Inayat's POV
Finally setting my feet on the pavement of our farmhouse, I dusted the crumbs of cupcake from my kurta that somehow fell as I was eating very carefully.
God, this was such a long journey. Or upar se hamare or Kabir ke saath Humaira aayi bhi, toh so gayi. Uff! It was so awkward.
(And on top of that, Humaira came with us but slept. Uff! It was so awkward)
"Chalo chalo bhai, so kya rahe ho sab. Apna apna samaan lo or andar chalo. And Inayat, there must be a housekeeper inside, can you call him?" Farhaan bhaijaan asked, waking everyone up in the process.
(Everyone get up and take your carry-ons inside. And Inayat, there must be a housekeeper inside, can you call him?)
I went inside and told the housekeeper of his immediate requirement outside.
"Appiiiiiii!!! Bahar mat aana." Rahil wailed from outside.
(Sister!!! Don't come outside)
"Nahi nahi. Aao aao Inayat. Kuch mazedaar dikhaate hai tumhe." Qasim bhaijaan shouted from outside.
(No no. Come out Inayat. I'll show you something interesting)
Feeling a bit curious, I went outside only to shout so damn hard and come back inside running.
Oh my god! Oh my god! No. No. Just no. Ewww.
"Nahi nahi, door raho hamse. Ham maar denge apko Qasim bhaijaan, please." I quickly said to him, running around the living room and hiding behind the wall, crying my eyes out.
(No no, stay away from me. I'll hit you Qasim brother, please)
Still, he was chasing me with a cockroach in his hand, "aree chota sa toh hai. Dekh toh--", he couldn't even complete his sentence as he crashed into Kabir.
(It's so small. Have a --)
Suddenly, I heard a scream. So, I peeped from the wall I was hiding behind, only to be amused.
Kabir held Qasim bhaijaan's ear with one hand, making his ear turn red, "kyu tang kar rahe ho usko? Hain?"
(Why are you troubling her? Hmm?)
"Aree maafi bhaijaan, please. Ouch, dard ho raha. Jaane de na. Nahi tang karunga pakka!" Kabir twisted his ear more, "Or aayenda karna bhi nahi hai. Samjhe?" He said, leaving his ear. Bhaijaan mumbled a small 'ji' before rubbing his ear.
(I'm sorry brother, please. Ouch, it's hurting. Let me go. I'll not trouble her anymore)
(And don't ever. Understand?)
Thank God for him or else Qasim bhaijaan would have chased me through the entire house.
I came out of my hiding space, wiping my tears with my dupatta and felt a strong gaze on me, but ignoring it, I went when Rahil came and side-hugged me.
"Dekha, maine toh pehle hi mana kiya tha, ki Inayat appi se panga mat lena. Samajh hi nhi aata kisi ko toh." Rahil said smugly, making me grin at him.
(See, I told you not to trouble Inayat sister. He doesn't understand only)
I smiled, still refusing to look at him, although thanking him a thousand times in my mind for saving me.
Third person's POV
The housekeeper came and said, "Beta aap log abhi kuch kha lo. Fir araam kar lena."
(Children, eat something. Then take rest)
Everyone sat at the dining table, fighting over food.
"Mein keh raha hu na ye mei loonga. Choro meri rasmalai ko." Arhaan said, pulling the bowl of rasmalai towards him.
(I'm saying I'll have it. Leave my sweet)
"Abey saale, ye meri hai. Samjhe na tum. De idhar ab." Farhaan added, pulling the same bowl.
(You rascal, its mine. Understand. Now give it to me)
In admist of pulling the bowl, Humaira quickly transferred all her veggies into Arhaan's plate, and told Qasim, "dekha mera jaadu. Tujhe bhi nhi khaane hai toh bata. Arhaan bhai ki plate toh full ho gayi hai, mei Kabir bhai mei daal deti hu."
(Saw my magic. If you don't want to eat it, tell me. Arhaan's brother plate is full, I'll transfer it Kabir brother's plate)
"Haa haa. Ruk, abhi 2-minute mei deta hu, bas Kabir bhai ka dhyaan unke plate se hate" Qasim replied.
(Yes yes. Wait. I'll give it to you in two minutes when Kabir brother's attention won't be on his plate)
Kabir's voice interrupted all the chaos going around the table, "kya kisi paagal khaane se aaye ho? Ek rasmalai nhi share kari jaa rahi tum logo se? Or tum Qasim, sochna bhi mat jo plan kar rahe ho. Chup chap khao. Ek lafz bhi nhi nikalna chahiye tum logo ke mu se ab. Har jagah bas ladna hai." He said angrily.
(Have you come from a mental hospital? Can you not share a sweet? And you Qasim, don't even think about what you are planning. Shut up and eat. Not even a single word should be uttered by you guys. All you want to do is fight everywhere)
Inayat happily munched on her food, and all that she could not eat, she transferred it to Kabir's plate. Just like before.
Qasim's eyes widen at this. "Hame toh bolne se bhi mana kiya hai. Or dekho kaise ye Inayat jo daal rahi hai, woh bhai chup chap kha le rahe hai."
(He forbade us, even to speak. And see now, how he is silently eating what Inayat is giving.)
"Khilau kuch tumhe abhi mei?" Kabir asked, immediately looking at Qasim.
(Should I make you eat something else?)
"Nahi nahi. Khaana kaafi hai." he said, gobbling up all his food.
(No no. Food is enough)
Once everyone was done eating, they all settled on the couch.
"Ludo khele?" Ashar said, feeling bored.
(Let's play ludo?)
"Haa kyu nhi. Mei or Arhaan ek team mei. Qasim or Rahil ek mei. Humaira or tum ho jaana. Or baaki Inayat or Kabir bhai ek mei. What say?" Inayat glared at her brother Farhaan as soon as he finished his sentence.
(Yes why not. Me and Arhaan can be in one team. Qasim and Rahil in another. Humaira and you. And Kabir brother and Inayat in one. What say?)
"Hame itne ache se khelna nhi aata. Kabir bhaijaan haar jaayenge hamare saath khelenge toh. Ham Humaira ke saath team up kar lete hai." She said sweetly, ignoring the glares she felt at the back of her head.
(I don't know how to play that well. Kabir Bhaijaan will lose if he plays with me. I'll team up with Humaira)
Kabir's anger fueled hearing bhaijaan again. Or toh or, she even denied playing with him.
She's itching for a punishment, Kabir thought. How can she call me bhai after everything?
"Nahi Appi, aap toh bohot acha khelte ho. Kabir bhai ke saath khelengi na, toh pakka jeetengi aap." Humaira said, oblivious to the tension between Inayat and Kabir.
(No sister. You play so well. You'll certainly win if you play with Kabir brother)
Dhokebaaz kahin ki. Isko toh mei baad mei bataoungi acche se. Inayat thought.
(Traitor. I'll see her later)
They started playing ludo then.
"Cheating ki! Teri token toh andar thi?" Farhaan accused Ashar.
(Cheating. Your token was inside?)
"Haa haa. Ab ye din aa gaye hai ki mei cheating se jeetu." He said, making a poker face.
(Yes. Now I'm so bad at playing that I'll cheat)
"Waise Ashar, aapko yaad na ho, toh ham bata de ki aap ludo king mei computer ke saath khel ke haar gaye they." Humaira quipped in between, holding her breath as she laughs.
(Well Ashar, if you don't remember, let me remind you that you lost the game with your opponent as computer)
A series of laughter erupts. "Sahi mei?" "Itna kharab Ashar bhai?" "Bechara computer, jisko mere bhai ke saath khelna pada." All of this could be heard.
(Seriously?)
(That bad Ashar brother?)
(Miserable computer, who had to play with my brother)
Ashar then got up, flipped the board, and squinted away. "Ab khel lo tum log. Huh. Bade aaye. Mujh jaise chote se bache pe haste huye sharam nhi aayi?" He spoke sarcastically.
(Now play. Huh. Don't you guys have any shame that you're laughing on me?)
A flying chappal was received on his back, thrown by Arhaan, making him run for the hills. "Sharam toh mei batata hu tujhe. Ruk beta. Tu toh gaya aaj. Jab bhi mei jeetne wala hota hu, hamesha yahi hota hai." he said, chasing Ashar all over the house.
(I'll tell you what shame is. Wait. You are so gone today. Whenever I'm about to win, this always happens)
Inayat laughed so hard that tears started coming out her eyes.
Kabir couldn't even focus on the ruckus going around. All he could see was her.
The way she was clutching her stomach while laughing, the way tears of happiness rolled down her face, the way she was being so carefree, and that too in his presence.
Yeah, as if you ever gave her a reason to. His consciousness mocked.
He hushed his consciousness and focused on the beauty. The one who was not even looking in his direction while playing. The one who quickly shook her hand away when it touched his hand, sparking electricity to run down his veins. The one who owns his heart, mind, and soul. And the one he knows to love wholeheartedly.
He helped her get up from the couch, stabilising her as she swayed from the laughter.
"Stand still baby" he murmured, pushing back the escaped tendrils behind her ear, took out his handkerchief and wiped her eyes. That is when Inayat came to senses. She could feel her heart pounding as soon as he held her.
She looked around the room, surprisingly, finding them alone. He wiped her face, her smudged mascara and kajal from her face was all cleaned, giving her face a pinkish glow. "Are you okay now? Shall I bring some water, you might feel thirsty after all of that." He asked in a concerned tone, holding her face.
She was shocked at the sweetness, nevertheless, she nodded and meekly replied, "j-ji."
He moulded their hands together and led them towards the kitchen. Gesturing her to sit on one of the stools, he went ahead and got a glass of water for her.
She was very parched, so she drank all the water, and requested for more. He brought more and halfway through drinking it, she asked, "ji, aap nhi l-lenge paani?" and forwarded her glass to him. Why she did that, she had no idea.
(You won't d-drink w-water?)
He drank from the exact same place where her lips were a moment ago, making her eyes widen.
"J-ji aap kya kar rahe hai ye? This counts as......." she wanted to say indirect kissing but was embarrassed.
(Um, what are you doing? This counts as.......)
"Drinking water jaana, Why? Have any problem with it?" He asked with a charming smile.
Ye haste toh bohot kam hai, lekin jab bhi haste hai, behad pyaare lagte hai.
(He rarely laughs, but when he does, he looks so cute)
"Ah, no. None. Chaliye I'm going to sleep. Have a good night." She got off the stool in haste and was going to run away to her room when he held her wrist and pulled her back, making her bump her head on his chest.
"Aapko itni jaldi hai hamse bhaagne ki? Hm?", he questioned her as he pulled her closer, slowly wrapping his arms around her. He wanted to see if she would move, but she didn't.
"Or aapne abhi game mei bhi hame fir se bhaijaan bulaya? Apko yaad nhi hai agar jaana toh ham bata de apko ki ham apke hone waale shauhar hai. Or shauhar chahe jaisa bhi ho, bhai ab woh apni hi hone wali biwi se ye lafz sunna pasand nhi karta. Aayenda se, mei na sunu ye, Okay?" He gently spoke to her, gazing at her down-casted eyes as if he had all the time in the world.
Only if she could look up and stare at his grey eyes.
(Why are you in such a hurry to always run away? And you also called me brother again in the game? If you don't remember, then let me tell you that I am your future husband. And however the husband may be, he does not like to hear these words from his would-be wife. From today onwards, I shouldn't hear this, okay?)
"Ji maafi. Woh ham aage se dhyaan rakhenge iss baat ka." She replied, with eyes still down, staring at their feet as she couldn't handle the intensity with which he looks at her.
(I'm sorry. I'll be careful from now)
He briefly kissed her forehead, letting her feel that he really appreciates it, letting her know, he is grateful for her to give him a chance to be better.
This time, I won't make her cry or disappoint her like I did before. He promised himself.
She turned red and blushed so hard. Oh god, the feel of his lips on my forehead is heaven for me.
"Jaaye so jaaye Inayat aap. Thak gayi hongi." he gently said, now stroking her head lightly.
(Go and sleep Inayat. You must be tired)
"J-ji. Aap bhi. Dhyaan rakhe apna. Bye." She said and left with a flaming hot face and body.
(Y-yes. You too. Take care. Bye)
My little sweetheart, Kabir's eyes never left her as she went away.
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Hey everyone! How are you all doing? Here is another update for you guys.
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