Deviant (A Kabir/Pooja FF)

Epilogue

8 months later....

Was he going to be here? she thought. He had said he would try. She shouldn't expect too much. After all, traveling to and fro between cities was hectic, and he had just come down here, three weeks back. 

"And the next awardee's story of struggle is well known. From an impoverished childhood to becoming the owner of the one of the largest enterprises of Indore, hers' is a story of rags to riches. But what makes her unique is not her business skills, but giving back to society through her hospital, orphanage, ashrams for widows and others, not to forget, the manufacture and sale of a vital medicine for free, a medicine on which she researched herself. We hear her next project is to make fashion more sustainable and environment-friendly. We present the Indore young women entrepreneur award to Ms. Pooja Sharma" announced the host of the award ceremony. 

Pooja walked ahead on cue to receive the award, as she had been instructed by the organizer previously. She wasn't interested in these award ceremonies, but it was good for promoting her business and philanthropic initiatives; besides which Amma was glad to see her on stage. 

Pooja smiled at the audience. She could see Amma, doing nazar uttaro (anti-jinx) gestures in the crowd, sitting in the front. She was so proud. 

And there he was...

Kabir. 

Pooja's heart swelled slightly to see him in the crowd. He was sitting in the back, probably his train got delayed.

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After the ceremony, Pooja and Kabir were driving back to her place. Amma had gone straight to some social service initiative of hers, from the award ceremony, after meeting Kabir. 

Pooja was very hesitant, all those months ago, when she confessed all about her and Kabir's interactions to Amma and Rani. She don't go too much into the physical aspect of it, knowing Amma wouldn't be impressed. Amma was a little wary of accepting Kabir, as he was P.K.'s son. But he won over her heart slowly. 

Rani was another story. She refused to speak to Pooja for two whole days, and when she came around to the idea of their relationship, she would still refuse to utter Kabir's name. Gradually, she accepted it, though not happily. But at least now she was curt and polite to Kabir, if she came across him accidentally.

"So, did you think I wouldn't come? Because you looked surprised to see me" said Kabir, grinning.

Pooja herself, had been very cautious regarding their relationship, but Kabir's patience had eventually broken down her barriers. She had trust issues, plenty of them, but Kabir was never frustrated with her. 

"I just....just thought that you might have work or you might not make it in time" said Pooja.

"Liar!" laughed Kabir. "Of course, I was going to come, how could I miss such a moment. Sorry for being late though. I went to see Mom, to check on her. You don't mind, right?" asked Kabir hesitantly.

"Of course not, Kabir. She's your mother" said Pooja, understandingly. "How is she?"

"She......she pointed at a couple of boys, playing on the opposite playground, and called them her sons. She rambled about Dhruv bhai teaching me to bat, and pondered where were Jai and Sonali, were they still in their nursery" said Kabir sadly.

Pooja looked down. She had nothing to say on this matter.

"I don't think she's getting any better" sighed Kabir. "Anyways, Sonali's exams went rather well, she's coming down next week to stay with Jai for a few days. And she wants to meet you."

"Good" said Pooja. 

Though Sonali and Jai had both met Pooja a few times after Kabir told them about himself and Pooja, there was still a lot of distance left to conquer. Pooja had immeasurably hurt them with her betrayal as Jahnvi, and even if they understood and didn't blame her for what she did, it would take time for them to trust her like before. 

"Pooja, relax, everything will get better" said Kabir, holding her hand.

"Everything has gotten better" said Pooja, placing her hand on top of his. 

She was being simply honest.

Since Kabir had come into her life, properly, she had relaxed about things. No more bent on revenge, she could actually enjoy life, and he made sure that she did. She laughed more, smiled more often. 

Even though Kabir would fly down from Delhi barely once a month, or twice at most, their relationship didn't suffer for distance. Pooja didn't think she had it in her; her first real relationship, and a long-distance relationship at that, but they managed fine. Moreover, Kabir was there to steady her, whenever her faith in their relationship faltered. 

They talked the rest of the journey about mundane things, how his latest investigation was going on, how her latest business venture was coming on. Life had almost fallen into a normal pattern and Pooja liked it. 

All these years of a fire burning within her, but now there was peace, there was calm, and also there was fun.....

She laughed as Kabir fell down in the pathway to her house. She had stuck her foot out to make him trip.

"Why did you do that?" said Kabir, getting up, brushing leaves off his clothes, but grinning.

"Just in case, you got too complacent" said Pooja, with an impish smile.

"Ah! really? We'll see who is more complacent after I finish" said Kabir, chasing Pooja into her house. 

All was well now. 

                                                                                     ~The End~