Like Chalk And Cheese [Completed]

Boundaries and Whatnot

We did stop to grab a quick bite from KFC as I had correctly predicted to Agha Hasan, and then kept driving through the streets as the night shifted above us. At one point though, sleep began to knock at my mind and I started to doze against the window. I lost track of time then, but I knew it was way past midnight when the car finally stopped outside Agha Hasan's house.

With heavy eyes I plodded forth, after giving a wave to Umair Bhai from over my shoulder once I had exited the car and closed the door. I heard him drive past as I reached the smaller gate and felt a light but firm hand land on my shoulder, holding me back from pushing the gate in. Agha Hasan jerked his chin to his right when I turned my neck to look up at him, and found him gesturing towards the gate next house once I followed his gaze.

"We have to go there." His full-toned, low voice sounded in the otherwise silence of the street.

All pinpricks of drowsiness melted away as I realised that the house I was about to step in was out of bounds for me now. I met his gaze in alarm. "I'm sorry-I-I didn't real-"

"It's okay." He said softly and urged me lightly on the shoulder. "Come on."

Dropping my head, I followed him into the house.

---

He looked grumpy over breakfast and having enough sense I didn't try to probe him, lest he snapped at me. And then he left without letting me know where he was going off to. That's how I spent my entire Sunday lying on the couch and surfing through the channels because none of the programs airing on the tv could grasp my interest.

The more the time passed, the more irritated and upset I turned. Sundays were fun back at home, not bland and slow the likes of which I was experiencing right now. Given the men didn't have to go to work, the individual families were either invited over dinners or if that didn't come about we'd collectively decide over an outing, and consequently devote our day to making the best of the pleasing weather.

I decided as I chewed a mouthful of noodles that I wouldn't talk to Agha Hasan and stay mad at him for deserting me on a Sunday, worrying simultaneously about why Mama Jaan hadn't yet delivered any reply.

I thought he might come home for lunch, and then hoped for dinner when he didn't. But the night came over and I dozed off on the couch, the otherwise desolate mansion intensifying the echo of silence around me.

---

As my mind floated awake, I was taken over by a weird sense of confusion about time and place. I tried to think where and when and how I had slept before seeing for myself. As I remembered and opened my eyes, a burst of bamboozlement erupted in my head and I blinked several times before letting my eyes go wide. I was in my room, warm under the comforter with the air conditioner set to a lower temperature, even though that's not how and where I remembered sleeping.

Did it mean that he-

Oh my God.

He carried me all the way to the room!

Oh sweet lord.

For a hurried moment I wondered how it must have felt to have his toned arms curled around my legs and my back, and then as soon as the thought crossed my mind I chastised myself for visualising the mortifying notion.

How would I be able to have breakfast with him now that I was guilty of such a crime, and with remains of it still swimming brazenly across my mind? I had to remind myself that I was supposed to hate him and should be disgusted at the idea of him touching me.

Groaning internally, I swept my legs off the bed just as the knock on the door sounded in the room.

"Coming in a minute!" Pulling a vexed face, I shouted to Amir and padded to the washroom.