Need to see u, babe. Your room or mine? - A
She was surprised. How had Armaan known exactly when to text her? Then she groaned. Zoya. She was not feeling so friendly towards technology now. Jasmine chewed on her bottom lip. She could not see Armaan anymore. She had to stay away from him and vice versa. She was back with Hamza now and there was no place for another in her life.
I'm coming, she texted back, thinking that since his room was the furthest, it was safer for them to talk there.
Tradition was important here. A girl and a boy did not just meet without a chaperone in a room. There would be problems if they were discovered.
Wow. Really? All I did was text you. - A
She rolled her eyes. Trust him to find innuendos where there were not any. She poked her head out the door, searched the corridors for any signs of life and then hurried over to his room. She had to admit, this was kind of naughty, sneaking around in a place as big as this where it was so easy to get lost without discovery in the arms of a lover.
If only it was her one true love in that room, waiting for her. She wondered what Hamza was doing and when she would see him again. Just the thought made her smile with joy.
She entered Armaan's room, closed the door behind her and her eyes widened at the sight that greeted her. His room had a balcony. And not just any balcony. It was covered with colourful, wild flowers.
Roses and jasmines entwined with each other and created an archway, falling in tendrils to the stone railing below and sliding over it lovingly. There were slender marble pillars which looked new with green, pink and white flora covering them. The balcony overlooked the west side of the mansion where the yellow sun hung above the sands, casting long shadows and giving it an ethereal air.
"Oh wow," she breathed and sighed in reverence. "This is so beautiful."
Now the air contained a whiff of cologne as well. "It is, isn't it?" Armaan murmured from behind her and she turned around.
He was looking devastatingly attractive in a black shirt which had golden embroidery at the cuffs and collar, and black trousers. "It's especially beautiful at nights," he told her, moving closer to her. "When you can see the moon and the stars peeking from between the tendrils. It's like you're floating up in the clouds with only the flowers as support. I designed it a year ago," he said proudly.
She felt as if she could stay there forever. This place was breathtaking. "Oh Armaan, I have no words for it. I'm in love with it." She was. It was the oasis in this desert, high up in the old building. Her sigh was one of yearning and appreciation and she went and leaned over the balcony, her eyes never leaving the view.
~~~~
Armaan gazed at her adoringly. It had not been perfect before. But now it was. She was the addition this balcony had lacked. Her beauty did justice to it. "You like it? You can have it," he said casually.
She appeared startled. "I can't. It's your room."
He shrugged. "Your appreciation for this place far exceeds mine," he said. "You can use it. I'll have your stuff moved in later. I'm sure you'll be camping out in this balcony given the chance."
Jasmine looked around, still not sure if he was serious. He was offering her his room? His assumption about her sleeping out here was right on the mark. "Armaan, I can't take your room. It's-"
"It's done, Jasmine," he said firmly. "I'll stay in yours. Relax. It's no big deal."
She regarded him uncertainly. "Okay. Umm..are you going somewhere?"
He started to grin at her. "Yup. I'm going to a club. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. You want to come with me?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You're joking, right? There are no clubs in Amira."
He laughed. "That's the myth. I could show you." There was a question in his voice.
She seemed like she wanted to say yes but instead, she shook her head. "I can't, Armaan. Maybe you could send me pictures."
The smile died from his eyes. "Yes. Maybe I will," he said slowly.
Something was wrong. If something was wrong with Jasmine, he picked it up as if he had a radar. What had changed? They had been getting on so well on the flight. But now that she was here, she was keeping him at arm's length.
"I'll leave instructions with the staff for the room switch to be completed before nine tonight." When he reached out to touch her, Jasmine quickly moved away.
"Okay," she said quietly.
Armaan tried not to let his misery show. Why was she pulling away from him like this? They had chemistry. It sizzled between them every time they were in the same room together. And she liked him. That had been evident just this morning.
Yet, she was creating this distance between them now. Armaan swore he would sort it out first thing in the morning. Maybe being here in Amira was overwhelming for her, this first day. Maybe she was tired. Maybe she was remembering something unpleasant. He would let her have her space for the night. But tomorrow, she would be melting in his arms again.
~~~~
He went and knocked on Alex's door five minutes later. It cracked open and his brother regarded him grimly. "What?" he snapped when he saw who it was.
"I'm going clubbing,"
