REMARKABLE

51

I have never been to Beirut, Lebanon. Bear with me, please.

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Yahya Firas eyed the distance between them from the corner of his eyes, they walked side by side but nobody would have guessed they were together least of all husband and wife. Armineh breathed the humid air as they walked along the coast.

"Is faslay ko khatum nahi karogi?" (Won't you erase this distance between us?) Yahya Firas said having enough of her silence.

"Yeh fasla aap khud khatum karaingay. (You will erase this distance yourself.) You have been making me chase you all this time, Yahya Firas. Don't play hard to get with so much enthusiasm. Haven't you learned, yet? I am a go-getter kind of girl and who knows you might just become my end goal," Armineh bestowed a teasing smile as she turned her head to look at him and Yahya Firas found himself inching closer to her side, a small smile etched on his lips.

He challenged, "What's with 'might'? I am your end game, Armineh Zain Raza as you're mine."

His eyes creased and his smile, broadened when Armineh choked on the air she had breathed.

She groaned with embarrassment, flattening her palms against her warm cheeks, "Yahya Firas."

She increased her pace to leave him behind but he had already stopped, a plan formulating in his brain.

"Wait for me. I am coming," Armineh ignored him.

"I am coming. Wait for me, Armineh," He shouted, walking steadily towards her. People looked at him, weirdly but his only motivation was Armineh.

Armineh's eyebrows rose to her hairline and she doubted her ears as she wondered if Yahya Firas's senses had deserted him.

"Wait for me, my wife!" He said as he caught up to her and grasped her hand in his. Armineh had to believe it was him with the way he grinned at her, hearing a few claps. She smiled back despite being flustered at his display of utter foolishness.

"What was that, Yahya Firas?" She whispered, burying her face in his chest as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his side. She felt his chest vibrate with laughter.

He planted a gentle kiss on the crown of her head, "Just gave you a reason to remember our time, together."

After, treading a few more paces, he brought her to the metal baluster along with himself. He removed his hands from her person to lean against the baluster while she faced the sea.

Her smile dropped, Yahya Firas noticed the depressing change in her expression.

Armineh swallowed, her eyes brimmed with apprehension met his, "Can I ask you something?"

The moment, she had uttered those words, he knew what she wanted to know.

Should I tell you they chased me to the Grand Al Omeri mosque after I left you crying in the room. It's where I offered my prayers and then, slept there like a baby for a good, few hours on the hard floor while you were probably worried sick for me. Do you think, I am oblivious to the concern you show for me?

"Chor do, kia karogi jaan kar?" (Leave it, what will you do?)

"Yeh kia hua?" (What happened, here?) She took his bandaged hand in hers.