¶chapter twenty seven¶

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The way his hands were providing her so much relief and warmth, she wished it was the case with his words as well. "Without feeling it?"

Faris shrugged his shoulders. "I can't feel it, Ajwa. That part died during my childhood. But I will always take care of you. "

She tugged off his hands and glared at him. He had such a bad concept of love."Sincerity, loyalty, and whatever you said earlier are given by will. But love doesn't work this way, Faris. Love just happened on its own.  It doesn't need a voluntary decision."

"So?" He murmured.

"So that I don't want weak strings and useless hopes. Just act me like you are. Show me your true self. Don't imitate the people who actually love. You don't have to try for something which comes on its own in every other human," she firmly told him her decision and dashed away, leaving Faris to look at her back in stun.

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He loved his mother very much. As compared to his twin, Faris was more attached to her. He always used to seek her whenever he needed someone. His Mama was his role model, his fairy, his queen, his first love, and perhaps his whole world.

He wasn't this emotionless and pragmatic as a child. He was very sensitive and used to notice every small thing happening around him. He liked nature. He took small things to his heart and got happy or sad over mild happenings. He wasn't at all playful, naughty, and energetic like Faraan. He loved to stay at home, talking and listening to stories from his mother. He loved stillness.

One thing he knew very well was that his mother loved his father crazily. She was head over heels for him and did everything he asked for.

But one day he saw his father bringing another woman into their house as his stepmother. He didn't like that lady at first glance even. She seemed evil to him. Then he found his mother crying every night because of the betrayal of her husband. Over a few weeks, she got weak and even got diagnosed with cancer as she took extra tension. She didn't use to eat or speak and her health deteriorated.

The love made her like this. If the love wasn't there, his mother wouldn't have gotten affected like this. She would have survived the backstabbing but since she had that damned emotion rooting in her heart, it made her vulnerable. Lovers couldn't share the ones they love and most of all, they couldn't bear betrayal. And now this happened with his mother. The deception was killing her from the side. 

And then she died. Even on her deathbed, she was just saying her husband's name. This rendered Faris to hate this emotion. He thought it was what killed his mother. And then his heart automatically despised it and kept him away from the mere effects of it. It was the only feeling he loathed. He stopped feeling it.

For most of his life, he didn't need to be held accountable for not feeling it. First, because he had no time for any other activity. He was focused on his studies and then on work. Marina was the first woman who came into his life and that too a bit forcefully since she moved toward him earlier. He wanted to settle and got married too. But since that woman was just passing time with him and she didn't have any hard feelings for him, so she also didn't bother that whether he loved her or not. Or perhaps she never got the idea that Faris couldn't love since he was perfect at emulating it even without realizing it. His gentle nature gave him that benefit.

Ajwa was the only one who realized this and now as she pointed this out, it made him think about it. For her, he was even willing to grasp this useless emotion again. He wanted to try for her, for their marriage and future. He had started to like her and he didn't want to lose her. But she of course didn't need scrapes.

As Faris came into the room, he couldn't find her there. She wasn't even in the rest of the house as well. She left the lawn before him. He didn't know where she was now. He went to the washroom and got a warm bath. As he entered again with fresh clothes, his eyes again searched for her but still she was nowhere to be seen.

Sighing, he placed the towel on the back of the chair and combed his hair before leaving the room. He found her in the kitchen, heating a meal for him. She was now in a plain white new dress but her hair was still wet. They were falling on her back and shoulders. Ajwa gave him a brief serious look before diverting her attention back to the work.

She was now cooking the flatbread for him. As Khan Baba left for his daughter's wedding for a few days, the kitchen work was on her now. She smoothed the flour with the roller and then carefully took the flatbread on her palm before placing it in the heated pan. Faris was just looking at whatever she was doing. Her lips were pursed into a thin line as she forbid herself from laying a second glance at him.

"What did you cook today?" He asked getting closer to her.

She flipped the roti and gave him a momentary glance. "Chicken."

This made her anger rise again seeing how calm he became now as though nothing happened between them a while ago. His constant presence even irritated him but right now, she didn't want to talk to him. So much had occurred that she had no nerve to hear his practical and logical talks again. She even blamed herself for being so crazy seeing rain and asking him to join her to enjoy it. Of course, he got her right at the weakest spot and moment. And now this was what it did. She came across as desperate for love.

Ajwa ignored him and placed the cooked flatbread on the plate. Then she took out the heated curry from the microwave and headed outside. As she was setting the things on the dining table, Faris also came, looking at her again with those irking expressions. So neutral and relaxed which she hated yet loved at the same time.

Silently, she came back to the kitchen and grabbed a water bottle and glasses. Putting it beside the meal on the table, she quietly sat on the chair opposite him. Faris as usual didn't start eating before she was back.

Without sparing him a single glance, she started eating as she was indeed very hungry. Due to the excitement of the rain, she didn't eat lunch properly as well.

"Isn't this bottle super cold? I don't drink chilly water, especially in such weather," Faris commented only to start a conversation with her. It was very rare that they were having such a silent meal.

The water was fine even though it was a bit cold. But it was okay for his liking. Ajwa lifted her head and gave him a curious look. She touched the bottle with her fingers and found it normal.

"That's the least chilled bottle in the fridge," she replied and with this, the topic nearly ended but he was Faris. Someone who knew how to use words.

"Can you pass this dish to me?"

Ajwa gave him a serious look but did what he asked for anyway. But the next moment, he again said.

"This curry has gotten cold."

Ajwa sighed and grabbed the dish before walking back to the kitchen. When she was back, she had refilled the warm curry into it. After placing it on the table, she thought to go away.

"You aren't having more?" He asked, sipping the water from the glass.

"I am full," she replied.

"Make tea for me in a while." Another way to keep her busy is his thoughts and work.

Ajwa sulked inside over this but didn't say anything from her mouth. She decided to never bring this love between them anymore. She didn't want this humiliation again.

But she didn't know it would come between them again and again.

                   __________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi everyone!

How are you?

Here is a new chapter for you.

Hope you like it.

What do you think will happen next?

Do you think Faris will ever fall in love?

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