Finding Love

Chapter 5

Holding Noorie by her shoulders, his gaze transfixed into her orbs, Kabir bore a stone hard expression. In a very low and surprisingly calm voice, he tried to sooth a sobbing Noorie.

"Please talk to me. Please", he pleaded with her. "Don't shut me out. Please." He tried his best to get Noorie to talk to him, but she didn't sway. She only kept crying, her sobs now a silent symphony of tears, cascading down her now pale cheeks. "Please, Noorie." Kabir tried just once more, his hope falling hard, a little more, every time.

Letting out a defeated sigh, he looked at her, contemplating. After a long moment, Kabir broke the silence, "I'll do all that you ask me to. Whatever it is. You name it and it'll be done, Noorie. But please, talk to me. I... I can't lose you..."

Without waiting, Kabir began to walk towards the door. The prior moment held unfathomable tension and turmoil, too much to grasp within such a short while. He needed to leave this place before he broke down any further. Amaar stood at the doorway, still gazing at Noorie, who seemed to be lost, looking down at the grey comforter. He too, was shocked at the turn of events. Shocked, at Noorie's emotional state. Shocked, at Kabir's emotional outburst. Seeing Kabir walk towards the door, he too, decided to leave the room, and give Noorie her much needed solitude.

"Can you take me back home?"

The sudden question stopped both father and son, right in their tracks. Whipping his head around, Kabir looked at Noorie wide-eyed, surprised, relieved, shocked, all at the same time. She spoke! After two long weeks, she finally spoke! It took him a few moments to break from the reverie. Amaar too, was in a daze. An unexpected moment, of joy and relief, in a day so monotonous and mundane. A small smile crept onto his tired face, before he cast one last glace towards Noorie, as he left to his study. She was going to become okay. He knew it.

In two large strides, Kabir was beside Noorie, kneeling by her bedside, her hand firmly locked in his large one. His eyes, were slightly moist, after ages. Nothing had him so happy in a very long time. He had never shed tears of joy, in his 25 years of life.

"Whatever you say. When do you want to go back home? And I will be getting you a full time Nanny, who can take care of you. Also, this is not up for debate."

"I don't want to go back to that empty mansion, Beerah...." She paused, as she took in his confused expression, before continuing, "I... I want to go back to Agra... to naaniji.... I... I miss her Beerah..." That was all that she could manage to whisper before breaking down into sobs again.

Beerah looked at her, confused, and slightly taken aback. It took him a while, before he could manage to react. He immediately pulled her into a warm embrace, as he sat next to her, trying to calm her.

"Nooriye, when should I book the flight tickets for?" The fact that he used the rarest of her endearments, spoke volumes of how each felt. She wanted naani. And he wanted her to smile. Perfect. They would fly to India as soon as they could. If that was what Noorie wanted, he'd do it.

She didn't answer his previous question. And he didn't expect her to, either! He stood up, to leave the room, but was stopped again, mid tracks, as Noorie called out to him. He turned, to look at her, smiling to himself, at the small victory, that she finally spoke.
"Yea?"

" It's not a nanny. It's a care taker, that you'd have had to employ." She giggled, as she pointed out his silliness to him. "Nanny, seriously?" This time, she laughed.

His smile grew  broader, and he let out a small sigh, as he walked out of her room.

He didn't mind shelving his heartfelt hatred for Agra, just for Noorie. He had loved, and he had lost, all of himself, in the city of magic. And love. He hoped, that he'd not return with a soul ever more broken and cold. He couldn't lose anything more. Or anyone, more. And well, Agra and Kabir had a history, so to say.

Mind clouded with a million worries, he mindlessly walked his way through the house, until he reached Amaar's study. Without even a knock, he barged in, taking his father by surprise.

"She wants to go back... to Agra."

The impact of the statement knocked the air out of Amaar, and at th same time, snatched the rug from beneath his feet. He stood up, unable to react any better. 'Peace is short lived', he thought, before he found himself staring at his son's retreating back.

* A/N: So, Agra! :)