REMARKABLE

47

Yahya Firas swallowed the lump stuck in his throat, "Utar sakogi?"

He knew couldn't unlike her. He couldn't forget how her voice sounded to his ears or how she looked when he found her asleep in his room. He couldn't forget how she made everything okay. He couldn't unlike her and it nearly killed him.

Unlike or Unlove?

His heart and brain refused to even entertain the mere notion of forgetting her, "Kiyoon k tum mujhey bohot achi lagnay lag gai ho." (Because I like you very much.)

"You are doing a terrible job of showing that you like me and if you don't like me, you're terrible at showing that, too. Choose, Yahya Firas."

"I like you, "He reiterated with much conviction.

"Terrible still, Yahya Firas-"Armineh shrugged one shoulder, making light of his words because she refused to believe them, "-But You ought to ask that from yourself what you should do now that we have established that you like your wife because you have never listened to me, before. Anything and everything, I tell you goes over your head just like your confession, just now has jumped over mine," Yahya Firas sensed her anger.

"Armineh," Yahya Firas breathed, softly.

"Don't Armineh me, Yahya Firas, "Armineh pointed at him with a jerk of her arrogant chin. "Aap mujhey batain mein kia karoon? (You tell me what do I do?) You don't trust me and you're asking me to tell you a way to get rid of whatever feelings you have for me just when you conveyed that you like me. What do you want me to do when you say it like it's a mistake?"

"Not a mistake, Armineh. I was frightened of letting my monsters out but now that I like you, I find that letting you in is what scares me the most. I am scared that I'd hurt you."

"No, you're scared that I would hurt you so you hurt me, instead. A day before yesterday, last year you said to me 'Sumujhlo, aaj se tumhara bhi imtehaan shuru hogaya' (Presumably, your test has also begun from today). Mujhey batain Yahya Firas kia aaj mera imtehaan khatum hogaya kiyoon k mein aaj aap mujhey pasand kartay Hain? Did I pass? Ya yeh koi doosra imtehaan hai because I failed?" (Tell me, Yahya Firas, does it end, today because you like me, now? Did I pass? Or is this another test of yours because I failed?) Kia chahtay hain aap mujh se?"(What do you want from me?)

"Kuch nahi likin wo sab tumhain daina chahta hoon jo tum chahti ho. (Nothing but I want to give you everything, you want.) There's is nothing I won't give you if you would only ask for it," He spoke, convincingly. Yahya Firas was sitting, again, his legs dangling from the edge of the bed and Armineh found the time to blush as his hospital gown rode high on his muscular legs.

Armineh uttered, distracted, "I think there is."

"There isn't." He denied, profusely.

"Then give me yourself. I am asking you from you." Yahya Firas inhaled a sharp breath.

Not yet.

"Ask me anything but that." Distress laced every word.

"You can give me everything that I have enough of my own but not what I want, Yahya Firas. Your words hold no truth when it comes to me, "Armineh goaded. "They are empty that's why your fondness of me is not an assurance for me."

Yahya Firas swallowed, her words pricked at his frail, human heart, "It worries me, more. It makes me wonder if it will make it all the easier for you to dispense me now that you like me because you tend to push people, away. I am afraid you'll push me too far."