Hikayat ✔

Chap. 36 (Part 2)

Airaa was successful in avoiding Ayaan the rest of the day but she couldn't escape him in her head.

"I dare you! Karo spread! Tell them all! I dare you!"

"You won't be able to hurt me Airaa. You can try. But you won't.."

His taunting voice daring her to hurt him, his brave eyes staring right into the pits of her soul urging her to stop hidding, to stop pretending.

She never did think like that before, like she was hidding behind a mask, but now everything about herself seems to her like a big fat lie.

Her wants, her needs, her goals, her plans, the people around her, her friends and family... Her mind was questioning the reality of everything.

Ayaan broke something in her... A wall that she had build to keep her conscience jailed in. There was a crack there now. Feelings and emotions were leaking like water spreading into her blood stream like poisonous venom, pinching and burning at her heart and mind.

She felt breathless without exertion, she felt like she was asphyxiating.

The last time she felt like this... Like everything was slipping from her fingers was very long ago..... 3 years ago...

It was another person in front of her then... But that person too made Airaa feel small and insignificant. She too stabbed her heart like these feelings stabbing her heart right now...

What is this?!!!!

She had escaped 3 years ago, she burned her way out. But now it felt like she was trapped again however this time she can't think of a way out....

This feeling being too overpowering, waging a war inside of her, determined to not let her win.

She sucked in a gasping breath and raised her head from their table to look at Ali. He was saying something about the Birthday Bash in the evening and all other three friends were throwing in their input except for her.

"Sahi hai naa?" He turned to her abruptly and she met his eyes with a blank stare.

"Airaa?" he questioned and she shook her head.

"Kiya.. Kiya keh rahy they?"

They frowned at her lost state and Maryum walked over to her.

"Airaa are you sure you're okay? Aaj tum khoi khoi si lag rahi ho..."

Maryum normally didn't really care about anyone's well being much. Too lost in her own self and caught up in her family drama all she ever really thought about was projecting that pain she felt inside of her upon others she met.

But sometimes Airaa's fragile features and the lost look in her eyes did something to her heart and she felt human...

She didn't think there was any deep friendly connection of hers with Airaa and Imaad. But they've been together since the last four years and somehow even if she doesn't accept it the two of them have made room in her non-existent heart.

She reached forward and touched Airaa's face. She flinched and swatted her hand away.

"I am fine Maryum!" She said but her voice wavered slightly.

"You're burning up!" Maryum exclaimed.

"Just the heat of the sun." Airaa shook her head.

"Air--"

"I have to go. Meri gari aa gayi hogi. I'll see you guys at night."

Mayum hugged Airaa breifly and Imaad got up to shake her hand in good bye. Ali and Rameen gave her claps and she moved to leave for the parking lot.
........