She takes in a deep breath, trying to clear her mind of jumbled up thoughts. Her energy is nearly spent; an unusual amount of drowsiness lingers in her hazel eyes. She couldn't give in to sleep now, the dreaded assignment was still awaiting her on the study desk. It had to be finished there and then. Her figure lethargic, the usually full of life face is pale and drawn, yawns constantly form on her plumped lips. Mustering energy, she sets about the task once more. The only sound in the darkened room is the nib of her pen scratching the surface of the paper.
Her concentration wavers again as the sound of the door knob turning, enters her ears. A slight gush of air enters inside, cooling up the stifling atmosphere of the room instantly.
"Falak beta, abhi tak parh rahi ho?" the gentle voice of her grandmother inquires softly as the old lady steps inside with her shawl trailing after her.
Falak rubs her eyes to clear the traces of sleep while she replies with a yawn "Nani kia karon, ye assignment pending thi." Her grandmother just smiles silently and sets a glass of water on the desk with a low thud.
"Thank you, Nani," the young girl says in gratitude extending her right hand towards the glass.
Her grandmother however raises a hand to prevent her from taking it and her hand stays stationary in the air while she gazes up in confusion. Muttering something under her breath, the graceful old lady exhales an amount of air around her.
Realizing the deed, the smile on her face widens while all she could manage to say was "Thanks for being there for me Nani."
With a tickling sensation the cool water lands in her parched throat, freshening her up instantly. A new burst of energy invokes inside her as she picks up her pen with fierce determination firmly between her slender fingers.
.
Falak fidgets with impatience as she peers around for the umpteen times, trying to spot her friend between the immense crowds of students. Rushna kahan reh gaye ho? The empty lurch in her stomach is getting unbearable as every second passes.
"Look what I got," the chirpy voice of her best friend breaks her train of thoughts. "Kahan reh gayi thi yaar? Mere paith mein jo chohey dorh rehay they na. Adhey say ziada shaheed bhi ho chukay hain," she frowns with evident displeasure.
Rushna however has turned a deaf ear on the scoffs of her friend, her attention clearly somewhere else. "Do you know who is sitting behind you?" Her friend whispers excitedly in her ear. "Who?" she demands.
"Zaroon Junaid," Rushna declares in a hushed whisper.
Falak quickly becomes alert as blood rushes in her cheek "Stop muttering," she glares at her friend. Only Rushna is aware of her huge crush on one of the most popular boys of the university and she intends it to remain that way.
"Ok here is your samosa and sauce. And don't eat it like a starved wolf like you always do. Remember, he is still behind" Rushna instructs her with a mischievous grin, bend on making fun of the situation. She pretends not to notice and takes a bite of the samosa with chili sauce. Unfortunately for Falak the sauce is way too spicy, the sizzling taste takes a toll on her immediately.
Her mouth burns as she gets a full taste of the spicy sauce. She gets up in anguish and swings around violently. Anything, anything that could dissolve the horrible flavor. In her immediate view, comes a bottle of water glimmering in the sunlight.
She clutches at it without thinking and gulps down the water, instantly relieving her poor throat. Sighing with relief, she is hit with realization as a pair of chocolate brown orbs peer in her hazy eyes. That particular bottle was of Zaroon Junaid himself.
Her cheeks burn as she sees the smiling face of Rushna and Osama, the indignant one of Asmara and finally the huge grin on his dashing face. What have I done?Stupid stupid stupid!, she thinks ruefully. Falak mumbles something incoherently while walking away with her friend eager to run away from the mess she unconsciously landed herself in.
"Did you check that Zaroon? How can one dare to take something of yours without your permission? Talk about insolence," Asmara remarks with clear disdain showing up in her voice. "Oh c'mon Asmara, she did that unintentionally. Zaroon she looked so cute while at it, didn't she?" Osama states with a laugh, knowing exactly what was in his friend's mind right then.
"She did. Really adorable," he replies to Osama his chocolate eyes unusually thoughtful.
.
It was one of the sudden April showers, when dark clouds emerge in the sky when least expected, the wind blows strongly all around and rain pelted down on everything in sight.
She is laughing along with Zaroon, enjoying the feel of the chilly drops against her soft skin while standing at the university gates. They grey slate of clouds cast slight shadows everywhere while the duo enjoyed to their fullest in this sudden but pleasant change of weather.
Holding their books firmly over their heads they both race towards the main building. Her snickers splash in the puddles while she sprints along the muddy path with her bag swaying after her.
They were about to reach the appointed destination when he rapidly tugs her hand pulling her side ways to a less occupied area of their university. For a moment she is confused, and then shrugs it off laughing at every cheesy line that left Zaroon's mouth.
Falak pulls her bun open, her dripping wet raven black hair spreading downwards. Her deep blue shirt had a purplish tint now that it is soaked with rain. They can still hear the soft noise of rain drops colliding with the surface of land, splattering against the walls.
She grabs a bottle out of her bag and shoves it in Zaroon's hands asking him to open it. Falak fails to notice a faint glimmer in his deep eyes when he puts the bottle aside and noiselessly gets something out of his pocket. This act however did not go overlooked by her as she gazes towards him in clear ambiguity.
A slight smile lightens up his face, his now drenched jet black hair looking even more appealing. Now is the perfect moment to execute my plan, Zaroon thinks, Do it or die in attempt.
He drops down on one knee while taking her delicate hand in his own. Taking a deep breath he starts speaking along the lines long rehearsed "I have fallen in love with you Falak Sher Afghan," his eyes shine with genuine sincerity as he speaks "With your beautiful smile, your captivating eyes, your slender figure and purity of heart and mind. I fell in love with your bubbly voice, your adorable habits and with everything that is associated with you. I don't know when this thing occurred when I fell for a girl I am mere friends with. A single day without you is a day I will deeply rue. My eyes are blinded, not for the greed of any other mortal possessions, but by hope of spending a lifetime with you rather than facing all the ages of this world alone. I did not choose to love you, fate decided it for me. I don't think I need to say anymore to declare an emotion so simple yet complicated as love. So my dearest friend, Will you marry me?"
All she could do is to look at him slightly nodding her head as he slips a beautiful ring on her finger, wondering whether her heart is beating as a result of running or because of that special moment.
He grasps her hands firmly claiming her for his own as he pulls Falak out in the rain while she swirls around in the pouring rainwater smiling with true happiness at being with him. A precious memory they would forever cherish.
.
"You know what?" She laughs at his question anticipating a cheesy line in the words Zaroon is about to utter. "I know I have found heaven on earth,"
That was unexpected, she thinks as she places her head in the crook of his neck inhaling his mannish scent. Looking up in his chocolate eyes she could find love and devotion in the very depths. "I can get forever lost just by just looking at you," she says out loud instinctively. He looks baffled for a moment at this sudden display of affection. His lips form in a smile as plays with loose strands of her hair.
A cheery laugh resounds in the room as they look around in blatant surprise. "Aimen!" Falak exclaims in fright as her eyes fall on her nearly a year old daughter taking her first wobbly steps, as she gets up unsteadily. A firm grasp on her hand prevents her from rushing towards her daughter. "Wait," Zaroon says softly. Aimen takes few more steps towards them then plops down on a cushion while holding out her chubby hands. A single tear of happiness rolls down her cheek while she buries her head in his shirt "Thanks for everything you have given me Zaroon..."
Arjun
Cricket
