A random Os, which pretty much sucks ( a fair warning)😳😆. The idea sounded cute in my head, but never translated on paper. And plus, Fluff isn't my forte. But I figured if I wrote it, I might as well post it.
The Red Hat Girl
"Come on Bhaijaan !"
"Tamatar, I can't do this." Asad massaged his temples and wondered just when his sister became such a pest.
"Bhaijaan, one cannot come to New York and not stake at Rockefeller center, it's on the New York tourist bucket list."
"What bucket list?", Asad asked but he already knew he didn't want the answer.
"Bhaijaan!", his name was said somewhere between a scold and whine and Asad had to stifle a chuckle. He reached out to ruffle her hair under the wool hat.
Asad sat at the edge of the staking rink, finding a space on the already crowded benches. He stared at the new skates that were still in the box. He had downright refused to rent a pair: how unhygienic! But apparently, skates took time to break in to, whatever that meant.
"You go find Imran and I will join you after I get this torturous skates on."
"Are you sure, Bhaijaan? I wouldn't want you to fall flat on your face in front of hundreds of people. Namja let out a little giggle but it gained momentum at her Bhaijaan's glare. "What? I have a reason to be worried. Remember, you have never ice skated before."
Asad was honestly contemplating running away, to forget this ice skating adventure. He functioned well enough with shoes on a flat, non-icy surface. But then he looked up to see his baby sister's smile and he was willing to get himself ridiculed just to see the smile.
"Go now.", he nudged her towards the rink.
"Okay, hurry up. I want you to meet my friend I have been telling you about." With that, she stepped onto the ice and began to glide across on the ice like she had been doing this since she was a kid. Asad Ahmed Khan had been torn between sheer happiness and sorrow the day he married his baby sister to New York based, Imran more than a year ago. But after this visit, he was satisfied to see his sister happier than ever.
His eyes darted across the skating ring, eyeing many couples hand in hand, groups of youngsters and families on the ice, Rockefeller Staking Rink seemed to be the holiday hub at the peak of holiday season. A huge Christmas decorated tree was lit up was the center highlight of the rink but the entire skating rink was lit up with smaller trees but Asad was much more fascinated with the gold gilded statue of Prometheus under the towering brightly lit Christmas tree
After tightly doing up the laces of his stakes, he cautiously took baby steps to the entrance of the rink. He held onto the railing for safety measures. Please Allah Miya, don't let me fall on my face. Maybe he should just wait for Namja to come and help him.
He scanned the thick crowd and couldn't spot her, and he couldn't stand like a hobbling idiot while people zipped past him to get into the ice rink.
He hesitantly stepped onto the rink, still holding onto the supporting railing. He felt his foot gave way, unable to stay steady but he caught himself upright again just in the nick of time. He had roller bladed before as a young kid, how different could this be. Well, tell that to my slippery feet.
He tried to follow the roller balding routine, taking his right foot then his left on a diagonal and then let his feet go as the ice carried him forward. See, that wasn't so bad. That lasted about 30 seconds before he lost balance again, making him clutching the railing for dear life.
Forget this skating; he didn't seem to have the kink for it anyway. He eyed the crowd again for Namja except his eyes found someone else.
A beautiful girl was literally dancing across the ice like a figure skater ,throwing herself into the air, and gracefully landing back on the ice. She swirled and twirled so beautifully that Asad was in awe of it. He had never seen such a skilled ice skater. It was initially her skating ability that had caught his eye. But now that he looked closely at her, she was simply beautiful. She was dressed in demin jeans, bundled up a in red coat, hat and mittens. She is wearing a Santa Claus style cap with her jet black open tresses flying as she zipped from one end to other.
Smitten like a teenager, He had eyes only for her as he watched her. His eyes followed her across the rink, when suddenly she was out of sight. Her red hat disappeared in a sea of faces as he tired to find her again. Without a thought, he left the support of the railing as he tried to skate forward as his eyes dratted to find the red hat girl.
He barely covered any distance before his feet lost balance as he found himself pitching forward, lest the ice would greet his face any second now. He flapped his arms out to steady himself before a pair of arms reached out to hold him upright. But his weight was probably too much, for she lost her balance and they both headed towards the ice. He grasped her around the waist and twisted just in time bearing the impact of the fall. He landed with a painful thud and his savior sprawled on his chest.
Asad winced in pain as his back hit the ice but he was more concerned about the girl. "Are you okay?", he asked softly.
"Allah Miya, do I look okay to you ?", The girl lifted her head off his chest and his breath caught. It was the same girl he had seen earlier, the one he was looking for. Her hair was a wild mess now, loose under her Santa Claus hat. He reached out tentatively to brush her fringe from her eyes. She gasped softly and he withdrew his hand.
"I am so sorry. Let me help you up.", He hastily stood and held out his hand.
She let out a soft chuckle. "If your skating abilities are what they seem to be then as soon as I take your hand, we will both be back on the ice."
Asad smiled sheepishly and figured she was right. She was back on her feet and smiled warmly at him, making his heart pick up pace.
"Would you like to learn to skate?", she asked and Asad mutely nodded. Anything to spend time with this girl, even if it is this torturous ice-skating.
She turned, holding out her hands for him to grasp. He slid his leather-clad hands into hers and found that she held them in a firm hold. It may be her way of assuring him she wouldn't let him fall.
"Don't worry, I have been skating even before I could walk properly.", she began to skate backwards, pulling him along even when his feet were stationary. She began instructing him on how to move his feet and keep balance. Asad was perfectly content hearing her voice and staring at her for majority of the time.
"Bhaijaan" Asad turned to the voice of his sister as Namja and Imran skated hand in hand towards them.
Asad let go of her hand and prayed that his feet would hold steady.
"Oh Zoe, you are finally here !", Namja pulled his savior into a tight hug and did a little sway.
"Bhaijaan, this was the friend I have been telling about all this time. And Zoya, this is my Asad Bhaijaan I have been wanting you to meet." What Namja was really saying was that she had been trying to set them up, Asad saw her right through his sister. Asad smiled softly at Zoya and she returned with a warm smile.
Zoya, so her name was Zoya.
"Did you two meet already?" Namja asked, noticing how close they were standing to one another.
"Woh, actually..."
"What he is trying to say is that I saved him from falling on his face.", Zoya said with a chuckle.
Namja giggled and gave her brother a 'told you so look'. "Well good luck, Zoe, maybe you can teach him. Irman and I are going to grab some hot chocolate." With a wink Namja sent their way, the duo skated away hand in hand.
"Can I have this skate with you ?", she asked holding out a mitten-clad hand. He smiled and wordlessly slipped his leathered covered hand into hers. He instantly felt the warmth of their joint hands even through the barriers of their gloves.
So here it is. Hope you all somewhat enjoyed it. Ice skating is one of my all favourite hobbies, haven't fall even once in all these years..lol...i wanted to write a little something to do with ice skating..😳
Do like and comment to provide your feedback😳
Much love,
Reya <3
Other AsYa works:
Asya OS: Blessed:https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/qubool-hai/3690940/asya-os-blessed
A Simple Story of Love (completed) : https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/qubool-hai/3707666/asya-ss-a-simple-story-of-love-lcompleted
Shiv Shakti
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