— 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 —. . .Could you just believe where did he take me? It was an aquarium and I was amazed to be in that place with Zahir. We enjoyed a lot and clicked pictures together. Well, one thing I got to learn about Zahir is that he is not fond of clicking pictures.He does not like it! He said that. And it was really funny as I got to know about this. Does he even know how handsome he looks? Well, the way he questioned me this evening made me realize that yeah, he knows about himself but still, he is not very fond of it. Wow. I could not even expect any less from such a grumpy man. But still, I got some snaps of us together. I did not get this chance to bring a camera with me but I had my phone through which I clicked many pictures of us together. He was grumpy in the beginning, telling me not to annoy him by taking his picture but I could not stop myself. I threatened him first to come with me but still, he did not even budge. So when I decided to force him, he literally hid

— H O O R —. . .As Zahir said, he took me to our next destination the very morning. It was a pleasant morning. I do not know why — surely not in excitement — I got up early and walked to the balcony where I looked out through there and sighed at the peaceful sight. It was around four in the morning when I got up and looked out. The city was bathed in silence. There was no sound made except for the chirping birds. The sun was rising as I looked to my side and the sky was gaining brightness back. It looked beautiful. It was, as if, the very heart of the city was beating slowly and lovingly. It soothed my nerves. Zahir was still sleeping and I did not want to disturb him so I freshened up and got myself a cup of hot coffee. In my mind was the poem of William Wordsworth, On The Westminster Bridge which I studied in my college days. Now I realized what was in William’s mind when he was writing the poem. I behold the view until Zahir gets up and asks me to get ready. I do it. I get r

— H O O R —. . .The moment, his lips come to touch and mold with mine, I become stiff in his arms out of shock and nervousness. My eyes squeeze shut all in their accord and I feel him kissing me softly with a slow yet burning passion. The kiss does not last long and he pulls back, peering open his eyes and so I do the very next moment. His pupils are dilated and his eyes are darker than usual. My heart pounds crazily inside my chest while my arms squeeze between our bodies as Zahir pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. A shuddering breath escapes my lips. He stares at me silently and leans closer. His breath fans my lips and I crave to taste him again. Can I?“I’m sorry, Hoor,” he murmurs before kissing me again, and deep inside, I know why he said sorry for kissing me. Because what’s between us will not last long yet here we are, giving in to passion and this killing proximity. Tears well up in my eyes as I realize from the depth of my heart. They slide down, st

— H O O R —. . .“So how was it?” Bhabhi asks, wiggling her eyebrows at me as she sits on the bed. She smiles at me, her smile is pretty, and her lips are glossy. Bhabhi Rayma’s makeup style is like a fairy but she is already a beautiful woman. Though I know what she wishes to know, I too know I have to behave cluelessly. What does she mean, ha? I chew my bottom lip and continue to fold my cardigan as I unpack our clothes. It is the time I got after Zahir left for office. Keeping the folded dress near to my stomach as I have successfully folded it, I peer at my Bhabhi who is waiting for my answer. “It was nice,” I begin with a spread of my lips as I smile at her, “We enjoyed ourselves a lot. Visited many places. Zahir was nice to me.”“Okay, I see,” she answers me in a sweet melody of her voice as she nods her head. However, I know how she is left unsatisfied. “But I wish to know about that, Hoor,” she insists like a child, watching me turn around as I put the dresses inside the