Inside And Out

28) Confrontation

Precap:
We both danced for another hour even though she looked towards the lobby where we went for the washroom, probably worried for that fucking toad of an excuse Kabir!

Kaira's POV:

"Karan! Karan!" I shout as I reach in the sitting area of hotel lobby.

"Mam, may I help you in any way?" The manager asked and then I realised that everybody was looking at me.

I saw Shanaya coming towards me.

"What happened Di?" she asked me.

"Shanaya where is Karan?" I asked impatiently.

"I saw him go to his room a few minutes ago" she replied confusedly.

"What's his room number?" I asked.

"701 on 7th floor" she replied but before she could ask anything, I approached the elevator and in few minutes I standing out of his room.

"Karan! You freaking dumbass! Open the door you jerkhead!" I banged on his door.

He opened the door and I pushed him with all my force.

"What the fuck is your problem Karan?" Push "You have issues with me" Push "Then why the hell you are involving Kabir in this?" Push.

"I don't understand what you are saying Kaira" he said chuckling.

"You don't understand?! Why did you lock Kabir in the washroom cubicle?!" I shouted.

He saw behind me and went towards the door and simply closed it without locking it.

"Look, Kaira, I don't know what you are talking about. I went with him but told him to wait because I got a work call and then Rohan was also missing so I sent Kritika to find him. I saw you were alone so I danced with you" he replied with an innocent smile.

"Wrong! You locked Kabir in the washroom without his knowledge, asked him to wait and the innocent being he is, he believed you. Then Rohan went his way, Kritika went her way and you came to me imposing yourself on me as my dance partner" I exclaimed.

"And why would I do that?" He said taking a step towards me. Unconsciously, I took one back.

"Because you can't handle our proximity. You are jealous and you can digest the fact that I am with somebody else" I said taking steps back as he moved forward with anger in his eyes.

He pinned me to the wall and caged me between him and the wall.

"Oh, Kaira. My fiesty, smarty pants Kaira. Yes, you are correct. I locked him in the washroom so that I could spend my time with you without any interruption" he said with a smirk.

This much closeness increased the speed of my heartbeats. He touched my cheek sweetly and it send shivers down my spine.

"Karan, let me go" I muttered in a small voice.

"I once did that mistake, I am paying for it with the most valuable thing in my life. I won't do that again. I can't let you go. Not now. Not forever" he replied as he inched closer.

"Karan you can't do this to me. We are not together" I stuttered.

"Why are we not together, Kaira? Why did you leave 2 and a half years ago without any farewell?" he asked me.

I looked up in his eyes to see pain swimming in his eyes. But it angered me.

"Why did I leave?! Why?! Was there any reason for me to stay?" I gritted through my teeth. He clenched his brows in confusion.

"What do you mean?" he asked in a small voice.

"I came that day, Karan. I got the news in college that I got a job in California and I was confused that should I take it or not. My mom adviced me to tell you. I came that day to your house. I was very happy. On the way, I thought we can mend our relationship and I'll give up on that job. I'll work here and be with you. But what did I hear when I come to your place to surprise you? You decided to get married. Do you even know how much it hurts?! I left because of your decision. If I could give our relationship a second chance, then I owed myself a chance. That's why I left after my graduation!" I said. By now, my cheeks were stained with a fresh batch of tears.

He was taken aback. He moved back from me, giving me some space. After a few moments of silence, he broke it.

"Kaira..... I.... I never meant it to happen like this. I married Kritika for a reason. Did you notice Dadi is not here?" he asked and I hesitantly nodded.

"That's because she died 2 years ago. When you heard me saying I'll get married to Kritika, my Dadi was on her death bed. That day, she had a severe heart attack. Fortunately, the doctor was able to revive her and she asked us to fulfill her last wish that was to get me married. She asked me if I could do this for her. And out of duty, I married Kritika. I and Kritika, we are husband wife but just for name. She still uses her surname Arora, not Oberoi. We are just friends. She loves Rohan not me" he explained and I looked at him in shock.

"But then why did you misbehave with me when you saw me back in Cali?" I asked.

"Because I couldn't contain myself. I was so happy to meet you but at the same time mad. Because after a week when I decided to marry Kitty for Dadi, I thought I should talk to you. I came to your place but your Mom said you left India for job and you never wanted to see me, after what happened. I didn't understand but I was mad that you didn't even say a goodbye. And then you behaving cold with me triggered it. And I'm so sorry for that. I realised my mistake. You won't believe how elited I was when I heard you are coming to Shanaya and Naman's wedding" he said and pulled me in an embrace.

I struggled to get out of it but finally rested my head on his chest and cried my heart out.

Just a misunderstanding changed my life in such a big way. I can't believe he had to marry against his will, just for his grandmother. I realised how much I love him. But one part of my heart was so afraid to be back with him. I don't want to hurt my heart again. Fool me once, shame on you. But fool me twice, shame on me.

We pulled away from the embrace and he cupped my face with his hands.

"Kaira, we got separated because of our prides and misunderstandings. Let's put the past aside and move ahead. I still love you. Heck, you don't even know the effect, the power you have on me! I love you and I am extremely sorry for what happened in the past. Let's get back together" he said with a hopeful smile.

I remained silent and then finally parted my lips.

"Karan, I also love you. The same as I used to do earlier. But now, a part of my heart is too weak to take you back. It's very afraid to get hurt again. I'm sorry but I can't. Even though I love you, I can't bring myself to trust you" I whispered honestly.

"Kaira, don't do this to me. I can't live seeing you with somebody else. You take all the time you want. Even if you give up on me, I won't. I will court you, love you, cherish you in all ways possible. You are mine! And I don't share. At all. So even if you don't fight, be ready to see the heights of my love" he said with warning in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Karan" I just said that and left his room with tears flowing from my eyes.