Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Some people just barge into your life without any advance notice, and becomes a part of it, in a way that it becomes impossible to imagine a life without them. Now thinking about it, Zain is someone like that in her life. It's been only few months ago in June, a new boy in the city knocked her doors who happens to be her neighbour. Today, only months after, it's February mid spring, and he is already a part of her daily life.

Surprisingly Zain Amir made himself a family for her, they both did that. But something made her uncomfortable when she stalked Zain's instagram account two days ago, after their beach talk. His family, with whom Amaya is not sure what to do about.

She tried her best to ignore him for these two days but last night when he texted her wishing her on birthday and technically giving her order to be ready for today, she couldn't simply say no to him. She needs to make herself clear here but before that she wants to enjoy this with Zain, she wants to enjoy her birthday for the first time in this twenty three years of her life, maybe after that she will never get to see him again, but she knows it is good to end this now before she gets more attached to her best friend. But who knows what destiny holds for them.

Zain Amir is always been a curious cat after all.

Today Zain is a bit early, he planned the whole day ahead. After knowing Amu, he knows if anything, she deserves happiness the most.

So it's done, he is here to give her happiness and to be her companion through all ups and downs, through all thick and thin. Standing in the front door he rings the bell, a bouquet of red roses in his hands for the birthday girl.

Opening the door reveals a girl in a blue multi-colour top and jeans, and he loses his heart again to Amaya Kareem and this time he feels it.

A voice from his heart rings in his ears, 'fall in love with someone, who will make you fall for yourself more'.

And his eyes shine in a realization, his is falling and he doesn't want to stop himself, he is happy to fall. This realization last for few seconds, until when Amaya breaks the silence.

"Hey"

"Happy Birthday Amu."

Giving her the roses, he hugs her making their heartbeats sync and the feeling of being home engulfs them. Their smiles reaches their eyes, they are happy, a true happy birthday.

"So listen I have already planned the whole day, thanks for wearing these comfortable clothes because there's nothing fancy.

First we will head to Mohalla Restuarant for our breakfast cum lunch then to the next location, so yeah let the day begin."

"Woahh already planned everything. What if I say that I am not in a mood of going anywhere?"

"Not a chance. You have to come. So now let's go and grab your helmet"

"Helmet?"

"We are cycling to the first place that's why. Just go and get it now, fast"

"Seriously? The Zain Amir, the CEO of the Amir Groups wants to go on a cycle. What will people say if they get to know about it?"

"I don't care what will people say, moreover no one knows me, so let's just go already."

"Sure toh ho?"

"Cent percent. Now come let's go"

Amaya never thought someone like Zain Amir will ever be a part of her life. Someone so down to earth person.

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Cycling with him is fun, with both teasing each other, cracking some lame jokes every here and there.

The Mohalla Restuarant is a place where you will get amazing Indian food, which Zain was craving as Amaya didn't cook for him since last two days.

"Yeah only this for now."

"Zain only this for now. You ordered a lot of food here, I hope you realise that."

"Oh hello, it's not a lot of food. I can eat it all, and if you can't eat your food, I will eat yours too. And let me remind you, it was you who didn't cook my dinner for two days and I have to eat dinner cooked by my house help"

"Firstly sorry for that but your house help does cook nice food, I don't even have one okay. Secondly how can you eat everything you want and still remain so fit man?"

"Well there is a place called gym which I hardly go to, but I guess the morning run thrice a week did wonders for me plus I do have a good metabolism you know"

"Yeah yeah I get it 'Mr.Oh I am so fit'."

"So now tell me why were you ignoring me for last two days?" Amaya is a little taken back by this question.

She never thought that Zain would notice that, but he is Zain Amir, and he notices every little detail. He understands much more than he shows. There is hardly anything that's hidden from him and if he wants to know about it, he gets that. Here before him is Amu, his best friend who have become a family to him now. So how come he wouldn't know something about her.

"I was not. I was just a bit busy these days." Ruining the day which just started by saying things that will end this beautiful bond is not something Amaya wants at the moment, so she denied simply.

"I notice everything about you Amu. You are a good liar, I give that to you. But I am already well aware of the truth. And what makes you think that if you get to know everything about me, I won't know something about you?

I know about it and trust me that doesn't matter. You were the one who told me we should never live in the past and today you are ready to ruin this beautiful bond because of something that doesn't really matter."

"You don't get it Zain."

"I completely get it Amaya Kareem. Look I don't know what happened in the past but what I know is that you are an amazing human and the only person I can share anything any moment in my life.

Someone I can rely on without thinking twice, someone who have now become a family, my home. And I want of cherish this relation my whole life. So don't you dare to ruin it because of the past."

"It doesn't matter to you?"

"Never Amu. What matters is the present, which is you and me. A new life full of happiness. I want to make memories with you, travel with you and enjoy our friendship the most."

"So there's nothing gonna change between us even after you knowing.."

"Even after me knowing everything, there is nothing that will ever change between us. With time yes, we will know each other more, our comfort level will change but that will always be in a positive note. I don't think anyone of us will judge each other because of our past which really doesn't matter now."

"Thank you for being here with me Zain"

"It's a pleasure to have you in my Amaya. Now I'm really hungry let's dig in the food or else I will eat everything" Their laughter fills the place and a heavy weight if lifted off Amaya's heart.

Zain Amir is really a blessing for her. Her life was a void canvas when she shifted here, she was just adding colours to it and then Zain just barged into it, splashing hues of happiness in it. She always used to seek for a home, and Zain gave her one.

He's right, home is simply not a place, perhaps it's a person with whom you are comfortable with, whose warmth fills your heart and your soul. A person whom you will be blessed to have in your life. A person you can always rely on, who will take you to the peaks of ecstasy without even asking you or letting you know. And Amaya is ready to lead this road with Zain.

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After the heavy lunch which was apparently not very tough for Zain to finish it off, they head to next destination, The amusement park, that too a Bollywood theme one. Zain never left Amaya's hand even for a minute.

Tu bin bataye mujhe le chal kahin

Jahan tu muskuraye meri manzil wahin

(you, without telling, take me somewhere,

Where you smile, that only is my destination..)

Maybe that's the thing that made a special place for Zain in her heart more prominent, his simplicity. Zain Amir can easily take her to some fancy dinner or fancy place but he chose something else.

Something where they both enjoyed being kids they never have been. They both were forced to grow up faster than necessary and now years later they get the chance to live their childhood again, with each other this time.

Meethi lagi, chakh ke dekhi abhi

Mishri ki dali, zindagi ho chali

Jahan hain teri baahein mera sahil wahin

(I felt sweet, I just tasted it now,

Life has become a lump of sugar

Where your arms are there, my shore is there only..)

Eating cotton candy Amu looks no less than a kid herself, maybe a kid Zain will adore the most and he cannot miss the chance to capture this moment so his clicked the picture and many more, he knows he have to cherish and value things which he loves and needs, and Amaya is certainly both.

Amu laughs to a point where her stomach started to pain, here Zain is posing like Shah Rukh Khan imitating him in his signature pose with arms spread, being a little bent on one knee

"Rahul naam toh suna hoga..."

"No... never heard of this name before"

"Such a spoil sport you are Amu. Have some shame girl, how will you show you face to Allah if you haven't heard of this name?"

"Well certainly Allah will spare me as he already knows I have to bear with a man child like you Zain."

"You wound me girl."

"Awww want some ointment for that. But wait I don't have it for you."

"Arghhh."

Pulling her towards him he started tickling her and her laughter made his smile wider. Her happiness is his relaxation, and there is nothing more he wants.

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There last destination is the beach again. This time under the moon. Amaya means moon, perhaps she is the moon, enlightening Zain's life with her light. Zain places another bouquet on her lap and this time Amaya is again taken back, her heart loses a beat this time.

"I know you like roses, so I gifted them in the morning but I feel that you will love these 'Forget me not'. I saw it in your apartment the first time I visited there, and also it's a message from my side too, 'forget me not'."

"You guess it right Zain Amir. Red roses are beautiful, I like them a lot, everyone does. But these blue little 'forget me not' holds different meaning to me. You know they are wildflowers. Do you know what that means?"

"Wildflowers grow without any boundary, they cannot be tamed."

"And so am I."

"Indeed and I will make sure that you never stop growing, you Amu is never meant to be tamed." Another promise is made today, a promise to self and to each other. Never forgetting each other and never holding each other back, letting themselves grow, always.

The moon gives them a peace today, tonight there are no more nightmares like all previous birthdays, all bitter memories were long gone and today even the fear of losing this beautiful present because of past also left.

Mann ki gali tu phuharoon si aa

Bheeg jaye mere khwabon ka kafila

Jise tu gungunaye meri dhun hai wahin

Tu bin bataye mujhe le chal kaheen

Jahan tu muskuraye meri manzil wahin

(To the street of my heart, come like showers

Let the caravan of my dreams be drenched,

What you hum, only, is my tune..

You, without telling, take me somewhere,

Where you smile, that only is my destination..)

Looking at the moon, it looks eternal the moonbeam reflects upon the sea with tiny raindrops falling, Zain hugs Amaya from side a bit tight holding her hand and.

This time Amaya puts her head near his heart, listening to his heartbeats matching her own, making a wish after years, that to stay this same, with this person whose heartbeats matches hers, unknown to her the digital watch on her left arm shows 11.11pm.

Yet another 11.11, yet another wish perhaps this time the right wish.