❤ Hamari_Adhuri Kahaani ❤

Chapter 12 : Revelations

Zaina’s POV

After gaining my courage I went to talk to Imran. Whatever he decides it’s up to him but I don’t want to regret not expressing myself to him. Though I went near him, soon as I neared him my words betrayed me. I was unable to utter a word to him. Just in time, Aayesha walked up there. She talked with Aashiq and excused themselves leaving both Imran and me alone. Just as they left Imran turned to see me standing behind him.

I was waiting for him to make fun of scaring him but what he did really was unexpected. “Hi Zaina!”, and I had to admit the way he called me felt really different. Don’t think much. “Imran, I just wanted to talk to you about something”, I dragged. “Yeah, for sure Zaina. Any issues?”, he was concerned.

“I ... I mean…Just don’t mistake me...But I wanted to say this”, my words were trembling. I couldn’t speak anything as I planned. “Zaina, take your time. You can always share your issues with me. You know that. Then why to hesitate?”, he did encourage me. Still, it was not so easy, I visibly started sweating in spite of the cold wind blowing around us.

He held my hand, it was a very usual one though it did feel something new today. Zaina! Focus. He took me near to the small fountain which was at the center of the park. He made me sit there. It did relax me. “You remember this Zaina? Where everything started?”,he sat near me and smiled. I did return his smile remembering the day when this guy entered my life once again.

 

Flashback

 

I and Imran were neighbors. Our families were friends, every function, every celebration we visited each other’s home. I could still remember the days we were too small. My mother uses to show me the album and say the naughty stuff I and Imran did when we are about just 2 or 3 years old. Imran was just a few months elder than me. Sometimes Imran and sometimes I went to each other's home.

We were left to play together. Unlike other kids, we did enjoy each other's company well. We would play for hours without troubling any elders. Our mothers did have a plenty of time to rest when we both were playing. Nothing was of mine or his. We shared all toys and every stuff. We grew up together.

Days and months passed by. It was Imran’s 5 years Birthday party. As usual, we were there in his home to celebrate it. We did cut the cake together. I danced and had cute little fun. Then later when everyone left we sat to unpack our gifts. There were so many lovely gifts. Cars, dolls, teddies, building blocks, new books, balls, bat and ball, and many more. There was a small robotic toy. It was really fascinating. I took it to play and Imran did let me as usual. I was playing when it suddenly dropped and fell.

Imran started crying. I asked him, sorry still he was worried and starting crying. Our parents rushed there. My mom took hold of Imran and tried calming him down. I felt really bad for hurting him. Imran’s mom came and took me out. She tried her best to make me feel better and stop crying. Then after some time, I went to see Imran. But he was angry. I silently went and sat by him but he walked away.

I took one of his dolls to make him happy but he pulled it away from my hand and went away. I became mad at him too. I walked away. It was a small silly fight. But the next day when Imran came to play with him I walked away.There started our first fight. Our parents made sure that we found ourselves back. How stupid we were! We both didn't talk or play with each other for a week.

It was a Saturday. As usual, both our families came to the same park.Every weekend we use to come here. This week it was different. Our parents were having their time. We were left to play but that day it was different. We started to play separately. He was playing with his remote car and I was playing with my ball. As I was tossing and playing it did go and hurt another boy, who was somewhat elder than me. He was just standing by this same fountain.  I hurriedly ran to him and said sorry.

But he was a rude boy, he pushed me to ground. Before I could feel Imran saved me. He helped me. He went to that boy to said him to say sorry tome. But that boy wouldn’t. I expected he would fight but he was really good. He went to his parents who were nearby and told them what happened. “Aunty, he has pushed her down. She... said sorry, say him to say sorry”, he was so cute and his manners really did was cute.

That boy’s parents really did appreciate and liked what Imran did. They called their son and said him to apologize to me. The boy came and apologized to me. Then we left the place. As we walked I asked him sorry, I thought he would still be angry but again he surprised me. “I’m sorry to Zaina. Friends? “, he showed his pinky finger. I locked my pinky finger with his “Friends”.

Then we were back together. Back as good friends, we walked back to our parents who were waiting for us. From that day we did fight a lot, cried a lot, did nasty stuff still made sure we were stood by each other.

 

Flash back ends…

 

“It indeed was a great day “, we both told in unison and burst into laughter. “So Zaina? You wanted to say something?”, he brought up the topic. This time along with the nervousness I made sure I gathered my courage too. “Imran! I’m going to say something really serious. It’s nothing funny. Promise me that you hear to me till I end it. Please”, I finished.

“I will Zain. For sure I will. Trust me. Go ahead and say what you want to share “, he assured me, and his seriousness reflected in his eyes. I took a deep breath and started to say which I was holding for too long.

“Imran. I know we have been friends for too long. Our friendship has seen everything. You had always been a great companion to me. You stood by me in my hard times. Being there for me and the one for me you really did help me with everything. I just can’t thank you enough and yeah we know we didn’t thank each other. But recently there are so many changes in me. I have no idea whether it is right or wrong. But to be frank, now I feel you are too cute, your eyes, your smile, your gestures look very new to me. Don’t say me anything now. Wait and let me finish it. Now I’ve started even admiring you, I can’t at times take my eyes away from you, I want you to hold my hands and walk forever, seeing you with other girls literally burns me, whenever you flirt with a girl I feel like coming over there and slapping you and make you understand you are the only mine. I know I know it’s all too much to get into but I can't be denying it anymore.

Our friendship matters a lot to me. I didn’t want to ruin it because of my new feelings. I initially thought it was just a bit of possessiveness but as days passed I realized it was more than that. I didn’t want our friendship to be ruined because of this so I even thought of being away from you. I have no idea whether you noticed or not but I have tried my best to be away from you in these past weeks. I wanted to sure myself what I had for you.I wanted to calm myself. I wanted to accept all this. But trust me the more I tried being away it became harder to forget what I had for you”, by this time I was looking into his eyes pouring my heart out sharing everything.

His eyes were hard to read. I continued, “Imran, yeah I do feel more for you. I’m just expressing myself. I’m not forcing you. I want our bond to be honest and transparent as always it was. So I didn’t want to hide this. Even if you are not fine with this we can still be friends. I will not pressure you. Our friendship will be the same. I know that for sure you won't break our friendship for this. In case, you want some space and time for sure I'm ready for that too”, I finished.

The moment was here, never did I think I would fall in love with a guy, that too my best friend, who has been a great companion till now.But here I am pouring out my love for him. I am, Zaina myself proposing a boy. Gaining all my courage I cleared my throat, “I LOVE YOU IMRAN”.