ishq kavita

Chapter 1: Daneen

His eyes were brown. Honey brown. Beautiful and mesmerising. I could stare at them and drown in that honey for ages with my own good senses. “Your hand, Dina.” he said. It was like a dream. “Hm?” Both of my brows rocked on the forehead. He pointed towards my hand. I smiled. A large huge smile. I was certain giving away a smile like that was certainly damaging my face muscles. But god, wasn't he a special handcrafted material made by god Himself? 

I gave him my hand and his slight touch brought heat to my cheeks. He slid a very delicately designed bangle on my wrist. I squinted my eyes to read what was written on it. It said, “ for the love of my life”. The text made me shy away when suddenly I felt someone slap my face.

It certainly was a dream. Reality wouldnt give me that. “What Maa?” I groaned. Why does she have to do this every morning? 

“Its me. The slap would have been harder if it was her.” she pulled at the blanket. “Wake up. Its 9.” Biya was my younger sister. Biya as in Rabeeca. I dont like how loner and traditional her name is, hence I like to call her Biya. She is just a year younger than me. Although she is the younger one, she likes to pretend she is older. I don't mind that. 

“Dont you have university? How many days are you going to take off?” 

“Rumi is not coming today, hence its an off for me too.” 

Rumi was the only friend I could successfully befriend with in university. I'm 21, turning 22 in two months: May 25th. Glad, ill be graduating this year. I was never fond of diving deep into social circles. Studying literature wasnt hard, and you could easily find time to spend with your friends, but I just couldnt resonate with the environment around me. Everyone was just so chill. I wasnt allowed to be chill. Once, I tried moving into large groups. But large friend groups required parties, going out every weekend, staying updated and most of all drama. I wanted to stay out of it. Im not antisocial. I just want to get over it. 

Rumi, short for Rumaisah, has been the only girl who could bare the responsibility of walking with me. We have same classes, we eat lunch together. We develop happy crushes together. We go to book stores together to buy romance books and then later, annotate the romantic scenes so that we could yell and scream and have a girl’s time. She was literally my savior at university. If she plans to skip, then I plan to skip too. 

“Fine, whatever. Im leaving, your breakfast is on the table. Eat it before it gets cold.” She stomps a little, picks up her car keys and leaves the room. I poke my head out of the blanket to find the door open wide. I huff. Typical sibling behavior.

After a few minutes of trying to get back to sleep, I finally got up. What a dream though. I tiptoe my feet towards the small balcony of our room. Sliding away the curtains from the window I peep outside. He usually comes around this time, in his gym clothes, heavy dumb bells in each hand. It's a very sweaty scene to open your eyes to. But I'm grateful for the blessings I've been given. 

“Daneen Ghazi.” 

I gasp and turn around. That little rat. 

“What..what Biya? Whats your problem? Leave.”  I stutter. That little thing was about to give me a heart attack. 

She giggles. Giggles. “He is enagaged. Stop drooling.” Was it that obvious?

“Im not drooling.” I knew she knew, but I wasnt drooling. Or was I? “I was just admiring the view. And I know he is engaged. Im not being a house wrecker. Now leave.” She needs to be reminded she is the younger one. 

After she finally leaves, I peep again. He is drinking his protein shake. I wish I could see his Adam’s apple gobbling. God. I giggle and half jump to my dresser. Opening up the last drawer, I take out the small box where I keep my letters and pens. Taking one empty paper out, I start writing: 

“Dearest Zayn,

I wouldnt have known what love is, if you would not have existed. I knew I day dreamed about you, but laying unconscious in my bed and dreaming about you? Oh, how romantic! Thankyou for the Bangles! They look lovely on my wrist, specially when they are encrypted with your “love”. 

Yours only,

Dina.”

I smile to myself, thinking about the dream. Why does all the good guys have to be taken? I sigh. Keeping the letters back, I get up to finally have the now cold breakfast.