Maha

"And then he walked away - completely ignoring my existence! Didn't bother greeting me even once the whole time." I huffed in exhaustion after ranting about the whole dawat incident to my best friend.

"Yaar, you are still expecting from him?! See, the only thing that men can do is hurt your feelings. I don't know whether they do it knowingly or unknowingly but how can they not think twice before carrying out their actions? I have rubbed off all hopes from them literally...after that... nevermind. It's just a waste of time digging up the past. But Maha you're such a smart girl, if you are to love someone then just love him with all your heart but expecting from them will only add salt to your wound. There's absolutely no difference between men and statues, they see you, they look at you and the next moment they have the same expression glued on their faces as if they haven't seen you at all." Tahira's voice speaks from the other side of the phone, her tone laced with a tinge of sorrow and anger. 

While I agree with most of what she said, I also know all men are definitely not like that. But right now I'm clouded by my disappointment at how Isahaq hadn't bothered to even give me a single sign of acknowledgement that day. 

He wasn't bound to greet me though. What was I to him after all? We were just two people who had met a few times due to our mother's being friends. 

But the irrational and sensitive part of me refused to see reason. 

I could tell Tahira was also suffering due to Ashar's actions. Seeing my friend like this breaks my heart but I know she's strong enough to overcome everything life throws at her.

I know Ashar is the only guy she has ever loved since she was young. But if he couldn't realize her feelings after so many years and kept hurting her again and again, I hope one day she can move on and find someone better. 

" You're right. Every time I like someone I eventually end up getting hurt! Having crushes is so annoying. I was doing so well for the last few years , why did I suddenly end up falling for someone yet again? Ugh."  I groan in annoyance and massage my throbbing forehead.

" Exactly, that's why I tell you this stuff isn't worth the time. First they talk all nice and sweet- and when you're trapped into their net of love, they discreetly cut the strings out of nowhere, making you fall into despair."  

Oh boy- Tahira seems to be in quite a mood right now. 

" Yeah. Besides, I forget about my crushes after a few months anyway. This will probably be the same." I contemplate out loud , pacing back and forth in my room.

" You're finally talking sense. Now go and do that assignment -"

I cut her off, " No, I'm still sad. I need to watch some kdramas or simp over anime characters to feel better! Fictional boys never betray."

" Seriously Maha?! What did we just talk about -"

" Shush- fictional characters don't fall into this category. Don't you have to go shopping with your mom? Text me when you get back. Allah Hafiz!" 

I hang up the phone and slump down on my bed, mindlessly scrolling through social media.

That's when I saw someone had posted the pictures from that party.

I swipe the slides and pause at the group picture.

Zooming in towards where I am, I'm shocked to see the person standing on my left.

Of course it's him.

When did Isahaq get there ? 

Another wave of confusion flows through my mind before it turns into an annoyance. 

Whatever! It's no good thinking about him when he doesn't give a damn about me anyway. 

I switch the tab and open my favorite movie, hoping it'll provide me a much needed escape from my thoughts. 

✨

When I came to the supermarket with my grandma for a random day out, I didn't expect to run into Isahaq.

But, as always, he was there when I least expected it.

Isahaq walked towards me with a wide smile and waved his hand excitedly. "Hey! Fancy seeing you here."

"Hi," I responded automatically, caught off guard by this sudden encounter.

"So, shopping, huh? How are you?" he asked in an upbeat tone.

Unlike the last time we met, he seemed to be in a good mood today.

"Good, alhamdulillah. How are you?" I asked in return.

"I'm doing great too, alhamdulillah."

No matter how friendly he sounded, the events of our recent encounter flashed through my mind, and I felt my mood sour. On any other day, Isahaq greeting me would have made me feel like I was on cloud nine. But after that dawat when he ignored me, my feelings seemed to have simmered down a little. My heart still flipped without warning when I saw his face, but now it was accompanied by a pang of sadness.

Tahira's rant about typical men played in my mind, and I reminded myself not to get carried away. Isahaq was just being friendly. Letting whatever emotion I felt for him grow would only end in heartbreak. So it was better to keep a distance while I still could.

"Okay then, see you around." I cut the conversation short and turned away before I could see his reaction.

Nanu had asked me to get a few packets of bread from the bakery. After collecting the items, my eyes swept through the mall searching for Nanu.

I found her standing by the cash register, our trolley parked to her right.

But what I saw next shocked me to my core. Nanu stood there talking to a young guy in a gray sweatshirt and black jeans—someone I had just tried to avoid a few minutes ago.

Isahaq and my Nanu were chatting animatedly as if they were long-lost best friends.

What in the world?

I reluctantly made my way towards them and gently tapped Nanu on the arm. "Here's the stuff you wanted, Nanu—"

Against my will, my eyes turned towards Isahaq, and I found him already looking at me. His lips turned up in that damned smile that always left me feeling like a nervous wreck.

I am supposed to be angry at him!

Pretending to be busy, I started loading the items from the trolley onto the counter for the cashier to scan.

"Look who I've met," Nanu nudged me from the side.

"Hm, yeah, what a surprise," I muttered under my breath and continued piling the items.

"Let me help," Isahaq said as he came around and tried to take the container of powdered milk from my hand.

"It's okay! I've got this." I sped up my actions before he could interfere.

"Dear, put your groceries along with ours. No need to wait in such a long line." Nanu grabbed Isahaq's arm and motioned towards his trolley.

"Are you sure?" His voice was filled with hesitation.

Nanu nodded and gave him a slight push, urging him to follow her orders.

Once everything was paid for and Nanu was done chatting with the cashier, we took our respective grocery bags from the counter.

Isahaq started insisting on helping me carry the grocery bags to the car, but Nanu interfered. Just when I thought I was saved, Nanu invited another problem into my plans.

"I'm feeling hungry. Let's go to that café over there," she pointed at a little shop by the corner and started walking towards it, leaving us with no choice but to follow.

Great, now I have to spend more time with him.

I could feel my hijab getting loose around my head, so I excused myself to the restroom to fix my headscarf.

When I got back to the café, I saw my companions sitting by the only available corner table.

The café was very small with only three sets of tables, all of which were occupied. Each table had two medium-sized benches facing each other.

Nanu sat on one side with all the grocery bags taking up the space beside her. I groaned inwardly when I realized the only available option was to sit right beside Isahaq in the opposite chair.

Just when I had decided to minimize my interaction with him, fate seemed to have other plans and kept pushing me closer to him.

I approached the table as slowly as I could, willing time to fly by.

"Hurry up, Maha. I've already ordered three cups of coffee and a few pastries. Now sit quickly. Anyway, Josim, does your elder brother live in Dhaka too?" Nanu turned to ask the waiter who stood to the side.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion while Isahaq tried to disguise his laugh by pretending it was a cough.

Rather than standing awkwardly and drawing more attention, I accepted my fate and slipped into the seat next to Isahaq.

"No, Ma'am, he has a shop in the village. My older sister lives in Dhaka," the waiter, whose name was Josim, replied.

"Oh! Your sister who has three kids, right? Or are you talking about the unmarried one?" Nanu questioned Josim eagerly.

Isahaq couldn't stop the chuckle bubbling out of his throat this time, but fortunately, Nanu was too busy getting to know Josim's family.

I sighed and pressed the palms of my hands against my face in embarrassment.

Here she goes again, interrogating random strangers.

My Nanu was a very skilled woman. She had the ability to strike up a conversation with any random stranger and, after a few minutes, would know their whole life story and have made a new friend. No one could beat her when it came to bargaining prices during shopping either.

"Your Nanu is very cool," Isahaq leaned towards me and whispered.

"Don't get me started," I said, still hiding my face behind my hands.

It was good that he couldn't see my face because I'm sure it was heated not only because of embarrassment but also because of how close he was sitting beside me.

I could feel the warmth of his body grazing mine, but we weren't touching each other.

Josim arrived back with our order and placed the food on the table.

"Go on, start eating," Nanu watched Isahaq with a smile on her face.

He nodded politely and bent forward to take a cup of coffee.

The sugar pot was towards my side, so when he extended his hand to reach it, our arms brushed against each other, and I could feel our legs grazing for a moment. The contact sent a shiver course through my veins.

My body immediately jerked with a jolt, and I moved towards the left, trying to make space between us. But the seat was too small for me to move far enough.

"Sorry, let me see if I can get an extra chair," Isahaq's tone was laced with nervousness and guilt.

"No, no, it's fine." I shot back quickly and started eating a pastry to brush off the awkwardness.

Thankfully, Nanu's question to Isahaq diverted his attention away from me. "So, you're in your last year of medical school, right? What are your future plans?"

✨

Isahaq ended up carrying all the grocery bags to the car while I held Nanu's hand, helping her walk down the stairs of the market.

The driver opened the door, and before Nanu got inside, she squeezed Isahaq's cheeks and patted his head lovingly. "Such a nice boy. I'll pray for your success and well-being! Do come visit our house with your mother again."

I bit back my smile at the scene, and Isahaq narrowed his eyes at seeing my reaction.

When Nanu was seated in the car, I put the last grocery bag in the front seat and closed the door.

"Thanks for the help," I said as I turned towards him to say goodbye.

Isahaq shook his head and placed a hand over his chest. "My pleasure. Thanks for the beautiful time. We should hang out more."

His words astounded me, and I blinked a few times before laughing nervously and nodding my head.

"Also, that day at the party, you—" he paused mid-sentence and then shook his head. "Never mind. Take care, Maha. Thanks once again."

He opened the car door for me, and I nodded in farewell before getting inside.

What was he about to say about the party? It's so annoying when someone starts to say something and then stops, leaving me curious. Why bother starting at all?

As he shut the door and waved goodbye, all I was left wondering about were his unspoken words. What exactly did he want to say about me?

✨

That night I received a text from Isahaq.

" Please thank your Nanu on my behalf for the treat and tell her I loved the biscuits she recommended :D  "

" Sure." I text back immediately.

What a way to start a conversation.

" So, I just noticed you follow the same anime pages as me! What's your favorite show?"

I grin excitedly, I had been meaning to ask him the same but felt too shy to text him first.

" Haikyuu all the way! But many others too. How about you?"

We spent a while talking about our interests and before I knew it , it was already midnight.

" I didn't realize it's already 1 am- my bad for making you stay up. We'll talk later then."

" No worries, I usually stay up late anyway. It was nice talking to you, Good night!" 

" Goodnight. Oh and Maha- as for what I wanted to say earlier... that blue saree looked gorgeous on you." 

He immediately went offline after he sent the last text.

I stared at my screen unblinkingly. 

Rubbing my eyes, I read the text again to make sure it was real and I wasn't hallucinating.

It was 1 am after all, the peak time for me to imagine fake scenarios in my head.

He thought the saree looked good on me ? Wait, hold up does he -... no no it's just a simple compliment, I'm getting ahead of myself.

But what if he compliments everyone anyway ? After all, it's in his nature to be kind. It's nothing special - is it ??

But the text was very real. He did notice me at that party after all! Even though he didn't bother to talk.

All my plans to keep my feelings for him at bay are suddenly thrown out of the window as I find myself blushing and giggling like a lovestruck teenager.

I somehow managed to type back a thank you to him before switching over to Tahira's account.

" Call an ambulance, I think I'm going to have a heart attack."

She replies back immediately, " Are you seriously sick or is it something to do with a fictional character/celebrity again ?"

" Girl- you won't believe what just happened"

Author's  Note

I'm sorry if the story feels like a slow burn. Both of them are such introverts around each other ( for now ) that's why I can't make something interesting happen smh

But drama is coming soon * laughs like a maniac*

The next chapter is set in the backdrop of Eid UL Adha!

After that there's around 5-6 chapters before something very dramatic happens ( basically the climax ) lol I can't wait to write that part.

Do remember to press that star - love A.M.K

Also

I know the majority of the readers probably know this but for those who don't, here's some little translations:

Assalamualaikum - peace be upon you ( Islamic greeting)

Alhamdulillah - praise to be/thanks be to god

Allah Hafiz -  Good-bye/ May god protect