Evening had softly settled when Vedant played with the children at the orphanage, a place he visited regularly with Rishi. Kabir leaned against the bonnet of the jeep, arms crossed, his gaze never straying from Vedant for even a moment. It was striking how Vedant could seamlessly transform, from a playful child among them to the focused, serious presence he became when they spoke. When he'd shown seriousness in conversation with Kabir, there had been none of this childish ease. Yet here, with the kids, he was completely at ease. Vedant had brought snacks and treats for them, and now he joined them like one of their own, munching happily. He was joyful, happier than Kabir had ever seen him back home.
"Sir, we could use a little donation…," a man approached Kabir hesitantly.
"There's no need to speak," Kabir said. "It wouldn't look right to ask for money for children, they deserve it. I've written a check for what I can afford." He pulled one from his pocket and handed it over.
"Thank you, sir."
"Please don't say that. It's my privilege. I just want these kids to lack nothing. Here, take my card if there's ever an issue." Kabir handed him his card.
Vedant came over then.
"Shall we go?" Kabir said with a gentle smile. Vedant nodded. Kabir opened the jeep's door for him. Vedant paused for a moment, meeting Kabir's eyes, before nodding and sliding into the seat. Kabir climbed into the driver's seat.
Soon, they drove out of the city's bustle and into a quiet part of town. Vedant peered out as Kabir slowed the vehicle in front of a restaurant.
"This isn't your hotel," Vedant observed.
"So? It's only eight o'clock. What's the point of going to my hotel now?" Kabir retorted with a soft chuckle.
"You sound... odd. Are you okay?" Vedant asked, concern tingeing his voice. Kabir simply smiled again, calm, unforced, and unlike anything Vedant was used to.
"Why? If I were unwell, would you treat me?" Kabir teased.
"Of course… and in a way that ensures you don't get sick again."
"First, you eat something. Maybe that rumbling stomach of yours will quiet down. You talk so much anyway," Kabir said as Vedant glanced down at his own stomach, audibly growling.
They climbed the stairs to a private room on the restaurant's upper floor. Vedant's eyes widened. The room shimmered with lush indoor plants and colorful lights. Kabir's lips curved in a gentle smile, rare, genuine, and entirely devoid of self-interest. Dinner and cake were already laid out beside drinks on the table.
Vedant stepped forward to take in the scene, flooded with beauty and effort and then spun to face Kabir, eyes blazing with anger.
"Mr. Kabir! Tell me the truth, what is your plan? What's going on in your mind? First you kidnap me, threaten me about my sister to bring me here. And now this! What is all of it?"
Kabir watched him calmly.
"Is it your birthday today? What else would the plan be?"
"Do you think I'm that stupid?"
"Today is your birthday, Ved, why are you so angry?"
"Oh! You think I'll be happy because of this... performance?"
"No, it's not like that. I just wanted you to be normal for one day."
"Why? Do you think I'm abnormal the rest of the time?"
"No, you're not."
"So what then? What's the matter?"
"I just wanted to see you happy," Kabir replied quietly.
Vedant stared at him, speechless, his lips pressed between his teeth. Then he turned abruptly and started to push his way out of the room. Kabir reached out and caught his wrist.
"Please, Vedant... it's my request."
Vedant closed his eyes, exhaled slowly, and turned back to sit. Kabir leaned close and wished him a soft, heartfelt "Happy birthday." Vedant's anger lingered, stubborn across his features. They ate quietly; the drinks remained untouched, neither of them drank.
It was already ten o'clock at night. Vedant hadn't uttered a single word the entire way back. Kabir, too, had remained silent. The two of them stood inside the hotel elevator, completely quiet, as if they had just returned from a tailor who'd stitched their lips shut.
Kabir unlocked the digital lock of the penthouse door. The moment they stepped into the hall, both of them froze in place.
"What the hell, Kabir? Have you even looked at the time?"
The voice came from the same girl who had shown up with Kabir's mother that day, Tanya.
Kabir's gaze, however, remained on Vedant.
Tanya walked up to them, folded her arms across her chest, and gave Vedant a once-over from head to toe.
"So, you're the one he kidnapped, huh? Then why are you still with him?"
"It was his birthday today," Kabir replied calmly. "Thought I'd give him a one-day pass."
"Oh really? That's sweet. And on my birthday, you were 'too busy', right?"
"I actually was busy that day, Tanya."
"No problem. You've celebrated his birthday, great. Now what about me? Do you have time for me now or…?"
She stepped closer to Kabir, trailing her fingers along the open collar of his shirt, casting a sideways glance at Vedant.
Vedant looked away, clearly uninterested.
Tanya leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Kabir's chest. He turned his face slightly, visibly uncomfortable, but he didn't push her away. That was all the invitation she needed.
Placing her hand firmly on his chest, she shoved him backward onto the couch. Kabir dropped onto it without resistance.
Tanya followed, climbing onto him, and began kissing him wildly.
Vedant shook his head with a bitter, sarcastic smile.
Kabir remained sprawled on the couch while Tanya clung to him. His eyes, however, weren't on her, they were fixed on Vedant.
Tanya, noticing the lack of response from Kabir, turned her head slightly to look at him.
"Give us some space, would you? Show some manners," Tanya said, and Vedant headed straight up the stairs. Although, the anger was still visible on his face. Tanya began kissing Kabir again, while Kabir's eyes followed Vedant as he went up.
As soon as he entered the room, Vedant shut the door behind him and threw his jacket onto the bed before walking into the bathroom. Resting his head against the edge of the bathtub, he felt like he might fall asleep in the warm water.
But the moment he closed his eyes, images of Tanya and Kabir began flashing through his mind. Everything that had happened since morning played like an old reel in his head. He didn't know which side of Kabir he could trust, if any.
Half an hour had passed, yet Vedant didn't feel like getting out of the bathtub. Or perhaps, he was trying to drown everything in that water, as if someone wanted to bury their bitter memories under the surface. Just like that, Vedant was trying to leave all of the day's events behind in that room.
It was his birthday today. He should've been thinking about Rishi and his sister. But all he could think about was Kabir.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. This time, it wasn't a mistake, he hadn't locked it. Kabir walked in. His shirt was changed. Vedant said nothing, nor did he protest. Kabir was wearing an off-white shirt. The top three buttons were undone. His wet hair fell loosely over his forehead, clearly showing he had just showered. There were love bites on his neck. Vedant turned his gaze away.
Kabir sat on the floor, right beside Rishi's head. Folding both his arms, he rested them along the edge of the bathtub.
"You don't have any shame, that much I already knew," he said, staring up at the bathroom ceiling.
"And yet you still never lock the bathroom."
"Rishi and I never locked the bathroom at our place. Habits don't go away so easily," Vedant replied in a low voice, his body submerged up to the neck in foam.
Kabir was very close to his face. There was a strange kind of intimacy between them now. Kabir kept looking at Vedant's face, his eyes trailing from his nose to his lips. He touched Vedant's face with the back of his fingers, then gently ran his thumb over his lips.
Suddenly, he leaned in closer. Reached his lips. Vedant, too, seemed to be under some kind of spell.