Chapter 2 - Hurting You
They all have come out for dinner - her, Nafisa appi, Fahad bhai, Aayat and Rizwaan. He isn't here. She toys around with her food. Why is she missing him so terribly? Why is he so important to her? No, she doesn't like him. She is worried. She hasn't seen him in the last six months. Fahad bhai refuses to answer her questions. She is simply worried.
Someone pulls out the empty chair next to her and she looks up to see him. Her eyes light up and she can't help the smile that spreads across her face. "Zain!" She exclaims. He looks at her indifferently, mutters a hello and sits there. He flips through the menu and places his order - a pizza with a beer. "Alcohol?" she thinks. "It's haraam!"
He doesn't talk to anyone. He doesn't want to. He looks at Aaliya; she looks excited about him being present there. He doesn't care. She is hurt, he can see. He still doesn't care. Why should he care about others when no one cares about him? He hears her gasp as he orders a beer. His eyes shoot daggers at her. What the f**k does she want?
Her eyes fill up. She thought they were good enough friends to share things. She quickly gets up and rushes towards the washroom and cries her heart out. What is wrong with him? The worry doesn't leave her. She wants to ask him, but his unresponsiveness stops her. She is back at the table 10 minutes later. Everybody is asking her if she is okay, and she lies. Why doesn't anybody ask him if he is okay?
They all start to leave. Fahad bhai decides to drop Nafisa appi home. She doesn't want to disturb them by going with them, or disturb Aayat and Rizwaan. They all hardly get to see each other, what with their busy lives. She tries to convince them that she will get home safely. But they aren't sure... and neither is she.
"I'll drop her home." Zain volunteers to help. He still cares, he is just in denial. He knows it himself.
"Nahi Zain, tum jao. Main khud ghar chali jaungi. Zyada door nahi hai yahan se." She doesn't want to be alone with him. His eyes scare her.
He takes a hold of her hand and starts walking towards the car, not sparing her a glance. She tries to protest, but his one look shuts her up. He sits her into the passenger seat and slams the door shut. He notices how she winces, and he does care. He just chooses not to show it. He starts the car. The music blares from the speakers. He speeds through the empty streets.
She holds onto the handle for her dear life. "This is so dangerous!" she thinks. "Never again in his car, never again!" She somehow reaches home without dying. Her breathing is heavy. She is still reeling from the shock.
He can't help but smile. She is still just as adorable. 19 years old, yet she looks just like she did when he had first met her. She turns to look at him and the smile is gone. He doesn't like showing his emotions anymore. He hears her whisper a thank you to him and then she is out of his car. He waits till she is safely inside, and then speeds off.
oOo
"Hello, Fahad bhai?" She is on the phone with him. It's been seven months and two days since the dinner. She has tried contacting Zain in these seven months, even bought him a present for his birthday, but he doesn't reply. She needs her answers. "Can we meet up?" He agrees.
A few hours later, they are both sitting in a cafe that looks out at the coastline of Mumbai. It is a magical place. "Zain ko kya hua hai?" She asks straight up. Aaliya is a seedhi baat no bakwaas person.
Fahad is surprised. What should he say? "Kuch nahi Aaliya! Bas ab wo bada ho gaya hai. Aur kuch nahi." He dodges her question.
"Aap mujhse kya chupa rahe ho? Aur kyun?" She pleads, but he can't answer her.
"Aaliya main kuch nahi bol sakta."
"Kyun?"
"Kyunki... tum Zain ki kuch nahi lagti. It shouldn't concern you." He then gets up and walks out. He watches the tears spilling out of her eyes from a distance. He hates himself. He hates Zain for doing this. He hates it all.
oOo
"You told her what?" Zain spits out. His brother was so damn stupid!
"Tumne hi mana kiya tha Zain. To maine use kuch nahi bataya." Fahad explains. He wasn't at fault.
"Usse ye bolke ki wo meri kuch nahi lagti? Bhai aapka dimaag to theek hai na? Seedhe seedhe bol dete ki maine mana kiya hai. Hadd hai yaar!"
And the guilt seeps in. He should have done that. "I am so sorry Zain. Mera dimaag pata nahi kyun nahi chala. Sorry Zain!" He knows Aaliya means a lot to him, but he wants to hear it himself. "Waise tumhe itna farak kyun padta hai?"
"Kyunki wo fikar karti hai meri bhai. She does care. Aur kisi ne aaj din tak nahi poocha ki Zain, kya hua hai! Usne verbally na bola ho, lekin uski aankhon ne sab kuch keh diya bhai. I know it sounds crazy, but she is a really good friend. Aur aapne saara raita faila diya." He picks up his keys and jacket, and runs out of house. Fahad is left behind, smiling.
oOo
Zain is speeding again. He wonders what she is thinking right now. He knows she is probably hurt. He doesn't have her number. "Dammit Zain!" He rings Rizwaan to get her contact details.
"Hello Aaliya, kahan ho tum?" He asks. "Tum wahi ruko, main aa raha hoon 10 minutes mein." He hangs up and accelerates faster. Realisation hits home... he cannot see her hurt.
oOo
So here's part two! Your Zain is back 😆 Hope you all like it. Again, for PMs, please add
Jojo_PMAcct and not my personal account. Thanks for all the lovely comments you guys have sent my way. It really means a lot 😳
Jyo.
Edited by Jyo. - 10 years ago
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