~Lovers.~

"Let's meet again, for the first time."

- d.j.

************

Chapter's Playlist:

Baarish - Yaariyan

Aawara Shaam Hai - Meet Bros and Piyush Mehroliyaa

Yeh Raatein Yeh Mausam - Sanam

Baanjara - Ek Villain

Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon - Armaan Malik

Ishq - Artiste First

************

Dear No one,

People say the world is a vast place, too big to see in the span of one lifetime.

However, I would say the world is really not that big. For me at least.

The world that dwells in my eyes, fitting perfectly in just one gaze --- my whole world, it's quite small, having the height of just 5 feet or something. It fits perfectly in my arms.

My world is her, Shravya. I know you know her already. After all, she is mentioned on every other page.

And, I know that you also know that my world is beautiful, in every way possible.

Each word existing in the human dictionary to describe beauty --- her beauty deserves all, even more.

I have once wondered - how does it feel to be loved by a stranger?

It was just a fleeting question I thought to muse myself, but I can answer it now; it feels like a personal heaven, an abode made for me and me only by my destined one, who just happened to be a stranger once.

It's amazing how someone can become your everything, without you even realizing it at first.

I used to think that love was something that happened to other people, something that was talked about in movies and books but rarely seen in real life.

But Shravya has taught me what it means to love and be loved; Ammi was right: love is beautiful. I understood it after meeting Shravya.

She has shown me that the world, no matter how vast it may seem, can fit perfectly into the space between two people who care deeply for each other --- it all was exactly like Ammi used to describe.

With her, I've discovered a new kind of happiness, one that is simple yet far-reaching. It's in the little things - the way she rests her head on my shoulder, the sound of her voice saying my name, the warmth of her hand in mine.

She is my companion, one of my only best friends, and so much more.

So, as I write this, I want to remember this feeling, this overwhelming joy for having her in my life.

I want to remember the way her smile makes my heart race, the way her voice calms my soul, and the way her love makes me a better person.

I want to thank her, my love, for being herself, for loving me, and for making my life beautiful in this way.

In her, I have found a new home, my peace, my world. She is my forever, and I am hers.

Always,
Zaid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Jise zindagi dhoondh rahi hai,

Kya yeh woh makaam mera hai?

Yahan chain se bas ruk jaaoon,

Kyun dil yeh mujhe kehta hai?~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The air was filled with the fresh, earthy scent of rain as it kept falling over the surroundings.

The sneaky raindrops traced delicate patterns down Shravya's cheeks while she stood beneath the sparse shelter of a tree, in the parking area of the university.

Humming softly, she leaned against the trunk and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply and stealing some serenity from the atmosphere for herself.

However, soon the sound of a motorcycle engine approached, its familiar growl being a disruption as well as a welcoming presence.

"Forgot your umbrella again, huh?" Zaid removed his helmet, revealing a mop of slightly dishevelled hair as his Royal Enfield came to a halt in front of Shravya.

Shravya opened her eyes and met his gaze, her lips curving into a soft, teasing smile. "And you're the knight in shining armour, aren't you? Except for today, your shining armour is soaked."

She eyed his soaked shirt with amusement before pushing herself off the tree and stepping towards him while the rain wasted no time in enveloping her whole. "Also, you don't have an umbrella with you either."

Zaid gave a small shrug, patting the seat of his motorcycle. "It's because I'm on this."

"Okay. And, you see I also don't have an umbrella because. . . . ." Shravya let her voice trail off before a goofy grin curled the corners of her mouth. "As usual you're giving me a ride back to my hostel."

Zaid chuckled, running a hand through his ruffled hair, the gesture tinted with an undeniable charm. "I am not, I've some important things to do."

"You can do that after dropping me off." She slid onto the seat behind him, waiting for no further response and wrapping her arms around his waist, a light sigh leaving her mouth at the touch of his warmth. "And, you're not allowed to deny your girlfriend."

"As if I would." Slightly turning his head, he flashed her another quick grin, causing Shravya's stomach to flutter in delight at the sight of it.

With a light squeeze of his abdomen, she rested the side of her face against his back, between his shoulder blades, content in their proximity despite the chilly weather.

"You know, you look kinda cute when you're all wet," her voice was a teasing whisper as she felt his back muscles flex to assist him in putting on the helmet.

Zaid laughed, a deep, sonorous sound that seemed to blend with the music of the rain and thunder. "And you look like a drowned kitten," he shot back, his tone playful.

In response, Shravya snorted, hitting his back and earning another laugh from him. "You seriously can't digest a compliment!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Milne ko tujhse bahaane karun.

Tu muskuraaye, wajah main banun.

Roz bitaana saath mein tere, saara din mera.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zaid awoke to a gentle throbbing in his head, but the discomfort was soon shooed away by a strange cooling sensation.

His gaze travelled upward, and his breath hitched at the sight he beheld; there, in the weak glow of the evening's light, sat Shravya on the sofa of his living room while his head was comfortably nestled in her lap.

Her head was tilted to one side, her breathing slow and balanced, revealing that she had fallen asleep while looking after him.

Her other hand rested lightly on his forehead, fingers slightly curled on the fabric of a wet cloth against his skin --- it was as if she had been caressing him in her sleep.

And, Zaid's heart thumped tenderly, a soft smile --- almost unnoticeable --- played on his lips.

How long has it been since someone cared for him like this?

How long has it been since someone tended to him when he was in such a vulnerable condition?

For as long as he could remember, since many years, he had always been the one to look after himself whenever he caught a fever --- that's exactly what he was doing this morning, too, until she came to see him, and it all turned out like how it was currently.

Even if this moment was his last minute in life, he wouldn't regret anything, especially now.

With her being by his side like this - he couldn't have asked for anything more.

Slowly shifting, he reached out to caress the side of her face, and she frowned, her hazel eyes fluttering open to look down at him.

A sleepy smile spread across her face when her eyes locked with his. "You're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Better now, thanks to you." Zaid smiled back, his fingers affectionately teasing her dark brown locks. "Sona?"

"Mm?" She responded, her hand coming up from its place on his brow to softly rest on top of his head, her fingers running through his hair.

"I love you."

"And, I love you, too." She leaned down, pressing her lips against the cloth covering his forehead.

Her presence, it was so warm that he was almost afraid to close his eyes again, just to savor a little bit longer of this feeling of complete safety and peace.

This is my heaven - he decided, this must be heaven, the world couldn't have compensated him for all of his sufferings with anything better than this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Meri nazar dekho zara,

Isme kahin hai ghar tera.

Rastaa bhi tu, Manzil bhi tu,

Ik humsafar hai bas mera.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shravya let a trembling whimper stir within their kiss as Zaid pushed her against the living room's wall of his house, hands fisted in the silk fabric of her dress and mouth on hers.

The surface of the wall felt cool against the heat between them when she let her hands roam over Zaid's back, feeling the firmness of his muscles through the fabric of his shirt while his hands traced the curve of her waist, relishing the warmth of her skin through the fabric of her dress.

The smell of his natural scent and cologne fused with hers, making her dizzy as she savoured it all, freeing a little whine when he sucked on her lower lip; his tongue tasted just like the time they had their first kiss - a soft interaction that marked the end of their first date.

And the memory of that moment itself made her quiver, her tongue moving with his and her body melting against him as if a scorching breeze just went by, dissolving her frozen composure.

A string of saliva still held their mouth connected with its filmy grasp when they both pulled away, their breath coming out fast and uneven, and chest heaving as they both struggled to catch their breaths.

"I. . . . . ." A realisation suddenly seemed to arise in Zaid's eyes as he looked away from her, his grasp weakly falling off her waist when his hand returned to his side while the other one stopped against the wall, a mere inches away from her head.

Her hazel eyes gazed at him, a haze bounding them. "It's okay. . . ." she whispered, her arms reaching out to him and allowing her fingertips to dance upon his trembling lips and jaw. ". . .I love you."

Zaid's swallow was audible as he looked down at her, his coal black eyes being a dark storm of emotions, before with a hesitant grace, he leaned in, his forehead gently meeting hers, resting.

"I love you too. . . ." he panted, his voice sounding rough and throaty. "But are you sure about doing this?"

"Hm. Absolutely." Shravya nodded, peering into his dark orbs with certainty and folding her arms around his neck, his tall frame forcing her to stand on her toes before almost instantly, his hands held her hips and pulled her legs around his waist.

"I love you. . . ." He let her know again before her back crashed against the wall and their lips met together in a raging and needy passion once more.

Yes, she wanted their relationship to become something more now.

She wanted to become one with him.

She wanted to feel that sweet ache between her legs by the time this hunger faded away.

She wanted him to take her first time and make her his.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Dhadkan tera hi naam jo le,

Aankhein bhi paighaam ye de;

Teri nazar ka hi ye asar hai,

Mujh pe jo huaa.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So you proposed her with a tub of ice cream?" Zaid asked Ansh, barely able to suppress his amusement. His dark eyes sparkled with mirth as he leaned back against the soft cushions of the couch.

Ansh, his face a sight of dejection, nodded slowly as he sat beside Zaid. "Yeah, I thought it was a good idea," he mumbled, staring at the ice cream.

"You wouldn't believe it! He just went on his knees before her and told her that he likes her and had heard about her trying to lose some weight. . . ."

Shravya, who was sitting cross-legged on the armchair nearby, tried to stifle her laughter but failed as she explained the situation to Zaid once more.

"That's why he bought this skimmed milk ice cream for her," heaving with laughter, she gestured toward the tub of frozen dairy in Ansh's hold.

Currently, they all were in Zaid's house, discussing how and why Ansh got rejected by his crush in the college.

Ansh's cheeks flushed crimson and he fidgeted uncomfortably. "I don't see anything wrong with it."

"And you're the one who told me that girls love food," he spoke defensively before throwing an accusation glance towards Shravya.

"Hey! Yes, I said that, but I wasn't the one who advised you to propose her with an ice cream tub," she shook her head, amused.

"I thought she would like that!" Frowning in confusion, Ansh whined. "I was caring about her diet and brought the finest quality of ice cream for her, yet she looked at me like I had lost my mind and then hit me with her purse. Hard."

Zaid and Shravya burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching their sides as they doubled over. "She... she hit you with her purse?" Zaid wheezed, struggling to catch his breath.

Ansh nodded glumly. "Yeah, and then she walked away, leaving me there with the tub of ice cream."

Shravya wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "Oh, Anshu bear, It's not about the ice cream, it's about the gesture. You can't just hand her a tub of icecream cream and expect her to swoon."

"But-ugh. Whatever," Ansh groaned before letting out a scoff, allowing his body to sprawl all over the couch. "At least she didn't hit me with the tub and I can have some ice cream now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Ye kya baat hai aaj ki chandani me,

Ke hum kho gaye pyar ki raagani me.

Ye baahon mein baahen, ye behki nigaahe.

Lo aane lagaa zindagi ka mazaa.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Aapna dimaag hostel mein he bhul aai ho kya?"

(Did you forget your brain back at your dorm?)

"Zaid!"

Shravya sighed, stretching her arms above her head, her movements languid and graceful, her eyes darting towards Zaid in a glare.

"What?" While he just gave her notes an unamused glance before looking back at his laptop. "The answer you've written - do it again, it's wrong."

And he was right, of course.

But Shravya was in no mood to continue, clearly worn out of her mind after hours of studying. She threw her pen onto the table and stood up, walking towards Zaid who was sitting on the nearby sofa.

In no time, she slipped behind him, her arms snaking around his shoulders as she leaned down, her breath warm against his ear.

"Stop right there," Zaid said, his tone half-amused, eyes still focused on the screen of his laptop. "I'm warning you, Sona. Stop."

"Quiet. I know you like it." Ignoring his comment, Shravya pressed a light kiss on the side of his temple, leaving him to hold his breath and close his eyes, relishing her warmth.

When she pulled away, she rested her head on his shoulder, her gaze now stopping on the laptop screen. "What are you looking at?" she murmured, her voice a soothing whisper.

Zaid opened his eyes slowly, his fingers resuming their movements across the keyboard, this time slower than before. "Just looking over some information about flowers."

"Flowers?" Shravya frowned.

"Remember when you said the garden would look beautiful with some flower pots? I thought I'd look up which ones would grow well here." He smiled faintly, his eyes moving from the screen of his laptop to the girl resting her chin on his shoulder.

His words brought a radiant smile to her pretty face. "You remembered!" she exclaimed, her hazel eyes giving away her excitement.

She pressed another kiss on his skin, this one on his cheek, her lips lingering. "Let me see."

Zaid nodded and shifted, allowing her to sit on his lap, her body fitting perfectly against his. She scrolled through the information he had gathered, her eyes wide with interest. "You always think of everything, don't you?"

Responding with a soft laugh, he just shrugged modestly. "I just want to make you happy."

"You already do." With a gentle caress on his cheek, Shravya turned to smile at him tenderly. "More than you know."

Then, they spent the next hour discussing different types of flowers and which ones would thrive best in the garden.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Main parinda besabar,

Tha uda jo darbadar.

Koi mujhko yun mila hai,

Jaise banjarey ko ghar.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the golden arms of a late afternoon, the kitchen of Zaid's home hummed with the noises of utensils and playful banter.

The air in the kitchen carried the whiffs of cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon, their essences fusing into a delicious aroma.

Zaid, stood beside a well-worn granite countertop, helping and guiding Shravya through the sacred ritual of making biryani.

"Sona, the trick is to let the onions caramelize until they reach a deep, golden brown. Not burnt, just perfectly golden," he intoned with a soft smile, his dark eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and concentration.

Shravya, standing at the stove, flashed him a look of playful defiance. "Alright, alright, Mr. Perfectionist. Golden brown, got it," she quipped, her tone light, yet her gaze serious as she tried to match his instructions.

Her face was flushed from the temperature in the kitchen but her lips curved into an amused smirk as she reached for a spice tray, her fingers deftly locating the correct ones.

"Yes, great. Just like that." The flush on her face turned a deeper shade of red when his voice sounded right behind her ear, too close.

She moved a little away, but it didn't deter him. He moved forward and gently took hold of her wrist, lifting it until he could nearly smell what spices she had made contact with. "Use red pepper instead of the black one."

"And?" She lifted both brows. "Anything else?"

Zaid chuckled in response and tilted her chin up so he could whisper directly into her ears, but before he could do so, Ansh, who was just nearby chopping the vegetables, let out a whistle, interrupting them. "Guys I'm also here."

"Toh, kirpiya karke durri banaye rakhe, aur apne haath apne paas he rakhe," Ansh spoke, his tone dripping with mock formality. "Thank you."

(So please, maintain some distance and keep your hands to yourself.)

"If you don't keep those vegetables coming. We might end up using you as an ingredient." Shravya's words held no bite, but her lips were turned upwards nonetheless.

"You wish!" Ansh gasped, his eyes wide before his mouth quirked into a wide grin. "You'll have to catch me first, Sona."

Shravya rolled her eyes. "Sure."

"She is right. Keep chopping those vegetables unless you want to be the next thing in the pot," Zaid also commented and Shravya burst into laughter, the sound bright and spreading.

"Anyway, so what's next, oh wise chef?" Then, she leaned into Zaid, her shoulder brushing against his arm, and he felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the stove.

Ansh snorted at their antics and turned away, muttering under his breath.

"You two are impossible," he declared, shaking his head. "If this biryani didn't turn out edible, I won't forgive you."

But he began chopping again regardless.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Sitaaron ki mehfil ne karke ishaara,

Kahaa ab toh saara jahaan hai tumhaara.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The brush seemed to flirt with the canvas, whispering colourful words against its surface as Zaid drove the very brush with precise mastery.

On the other hand, Shravya, her fingers stained with cerulean and crimson, moved her eyes up from her canvas to look at Zaid's painting. "I see, you mostly paint your mother's portrait."

"And I must also admit you're remarkable at this." Her gaze then lingered on the portraits hanging on the walls. Each one of them was beautifully made, capturing each inch of her beauty. "She is beautiful. I can totally see from where you got your looks."

Zaid, peering over his palette, offered her an amused chuckle. "Ah, the flattery will get you everywhere. But tell me, how's your painting coming along? Or is it more of a modernist approach, maybe pure chaos?"

Shravya playfully rolled her eyes, dabbing at her canvas with a smudge of indigo. "Chaos, you say? Perhaps. But it's not my fault. I can't keep my focus. Actually, how could I not be distracted when there is such an eye-candy around me?"

"Eye-candy, eh?" Zaid laughed, leaning closer to inspect her work. "I see, you really can't focus after all. And, you also seem to have a tendency to mess up the surroundings." He pointed at the colourful mess on the floor.

Shravya's eyes watched him with mischief. "Messing up the surroundings? You mean like this?" She flicked a drop of paint onto Zaid's apron, the vibrant blue splotching against the fabric.

He blinked in surprise. Then, his face broke into a grin. "Keep messing my clothes and soon you'll be paying me back with kisses."

"Oh, really?" Shravya giggled before moving closer to him and running her paint-smudged fingers over his cheekbone. "How many do I owe you now?"

"That depends on how much of this paint gets on me."

He looked down at her through hooded eyelashes, the tips of his lips twitching upwards before he leaned his cheek into her hand and closed his eyes, his arms pulling her closer.

"Moreover, don't you think we should let the clock behind you do the counting for us?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Chal aa ek aisi nazm kahun;

Jo lafz kahun woh ho jaaye.

Mai dil likhun tu dil thaamey.

Mai ghum likhun woh kho jaaye.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Shravya turned to leave, Zaid couldn't help but whisper a silent prayer to himself for her safety, his thoughts stirring into a strange medley of hope and yearning.

All he could see was her retreating form, the way she was beginning to disappear into the crowd of strangers or how she was walking to get back to her world - a world so foreign to him that it seemed as though they both would be changed forever after that instant.

Every fibre of his being ached to run after her, to hold her once more. But he knew he couldn't do that.

Her Dai maa needs her.

He tried to reassure himself, his mind wandering to the countless memories they shared.

His gaze dropped to his wristwatch, seeing the time tick away restlessly, and he could only wish to turn back the hands of time, to savour their last moments together a little longer, to imprint her smile deeper into his mind, to love her a little more.

Love.

Oh, Love - a word so overused and often misunderstood.

But there was no way Zaid didn't see how love, their love, truly was.

It was in the way Shravya clutched his shirt moments ago, in the silent tears she tried to hide.

It was in her whisper of 'I will miss you' that still echoed in his ears.

His thoughts were halted by Ansh's gentle nudge. "She'll be fine, you know."

Zaid nodded, offering a faint smile to him while whispering another silent consolation to himself.

I'll be able to see her again. Soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Abhi 'ain' likhun tu sochey mujhe.

Phir 'sheen' likhun teri neend udey.

Jab 'qaaf' likhun tujhe kuch kuch ho.

Mai 'ishq' likhun tujhe ho jaaye.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zaid's cocoon of comfort was cracked by the noise of his own coughing. It wasn't a pleasant sound, like he was being stabbed in the throat and forced to inhale through a funnel, or being thrown into the fire.

But it was something that had become familiar to him over the span of the few months he had spent in captivity.

Heaving more breaths to calm his patched throat, Zaid groaned at the contact of the cold floor against his bruised back. His body protested every inch he moved, despite his best efforts, still even as exhausted as he was, sleep was far away from his grasp.

Yet, he closed his eyes, letting the darkness behind his lids transport him to a time when his life was once filled with light and laughter.

Till sleep finally decided to sway him away from the pain and confinement, he was more than willing to surround himself with the legion of memories and happiness he had shared with Ansh and Shravya.

Oh, and he loves how everything becomes a little more bearable with just those memories.

A lot more bearable.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Main rahoon ya na rahoon,

Tum mujh mein kahin baaki rehna.

Mujhe neend aaye jo aakhiri,

Tum khwabon mein aate rehna.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Q - So, how was it, guys?

I hope you all enjoyed it. It's the last chapter after all. I won't be writing for this Zaid and Shravya again. It's a Goodbye now 🥲✌️

Anyway, in a few days, Scared and Numb's prequel (Zaid's parents's book) will be out. Be ready!

Take care. I love you all (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)❤️