2

"Rahina!"

My heart skipped and I froze in my steps as his shy, hesitant voice called me.

Carefully turning around, I saw him being dragged towards me. His face was as flustered as mine.

"Assalamualaikum. Mai (I'm) Uzair." He said shyly.

Oh! Soo cute!

"Walaikum assalam! I know, uh....mai Rahina." I replied stupidly.

"I know!" He grinned.

You idiot! Of course he does! Die!

We looked around with awkward silence all blushy and weird. I should really say something to break the ice.

"Uh....aapki speech bohot acchi thi.

(Your speech was very good.)

"Thankyou. College k representative hone k naate...itna toh karna hi tha."

(As the college representative... I had to atleast do that much)

He said.

"Mujhe laga nahi tha aap u milengi. (I never thought I'd find you like this.) Guess I got lucky."

I grinned shyly looking at my feet. I didn't know what to say. I was soo tongue tied. So we asked about eachother's parents and told eachother to say Salam to them. You know the usual convo.

"Uzair! Let's go!" His friends were calling him.

"Yeah... I'm coming." He called out to them as I felt a little disheartened.

"We have to visit another college too. So I should leave."

He himself looked a bit upset too.

"Of course!" I forced a smile.

"Uh... Rahina..." He was blushing a lot.

"Ji?"

"I hope aap ka jawab ha hi ho?

(I really hope you say yes)." He said abruptly giving me a wide, charming smile and running out to his friends. I gaped at him shocked keeping a hand over my racing heart to calm it.

"Aa...kon tha wo handsome ladka? Aur....assa q bola ki 'I hope aap ka jawab ha hi ho? Teko pro (propose) kiya kya?!" Ashna said over-excitedly from behind me making me jump.

(Hey... who was that handsome guy? And why did he say,' I hope your answer is yes? Did he propose to you?!)"

I looked around at everyone's shocked and excited faces laughing nervously.

∆∆∆∆

We had another bus after an hour so we went to Kaki's (aunty in marathi) stall to eat. I explained my girls the whole story of how a week ago I received a marriage proposal. Uzair's parents saw me at my cousin's wedding and immediately talked to my parents. We never met face to face nor did me ever talked up until now. I just saw his pic that my parents showed me. They really seem to like him..but, I never gave an answer.

"Par q? Itna accha toh hai wo! Ha bool khuli." (But why? He's just soo good. Just say yes you fool) Neha whined shaking me.

"Aase kaise ha bolu? Mujhe shadi nai karni!" (How can I just say yes? I don't want to marry!) I pouted.

"I agree. We haven't even graduated yet. What's the rush?! Infact, marriage is just a burden!" Nadia said only to receive a slap on her arms by both Neha and Ashna.

"Ow!" She pouted cutely rubbing her arms.

"This girl is always soo negative about marriage. Just wait and watch! She'll be the first 1 to get married." Ashna said grinning.

"Allah! Astaghfirullah! Shubh shubh bolo!" Nadia yelled horrified.

"Ok...shubh shubh!" They both said in unison laughing. Nadia shook her head.

"Aree kisi na kisi din sab ko shadi karni hai. Itna accha ladka mila teko. Itna handsome, smart, scholar! All in one package hai wo...rare species! Chance mat chod!" Ashna said.

(Dude! Someday or another we all have to get married. You have found such a nice guy. Handsome, smart, scholar. All-in-One package... he is a rare species! DON'T leave this chance)

"Tujhe badi shadi ki jaldi hai?"

(You are quite eager to get married?)

She scowled at me.

I was confused already but now they are all confusing me even more.

∆∆∆∆

As I got back home, I could only think about him. Even when I was helping mum in the kitchen I accidentally put sugar instead of salt in the sabzi and received a perfect hit on my back which, by the way still stings!

While eating dinner too the food is in my hand from past 5 minutes but my brain is busy replaying his words.

"Aa zakkin! Kis k khayalo mei khoyi hai? Uzair k?" My bro teased.

(Hey witch! Whose thoughts are you lost in? Uzair's?)

"Huh? What? Why?" I blurted coming out of my daze.

He started laughing and my parents joined in too making me flustered.

The next day too, like always, I was running late and everyone was already on the bus stop waiting for me. I asked my bro to drop me but that's selfish brat coldly denied. Tsk! what good are brothers with bikes if they can't even drop their sisters to college?! So he received a good beating from me.

As he's just a year older to me so I feel no obligation to keep my hands in control....or my tongue.

On my way to the stop, I noticed a group of controversial looking people at a distance near a car. My steps slowed down automatically. I could see everyone's faces but there was this one person who had his back. I don't know why but.... I just wanted to see his face at least once! They all seemed shady and I was a bit creeped out but.... just once.... once I want to see him. I peeped left and right but I couldn't see his face. He was tall, broad shouldered and his clothes look expensive. Something was sticking out of his back pocket. I couldn't see but it looked like a big bulge so I couldn't not notice it. Hey! don't get me the wrong way you dirty minds! I wasn't checking him out it's just that.... I felt intrigued.

Ah! He was turning.

I braced myself and saw the side of his face is puffy black hair were falling at the side on his forehead. Oh damn! He didn't look back completely. He was talking to a man and that man looks scared. What's going on?

I looked around but there was no one. Wait! he turned his head back... now he turned back completely. Moving his fingers through his thick hair he looked frustrated and even bit his lip as if trying to control his temper. Damn! he looks attractive like that. I got a good look of his face, yep, he's handsome. Total crush material!  He looks tough but he still has a lean but muscular frame. He's fair but sun-kissed, 2 buttons of his shirt open.

I gasped as his eyes landed on me.

What do I do?! Oh no!

I looked around panicking. As my eyes nonchalantly went on him, maybe I was imagining it but he was looking at me and.... smirking. I looked away quickly and started walking with haste. My heart was thumping and without stopping in my steps I took my phone out from my back holding it tight in my hand.

He isn't following me right?!

I saw my friends as a near the bus stop and took a breath of relief.

I was safe.

∆∆∆∆

After the final when we were all about to leave all my ladies blocked my way at the door. I watched their creepy smirking faces with wide eyes.

"Kya hua? Aase bhutniyo k jaise q dekh rahe ho meko? Darao mat!"

(What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like ghosts? Don't scare me!)

"Tere liye surprise plan kiye hai humne." Ashna said grinning.

(We have planned a surprise for you.)

I watched her skeptically.

"Surprise? Mere liye? Kya kand kiye tum log ne?" I said a bit scared.

(Surprise? For me? What mess did you create this time?)

They all giggled scaring me even more.

∆∆∆∆

"KYA!!!" (WHAT!!!)

I almost screamed when I found out there surprise and HE was standing right in front of me in the white beach.

"Assalamualaikum!" He said awkwardly.

"Walaikum assalam." I said equally awkward then glared at my girls. I swear, after this I am going to rip thier hair off.

"How do you 2 like your surprise?"

One of his friends asked.

"They loved it so much that they are speechless!" Ashna said.

'Wait till I met you speechless when I rip your tongue out Ashna.' I thought

He moved his hand through his nape shyly.

Oh soo cuteeee!

I just melted seeing him and as his eyes stopped at me, my heart skipped.

"Uh... so what should we do now?" He asked rather shyly.

"Uzair and Rahina sitting on a tree....k...i....ugh!"

My eyes widened as his friend started singing it but was punched in his ribs by Uzair right on time.

"Sorry." He mumbled. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright u 2 love birds run along! Hum kabab mei haddi nahi banenge. (We won't disturb u)." Ashna said pushing us a little.

Uzair and I shared a shy glance and he gestured his hand forward gentlemanly. I nodded and started walking.

We were just walking silently, watching as the sand entered our sandals and hearing the waves clashing the shore.

"Wah! I can speak in front of hundreds of people with ease but...right now trying to talk to you when we're alone...it feels soo nerve-wracking!" He said soo innocently.

He always speak his mind. That's what I like about him. I can't do that.

"Kabhi kabhi khamoshi hi bohot kuch keh jati hai.

(Sometimes, silence speaks more than words.)

I said.

He looked at me with a startled face. Shit! Ew! I can't believe I said such a tacky line. He must be feeling so awkward. Oh God! Help!

He chuckled softly. Yep! his making fun of me of course!

'Rahina! you are hopeless!'

"I didn't knew you're such a romantic.  Ek aur baat pata chal gayi aap k baare mei.

(I found out another new thing about u)

"Uh...um...I uh..." I laughed stupidly.

We were again just walking silently side-by-side feeling the wind pushing our hair back and I think the wind was in love with me or something because it was letting me live a girls one of the worst nightmares by pushing my kurta up sometimes from front then back and then my hair slapping my face going in my nose and mouth and eyes that too in front of him. It was so annoying and embarrassing that I wanted to scream.

I angrily pushed my kurta down flying from the front holding it down with my left hand and try to fist all my hair which was in a loose pony with my right hand. I tried to blow the hair which was sticking to my lips. I was about to lose my temper any moment now when....

"Can I help?" He said and as I was busy with myself scowling, I didn't pay attention to his words though as I was too annoyed but when his fingers touched my face removing the hair, I froze up, an electric current traveling my body and my heart was ready to burst out of my chest like - boom!

Our shocked gaze struck at eachother. My Brown to his black....