FEAR OF LOSING YOU

FOLY-18

    There was an awkward silence between Lub & Zami. None spoke a word. Both were in a daze not knowing what to and how to speak.

LUB: "I....I...I'm  I'm sorry. I didn't meant that way. I"   He was cut short.

ZAMI: "You didn't mean what you said?"

     Lub was in a confusion, not understanding the tone in which the question was shot. He stood there contemplating what to answer.

ZAMI: "So you didn't mean anything?" It was a mere whisper.

LUB: "No.I meant what I said"   His answer was firm.

ZAMI: "Uh?"
  
     Lub took a deep sigh. He closed his eyes for few seconds to gather strength to speak what he was intending to speak.

LUB: "It's high time I express my feelings towards you Zami. But I need a promise that you would listen to me till last patiently & without any interruption. Plus you should NOT GET ANGRY. Deal?"

ZAMI: "Ok. Fine"

LUB: "Good. Look Zami I was never good at words.I had never known how to explain my feelings. I was once a happy-go-lucky guy. Like every guy I wanted to enjoy my life but at a good way.I had just Arh & Sheh with me at that time. Not that time alone but AT ALL TIMES. I never had many friends. I'm silent type you know!"

    He smiled at his thoughts. Zami was listening everything silently. She knew about Lub but wanted to hear it FROM HIM. She was happy that he was sharing his  thoughts & feelings with her.

LUB: "Everything was fine till that fateful day That day I lost my Rozy and the day I lost my family & the day I lost EVERYTHING. I was totally shattered. One minute I had all and at the next, I lost all. It was a major blow. I was left with no one by my side. I was alone. ALL ALONE. I felt like dying"

   Zami was shocked at those words. She feared for a minute thinking about what Lub said just now. He continued speaking breaking her reverie.

LUB: "I had everything yet nothing. I felt defeated. I became an or... orp... orphan"
    Uttering that, he completely broke down & tears were unstoppable. Zami could no longer take it. She moved towards him & placed her hand on his shoulder giving him, her silent support. Lub relaxed and a new found relief flooded throughout him. After composing himself, he continued.

LUB: "But Arh & Sheh were ALWAYS BESIDE ME. They never left me alone. Even for a second. But I avoided them.I ran away from them like I ran away from you"

   His head was down when he said that and Zami looked at him with an undescribable expression. But still, Lub continued.

LUB: "You know why I did that?" Zami nodded.

ZAMI: "Afraid of losing them"

LUB: "Yes. But they proved me wrong. Then I met you. To be frank, I hated you after our first meet. That was really tragic" He chuckled.

ZAMI: "I'm sorry. On that day I was"

LUB: "Ofcourse you should be sorry. For what you had done"He sounded serious. And that made Zami tense.

ZAMI: "I'm extremely sorry. I really don't know about you until my seniors said about you"

LUB: "So you researched about me?"

ZAMI: "No. They themselves told me about you after seeing the stunt I pulled"

LUB: "Oh. So you didn't want to know about me before that?" He asked raising his eyebrows.

ZAMI: "What? Why should I need to know about someone who isn't related to me in any way?"

LUB: "So I'm no one to you?"  His voice held pain and hurt. Zami felt frustrated about the situation. She crossed her hands and counter questioned him.

ZAMI: "No. First you tell me WHAT AM I IN YOUR  LIFE?"  She shouted.

LUB: "You really don't know?"

ZAMI: "No. I don't know. You tell me who am I to you?"

LUB: "Zami. Please"

ZAMI: "Not today. Are you going to tell me or not? I'm tired of waiting. Everytime it's me who is affected. It's now or never situation. Tell me now or I'm leaving. Now, the decision is yours"

  Lub didn't said anything and kept on looking at her. Zami waited for few minutes but Lub didn't move an inch. Zami started moving out of the court scolding Lub under breath. Lub smiled at  that and was feeling happy. He started laughing, his voice echoing which irked Zami to the core. He tried to control himself & succeeded half way.

LUB: "Zami wait"

ZAMI: "No. I'm not waiting nor stopping"

LUB: "Atleast hear me out" He was still laughing. Zami turned around & shot a glare at him and continued walking.

LUB: "This time I'll surely tell. Please"

ZAMI: "I'm not gonna believe you anymore"

LUB: "I LOVE YOU ZAMINA KHAN" He shouted, his voice echoing REPEATEDLY.

   Zami stopped in her tracks and her lips turned up involuntarily. She turned back with tear filled eyes. His voice still ringing in her ears again & again. She stood there Relishing THAT MOMENT. The moment she Both WAITED & DREADED. Finally, she heard what she wanted to hear.

     She saw Lub standing in the middle of the stadium with his hands stretching wide. Zami rushed towards him, into his awaiting arms where she felt safe & secured. He wrapped her in his arms as if protecting her from all evils. She hugged him back smilingly.

LUB: "You happy now?"

ZAMI: "NO"

LUB: "What?" He came out from the hug but still held her close & asked "Why?"

To be continued...