To Love.... or not to?

“Checking me out?” , he told, curving his lips into that heart-shattering smile.

He had noticed her admiring eyes moving across his well toned chest while he slid out of his tee…

It had been a long day at work for both of them….

And they just wanted to snuggle on the couch with a warm cup of coffee with nothing else to worry about.

She laughed at that… the tire of the day absolving into a pleasant calmness…

She went over to him with the coffee mugs…. And placed them softly on the table he was reclining against…. And with the same softness she wrapped her arms around his neck….

“Can’t I?”she questioned, her eyebrows raised in a mock inquisitiveness.

And she laughed again…

And this time he laughed with her…pulling her closer to him….

She gave a peck on his nose tip…. And rested her head on his warm shoulder… closing her eyes…. Losing herself into her dreamland……

“I love you”, he whispered into her ears.

Her eyes sprang open….

Her reverie smashed….

A fraction of numbness…

“Love is a loaded word” she told in a hollow voice, her head still resting on his shoulder….

He pulled her face away and stared into those deep black eyes….searching for an answer…

She smiled.

“Live the moment baby. You’re coffee’s getting cold…. Besides, I’m not done checkin you out”, she winked and broke into her pearly laughter.

~Almas Kiran Shamim