Blooming Love

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The morning sun painted the forest in warm hues, infusing the greenery with a soft, golden light. Aaban returned from his daily inspection stroll. After a quick shower, he changed into a comfortable pair white t-shirt and sweatpants, and headed to the kitchen to start working on the breakfast. As he busied himself with brewing coffee, he caught sight of Hira Noor descending the stairs gracefully. Aaban's gaze was drawn to her, and he couldn't help but stare. The clothes he had purchased for her, although a size smaller, still seemed to drape loosely over her petite frame. Today, she wore a simple blue velvet frock paired with matching trousers, a turquoise shawl draped elegantly over her shoulders. Her hair, still damp from the shower, cascaded down her back, framing her face in soft honey-brown waves. Even with minimal effort, her beauty shone through, making her appear like an ethereal angel.

After having breakfast, Aaban had invited Hira Noor to play a game of UNO with him. Surprisingly she had agreed. As they sat on the couch, Aaban explained the rules. He was patiently guiding her through the game. However, despite his efforts, Hira Noor still managed to make mistakes, here and there. Her brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to make sense of the colorful cards.

"Like I said Noor, You need to match the color or the number of the card on top of the pile"
Aaban reminded her again, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he suppressed a chuckle.
Hira Noor nodded, her lips pursed in determination.

"Oh no, not again Sir"
Hira Noor exclaimed, her voice laced with a hint of frustration as she realized her mistake. Aaban's laughter was warm and gentle, as he witnessed the cute pout that formed on her lips. He found her adorable.
As they continued to play, Aaban reached out to retrieve a card from the coffee table, his hand unintentionally brushing against Hira Noor's wrist.
Aaban quickly retracted his hand, his eyes darting to her face to gauge her reaction. As expected, Hira Noor's eyes widened in fear, her face draining of color, leaving it a ghostly pale. She stared at Aaban, her pupils dilated, as if frozen in terror.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to touch you"
Aaban's expression softened, and he apologized. His voice was gentle, reassuring, as he tried to calm her down.

"You...You don't have to be sorry, Sir. I don't know why I'm like this. Why can't I ever be normal?"
Hira Noor's words tumbled out in a desperate, anguished whisper. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice cracked as she struggled to hold back the sobs.

"Shh, Hira Noor. Don't talk about yourself in a demeaning way ever again. It was my fault. I shouldn't have—"
Aaban's face fell, his eyes filled with concern and empathy. But before he could continue, Hira Noor's sobs broke through, her body shaking with the force of her emotions. She hid her face, her cries growing louder, the sound piercing Aaban's heart like a dagger. He felt a pang of helplessness, unsure of how to comfort her.

"I'm...I'm not normal"
Hira Noor wailed, her words torn from her throat as she heaved. Aaban shook his head as his own face twisted in anguish.