Anything For You

|I Am Sorry|

She held her phone high in the air, waving it like she was attempting to summon a miracle from the ceiling. She was mid-rant, her tone indignant. "Your phone is dead; at least my phone has charge, and here you are, still shouting at me!" She punctuated each word with an exaggerated jump, her feet barely leaving the ground.

Fariz watched her with an exasperated expression, his patience slipping with every leap. "Tum chup rahogi thoda?" he snapped. "Signal dhundo!" (Will you keep quiet? Find the signal.)

She shot him a fierce glare; her jumping momentarily paused. "Aapko kya lagta hai," she huffed dramatically, one hand on her hip. "Mai tabse kya kar rahi hoon?" (What do you think? What have I been doing since then?)

"Bakwas," he said nonchalantly. (Uttering nonsense.)

With a final defiant look, she stopped jumping, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on a small, dusty stool in the corner. Her expression shifted to one of devilish determination as she dragged it over, plunked it against the wall, and gave him a look. "Ab dekhiye aap." (Now you see.)

He raised an eyebrow as she stepped onto the stool, balancing precariously as she reached one hand toward the ventilator. He sighed, moving forward. "Let me help," he said, reaching out to steady the stool.

She whipped her head around with a glare so fierce he actually stopped in his tracks. "Koi zaroorat nahi hai aapki!" (There's no need of you.)

She turned back to her task, stretching herself like a yoga instructor attempting some advanced balancing act. Just as her fingers brushed the ventilator, the stool wobbled alarmingly beneath her feet. She froze, her eyes wide, then she let out a tiny squeal as the stool tipped. Arms flailing, she felt herself slip.

But instead of crashing onto the ground, she landed with a soft thud—straight into his arms, her hands instinctively wrapping around his shoulders as he steadied her.

Surprised, she opened her one eye. Right before her was his face; his gaze was intense, his chocolate brown orbs locking onto hers with an expression that made her heartbeat quicken. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down, feeling a flutter in her stomach she couldn't quite name.

He smirked slightly, his arms still holding her steady as he spoke with just a hint of amusement. "Meri hi zaroorat padhti hai tumhe." And, without waiting for a response, he set her carefully back on the ground. (You always need me.)

Flustered, she quickly brushed off her clothes and crossed her arms, trying to shake off the feeling of his arms around her, her face still warm from the close encounter. 

"I don't need you," she said, stealing glances. "I have submitted my resignation too. You won't see me from tomorrow," she continued, trying to sound nonchalant.

Something hit him like an arrow.

"I want you to apologize to her and bring her back."

"When did you submit the resignation?" he asked, unable to hide the urgency in his voice.

"Today, before coming here," she replied, as if that explained everything.

Fariz looked away, his fingers moving unconsciously to his forehead, scratching it as he tried to piece it all together.

"Yaha bhi mai aapse chupne ayi thi, aur aap yaha bhi aa gaye!"

"Why were you hiding from me?"

"Because I didn't want to see your face."

He remembered their conversation some time ago. So that's why she was hiding from him.