"Happy Holi, Ms. Farooqui."
"Happy holi, Mr. Khan."
Zoya's mind wandered to the events that had transpired earlier that night. Mr. Khan was being nice to her. No. It was more than that. He was showing genuine concern for his Ms. New York. Wait, his Ms. New York?
Snap out of it, Zoya. This is Mr. Khan you're talking about. Mr. Akdu Ahmed Khan.
Over the last six months she had come to feel all sorts of emotions towards this man. Hatred, annoyance, confusion, sympathy, concern, and something else...? What that something else was she hadn't quite figured out. Of course she wasn't entirely oblivious to the signs, and the thought had crossed her mind, but after being used to depending on only herself, emotionally, she was still resistant to admit, or allow herself to depend on another person.
In the last few weeks, however, Mr. Khan had slowly chipped away at the walls around her heart, and seen her at her most vulnerable. She had allowed him to see sides of her that neither her Aapi, Jeeju or even Phuppi had yet to see.
But why? Perhaps because they're both lonely? Yes. Their loneliness is a shared one. A very specific loneliness that only someone in the same unfortunate situation can relate to. A feeling that envelopes you so thoroughly, it seems almost impossible to escape. And it was for her, until she met Mr. Khan.
Mr. Khan's situation wasn't entirely the same as hers, she thought to herself. He knew who his abuu was. Moreover, he can meet him when he pleases. But of course his abandonment and trust issues deterred him from doing the same.
Still, his walls, Zoya could tell, were slowly coming down as well. Perhaps it would take longer for him to ever have a relationship with his abuu. But Zoya could sense a change in the OCD, perfectionist that was her Jahapana Six Packs.
What are you saying, Zoya? Mr. Khan and... THAT!? Never. Mr. Khan being there for you is a coincidence. You live in the same house. And what could possibly make you want to be with a lion?
Deep down, however, she knew that her heart was slowly attaching itself to that same lion's heart. And a small, minuscule part of her, hoped, wished and prayed, that she would be the one to tame her lonely counterpart.
Precap: On the opposite side of the same lavish, independent house, was a restless lion, pacing back and forth in his room.
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