𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚

22.

In the middle of their photo session, the soft drizzling of the rain came back as a warning of heavy pouring, thunder and growing dark clouds were alarming enough to vacant the place before it starts to rain heavily.

“Bas bhi kardo tum ladkiyan chalo bhi barish hone wali hai” Zeba called the girls so that they can get back down before it starts raining.

“Ammi aap chalein in ka nahi khatam hoga” Tanveer held his mother hand and beckoned her to walk with him down the road where the cars have been parked.

“Chachi bas yeh last phir aajayenge hum” Abeer assured but Zeba didn’t feel assuring enough but nodded anyways while mumbling a “jaldi.”

“Mai le aaunga aapne sath inhe aap fikar na kare Chachi” Arsalan could read the hesitation on her face for leaving the girls alone up here when everyone has started to descend so he assured her to bring them down safely.

“Theek hai beta.”

Arsalan curt nodded at Tanveer who understood and tugged her mother’s arm and started to walk down carefully on the rocky muddy stairs.

“Bhabhi ko beech me lo Asmara” Abeer instructed to take another selfie making Sofia stand in the middle who obliged her sister-in-law’s wish and did what she was asked to.

The drizzles were getting to start taking a heavier form it won't be long before it starts to rain heavily and Arsalan has to take the girls down now so he commanded them to stop in his stern voice “enough girls we are leaving. Now!”

They all stopped at once at his firm voice, nodding their head begrudgingly they started to walk towards the muddy stairs.

“Careful with the stairs,” he said once he saw them walk down one by one.

“What are you waiting for?” he asked Sofia who was standing behind him as if waiting for him to walk down first. How generous of her! He thought sarcastically and jerked his head towards the stairs asking her to move.

The way he reacts all mighty and bossy irritates her. She hates the tone of it however she let it go this time it was about to rain and she couldn’t risk it getting soaked by standing and arguing with him so she just gives him an annoying glare before walking past him.

They both had reached half the stairs down when suddenly it started pouring mercilessly. Abeer, Asmara, Zoha and Kehkasha made a run towards the car safely but Sofia couldn't. The rain-soaked her fully as she reached the last step she looked around for a shade she knows it would be of no use if she runs towards the car she will be drained till then. A dripping wet mess.

A small shriek falls off her mouth when she was suddenly pulled by a strong hand around her elbow her front colliding with a hardness so familiar that she at once looks up to conform and those steel-like grey eyes looking back down at her eased her panicked nerves.

The creased on her forehead and her panicked eyes relaxed when they meet with him. Even though they weren’t too close Arsalan could feel her tensed body loosen up against him. As his eyes roam over her face a realisation hits him hard widening his eyes slightly. She feels safe with him maybe not fully a little but she does and a feeling that came with that realisation was so wrong yet he couldn’t suppress how satisfying it felt to him to know that he can be her safe place.

When her panicked nerves calmed down and her senses came back she felt goosebumps run down her body as she came to know the proximity with him she immediately detached herself from him as if he was some kind of a plague. And to tell Arsalan didn’t like that a bit wasn’t a lie. He saw her guards coming up one by one until they were fully closed for anyone to break and walk in and it would be a damn difficult task that he isn't planning to do.