Chapter 14

Kabir's POV 

The night air was cooler now, crisp against his skin. Kabir walked beside Aria, matching her unhurried steps. She still had his jacket draped over her, her fingers occasionally gripping the lapels as if seeking reassurance from its presence. He said nothing, letting the quiet stretch between them, comfortable in the steady rhythm of their steps.

Aarav's car zipped past them, the engine's roar cutting through the silence. Kabir didn't bother looking back. He could sense the simmering tension still radiating off Aria. Paul, slightly out of breath, was trailing behind them, caught between wanting to keep up and giving them space.

Aria let out a sharp breath. "That man drives me insane."

Kabir glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Aarav?"

She nodded, shaking her head as if trying to shake off the weight of their earlier confrontation. "He thinks he has some kind of authority over me, that he can dictate what I do, who I see." She scoffed, pulling the jacket tighter around her. "It's infuriating."

Kabir hummed, waiting, knowing there was more.

She kicked at a stray pebble, her voice lowering. "He reminds me of my dad sometimes."

That caught his attention.

"He's stoic, unrelenting, and a complete male chauvinist when it comes to how women should behave." She exhaled sharply. "But the worst part is that I know Aarav isn't all bad. He has redeeming qualities—he's loyal, protective, and sometimes he does have my best interests at heart. But that doesn't mean he gets to control my life."

Kabir clenched his jaw at that. A pang of something unfamiliar twisted in his chest. She was still defending Aarav, still acknowledging his virtues despite everything.

"He's not the one who gets to decide what's best for you," Kabir said quietly.

Aria turned to him, studying him for a beat before offering a small, tired smile. "No, he's not."

Before Kabir could say anything else, Paul finally caught up, panting dramatically. "You guys walk like you're training for a marathon," he wheezed, placing his hands on his knees.

Aria let out a laugh—light, unguarded, absolutely free. She reached over and patted Paul's back. "You should exercise more, Paul."

Paul straightened, offended. "Excuse you, I am in peak physical condition."

Aria snorted. "Peak condition for what? Competitive snacking?"

Kabir watched as Paul gasped, clutching his chest as if she had mortally wounded him. "Wow. That was uncalled for. I'll have you know, I can do, like, ten push-ups in a row."

"Should we stop and let you prove it?" Aria teased.

Kabir expected Paul to wave her off, but instead, he groaned and actually dropped to the ground, attempting a push-up. On the third one, his arms started to shake.

Aria burst out laughing, her entire body shaking with amusement. It was different from the small smiles she gave people out of politeness, different from the smirks she wore as armor. This was real. Effortless. Bright.

And Kabir just—loved it.

Loved the way her nose scrunched up when she laughed, how she didn't hold back, how the exhaustion of the night melted away in that single moment.

Paul finally collapsed onto the pavement. "Okay, I'm done. I give up. Just leave me here. Let nature take me."

Aria grinned and nudged him with the tip of her shoe. "Come on, drama queen. You can do one more."

Paul groaned but got up, dusting himself off. "You're a bad influence."

Aria smirked. "I try."

She looked at both of them then, her expression softening. "Thank you. Both of you."

Paul blinked at her, his lips twitching as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Wait, hold on. Did you just thank me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, Paul, I did. Don't let it get to your head."

Paul tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Too late. I think I'm going to frame this moment. Might even print it on a T-shirt."

Aria swatted his arm, but she was still smiling.

Kabir smirked. "To be fair, he is a good assistant."

Paul froze, his mouth parting slightly as he turned to Kabir in sheer disbelief. "You—did you just call me a good assistant?"

Kabir shrugged, keeping his expression neutral. "Don't get used to it."

Paul clutched his chest dramatically. "First Aria thanks me, now this? Is the universe ending? Am I dreaming?"

Kabir shook his head, amused. But his focus drifted back to Aria.

Kabir couldn't stop watching her. Couldn't stop thinking about how different she looked in this moment—so completely herself. And the thought that hit him next was even more dangerous:

I want to be the reason she laughs like this more often.

He didn't say anything, though. Instead, he just walked beside her, listening, watching, realizing that this—this—was what he could never let himself forget.