"Mujhe jhelna mushkil hai nader," she said with a smile while her gaze was fixed on the table.
("It's difficult to tolerate me, Nader")
"Main jhel lunga," I replied.
("I'll manage")
She looked up towards me, then continued.
"Mai khubsurat nahi ho...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It was 11 in the morning, and I was busy packing my suitcase. As I started taking my clothes out of the wardrobe, my eyes fell on his handkerchief, and my hands froze. Slowly, I picked up the kerchief, and in an instant, all the memories from yesterday flashed before my eyes.
___❤___
"Acchi laghne lagi ho tum, mujhe, Ezzeh," Tamir said, looking straight into my eyes without blinking, and it felt like my breath stopped. (You've started to grow on me, Ezzeh)
"Jii?" was all I could manage to say. He smiled at my surprise state and then turned to look at the moon.(What?)
"Aur mohabbat bhi hogayi hai," he said, and my voice felt lost. This man, standing beside me, was looking at the moon and confessing his love. (And I've also fallen in love).
"Kya?" came my second ridiculous question. (What?)
"Bas dar hai....Kahin aadat na ban jou," he was still gazing at the moon as he spoke, and for a moment, it seemed like he was talking to himself. (I'm just afraid... afraid I might get used to you).
"Agar ban gayi toh?" My mouth, as usual, wasn't cooperating, it never says the right thing. (And if you do?)
"Toh phir, Nikkah karna padega mujhse," Tamir said calmly, finally turning his gaze from the moon to look at me with his deep black eyes. (Then I'll have to marry you).
Hearing those words, I felt a strange sense of peace. I didn't know what I was feeling, but the glow on his face, the love I saw in his eyes, and the words he spoke-they all felt real.
And I wondered, how did he fall in love with me so quickly?
"We've just met, Tamir, and on the very first meeting, you're-"
"It's not our first meeting, Ezzeh. This is the fourth time we've met. Aur maine aapko paanch dafa dekha hai toh use hazaar guna aapke baarein mein socha hai. Jitna waqt chahiye le li jea, mai intezaar karunga aapke jawaab ka," Tamir said before heading inside the house. (And even though I've seen you five times, but I've thought about you more than thousand times. Take all the time you need, I'll wait for your answer).
___❤___
His words, his face, his eyes-it all started coming back to me. And when I looked at his kerchief, I noticed a teardrop had fallen on it. When I touched my cheek, it was wet. Am I crying right now, remembering that man?
Yaah Allah, what is all this? I don't even know him well, so why am I feeling all these emotions for him? What is it about him that's making my heart stop me from leaving?
You've put me in a test, haven't You, Allah? There, my engagement is arranged, and here, my heart is restless to meet him.
"Ezzeh, is your packing done?" Uns's voice abruptly stopped all my questions and thoughts.
