Ishqaway Fanficiton

I.

They seem to be catching each other's eye a lot.

Whichever room, hallway, garden of Sartaj Villa is the location of the most recent wedding ritual, he searches for her. Safina is usually busy acting as the photographer but she sees him through the camera.

But there's too much of bhangda and drumbeats and lights and colours of the wedding for anyone to turn oblivious to that-even Haim and Safina themselves.

II.

Haim goes to the room temporarily shared by the two girls, and there she stands, hands on her hips, shaking her head at him disapprovingly and disbelievingly (neither for the first time.)

Since the ring is no longer with her best friend, she has to blame him-almost like a formality. She has to try to make him see sense and give a million different reason to get him and her best friend to patch up. And somewhere in between the debates they find a common ground and end up talking and laughing and she just shakes her head disbelieving now, smiling.

III.

They always end up together-somehow, back to each other. Silly rituals get them in the same room, shopping errands have them in the same car, tantrums from the bride and they're headed off to escape together. It's a jumble; odd. As if they're connected by a thread or something.

And weirdly enough, Safina realizes she doesn't really mind it all that much.

IV.

She found him (as he knew she would) at his favorite escape place, the terrace (as she knew she would) his arms on the railing, gazing into far off oblivion (or the garden below, maybe?) the engagement ring back in his pocket.

"Everyone is searching for you"

"I know"

"Everyone is angry"

"I know"

"It's one of the pre-wedding ceremonies, Haim!" she mentions exasperatedly "your wedding!" she adds pointedly.

He gives a small, mirthless chuckle; "Believe it or not but, I know"

She stands beside him, patting the railing soundlessly, looking down at the embers of the small courtyard bonfire. "You can't just escape here all the time" Safina says finally.

"I wouldn't mind escaping here if I always end up with you" he says.

V.

"What happened later? Did the prince get his happily-ever-after' ending with the mermaid?" Haim asks after she tells the story.

"No" she says sadly, like the look she gives him for a moment before looking up at the stars. "No, the prince married someone his parents had chosen for him and she turned into sea-foam and the ocean washed her away"

VI.

"Trust me" he says.

"Why should I?" she whispers tearly.

"Because I do. I do"

The mistake is looking into his eyes because then her heart breaks all over again.