The Unbroken Circle

CHAPTER 15

Author's POV:

It had been a week since Sushila returned from the hospital, and everyone had moved back to London, staying at Ananya's house. Both families decided that Lara and Kabir should get married as soon as possible. One afternoon, Neetu arrived at Ananya's house and found Lara in the living room. Lara greeted her with a warm smile. "Hello, Aunty Neetu! Would you like some water?" She led Neetu to a comfortable seat.

Neetu smiled back. "No, thank you, Lara. I'm here to let you know that you need to go with Kabir to meet the wedding planner." Lara nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and reluctance. "Sure, Aunty. Where should I meet them?"

"Kabir will pick you up at 7 PM," Neetu said, her tone kind but firm. "Please be ready by then. You know how punctual Kabir is." As Neetu left, Lara's thoughts turned mischievous. Why not have a little fun with Mr. Grumpy? she thought to herself. She decided she would come down at 7:30 PM, just to see his reaction.

Later That Evening:

At 7 PM sharp, Kabir arrived at Ananya's house. He rang the doorbell, his expression calm but his eyes betraying his expectation of punctuality. He waited patiently, but as the minutes ticked by, his calm demeanor began to fray. By 7:15 PM, Kabir's impatience was palpable. He checked his watch repeatedly, his foot tapping against the floor. Each passing minute seemed to fuel his frustration.

Finally, at 7:30 PM, Lara descended the stairs, deliberately taking her time. She wore a light, airy dress and a teasing smile, savoring the moment. Kabir's eyes narrowed as he watched her approach, his irritation evident. "Good evening, Kabir," she greeted him sweetly, her tone laced with feigned innocence. "Ready to go?"

Kabir's jaw tightened, but he managed to keep his voice steady. "Lara, I said at 7 PM. It's 7:30 now." Lara's smile widened as she pretended to be oblivious to his frustration. "Oh, did I keep you waiting? I'm so sorry, Kabir. I must have lost track of time."

Kabir exhaled slowly, trying to keep his temper in check. His eyes flashed with a mixture of annoyance and determination. "Let's just go. We don't want to keep the wedding planner waiting any longer." As they headed to the car, Lara felt a small sense of victory. Annoying Mr. Grumpy had been satisfying, but she knew she'd have to find a balance if they were going to navigate this unexpected journey together. She glanced at Kabir, who was still visibly annoyed, and couldn't help but wonder how this marriage would unfold.

Lara's POV:

As we drove through the rain-soaked streets, traffic came to a standstill. I gazed out the window and saw a couple sharing a coffee, looking so happy and content together. The sight brought me back to reality, reminding me of Raj and the betrayal that still haunted me. I realized I couldn't keep making jokes with Kabir and giving him false hopes. When we finally arrived at the wedding planner's office, I took a deep breath and stopped Kabir before we went inside. "Kabir, wait," I said, my voice trembling slightly. He turned to look at me, a questioning look in his eyes. "What is it, Lara?" "I'm sorry, Kabir," I began, trying to find the right words. "I can't be a part of the planning process. I'm fine with whatever you choose."

Kabir's expression remained calm, but I could see a flicker of frustration in his eyes. "Why did you come then?" he asked, his tone controlled but clearly annoyed. I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "Aunty came all the way to invite me, and this marriage is only for the family anyway. Whenever you meet the planner, just drop me at the park a couple of blocks before. I don't care about this wedding planning." Kabir took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. "Alright, Lara," he said slowly. "I'll take care of everything. Let's just get through this for the sake of our families."

I nodded, grateful that he didn't push the issue further. "Thank you, Kabir," I said softly. "I appreciate it." As we turned back to the car, the rain continued to pour, mirroring the storm of emotions inside me. I couldn't shake the feeling of loss and uncertainty, but I knew I had to see this through, no matter how difficult it was.

Kabir's POV:

Driving through the rain-soaked streets, I felt the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Traffic was at a standstill, and I glanced over at Lara, who was staring out the window, lost in her thoughts. I followed her gaze and saw a couple sharing a coffee, looking so happy and content. A pang of jealousy and frustration hit me. Why couldn't we be like that? Why was everything so complicated? When we finally arrived at the wedding planner's office, Lara stopped me before we went inside. "Kabir, wait," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

I turned to look at her, a questioning look in my eyes. "What is it, Lara?" "I'm sorry, Kabir," she began, struggling to find the right words. "I can't be a part of the planning process. I'm fine with whatever you choose." I kept my expression calm, but inside, I was seething. "Why did you come then?" I asked, trying to control the annoyance in my voice.

She sighed, looking defeated. "Aunty came all the way to invite me, and this marriage is only for the family anyway. Whenever you meet the planner, just drop me at the park a couple of blocks before. I don't care about this wedding planning." Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stay composed. "Alright, Lara," I said slowly. "I'll take care of everything. Let's just get through this for the sake of our families." "Thank you, Kabir," she said softly. "I appreciate it."

As we turned back to the car, the rain continued to pour, matching the storm inside me. I was trying so hard to keep it together, but the frustration and anger were boiling just beneath the surface. What did she mean she didn't care? This was our wedding, our future. I clenched the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white. She acted like it was all meaningless, like I was just some pawn in her life. I wanted to scream, to demand why she couldn't see that I was trying, that I cared. I knew I had to get her on my side, to make her see that we could make this work. But how? How could I get through to her when she was so closed off, so determined to keep her distance? The sight of that couple had sparked something in me—a longing for what they had, a connection, a partnership.

But for now, I had to play it cool, and I had to show her that I could be patient. Even though it felt like I was losing my mind, I knew I had to find a way to make her see me differently. This marriage was more than just a family obligation for me. It was a chance, a chance to be with her, to build something real. I just had to make her see that too. As we drove to the wedding planner, I silently vowed to myself that I would make this work, no matter what it took. Even if she didn't see it now, I would find a way to show her that we could be happy together. That couple had something special, and I wanted that with Lara. I would get it, one way or another.