Page 2 of Dream You
1
Khwaab
For the first time in my life I saw a dream about him, thought this way about him. Him!!!
Crap! Crap! Crappp!!
Take a break dear heart; you’re going in the wrong direction.
Keeping a hand over my racing heart, I got out of bed. I was covered in sweat, although London was quite cold last night.
I had just about turned towards the washroom but instead went out of my bedroom door grumbling to myself, ‘How dare he wear me down so much in the dream?! I'am too tired and pissed to even shower now. I need food in my system. Stat.’
Stepping in to the corridor, I collided with a warm solid wall.
"I’am sorry Khwaab...and Hi!” said the wall in a manly voice.
I looked up to find the wall taking a small step back after the collision.
Damn...! I guess, I never woke up...I’am still sleeping, still dreaming...him!
Because otherwise, why would the aforementioned wall be Ryan Wills?
He was looking at me hesitatingly, moving his eyes away then back again sneaking a peek...
‘It’s true we are both always hesitant towards each other. Yet in the dream
Ryan was anything but that. Then why is he behaving this way now in the continuation of dream? Weird creature!’ rolling my eyes at him, I moved away.
I did not care that I was prancing around carelessly in very short, shorts and a sleeveless tank top in front of the person; I have always been shy around. Because c'mon this is just a dream, why should I feel awkward in this?
“So...you’re going somewhere?" asked Ryan.
‘Hah!’ I snorted. ‘Who goes out in pyjamas?’ I scoffed to myself rolling my eyes at the ceiling. ‘He used to be so brilliant. I guess he is thick in the dream...and now I’am talking to myself! Duhh me..!’
Instead of answering him, I moved to grab a banana from the fruit basket on the dining table. Turning around, I found Ryan standing by the wall looking amused.
‘I guess he is enjoying this dream. After all in reality I'am never this carefree around him even while talking. And off course the view of my bare legs he is ogling at must be something...
Ogle away dear boy...I would never stand for a second wearing this in front of you had this not been a dream.’
I went inside the kitchen, to make myself a cup of coffee.
"Dear, please prepare a cup for Ryan as well. And why are you still in this nightwear? Go and change. He is in the living room!" chiding Mom kept a lid over the breakfast and left.
I made a face, behind her back.
Again ‘Ryan..!’ looks like even Mom is dreaming about him. God I hope it is of maternal variety, we-are-such-a-big family kind of dream and not as x-rated as mine!
And wasn’t it my dream in the first place? Well, typical of Mom to come inside my dream and talk about my clothes.
My Mom Mrs. Saira Wills, is nothing but predictable through and through.
Sipping my coffee, I went towards the living room, stunned to find 'his truly' sitting comfortably on the couch with my parents in tow.
"Khwaab I asked you to make a coffee for Ryan!" tsked mom widening her eyes, gesturing me to get a hint and go change.
Though a petite brunette and oh so delicate in looks, Mom has always been a fierce mother hen to the core...!
"Oh stop it...I’am so done with this dream thingy!!!" I said with an over-exasperated sigh for dramatic effect.
Scowling I went on, "There is no Ryan here, to be served a coffee too, alright?"
Since both my parents looked at me as if I have lost my marbles or eyesight. I marched forward to where the imaginary Ryan sat.
Then making eye contact with him and my parents, I said with a proud smirk,
"You don't believe me? Then watch—"
And I touched Ryan's cheek thinking he’ll disappear the very moment and my dream will be finally over.
Although Ryan smiled at my touch locking eyes with me, his wasn’t an amused smile, but a warm smouldering one. Yet in my stunned state I did not enjoy his reaction or even looked at him warmly. I stared at him in sheer terror!
Coming out of shock, I removed my hand from his cheek as if I received a current.
"Are you alright Khwaab? Didn’t you see that since so long Ryan has been here talking to me?" Dad asked with concern.
"Uncle, maybe she is still half asleep." Ryan intervened trying to help me out.
Feeling humiliated, I quietly made way towards my bedroom and dialled a conference call to Alaiza and Sami, my cousins cum friends cum classmates in college, and just as free all the time as I was.
"Hey! Ryan came to my house. I think he had some work with Dad." I said not revealing, 'I made a complete prat of myself!'
"Ooh! Ry came, so where were you hiding?" Alaiza chuckled.
"Or should we ask where was he hiding? Did you guys at least say hi to each other?" supplied Sami.
"What do you mean?" I pretended to be unaware.
"C’mon! You know exactly what we’re talking about. Since so many years have you people ever had an honest-to-god conversation or even a fight with each other? Never! You guys are friendly with all of us. Infact you both are buddies with us. But with each other..." scoffed Alaiza.
"With each other you both are shy like new-brides. Forget about being buddies; you guys barely look in the eye while even talking in a group. You’re always hesitant. The reason for it..." added Sami.
"...we are sure even you both don't know!!" laughed Alaiza.
Sighing I gave up and accepted the truth,
"Yes even I don't know why am I so hesitant and shy towards Ryan since childhood. Can’t help it...It’s just like that."
Not willing to tell them about today and give them more fodder to write a thesis paper on the awkwardness of Ryan-Khwaab! I disconnected the call and lied on my bed wondering to myself...
This is a serious issue. Why can't we ever talk normally or become friends? For starters, while everyone else calls him by the nickname ‘Ry’, why have I never been able to do that? Why do we always feel shy towards each other and not with anyone else...Why? And why did I see that kind of dream about him?
Sure, Dad named me Khwaab, which means ‘dream’ in Urdu language. But it doesn’t mean I should have dreamt that! It’s no excuse.
My mind wacked me tauntingly;
'Don't you know why you saw a hot as hell dream about Ryan? Think again Sweetie, maybe it’s because you have crushed on him hard since the time you were out of wearing diapers.'
"Khwaab, breakfast is ready!" yelled mom.
I hurried up to get properly dressed, as if Ryan hasn’t already got an eyeful of the mountains of bare skin from my skimpy pyjamas.
'What have I done to deserve this?'
Was all I could think about, sitting in front of Ryan, who was insisted by my parents to stay for breakfast!
Now I can't even eat in peace! If I'am not very proper, he’ll think I'am a starving cow along with being neurotic and weird, thanks to my stunt of touching his cheek to show his ‘invisibility’.
While eating, every now and then involuntarily our eyes met, since we sat across from each other. And each time a blush creped on my cheeks remembering the dream...Especially when Ryan stared at me while sipping his coffee, I faced a moment of déjà vu when in the dream he had sipped coffee, but from my mug while doing oh-so-hot things to me...
Realizing that I'am smiling like a lovesick teenager while he scrunched his eyebrows curiously over the rim of his cup, I chided to myself,
'Wipe off that toothy smile Khwaab, before he declares you a certified fool. Since morning you have already ruined any good impression you might have ever made on him in all these years.'
I was brought out of my self-despairing thoughts by my father's question,
"So what time is this get-together at Alaiza’s place?"
"It’s after lunch uncle, why don't you and auntie join us too?" Ryan smiled.
"No, what will we do in the mids of young people. You guys enjoy." Dad, my cute teddy bear as always smiled graciously.
By teddy bear, I don’t mean the obvious. Because my father, Mr. Olive Wills, is not fat! No he is awesome just like me. But has a cute tummy to show. In olden-age people called it a sign of good financial background. Nowadays people just call it a result of food love.
It makes me question my lifelong research about Ryan, which had told me, Ryan loves food. But still has a flat stomach from what I can deduce by his body hugging shirts and terrific physique that says, he is packing some serious muscles in there.
Must be the result of all those early morning jogs he goes on for getting sexily sweaty and making my heart race. That, along with his blue eyes and chiselled jaw, makes my throat dry...Not to mention, I feel almost jealous of his drowning deep eyes, like that of a doll’s. He is almost prettier than me. This is so unfair!
Soon breakfast came to an end and Ryan took his leave from my parents.
Turning towards me he said,
"I’ll see you at Alaiza's."
His blue orbs twinkled as if they knew my secrets.
"It’s so nice of you all kids being friends. That’s how siblings should be." sighed Mom after Ryan had gone.
The word sibling pricked something in my heart.
"Mom, we are not siblings!!" I rolled my eyes at her.
"Yes but you all are first cousins, such a tight knit group. It looks so sweet when you all are together..."
'Like a big happy family!' I thought sarcastically.
Then it struck me, she is not wrong. After all that’s what we are—Me, Alaiza, Sami, Zake, Fauz and Ryan...First cousins! Still why can't I stop thinking about Ryan in a way that is so not brotherly rather lovingly...
Am I already too far gone with my feelings? Reached a point of no return? What do I do now?
