Qurban

•09• Perturbed / پریشان

It was a hot afternoon. The sun was at it's peak since morning heating the ground and increasing the earth's surface. Zainab never liked summers. Despised them. She hated warmer temperatures. She hated the beads of sweats that collected over her body in summers. She never liked summers. Never did. Winter, on the other hand, was probably her favourite time of year. She loved the touch of cool wind on her skin, loved the slightly warm slightly cold temperature, loved the smell of coffee and morning crispy air. She was a lover of winter. She always was.

As she sat inside the white walls of the clinic, the sunlight blasting through the open windows and sweat collecting at the back of her neck and back, Zainab wanted to run away. She never liked her sessions with her psychiatrist. Nothing about her and everything about her own self. She hated sitting in front of a stranger, no matter the profession and sharing details so personal. She knew she was just being an idiot, but she didn't care. She was fine. At least as fine as she could be. She didn't need constant treatment. She was doing good on her own.

But people, mostly her family had a hard time acknowledging that. They kept telling her to go to the appointments. She hated it. HATED IT!

"How have you been feeling this week? Any changes in your life?"

At the question, Zainab's hand subconsciously went to her neck to play with her pendant only to retrieve her hand back as she felt her hallow of neck empty. She had lost her necklace. And that's she what she answered the question with

"I lost my pendant. It was a gift from....Hammad."

Clasping her hands at her lap, she tapped her leg furiously on the floor. She'd been agitated ever since she lost the piece of jewelry. It was the first gift he got her after they're alliance was fixed. She still remembered the moment clear as day.

"Hey!"

Zainab turned around at the hushed whisper. Standing on the base of stairs, dressed in a floral frock with hair wide open and falling to her back with the dupatta covering her head, she frowned finding Hammad hiding behind a pillar.

"Come here."

Her brows contorted together but she walked toward him with slow steps. Stopping at an appropriate distance, she folded her arms across her chest and asked

"What?"

Her eyes darted here and there to make sure no one was coming. Once certain, her eyes came back on him and saw him holding a small rectangular box in his hand. Forwarding the red box in her direction, he urged

"Open it."

Frowning she grabbed the box and opened it. A surprised gasp left her lips as she saw the heart shaped pendant dangling from a gold chain. Glancing at him again, she stuttered

"Why..? What is this?"

Her words were flushed just as her cheeks. A smile came upon Hammad's lips as he pocketed his hands and casually drawled

"It's for you, Wife to be."

A red hue covered her cheeks and she averted her eyes.

God he was making her shy!

She closed the box and thanked him. Her blush so evident onto her cheeks that he couldn't help but chuckle.

"You get shy very easily."

Her blush deepened adding more to his amusement while she huffed and crossed her arms against her chest again, the box secured in her hand.

"You're a certified flirt."