Aida flipped on the television and slumped on the couched, watching the news disinterestedly. Her mind was reeling from the events of the past few days and that reminded her to call Rameen. She had been on the road all day long and hadn’t got the chance to call her. Picking up her cell-phone, she dialed her aunt’s landline number in Houston. Her cousin attended the phone. Greeting her, Aida inquired about her mother.
“Sister, mom and aunt went to the airport to pick up Rameen.” She told her enthusiastically. Rameen and Sara, her aunt’s daughter, were about the same age and very much close. Aida could feel her cousin’s excitement over Rameen’s visit and smiled to herself. She had made the right decision.
“Ok. Please tell my mother I will call back in about two hours’ time. I’m not in Islamabad so no use calling me back; I will call myself, Ok?”
“Sure, I will tell her.”
“Take care, Sara.” Aida said and disconnected the call. Putting her cell phone away, she turned back towards the television. Mindlessly flipping through channels, she settled on the recent release of the movie, “The Great Gatsby” which was based on a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Aida had snoozed some fifteen minutes into the movie when she was jarred awake by the knock on the door. She looked at the clock on the opposite wall and then at the bathroom door. Haashir was still in his bath and that meant that she hadn’t slept for long. She got up from the couch and knocked on the bathroom door.
“Haashir, there is a knock on the door. I think our food is here.”
“I’m coming.” He called back from inside. Aida stepped away from the door and watched the room door as if it would burn down. There was some uneasy feeling at the back of her neck which she tried to ignore. She heard the bathroom door open behind her. Turning around, she saw Haashir and her mouth dropped open. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and only a vest covered his chest. She could make out the muscles through the thin material. Aida shook herself out of the reverie, closed her eyes and turned away, aware of Haashir’s gaze on her.
Aida’s heartbeat fastened as she absorbed what she had seen just now. Haashir walked in front of her, wearing a dark colored trouser and vest. He opened the door and let the waiter wheel in the platters full of food. Aida turned away from the door and returned to her previous place on the couch, trying to concentrate on the movie. Her mind kept going back to what she had just witnessed and she had no idea how she should react to that. What did Haashir expect after coming out dressed like that? This was torture for her. She could already feel the very uncomfortable vibes coming from Haashir but this was too much. Her heart had come to her throat and she couldn’t help but notice the beautiful body beneath the vest. What was she thinking? She reprimanded herself.
“Aida, Come let’s have dinner.” Haashir called her from the other side of the room, where the waiter had laid out their dinner on a beautiful dining table which she had noticed before.
“Coming.” She switched off the television and joined him at the table.
Dinner was a quite affair in which neither of them talked much. Aida could feel Haashir’s gaze on her frequently but she tried not to notice. She saw his sensual lips curve in a smile when she tried to avoid his gaze and wondered what he was thinking right then. Aida was an introvert and she did not have any idea how to ask him what was on his mind. Before Haashir, nobody had the audacity and the courage to stay with her in one room like this but he was her childhood friend, her kindred spirit and she trusted him.
Trust. She had started to trust Haashir which was so unlikely. Aida was a cautious girl who always put everyone else’s happiness before her own but since Haashir’s return, she was changing. She always took care of her mother and Rameen but now somebody was taking care of her and she really liked it. She glanced at Haashir, who was busy devouring food. How she had started to like him so much? He was always there for her whenever she needed someone. He just knew when she was sad or happy, down or in high spirits and he treated her accordingly. It was like they both were molded from the same clay.
Finishing her dinner, she stacked their empty plates on the table for the room service to pick them up in the morning. Haashir yawned loudly.
“I’ll sleep on the couch in the lounge, Aida. You can have the bed.” He said. So sweet of him, Aida thought. He was giving up the bed for him and Aida appreciated that. She walked over to the lounge area and saw the couch. It was too small to be comfortable and she knew he wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping on the couch.
“Haashir.” Aida called him as he was taking pillows from the bed.
“Yes, Aida?”
“Umm… you can share the bed with me but only on one condition.”
“That I promise you to behave myself?” He asked the unspoken question. Aida nodded.
“I promise.” He grinned at her. Aida smiled in response.
“Well, then, you can sleep here. I’m going to watch a movie as I have to call mom in an hour.”
“Sure. Goodnight, Aida.”
“Goodnight.” She said and turned to the lounge to switch on the television.
****
Haashir watched Aida retreat into the lounge, grabbing her handbag on her way. If she was going to watch a movie, why did she take her bag along? That pricked his curiosity. He switched off the room light and stealthily walked to the entrance of the lounge. Her back was turned to him and he could see the television switched on but she was hunched over something. On a closer look, he saw that she writing a diary. Old habits die hard, Haashir thought to himself. This brought back memory of a few years back, when they were both young and Haashir stole her diary from her back. Aida had run after him, threatening him, screaming after him to return her diary but he had wanted to read what she wrote.
“Haashi.. give me back my journal.” Aida cried, running after him and trying to grab it out of her hand.
“Let me read it first.” Haashir grinned and opened it.
“Dear Diary,” he read.
“Today, I broke Haashir’s favorite pencil and I loved it. His expression was so funny.” He read with a devilish grin.
This was years ago and now he wanted to read again what she wrote. Previously, she wrote about her days and childish notions but now that she was all grown up, what was it that was so important that she wanted to write.
He turned around and went back to bed. Aida was complicated and he couldn’t understand her at all. Sometimes she was so comfortable and friendly with him and then, her attitude would change without so much as a sign. He couldn’t understand her but the way she had let him sleep in the same bed with her meant only one thing and that was she trusted him. He couldn’t help but feel happy. Now that they had a weekend to themselves, he meant to teach Aida how to start living again. He wanted her to be normal like she was and then, he wanted to make her his; body, heart and soul.
****
Aida looked up from the journal. It was twelve a.m. Her mother would be back home now. She closed her diary and placed it back in her back and then picked up her cell phone. Her call was received after two rings.
“Aidaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…!!” the enthusiastic and cheerful welcome could be none other than Rameen.
“Rameen, my darling.” Aida called back. “How was your flight?”
“It was amazing. I had so much fun on my way.”
“that’s great. I was worried about you.”
“Don’t worry, sister. I’m fine. You tell me, how are you and Haashir bro?”
“We are fine. Haashir and I travelled to Lahore today and will be staying here for the weekend.”
“Lahore!! Wow!! Really?”
“Yes, really. There is some important work that needs to be taken care of.”
“Have fun, sister. Here is mom, talk to her.” Rameen gave the phone to her mother and ran off.
“Salam, mother.” Aida greeted her. She talked to her mother for some time, telling her about her trip to Lahore and then she disconnected. Turning off the television, she picked up her bag and returned to the room. Haashir was already asleep so she quietly put away her stuff and got into the bed.
****
