Mannat

12 | Her Henna on his hand

QULSUM

I closed my eyes shut as my body crashed into someone’s hard chest. My nostrils were welcomed with woody scent making me inhale deeply. Heaving my eyelids I tilt my head upwards only to gasp. I bat my eyelids gazing at his deep orbs.

Zayaan eyes peered directly into mine and then he leisurely trailed his eyes all over my face making me shudder internally, his gaze was as powerful as caressing. My stomach churned when he lowered his head and looked at his chest, unintentionally bringing his face a bit closer to mine. My heart was thumping against my ribcage while I gazed at him with my mouth agape.
His finger were wrapped around my hand which was between us.

“Allah” I mutter pulling away from him. I stare at his shirt with wide eyes. His shirt was smeared with my henna. Furrowing my brows I look down at my right hand only to find the henna on my wrist and the side of my palm was smudged.

“I am sorry. I didn’t see you coming.” I said biting my lips.
His eyes gazed down at my lips making me rigid. I slowly release my lips from between my teeth and press them straight. My heart beat was so rapid that I could literally hear it.

“It’s okay even I wasn’t looking.” He replied scratching the back of his neck while a bright smile was laced on his face. A cute dimple popped out of his left cheek and God I was doomed. His smile was so breath taking that I stood there admiring his smile with heart eyes.

I suddenly shook my head coming out of la-la land and cleared my throat. “Your shirt — I am really sorry…” I whisper pouting.

“That’s fine, it was an accident. Can you tell me where is the washroom. I need to clean this and this—” he pointed at his shirt first and then raised his hand to show me he had henna on his hand too.
My henna!

My heart fluttered while my face turned crimson red. Mentally slapping myself I sighed.
“This way...” I said walking ahead of him. After taking a few steps I halted in my track and turned around to face him.

“First of all what are you doing here? No guys are allowed and you are definitely not allowed.” I ask with raised brows and narrowed eyes.

Amusement flashed across his face looking at me. Smirking he took a step closer to me making my stomach churn with nervousness. Why does he keep doing this?

“You look cute when you are trying to intimidate…” He whispered looking into my skittish orbs.

“I — what?” my voice was clogged in my throat while I batted my eyelids. I was utterly baffled with Zayaan's flirtatious behaviour. How can he speak like that?

Suddenly a thought traversed my mind.

“Wait! I know why you are acting like this. You want to meet Shiza and for that you need my help and hence you are trying to woo me with you charm right?.”  I ask tapping my foot with a expression which screamed ‘I know your trick’ plastered all over my face.

I had witnessed this kind of situations in my cousins marriage. The grooms sneak into bride's house at henna party just to take a look at her.

Shaking his head he leaned against the door with his hands crossed in front of his chest. My eyes automatically drifted towards his arms. He had his shirt sleeve rolled up till his elbow leaving the protruding veins in his muscular arms on display.

I curse myself mentally for getting distracted by his appearance.

“So I am charming huh?” he smirked making the color drain out of my face. I stare at him baffled, out of the three sentence I spoke the only word he picked up was ‘Charm’.