5. FIRST MEETING

"You knock on the door,

A stranger from crowd,"

__

She glanced at the beautiful house in front her, it stood proudly with green leafy climbers covering the black bricks wall almost turned grey, making it look enchanting in every way, to her.

He was amused to see her face formed in awe. Her eyes shining with happiness. As she continued to look every corner of the house, like she wants to take its every sight in and explore it. Truth to be told he didn't expected her to be behaving to like that; he expected her to throw a big fit and argue him to not stay here for even a second. But, he was met with reality, and realized how wrong he was.

"Won't you welcome me inside." she asked tilting her head to the side, her eyes twinkling with awe and happiness.

His lips twitched upwards as he gestured her towards the entrance it was a heavy wooden door with a gold colored, shining lock on it.

He unlocked it with a swift motion and the door opened swiftly. She took in the surroundings and found a brown leather sofa on the middle with a small table and two leather chairs around. To the right was the open kitchen which was bathed with white and brown theme, same as the living room to their right was the door to the washroom, she opened it to take its sight in with all white hues.

"This stairs lead to our room." she pointed at the wooden stairs looking at him, her eyes still twinkling and a small lips dancing on her lips.

He nodded slowly, leaning on the wall, gazing at her exploring his house like butterflies. She climbed the stairs and he followed her behind, with small steps.

It was an open area, half balcony and half as living room but it has only rocking chair and a stool with a small shelf of books attached to wall. Small plants and creepers filled up the empty places. She opened the door of the room which was quite big with bed placed in the centered of the room, it has big wall window on the right and left wall was decorated with certificates and trophies and a book shelf. A big modern cupboard with sliding doors, with two columns and bathroom attached to the adjacent of the bed.

Their room was brown and white themed but it was styled in a modern way, not like their living room.

"Why this difference?" she asked sitting on the bed, softly caressing the sheet.

He rubbed his nape thinking for words to reply with, his cheeks turning red.

"I thought you will like the place all modern, I am a man of old thinking. I have always lived like this, but when I married you, I thought, umm,

I thought to change the room style and we can both design the whole house as you want. I didn't want to change everything by my own, your decision will be needed, as I don't know very well about modern stuff." his hesitancy was visible in his voice. He slowly rubbed his nape and avoided looking into her eyes.

"Oh, my old man! You think too much, I am happy with it. I like old things better" she answered him with a hint of tease in her tone.

"Don't call me old man." he frowned at her words and sat down beside her.

"What should I make you for the afternoon?" she asked ignoring his baby words.

"What's the hurry? Take rest, we can decide it afterwards, and I'll order some take out. You don't worry"

~Zohra~

"You know, I know you from a long time." I informed him, making a frown appear on his face and thinking lines appearing on his forehead.

Thinning his lips he thought hard. Stress lines appearing on his forehead.

"I guess old man does not remember." teasing him is fun.

Narrowing his eyes he turned his face away from me. Such a baby.

I still remember the first day I met him. It was the best day I even remember the dream I had that day and on the day of my marriage.

*flashback*

"Hey, what's with that frown" I asked as I looked at an undeniably handsome man in front of me.

I know, I should not talk to na-mehram but something about him seating so idle troubled me.

Looking at me with a confused face he continued to stare at a point. Unfazed.

"Well, for the starters, I lost my job." I said looking into nothing-ness.

Trust me I myself don't know what I am doing. It’s all for money. We live for it.

"Congratulations. Welcome to the reality of the world. Its sucks." he said with a lot of sarcasm dripping from his sentence, rolling his eyes that sets to turn the women on. And to add a cherry on the top. His raspy voice made me go sleepy. Ahh.

Slow winds caressed our loose forms, why does it seems like I am in a k-drama.

"Yeah, what about you?" I asked turning to him. Controlling the urge to cup his face and stare in his eyes till eternity.

"You know holding something which isn't yours is a bad kind of decision." he vocalized his thoughts after a pregnant pause his voice ringing around with the wind.

"Well if it’s so dear to you, then you should fight for it" suggesting, I crossed my legs.

His eyes met mine and he gazed at me as if searching for ansawers he will never find.

"If it hurts you, then it isn't worth fighting for." again after a pause he said, his gaze still lingering on my form and it is like a fire, so intense, so raw.

Either he is too slow or just too lazy to form words.

"I don't know, but I think if it's what makes you happy then you should go after it" I advised him.

I don’t care but my heart is so kind that I want to solve his every problem; never let the world harm him, not eve, not again, again.

Trust me if you come to me for an advise. You have come to the wrong person.

"Fighting isn't solution" he said narrowing his eyes on a dog that was looking something to eat in the trash can.

That makes me shut up. But as a talkative person like me. I don't get shut up easily. At least, not with him.

"You know what's the worst word is" I asked him then answered after a long pause.

"Force. Suddenly out of nowhere we are forced to do things we don't like. Forcing ourselves to get up early in the morning. Forcing ourselves to work our ass off, forcing ourselves to smile unnecessarily, And suddenly forcing ourselves to live our life."

Of course I can't say all that in one breath. That's why respiration is involved as I talked.

"Giving up is the key to all answers." he said narrowing his eyes on me.

I guess his eyes are like that. But they are beautiful like, what a beautiful combination. Green with speckles of gold on the edge. Ahh. Tends to melt me. This is not a time for this. But he is hot. Astagfirullah!!!

"Either you are the smartest person or the dumbest person of the century." I said narrowing my eyes on him as his words registered into my mind.

"Nothing wrong in my advice." he admitted raising his one eyebrow making him look undeniably hottest man of the universe. Astagfirullah!

"No, it’s not, 'nothing wrong', it’s all wrong. Like what's your deal? Why are you so unmotivated?" I asked half surprised and half melted. That's me for the starters.

"Listen woman it was you who came up to me, not me. And no one in his senses goes to a stranger and opens up ". Jerk. He is jerk. I declare it.

"Your face was too gloomy to get unnoticed." Taunting, I sipped my water.

"Am I that readable?" He questioned with a frown.

"With frown on your that undeniably handsome face and that pout on those plum lips. You are quite readable" okay, now I should never talk in my life. Oh, Allah please let this ground swallow me!!

Trust me I wasn't planning to be that blunt. Okay, a little. But not this much.

He seems to get shy. Awe. Such a pretty sight as his one hand scratching back of his neck and his ear tips turning red. Gosh! He is so shy! Astagfirullah!

"Are you always that blunt?" he asked not enough brave to keep an eye contact.

"Trust me I was not planning" his eyes. They are going to be my weakness.

Already are.

Can't agree anymore.

"Okay enough of embarrassing myself. Hi! I am Zohra. I was tasked to sit with you in the morning." Saying that I forwarded my hand.

"Hi, I am Waqas. Mind me ask who assigned?" his voice feeling up in my ear making me sleep.

"My friend, she gave me a dare." I informed, ignoring the need to yawn.

"Nice to meet you. But I have to go now. So bye." he said and walked off.

"Damn he is gorgeous" whispering to myself as I followed him. No, I am not a stalker, but my friend is standing in the same way.

*flashback ends*

Author's POV

She laughed hard as a throaty sound filled the room. She clutched her stomach as tears slipped from her eyes remembering her teenage life.

"It was what likes three years ago." she gasped for air, tying her hairs in a ponytail.

"Four years exactly" he confirmed with a soft smile, remembering her blunt statements.

"You were one blunt person I have ever seen" he commented, drawing circles on the sheet.

"I still am." she squeaked jumping on her feet. A big smile grew on her face hearing the ringing voice of ice-crème truck in the neighbour.

"Is that ice-crème seller" she asked with her eyes twinkling as stars and galaxies.

"Yes, which flavor do you want." he asked getting up as she skipped down the stairs.

"Butterscotch" she answered as she opened the door with big grin, making him chuckle.

He totally remembered that day, when a stranger out of nowhere, motivated him.

*Flashback*

Waqas's POV

Damn. Was she beautiful? No, she was Gorgeous. As in too much gorgeous too unnoticed.

I drank my coffee remembering her oval shaped face with an Asian brown complexion. The one which shines under the sun. And those simple warm chocolate brown eyes.

Seems to be my favorite.

Because, she read me well. But I guess I am too easy to read.

Damn it. She is taking over me.