Imperfect but mine

Chapter 3

Aina

Saturday, 11:30 pm 

His words echo in my ears and I lean away from him slightly. But the moment that happens, I realize that it was the wrong thing to do. Amaan's eyes fill with hurt, sadness and guilt. An unmeasurable amount of pain hits me seeing him this way and in that moment I realize how deeply I have fallen for him. 

"I didn't mean to scare you, Aina," he says softly, still holding me but now at a considerable distance between us.

"I'm not scared."

He sighs, replying "Your eyes speak a different language. Look, I feel blessed that you want to date me, but I am not normal. I am not your typical guy and I don't want you to think that I am a good person. There are so many skeletons in my closet that even I am afraid to acknowledge them."

"I don't want anyone else."

"You are being stubborn and unreasonable. Maybe you are in shock or maybe you don't realize the severity of what I told you. How will I ever meet your father, Aina? You have to understand that he puts people like me behind bars."

"We will cross that bridge when we have to, Amaan."

"No. You don't understand, do you? I am not looking for a temporary relationship. If you and I get together, I am not letting you go. Because if I lose you, I'll be done..forever."

"Me, neither. But you keep trying to push me away. You are not listening to me. I don't care about your past."

 "You are drunk, aren't you?" he asks, skeptically.

"Amaan, you were 9-years old when that happened. You were a child. You can't possibly believe that you pre-planned your family's death. You are not a malicious person. And what happened was an accident. Accidents change our lives but at the end of the day, there are still accidents. Stop blaming yourself, baby. Please, I beg you."

He looks away but I hold his chin and make him look at me, "Listen to me. I am not afraid of your past. I am not some sheltered, naive, little girl. I know what I want. And I want you. I am brave enough to face your fears with you, Amaan, if you let me."

"Alcohol is seriously clouding your judgement."

"You are disrespecting my feelings. You know what? Right now...I think that you are hiding behind your past & your issues and making them a reason to not be with me."

Amaan narrows his eyes and stares at me for a while. He bends down and whispers into my ears, "Take a few days to think about it well, Aina. If you still think you want me after that, I promise that I will make your perfect day come true." 

***

Sunday,  02:10 am

My dad is away for work, and Asiya insisted that it would be safer if I stayed with her for the rest of the weekend. Her parents are in San Diego, visiting their relatives and will be back next month. 

But my best friend is massively hungover. Since we've been back, I have seen Asiya break three glasses by mistake, laugh at her own reflection, count the flower vases in the house, pinch Amaan's cheeks for five minutes straight and puke twice. It has honestly been hilarious, yet very entertaining.

Amaan, on the other hand, really amazes me. He handles her so well. The patience with which he listens to her gibberish talks, the calm with which he cleans the glass and the way he holds her hair back when she vomits her guts out - reiterates something that I already know. This man is a caring, loving & kind person and he deserves to be loved.