"You've pushed me away from the start, and I let you. Kept your distance from me and I let you. Now when you've finally come to terms with your feelings, you're letting me go without a fight?!"
Muaaz, a talented yet struggling architect based in Lo...
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Presuming Mr. Angrez might be asleep, I don't bother peeking through the curtain of his room and draw them to the side in one swift motion, only to see him wide awake and sipping fresh coconut water.
Tabiyat kharab rakh ke bhi iska khaana band nahi hua.
I sigh, flashing him an exaggerated smile. "Assalamualaikum, Mr. Mareez."
"Walaikumsalam." He grins.
Iski to smile bhi kahin nahi gayi.
Ya Allah, kis mitti ka banaya isko aap?
"Haal kaisa hai janaab ka?" I ask, unable to keep the amusement out of my voice.
"Kiya khayal hai aapka?" he replies, attempting to sing along.
"Tum to machal gaye, oh ho ho," I continue, smiling wider.
"Yu hi phisal gaye, ah ha ha."
Laughing to myself, I walk around the bed and plop onto the bar stool beside him. His playful banter always has a way of lifting my spirits.
"No, but seriously, how are you feeling?" I ask, my tone turning more sincere.
"Much better," he says, and I can see the truth in his eyes.
Wo to dikh raha.
"I know." He takes another sip, his lips quirking up around the thin blue straw.
"What?" I ask, settling on the tiny stool by the stretcher.
"That I look better." When I frown at his words, he adds, "You're loud without realizing it sometimes."
Deciding to ignore his comment, I take a look at the pile of bouquets he's received.
"Impressed?" he asks in a sickly goofy tone.
"Poor people don't know the Muaaz I know."
"Charming? Sweet? Funny? Caring?"
"A hungry monster who is always hungry for anything and everything."
"There! It's your evil nazar that brought me here. It's you!" he accuses, pointing a finger at me dramatically.
"Heyyyyyyyy!" I swat his hand away, laughing. "You left me with no choice, eating everything. Also, insaan dua padhte hain khana khane se pehle."
"Your nazar is so strong no dua works. Mashallah."
"You are so rude!"
"Not more than you!"
We end up staring at each other in a playful glare until I snap out of it, feeling a warmth in my chest.
As the banter dies down, I can't help but notice the way his eyes sparkle, even in this hospital room. I catch myself staring at him a little too long and look away, my cheeks growing warm. There's something about the way he makes me laugh, the way he sees through my façade, that tugs at my heart.
