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Imran'𝐬 𝐏.𝐎.𝐕
"What the hell Imran? Where were you taking me like that?" Layla asked while fixing her dress and hair as I put her back on the ground.
"I wanted to talk to you, and I knew you weren't gonna listen to me, so I had to do this as you left me no choice," I answered as she said, "Yes, because I didnt want to talk to you, isn't that obvious?"
"Why are you doing this Layla? One moment, you're dancing with me and the very next moment, you're running away from me, not wanting to even talk to me?" I asked her and something reflected in her deep green eyes.
"Because I can't pretend anymore! I can't pretend that we didn't share a past or that we didn't like each other! Don't you get it?" She said as she face palmed herself.
"And you think I'm perfectly fine with it? No Layla, I'm not. Whatever I did to Zayn, that was horrible, I know. And no, I don't have any explanation for it, neither do I have any excuse for it. I don't know why I did all that to him, I seriously don't. But don't you see I have changed?" I stepped closer to her, closing the distance between us. She stepped back until she hit her back on the wall behind.
I placed my hands on either side of her on the wall and leaned towards her.
"All because I met a girl, who came into my dark life and lit it up with her smile, she turned my dull life into a colourful one.
She bought out the better part in me, the good qualities that I didn't even know existed inside me. She turned my icy, stone, cold heart into a warm, loving, caring and kind heart.
She always thought that there is good in people, that no one is bad. She changed me, and I changed myself, only for her.
And that girl, who completely changed my life, my personality, my perspective about everything is none other than you Layla."
She had tears in her eyes by now. And I'm pretty sure that she was wondering how she was able to cause a change in me.
"Imran you're- you're saying that you changed because of me?" She asked with disbelief as I said, "I changed for you. You made me realise that there is a different side of the world and to see it, we just need to change our perspective. And only then could I see the better in people, all because of you."
"And I know that I fucked up big, like real big. But that doesn't mean that whatever was between us was fake. No Layla, it was real, all of it. It was the most real thing I've ever felt," I said as I stepped closer to her, her breath hitching.
"But I- Ama-" "And as much as I hate it, I know that we can't be together. Because of so many reasons. Because you are my brother's best friend. Because you like Amaan, and you can't do anything about it.And as much as I hate to share you, I can't force you. But no matter what, you're mine, just mine. He is your first love, and I intend to be your last, however long it takes," I said as I kissed her forehead and she looked at me with stunned eyes.
I wanted to hug her, hold her close to my heart one last time before distancing myself from her. I can't see her with someone else, so I'd rather not see it than bear the pain of seeing her with someone else. Seeing a guy who doesn't deserve her getting even an ounce of her love. It makes me wanna beat the hell out of him every time I see her crying because of him.
I'm gonna make sure he pays for every single drop of tear that has shed from her eyes because of him. I will.
And so I did. I hugged her and held her close to my heart in my embrace. I felt her touch for the last time and said, "Take care Layla, your happiness is very important to me. Which is why I'm going away from you."
I pulled out of the hug and she looked shocked on hearing my words. "What? Where- where are you going?" She asked in a slow voice and I replied, "Away from your and Zayn's lives. I can't change the things I've done, but I can choose what not to do. Being around you and seeing you with someone else is just gonna be a mess for me, and I might- I don't know. I won't be able to stop myself from beating his ass every time he looks at you. All I know is that I need to go." I saw a tear fall from her eye.
"Take care," I mumbled and left her, ignoring the voice of my heart that screamed not to leave her. I walked away, fighting the urge to turn back and look at her for the one last time.
I sent a message to Theo telling him that I left the party because I was not feeling well and sent a message to Saarim as well, else he might feel bad that I left without meeting him. From when did I start to care about what others think? Maybe it's because of her, it has to be.
I sat in my car for the next 15 minutes because Layla was still out, and I left only after I saw her entering the party hall.
As soon as she stepped inside the hall, I accelerated the car and drove out. I had no idea where I was heading to, my mind was out of its place. I was going fast, dangerously fast and the chances of me being pulled over due to overspeeding were quite high, but I didn't give a shit about it.
All I knew was that I needed to clear my head. I needed to get her out of my mind. My mind was l fucked up.
I could see all of the memories we had right in front 0f my eyes like a movie. Her laugh was echoing in my ears, her face was flashing in front of me and her words were ringing in my head.
"Oh my God, Imran! That little girl is so cute!" She said and pointed out to a 4 year old girl who was giggling and playing with her parents.
"Yes, but you're more cute."
F L A S H B A C K
We were at a park which had recently opened.
We had been here for the last 2 hours and it was time for us to go and I said, "Come on, I'll drop you at your home."
"So that my sister or my parents see me with you and then kill me? No thanks, I'll go by myself" she said and shook her head in disbelief. "And you think I'm gonna let you go alone at this time?" I said pointing towards my watch, showing her that it was past 9:45pm.
"Oh God you sound just like my brother!" She exclaimed as she face-palmed herself.
F L A S H B A C K O V E R
I was still driving and it was 9:23 pm. I stopped the car and got out of my car and kicked its tyre in frustration. I fucking love her, and going away from her is not easy for me. But seeing her with someone else was driving me mad. I had never known the feeling of jealousy until I met her. The first time I felt jealous was when Saarim hugged her and after that, it was every time when I saw her with her asshole of a boyfriend Amaan.
I'm damn sure he is cheating on Layla with that bitch Hailey. It's so clear- hanging out together, dancing together, lying to them, coming at the party together- yet Zayn and Layla ignore it. They're just not ready to accept it.
I sat in my car and drove to the beach house. I wanted to be alone, and that was the only place where no one would disturb me. I sent a message to my mom saying that I am staying at the beach house with Theo, and told Theo about it. He said he'd handle it as long as I told him why I am here.
To avoid any stressful conversations with him, I simply said that I wanted some time alone.
I called Zayn to get an idea about what is happening there, or to be much more specific, what's happening with Layla. "Hey, what are you doing?" I asked him as he picked my call. "Nothing much, just eating the cake. Where are you by the way?" He asked to which I replied, "I left the party, I am at the beach house, Theo's gonna join me after the party."
"What is it with you guys? First Layla and now you?" What did he mean by that? "What do you mean? Layla left the party?" I asked and he said, "Yeah she did. She wasn't feeling well and went home a while ago. Zahra insisted her to wait for the cake cutting and she left right after it."
Of course she left the party. "You let her go alone? All by herself at this hour? Its almost 10 pm right now-" "I told her to sent me her live location after she stopped me from dropping her. I am her brother and her best friend, I care about her more than you, okay? I know what I have to do for her safety," he said interrupting me mid-way.
I sighed and ended the call after he was called by his friends. I wonder what Layla must be doing at her home all by herself.
Layla's P.O.V.
After hearing Imran say all that, how I changed his life I didn't even realise when my eyes were filled with tears. I caused a change in him? "Imran-"
"You're- you're saying that you changed because of me?" I asked, not believing that he changed because of me and he replied, "I changed for you. You made me realise that there is a different side of the world and to see it, we just need to change our perspective a lil bit. And only then could I see the better in people, all because of you."
"And I know that I fucked up big, like real big. But that doesn't mean that whatever was between us was fake. No Layla, it was real, all of it. It was the most real thing I've ever felt," He said and stepped closer to me, and my breathe hitched.
"But I- Ama-" "And as much as I hate it, I know that we can't be together. Because you like Amaan, and you can't do anything about it. I understand it. I wanted to clear out everything from my side. He is your first love, and I intend to be your last, however long it takes," He said and his next action shocked me. He kissed my forehead and seconds later, he hugged me.
"Take care Layla, your happiness is very important to me. Which is why I'm going away from you."
He said, confusing me as I asked, "What? Where- where are you going?" "Away from your and Zayn's lives. I can't change the things I've done, but I can choose what not to do. Being around you and seeing you with Amaan is just gonna be a mess for me, and I might- I don't know. All I know is that I need to go."
"Take care," he said and walked away. He can't go like this. What did he mean by that? He didn't turn around, not even once. He sat in his car and I was here, all by myself, left in tears. It should not affect me, I don't love him anymore, right? Then why does it affect me this much?
I noticed that he was still here, sitting in his car. I began feeling cold and so I headed inside. As soon as I stepped in, I heard his car and he sped out and left. Was he waiting for me to go inside?
Leaving his thoughts aside, I went inside and searched for my friends, who were sitting at a table and laughing at something. Normally, seeing them laugh would've made me laugh as well, but the situations were not so normal now.
"Lay, where have you been? You missed Max and Lexi's dance and we had so much fun!" Iqra said as I forced a smile and said, "I wasn't feeling well, my head was paining from the loud music, so I went out for a while." I was lying to my own best friends, I'm so bad.
"Are you feeling better now?" Theo asked and I shook my head. I wanted to be alone in my room, I can't be around so many people right now. "Okay then, I'll come home with you," Iqra said and Shifa nodded as I said, "Uhm, nah, you all stay here, it's alright. I'll go home and take some rest, I'll probably feel better." "Are you sure you wanna go home?" Max asked and I nodded.
Amaan looked at me and said, "I'll drop you home La-"
"Okay then I'll drop you home, it's 9:42, you can't go alone," Zayn said, cutting Amaan in middle of his sentence, reminding me of Imran's words just before I found out the truth.
"And you think I'm gonna let you go alone at this time?"
"Oh God you sound just like my brother!"
"No Zayn, I can go on my own. I'll send you my location, alright? Don't spoil your fun for me, enjoy, hmm?" I said and he smiled. "I'll go meet Zahra and tell her I'm going home," I said and went to find Zahra with Iqra and Shifa as they spoke, "Layla, is something wrong?" "You were here dancing a few moments ago and then you suddenly disappeared? You know you can tell us if anything's disturbing you."
I wanted to tell them what happened a while ago with Imran, but not now. Else they would insist on going home with me and I wouldn't wanna spoil their fun. They were really enjoying the party.
"No girls, it's nothing. I love you both so much," I said and hugged them, controlling the urge to cry. No Layla, you can't ruin it for them, not now. My inner self said and I got a grip on myself.
"Come on we can hug later, let's find Zahra first," I said as I pulled out of the hug and we went looking for her. On seeing her, I called out her name and she came to us and asked, "Are you guys enjoying?" We nodded and I said, "Zahra, I'm gonna head to home, I'm not feeling well, I hope it's okay with you?"
"What? Why are you going? You okay?" She asked and I replied, "Nah, my head hurts and I'll be fine if I rest for a while, hmm?"
"Okay then, but at least wait for 5 minutes, go after the cake cutting," she said and I nodded.
"You too are going home?" Saarim asked and I nodded as Zahra asked, "What do you mean by 'You too'?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, Imran had called. He wasn't feeling well either and he left," he said and Shifa and Iqra passed each other looks. I'm sure they must've guessed by now that something was wrong, but they didn't ask me anything about it as of now.
"Hey everybody, it's time for the cake cutting! Woohoo!" Rayna exclaimed happily on the mic as everybody sang 'Happy Birthday' for Zahra.
After being forced to eat some cake, I booked a cab and left for home. I shared my live location and the cab details to Zayn and Iqra the moment I sat in the cab and they were connected to me throughout the ride.
"Hey, I'm home now. I'll talk to you guys later, bye," I said and cut Iqra's call after she said 'goodbye'.
I pressed the doorbell as my mom opened the door. "Assalamualaikum mom," I said and entered inside as she greeted me back and asked, "Sweetie, are you okay? You're back home early from the party?"
"Yeah, I'm not feeling well. I guess I'll feel better after taking rest for sometime," I answered and went upstairs in my room, locking the door behind me. I could no longer control the tears from flowing, so I gave up and let them flow. I had been holding everything in for a long time and couldn't do it anymore.
Why did this happen to me Allah? Why did he come into my life if he had to leave me like this? I had managed it for the first time, because I hated him after finding out that he was the Imran ruining Zayn's life. But now? After hearing him say all that, I can't even hate him! He said that I changed him and brought out the better in him, that I changed his thoughts and lighted up his world. Was that true? Or was he lying?
I went in the washroom and washed my face, thinking I would feel a little better, but no, it was still the same. I changed my clothes into something more comfortable as all I had to do was stay inside my room avoiding any contact with anyone. I didn't feel like talking to anyone, neither my friends nor my parents. It would just be too overwhelming for me.
After turning off the lights, I went and lied down on my bed, staring at the ceiling with a hundred thoughts.
I checked my phone after a while only to see a few messages from Zayn, Iqra and Shifa to which I didn't respond. I knew that Iqra and Shifa must have figured out that something happened between me and Imran that made us both leave the party. And I also know that they are dying to talk about it to me and they wanna know how I am, but knowing me, they would rather leave me alone for sometime. I prefer to be alone in situations like these.
I heard a soft knock on my door and got up to open it. It was my mom standing there with a covered bowl with something in it. "What's wrong? Why are the lights off? Are you still not feeling well?" She asked as she made her way inside my room and kept the tray on my side table after switching on the lights. "Yes, I think it's just a little weakness nothing else," I said as she touched my forehead checking for fever. "You don't have a fever, that's good. I ordered some soup for you, your favourite 'Hot n' Sour'. It will help you with the weakness, hmm? Drink it and if you need anything else, just let me know," she said and kissed my forehead before going out.
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