Chapter 7

She was getting late as usual; losing track of time while checking the essays of the students, she now had only twenty minutes to get to university or risk the wrath of Dr. Richards; the only woman who arose equal parts of dread and respect in all her students. She was searching frantically in her bag for car keys and was hardly noticing where she was going, as a result she was startled when someone shouted, alarm evident in his voice, "Miss Saraaa" Looking to her left, she ducked quickly as a basketball came flying towards her. The four boys who had been playing, waiting for their cars to come, were now standing quietly waiting for her wrath, instead she burst out laughing.

"Playing without me?" she said with a smile and to the utter amazement of the children, dribbled the ball fast and then scored a perfect two pointer. She looked over her shoulder and said, "Afraid to play with me boys?" Grinning broadly the boys quickly joined her. She thoroughly enjoyed for the next fifteen minutes, but the real happiness came with the gales of laughter from the boys who laughed when she tripped another boy, smiled sweetly at him and scored another goal. They were still chuckling and talking excitedly with her about the advantages of various players, when she insisted that she had to leave.

"Ma'am you play really well." Usman—the shy boy, as she thought of him, said.

"I played in school and college both, but I don't like to watch it." She said casually as she walked towards the gate, looking for the keys inside her bag.

Noticing the lack of response, she stopped and looked at the boys, they weren't with her. She looked around to see them standing two feet behind her.

"You don't watch basketball?" Usman said with a look of complete astonishment on his face.

"Is that bad?" she asked, hiding her smile behind a mask of confusion.

"Ma'am!! You've got to watch it! It is so exciting!" at the passionate appeal of another tall and lanky boy, with pimples on his face and braces, she promised to watch at least one game in the coming week, and then sped off towards college, praying that Dr. Richards will not scold her for being late in front of the hundred or so students—including Mr. Rude Stare.

She reached fifteen minutes late, and was gratified when Dr. Richards allowed her to enter with the slight shake of her head and kept lecturing the class. A discreet wave caught her attention and she moved to the very last row of the huge hall to sit next to Sidra. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or angry to find no sign of Adal Shirazi. She took out her note book and tried to concentrate on the high pitch voice of Dr. Richards; but her eyes kept moving around the hall, looking for a head of unruly black hair.

She found him after twenty minutes of cautious searching. He was sitting three rows down to her left, wearing a check dress shirt and faded jeans. For the first time, she had a chance to really look at him without him knowing, and taking full advantage of the opportunity her heart swelled as she noticed that he was classically handsome. Her brain was shouting warnings, but they were ignored. Many men will kill for a strong jaw line like his, made all the more attractive with a slight hint of stubble. His straight nose was perfect for his broad and aristocratic face. But the most attractive features are his eyes, direct and full of self confidence, she thought with a sigh, not being able to look at his eyes was the only disadvantage to her current position. After ten minutes of staring, she was brought out of her daydream with a sharp elbow in her ribs.

"Sara Farooqi?" Dr. Richards had decided to take attendance before they left for break and was calling out her name.

"Present!" she said hastily and was unable to see the humor in the situation when Sidra burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" she said crossly and turned to put her things in her bag, only to see that she hadn't even taken out the pen. In her haste to find Mr. Rude Stare, she hadn't even taken out anything to write on or write with! She glanced towards Sidra and they both burst out laughing.

"Come on let's go," Sidra said and moved towards the crowded door. The stairs were crowded as well so Sara took the lead like old days and found gaps to squeeze through. They had always done that at school. Sara being skinny and flexible would find gaps in a crowded place and then rest of their group would follow, holding on to each other. Suddenly Sara felt someone push her from behind.

"What the…" were the only words she was able to say when she felt a strong hand steady her, and pull her towards itself, to stop her from falling headlong down the stairs. She was jerked back, and collided with something solid.

Catching her breath, she leaned back a bit and noticed that the thing she had collided with was wrapped in a familiar check pattern. Dreading but already knowing what she'll find, her eyes travelled up his chest to see him frowning, but not at her. She followed his gaze, to see him looking intently at Sidra who was standing right behind her, looking concerned and bewildered, but with a sparkle in her eyes. It was at noticing the sparkle that she realized he was still gripping her arm, she pulled on it slightly and he immediately let go, probably noticing it then. All this happened in five seconds at the most, but it seemed like he had held her bare forearm for ages, it was still tingling and was slightly warm. And it's only my forearm; I wonder what it will be like to actually kiss him, to feel his hands on my body, to feel him kissing all the tender areas, instead of only a bony forearm.

"Are you alright? I am so sorry someone pushed me from behind and I in turn pushed you!" Sidra exclaimed as they made their way down the stairs again. A couple of people had looked towards them, hoping for the dramatic scene of a girl falling down the stairs but had looked away when there was no excitement.

"Yeah, right." Sara said under her breath as she fought the feelings his simple touch had evoked in her.

"You want tea?" he asked as he headed towards the counter.

"We'll get it" Sara replied, not trusting herself to look at him.

Without saying a word, he went towards the counter. And just as silently Sara turned to look at Sidra who was staring intently at the ceiling.

"You idiot!" Sara said as she punched her on her arm. Sidra just laughed and said, "He made you feel, Sara, I could see it in your eyes. He made you feel a lot of things."

"Is it a good thing?"

Sidra stopped smiling for a minute and then said softly, "Love may hurt you, Sara, but you will never regret falling in it."