~ मोहब्बत

                                    

                                          
ZARA'S POV
Nothing seems to be going right for me lately; it’s as if nothing is going according to plan.
To put it simply, I’m barely eating during meals, I’m restless even when I’m supposed to be sleeping, and I can’t seem to focus on anything I do. My mind is filled with one thought, one name – Ayaan. 
What is going on with me? Until now, it was that mysterious boy from my dreams that kept me awake at night. But now, even he has vanished from my dreams. So why do I feel like this?
Just as I’m lost in my thoughts, something hits me, snapping me back to reality. Simrin is standing in front of me, eyes wide, clearly exasperated. It dawns on me that she must have been calling my name for quite a while. Ignoring her, I had been completely absorbed in my own world. With a smirk, she has balled up her veil and tossed it at my head to grab my attention.
"Kaha khoyi hai?!" she asked, raising her eyebrows and tilting her head, studying my face closely.
"Kuch nahi.. bas wo.." I hesitated, searching for an excuse. "Exams kareeb hain na... wo isiliye.."
"Sure hai na tu?!" She looked at me, wanting reassurance. "Dekh, agar koi problem hai toh bata.."
"Arey nahi yaar! Sab theek hai.. tu bata, kuch kaam tha?" I quickly changed the subject, knowing she wouldn’t let it go until I spilled everything.
"Wo... ammi keh rahi thi ki thoda bazaar chal le, toh maine socha tujhe bhi le chaloon," she explained.
I thought about it for a moment. Sitting alone would only make my thoughts circle back to Ayaan. Better to go to the market with Simrin and distract myself a little. Plus, I needed to buy some bangles—might as well get it done while I’m out.
"Alright, I'll get ready then.." I said, getting up from the bed, agreeing to go to the market with her.
...
"Kya yaar bhai jaan!!. Itna mehnga?!!.." Simrin exclaimed, her voice echoing through the cloth shop. Heads turned as she stared at the shopkeeper in shock, her expression a mix of disbelief and frustration.
"Thoda dheere bol!!" I muttered, gently nudging her, my eyes were darting around to the other shoppers now glancing in our direction.
"Tu chup kar!!"
As Simrin continued bargaining with the shopkeeper, I pulled out my phone to check the time, and that’s when I saw it – Ayaan’s name flashing on the screen. My heart skipped a beat.
But before I could react, Simrin caught sight of my expression. "Zara, kis ka message hai ?"
"M... A-are kisika nahi.." I stammered, quickly locking my phone. "Bas... time dekh rahi thi."
"Haan haan, time ya Ayaan?" She smirked knowingly, raising an eyebrow. 
I rolled my eyes, pretending to be unbothered. "Jab se mujhe chhedna shuru kiya hai na tune, ab khud ko badi detective samajhne lagi hai tu."
She laughed, her eyes twinkling. But the truth was, the moment I’d seen his name, every restless thought from earlier came rushing back. Despite myself, I wanted to know why he was calling. 
But something stopped me from answering – maybe a lingering irritation, maybe fear of giving away my own feelings. So, I slipped the phone back into my bag, hoping that by ignoring the call, I could also ignore the thoughts he brought with it. 
Simrin was still talking, but her words felt distant, drowned out by the quiet chaos inside me.
...
After finishing our shopping, I returned home with a mix of colorful bangles in one hand and swirling thoughts in my head. Simrin chattered beside me, but I was only half-listening, my mind drifting back to Ayaan. Why was he suddenly so present in my life?