6

Their gaze locked with each other and a silent understanding formed between the black and brown orbs.

“I don’t know, he just scares me,” she whispered.

“Ziniya, I have seen the color draining from your face from the moment he saw you. What is that about him that is scaring you? You were afraid of him even before you went into his cabin,” he said.

“You don’t have to tell me, if you don’t want to but remember this, no one can hurt you unless you let them,” he said when Ziniya kept crying.

“I know him,” she whispered in a barely audible voice, averting her gaze and looking down.

“But he doesn't know me. At least I thought he didn't know me but what happened in the cabin, I don’t know now,” she added.

Ayaaz cupped her face with both his hands and said, “Look at me.”

Ziniya obliged.

“Do you owe him anything?” he asked, to which she shook her head.

“Did you hurt him in any way?” again she shook her head in denial.

“Then why do you think he will hurt you?” the moment Ayaaz asked, Ziniya froze in her seat.

How easily he was able to sort my confusion. She thought.

“His presence makes me remember my haunting past, every night I go through the same pain I went through in my past. His eyes burn my soul and I feel suffocated thinking he could see through me, he could see how vile of a person I’m,” with that, she started crying hysterically.

Ayaaz’s chest constricted seeing her break down and pulled her in his arms, caressing her back. His body warmth soothes her and she nuzzles her face into his chest. Naila wasn’t wrong when she poited Ayaaz was tal. Even with her heels, Ziniya reached his neck. His arms perfectly fitted around her petite form, her forehead resting over his chest while he was whispering comforting words to her.

“I won’t let him hurt you, Zini,” the moment he said her heart skipped a beat.

Realizing both were lost in the moment, they broke their embrace and avoided looking at each other. 

“I wanted to apologize for my early behavior,” she said to break their awkward moment.

“I'll forgive you on one condition,” he replied, shoving his hands inside his trouser’s pocket.

“What?” she asked hesitantly.

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

“Tonight?” she asked in surprise.

“Yes, according to my official document today was supposed to be my birthday and for once I feel like celebrating it,” he said.

Surprised by his smile, she noticed the dimples deepening. Was it because of their moment or was she seeing him for the first time. She tries to remember if she noticed whenever he smiled, two charming dent adorn his face. There was something in his eyes that compelled her to agree to his request.

“Okay,” she smiled before saying, “let me inform my parents though.”

While she was busy calling her parents and Ayaaz looking out for a cab, oblivious to them, someone was looking at them with rage from inside the car.

“Sir, they are leaving,” the driver informed.

“Follow them,” with that, the parked Mercedes-Maybach moved into action.

It was early evening when they left the office and went to a nearby small restaurant. The place was small yet the food was above Ziniya’s expectation who couldn’t help drool over the food.

“I didn’t know I could taste something so delicious,” she chirped.

“I come here regularly. It is pocket friendly and serves a good portion of the serving,” Ayaaz replied, pouncing on his food. 

“If you don’t mind, can I ask you something?” she said, putting down her spoon.

Without raising his head he replied, “Shoot.”

“Where are your parents?” the moment Ziniya asked his hands to halt in mid-air making Ziniya regret her intrusiveness.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn't have asked,” she said hastily.

“I don’t mind but even I’m trying to recall where they could be,” he said, putting down his spoon and grabbing the water glass.

“To answer your question, I don’t know where my parents are,” he said, gulping the water in one go.

“Since the time my memory was fully functioning, I remember seeing the orphanage's common room where I used to sleep, a bag of used clothes was given to me every year. At first, I thought this was how children live however when I saw the owner coming along with his family and children I asked our warden, Mustafa Uncle where my parents are? 

“He said one girl came in the dark of night and left me at the gate of the orphanage. Even my name was given to me by Mustafa Uncle. He was fond of me and treated me like his son. He only named me Ayaaz with love. As I grew up I needed a surname for my admission into a government school so Mustafa Uncle gave me his surname and that’s how I was named, Ayaaz Quadri,” he replied looking lost.

“Where is he now?” Ziniya asked.

“He died long back but he wanted to see me getting a job and a family. It was because of him, I could finish my education. The orphanage funded my education however once I was of age I had to move out of the orphanage. I started working odd jobs but even working as a part-time waiter in a local food joint I couldn’t earn enough to manage my expenses. Mustafa Uncle saw my dedication towards my studies and helped me in completing my education.

“You know Zini, I saw many kids who left orphanages once they were 18 and chose a  path of rogue to meet their daily expenses. It’s not that they chose that path but nobody guided them on what was right and what was wrong. It was then I decided I would study hard and make a name for myself. My parents left me to fend on my own, didn’t even provide me with their name, so one day I would make a name for myself,” he said and turned to find her staring at him with an unknown emotion.

“You are great,” she said after a while.

“I know, I make girls deliberately bump into me,” he said with a smirk.

“You are not that great, keep dreaming,” she replied with fake rolled eyes.

“Whatever, I made you talk about me,” he teased her.

“Aren’t you too much into yourself?” she retorted, shaking her head.

“Well, when someone says I’m far better than Kabir Hashmi, I start believing them,” he chuckles seeing her face flushed.

“Eat,” she said, pointing towards his plate.

“Yes, Ma’am,” he saluted before grabbing his spoon.

By the end of the dinner, Ziniya was much more comfortable with Ayaaz’s teasing and was laughing heartily at his silly jokes. 

When the bill arrived, she choked with water when he divided the bill and asked her to pay her share.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing, I can’t believe a guy would actually divide the bill,” she said, opening her bag.

“Well, first, a guy,” he gestured his fingers as a double quote before saying, “didn’t eat the food alone, and second, I’m neither a chauvinist nor a feminist.”

“Fine, you don’t have to justify,” she scrunched her nose

She went wide-eyed seeing him taking the change from the bill. The waiter glared at him however Ziniya swatted his hand and made him keep the change as the tip.

“Consider it to be your lucky day,” he scowled at the waiter who in return said, “Yes, not that I can expect a tip from you eventhough you eat here, everyday.”

Ziniya burst out laughing at the waiter’s comeback while Ayaaz glared at her.

“You didn’t have to be generous,” he said, stepping out of the restaurant, oblivious that her gaze was fixed at a black expensive car parked at a distance. When its window rolled down her breathing hitched and she moved closer to Ayaaz.

“Ayaaz..” she clutched his hand.

“I know, don’t let him scare you, Zini,” he said, intertwining their fingers and guiding her terrifying form to walk ahead.

“You knew?” she asked in surprise.

“Yes, it’s not every day you see a luxurious car right behind you every single moment,” he replied.

“He is following you to intimidate you, it’s all in you how you respond. You can either be scared of him for no reason or you could walk with your head high,” he added before raising his other hand to stop a cab.

“I’m not scared of him,” she said looking at Ayaaz.

“I know, you are scared of your past,” he said, locking her hair behind her ear.