Mannat: Siddreem|Sumisha|Rosal|

~part 31~

"I know you're a good actor. I've seen you in school productions." He laughed.

"I just hope the movie's good." I said, shivering with nerves.

"It will be." He winked and gave me a squeeze on the hand.

💓

"Sidd?" I phoned him.

"Hello? Reem?! After so long?" His cracked voice sounded.

I was disgusted by his voice. Oh well - acting as Faisal mentioned.

"I - I'm so sorry about that time last year when...." I trailed off.

"Oh, just forget about it. I didn't take it too seriously because I knew you would understand somewhere down the line."

"Don't worry. Err - I want to... meet you today?"

"Today?" He hesitated.

"Why, is it difficult today?" I sounded disappointed.

"I don't th..."

"I'm not free any other days." I said quickly.

"Alright. See you." He sighed and hung up.

Great. One step was successful - but I wondered why he hesitated so much on meeting me today. Did he have any other plans?

"Hello, Faisal? Yeah - he said he can meet me today. No, don't send any under cover agents. Actually - if you don't mind sending me Dev. Maybe his clumsiness mind come in handy." I hung up with a wholehearted laugh.

💓

As I waited patiently in Costa, the familiar face was spotted by my roaming eyes which rested on every person as they walked in through that door.

I stood up in shock.

My eyes quivered slightly at the sight of him and I felt an awkward smile drawing up on my face, although I tried not to make it look goofy or proud.

I forced myself to keep the act low, however it needed to be effective.

He clasped his hands around my face, and although his touch made me feel nervous and cringey, it also made my ice-cold cheek warm to my surprise.

I slipped into his arms and I felt his hands linger around before they rested on my back. He looked rather taken aback, but enjoyed it.

"So... why did you want to meet me?"

"Why, do I need a reason to meet my b...." I stopped abruptly.

"Friend." He finished off for me.

"Yeah." I smiled. "Just. Friend."

He looked like he wanted more. "If you say so." He winked.

I smiled as sweetly as I could and gave him a dreamy look.

"Sit down." I offered him. He sat down reluctantly and looked around, resting his face on his hands from his elbows.

"So - how's life?" He asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"Are you serious!?" I chuckled. "You meet me after so much time and that's what you ask me?" I grin willingly.

"Well we need to start somewhere."

My smile started lessening. "Yeah - we do."

He clicked his two fingers in front of my face.

"Huh? Oh - sorry. Kind of got into a trance. Hehe." I laughed weakly.

After our drinks, we sat there laughing about moments we'd missed in the last year. During all this, I felt a genuine happiness in him, and I yearned to tell him that this was a plan but my consciousness told me otherwise. He was a murderer and will always stay a murderer in my eyes.

"There's not really - much to do here, is there?" I looked at him deeply. He looked up at me at my fixed gaze and smirked.

"Why don't you come home?"

"What's at home?" He laughed uneasily.

I looked at him in shock, pretending to show that I didn't understand his surprised thoughts.

"Well what do you think? My living room, my kitchen, my drawing room, my - bedroom...." I trailed off, watching his eyes rest on different objects on the table.

"Right. Let's go." He nodded willingly and I smiled, wrapping my arm around his as we walked out, to which he appeared shocked but happy.