Jaan-e-Azlan❤

02(edited)

Mantasha's voice pierced the air, sharp and insistent, as she pointed excitedly towards a particular dress, her eyes ablaze with desire. Azlan winced at the sudden volume, his patience already worn thin by the bustling street.

"Which one??" he asked, attempting to temper her enthusiasm as he followed her lead towards the shop.

"This one." Mantasha's finger hovered over an embroidered pink lehenga, its elegance apparent despite its simplicity.

"Why? There's no occasion for such attire," Azlan frowned, trying to reason with her.

"If not now, then surely there's an event looming in the near future. Please, Azi," she pleaded, her tone softening with desperation, "Just imagine how beautiful I will look in it,"

Mantasha's eyes shimmered with anticipation, lost in a daydream of the garment's potential allure. Azlan couldn't help but smile at her infectious excitement, imagining her radiant in the ensemble.

"Then go try it," he relented, unable to resist her infectious enthusiasm. With a delighted squeal, she darted off to the fitting room, leaving Azlan to shake his head in bemusement, though a smile lingered on his lips.

Azlan's attention was abruptly torn from his phone as Mantasha's voice floated towards him. His breath hitched as he beheld the vision before him, his gaze tracing every delicate curve and contour. She giggled, breaking the spell, and he found himself nodding in stunned agreement.

"I told you it would suit me, didn't I??" Mantasha's voice was a musical cadence, her confidence infectious as she basked in his silent admiration.

"You look absolutely stunning, Misha," Azlan breathed, his words laced with genuine awe. Mantasha beamed at the compliment, her response an exaggerated bow that elicited shared laughter as they exited the shop, their spirits buoyed by the exchange of affectionate banter.

For hours they had wandered the bustling streets, indulging in the simple pleasures of street food, sweet treats, and impromptu shopping sprees. Their bags weighed heavy with newfound treasures, a testament to their shared adventures.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city streets, they finally decided to call it a day and make their way home.

"Umm, Azi," Mantasha's voice broke the comfortable silence, drawing his attention away from the road as they idled at a red light. Her nervous laugh betrayed an underlying tension, and Azlan sensed that something was amiss.

Azlan arched an eyebrow inquisitively, his gaze fixed on Mantasha as she hesitated before speaking.

"Farah's cousin has a huge, I mean very huge crush on you," she confessed, her words tinged with an air of apprehension. Azlan's expression hardened, a subtle shift in his demeanor betraying his disinterest in the topic.

"So?" he responded flatly, his tone devoid of enthusiasm.

"She was asking for your number," Mantasha continued, her voice laced with innocence as she blinked up at him. Azlan's sigh was heavy with resignation, his patience wearing thin as he braced himself for what he anticipated would be an uncomfortable conversation.

"Misha, I've told you I'm not interested in any girl," Azlan reiterated, his tone firm as he sought to quell any hopes of matchmaking on her part. Mantasha nodded in understanding, though a flicker of disappointment danced in her eyes.

"I know, Azi, but she is so beautiful and she is also not childish like me," she confessed, her gaze falling to her lap in a rare display of vulnerability. Azlan's frown deepened, his frustration mounting at the comparison she drew between herself and others.