Always Is Not Forever (Breaking Myself - Part II)

42. The One Where I Tell The Reason

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

Leaning on the doorway, I gawked at the girl, trying to make cookies and a bit of flour stuck on her cheeks. Why did she love cooking this much? What was her problem? Here I was offering anything she wanted in the world, all she had to do was say and I would get it for her.

Curling my lips into a soft smile, I kept on staring as she moved and didn't acknowledge my presence.

"Alina," I said.

Her head hoisted from her bowl, grinning. "You're early, Mr. Oberoi." Her eyes assessed my clothes. "Did they kick you out? I mean you're just twenty-one to handle a hotel."

"Kicked me?" I exaggerated. "Who can kick your Kabir?" Uncrossing my arms, I strode to her side. "You should've taken hotel management instead of English honors." I dipped my finger in the sticky cookie dough and sucked it. "I would've hired you as a chef."

She laughed. "You look in a good mood."

"So do you. Looks like this session was good."

A smile flickered her lips. "It was good." Standing on her toes, she pecked my cheek. "I'm good. We're good. I was in NGO in the morning. I love those kids. They make my mood better. Now, why are you in good mood?"

"Because a week from now is our engagement. Twenty-third December."

"Why that day?" She paid attention to her dough and started pouring it on the baking sheet to bake it.

"Because I can't see you once we are in Delhi. And I need to celebrate your birthday. Twenty-seven December is a big day for me." Leaning down, I pecked her right cheek. "My bookworm's birthday."

"You're in good mood." She stopped her work and passed me a side glance. "Did you grab something by reciting poems?" Swirling, she faced me and pressed her hands on my coat, forgetting the flour stuck to them. "Shit. I'm sorry." She slid them down and I gazed at her handprints on my black coat.

Twisting my lips in a sad smile, I sighed. "Dry cleaning will fix it." Unbuttoning the button, I shed the coat off and wriggled my eyebrows at her. "Next time be careful."

"Why are you so happy today?" She asked in suspicion, untying the threads of her apron. "What is it? Tell me."

"I just feel happy. Let me change and then we eat your cookies."

"No work out?"

I shook my head. "I think I need to get used to your fatty food. I love your cooking better than my work out."

Winking at her, I paddled out of the kitchen and went to our room to change my clothes. Opening my wardrobe, I was about to take my clothes out when my hand brushed against her boxes of medicine and frowned at the change of name. She had explained her medicine were changed, and they were stronger than before.

Last time was willing.

I shook my head and cupped my mouth to forget it. From where his sentence was coming? From where I was remembering the past? We were getting married and I was thinking about him.

Stop it, Kabir. Just fucking stop.

Snatching my casual clothes, I changed into them and placed the used one on the table. I would take care of it later.

Leaving my room, I smelled the freshly cooked cookies and scurried to the kitchen to find her looking down at the oven.

"Tell me again what will I do of you once we are married?" She glanced at me in confusion. "You and your cooking habits. What will happen to the cooks hired in our house?"