Page 70 of Love Locked
“It’s a call recording. But I don’t remember anything about this long a call...”
“Play it.” Adil peered down at her phone screen.
She nodded as she pressed the Play button. As the recording began to play, the phone fell from her shaking hands to the floor.She cupped her mouth in shock and horror while Adil picked up the phone and increased the volume.They both carefully listened to the entire recording, andMira sprung to her feet and began swearing as soon as it was over.
“What the fuck.” Adil replayed the recording.
“So Raina threatened Kyra to break up with Kabir with false embezzlement papers and also blackmailed her with Nitya’s sex tape. I don’t even know what to say.” Mira paced as she went into Sherlock mode. “Guess Mom was right. Kyra broke up with Kabir post-dinner today. She had planned everything.” Mira looked at the phone as if it was a snake.
“Seems like it. But Kyra should have trusted us. She should have come to us.”
“Kyra is so fucking independent and protective, Adi. You don’t even know half of it. She’s always dealt with her issues on her own. And she is currentlydoing just that by being the martyr. I’m going to kill that bitch Raina for hurting my sister. I’m going to fuck her up.”
“Mira, sweetheart. Don’t work yourself up,” Adil said. “We have to deal with this calmly. I have already texted Vaayu. He will be upstairs in ten minutes. We are going to sort this out.”
“God, all this time, I thought I could protect my baby sisters. I thought I could look after Tiya and Ky and see what happened.” Mira choked up with emotions as Adil enveloped her in an all-encompassing hug.
“Shh… Don’t cry, baby. Raina has not just threatened your sisters but also my brother, my family and our reputation. I promise to make her life hell for messing with my family.” Adil vowed.
TWENTY-THREE
It was a night of pure hell as Kabir sat in his apartment with a bottle of whiskey as his companion. Once he had reached home, he had resorted to drinking to forget theexcruciatinganger and pain at every wound Kyra had inflicted on him. He thought the alcohol would make him forget everything, but it just intensified his need for her instead.He was such a dumbass.He kept looking at his phone, waiting for the caller ID to show her name. He hoped she would call soon, but minutes and hours went by with no call or message from her. There was nothing except silence.
He wasn’t sure what was happening because Kyra had ended their relationship so suddenly. Was the time they spent in Shimla a joke for her? Did the past few months not mean anything to her at all?Maybe she was not serious about them. Maybe he was an idiot for being head over heels for her.Everything was over now.He guzzled more whiskey to avoid thinking about her.
Maybe a ten-year-old age gap was a grave issue he had tried to overlook.Maybe their relationship wasn’t real if Kyra was so shallow. But how could she have fooled him so convincingly?But even imagining his life without her felt like living in the ninth circle of hell. He tried to stop his thoughts from running at breakneck speed but in vain. Unknowingly, they kept returning to Kyra.
It felt like Kyra had used him. He prayed that she, too, felt the crushing pain that he was feeling. She had hurt him in a manner no one else had. It felt impossible for him to trust anyone. He closed his eyes and realised they were moist. God, was he going to cry?
He already missed her and her silly talks. He sensed Woofer licking his cheek. His affection made Kabir feel that at least somebody was on his side.Woofer was the only source of joy in this catastrophe that his life had become.
Maybe Vaayu was right.He had no life before.He worked too much. He was too serious.Perhaps he should change that. It wasn’t too late.Maybe he should just go out and have fun, act recklessly and paint the town red. That was his final thought as he drank more whisky and some more until his world was swallowed up in a dense cloud of oblivion.
????
Kabir rolled over in his bed and raised his head to look at the countertop digital watch. It was 8 a.m.He wanted to sleep and forget everything that had happened in the past 12 hours. He opened his eyes and immediately closed them against the harsh daylight. He had a sickening feeling of the beginnings of a terrible headache. He needed water and a painkiller to cure this sick hangover. His world seemed to spin as he got up to his feet.
Whoa.
He sat with his head in his hands, regretting how he had gotten into this mess.He was completely awake now, but he kept recalling Kyra trying to break up with him. Her bitter words reverberated in his head, and he muttered an expletive. Was he going to be like this forever? He had to get over her.He should probably forget about that treacherous woman. A woman he had fallen in love with. A woman who had used and discarded him and was the biggest coward.
His phone pinged, interrupting his thoughts, and like an over-eager teenager, he leapt to grab it. Putting on his glasses, he swiped to read the text and rolled his eyes, throwing the phone away. It was Raina. He had no idea why she had suddenly started texting and nagging him to meet her.
Raina was a chapter in his life that he was over and done with. He had not called or texted her even once in the last few months. He just ignored and avoided her calls. He deleted her messages without even reading them. He didn’t want to see Raina’s face when he had more important things to do. He was perplexed as to why she was suddenly so concerned about him.
His head throbbed so much that he thought he was dreaming when he heard the incessant ringing of the doorbell. He rolled over, groaning, and buried his face in a pillow. Big mistake. His senses were assaulted by the lavender and berry-like aroma of Kyra’s shampoo. The smell was so potent that it lingered in his nostrils like he was breathing her in, and his body ached for her touch.He berated himself for being such a sentimental fool. He couldn’t recognise himself because of how drastically he had changed after meeting Kyra.He almost regretted the day he had agreed to switch places with Adil to go to Shimla.
He again heard the doorbell with incessant door banging and voicescalling out to him.
“Kabir! Open that fucking door.”
Adil and Mira? Shit. What were they doing here so early in the morning?
Kabir groaned and wobbled down the stairs with his untucked black shirt and blue, unbuttoned jeans.His appearance was unruly, making it obvious he was drunk last night.He reached downstairs, and the banging became persistent. Irritated, he flung open the door and was welcomed by the sight of none other than his brothers, their wives and Nitya.
“Guys, Good morning.” Kabir adjusted his glasses.
“Good morning. My ass.” Nitya rolled her eyes as she pushed him to enter inside.
