In A Heartbeat!

8.

***

"Kabir is the best guy!" Divya said animatedly.
"I know!" Tanishka added, stopped suddenly as her mother enters in.

"Tanishka, Divya! There's a whole bunch of stuff we need ready in a week; before going to Goa!"

She then hands over a list to Tanishka. It had all the best shopping outlets listed in it.
"Mom! We're busy talking..." Divya said, but Mrs. Ahuja interrupted and starts yelling at them.
"...We don't have enough time to waste Divya! Now get up and start preparing!"
She leaves the room with fury on her face.

Tanishka and Divya just cannot understand the over-reaction.
"So, what now?" Divya said in a low toned voice.
"I guess you'll have to wait. I'm so sorry!"

And the two sisters moved out for the big wedding preparations!
The wedding shopping included lots of expensive things for the five day long 'festival'.

Many functions and programs were arranged at the beach side.
"Will it be okay for that traditional DJ party?" Divya posed in some red colored Indian outfit, and asking Tanishka about it.
"Yes it's great!" She replied and moved to the front.

Long such shopping hours ended with both of them being tired as hell. This meant that, Divya couldn't get to know about Kabir.

Finally, on a day before leaving for Goa after all the luggage-packing was done, Tanishka continued.

***

"The first time I saw you, my heart faintly whispered - Yes! That's the one." Kabir said while holding her hand close.

The two lovebirds were having their own fun at the beach. Long romantic walks with the supple compelling sand beneath the feet and the hard, but not-so-hard wind puffing through added to the sweet words.

"Sorry to disrupt, but may I know the reason of your parents' divorce?"

Kabir took a halt, and a deep breath to continue,
"Okay. I guess it's time for you to know!"
Tanishka held his hand even more tightly this time as she waited for him to carry on.

"My parents... Never actually had a happy marriage. Theirs was a love marriage, and soon after getting married, they left the country to work and settle in London. They had more arguments than general talks! It was going fine, to some extent though, and then I was born. 'A responsibility' as they termed me until I was grown up enough..."

This made Tanishka gasp a bit, and widen up her eyes.
"...Arguments, misunderstandings, hit the peak when my father's business reached up to new heights. He stayed up late at the office due to work load, and this gave birth to some serious doubts in my mother's head. And instead of talking it out, they 'fought' it out. This went on for a while; my mother kept believing that my dad was having an affair going on, and those arguments kept adding to the misery. That's the part when she met Mr. Mehta, who was looking after his family business in London."

After walking for a while, they got a place to sit; and Tanishka persisted for it.
Kabir continued,

"And as it turned out, my father did not have any affair and he was totally honest. But by the time, my mother was already in love with that Mehta guy and she filed a divorce; which I fairly believe was due to the guilt in her heart, for the futile doubting. And within a matter of time, our family broke down from 3 to 2! I was 14, when I saw my mom leave the house."

Tanishka got up, and went on to hug him. She had tears all over her eyes, and felt sorry for Kabir.
She wanted to ask him about his dad, but then she thought it might not be the right time. After controlling a bit, she finally did ask about his father.

"You then stayed with your dad?" She interrogated.
"Yeah. After his... death, I moved to Mumbai to stay here."
"I am so very sorry Kabir!"

"No it's, alright. He was really the best person in the world. Also, the greatest dad! He taught me great things too... and made me what I am today! Now I miss him, very very much. I feel kinda lost and lonely, without him. Coz, I don't have someone to guard my back... Someone to believe in me every time... Just, one last time if I could get to hug him. Then I would hold him tight, and never let go!"

Kabir had watery eyes, and Tanishka couldn't help herself but cry; on watching him like this.
She hugged him again, backed off for a second and said,
"Kabir! I know I cannot take his place, but I will guard your back and believe in you every time! You'll never be lonely again." And they continued their little hug.

***

Divya too, was sobbing a bit after listening to this. She immediately ran into her parents' room, where they were asleep.

"Daddy!" She yelled, and ran on to give him a hug.
"I love you so much! Thank you for everything."

Mr. Ahuja looked at his wife, with a smile and a surprised look.
"She must've had a bad dream or something." Mrs. Ahuja whispered in a soft tone.

He then turned to Divya, kissed her forehead gently and replied,
"I love you too Divya! And you don't need to thank me for anything, okay? Now go get some rest." He had his hand over her head, all this while.

Divya got up to leave. Tanishka was waiting at the door too; watching all this with happy tears flowing through her eyes.

Tanishka then softly patted Divya's head, and they went back to their room.