"Careful, or you will fall." Shahina didn't hear what he said, she just wiggled free from his grip and turned around to leave the kitchen. But Yawar quickly grabbed her dupatta to stop her, and she did.
Shahina stood still, unable to look back, her heart was hammering inside her chest. Yawar touched her for the first time, and it may have been for a few seconds, but she could still feel his firm grip on her shoulders. She didn't remember that she was touched by a man after coming into this house. No one dared it, not even Yawar, yet today he did, and he didn't feel hesitant, and strangely she was bewildered, not scared, as she thought she would be. Shahina was momentarily confused by her feelings, and that prevented her from turning to face him.
"You were planning to flee from me again?" Yawar came before her, still holding the edge of her dupatta in his hand.
Shahina gazed at his face and realised that the distance between them was inappropriate. With a slight jerk, she snatched her dupatta and took a few steps back. Yawar didn’t mind it, perhaps it was expected of her.
"I was missing you, and you kept avoiding me." Shahina frowned at his statement, and a smile crept on his face.
"I didn't see you crawling around the walls these days. Were you sick?" Shahina took a deep breath to subdue her anger and shook her head negatively.
"Good, anyway. I think we should go out for dinner as I am leaving for exams within a week."
"No." She instantly rejected it, and he chuckled.
"Such a blunt answer and strict voice. I see you have gained some confidence. But don't get too confident, because I dislike loud and overconfident girls." The tone he used to end the sentence felt strange to Shahina. She looked up at him, but he just stared back at her.
Lately, Shahina started to feel more intimidated by his presence. It wasn't like she never feared him. He used to tease her, play dangerous pranks on her, and even create scenarios for her to be scolded, but that was it. Gradually, Shahina learnt to avoid being his victim by sticking to Amma-bi, and she felt safe. However, this wasn't the case anymore. No matter how much she hid, Yawar's existence alone pressured her. As if he was watching her all the time, whether he was in the house or not, she feared that he could get her whenever he wanted, there was no safe place, and no one could save her from him now.
Shahina lowered her gaze when the silence grew awkward between them and rushed outside, but after a few seconds, she was back in the kitchen to prepare the kababs, which she left half done. Yawar let out a laugh and sat on the kitchen shelf to watch her. His eyes were glued to her delicate hands as they skillfully made kababs. She seemed like an experienced chef instead of a college student. He felt blissful while thinking that he'll be eating her cooking for the rest of his life and muttering, 'Insha'Allah.'
Shahina's hands instantly stopped hearing his voice and glanced at him.
"Keep working." Said Yawar and jumped down from the shelf. Grabbing an apple from the refrigerator, he cut it into two pieces and put one piece near Shahina.
"Apple is good for health." He said, biting the other half, and went out of the kitchen.
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