AsYa SS: A Cup of Coffee & Much More Last Part Pg 36 - Page 9

Chapter 2: Is it coffee or just him?

She quickened her pace as she found the atmosphere change. The auburn shade which adored the sky till then gave its way to black and grey mix clouds announcing the arrival of a storm. Birds were flying back to their home before the storm hit them bad. The pathway was almost deserted leaving a stray dog and some birds who refused to take shelter. Her pace slowed as she looked at the stray dog. That was the same dog that she used to see almost every day. It used to sleep in the same place every time. It was as if it doesn't know anything other than to doze around. Zoya never was a dog friendly person. In fact she was even afraid of dogs. But she was not that kind of girl who will run away at the mere sight of a dog near to her.

Today she decided, she will keep her all inhibitions aside and prove to herself that she also can love a dog without being afraid. She neared the dog slowly. She bent down and slowly patted his head. Feeling happy, she just turned around to go and the same time a loud cry escaped her lips and she jumped.

"Ouch"

She yelped in pain and took a few steps back trying to process what happened in the past few minutes. She remembered her nearing the dog, patting his head, a sudden pain in her hand and she pulling away her hand. She looked at her hand only to see some scratch marks there. She looked at the dog that was by now resumed to his usual position. Her eyes welled up. So much for trying to love a dog!!! She was relieved to find that the dog hadn't bitten her properly. It was her reflex that she pulled away her hand quickly as soon as she felt something in her hand, otherwise the bite would have been serious and blood would have come out.

She again looked at her hand which was throbbing in pain. There were only minor scratches and a small blood clot near her ring finger, rest she was fine. In fact her hand was just looking like it got scratched due to some metals. She was confused as to what to do. She can't tell her Aapi about that as she will be dead worried. She doesn't want to leave it as it is as she was afraid she might get rabies. She was contemplating within herself whether to go to a doctor or not when she felt a warm hand encases her injured hand. She looked up only to gaze at a pair of hazel eyes which was screaming concern and care. She remembered the guy, in fact she never forgot that guy after that incident last week in caf. The same guy in whose coffee she added sugar, the same guy who preferred black and bitter espresso instead of tasty latte, the same guy who is making her skip a beat with his gently soothing touch on her injured hand now.

Asad was returning from his office in his SUV when suddenly his vehicle decided to break down. Frustrated he came out of the vehicle and used all those information he had about vehicles, but of no use. He called his manager and told him to send another car. As it would take half an hour, he decided to pay visit to the nearby lake. He was walking through the pavement observing the changes in atmosphere. A cool breeze blew making his hair out of place. With his fingers he brushed his hair aside and looked up. And when he did so, his heart skipped a beat. There she was again, the caf girl, Zoya, the same girl thanks to whom he was spending sleepless nights for the past one week.

He started observing her every movement while following her cautiously. He even had no idea why he was doing so, but it felt right at that moment. She stopped in his tracks as he saw her steps coming to a halt. The way she was looking at the dog gave him a slight hint of what she was thinking. He face palmed at her stupidity. He saw her patting that dog's head. His breathing stopped for a moment. But he was relieved as there was no response from dog. But his relief turned into worry in the next second as the dog reacted to her affectionate touch by biting her. He saw her jump back in fear keeping her other hand over her heart as if to calm the erratic heartbeats. He could see the tear well up in her eyes. She was looking at her hand and by that look he knew she was contemplating what has to be done next. And he knew what he has to do and he did exactly that.

He observed how well her small arms fitted in his big ones. He could see her surprising gaze on him as he held her hand. He didn't tell anything instead decided to gently run his fingers over her hand to sooth her. And then without waiting for her reply he tugged her other hand and started walking. He saw her trying to protest and he cut her off.

"Don't. I am taking you to a doctor. Even though nothing is fatal, I want you to take rabies injection"

He was relieved to see her not protesting. But he didn't forget the way she cringed when she heard injection'. He deciphered that she was afraid of injection. He couldn't help but to smile at this revelation.

***(@)***

Asad looked at Zoya who was sulking like a small kid. She had her right arm around her left arm where the doctor had given her injection. She was rubbing that spot with cotton dabbed in spirit so as to ease the pain. She glared at Asad as she saw him smiling.

"What?" she snapped at him unable to control her anger.

He just shrugged his shoulders and started walking hiding his amused smile from her.

When he didn't respond as he expected, she felt a certain disappointment in her. She realized that she was too rude in snapping at him as he all done was to help her.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's... it's just the pain..."

And he stopped in his track as he heard her apology. Her sweet voice filled his ears as he listened to her as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

"It's ok. Your apology accepted. What can I do to lessen your pain?"

"Hm... you can take to me a coffee shop?"

Asad could help but to laugh at that. He laughed and laughed only to be stopped after earning a death glare from her.

"What's so funny?"

"It is funny. Normally after taking injection people will tell that they need ice cream. You are the first person who needs coffee..."

"So what Mr. Macho man? I am not like others. I am different"

He stopped laughing. His features softened as he stepped towards her. Involuntarily, she took a step back only to be held back by him. She gulped down nervously as he saw him gazing at her intensely. He pulled her closer to himself careful enough to not touch her injured hand.

"You are right Zoya. You are not like others, you are different. And my name is not Macho man. It's Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan and Asad for you. Now let's get your coffee."

Zoya let out the breath she was holding back as soon as Asad's hand left hers. Her mind was boggled with his sudden closeness. She closed her eyes for a fleeting second and opened again and looked at Asad who had gone into a nearby coffee shop instructing her to follow him. As she entered the coffee shop behind him as if in a trance, the richly aroma of coffee hit her nose hard further boggling her mind. She looked at Asad who had chosen a corner table for himself and her. He gestured her to come over. He was looking like a Greek god in that incandescent light illuminated just above him. Her heart filled with unknown sensations as she thought to herself,

"Is it the effect of the coffee or just him?"

PS: Wanna know how this is related to my life? well, yesterday (monday), i happened to do the same mistake as Zoya did😳 it was not some stray dog but it was the dog of my flat's security guard😊 that dog always used to sleep in our stairs and it never harmed me when i used to use the stairs. so i decided to return the affection by slowly patting his head. i even have dogs in my real home back in Kerala, but never used to do that as i was scared. so today i did that and what did i get in response, a bite😭😭😆 Thank god i pulled my hand as soon as i felt it teeth. so i am here with a few scratch marks and nothing important. Zoya was lucky as her Asad was there. i dont have an Asad in my life who will take me to hospital.🥺 so all i had done was to take tetanus injection. but my friend is adamant on taking me to get a rabies injection tomorrow.😳 soo much for trying to love a dog , huh😆