Before you go and read this, let me just go straight out and say few things. This shot is for Zahra, Maddy and Avi, all of whom have their birthday's coming around the corner, but im afraid, i wont be here to post this around then, so i decided to just do that right now, as an early present. Zahra, i know pretty well, but i've never written on you, so if i made some mistake, im sorry. *holds ears* Maddy and Avi, im just getting to know you guys, and same for you, if i made some mistake, forgive me. I just tried to make it how i pictured it...it is prolly wrong, but well, its a try. *shrug* So here's to you three having absolutely wonderful and amazing birthdays and i hope God grants your wishes. Love to you three- Rinki.
Inciting Gaze
It was his eyes, she decided as she sat there in the dainty cafe, sipping on her cappuccino. Her brown eyes keeping their watch on the man that had captured her interest so swiftly. Those chocolate brown orbs had so often glanced up at her, his lips stretching into a soft smile that made her heart flutter against her ribcage, before his head was one again bowed and his attention was diverted to the black little book lying open on the table in front of him. His long fingers wrapped around the pencil, tapping the instrument against the paper as his lips formed a pout that nearly had her cooing about his cuteness.
She wasn't exactly sure what he did in that book, one minute he was moving the pencil lightly against the paper in even strokes that reflected some sort of artistic manner and the next he would be scribbling something down in swift moves. She had the urge to stalk over to his table and snatch up that book to see exactly what it was that he did in it, it made her so damn curious, she was almost going crazy from it.
Just when she couldn't take it any longer and was beginning to move out of her seat to stomp over to him, another girl hurried over from the doorway of the cafe, the little bell jingling from her entrance, and plopped herself in front of her.
She stared at the newcomer with a surprised look and settled herself back into the comfortable chair and offered a smile to the panting girl.
"Z, exactly why are we here?" asked her new girl with a frown, glancing around the cafe with a disinterested gaze.
"Because Avi, we are having our weekly meetings today, what else" Z or as her full name was, Zahra, replied to her friend calmly with a soft smile.
It was no surprise to her that Avi was so disinterested, the girl's excitement came and went like the waves of the sea. But Zahra knew that her friend was more than happy to be here for their time spent together. It was the only time they could take a break from their lives and just have a chat about any and everything.
"Where's Maddy?" Avi asked as she waved to the waiter for her usual drink.
Zahra bit her lip and gave a shrug. Their other friend, Maddy, was also a member of these meeting but she was currently MIA, making the two present gals wonder what held her back this time.
"Hm, she probably missed the bus again" Avi muttered nonchalantly, though a grin was on her face as she remembered the past occurrence. Zahra grimaced at the reminder of the last time, it had ended up with them two both soaked in the rain, looking everywhere for the missing Maddy before they came to know she was in the cafe, waiting for them, having missed the first bus.
She shook her head, her brows furrowing as she tried to forget that memory, it had her yelling in panic at Maddy when they had come to find her safe in the cafe, and she didn't like to be reminded of it. It was not everyday that she lost her cool and calm face, in front of a live audience to make it worse.
Zahra turned her eyes away from her friend who was busy sipping on her newly arrived drink and focused her sight on him yet once again.
He was staring out the window, watching the passing by people with a thoughtful face, his chin resting on the palm of his hand while his lips [how luscious they looked from this spot] were pulled back in a small smile, a mere tilt of the corners. His brown locks fell down his forehead and over his eyes but he seemed to not mind, lost in his own dreamland.
She kept watching him, enthralled at his simple being. He seemed so ethereal with the playful rays of the drooping sun falling on his frame, lighting his form in small lights that made him appear almost magical for a moment.
The moment that passed by as she gazed at her stranger was broken as she heard the worried tone of her friend calling her name. Blinking rapidly, she turned her head back to the face of Avi who stared at her with a raised brow, her hand halfway near Zahra's face with the intention of snapping her fingers. She withdrew her hand back after having gained her friend's full attention.
"You okay?" it was asked lightly but Zahra could read the worried tone hidden beneath the question.
She nodded and apologized, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She couldn't believe that she had gotten lost in her thoughts about a stranger. How cliched was that, seemingly stolen from some fairytale or her being like one of those desperate women she often saw everyday, behaving like a puppy.
Avi stared at her friend strangely before turning her head to see exactly what had captured her friend's interest so. She smirked at the sight of the man and she turned to look at her friend once again, Zahra stared back with slightly wide eyes.
"Sooo...little Ms. Innocent is gazing like a puppy in love at the hottie?" Avi teased her friend with a big grin. Now this was interesting, definitely something she could work with and gain some amusement out of it. Besides, it wasn't everyday Zahra stared so openly at a man.
"Avi..." Zahra began threateningly, glaring at her giggling friend, "I wasn't gazing like a puppy. I was merely looking out the window for any sign of Maddy is all" she claimed, crossing her arms and leaning back in the seat.
"Sure you weren't and I'm Mary Poppins" Avi snorted as she gave Zahra a look that told her she was busted, plain and simple.
"Zahra wasn't what and I thought I was Mary Poppins?" Maddy announced as she jumped into a seat, causing her two friends to jump up, startled out of their staring contest.
"That Zahra wasn't--" Avi was rudely interrupted by Zahra stuffing a cookie in her mouth from the plate that lay in the middle of their table.
Maddy stared at her warily while Avi choked for a second before beginning to chew on the contents in her mouth all the while glaring at Zahra.
"That I wasn't about to call you to ask where you were" ignoring the dark glare pointed in her direction, she smiled happily at Maddy who rose her eyebrow.
For a while, it was quiet at their table as Avi munched on the cookie (it was one of those insanely huge ones), Zahra smiled innocently with exaggeration, and Maddy scooted back slightly before clearing her throat.
=||=
He smiled to himself, holding back the laugh that threatened to escape his mouth as the conversation drifted from the girl's table to his ears. He was elated to hear that she had been staring at him like a puppy as her friend had claimed. Zahra, the name sent shivers down his spine and goose bumps rose on his arms and he sighed, his eyes closing as he began to think.
He imagined him calling out her name and her turning to look at him, her big hazel eyes gazing at him so lovingly that it caused his heart to skip a beat. For weeks he had come to this cafe in hopes of seeing her and somehow managing to start a conversation, then he mentally berated himself for being so shy about the opposite sex. If he had been anything like his younger brother, he would've already been talking to her.
He just had to be the shy Prem Juneja.
Opening his eyes as an argument fell upon his ears, he smiled at the sight of the two men walking towards him. The forms of his brother, Preet and best friend Mayank always made him forget his problems. They were arguing over whose fault it was that they were late, either Preet spending time with his grooming and triple checking or Mayank with his books.
"Relax you two, at least you're here now" Prem intervened the argument, no matter how amusing it could be, the gazes of the other occupants of the shop and the laughter coming from the girl's table was making him wince. So much for a good impression, he thought sullenly.
=||=
Maddy walked down the little hallway that held the restrooms for gents and ladies, her head bowed as she fumbled with her phone and didn't notice someone making a turn. The result was of course a bump which had her falling backwards, her eyes closed tightly as she prayed quickly for her bones.
Waiting for the impact and silently cursing the person who was making her fall back, she froze at the lightest of the touch the surrounded her back before a firm grip held her up from breaking her skull. Her breath came out in harsh puffs as she tried to calm her accelerating heart down, her eyes still tightly closed.
A hand suddenly touched her face and brushed back a few strands, she opened her eyes at the soft touch and found her eyes connected with dark orbs that seemed to penetrate her entire being.
Running her eyes quickly across the face that held those orbs, she concluded that it was a fine man holding her in his arms. Quickly coming back to her senses, she placed her hand against his chest, which was really broad, buff and gosh she could just melt, and gave a soft push.
The guy blinked and seemed to realize the position they were in and let her go, keeping an eye on her as he backed away to make sure she wouldn't fall back. They stood there for a minute, staring at one another, feeling the awkwardness that surrounded them so suddenly and began to go in their direction. Passing by her, Mayank felt something warm his heart as their arms touched just barely, a soft touch that might as well not be claimed as one.
For the first time in his life, he felt something tug at his heart strings and he had to quiet down the urge to stop her from leaving, pull her in his arms and just hold her till his heart's thirst was quenched.
On the other side, she felt the same urge to hide in his arms and just take the comfort of being surrounded by his presence. Her brows furrowed as she walked back to the table and wondered exactly what was in her coffee that was making her think such things so suddenly and that too for a mere stranger.
She smiled distractedly at her friends and sat down, playing with the ring on her finger as she thought about what had occurred and what she had felt.
=||=
Avi stood from the table with the intent on going to order more coffee for herself, humming to herself as she practically skipped to the counter. She placed her order and waited patiently, tapping her finger and bobbing her head to a tune known only by her, for the coffee to arrive. A few moments later, a cup of hot coffee was placed before her and she picked it up with a big grin, thanking the man.
Turning around swiftly, she kept her eyes on her cup to make sure it didn't tilt and end up with her burning her fingers. Most people though would've glanced up at least once or twice to make sure they were going in the right way but Avi was well Avi. She didn't do the things most people did; she did the exact opposite in fact.
And the handsome man making his way towards her with his face turned back to continue his loud conversation with the other two also wasn't one to do normal things. And the final product of this was of course a simple bump, hot coffee being spilled on him, his screech and her shocked face. The remaining people, who ended being their respective group, stared at them with wide eyes and pity. Being burned sucked and being the one to burn someone...well only God can help you from their wrath.
"Shiiiiiit! Watch it you blind woman!" Preet screeched in an insanely non-man like voice, holding his shirt away from his skin and jumping a bit from the sting. Avi stared at him, her tongue poking out, and her eyes wide with panic and a bit of amusement, the sadist that she was, and she bit her lip to hide the smile threatening to escape.
"I'm so sorry...I wasn't watching--" she was cut off by his glare and snort. She raised her brow at him and waited to see what he would say. She was more than ready to argue if needed.
"Obviously, you idiot. Look what you did, oww. I'm burnt! God damn it, my beautiful skin is burned" he muttered, taking some napkins from a nearby table and wiping his shirt.
She rolled her eyes; he was one of those boys who only cared about their appearance. He wasn't bad looking or anything, in fact he was pretty hot but really that whole narcissistic thing was a turn off, especially when it was a dude.
And she proceeded to tell him that exact thing, just in different words which only ended up hurting his ego and he huffed loudly, glaring at her.
"I am not narcissistic, you just burnt me, have some decency and at least feel sorry. It hurts like a biatch" he growled out, his dark brown eyes seeming to light up with some sort of fire while her own dark orbs glared back, her hands resting on her hips. The cup had long since fallen on the floor and it was not on either of their minds at the moment.
"Well I said sorry, besides it was just a sip not the whole freakin coffee, be glad that didn't happen" she rolled her eyes and proceeded to walk towards her table. He was left glaring at her back, with long strides he reached her lithe frame and twirled her around, glowering at her snickering face.
They stared into each other's eyes; electricity seemed to crackle around their frames as their friends watched with wide and amused eyes. She pushed him away from her with a glare and dragged her friends out of the cafe, leaving behind a pissed off Preet Juneja with two laughing buddies.
=||=
Zahra cursed at the weather, huddling under the dainty cover of the bus stop sign, rubbing her arms for some warmth. Today it just had to rain, her car was in the auto shop getting repaired and she had declined the kind offer of a ride from a friend, saying that she would take the bus and here she was waiting for one.
She knew she should've ignored the yell of her name produced by her boss, but being the sweet person she was, she had turned around only to become the subject of his insane babbling which had caused her to miss the bus she had intended on taking.
She was alone in some dark place. Freezing as if she was in the arctic itself, and her battery had decided to die on her at this same moment. Wondering what past life's wrong doing's karam was she dealing with; she blew on her hands, and rubbed them to get some warmth in them.
"I definitely did something wrong in my past life, stupid phone just had to die right now, ugh" she muttered, ignoring the chills that were shaking through her body. Glancing around in the dark, she frowned at the lack of any phone booths or humans around her. It was starting to become like a scary movie now.
"And soon there's going to be a car standing before me and some dude will get out, and I'm gonna scream bloody murder and no one will ever know what happened to me" she snorted amused at what she had come up with. She didn't notice the car that was standing just a few blocks away from her, the driver watching her with careful eyes before starting the car and stopping it in front of her with a soft screech.
Her eyes opened from when they had closed, and she had allowed herself to sigh and lean out one hand in the rain, she stared at the black car before her with nervous eyes. Gulping down the fear, she moved back slightly as the door opened and the back of a man came in her view, he walked around the car till he was standing in front of her.
She gasped as the light struck and his face came in clear view, it was her stranger from the cafe, dressed smartly in a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up till the elbows, and black dress pants. Even as he stood in the rain, getting wet completely, his kind smile did not disappear and he was gazing at her with warm eyes.
Her heart trembled at the sight and she stared at him with wide eyes, he tilted his head to the side, regarding her carefully before stepping closer.
"Do you need a ride?" his voice was husky and deep, vibrating through the misty air as it reached her ears and she had to be very careful not to swoon right there and then. His chocolate brown orbs watched her kindly, she couldn't detect the slightest bit of a reason she should feel uncomfortable around him.
She was still wary though. After all, as much of a captivating sight he was to behold, she wasn't that lost in her dreamland to go with him. He was after all a mere stranger for her. He seemed to have read her worry and anxiety on her face because he gave a short laugh, smiling at her somewhat mischievously.
"Don't worry, I'm not that type of a guy. Besides I think we have a bit of a relationship brewing, your friend did spill coffee on my brother and that whole scene placed us in the same boat of feeling amused at their situation" he winked at her causing her to let out a twinkling laugh at the remembrance of what had occurred nearly a week ago.
He held out his hand, "I'm Prem Juneja" which she gripped softly in her trembling hand before replying in a soft whisper.
"I'm Zahra" he smiled at her answer, pleased that they had left behind that awkwardness state.
He began to lead her to the car and they both soon sped down the bare streets towards her home, making small chat. Finding out they had mostly similar tastes and thoughts, both were more than pleased with that if the bright smiles on their faces were any indication.
When they reached her place, she turned around and looked at him for a moment, simply smiling at her new found friend and yes, still a secret crush. He stared back with a small grin, silently echoing her thoughts in his own mind.
"Thanks a lot Prem...if you hadn't come then I would've been stuck there for who knows how long" she winced at the thought of having to wait longer in the cold dark.
He shook his head and waved his hand carelessly to the side before moving it closer to her face and pulling her wet bangs away from her cheek. She closed her eyes at the touch, it was so soft and chaste, so pure-like. Shivers ran through her body at the contact of his skin against hers.
Opening her eyes slightly, she felt her cheeks flush bright red at the image of him bringing his face closer to hers slowly, staring into her eyes for any hesitation. She inclined her head slightly to let him know his action was more than welcomed and he smiled fully just mere moments before his lips touched hers in a chaste kiss.
A simple caress of soft lips before he pulled back slightly and moved back to press more comfortably against hers, applying more pressure to which she could only wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. A moan left her as his tongue invaded her mouth and hers twirled with his in a sensual dance, lighting up the blood in her veins on fire.
She was thanking the gods for making it rain tonight, for she finally had that moment with her stranger she had been waiting for since the day she had first laid her eyes on him. The moon seemed to wink down at the pair as they separated, both flushed pink from pleasure. They gazed at one another, feeling that pull that led them to the other and knowing that it was not a mere coincidence, but the play of fate itself.
=||=
Mayank was practically glowing with happiness as he browsed through the many shelves on the book store. It was the one place where he didn't have to listen to the others around him mutter about his love for reading, they simply did not understand it. Reading wasn't just a hobby for him, it was a passion, to be able to throw yourself completely into one character's shoes and uncover their story and experiencing the pain, the pleasure, the happiness they felt was a completely different experience.
Plus it gave him the chance to get away from those stalkish fan girls he had acquired over the years, though he wondered exactly why they followed him. He was a simple guy after all. Granted he was somewhat of a genius, but still he was normal. Kind of.
Making his way towards the mystery isle, he leafed through the tons of books that resided on the shelves. Not noticing anything around him, his eyes fell upon a thick golden covered book that simply called out to him, he reached out a hand and made to pull the book down.
One problem, someone else decided to go for that same book and his hand ended up landing on a soft hand. Staring blankly at the hand resting underneath his, he followed it up the arm, to the face and widened his eyes as he recognized the girl. It was the woman he had met at the cafe, when she had fell and he had felt something interesting.
She was gazing at him with surprised eyes, before they widened and lowered to stare at their interlocked hands. Time seemed to still as he wrapped his hand around hers and lifted it in front of him, between them as they stood facing one another.
He bowed his head slightly and placed a feather like kiss upon her hand like the old customs that once ruled over Earth. Mayank wasn't sure why he had done that but something called, something pulled at him to do that and he knew it was the right thing to do when pink hue stole at her cheeks and she lowered her eyes to the floor bashfully.
"Hello, I'm Mayank" he answered with a cheeky grin, standing up fully and much closer to her than he was before, his hand still holding hers.
She glanced at him with a soft smile and her eyes twinkled, "I'm Maddy" her voice was soft and sweet. He could listen to it for the rest of his life. Not even knowing why he was thinking such romantic things, he watched her. Wondering if she felt that urge, that pulse riveting through him which told him that she was meant to be his and only his.
Maddy stared at him with a grin, knowing that she probably looked like a fool, but she was feeling this happiness bursting through her heart and she wanted nothing more to skip around and twirl with her arms wide open, letting the wind twirl around her.
Without saying a word, she led him to the back of the shop where chairs and sofas were situated so that people could read peacefully until the store closed and they sat down. The book they both had reached for in Mayank's other hand, how he had gotten it, only he knew. He sat down on the sofa, leaning against the arm rest, she sat down between his legs, leaning against his chest with a happy sigh.
And both began to read the book, together. Hours passed by as they flipped through page after page, enjoying the silence that was bestowed upon them in this little sanctuary, the rustle of the pages being turned, and the jingle of the bell echoed as another customer came or left, mingling in with the raspy voice of the elderly owner. Through the reading, they took little breaks of course, and asked one another all types of questions, to get to know one another better. And it seemed like they were meant to be.
Funny how a bump near the bathrooms and interest in the same book led to them becoming to close, and entwine themselves in a relationship.
=||=
Avi was having a blast, she was at the movies with a few of her friends to watch a scary movie marathon. While some parts had her pals squeaking with fear, she merely laughed at the complete stupidity the people showed before getting killed. Seriously, who runs to the darkness when there's a killer behind you? Another round of laughter from her mingled in with the screams that echoed through the theater.
Preet glanced up at the laughter that echoed from in front of him and stared at the girl who had had head thrown back, her hands wrapped around her stomach before moving one hand to point at the screen where a new victim lay in blood. The poor fool had fallen prey to his own stupidity and had separated from the rest of the group.
He wondered who it was, she's so different than the other girls who were busy cowering behind someone's arm. He liked that about her and grinned to himself, imagining the different scenarios of how he could have her turn around and show her face.
He kept himself entertained with that until the movie ended and everyone began to trek out of the now lit up room. He glanced up as he listened to one of the girls from her group talk to the girl that had laughed.
"Avi, lets go" the girl said, pulling her friend up by the arm who shrugged her off and shook her head.
"Its fine, I can walk by myself, you go with your lover boy" Avi waved her hand carelessly at her friend, who grinned before turning to run off after her boyfriend.
Preet watched as he pushed her hands through her hair, pulling it up in a loose bun at the nape of her neck before stretching and beginning to follow the rest of her group at a slow, leisure pace.
He smirked before following her, calling out to her. "Hey beautiful, you sure found that funny didn't ya?" to which she twirled around with a grin which left her face as they both realized who the other was.
Staring at one another with glares now, they walked closer to the other, meeting in the middle and crossing their arms. He growled in the back of his throat at the remembrance of their first meeting while she smirked. The air around them crackled from the tension that was between them.
"Grr..." Preet said, moving closer to her until there was not even space for a thin sheet to pass through. She raised her head to stare into his eyes, coudn't help but notice the way her body had molded into his perfectly. Was that some sort of sign?
Moments passed as their gazing continued, before his head moved down and their lips connected in a clash of teeth and aggressive attitude, both trying to win the dominance of the battle their tongues had begun playing, the winner was finally declared as Preet. He smirked, wrapping his arms around her waist tightly, pulling her all the more closer to him while she began to play with his hair.
It seemed as if their hatred that had sparked off by the little instance of coffee had evolved into something akin to attractiveness.
=||=
It was no surprise to the rest of their friends when the three couple had changed their relationship into the bond of engagement a few years later. Though what had surprised them was their choice for the engagement, they had decided it would be held in that same cafe where they had the [mis]fortune of meeting.
~~~
Hope you all enjoyed, this i surprisngly started and finished today. Thanks tons to Meera for reading and helping me. *hugs*
Comments/Like Button/ Chappals, all are welcomed with open arms. =]
But most importantly, the comment of the three ladies who it was for...ill be waiting to see ur views. And also, i felt as if it was....well i never think my writing is good, but hopefully it was good enuff.
Love
- Rinki
PS- this is my last shot...im leaving after this, busy with school beginning and packing to do, ill try to come on, i will prolly be able to till this wknd...but still, bye guys! U all have made my time here on IF the best...hugs and kisses...
Jhanak
