Ishq hua (Duet 1)

Chapter 39: Entangled

Arsh:

I stood outside our room for a full minute.

Just… stood there.

Hand half-raised, then lowered, then raised again, like some idiot who didn't know what he was doing.

It was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

I had walked into gunfire, into burning buildings, into deals that could get a man killed… without blinking.

But asking her out?

My pulse had the audacity to… trip.

What the fuck Arsh, it's a basic question so stop acting out.

I swallowed once, twice, then finally knocked.

A soft, "Come in," floated from inside.

I stepped in.

Aira was sitting cross-legged on the bed, her hair damp from her shower, wearing a white skirt and knit sweater that made her look too gentle for the world she had survived. She was trying to detangle her hair with her fingers, failing miserably, irritation growing on her face.

She didn't look up at me. "If you are here to inquire about my dinner, I already had it."

"No," I spoke way too fast for my liking.

Too sudden and unlike my tone.

Her fingers stilled. She looked up.

Her eyes met mine.

My heart did… something. Something stupid.

I cleared my throat. "I need to talk to you."

Her brows rose. "About what?"

I opened my mouth but no words came out.

She blinked. "Arsh?"

I exhaled, looked away for half a second, then forced myself to look at her again. "Come with me."

Her lips parted slightly. "Where?"

"Out."

"Out where?"

"Just out."

Her eyes narrowed. "Are you dumb?"

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to look unaffected even as my pulse refused to cooperate. "I am asking you... actually... no..."

Am I fucking stammering and stuttering. That is pathetic and so am I. And so is this whole idea of asking her out on a date.

I stopped, reset, tried again. "I am telling you..."

She raised an eyebrow.

I immediately corrected, "No, not telling. Not telling."

God.

Her lips fought a smile. "What are you trying to say?"

"I am asking you,"I said slowly, every word careful like walking on glass, "to go out with me. Just… you and me."

She tilted her head. "I go out with you all the time."

"No... not like that." This is so weird.

"Then?"

I looked anyway but her face. "On a date."

"A date?" She looked at me surprised.

I didn't say anything.

I just moved my eyes to her.

Aira blinked, confused. "Wait, are you actually asking me out?"

"I am not asking," I said quickly. Too quickly. "I mean I am asking. I am not forcing. Obviously. Because that would be... wrong. And I am not... I am not..."