Orange Love

As Basit turned around the corner in his garden, his breath caught. She was a vision in the simple mauve salwar suit as she stood beside the swimming pool, a glass of orange juice in hand, the delicate breeze playing with the tendrils of hair around her face, giving her a soft look, unlike the cold fury and deep disappointment from their last interaction.

She had avoided him last evening and through the night, because he had as good as compelled her to return home after their last argument, and when he didn't find her at breakfast this morning, he had decided to go look for her. They would have to find a way to sort this issue out and put the anger and resentment behind them. And it would not be done by avoiding each other. 

As he inched closer, he realised she was staring at the pool with a longing in her eyes, her delicate fingers clasped around the stem of the goblet in her hand as she swirled the orange juice and took an occasional sip. He stepped in, closing the distance between them. Sensing movement, she spun to her side, eyes widening in surprise at the sight of him. He found himself unable to pull his gaze away, his eyes drawn to the drop of orange juice lingering on her lips. She tried to look away, but his right hand cupped her cheek, the rough pad of his thumb grazed her bottom lip as he swiped the drop of orange juice away. She closed her eyes against the sensation. 

"Ayesha..." her name was like a reverent request on his lips and she was compelled to look at him at that soft whisper. 

Their gazes collided and she could see a different longing mirrored in his smouldering gaze. Overcome with a sudden shyness, she turned around to leave but a determined tug held her in place. He stepped closer to her and leaned his head on her shoulder from behind, his other hand sliding up her right arm. She felt a swarm of butterflies take flight at once within her at the tenderness in his gesture while her heart thudded wildly. Between pool dreams and deeper fantasies, she realised, today was a day when longings would no longer remain...

-fin-