"Sameer Pasha." Farjaad thought it sounded familiar, of course it did. It was her surname too.
But what are the chances that they are related? It was a fairly common name.
Yet now he wondered. Looking into Sameeer'e eyes, they resembled her. They oddly resembled her. Or was this Farjaad connecting things for the sake of it? But he knew her eyes, he knew them very well, and these were similar.
But the accent. No, it did not make sense. Of course they weren't related, Farjaad needed to stop making things up his head.
"If there's anything I can help you with I'm here sir, enjoy." Sameer said and excused himself, walking back to the counter and opening his desktop screen. Farjaad shook himself to reality, to the situation he was actually present in, and focused on his task.
-
"Kaam kesa chal raha hai?"
"Sab bilkul theek"
"Abhi bhi trading tou kar rahe ho ge, ache khasay stocks hain tumhare paas." It was not a sly remark, but Farjaad refrained. He convinced himself that this was a testament to his patience, and he had to prove himself the stronger one. Strings were going to be pulled and he had to refrain from letting it let to him.
"Ji chachu, chalta rehta hai." The dinner table was not as tense, but it was quiet, everyone wanting to be involved with the main discussion. Farjaad did not even feel like eating, he'd have a bite every few minutes just to show his aunt that he was.
Reena, sat beside him, would ask if there was anything he needed, to which he had to politely decline every time. Something as simple as the seating placement gave him the exact idea of the subjects that were about to be brought up.
"Aur aage ka kya plan hai?" Another question, a heavier question. And a question which had two answers: Farjaad's honest answer and the answer everyone on the table wanted to hear.
He was put in a tight situation once again, not knowing how to play about it in a way that will satisfy everyone but also not be a lie from his side. It was agitating, he cleared his throat quietly, getting ready to work around it.
And the universe had done a wonder on him.
He pulled his phone out, expecting many people, many people except the actual caller. And he had to bite his inner cheek to hide the smile that was blooming on his face once he saw who it was.
"Excuse me." He looked around, getting off of his chair and walking out of the dining, through the living out to the backyard, swiping onto his phone and trying to control the expanding smile.
After contemplating so many times on whether it was appropriate to call her, she decided to take the first step and make it easier for him.
"I hope mene disturb nahi kiya." Was the first thing Farjaad heard, a chuckle unexpectedly escaping his lips as he shook his head to himself. He didn't even know this was how much he had missed her. His heart felt lighter, hearing her voice was relieving.
"Bilkul bhi nahi." Farjaad strolled back and forth on the concrete by the grass. "Kesi ho?"
"Mein theek... Tum sunao?" Umeed scratched her head with her index finger, wondering if her decision was sensible or she made a mistake.
She had tried multiple times to look for excuses to text him, to call him, ask him if he was fine, just attempt to have a casual conversation as an excuse to hear his voice and be satisfied. But it was impossible to think of a valid excuse.
She would get annoyed, wanting to talk to him, hoping that maybe he would call for something, to ask about something with relation to work, to maybe tell her he's coming back earlier. Umeed found herself wishing for extremely stupid things just so she could talk to him.
"Bas, chal raha hai." Farjaad turned, seeing if there was anyone entering in the living room. This would open another issue, the questions about who this new colleague of his was, and why he more so causal with her. To his own misfortune, his family knew his how his behaviour at work was. Seeing it be different would only raise concerns.
"Wo... mene socha ke ab kaam bhi saat karte hain, colleagues bhi hain, tou poochna tou banta hai." Umeed hesitated, walking over to her window to look out.
She desperately needed an excuse, and after thorough thinking this is what she resorted to.
"Colleagues." Farjaad repeated out loud, a dim smile on his face, nodding his head. This was how they were doing to do this. "Haan, banta tou hai. Ab is hi taaluq ke baqaul mujhe aap se bhi poochna chahye ke aap ka kya haal hai?" He played along.
Umeed rolled her eyes, smiling at his smug tone. She played with the ends of her hair, the sudden comfort very sedating.
"Theek hun mein, bas idhar udhar busy hun liken, chal raha hai." An understatement. An utter and total understatement of how her past few days had been. She was missing him, and it was ruining her day-to-day peace. "Coco se mili aaj."
Farjaad's eyes lit up, the mix of surprise and delight viable on his face. He'd been calling Yusuf every morning and demanding him to show Coco, following it up by a serious of question to ensure his wellbeing and that he was 'mentally' okay.
It was bizarre for Yusuf to to have to listen to his friend telling him that conversation with the cat is important.
But how did Umeed meet him?
"Hain!" He smiled. "How is he?"
"I don't want you feeling threatened... liken I think wo mujhse zyada pyaar karta hai." Umeed teased, the playfulness evident in her tone, but part of her genuinely believed it.
She never liked cats, yet this one was a complete exception. She spent the whole evening cuddling him, and Coco, reciprocated it as much, licking her knuckles, purring in Umeed's lap and just being stuck to her as if she was his material figure.
"Never, nonsense." Farjaad shook his head, not believing her at all. Coco was a very reserved and placid cat. He didn't even give Farjaad as much attention, just occasional cuddles when he felt extremely loving. Other than that he had an attitude, and Farjaad found it impossible that his cat got along with someone else so easily on just the second meeting.
But Umeed thought he was playing and along and joking, so she didn't add to it any further.
"Yusuf ne aaj kaha dinner saat mein karte hain." She added, answering the question in his head. The outcome of her friend's situation bounded her to getting to know Yusuf, which she didn't mind at all. He was a character, and she was fond of him.
And it gave her the opportunity to do the security check in order to approve of him, which was a success. He had humour and cooking skills, Umeed was on board.
"Chalo, mere aane se koi tou faida hoye ga. You won't be the only third wheel." Farjaad joked, Umeed biting her lip at the mention of him coming back.
How would things be once he came back?
Would they see one another more often? Would Yusuf and Saveira have them in the same place? They still think that Farjaad and Umeed cannot stand one another, so that is very unlikely. But the thought made her feel butterflies in her stomach.
"I don't think it works like that. But haan, valentines day ki baat shuroo kar di, mein tou uske beanbag part Coco ke saat busy thi." She recalled the random conversation, and how she was completely blanked out from it and focused on the cat. "Tum bhi... uske kareeb hi aa rahe ho na?" She hesitated when asking that question. "Mera matlab... fourteenth ko two weeks ho jayein ge. And you did say..." She gulped.
She felt as if she was sounding way too desperate, which Umeed did not want. She didn't want to come off as that, but she couldn't help it.
"Haan. Kuch aesa hi." Farjaad calculated. He didn't book his flight, he decided he'd base it off of the situation at home. And judging by it, he was correct in leaving Lahore much later and deciding to only spend a little over a week in Karachi. "Hum phir-"
"Farjaad beta kaun hai? Dinner par sab pooch rahe hain." Niggo walked up behind him, Farjaad not knowing how long she had been there, or whether just just entered now. All of a sudden he straightened up once again, the smile on his face fading into a serious expression. He immediately went to mute the call.
"Maa colleague hai." He informed Niggo, clearing his throat.
On the other end, Umeed's heart was beating to what he was about to say which got cut off.
"Tum kab se colleague se itna frankly baat karne lage?" Niggo raised an eyebrow. Once again, he was very predictable when it came to how he was at work, strict, professional and hard-headed. They had never seen him even smile when talking to someone from work, laughing was an even bigger disbelief. But she dismissed it. "Acha jaldi karo, buri baat hai."
Farjaad huffed when she left and got back on the phone, unmuting it. Close call.
"Sorry I got disrupted. Kya baat ho rahi thi?"
"Tum valentines- matlab fourteenth ko aao ge... aur hum..." She winced, repeating exactly what he was telling her.
Farjaad's heart skipped a beat, listening to her try and word her sentence out. She was stuttering.
"Hum?" He waited for her to say anything.
"Uske aage kuch bolne waale thay." He closed his eyes, facepalming.
She was repeating his sentence, before he got interrupted.
"Haan. Hum forun Rubina aunty ke paas jaa kar green light maangein ge. Ab it's all in our control." He spoke in defeat. It wsa an exciting thing to listen to, hearing Umeed talking about what they were planning to do on valentines day. But, of course, they were going to work.
"Perfect. I'm looking forward to it... Wese acha lagta hai tumhare saat kaam kar ke. I miss.." Umeed trailed, gulping. These random bursts of bravery were going to get her into serious trouble some day. She didn't know where it would come from, but it had her wanting to say it all.
"Miss?" Farjaad asked, feeling it as well. It was heated and it was exciting.
You, Umeed thought to herself.
"Working around with you. Wo, aadat si ho gayi hai kisi aur ke saat kaam karne ki, abhi khud karna para tou itna ajeeb laga. Koi baatein sunane waala nahi tha." She blabbered. "Anyway, take care, socha call kar ke haal chaal pooch lun." She felt a little suffocated all of a sudden, not knowing how to approach the situation anymore.
"Thanks for calling. Take care." Farjaad did not want to end the call, at all. If anything, he wanted the screen to break and suck in him in so he could be on the other side. He really wanted that. But unfortunately he had to cut the line and walk back into the dining room for his life to be discussed once again.
"Kheriyat?" He was startled to see Reena stood there once he turned around, a sly smirk on his face.
"Haan haan, bas colleague se baat kar raha tha." Once again, not an ounce of that was a lie.
"Itni khushi se?" She asked. And Farjaad wondered, she wondered if he was really that much of an odd and robotic individual that people question him when he's expressing emotion, that too when that emotion is happiness.
"Kaam ke baare mein khushi se baat nahi ho sakti?" He asked.
"Tum tou kabhi nahi thay aese." She commented, Farjaad controlling himself from rolling his eyes.
"Kese?" He asked, not giving her the time to answer. "Anyway, let's go back." He waited for her to enter first, taking in a long breath before following in, no longer having the capacity to bear with the circus that would behold.
-
Two weeks, that felt slow and rapid at the same time. His stay was surprisingly peaceful. The only obstacle was the dinner, but other than that, Farjaad felt rejuvenated. The constant thought of his colleague kept him awake, but that only added to his excitement of going back.
Umeed's routine was same, except she found herself thinking of him much more than she needed to, opening her closet every night and wondering how much harm would wearing a shirt cause. It's not like he would have found out... but she resisted.
Now, as she tried taking composed steps to his car, nothing inside her felt composed. Nothing at all.
"Hi." He smiled at her, his own heart doing backflips at her sight. Her hair in a ponytail, wearing a purple hoodie that suited her so much. Then again, every colour suited her. Farjaad realised that when Umeed wore colours, she would be the one adding vibrance to them.
"Hi" She's beaming, unable to hide her joy, but managing to control her excitement. It was so overwhelming, she was just happy to see him.
His stubble was only a hint darker, his hair fluffy, wavy. Umeed realised that the last time she saw him, her thoughts were a lot more controlled and sensible.
Now, looking at his hair, she wondered how her fingers would feel in it, and that thought made her want to splash cold water on herself.
"Kesi ho?" He asked as she buckled up.
"Bohot achi." She answered slyly. It was not a good answer, but she didn't know what to say. Umeed didn't know what she was going at that very point. "Tum?"
"Bohot acha. Lagta hai arsa ho gaya hai mile huay." Umeed bit her lip, only if he knew how she spent those two weeks. It was embarrassing.
"Haan bas, busy rahi. At least tum family se mil sake." She reasoned and he nodded. The conversation felt very fabricated and awkward, clearly both of them were thinking beyond the conversation.
"Yeah, well, let's go?" He asked her, shifting the gear to drive.
"Yeah." She reached for the radio, playing whatever was on. The remaining ride was exactly like this. Both of them thought on the back of their minds how to break the wall, because the feelings made it so much more complicated than what it needed to be.
-
"Wese sachi baat bataun? I hate celebrating such days." Saveira pointed out, stabbing the steak with her fork.
"Kyun?" Yusuf furrowed his eyebrows.
"Aaj ke din hi sabko pyaar manana hota hai? Har roze kyun nahi ho sakta?"
"Haan but... I think it's cute to have a day where we celebrate love. Why not?" He shrugged.
"Hamara to har weekend aesa hi hota hai." She mirrored him, shrugging. Their weekends were indeed like this, meeting after a long week to catch up and spend time. Saveira cleared her throat. "Acha ab... aese bethein hain tou... aaj pooch hi leti hun." She straightened up, forcing Yusuf to mirror her posture because such conversations were always intimidating.
"Kya..." He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, a little concerned for what her next comment was going to be. Usually Saveira was the type to just say anything, so having her warn him beforehand was anticipating.
She looked around at the busy restaurant, sighing before deciding to lean in on the table.
"What's next?"
Yusuf blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... what's next? For us?" She asked, baffling him even more. He couldn't handle it.
"Savi please aese na hints mein baatein kiya karo, get to the point." Yusuf whine, running his fingers through his curls, not liking the broadness of the question. It could mean anything, and before he goes to see every option, he wanted her to say it as it was.
He reached for the water, gulping it down.
"Rishta maange kab aa rahe ho?" The water kept going, but Yusuf stopped gulping, making him choke.
He coughed, choking on the water, eyes watering, coughing until he felt like he could breathe again. Saveira just watched.
"Rishta?" He asked.
"Haan?" The nonchalance only made him question her further. She was very caln about it, as if it was an everyday casual conversation.
"I..." He stuttered.
"Dekho Yusuf... I'm in my mid-twenties. Mene itna kuch zindagi mein karna tha. Pehle pehrahyi finish, phir travel, phir working in my dad's firm. I have done it all, mein apne dad ki firm mein aik junior hun. Aur phir tum aa gaye." For some reason, the way he said it, it made it seem like it was all going uphill until him.
"Ye downside hai?" He asked, pointing to himself. Saveira couldn't help but break into laughter. Yusuf couldn't smile tho.
"Nahi silly, I mean ke it's all planning out so well. Mein tou aik life partner ko dhoond bhi nahi rahi thi, aur phir tum-"
"Mein tumhara life partner hun?" He asked , shocked, astounded, stunned, bewildered, every word in the dictionary.
"Tou kya nahi ho?" He looked at him dumbfounded. All the logic had left his brain, he couldn't even do the simple math.
"Nahi, I mean, you really wanna spend your life with me?" He reiterated. Saveira was a little surprised that he was in shock at that statement. Was she not obvious enough about what she felt? Or was he stupid?
"Yusuf. Tou kya mein yahan waqt zaya karne aati hun?" She asked. His confusion was really unforeseen, Saveira tried pining down if it was because she didn't make it obvious enough or did he simply not see it. She felt like she had taken a huge step all of a sudden, she was feeling embarrassed. "Bas I... I feel like tum donon ne itna kuch kar liya hai, we are established, we are working. We are happy. I mean unless you aren't read-"
"No no, I am ready. Mein hun ready. Bas... I didn't expect this turn." He spoke out, finally, relief. Her heart had quickened and she thought she had taken it way ahead, but she couldn't help it. She said what she felt was right.
Yusuf, on the other hand, completely on board, just extremely overwhelmed by the subject. This was not what he had expected, this took a completely different turn.
"I'm sorry for ruining the vibe. Bas khayal aa raha tha." She fiddled with the fork, no longer feeling like eating, stabbing the piece of steak again and again. "Socho, hum donon apne ghar mein, apni apni jobs par jayein, waapad aayein, to our own home. Bohot zyadi zimedarian but, it'll be worth it. I don't see why not." Once again, it was heavy conversation and she understood that it was sitting well with him, but she still said what came to her heart, it was better than hiding it. "Mein, Mrs Yusuf."
While she was busy misinterpreting his silence as discomfort and disagreement, Yusuf got redder by the second the more she spoke. Truth be told, she knew from the moment he saw her that she was going to have an impact on his life, there was no doubt about it, not even for a second.
And he would be lying if he said that he didn't think of them getting married, having a family, everything from start to end. That would be a blatant lie.
But it was still overwhelming to hear it from her. For her to say everything that he thought of in his heart, for her to be ready about something he wanted but never spoke out on with the fear of instantly bringing it up. So for him, it was all too good to be true.
"Usually larke ki wajah se larki sharma ti hai." He added, feeling the place get warmer. There was a big smile on his face, it was overwhelming.
"You can disagree, mujhe koi masla nahi hai. I just... I feel like tum itne perfect time par aaye ho. Like my soulmate. Jab sab aas paas set ho gaya, you made an entrance." Saveria, still lost in her worry that she may have pushed it to far, that worry not allowing her to see the happiness emitting from the man in front of her.
"Wese... tumne apne parents ko bataya?" He asked curiously. By the way she was talking, it seemed as if he put hard thought in to it. She was serious about it. And it excited him even more.
"Haan. Wo yakeen na kar sakein. Jitni mein anti-love thi..." She repeated her mother's label for her. It was surprising for everyone. Saveria genuinely thought everything was settled, and that she didn't need anyone in her life. But it changed so suddenly.
What she thought was a newfound friendship was actually something she began craving for. And it was bizarre to think all of this was thought of within a month, it was crazy, she knew it was crazy, but this once she was okay with this crazy. Asking him if he wanted to get married a month after getting to spend time with him was enough for her.
"Ab tou forun aana pare ga." He nodded. Her neck snapped up. He wasn't laughing, he was not joking. There was just a faint smile on his face.
"Waqayi?" Her voice cracked this time, she felt genuine goosebumps. His smile got brighter, he nodded. She was blushing and her heart was loud in her ears. "Khao"
"Ab nahi ye khana hazam hona." He smiled to her, making her cover her face. Yusuf laughed.
-
"So... how was your trip?" The sun had set, the sky was a mix of dark blues and black. The traffic was swift and the atmosphere inside the car was full of excitement and relief.
They got the details and discussions wrapped up within two hours, and a chance to meet the bride and groom to-be's. But at the bottom of both their heart they just wanted it to be over so they could have a proper discussion. The way to the house was much more casual and silence, and full of adrenaline rushes that caused Farjaad to simply put on the radio.
Now, it was much more relaxed.
"It was okay. Matlab zara mil jul kar aa gaya, catch up kar liya, halaat dekh liye, kaafi tha." He answered briefly, skipping the details of how his whole family is cornering him and the only way out is something he doesn't want to do.
"Kese hain halaat?"
"Wese hi, jese hamesha hote hain." He shrugged, turning to look at her. "Tum batao?"
"Actually working in these two weeks has been helpful, Anthony ko zara kaam karaya aur samhjaya bhi. Acha bacha hai." She smiled and nodded. Farjaad refrained from laughing at her referring to him as a bacha when she was only two years older than him. "Aur tumhe pata hai, wo aur Jackie aur Hasan aik hi muhalle mein rehte hain." She shared excitedly.
"Hairat ki baat hai, Karachi se aaya hun, liken yahan ki traffic mujhe zyada buri lag rahi hai abhi." Farjaad commented. It was past rush hour and it was a weekday, the traffic was active and vibrant.
"Wo... valentines day hai na." Umeed spoke, looking down and playing with the rings on her fingers. He turned to face her, she was right. "Um, seesha khol lo, zara hawa aaye." She requested and Farjaad nodded, reaching for his window as did she, letting the air come in. The sudden shift came out of nowhere, and they found themselves in an awkward situation.
Nothing about it should be awkward, she just mentioned the cause, yet it was. It oddly was. It was the mix of shyness and feelings, they couldn't meet one another's eyes.
"Bhai, gajray yaan phool lein ge?" Farjaad jumped a little, looking out of his window to see a boy in his teen years present him with single rose bouquets in one hand and gajras in another.
"Nahi beta." He nodded, hoping that the boy would simply walk away.
"Bhai aaj ke mauke par tou le lein, baaji ko wese kuch dilaya hai?" He pointed to Umeed, who was frozen in her face. "Aaj tou discount hai in par. Itni pyaari biwi hain aap ki, inko valentine day ka kuch diya?" Farjaad almost choked on air.
Umeed's face turned red, she looked the other way and pretended that there was something on her face to hide the blush that even she knew was appearing on his face.
"Beta itna assume nahi karte." Farjaad sarcastically spoke to the boy, who seemed like he had no intention of walking away.
"Biwi nahi hain?" The surprise in the boy's tone mixed with the shock on hiis face made Farjaad wonder what was so surprising about it. "Chalein girlfriend ho jayein, behen ho jayei-
"Behen nahi hain. Meri dost hain." He interrupted, much more firm. All the other assumptions made him go red, but the assumption of Umeed being his sister made him want to repent for any wrongs he ever did.
"Tou dosti ke mauke par hi le dein. Pyaar tou dosti hoti hai na." Umeed looked back to Farjaad, who still could not meet her eyes.
He would love to buy those for her. He would love to put them on her hands himself. This was puzzling to him because the circumstances were much different compared to what he had in mind. Yet... it felt like a golden opportunity.
Umeed just observed, her heart breathing loudly, clutching onto her seatbelt. Why? She didn't know, but she was a blushing mess. She couldn't help it, she smiled at the boy who had Farjaad on the topes, clutching onto his steering wheel.
"Dou de do" Farjaad looked at the boy, who showed a victorious smile and went to pick two out. Umeed, on the other head, looked straight ahead and blinked vigorously, feeling all the butterflies in her stomach as the transaction was happening. "Change rakh lo, aur shabaash ab jaao, signal green hone waala hai."
The boy nodded, but Umeed was quick to call him.
"Beta is side par aao." She requested him, Farjaad wondering why. Did she think he bought them for himself? Or worse... for someone else? "Aik ye gulab de dou" She asked him, the boy not wasting a second to earn his valentines day income. Umeed handed him the note and asked him to leave since the traffic began moving.
The remaining trip was silent, completely silent. It was worse than how it was earlier when he picked her up to take her to the Hashim residence.
But it was an exciting silence. One had that Umeed holding onto the seatbelt and smelling the rose every now and then. It was the silence that had Farjaad clutching onto his steering and staring at the gajras placed on the dashboard, wondering how he will give them to her, which was intention and what statement. If she somehow thought these were for someone else, it made it worse for him.
Did she buy herself the flower because she initially thought he was buying for her... Farjaad was lost in such crippling thoughts up till the point they were parked outside of her building.
He reached for the gajras, fiddling with them, looking up and seeing her waiting for him, seatbelt unbuckled but waiting for him to say something.
"Ye, um, mujhe..." He stuttered, gulping. It was not only the hesitation of giving them, it was also the way her eyes were under the dim light, glowing, looking into his soul, shaking his core. He was too captivated but also intimidated by how she way looking at him, making him stumble on his words.
"Itna mat socho, dene hain tou seedhi tarhan batao ke mere liye hain." She smiled, tilting her head, making it easier for him. Farjaad did not have words, he was taken aback by her comment. She took them from him, their fingers brushing against one another sending an electric shock across his body. Umeed held them, began wearing one. "Mujhe kabhi kisi ne gajray nahi le kar diye" She narrated as she began putting the other one on. Farjaad was stuck, dumbfounded, awestriken, way too many things happening in his head. "And I'm sure tumhe kabhi kisi ne aik flower nahi diya." She looked at both her wrists, smiling, they looked pretty.
Farjaad saw his gift on her wrists, they suited her hands so much. She had beautiful hands. She looked up to him and he was astonished.
"Mein?" He asked, pointing to himself. Umeed looked at him endearingly, smiling, looking down at the rose on her lap. She held it, smelling it, it smelled amazing.
"Haan. Tum mujhe gajray de sakte ho tou mein tumhe phool nahi de sakti." She asked the question the same time as she brought the flower to him, looking him in the eyes.
Farjaad was certainly flattered by the flower, but what amazed him even more was the way she was looking at him, cherishing her smile and her eyes, the sentiment in her voice, the consideration of gifting him something. It might be a rose to her, but Farjaad was ready to go as far as framing it.
"Haan." He took it from her. His hands were composed, he began sinking into reality. And that meant letting it out, the night was taking a shift, and he wanted to contribute in his ways. "I missed you, you know." He mumbled, looking down for just a moment, letting his words sink in.
Umeed felt herself getting warm again. She was not the only one. It wasn't just her that was missing him.
She smiled, placing her head on the headrest as she stared at him.
"Bore ho gaye thay ne mere baghair? Koi chahye tha sar khapane waala?" She giggled a little, trying to ease up the tension. It was a good kind of tension, but it had them both clutching onto whatever was closest.
Farjaad did not join her laughter, because... the reason was more than that. He missed her because he simply missed her presence. He missed her because she had been all he could think of since before he left. And it drove him crazy, because this time he couldn't ignore those feelings. He couldn't laugh with her, because missing her was so much more than was she said.
And Umeed knew that. Seeing how his eyes did not meet hers, seeing how his chest was rising and falling, she understood it. She understood that they were on the same wavelength. Neither of them said anything, but the odds were in her favour. This once she was ready to take the risk.
"Farjaad..." He softly called onto his name. He looked at her immediately, loving the sound of his name out of her lips. She was making it worse for him by the passing second. He was afraid she was going to ask a question he did not want to answer - the fear being that she did not feel the same. "Bahar dekho." She pointed outside his window, him immediately following where she was pointing to.
Umeed's elbow rested on the armrest in between them, moving herself closer to him until her lips met his cheek.
Soft, feathery, electrical.
Farjaad froze in his place.
It was genuinely like time had frozen and nothing was moving. He felt himself go numb, his body feeling fireworks, his heart rate skyrocketing, his breathing coming at a hold.
She kissed him on his cheek. Umeed, who he found himself growing fond over, who he found himself think of at every given moment he could, the same Umeed he thought would not be likely to reciprocate his emotions, just kissed him on his cheek.
She moved away, biting her lip to hide her smile, reaching for the door handle. It was too much excitement for her to handle, she couldn't live with it. The adrenaline almost had her shaking.
"Goodnight." He glanced over to him for another second before getting out, pacing into her apartment building, leaving a stunned Farjaad who slowly brought his hand up to his cheek and traced over where he felt her lips.
He looked into the rear view mirror... her lipgloss, the print of her lips, very subtle, very faint, present on his cheek.
Farjaad was about to pass out.
-
She did not waste a single moment. The second she entered her room, umeed began jumping. Literally jumping in excitement, skipping around in her studio, feeling alive, feeling energetic, feeling herself lose all composure.
-
The ride back home was horrible. It was absolutely horrible because Farjaad kept replaying the scene instead of focusing on the traffic. He wanted to reach home immediately, he also wanted to go back in time and experience that all over again. The whole ride home he had his lip in between his teeth to compose himself and hide the smile appearing on his face.
Coco was getting cradled like never before, to a point he had to look at Farjaad and question what got into his owner. Humans weren't the only one adjusted to Farjaad's lack of emotions, his own cat found the bright smile and random laughters very foreign on his owner.
-
It had been two hours. Umeed had her closet opened, biting her lip, deciding if today was the day. She could not resist, at all. As much as she tried avoiding the path of doing stupid things that felt right, today was not the day. She would do what her heart felt was right.
Umeed wore Farjaad's shirt to sleep.