Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha

Ch. 27: Unsolicited Whispers

Alizey's P.O.V.

I heard Jia Api's footsteps grow louder towards her bedroom door, cuing me to go over to the stairs quickly. Her words rang in my ears.

"Did you get your food already?" Api asked, catching up to me.

"Huh?" I looked at her. "Yes. Fawad left his phone upstairs, so I was just grabbing it for him."

"Jia! Kahaan reh gayi thi? Khaana lo. Aa jao," Mama called after spotting us.
(Where were you? Take some food. Come)

I went over to the sofa and sat down next to my husband, handing him his phone.

"Thank you."

I flashed a small smile at him then reached for my plate.

Fawad watched me pick up my fork.

"Bhai was waiting for you to eat," Harris teased.

"Oh. You didn't start eating yet?" I looked down at Fawad's untouched plate on his lap. "Please eat."

He nodded and mirrored me as I took a bite.

After I forced myself to swallow, I found that I suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.

Boring how? Looks? Personality?... Everything?

"What's wrong?" Fawad asked quietly.

I shook my head, "Nothing." I gave him another weak smile before busying myself with pushing the rice around my plate.

As everyone continued to eat, I felt Fawad's eyes return to me every few minutes. At some point, Jia Api had made a joke that had everyone chuckling. I can't recall what it was even about. I was suddenly wondering if I possessed the ability to make everyone laugh like that.

"You're done eating already?" Fawad's eyebrows furrowed when I stood up with my half-empty plate.

"Yeah. I'm full from the appetizers," I mumbled while making my way to the kitchen.

Maybe I was boring. I didn't have very many friends. Harris was my cousin. He probably felt obligated to hang out with me because we're related. Mala, she's just moved back to town. I'm sure there's other people she'd rather hang out with.

I began putting away the rest of Mama's cooking into containers and washed the pots, my thoughts getting louder and louder. My mother eventually asked me to give her a hand with the desserts, after which she announced the news about Amaira Api and Mateo's wedding.

I avoided eye contact with Fawad, who was studying me intently while I stood in the living room as everyone congratulated Api. Once things settled down, we let our parents be downstairs and returned upstairs to sit on the sofas in the lounge.

My eyes gazed into nothingness as everyone chatted when I suddenly felt Fawad wrap his arm around my waist. He pulled me closer and held me to himself, searching my eyes intently.

My breathing grew shaky and I felt the pricking in my eyes as I stared at his pretty orbs.

I just want to be enough for you.

I pressed my eyes shut before he could see the tears forming in them and leaned into him.

"What happened, Alizey?" he murmured into my ear before pecking my cheek.

I inhaled deeply and opened my eyes, pushing a closed-mouth smile to my lips. "Nothing, baby."

He gazed into my eyes, as though trying to read my mind. Unsuccessful, his shoulders slumped slightly. He then leaned in and kissed me gently. And each worry and distress fled my body instantly.