In A Heartbeat!

12.

"So... We want you to meet him, like him, and... get married!"

On hearing this, Tanishka bristled out laughing.
"You guys are funny!" She said while controlling her laughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Ahuja gave each other a staggered glance, as Tanishka continued
"We should talk more often!" She laughed and went back to her room.

She called Kabir, and told him about this Samar incident.
"So, should I marry him?" She asked Kabir on the phone in an intriguing manner.

"You won't be able to!" He answered straight in a single breath.
"Why not?"
"Coz I won't let you."

Tanishka giggled a bit, and replied
"You're crazy!"
"I love you!"
"Aww! But I think my parents were serious. Meet me tomorrow, and we'll talk about this."

After disconnecting the call, Kabir got a little panicky. What if her parents were actually serious? He slept anyway, and decided not to over-think on it.

Next morning at office, Kabir started his regular work. He wanted to talk to Mr. Mehta about him moving out, and about the dance career. So after an hour or so, he went to Mr. Mehta's office.

He sat on the chair, besides Mr. Mehta; on the same side of the work table, facing each other.

Kabir didn't know where to start from. Mr. Mehta looked at him as if anticipating something big. He hadn't seen Kabir this serious before.

"What is it Kabir?" He asked.
"I... I don't know where to start!"
"Just, relax Kabir. I'm not your mother."
He cackled a bit, and waited for Kabir to continue.

"I think, I wanna move out!" He said it straight, trying not to complicate stuff.
"Move out? Why?"
"Because... this is not where I belong! Dance is where I belong. This company, and job, and even your house, it's not mine!"

Mr. Mehta smiled, and gently placed his hand on Kabir's shoulder.

"Kabir, your mother and me, we don't have a family of our own. Now you're my wife's child. And so you're my child too!"

Kabir sat there quietly, trying to make eye contact but looking down at the floor occasionally. Mr. Mehta added,
"Whatever is mine; this corporation, the residence everything has to be yours too!"

Kabir shook his head, with a faint smile on his face. He felt like getting up and giving a hug to Mr. Mehta, but something stopped him. Maybe because he felt a little awkward about this.

"And about your dance, you can continue it anytime you want!" Mr. Mehta cleared out his point, and got up from the chair.

Kabir stayed seated for a moment, but finally got up and gave him a hug.
Mr. Mehta was ecstatic by this, as he gently patted Kabir's head.

Kabir left his room, and went back to work. He felt his life finding all the missing bits and pieces. He was delighted of course, as he went out to meet Tanishka during lunch.

"Did you speak with Mr. Mehta? About your dance stuff?" Tanishka asked him, and eagerly waited for a reply.
"Yeah! I even talked about moving out..."
"...And?"
"And, he adopted me!"

Tender chortles from both ends, as Tanishka asked again,
"He adopted you?"
"Yes. He made me his son, his heir!"
"And dance?"
"Dance, I'll start from next week. I'll meet up my old friends, and re-joining the group!"

Tanishka got really happy for him, so happy that she even forgot Samar. The reason why they decided to meet was now flushed out of their heads.

After lunch, Kabir went back to his office. He went straight into his father's cabin.
"Uh, I've invited Tanishka for dinner tomorrow. Is that alright?"

"Tanishka!" He exclaimed, "Do you like her or something?"
Kabir shook his head, while blushing, and answered.
"But mom doesn't!"

Mr. Mehta took a deep breath, exhaled heavily, and nodded.
"No problem. I'll talk to your mother."

Kabir went on ahead, and sat on the chair. Mr. Mehta kept his file aside and waited for Kabir to throw on another blast.

"Why does she hate me so much?"
Mr. Mehta immediately looked away. He looked back, and saw Kabir waiting for an answer.

"She doesn't hate you Kabir. It's just, that you remind her of your father. And that reminds her of that guilt, the mistake."

Kabir then felt like he shouldn't have asked.

"Deep deep inside, she loves you son! And she'll realize it soon."
Kabir had no words for this, he nodded faintly and left.

The next evening, Kabir went to pick Tanishka from her apartment. She was dressed in a beautiful sapphire colored Indian dress. Kabir was left awestruck on seeing her come.

"Tanishka, don't feel anxious about anything. Don't choke on anything; and even if you're choking, do not break my mother's crockery!" Kabir said and started laughing at it.

Tanishka punched him at the back, and chuckled herself.
"Shut up! I'm not nervous today."
Kabir smiled, pulled her cheeks, and started the bike.

They reached home; Mr. Mehta was sitting in the living area. He greeted Tanishka very well. Looked at Kabir, and gave him a thumbs up for his choice.

Mrs. Mehta then entered, Tanishka greeted her too, with a formal Namaste.
"How are you aunty?" Tanishka asked her graciously.

"What will happen to me? You say how ARE you?" Mrs. Mehta replied in a hurtful manner.
Tanishka just faintly replied, "I'm fine." and went on to sit next to Kabir.

They had formal conversations for a while, and Mrs. Mehta was talking a bit abruptly and viciously.
Kabir was shaking his head, and waiting for her to stop.

While getting the dining set, Tanishka got up to help.
"I'll take this!" She said and took a bowl from Mrs. Mehta's hand.
"Careful! It's more expensive than the one you broke last time."

Tanishka was feeling hurt by her harsh words and Kabir could see it.
He went in the kitchen, and took her mom aside.

"Mom! What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?"
"Stop being so rude on Tanishka! You have this grudge on me right? So take it out on me! She hasn't done anything to you." He kept yelling in a low voice.
Mrs. Mehta turned away and continued her work.

"And frankly, I haven't done anything to you either! So your resentment against me is totally absurd. Move out of your past, mom. Please!" He added.

She stopped her work, and looked down in remorse; again. She tried to look at Kabir, but couldn't face him.

Kabir walked out of the kitchen and went to the dining table. Tanishka was having a fun chat with Mr. Mehta and Kabir was happy to see that.

Mrs. Mehta took some time to get out of the kitchen. She walked up, and sat next to Mr. Mehta without talking.
While eating, there was total silence. Surprisingly, Mrs. Mehta was the one to break it.

"I like your earrings Tanishka. They're really nice." She said in a gentle tone.
Tanishka smiled, and said "Thank you!"
Mr. Mehta again had his thumbs up to Kabir, as they both controlled their laughter on the table.

After dinner, both the couples had a decent time together. They were having fun. Tanishka was blissful to see the family, she's gonna be a part of.

Now the Ahuja's needed some convincing. But Tanishka didn't see that as a problem.