Laazawaal Mohabbat

Chapter 16 : Blossoming Love

“Zooni! Wait!”

Amid her giggles, she heard Arbaaz shouting. They were running on the pavement, soaked to the bones in rain but she didn't care. She had never felt so free and alive before. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest. Ready to burst out of the ribcage. Was it because of love ? Was it love doing all that to her ?

Her questions got answered in the next instant when he caught her at last and, securing his arms around her waist, twirled her around. Their hearty laughter mingling in the pitter patter of the rain. To the onlookers, they might look like nutters straight out of an asylum but in fact, they were nutters just crazily in love with each other.

“What did you just say ?” - he asked, placing her back on the ground and turning her around to face him.

His eyes were shining with happiness. With a hint of disbelief. From the first meet itself, when he had given her lift, she had known that he was handsome. Unbelievably and illegally so. But in that moment, his face was glowing with a different kind of beauty. The one which comes on your face when you are ecstatic. The one when you are in love. The one that makes you feel like the king of the world.

“I said... I love you Arbaaz.” - she repeated, her heart warming at his widening smile.

He placed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. Contentment evident on his face.

“That's four magical words you know.” - he said, opening his eyes. “I love you and... Arbaaz from you.” - he grinned, making her chuckle.

They continued to stay like that. Staring at each other while the rain poured over them. His phone ringing broke their trance and he carelessly pulled it out of his pocket to check the caller.

Dadi Jaan

“She must be worried as you've been out all day long.” - she said, smilingly as he quickly sent a text to his grandmother before keeping the phone back in his pocket. “Let's go now. Drop me to my apartment and then go home.” - she said and he made a face.

“Do I really have to ?” - he whined like a child and she pressed her lips together in order to not laugh.

“Yes! You have to!” - she affirmed and grabbing his arm, dragged him towards the car. Leaving no room for arguments.

His frown dissolved into a smile at the way she was handling him with authority. And he let himself be dragged wherever she wanted to.

~

Arish was seated in the main hall, sipping on the lichi juice that Shifa had just fetched for him, when his gaze fell on his younger brother entering the hall and he choked.

Arbaaz was soaked in rain from head to toe. Mud smeared on the jeans upto the shins. He was humming with a lunatic grin on his face while swaying on his feet as if, high on some drug.

“Abhi...” - he quickly stood up, making his way towards his brother.

Arbaaz's grin got even wider, if possible, and he jumped on Arish's back, taking him by surprise.

“SHE LOVES MEEEE!!!” - he shouted in delight, wrapping his arms around his brother's neck.

The crease on Arish's forehead disappeared, giving way to a smile as he instantly realized what had happened to his brother.

“So that was your ‘some work’...” - he teased, piggybacking Arbaaz to the sofas.

“Oh no. Work was helping her in shopping as she has shifted to her apartment.” - Arbaaz informed as he got down Arish's back. “But the evening just turned out to be THE BEST ONE OF MY LIFE!” - he collapsed on the sofa, his arms wide spread.