are there any warnings before I walk out and buy a Coke to soothe the bitterness off my tongue?" I questioned as I stood up. He followed right after.

"No," he said, trailing behind me towards the McDonald's beside Starbucks.
"So, you always drink this?" I asked while we waited in the queue.

"Yes. Did you like it?" he teased again.
"Absolutely, enough that I would love to have it again in... probably the next life," I said sarcastically. I ordered Coke paired with Spicy Deluxe McCrispy and hashbrowns for takeaway.

"I would never have that for breakfast," he said, giving me a look of disgust.
"And I would love to have this every morning for breakfast," I replied, making a face and sticking my tongue out at him.

"I guess opposites attract," he said, turning his attention to the McDonald's menu. Did I hear that right? My ears must be ringing. He continued to stare at the menu, avoiding eye contact. Once we grabbed our parcel, we headed back to Kabir’s car.

"You know, we should exchange numbers since we are getting married," Kabir said, handing me his phone. I quickly typed in my phone number.

“Hm ‘married’ sounds strange, no? I mean no offence to you but it’s just the thought of actually getting married is like—“
“Surreal. Trust me, I know. It’s like this anticipation or rush of overwhelming emotions, excitement, nervousness but also anxiety. It’s like shifting to a new place, a new but better place.” He chuckled nervously as he spoke. This was the first time that I actually felt like I was seeing the real him. Not Kabir Rajvansh, just Kabir.

There was a peaceful silence between us which was only broken when I spoke up.

“I’m sure everything’s gonna be fine. God’s plan, huh?” I said with a soft smile on my face.

“Yeah, God’s plan. But I’m glad it was with you, even if you are the literal embodiment of chaos.” His expression turning playful.

“Oh yeah? Well then you better get used to this chaos, Mr. Rajvansh.”
“Whatever you say, Mrs. Rajvansh.”
Okay yeah, that shut me up real quick. I hid my flustered face from by pretending to look out of the car.

"So, I guess that’s it for today’s date," I said as I settled into the car. He started the engine, beginning the journey to drop me off at the office

"Let’s go somewhere you like next time," Kabir suggested, his voice softer, more genuine.

I looked at him, seeing a flicker of something more in his eyes. Maybe this wasn’t just a formal arrangement for him either. As we drove, a comfortable silence settled between us, filled with the promise of better understanding and new beginnings. This date, with all its awkwardness and unexpected moments, had been the start of something real. And I found myself looking forward to what came next.