One more time : Where Oblivion meets Obsession

#11 — THE FRIEND-FRIEND TALK

“When they reached home, she retired to her room. Taking a quick, warm shower, she stood infront of the mirror, blow drying her hair. After a certain incident, She often stared at those bluish eyes, fair face and wondered what she lacked.

You are so pretty Mye!

Who wouldn't want you?

Finding love… it's a problem for people like us. You bat an eyelash and bring anyone to their knees.

Yet it wasn't enough. Why? Why didn't she have the one she wanted?

—9 years Ago—

The next day, I called him and asked him to meet me at the beautiful lakeside. He got worried thinking I was in some problem but I assured him I was fine.

He came anyways and now was my turn. I don't know how this will go. He would call me crazy and I don't blame him. I don't want to rush into anything but for now he should know my feelings. I can't wish for anything more.

I gathered all the courage in me and started saying, "Amaan, I am not good with words. To be honest, I am not good at anything. I am naive and silly and I am not your type but... that doesn't change the fact that..." I closed my eyes and inhaled a sharp breath, "I love you. I love you a lot and I am helpless infront of it." I closed my eyes as I didn't want to see his reaction.

After a minute of complete silence between us, I opened my eyes and saw him still standing there in shock. "What are you saying Myra?" He asked.

"It's true Amaan. I have no control over these feelings. I don't know if you feel the same way but I do."

He took a step back and my heart skipped a beat. Off course, he had a lot to think about... his family, his business, their acceptance, everything. I was worried about nothing but him.

After a minute, he took a deep breath, took a step closer to me and now I was nervous. He lifted my chin with his thumb and forefinger and asked, "I don't understand. How can someone fall in love in less than a month?"

"A month? Amaan I fell in love in a moment."

"What if I say no?" I could feel my heart breaking into pieces in my mind going numb at those words.

"A-Amaan? Don't be so quick. If you need time-"

"No Myra. I can't. I know I can't." He said in a defeated voice. "My family would never accept this and I can't hurt them."

"Why? I'll talk to them." I assured him.

"There are many reasons. We have different cultures, countries, perspectives and religion."

"If this is the barrier between us, I'm ready to convert."

"I don't want you to." He said sternly, holding my arms. "I don't want you to change anything about yourself. You're amazing just the way you are. Find someone who will love you as you are. I'm just... not brave enough." He said with a deep sigh and I could see his hurt expression.

"Amaan don't do this." I was crushed, broken, hurt and hopeless. What am I going to do now? Why did he have to do this? Amaan had his reasons, his helplessness but I could see it in his eyes how he forced this decision upon himself and me.

'Are you done Myra?' My self-respect asked.

I wiped my tears and started walking away. Ok this is it then. This is what I had promised myself. If he agreed that would be the best thing to happen in my life and if he didn't, I would gracefully walk away from his life.

"Myra! I-"

"It's okay. I am sorry if I have been a nuisance but I won't be anymore." He looked at me with the same broken expression and tried to say something, "Myra please-"

"No Amaan. I'm not like those weak girls who would kill themselves over a guy. I'll be fine. And don't worry, after this day, you won't see me again. You won't face me again. I'm going back to Canada, to my home. And will never see each other again. Good bye Amaan. Goodbye forever, and be happy." I said and started retreating this time I didn't try to hide my tears from him or myself.

My love has made me fearless. Even the fear of losing him doesn't scare me anymore. I loved him the way he was... selflessly, without demands, expectations, promises or commitment. I did not love him with the condition that he will have to love me back. It's okay. It happens. I fell in love. He didn't. I cannot want anything more than you Amaan but I do not cling like an unwanted thing.

***

—Present—

As she opened the door to the corridor, she saw a maid carrying a zipped suit to Shahmeer's room. “Excuse me? What’s this for?” Myra asked, walking to her.

“Sir has a party to attend.” She replied as much as she was asked, nothing more.

“Oh, When?” She asked casually trying not to sound too inquisitive.

“Tomorrow evening.” She answered and then excused herself.

___Khan Villa___

After the maid had dropped the dress and left, Myra walked to the door and gave a slight knock. There was no reply for a minute or two. She hesitantly walked inside and stared at the empty room for a while. It was breathtaking, a combination of golden and off white. Everything about it screamed royalty and good taste. It was larger than her already large room. It wasn’t the first time she had been in a luxe room. She stayed in seven-star hotel apartments all the time but the way it was customized according to his taste made it special. Her eyes landed on the dressing table and she saw seven to eight different perfumes. She raised her eyes from the dresser to look into the mirror and saw Shahmeer's reflection standing behind her. She turned around startled and embarrassed. “I came here looking for you.” She said looking down.

“Yeah I went straight to the study. You need something?”

“No, it’s just that, I was feeling lonely and thought we could take a walk, or chat, or watch a movie or something… if… you have time.” She said looking around.

“Okay after dinner, we’ll watch a movie. What kind?”

“Anything as long as its action and Hollywood.” She pretended like her eyes landed on the suit for the first time and said, “Nice suit”, trying to get him around the topic.

“Yes, I have a business party just outside the city.”

“Outside the city? Why?” She asked hoping he wouldn’t see what she meant. Her words were surely going to land her in trouble someday.

“Business. I don’t feel like leaving but it's important.” He smiled holding up the suit and checking it around. How was she supposed to stop him or convince him to either stop or take her with him?

“is it faraway?” she asked.

“Pretty much. A 40-minute drive.” He shrugged.

“So, you’ll be away for the whole day?” She asked, sounding nervous, fidgeting with her fingers, something that surely got his attention.

“Yes.” He asked uncertainly.

“Oh. Okay.” She turned around to walk away sounding really sad.

“Myra are you okay?”

She nodded. “I… I just feel safe around you. I don’t want to be alone. I may be out of bounds but… can I come with you?”

He was speechless after her request. “Myra it would be my pleasure to go with you but people there are kind of, you know, untrustworthy. And I really don’t want to give an impression that something is going on between us. It is going to risk your life more. So please stay safe at home.”

She locked her eyes with his deep, black ones and said, “Going there with you would be safer than staying here alone.”

He moved closer, “say it again.”

“I feel safe with you.” Came her unwavering voice.

He couldn't understand this himself how she bent his decisions so easily. some power she possessed in her eyes, her words and her self which could bring anyone to their knees. “Okay then. You’re coming with me.” He said with a confident smile. “But don’t make me a habit.”

“Bad habits just happen. You can’t control it.” She replied walking away with a curvy smile.

She was afraid now. Afraid of his heart, his actions and how her body, her eyes responded to his eyes, his words. She never had this feeling when she was playing with Scott’s emotions or anybody else’s. Then why now?

She walked into her room and bolted the door. Heaving a deep sigh, she sat on the bed. The garbage is going to be taken out tomorrow morning. So, her message can’t go out before that. She couldn’t waste a whole night. If she could just send a message now, it would fasten their planning pace. She knew how risky it was but still she activated the chip again and said against her wrist in an audible voice, "EVENING, OUTSKIRTS, PARTY, SHAHMEER OVER."

As soon as she finished, the parrot in her room repeated from the cage.

‘EVENING OUTSKIRTS PARTY SHAHMEER OVER

EVENING OUTSKIRTS PARTY SHAHMEER OVER’

She was shocked and rushed to it thinking of ways to shut this thing up. How could she be so careless? How could she not care about the parrot being in the room. But he never repeated any words before she realized she never talked in front of it before.

'EVENING, OUTSKIRTS-' “stop! Shhh!” She whisper-yelled at it and quickly took the cage near the window and opened the gate. The parrot didn’t fly out and kept mimicking until she shook the cage. Feeling threatened, the parrot flew away still reciting the words.

She quickly closed the window and leaned against the curtain in panic. She needed to relax.

***

Rajat was sorting some files at Shahmeer's office when he looked up to a tired Fiza leaning back in the seat. “Had dinner?” he asked.

“Yes. You?” She said without looking up from her phone.

“I wasn’t hungry?” Rajat replied putting the files on the shelf.

“What's it now?” she asked knowing how Rajat skipped meals when he was tense.

He sighed. “Tell me honestly Fiz. Can you trust that girl? Do you also think I am wrong?”

“Oh God! I thought we were over it.” She snapped getting up and walking to the table.

“I thought that too but… no I cant.” he replied honestly.

“Rajat if you doubt her so much, why don’t you just get her number and put it on surveillance to monitor her calls. No big deal for you.”

“I did already but all she talked about was… shampoo.”

“Well then you see. No good is coming out of this.” she said, extending her hands to close the window when she raised her head a little to see clearly, “is that your parrot?” she asked, surprised. “that's the second floor, Myra’s room.” she said pointing at the right wing. “How could she let it escape?”

“Yes it's the same parrot. See the blue ribbon around its neck.” He said, straining his eyes to look properly. “I wonder what it might have heard. Fiz you believe it or not, I’m going to try harder. Good night.” He said walking away.

***