Ties That Bind

EP19

Two days later, Kabir was noticeably better. His strength had returned, and with it came his insatiable urge to banter with Zara, mostly just to annoy her. Zara, on the other hand, had been cooking for him since he fell ill, though she didn’t have to take care of his every need—thankfully, he could still manage a bath on his own. If it came to that, she’d never help. Never.

Zara entered his room with a tray of food, one of the doctor-approved meals—grilled chicken breast with a side of steamed vegetables. She set the tray down on the small table next to the bed. The nurse took it as her cue to leave, and Kabir, propped up against the bed’s headboard, his chest bare and duvet resting at his waist, watched her with a smug grin.

“I didn’t know you could do housemaid work,” he teased, eyes glinting with amusement.

Zara shot him a look of pure disgust. “Thank your stars I’m being nice to you, Wallahi,” she said, her voice sharp.

“I didn’t ask you to,” Kabir retorted, unfazed.

“You’re just being an ingrate for real,” she said, rolling her eyes.

He smirked, clearly enjoying the way he was getting under her skin. “Mhmm, a cool and handsome one at that.”

Zara glanced up from her phone, her eyes narrowing briefly before she shook her head, ignoring him. As she checked the time—5 p.m.—she asked, still typing away on her phone, “It’s time for you to eat. Should I feed you or will you eat yourself?”

Kabir gave her a sideways look. “I’m a grown-ass man, so no. Thank you. I’d rather eat myself.”

Zara, without another word, passed the tray to him. Kabir balanced it on his lap and began eating. Zara couldn't help but think how just a day or two ago, she had fed him herself, and now here he was, acting like he didn’t need her.

She was about to say something when he leaned in suddenly, his breath warm against her skin. Her mind went blank, her heart pounding erratically in her chest. She blinked, trying to regain her composure. “Wh-what are you doing?” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Kabir’s gaze stayed locked on hers for a moment, his lips curving into a small smirk before he replied casually, as though he hadn’t just turned her world upside down. “Getting water,” he said, lifting the glass he had picked up from the table next to her.

Her stomach flipped, her head spinning from the moment. She couldn't deny it—Kabir had a way of getting under her skin in ways she wasn’t sure she was ready to admit.

Zara quickly excused herself, the moment too overwhelming to process. She needed air—now. Once she was out of the room, she found the nurse and instructed her to keep an eye on Kabir. Without wasting any more time, she hurried to her own room, her heart still racing.

What just happened? Why couldn’t she move? Why did she feel like that?

Flustered, Zara reached for her phone and dialed a video call to her sisters, Rahila and Khayrat. Their faces popped up on the screen, both smiling warmly.

“Wassup, baby girl?” Rahila greeted playfully, while Khayrat's brows furrowed. “Why do you look weird?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Zara sighed, unsure how to even begin. “Umm, you know the whole thing with Kabir... So, he fell sick recently and I was, umm, with him in his room today to, uh, y’know, give him his food.”

Her sisters remained silent, listening as Zara stumbled over her words.

“So, like, I was seated there, fah... and then he leaned in.” Zara paused, her eyes widening as she relived the moment. “I swear, it was just two inches that separated our faces!”

Rahila burst out laughing, while Khayrat shook her head knowingly.

“And then... omg, my stomach did the thing,” Zara finished, her voice barely a whisper, still bewildered by the experience.

Rahila continued laughing, clearly enjoying her sister's sudden crisis. Khayrat, however, simply shook her head again and said, “Shikenan Wallahi, ai kin fada. That's it, Wallahi, you've fallen."

Rahila finally stopped laughing but couldn't resist teasing her sister. “You remember the whole ‘nooo, he’s stiff,’ ‘no, he’s too old,’ ‘no, he’s this, I don’t want this marriage,’ and then... your stomach did the thing?” She air-quoted mockingly before bursting into laughter again.

Zara just pouted, her cheeks flushing slightly. “You’re not helping matters, y'know.”

“It’s not a bad thing na,” Rahila replied, still grinning.

“Khayrat, back me up here,” Zara turned to her other sister, desperate for some support.

“She’s right,” Khayrat shrugged, barely fazed. “If you feel like you want it, then go for it.”

“Ew. Go for what? Abeg, you people are reasoning this thing too far. Nothing of such is happening!” Zara protested, waving off their suggestions.

“Whatever makes you happy, dear,” Khayrat said calmly, and Rahila nodded in agreement, both sisters looking far too amused.

“Gotta go, talk to you guys later,” Khayrat said before ending the call abruptly.

Rahila, still smirking, bade Zara goodbye and disconnected as well.

Left alone in her room, Zara flung her phone to the other side of her king-sized bed and sighed. Her thoughts spun around what just happened, and she couldn't shake the idea.

She thought about the possibility, but quickly dismissed it. “Nahh. Not possible. Not happening,” she muttered under her breath, trying to convince herself. "It’s just a one-year thing. We’ll soon get done with it."

But no matter how hard she tried to push the thought away, it lingered.