Always Is Not Forever (Breaking Myself - Part II)

12. The One Where I Move In

[ K A B I R ' S P O V ]

Combing my hair with the help of my fingers, I threw the mug of coffee in the sink. Too strong. I hated them too strong. Looks like I need to learn again how to use that machine.

Staring at the door of the room, I allowed the smile to grace my face. For the first time, she fought for us, and that thought made everything feel real. I wasn't the only one going deep in here, scared what if tomorrow it all ended. She was there also. I would never leave her alone again.

"Kabir." I changed the direction of my head to look at dad.

"Dad." He went to the refrigerator, opened it and looked for something. "Can I help you with something?"

He frowned. "Where are beer bottles? And before you get angry, I searched for Vodka bottles, which you're always fond of hiding in your room."

Instead of being angry, I chuckled, leaning against the counter table.

"I don't drink anymore."

His actions halted, and he whipped his gaze to look at me, shocked was one of the expressions he wore. Who wouldn't be shocked? The first time I was thirteen when I had tried it, stealing a bottle from his bar and locking it in my room. I and Rahul were rebellious. The whole night we were vomiting, and next day, dad had scolded me too much.

"You don't?" I shook my head. "Why?"

Shrugging my shoulders, I checked the time on my watch. I had ten minutes before I start moving. "Not fond of them anymore. If you want, I can pick some on my way."

"No." He unbuttoned his coat. "I have a flight. Just you surprised me. Sure you're not drinking?"

"Yes dad, I left it two months ago."

"That's good." He blinked his eyes, let them wander to my casual clothes. "Going somewhere?"

"Job."

He nodded, closed the refrigerator. "Are you okay with it? You can leave if you want. I was being too cruel with you."

Yes, I wasn't okay with it. I couldn't get things I loved. I had to look over my expenses every single time before deciding to move out. I had to save money to get a gift for Alina. I had to think twice before spending them now. I couldn't use my car much.

"It's okay, dad. I'm fine. Do you need anything from my room?"

"No." I sighed in relief. He shouldn't know Alina locked the room, scared of being alone with him. That thought made me cringe, but I couldn't argue with her. I should've expected that behavior after the incident. "There was something I and Shekar needed to ask you."

"What?"

What did her dad want from me? He behaved as if I was an abomination in his daughter's life, and he wasn't wrong. Before going to Bangalore, he had talked with me, made me understand that I needed to look after Alina, and all I had done was the opposite. Doubted her, and then pushed her to one of my so-called friends. I should've known the way he used to look at her. I should've read the signs when she left her hostel. I should've seen everything.

How could I let something happen to her just like that?

"As you're close to Alina," He started, and I frowned. Did he want to ask about Alina? "Have you ever noticed something suspicious?"

"What do you mean?"

"How to tell? Let me get this straight only. Shekar doubts that someone from their house knew from the start along and he had helped her brother to hide it."