Chapter : 61 - A Drive To Remember.

The car was enveloped in complete silence.

It felt as though I wasn't traveling with Tamir Sahab but with a cab driver instead.

I've left everything behind-my projects, my so called about to happen engagement-just to be here in India with this man, and yet he doesn't want to talk.

This was the same man who had asked me, "Jannat, will you spend some time with me?" and I, without giving it much thought or showing any antics, had said yes. But now, when we're finally together, he has nothing to say.

Tamir was completely absorbed in driving, wrapped in silence, and I was busy glaring at him, frustration etched on my face.

Whenever I gathered the courage to yell at him out of anger, he would glance over at me with a smile, and just like that, all my anger would dissipate. This had been the cycle for the past hour.

Is his plan to defeat me with just his smile?

And that smile-before it even reaches his lips, those dark, ocean-like eyes appear, capable of driving anyone insane.

Fine, don't talk. No problem. But does he have to look this good?

Blue formal shirt? Black formal trousers? Tucked in? Rolled-up sleeves? That Rolex watch on his left hand? And his black hair? What am I supposed to do?

Die, Before even getting married to him!

I've never looked at any man with the intensity with which I'm looking at him right now.

I feel like he's dressed up intentionally, just to leave me flustered. And me? Here I am, dressed in an Indian outfit for him, even though I usually wear Western clothes.

Even though I don't want to, I'm blushing just looking at him. Like seriously, his trousers even match my outfit-I'm also wearing black, in desi style.

I hate dressing up, but I had to make the effort today to look good in front of him.

"By the way, where are we going, Tamir?" I gritted my teeth, controlling my frustration, and asked in the calmest tone I could manage.

"It's a surprise, Jannat," he said, smiling and glancing at me briefly before focusing on driving again. I clenched my fists and turned my gaze to the window, because if I looked at him, I'd definitely end up feeling both anger and love simultaneously.

And who have I fallen for, really? A completely calm man who doesn't even get angry. I'm terrified that if we ever argue, the fight will end within two minutes.

No, no, this can't work. I need drama in my life-arguments, fights, sulking, and making up!

Just two days ago, this man wouldn't stop talking, and now his mute button is on.

My frustration was reaching its peak when he stopped the car and got out to open the door for me. That was all that was left. How am I supposed to stay mad at this man now?

I smiled helplessly and stepped out, but my steps halted as I took in the sight before me.

Beautiful? No, it was breathtaking. The house was so gorgeous that I felt like staring at it forever.

"Whose house is this?" I asked Tamir curiously, turning toward him. He was gazing at the house with a smile.

"It's my first project in India. It took me two years and three months to complete," he said, looking at me and explaining his work.

"Any specific reason for showing me this house?" I asked, curious. He turned to face me and studied my face for a moment.

"Whenever I build a house, I send the first picture to Ammi and Abbu. But today, my heart told me I should show it to you first," he said with such simplicity, but his words had some deep meaning in it.

Uski baat neh mujhe, uska hone ka yehsaas dilaaya. Mai uske apnon mein seh ek ban chuki thi, itni ki woh apni kaamyaabi bhi mere saath baat raha tha.

(His words made me realize how much of a part of his life I had become-enough for him to share his success with me).

"Whose house is this? It's so unique. How did they even think of designing it this way?" I asked, trying to remain calm, but deep inside, I was dying to know more about the house and the person behind it.

"Hai koi dewaana," Tamir replied with a smile, though it seemed like a proud one.

"Aashiq hein hoga, phir," I teased.

(Must be a lover).

"Aashiq, lazf bhi chota padh Jai us shaqshs ko define karne ke liye," he said seriously, and his tone made me feel that this person must be very close to him.

(A lover would fall short of describing that person).

"Kisiki mohabbat mein bana hai yeh ghar?" I asked, now genuinely interested in learning about the house and this mysterious person.

(Was this house built for someone they love).

"Yes," he answered directly, and a smile crept onto my face.

"Can I ask you something?" I said, looking out of the car window.

"Yes, go ahead, Jannat. I'm listening," Tamir said, folding his arms casually.

"So, there's this friend of mine, okay? She's in love with a guy. But her brother and the guy's brother are enemies. Do you think that guy would still love her?" I decided to approach the topic indirectly.

"What do you mean? I don't understand," Tamir replied, being confused.

"Let's say you and I are in love, and Aziz Bhai and my brother are enemies. Would you still love me then?" I decided to take the risk. I was scared, perhaps afraid of losing him, but taking the leap felt better than holding onto fear.

"Yes," he said, with just one word. I was left puzzled.

"Even if he's your brother's enemy?" I probed further.

"Yes, even then," he said calmly, and his composure made me even more anxious.

"Why?" I asked, my curiosity growing.

"Unhe dushmani nibhane do aur mai, mohabbat nibhata rahunga," he said. And that was all I wanted to hear. It felt as if all my fears had disappeared, and a wave of calmness washed over me.

(Let them handle their enmity. I will keep nurturing my love).

"Ezzeh," Tamir took a step closer, saying my name, and suddenly my heart started racing. I had never been this nervous before; why was this happening now?

"Maie tumse mohabbat nahi karta, balki tumhe hein mohabbat maan liya hai, maine. Tumhare liye tumhare bhai seh ladunga bhi aur unhe manounga bhi," Tamir finished his sentence, and I realized he knew about Zaki Bhai.

(I don't just love you. I've accepted you as my love. For you, I'd fight your brother and convince him too).

"I... Tamir... I..." I wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

"If your brother has a problem with my brother, that's their issue, not yours. So don't overthink it, Jannat," he said, soothing my overthinking mind. He knew everything, and I now understood that I needed someone like him to help calm my thoughts.

"Do you love me that much?" I asked, looking into his eyes.

"I don't know how much I love you, but I want to love you so much that when I achieve something, I share it with you. When I'm sad, I find peace in you. When we fight, I'm the first to hug you and make up. When I'm angry, I look into your eyes, and all my anger melts away. When I see you, I thank Allah for writing you in my destiny," Tamir expressed his love with such sincerity that I was left astonished. Sometimes, I doubted if I was worthy of him or if he deserved someone better. But then, jealousy would creep in whenever anyone else even looked at him, and it would hurt my soul.

If falling in love with, Tamir, at first sight is just a common thing, then why does thinking about him all night, even without knowing him, feel so extraordinary? Maybe Tamir was written in my destiny, and that's why I was here with him today.

"Thank you," I said softly, almost in a whisper.

He smiled in response, and seeing his smile, I couldn't help but smile back.

"Can I click pictures of this house?" I asked, still captivated by the house, wanting to capture it as a memory.

"Sure," Tamir gave his permission. I opened the car door, grabbed my camera from my bag, and started clicking pictures of the house.

Wherever I go, my camera always accompanies me. Even at Uns's wedding, I had taken my camera and clicked more pictures of Tamir than of Uns.

I wouldn't have clicked his pictures, but when he placed those garlands on me, an inexplicable stir had erupted in my heart. My camera wanted to capture him, unaware that he would end up capturing me with his love.

Even now, while photographing the house, I started taking his pictures too. And the surprising part was that without even posing, he looked no less than a model. No matter how he stood, it always ended up being the perfect pose.

"If you keep clicking pictures of me, the camera's storage will run out, Jannat."

My hands froze as I heard him speak with a playful smile on his lips, looking straight at me.

And that shy man looked so perfect in that moment that I couldn't help myself-I clicked his picture too. Then, holding the camera in my hands, I stood there, just staring at my camera, being shy to be exact.

"Jannat?" He called my name with such affection that it made my heart flutter.

With great care, I lifted my gaze to look at him. And as soon as I saw him, he began walking toward me.

What's happening to me? My heart suddenly stopped, and my breaths seemed to have made up their mind to betray me completely, leaving me flustered in front of him today.

He knelt down in front of me, and before I could let my imagination run wild with dreamy fantasies, he stood up again. But then I noticed-the corner of my dupatta was in his hand.

"My Jannat's dupatta doesn't look good dragging on the ground," Tamir said softly as he carefully lifted the corner and forwarded it towards me.

Aise hein maar daalu mujhe, Tamir! My mind screamed at me to say something to him-what is this man even trying to do? One moment, he's so shy that it's hard to believe he's Aziz Nader's brother, and the next, he's pulling stunts like this? He couldn't even let my dupatta touch the ground! How am I supposed to not fall for him?

"Waise, bahut khubsurat lagh rahi ho?" Tamir said, his eyes fixed on mine without even blinking. And my restless eyes, too, refused to look away from his. It felt as if there was nothing more beautiful in the world.

(You look very beautiful).

Uski aankhein dekhti hoon toh aisa laghta hai, jaise yeh aankhen nahi aina hai, jahan mai apna wajud dekh sakhti hoon.

(If I look into his eyes, it feels as if his eyes were a mirror where I could see my own existence).

"Finally, someone noticed?" I said with a sharp look, trying to act stern.

He seemed confused, but I was annoyed-why hadn't he complimented me earlier? After all, I had dressed up just for this shy man!

Before Tamir could say anything, I turned away and started walking toward the car with a pouty face.

"You look even more beautiful when you're angry, Jannat," this shy man chuckled again.

Getting even more frustrated, I stomped my feet on the ground and turned back to face him.

"So, you only find me beautiful when I'm angry?" I asked sternly, crossing my arms.

"It's not like that-"

"Oh, so you don't even find me beautiful when I'm angry? You were lying then?" I continued to escalate the matter.

Samajh nahi aaraha tha ki mujhe kya hua tha, lekin ek bacchon waali umeed thi ki, mai jitna bhi ladun, woh manaa lega, shayad isi umeed mein, mai usse aur ladne lagi.

(I didn't know what had come over me, but there was a childlike hope in me that no matter how much I fought, he would make it up to me. Perhaps that's why I kept pushing, fueled by the belief that he would pacify me).

"No, Ezzeh-"

Before he could finish his sentence, I angrily reached for the car door, but he was already behind me and opened it before I could.

Don't melt, Ezzeh! I scolded my inner self, watching his thoughtful actions.

"Jannat," No Ezzeh, you're not melting-not so soon!

I got into the car without looking at him, and within seconds, Tamir got into the driver's seat. He kept glancing at me while I tried my best to maintain a cold demeanor.

He looked like he was about to say something, but then he stopped.

"Can't even apologize!" my mind taunted him.

"You're angry with him for no reason!" my heart taunted me.

"So what?" I asked both of them.

"You're being crazy, Ezzeh!" they both said in unison.

"So what again? I have the right to be angry, and it's his duty to make it up!" I shouted internally, still staring out the window.

He hadn't started the car yet, and truthfully, I didn't want him to drive. My foolish heart just wanted to spend more time with him.

"Jannat," he called again, his voice was filled with so much pure love, that my eyes betrayed me and I turned to looked at him.

Tamir leaned toward the back seat, grabbing a box. He brought it forward and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I took the box, my tone still firm.

"My apology," he said softly. His voice was calm, but his eyes sparkled with the hope of being forgiven.

Without saying a word, I opened the box, only to completely melt at the sight of a red velvet cake.

"It's your favorite, right?" Tamir asked with a light smile.

"How do you know?" I looked at him, surprised. He knows? But how? I never told him.

"Just stalked your Insta a bit!" he said innocently, and I was utterly shocked. He's only shy by name! I guess I'm going to see many versions of him in the days to come.

"Thank you," I said, completely melted.

There's no way I can stay angry at him for long. And the craziest part is, the fight ended in just five minutes. He didn't even argue with me! Instead, he made up in such a way that I couldn't help but melt even more.

And now, I'm genuinely worried about how our future fights will go!

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🌟 Hey Sweethearts! 🌟

Thank you so much for reading and loving UKM! Your support means the world to me. Now, it's time to dive into your thoughts-tell me, what do you think is about to unfold?

✨ What do you think about our Jannat and her Jab-e-aali's chemistry is all about?

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