Page 28 of Love Locked
“I can’t express enough gratitude to you both for allowing me to leave. But I feel awful about leaving you two in this situation.” Shyamlal used his muffler to wipe his face.
“What rubbish. You don’t need our consent for anything. These are trying times for your family. Please let me know if there is any way I can help you. I can drop you off where you need to be. In this manner, even we could leave this location and stay at the resort.”
“No. No. You two shouldn’t leave the place. Haven’t you heard the news of my son’s accident? You stay here together. You can now stay here without worrying about your privacy being compromised.”
“But if you can leave, why can’t we?” Kabir asked thoughtfully.
“Kabir baba, my house is around the corner, just two kilometres from here. And I am familiar with the roads here. Moreover, I need to go as I have to be with my family.”
“So, are we both supposed to stay here alone?” Kyra questioned alarmingly.
“You’re not alone here, beti. You both are here together. So, enjoy the stay and create memories that will last a lifetime, just like other couples.”
Kyra gasped and coughed, spewing a mouthful of tea onto the rug next to her. “Please excuse me. Shyamlal ji, I believe you are mistaken. We are not a couple. We’re just friends, Kabir and I.” Kyra coughed again, wiping her mouth with a tissue.
“I wouldn’t say we are friends. We are just acquaintances.” Kabir clarified robotically.
“You don’t think we are friends?” Her nostrils flared.
“Friends are more familiar with one another. We barely know each other.” Oblivious to the fact that he was heading into a territory akin to a lion’s den, he shrugged.
“You’re right, I must say. Friends should be aware of each other’s favourite foods, movies and humiliating moments. Things like that, yes?” Kyra grinned sweetly.
“Ah. Yes.”
“Since we are stuck here for now, how about we get to know each other?” Kyra had a sly glimmer in her eyes. She knew she was being impish and dramatic. She was also aware of Kabir’s intense discomfort at this thought. But he had it coming. He flatly refused to acknowledge that she was his friend. Did he not think she was deserving of his friendship? She was determined to demonstrate to him how true friendships were formed. She would force him to really get to know her and, if nothing else, become his friend.
With the way things were transpiring, Kabir could tell he had swung an axe on his own foot. He ought to have kept his mouth shut and concurred with everything Kyra was saying. But no. He had to go there and explain to her what being friends actually meant. Now, he was trapped with Kyra Kapoor for days in a cabin alone with nowhere to go.
NINE
The caretaker left the cabin within two hours, quickly grabbing his stuff and giving them all the information they needed to survive in the house alone until the storm passed. Walking through the living room, Kyra pondered the strangeness of the situation.
Kabir was at the window, trying to see if he could get a network in any corner of the house. Raking his hands through his hair, he cursed. He should have called his brothers from Shyamlal’s phone when he had gotten the network. Maybe they would have helped him out of this situation. But he totally forgot when he saw Shyamlal’s distressed face.
Sighing, he took in the interior of the cabin in detail for the first time. The design was plain but not tacky. The living and kitchen areas blended into each other through vaulted ceilings. A steep, narrow staircase led up to what looked like a bedroom door. Below that was a walled-off area, probably a bathroom. Seeing Kyra strolling around, he couldn’t help but think how beautiful and innocent she looked. Adil would beat the crap out of him for even thinking about her like that. He cleared his throat as he approached her.
“I’m gonna get the fire going again. Can you make coffee, Kyra?” Kabir asked, standing in front of her.
“Sure. How do you take your coffee?”
“Black and no sugar.”
Glad to have a task to keep herself occupied; Kyra made her way to the kitchen as he headed outside to get the firewood to rekindle the fire. She was dressed more for glamour than functionality. But finding a change of clothes was probably not one of her top priorities right now. She needed coffee asap.
She began to unlock cupboard doors while wiggling her cold fingers in search of coffee supplies. Finding a still-sealed instant coffee sachet, she reached for it. Suddenly, there was movement and chittering inside the cabinet. Kyra shrieked before violently toppling down onto her ass. Before she could summon the strength to scream again, a tall, menacing wall of muscles stood between her and whatever was hidden behind the cabinet.How the hell did Kabir come by so fast?
“What happened? Are you all right?” His powerful arms lifted her up as he examined her for any injuries.
“There’s something in the cabinet,” Kyra whispered but didn’t dare move.
“Let me check.” He appeared intimidating as he tried to appraise the situation while holding the pointy piece of firewood. His forehead was scrunched as he fixed his attention intently on the cabinet. With a poised stance, he got ready to act when a box suddenly fell out of the cupboard, and a rat scampered across the floor.
Kyra yelled and jumped up onto Kabir’s back. Kabir regained his balance without any accident since his reflexes were quick. With her eyes tightly shut and her breath coming in short gasps, she clung to him like a spider monkey.
Kabir blinked and shook his head to clear his thoughts. With her hands around his neck and her legs gripping his waist, Kyra was hanging onto his back with her face hidden in his neck. She exhaled harshly, and the breath tickled the lobe of his ear. Her breasts were plastered to his back, and he could feel their suppleness. With her around, the air surrounding him was filled with the scent of vanilla and honeysuckle.
Kabir had to make every effort to avoid being affected by it all. Right now, Kyra was panicking and looking for comfort. Even if she practically jumped his bones now, she wouldn’t mean it. He had to keep things under control.
