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Reluctantly, we look to each other. This time, Sarfaraz’s tone is softer when he says, “Comfort your spouse when they need it, even if they’re too proud to ask.”
My stern expression gentles. “And protect your spouse. You know you lucked out when you find someone who will literally use their body as a shield to protect yours.”
Sarfaraz smirks. “Make each other laugh, especially when it seems like humor can’t be found.”
“Be brave for each other,” I add, thinking back to the panorama bridge.
“And support each other when the other person wants to be brave,” Sarfaraz says. “And above all—” when he looks at me, it’s like he’s staring right into my soul “—love each other, even when it’s hard.”
My heart stutters. It’s too hot in the room. I can’t breathe, the thick air around me choking my throat. I stumble back. “Excuse me,” I mumble, and I take off without another word.
I gratefully gulp in the fresh air when I step out the front door. Thankfully, there’s no one here, so I sit down on the steps and put my head between my knees. The air outside is way hotter than inside, but I still suck in deep breaths, willing my shakes to stop. I try my best to brush off the feelings swirling in my chest, but I can’t. The tingles absolutely refuse to leave, instead attaching themselves to my skin and leaving imprints behind like the mehendi.
What the hell is happening to me? I’ve only ever felt like this a few times before, in the beginnings of a new crush, but those emotions never lasted long enough for me to know what to do with them. I always had to remind myself that because of my curse, it would never work out. But it’s not like I’m crushing on Sarfaraz. I can’t be. Not only would it be totally ridiculous because I haven’t known the man for long, but I’m getting married. And not in the “oh, I’m engaged” type of way, but literally the “my wedding is in a few days” way.
But I can’t brush off the sparks on my skin when he touches me. I can’t ignore the fuzzy feeling growing in my chest when he looks at me. And I can’t stop the emotions threatening to pull me under.
My wedding is in a few days, and all I can do is think about how this stranger I met on a plane has made me feel more things in a week than my own fiancé has in the three years we’ve been engaged.
Dr. Khan is going to be so overwhelmed when I get home.
“Maya?”
I whip my head up to see Sarfaraz towering over me. Worry wrinkles his forehead, and even in the darkness of night, the concern lining his face stands out. “Are you okay? You kind of ran out of there in a rush. I thought you might need space, but I didn’t want you to be out here on your own for too long.” He squints. “Are you...crying?”
I wipe my cheek, and sure enough, it comes back wet. “I’m fine,” I assure him. “I need to be alone for a minute.”
“Maya, you’re panicking about something,” he says matter-of-factly. “Is it because of what happened in there? Because I know it was uncomfortable, but—”
I ignore the pang in my chest. “I’m fine,” I reiterate, my tone sterner.
His fingers wrap around my wrist, and I whirl my head to see him crouching down next to me. “What are you doing?” I demand.
“You said you get low blood sugar, right?” Sarfaraz says. He moves to push my chudiyan out of the way. “Let me check your pulse.”
The chudiyan ride up my arm, and my eyes widen when I remember the arm Sarfaraz grasps is the one where his name is written on my wrist. I move to pull my arm away but judging by the crease in his forehead, I’m too late.
Slowly, Sarfaraz opens his mouth. “Uhhhh...”
“It was a mistake.” I rip my wrist out of his grip. I hastily push the chudiyan back down my wrist. “Aqsa did it without me even realizing it. Let’s not make a big deal out of this. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Sarfaraz stiffens next to me. I don’t expect him to react—why would he care about something like this, after all?—but to my surprise, his face falls. “Yeah, of course not.”
“Of course not,” I repeat firmly, though I think it’s more for my sake than his. “You’re right, I’m feeling off because of what happened back there. Everything we said was just acting, and I felt bad that we were lying to these people who were genuinely asking for advice. That’s it.”
The more I talk, the harder his face becomes. He clenches his jaw. “Right.” He pushes himself up. “I’m sorry you felt so poorly about it, but don’t worry. We don’t have to act for much longer after this.”
My jaw falls open as I watch him walk away. Tension rolls off his retreating back, and the door slams shut behind him, leaving me alone.
Remember your curse, Maya, a stern voice stresses in my head. Nothing good ever works out for you. You’re going to end up alone.
For a couple of days, I thought maybe...maybe I wasn’t alone. But given my experience, I don’t know why I thought things would start working in my favor now.
With a shaky breath, I head back inside.
22
Maya’s Law #22:
