Have you ever thought that your childhood crush would be so intoxicating that never give a chance to like anybody else? This is madness right?
This story is about Aliya and her eternal crush, her best friend Tahmeed.
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"You said you do...
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I caught him staring at me, and he quickly looked away.
As everyone got busy discussing wedding plans, the jitters crept in. I wished I could slip away to my room, but my Choto Chachi chimed in, "Aliya, why don’t you show Tahmeed around? This will be his home too, after all.”
Jui Chachi! Did you really have to put me on the spot?
Smiling through slightly pressed lips, I agreed. “Sure, why not?”
I motioned for him to follow, saying formally, “Cholun (Let’s go).” Around others, it was still awkward to call him anything less formal.
I showed him around, careful to avoid my own room. Too personal, too soon. We hadn’t yet fallen into the ease of old friends, and I didn’t know if we ever would.
In the garden, my favorite place, I settled onto a swing, feeling the weight of nerves and excitement. Tahmeed leaned against a tree, watching the breeze stir the leaves.
“So... when do you leave?” I asked, trying to keep it casual.
“Eleven days from now,” he replied, looking at the trees rather than me.
“And... when will you be back?”
“About 12-14 months after the course ends,” he said, a slight pause in his voice.
I nodded, absorbing the length of time.
“Al... Aliya?” He used my name, softly, like he hadn’t in years. It made me pause.
“Yes?”
“I’d like to keep our marriage private for now,” he said carefully. “I’ll make it public after my company inauguration. It’s just... I don’t want to deal with the media yet.”
I relaxed a bit; I felt the same. “Of course. I have no problem with that.”
“Alright, let’s head back,” he replied. But then, I remembered something.
"Wait. I have your shirt. Take it before going there" I said without thinking anything.
"Keep it to yourself. What they will think if they see this" he said.
I never thought about this. Aliya! how dumb you could be. My family especially my uncles will may create an issue on this. As they don't know that I meet him that day.
"Okay. Let's go" I said immediately. _______________________________
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