She whispered, "They say love is when your heart flutters every time you see that person."
With a tender smile, he replied, "Well, darling, every beat of my heart is a love letter written just for you."
Zahir Ahmed Khan, a persistent believer that l...
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So, note to self: never agree to visit when Mom suggests it. Everything was going smoothly until he showed up. That mother—uh, astaghfirullah, let's just say he's not my cup of chai, okay? Even though he's seated at the end of the never-ending dinner table, I can practically feel his icy stare drilling into me. What's his deal anyway?
Every time we cross paths, it's like a scene out of a Bollywood melodrama. Ugh! I shot him some severe side-eye while plastering on my best fake smile as I dug into the biryani. And let me tell you, that aroma? Pure heaven. I'm definitely getting that recipe from Auntie later!
When I thought things couldn't get any weirder, Dadi decided to drop the M-bomb: marriage. Cue the eye roll and fake laughter as she asked me if I had any potential suitors in mind. I couldn't help but chuckle and shake my head at her antics.
"Any special someone in your life, Aisha?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she prodded me for details.
I let out a chuckle, shaking my head in amusement. "Oh, you know me, Dadi," I reply with a wink, playing along with her antics. "No one can tie me down. I'm a free spirit." She chuckled, shaking her head.
But then, she drops the bombshell. "Oh, you know Zahir," she sighs dramatically, "he's getting old but still doesn't want to settle down."
I couldn't help but snort at the irony of the situation, shooting Zahir a mischievous smirk as Dadi continued to rib him. It was almost too easy to rile him up, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to poke a little fun at his expense.
But instead of getting flustered like I expected, Zahir surprised me with a calm, collected response. "Marriage isn't exactly at the top of my to-do list, dadi," he replied casually, his tone laced with nonchalance.
I raised an eyebrow at him, impressed by his composure. "Oh, really now?" I retorted, unable to resist the urge to push his buttons further. "I thought you'd be rushing to the altar, considering how eager everyone seems to be to find you a bride."
He had a wry smile playing on his lips. "I'll get there eventually," he replied cryptically, his eyes locking with mine in a silent challenge.
I felt a shiver run down my spine at the intensity of his gaze, a flicker of something unfamiliar stirring in the pit of my stomach. But before I could dwell on the moment, Auntie interrupted with a plate of fresh samosas, breaking the tension.
"Who wants samosas?" she exclaimed, her voice cheerful as she passed the plate around the table.
I let out a relieved sigh, grateful for the distraction. "Yes, please!" I exclaimed eagerly, reaching for a samosa with a sense of urgency bordering desperation. Anything to break the awkward silence that had settled between him and me.
But even as I munched on the delicious snack, I couldn't shake the feeling that his words had struck a chord deep within me. What did he mean by "I'll get there eventually"? And why did it feel like he was keeping a secret from me?
