“Be in the world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.”
─Hadith; Bukhari.
…
ROHAAN
My mind is a clutter of mess all the time; every thought shoved together in a tangled way. And I’m tired of pretending. Of lying.
When I don’t speak, Ayra steps closer to me, placing her hands on my forearms.
“Know what, Rohaan?” she repeats.
Nothing, my mind shouts. Tell her it’s nothing; tell her you’re fine. Don’t let her in; she’s going to leave you too.
When my gaze meets her, it’s like I know. Maybe I don’t have to tell her about my past; maybe I can just speak my mind for once in my life.
“I have been thinking about this for a few days. About us.” I start, every part of my body protesting to stop. But I tell it to shut up; to let me speak. I look Ayra straight in the eye. “You th
