"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 54

Aditi's Perspective

We pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, and as soon as Kabir turned off the engine, I reached for the door handle, ready to step out. But just as my fingers touched the cool metal, I felt his hand on mine, stopping me.

"Wait," he said, his voice soft but firm, "let me get that for you."

I blinked at him, momentarily caught off guard by the book-boyfriend gesture. Before I could protest, he was already out of the car, jogging around to my side. I watched as he opened my door, offering his hand to help me out.

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. What a gentleman, I thought to myself, as I placed my hand in his. His grip was firm but gentle, and he pulled me out of the car with such care, as if I was something precious, delicate.

As I stepped out, I looked up at him, my heart swelling with emotions I wasn't sure how to express. "What did I do to deserve you?" I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Kabir's eyes softened, his expression warm as he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. The simple gesture sent warmth flooding through me, making my heart race in the most wonderful way.

"You deserve the world, Aditi," he whispered against my skin, his voice so low that only I could hear it.

My chest tightened at his words, my throat closing with emotion, and I couldn't speak for a moment. All I could do was let him guide me toward the entrance of the restaurant, our hands still entwined as if we were afraid to let go.

As soon as we stepped into the restaurant's dimly lit, elegant space, Kabir turned to the hostess, keeping my hand in his. "Reservation for two under Kabir Mehra."

The hostess gave him a polite smile, glancing briefly at me before focusing her attention on Kabir. She quickly confirmed the reservation and gestured for us to follow her, leading us toward a cozy, intimate table in a quiet corner of the restaurant. Kabir never let go of my hand as we walked, his thumb brushing the back of it gently, sending little sparks of warmth through me with each touch.

When we reached the table, I noticed the waitress standing by, already setting the glasses of water. She smiled—at Kabir. And maybe it was my imagination, but her smile seemed just a little too sweet. She barely glanced my way, her eyes fixed on him, lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

I felt a small pang of annoyance rise in my chest. The way she kept looking at him, with those overly sweet eyes, as if I wasn't even there—it irked me. But Kabir didn't seem to notice. His focus was entirely on me, as if the rest of the world didn't exist.

"Can I get you something to start with?" the waitress asked, her voice dripping with honey, and her gaze still on Kabir.

He looked slightly uncomfortable, his eyes darting between me and the menu as if trying to figure out how to navigate this awkward interaction. I could feel my irritation building, not at him, but at her.

Before Kabir could respond, I leaned forward, my tone deliberately casual yet firm. "Well, let me and my husband go through the menu, and we'll let you know what we'd like to have."

Her expression faltered for a moment, and I could see the subtle shift in her demeanor as my words sunk in. Husband. I let that word hang in the air, enjoying the slight flicker of surprise that crossed her face.

Kabir smiled at me then, and under the table, he squeezed my hand, his thumb stroking the back of it softly. The waitress muttered a quick, "Of course," before scurrying off, clearly sensing that she was no longer the star of the show.