A Heartbeat Away

-twenty two

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“shikway shikayaton ki nahi, yeh zarf zarf ki baat hai
tere wehm o guman main bhi hum nahi, tu lafz lafz humein yaad hai”

*****

"WHAT? NANO.. I MEAN GRANNY?" The expressions of shock painted his face as he saw the bitter look on Nano's face, that was new to him. "Who told you that? I honestly can't underst-" He was appalled at her questions as he almost yelled out those words.

"I want you to be honest with me. I've always treated you like my own son but you know what Zimal means to me. I can't let you or anyone-"

"Sorry, but wait! Who even told you that? Tell me, because it's no where even close to being true. I'm not seeing anyone I can assure you."

"Are you sure?"

Was that even a question? A sad chuckle escaped his lips as he clasped his hands together and lowered his head as if guilty, as if surrendering, as if a little hurt.

"There's no way i cannot be." He said in the lowest of his tone.

Nano put her wrinkled hand on his to assure him that she believed him. He raised his head up and found her smiling face that was now no where looking like the face he saw when he first entered her room. He knew she was protective about her only granddaughter as she should be.

But now, he knew that Zimal hates him so much that she could go on the edge of this world and put her own life in danger to hurt him and he didn't want her to be messing with her own life like that.

*****

"You want to propose? Isn't it too soon for you to be doing that? Rethink please." She was on the call with someone but he didn't notice much.

Her words froze his steps that were going to barge in the terrace to call her for Nano.

"Yes he's here. But-"

The creases on his forehead grew as his ears burned with rage. How could she allow any other guy to propose her like that?

"Jibran.."

He clenched his hands stopping them to bang on the glass door of the terrace he stood behind listening to his bestfriend take someone's name who he felt the need to end right now. He knew he could paint his hands red and spend the rest of his life behind the bars just to protect her from something she didn't deserve. She didn't deserve him, then what did she deserve? Zayan Ibrahim? He shook his head vigorously letting his fingers graze his temple to ease out the lines on his forehead moving to the hallway a bit when he saw her coming out cutting the call. She said she'll be there but where was she going and when?

"Do you need something?" She found him in the hallway staring at her when she asked him that.

He cleared his throat while he suppressed those uproaring emotions within. "No." Yes. Tell me why are you freaking doing this to me, what did i do to not deserve a second chance. Tell me.

"I'll just see Amma then!" She excused herself to escape his searing gaze but he stayed silent digging a hole within her with the intensity of his honey brown orbs that stilled her spine straight. He wasn't even blinking. What the hell, are you even okay?

She took a measured step towards him unaware of the force pulling her in while he stayed static in his position.

Sometimes it's not about how you're going to make it, it's all about how you're going to start it. She made another conscious step. Couldn't he just hold out his hand for her to fade the longings? Couldn't he just try? His feet stayed feeble and bounded to the floor while she gathered the courage to cover the distance with her wavering steps. Each step conscious and counted. His breath sucked in some organ of his body he had no idea about as he almost forgot how to respirate seeing her merely a step away. Fuck, she was beautiful.