Page 15 of Storm
Her black eyes softened, seeing us ready after her fair warnings to be on time. We were going to a family friend’s wedding reception and as always, Umber was a bubble of excitement when it came to wedding parties. Me? I do not like such show-off kind of things. I just went to eat delicacies I know I would not have to pay for, and a nice bitching session with Umber about anyone we found, thoroughly bitchy!
We left the house, and I was just about to open the front passenger door of Zee's car to get inside, when he grabbed my wrist, making me turn.
I raised my eyebrows confused.
Jerking his chin towards me, he said softly,
“A complete stunner you are.”
“Aww...Thank you.” I smiled wide. “That is why I keep you around my boy. Let’s go now.”
Zee just shook his head with a lopsided grin.
Next moment, we heard a loud thunder and the storm erupted, making us rush inside the car. I could have never guessed this dark night would turn out to be the most memorable nights of my life for more reasons than one.
4-Love at first sight...or is it not?
Sani
The reception party was taking place in a five star hotel. The banquet hall had me mesmerised by its lavish decorations of red roses and candles everywhere, giving it an intimate feel, along with the majestic chandeliers that looked as if encrusted with stars that twinkled in candlelight, which reflected on them from every corner of the hall.
After congratulating the married couple, we met our friends and a few cousins (Yeah, we Shaads grow like weeds in the rains). This being a family friends wedding reception, everyone had poured in full flow.
Shortly after dinner, Zee disappeared into the party. Not finding him anywhere we went on to catch up and gossip. We were sitting in a circle of chairs, chatting and enjoying ourselves when...
“Hey guys! Listen, I had told you all, tonight I might run into an old friend of mine who was supposed to move into the city this week, remember?” Zee beamed, patting a guy's back, “See, I found him. This is Aariz Deewan.”
My mind went, well...completely blank. I felt like, I had seen this person before. I just could not remember when and where.
Damn it Sani! Grandpa is right. You must eat more almonds. Otherwise, who in their right freaking mind could forget this steamy hottie?! You claim to have a sharp memory, but forgetting such a sight shows you have a ‘burn and poof’ kind of remembering power.
Crap! He has not even spoken to me yet and already gave me an insight on my shortcomings! This person is worth keeping, yet dangerous for my self-esteem. Wow! What a lethal combination!
He really was something in that navy blue buttoned down shirt, over which he had worn a carbon black suit, covering up nicely on the hard plains of his body.
If I could touch him...You know, just to see exactly how his chest feels under my fingers. Will it be as hard as it looks? Just wondering you see.
His shiny maroon tie with hints of black self-design stood out like something electrical on his corporate kind of personality, whispering lovely dangerous things to me. The carbon coloured suit made his stormy cloud-like grey orbs pop out, and look brighter.
His eyes directed at Zee, made me crave for contact. For no reason I could think off, I was desperately waiting to look into their depths.
This Aariz guy already had me hooked on him. I was starving to know him better. Although, usually I would not give the time of the day to any random guy, however good he looked. But I was intrigued here. He had a knowing yet secretive aura around him.
Seeing him grin at Zee, I wished to say,
‘Grace us as well with those lips dear boy. We are all intrigued by your sudden existence as a friend.’
Zee went on good-naturedly,
“If I'm not wrong, some of you already know Aariz, and are friends with him.”
Apparently, the guy knew most of my cousins including the eldest of us, Humza, Umber's brother. Along with knowing the youngest among the boys and two years elder to me, Ibrahim, that is Ibbi. The way Aariz met them with the man hugs, the thing guys do with one arm around and thump on the back...Whatever it is. It felt like they had known each other for a long time. Yet nobody was quite clarifying, how?
Maybe it is just a guy thing. Almost every guy is a friend of some other guy. God knows how! Well, I personally find it just creepy.
Smiling good-naturedly, Aariz shook hands with the people he had never met before, that is Umber and I.
I thought his warm smile and eyes lingered a few seconds more on me, given the fact that it felt as if our handshake lasted a few moments longer than necessary. On the other hand, maybe it was just my mind making things up, given the fact that I was staring at him wide-eyed as if, never seen a guy before. Trying to pass my goofy, college-girl smile as a gracious, mature, all put-together one. I might have looked a little neurotic to him.
