Laazawaal Mohabbat

Chapter 5 : Sick (in love)

After excusing herself, Zunera quickly walked away from him. Trying to create as much distance between them as possible. She couldn't believe in the span of 34 hours, she had met that lift guy THRICE!

‘For God's sakes! Stop calling him the lift guy!’ - her brain chided.

Okay. Arbaaz.

She felt a strange movement in her heart at just saying his name in her head. As much as his eyes were pleasant to look at, she found herself unable to look into them. His gaze had... unsettled her. The way he was staring at her was... she didn't know how to define it. It wasn't creepy. It wasn't indecent. It was... a look of fascination. But why would he be fascinated ? She was wearing ordinary clothes. Looking quite plain as compared to others present there. Then why...

“Zooni! Shano ?” - Shanaya's mother shouted from afar and she mentally facepalmed.

‘Ya Allah! Aunty had asked me to bring Shanu down...’ - she thought, frustrated at herself.

Shaking her head, she ran inside to bring the bride.

~

“The pictures are so good! I can't wait for the album to come!”

It was 10 in the night. Zunera was in Shanaya's room as the friends decided to sit for a chat after the sangeet ceremony. Zunera had changed into comfortable clothes while Shanaya was still in her Sangeet attire, too busy fawning over her and Tarun's pictures to do anything. She was talking animatedly about the whole evening but Zunera was only half listening. Her mind was stuck on a certain someone.

A gray eyed eagle.

True to the meaning of his name, he had watched her like an eagle throughout the evening. She had only caught twice, but had felt it constantly. But the thing disturbing her wasn't his stare. Her brain had already assessed that his gaze wasn't bad. So she was not worried about a molestation attack or something along the lines. No. She was disturbed because his looking at her was not disturbing her. The way he looked at her made her feel... things. She couldn't even understand let alone explain.

A pillow hit her head with force, snapping her out of her thoughts and she found Shanaya glaring at her.

“I am talking to you, you know ?” - she said smiling sweetly before picking up the pillow again.

Zunera's eyes widened and she picked up a pillow as well in defense before the duo got engaged in a pillow fight.

~

Arbaaz collapsed on the single bed in the small room given to him but his mind was too occupied to notice that. He had a huge smile on his face as he laid on bed arms spread with his eyes closed. Thinking about...

Zunera.

“Yun mann hi mann... muskura rahe ho...” - a voice sang, making him open his eyes to find Tarun on the doorstep.

He had forgot to close the door ? Gosh! What was she doing to him...

“I can easily tell who is getting married next from our group.” - Tarun said, as he sat on the bed. A teasing smile on his face.

Arbaaz's smile only brightened which caused Tarun's eyes to widen.

“Oh my God! You aren't even denying!” - he exclaimed, grinning. “I am finally witnessing this in my life that you are treating a girl like a girl!” - he stated dramatically wiping imaginary tears.

Arbaaz frowned and looked at Tarun, confused. “I treat all girls with respect yaar!”

“Arreyyy no! What I mean is... you treat them like buddies. Our female friends, they stare at you, give you hints but you have always behaved with them like they are guys.” Tarun said bursting into laughter and Arbaaz rolled his eyes. “This is the first time I've seen you looking at a girl with... love.”