𝐀𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀

s e v e n t e e n

❦

A A I N A  C O N T E M P L A T E D whether she should move away, shy away, or do something that people would normally do in these situations. She was the last person to know and too scared to assume.

She simply pushed herself away, not looking up even though she sensed his eyes on her. She simply kept staring at the gold rings on his fingers that rested over his bent knee, still not believing she had just embraced a man. Still a bit breathless and warm from the moment earlier, Aaina got up quickly, her head still dizzy, and before she could fall, his hands again reached out to catch her.

Oh god. Aaina gulped as she felt his fingertips over her arm.

“Main theek hoon” she managed to speak, and in an instant, Amar took a step back.

“Aur mai pagal nahi hoon. Chup chaap baitho”

“I have to go” She shook her head as she looked around for her bag.

“Not until you tell me what you were saying about your kaki”

“That’s my problem, I’ll look into it” she dismissed him, not knowing how to react.

This woman. Amar took a deep breath of annoyance.

“I’m still standing here if you can’t see?” He retorted as she tried her best to avoid his gaze.

“I have to go—”

“You're not in the state to go out about the town to find your friend”

“I'll be fine, I just need my bag. Where is—”

“Milan!” He called out, the authority in his tone echoing off the walls and harsh footsteps boomed outside the door as a high-spirited Milan peeked in.

“Ji, bhaiya?” His eyes found Aaina, and before he could ask what was happening, Amar intervened.

“Do you remember Aaina's friends?”

Milan forced himself not to smile. “Of course I do”

“Good. One of them is missing. You have to go find her”

Milan's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward in haste. “What? Who?”

“Shashibala” Aaina replied. “She was with me at the market, remember? She is the same height as me but with longer hair and wears red bangles”

“Every married woman in this town wears red bangles—” Amar interrupted.

“But at least he remembers her face, don't you, Milan?” she retorted.

“Yes, Aaina ben”

“See, he does, unlike you who doesn't even remember her name” said Aaina, and he rolled his eyes in response.

“Shashibala ji, red bangles, long hair, got it!” Milan repeated.

Aaina stood up on unsteady legs. “I'm coming with you”

“Don't you dare step out of this makaan until I tell you to” Amar gave her an adamant glare. Why is she so damn stubborn? he thought.

“You can't stop me,” Aaina's eyes preyed into his as if posing a challenge.

“Milan, leave” Amar articulated.

“Bhaiya—”

“I said, leave”

Giving a sympathetic look to Aaina, he left the makaan.

Fuming, she turned towards Amar. “What's your problem?”