Hi! I'm back with another update after just one day! Mostly because I wrote it already and also because this next 2 weeks I'll be super busy and won't have time to update. So this is an advance update 😊 As always, thanks to those who liked and commented 😃 The song is from Teri Meri Love Stories, it was stuck on my head and I had to do something 😆 Enjoy!
Chapter 15
Khuda jaane ke mein fida hu, khuda jaane mein mitt gaya
"Did you hear that?"
"Huh? What?" I snapped back to reality as Ammi looked around trying to find something.
"There was a sound just now."
"I didn't hear anything." In fact, I was so lost in my own thoughts; I was not even listening to my poor Ammi. I suddenly felt really apologetic towards her.
"Ammi, you should go to sleep, it's almost midnight." I nudged her to get up and she slowly did.
"Are you going to be fine?" Still looking worried, she extended a hand to me. I took it and smiled. Now I knew why she stayed even though she probably knew I wasn't paying attention. She just didn't want to leave me alone.
I bid her goodnight and went to get ready for bed myself. After I came back from brushing my teeth, a sound startled me. I knew it was coming from the balcony but I didn't want to open the door...
I started searching for my phone in my purse to call by brother to come and check it out. And what greeted were a flood of missed calls and texts. Most or actually all were from Mr. Khan. I was going to ignore them when another text came in.
I'm still waiting outside your house.
Who's outside whose house? It beeped again with another text.
It's freezing here.
I went towards the balcony... and opened the curtains to the darkness. I shivered when I opened the door. Surely, he's not freezing outside, right?
But he was.
I could see him in the front porch light as he hopped trying to keep himself warm... I know I shouldn't smile but I did. How did he get past the main gate? He finally looked up to see me and a smile spread across his face. He took out his phone.
Can I come up? Open the door for me?
I immediately shook my head at him, gesturing no with my hands.
It's dangerous! I texted him back.
I can climb up too ;) was the reply.
What? That's even more dangerous! But he wasn't listening. He was making a move to climb up. He is not in some movie! If he falls down, he'll break a few bones at least.
"Wait, stop! I'm coming down." I half shouted at him.
I tiptoed downstairs and opened the front door to let him in. "What's wrong with you?"
As I closed the door behind him, he gestured to go up the stairs, I crossed my arms across my chest to say no.
He refused to do anything until we relocated to my room. I repeated, "What's wrong with you? How can you come here at this time of night?"
"Because I had something really important to say to you."
"That you couldn't say during the day?"
"That you wouldn't give me the chance to say and I have to say it now."
I waited for him to speak. He hesitated uncharacteristically. He's the type to say whatever is on his mind; this is the first time I was seeing him think so much before speaking.
He reached for my hands and took them in his own icy ones, "I..." He sighed again. My heart raced in anticipation.
"I can't say I love you," he finally spoke, and his words stung. I looked away, what was I expecting...
"I can't say that because I don't know what love is... People keep giving different explanations of love and I have had enough of it. I only believe in what I feel even if I have no name for it."
He squeezed my hand lightly, making me look at him again, "Because of you, I want to stop and enjoy the scenery because scenery has you. I want to enjoy life by spending every moment with you."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I just blinked.
"When you are not around, I wonder where you are. And when you are by my side, I wonder what you're thinking. I feel helpless when you cry in front of me and I can't even entertain the thought that you will be with some other guy."
"Life without you feels empty. I haven't known you for long, but somewhere in these three months, you have become someone who can't be replaced. A piece of life I can't even imagine losing."
I gently pulled me forward and wrapped his arms around me. "If this is what people call love, I must be in love with you, Zoya Farooqui. But that's for you to decide."
"Tannu?" I separated to ask him.
"I took take care of it. She is a little stubborn, but she always gives in to me..."He pulled me in a hug again. "You should answer my confession."
I had tears in my eyes as I replied, "I love you."
He held on to me for a few more seconds before we pulled back to look at each other again. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, I wiped my tears away. Ugh.. I probably looked like a mess; I had been crying non-stop since the evening when I last met him.
He laughed like he heard what I was thinking and I pouted, he lightly caressed my cheek, "Don't worry, you look beautiful!"
I blushed and to hide my embarrassment, I murmured, "You're a very good liar."
He grinned and answered, "I was just proving your theory right."
"What theory?" I looked at him curiously.
"That I would be a mad man in love... You are the only one who can make a law abiding citizen like me break into someone's house at half past midnight and still not feel an ounce of regret." I laughed at him as he sat tiredly on the carpeted floor leaning on the wall.
"I was even contemplating climbing to your room, but I didn't know which room was yours." He closed his eyes and rested his head on the wall.
I rolled my eyes, "Saying dialogs from a movie is different than doing the stunts."
"I know, I must be crazy for you." He smiled to himself. Those words came so easy to him that I was awed that this person who didn't believe in love was so sweet towards me.
But there were more pressing concerns at the moment. He looked really tired and I was afraid he would catch a cold like this. I decided to drag my blanket from by bed on top him.
He pulled it to himself and gestured me to sit beside him. I shook my head. "I'll get coffee for you. You should warm yourself." I was about to go when he grabbed my wrist.
"How am I supposed to warm myself if you're not here?" He whined like a kid and I raised an eyebrow.
"That's why there's a blanket."
"No, that's why there's you." He refused to let me go, so I gave in and sat down beside him.
He smiled and pulled me under the blanket and rested his head on my shoulder.
"Besides, if you wake them up, I don't want your brother and father beating me to a pulp."
"And Ammi?"
"Aunty is too nice. She'll... may be douse me with cold water?" He answered and shivered at the thought making me giggle. Ammi might.
"Don't worry, Rehan is your fan." I assured him as he linked his hand with mine under the blanket, intertwining our fingers, making me smile and content in that little gesture.
"But not as his brother-in-law, he's way protective over you." That was a surprise to me. "I'm actually a little worried over his reaction..." He added and shivered, but this time due to the cold.
He was really making me worried; I brought my other free hand to his forehead. It didn't look like he had a fever... yet.
"Here I'm trying to be romantic with you and you keep worrying about my health..." He said in irritation as he straightened his head to look at me, "I am fine. Stop worrying about me."
He made me rest my head on his shoulder this time as he rested his head on top of mine.
"A song writer friend of mine wrote a song. I liked it but the lyrics always seemed over-the-top. But now... I kind of understand what he meant to say. Poor guy, I made fun of him at that time."
I pinched him lightly, "you do have a tendency to do that... You did the same to me." I knew he was pouting at that.
"I want to listen to the song." I whispered and he got out his phone and played the song in the lowest volume possible.
Since the room was quiet with only the sound of our breathing, it wasn't hard to hear. The soft music played floated through the room giving the best moment of my life, the perfect tune.
Hain tu kaha, kaha hain tu
Aaa jau main jaha hai tu
Iss dill mai dhadkano mai tu
Hain tu hi tu...
He brought our entwined hands up and kissed my hand, or rather my fingers, lightly.
Hain jaan tu jahaa hain tu
Main hu jahaa, waha hain tu
Kaise tujhe bata du, kya kya hain tu...
Yaar hain tu, pyaar hain tu
Aarzoo tu justuzoo tu
Zindagi tu bandagi tu
Hai mera tu, sab mera tu
"I love you, Zoya."
I was so caught up with the moment that I doubted I heard correctly. I looked at him as if asking him to repeat.
And he was being the arrogant guy and just tilted his head like he didn't know anything teasing me. I frowned at him and tried to pull my hand away; but he didn't let me and changed his expression to a serious one.
Aadhi adhoori jaise dhalti hai zindgaani
Jo saath main mere na tu
Karte hai har ghadi hum khudse baatien tumhari
Hardum khayalo main hai tu
His gaze had me transfixed...
Aaja tujhe bata du, pass aa tujhe bata du
Phir se tujhe bata du, kya kya hai tu...
"I. Love. You." He enunciated every word as he inched closer to me. For a second, I stopped hearing and listening to anything. Forget skipping a beat, I think my heart stopped beating for those few seconds.
Yaar hai tu, pyaar hai tu
Aarzoo tu justuzoo
Zindagi tu bandagi tu
Rab mera tu sab mera tu
He had closed his eyes and I did too. I almost panicked internally thinking he would kiss me; but he kissed my cheek lingering there for a few more seconds and whispering, "I love you," again.
I blushed and didn't have the courage to meet his eyes when he pulled back. But he wouldn't let it go and stared at me compelling me to look at him. I still couldn't believe this breathtakingly handsome and great guy just professed his love for me.
---------
Tere liye bana main, mere liye bani tu
Saara jahaan yeh jaan le
Dill main tum hi base ho, saanso main tum rahe ho
Ab toh ho badhkar jaan se
I had to say this to Zoya today. I knew I was neither perfect nor an expert in love who would be able to live up to her expectations, "I don't know what kind of promises people in love make to each other. But I promise to catch you every time you fall and I promise to make you fall for me every day."
She had this brilliant smile that blinded me for a second. How did this beautiful girl fall for me in the first place is still a mystery to me. I had this irresistible urge to kiss her. I was about to lean forward...
Yaar hai tu, pyaar hai tu
Aarzoo tu justuzoo
Zindagi tu bandagi tu
Rab mera tu sab mera tu
Sab mera tu...
She surprised me by leaning forward instead, mimicking my gesture last time. She kissed my cheek and lingering there and whispering I love you.
I think the expression heaven by your side applies to this type of feeling.
------
I knew someone was just called my name but I was afraid of waking up meant facing reality; what if everything that happened last night was a dream?
"Zoya." It was Mr. Khan's voice and he definitely didn't sound normal. He shook me gently but firmly and I opened my eyes to find Ammi standing in my room.
Shocked, I immediately stood up. Mr. Khan following me soon after. This was bad, really really bad.
Cricket
Anupamaa
126