Dilbar (دلبر) -
Lover
*****
Samaira Baksh has sworn off love. The emotion in itself brought memories that were synonymous with a weak nightmare. For her, love was a forgotten feeling and farthest away from what could be considered...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
*****
The memory burnt behind the back of her eyes in the form of dried tears. Samaira closed her eyes for a second, hoping to get rid of the misty sheath that resembled the gaze of her 18-year-old self, crouching on the grassy ground wet drenched in rain with tears not ready to stop.
"Samaira, I-I know I've been selfish, an idiot, but please, please don't do this. I can show you just how much I regret everything I said and did that night. Please-"
"Let the past remain where it is. I've moved on and so should you. We better not meet again, Mr. Chaudhary."
"Samaira-"
"Is it so much for your ego to handle a simple 'no'?"
She was seconds away from bursting. The anger was not too far from its peak and once she lost control of the rage within her, Samaira could not guarantee the safety of Ijaz or her sanity.
She knew her words hit a sensitive nerve with the way his demeanor changed. A dangerous glint shone through his eyes but rather than backing down, Samaira simply raised an eyebrow, silently asking him if something was wrong but the tilt of her lips conveyed enough of a mock for Ijaz to grit his teeth and fist his palm.
"I'm being polite-"
"Not a favor I asked for."
"Woman! Do you have no ounce of shame?!"
Ijaz whisper-yelled in frustration, his hands flying ahead as he motioned in the air.
"Funny. Your words apply to you more than me."
"Kis baat ka ghamand hai tumhe? You're just proving my words-"
(What has gotten you so arrogant?)
"Guess what, maybe I am. Guroor hai because I've realized just how pathetic you are. But don't you worry, I can see through your facade if that's what you're talking about."
(I'm arrogant.)
Her words held conviction and deathly calm. Taking a step towards him, she gave a light, almost condolence-filled pat to his shoulder before wiping her palm with the tissue she had retrieved from her bag.
"I'll say this for the last time, Mr. Chaudhary, leave me be or you'll not like the spoiled Samaira that would make your life miserable enough for you to weep just like my naive self had. Go back to the hole you had been hiding in and keep your nose and eyes off my path."
If embarrassment had a face, it'd have been Ijaz' at that moment. He looked ready to attack like a wounded fox but before he could, a hand shot from behind, gripping his shoulders with enough force to pull him back with a jerk.
"Not a smart choice, boy."
Samaira patted herself mentally for not staggering on her steps when she heard Zaigham's voice. The man pulled Ijaz at a good distance from her before coming to stand beside her. A cold glare rested in his eyes that was zoned on Ijaz while his face promised chaos that'd wreck Ijaz's life for a lifetime.
