— H O O R —. . . “Right. Why don’t you wear it often?” He says softly, smiling at me but maybe he is not aware of it. And what did he even say? I keep staring at him, biting my bottom lip. Well, I can’t wear a saree all the time because it is not comfortable on all occasions. And I think Zahir, too, can see it. But men will be men. How would he realize that I am not fond of draping a saree every time? “It’s because saree is not comfortable every time, Zahir.” I shrug and he frowns. But I do not wait for any answer. I turn around and leave. Getting ready, I come out and find Zahir still lying over the bed, draped in the quilt, and sleeping on his stomach. What? Does he really not wish to get up today? I check the time. It is already quarter to eleven in the morning. I go to him and sit next to him. My eyes fall on his half-revealed face and the thought of innocence on his face comes to my mind.My eyes remain fixed on him and my breathing starts slowing down. Soft and slow. Z
— H O O R —. . . Tears leave the corner of my eyes as he keeps tickling me, stacking my stomach because he has realized that this is my weakest point of mine. “Zahir, let go!” I scream, turning and trying to hide myself from him. He stops, taking a deep breath. His hands remain close to my stomach as if he is threatening me while he asks, “Now say you won’t lie to me.”“I won’t,” I mewl, closing my eyes. He chuckles, looking down at me. “Aren’t you like a small child?” He wiggles his eyebrows, “Lying to me as if I don’t know?” He continues further, leaning closer. His arms cage me as he leans in and we are so close to each other. Under him, I get nothing but to stare at his handsome appearance as he gazes deep into my eyes. Should this be so—for him to come so close to me? I keep this in my head and do not let the words come out because for the moment passing, this all feels right and pleasant.Surely, I do not want to cross limits with him and I know how to keep this in mind s
— H O O R —. . . The day passed normally and we did not fight. Not even for once. After our pretty and very peaceful morning, Zahir was called back by his laptop and he busied himself with it, leaving me alone. I did not mind that. I got other things to do. Probably make a list of places that I want to visit and their famous dishes that I want to try. Well, I literally could not make a list of food because I did not find it very amazing. Indian food is better and I know it is only because I am an Indian. It is according to my liking, spicy and hot. Unlike Zahir, who starts gasping if a pinch of spices gets more in it. Yeah, I have seen him doing that. Water! Water! — that’s what he starts chanting. Oh, poor man. He can’t even taste the delicious calling of chilly potato. Yes, I ordered it and added pepper. I asked him before adding it to my plate and he said he wouldn’t be eating it because he was very busy with his work. Like VERY busy, you understand? I also had no proble
— H O O R —. . . When talked about ‘talent’, it reminds me of the parable told in the Bible by Jesus Christ, the Lord. It is the story of three servants of a man who were given talents by their master. To one he was given five talents, to another he was given three talents and to the third he was given one talent.He gives them the talents and goes out and expects them to earn something from the talents given to them till he returns. The one who has five talents earns five more talents from them. He who has three earns three more, but he who has one talent does not do anything with it. In fact, he goes and buries that one talent in the soil because he says to himself that my master is a very harsh man. He takes from where he did not put any effort. He was afraid that his master might curse him, but when his master came, his fear came true.But when his master comes and takes account of everyone, he praises the remaining two servants for their work and hard work and gives them the
— H O O R —. . .The night we had dinner together, talking with each other about random things. Zahir was soft and nice to me, smiling at me all the time.For a moment, indeed I was wondering about his behaviour towards me. Do not get me wrong when I say every time I keep wondering about the change in his behavior. I have a hard time coping with Zahir and whatever has happened between us two was not good and bright at all. At least not admirable. So of course, the change in him would always surprise me. But it was only a moment. I did not trouble my brain regarding this but enjoyed his sweet side. He is a handsome man with a good sense of humor. He is cute and lovely. Only when he is like that. After dinner, we came back to our room and I spent time reading the Bible and praying. He was busy with his laptop again but after half an hour, he came and joined me.He kneels beside me. Sensing his presence, I steal a glance at him and make a place for him, letting him sit beside me.
— H O O R —. . .“Come here,” he calls me gently, smiling at me.The pretty and bright glow of the moon falls on his face through the window of our room which I have left open. My fault, that I have left it open in this weather. I close it first, going to him. And once again my eyes are attracted to his face as if once again the deep blue irises of his beautiful eyes call me to take a look at them. Have I fallen in love with them? Can say. They always attract me and make me look deeper into him. It feels like I am lost. Lost in the dark blue chasms and it calls me to him.Even the sight of the moon seems like nothing in front of his eyes. He has taken all my attention. His heart-melting smile and his soft eyes. What’s happening to me, I wonder.“Now I’ll let you know,” he begins, “You know very well that God created man and woman for each other and ultimately He is for us, everything.”I nod my head in understanding.“We belong to Him and to each other if married. As said in Gen
— H O O R —. . .Last night was the most different night of my life. Zahir told me about his childhood — the very reason why he never wanted to marry, and in my heart, I can’t help but think about it over and over again. After he told me about his heart’s deepest fear — fear of being broken — I could not sleep for almost three hours. It was only around dawn I could sleep. The soul in me was troubled yet in unexplained peace. It felt different and quite lovely to know that he shared with me something that only his father had experienced and his brother had seen. Zahir too was a victim of it.He slept peacefully but I could not. Not like I was blaming him for anything but I just could not find the will to fall asleep.I kept looking at him. He was holding me, hiding his face in the crook of my neck, and mumbling a few things that I could not hear. He has weird habits, right? But all that makes him as cute as a baby. When my eyes started getting heavy, I gave up and fell asleep bu
— H O O R —. . .“Anything?” I ask as my eyes widen, surprised to know if he will really do anything for me or if give me if I really ask him.He laughs handsomely, throwing his head back. His raven locks bounce and his blue eyes squint cutely. The skin around his eyes wrinkles. “Anything,” he answers me, nodding his head at me. I sigh, nodding my head, too. I know I can ask him anything but what I truly desire is something that I doubt he would be able to give me. My desire is...“Thinking?” He interrupts my thoughts, staring at me sweetly as he tilts his head. “Um... I don’t want anything for now,” I say, shrugging and backing away. I really do not want to tell him that and ruin his mood. Yeah, it can ruin his mood and I do not want that. It is good when he smiles. When he smiles, I like it and when he is irked, he irks me, too. “All of a sudden? What changed?” He gives me a confused look but I stay with that answer. I do not want to change it. “Nothing. I just don’t want an