Thorns and Berries

Chapter Thirty

Hameed

Mid way before the party ended, I decided I had had enough of the long night. Husna was somewhere with the bridal train and I didn't bother distracting her.

I left the table and walked away, leaving the party for his my car at the parking lot. And when I was about to open the car and leave, a hand quickly grabbed my wrist in a bid to stop me. I turned to see Husna whose body looked a little dampened with perspiration and she was struggling to catch her breath as if she had run to catch up with me.
       
"You're leaving without a proper goodbye?" She said, in more of a statement form than a question.
   
I gave a smile and let my hand linger in Husna's grip without making any attempt to free myself.
       
"Yea. You seemed to be having much fun. Didn't want to disturb."
   
She laughed hard this time, freeing my grip, much to my disappointment. I suddenly missed the calm and settled feel of her skin against mine and the crazy and intense passionate yearning for more of her warm touches.
      
"I was really carried away by the fun. Ali Jita and Kizz Daniel are my favorites. Had no clue they would be performing live at the party."
     
"Good for you." Was all I said as I looked away to the ground, feeling this unusual and sudden desire to grab her close to me and hug her tight, sniffing her perfume and shutting her up. I felt the sinful urge to touch her in all the places about her that aroused me.

Why I was suddenly feeling this strange desire for this woman was something I couldn't understand. I felt threatened by my desires too. The strange sweet warmth I felt whenever she was around me.

Maybe I was suffering from too much stress. Maybe all I needed was just rest and nothing more. Maybe I needed to talk to God in prayer and ask for forgiveness for lusting over a woman with grey eyes. Grey eyes whose depth was like the flowing water of the deep blue seas.
    
After a short minute of absolute silence between us, she spoke again.
           
"Why are you looking away?"
     
I could feel her trying to search into my face.
           
"Nothing."
           
"Will I get to see you again?"
           
"Maybe."
  
Another round of silence.
         
"Are we breaking up?"
   
Her question forced me to look at her this time, curious about what she actually meant by that.

A breakup?
        
"Are we breaking up, Hameed?" She repeated. "You're my boyfriend now, aren't you?"
  
I stared at her incredulously. I didn't think she would take me so serious. I had only wanted to help her get back to herself, not get into a relationship with me.
       
"I - erm - no. We are not breaking up." I replied, not wanting to extend the conversation any further. I had no clue of a suitable reply to give her.

"I'll text you when I get home, okay."
        
"Okay. And one more thing." She lifted her lips in a small smile that caused my heart to pound faster.

God! What was going on with me? I didn't want this happening to. I wasn't ready for any of this. I badly wanted to escape this tormenting pleasure.
           
"You won." She said.
            
"I won....what?" I frowned in obliviousness.
           
"The girl ripped two guests of their phones and ATM cards."
   
I had to laugh this time. I was right after all. I could tell her kinds just by the mere looks at them. Girls who slay to steal.
         
"Oh." I said.
         
"Yea, lucky you. So,....tell me. What are you going to ask of, since you won."
        
"I don't know yet. But whatever it will be, I'll let you know soon enough." I said, turning to my car now.

God! I had to get out of here. The tension was killing me on the insides.
     
"Alright then, give me a call when you get home, will you?"
     
I didn't give a reply until I was in my car. Whatever charms she possessed, I just wanted to escape it once and for all. And maybe forever.
          
"Okay. Enjoy yourself.  Girlfriend." I said with a curt nod before keying the ignition of the car, engaging the gear lever and then disappearing with my car, away into the night.
•
•
•
•
•
Husna
  
My eyes slowly peeled open as the morning sunlight and gentle breeze flooded the room. I let my eyes subconsciously scan the room and land on the brown and white calabash painting hung on the wall. My gaze again traveled to the aloe vera and snake plant that stuck in lesser green and malnourished from their pots.