Kamran's POV:

"Aren't you going to put your feet on the dashboard today?" Zoya looked at me with wide eyes. I must have surprised her. She exhaled softly as she started to look outside again.

"No, I don't feel like it." She muttered lowly.

"Oh? That's disappointing. I was hoping you would do what you did last time you sat with me." I replied honestly while remembering all the weird stunts she pulled to piss me off. She is so adorable.

"Hm? I thought you didn't like that." Ah, so I was right. She had annoyed me on purpose.

"Well, I don't but that doesn't apply to you. You are a special case." I then turned to look at her. "You care about what I like or dislike?"

"It's basic manners after all." She shrugged her shoulders as she faced the front again.

"You were never one to care for manners though." I countered causing her to flinch and look at me in annoyance.

"Don't act like you know me." She sounded defensive.

"But I do. I even know about the mole you have behind your left knee." When Zoya gasped, I figured she was probably misreading the situation. "I know because you used to wear shorts when you were eight. I just noticed once."

"Really? I don't remember anything at all." I could tell she was avoiding my questions directly. She definitely remembered more than she led on. "Plus, I have moles everywhere. It's not a big deal if you remember that one."

"Oh really? I would like to see all of them sometime." I slowly looked at her side to see her ears turning red. How cute of her to feel embarrassed. A smile made its way to my mouth. When she didn't answer, I decided to continue my interrogation.

"Who was the guy you were talking to before?" I remember there was two of them but one of them was glaring right at me while the other seemed relatively chill. I had noticed the way they had hugged Zoya but I didn't want to bring that up and annoy her even more right now.

"Which one? The one with the amazing body or the one with the cute smile?" As if I pressed a weird switch in her, she smiled sinisterly at me. Was she trying to anger me on purpose?

"Well, the one you want me to shoot first. Take your pick." Her smile vanished almost immediately at my response. Ah, damn. Time had been good on her. She has gotten even cuter now.

"Why do you always do this? Were you like this when we were kids too, Sher?" I felt my heart stop for a second as I turned to look at her suddenly. She seemed surprised as she covered her mouth. Was she regretting it already? I won't let her.

"Did you just call me Sher?" I continued to look at her intensely, waiting for a response.

"No, you probably misheard. Focus on the road. You will kill us." She avoided my eyes as she looked at anywhere but my face.

"Forget the road. Say that again. Call me like you used to. I have been dying to hear that name from your mouth." The car swerved sharply to the right as I avoided colliding into an SUV.

"Alright, I will call you, just stop swerving the car. I am too young to die." I could sense the fear radiating off her body.

"I won't let you die. We will go together if that happens. Say it, Zoya." I urged on as I swerved the car, taking a sharp left.

"Sher." I heard her whimper softly and I looked at her again. It wasn't enough. I wanted to hear that word again. Louder. Clearer.

"Once more. And look at me." She looked at me cautiously.

"Sher, please drive properly." I feel electricity surge through my veins as she said the nickname she had chosen for me. It had a completely different reaction from back then. It felt calming and relaxing when she called me Sher back then.

Now, I just felt like I was on fire. Breathless. Out of control. I wanted her to say it again and again for all the lost years worth but I had pressurised her enough today.

"You are beautiful, Zoya. You have gotten even more radiant." I replied as I focused back on the road. Sher. Her voice echoed in my head in the best way.

"Where are we going?" She seemed to have calm down which was good.

"To eat and talk in a nice, quiet place. Do you have any suggestions or preferences?"

"I am too stressed to eat right now."

"That's unlike you, Zoya. I know how much you love food. Should I just pick your favourites then?" I had sensed her tension and I knew what could ease her too.

"How do you know those? Did you do a background check on me?" Well, it's true I had done a background check on her too but this was something I remembered purely from memories I had of her.

"I didn't need to. You told them to me back then. Do you still like street food?" When Zoya didn't respond at first, I had thought her preferences had changed but she slowly nodded her head making me smile.

"Should we order some food and you can eat it in the car? Or would you like to go to a restaurant and dine in? Whatever makes you more comfortable." She seemed deep in thought until she answered.

"I know I may be a special case but I don't want to ruin your car. I know how much you care for them and I am a messy eater so let's just dine in." I felt my heart swell up. Her kindness had amplified from back then. She looked like she was the best version of herself.

We decided to go to a comfy restaurant that provided the best street food I could think of. I had researched before hand and asked a few of my Lahori associates for help too. I didn't want to ruin this for her.

I opened the door for her and waited for her to stand by my side so we could go in together. I was tempted to hug her but I didn't want to alarm her. We took a table by the window, secluding us from the rest of the people. A little privacy was really needed right now.

"Zoya, I want you to order to your heart's content. Don't hold back because of me."

"I wasn't going to." She mumbled as she ordered half the menu while I just watched her lovingly. She really loved street food. I was pretty sure she can't even eat one third of it but as long as it makes her happy.

Once the waiter left, Zoya finally turned to me.

"What did you want to talk about, Kamran?" I was a little upset that she hadn't called me Sher but this was alright too. It was progress.

"How have you been, Zoya? All these years, how were they?" I had been meaning to ask this for the longest possible time. I wasn't by her side for these years but I still wanted to know how she had spent them. Even if a little, I wanted to be a part of her later life without me too.

"I had my ups and down, there were good days, bad days and normal days." Zoya answered truthfully. I could see the sincerity in her eyes.

"I wish I could have rejoiced with you on the good days and lent you a shoulder on the bad days." But what was really bothering me was what she said after it.

"I am sure you were part of my past, Kamran. You knew my birth name and I have had fragments of my memory come back to me where I have seen you or at least who I think was you. However, I have lost most of my memories as an eight year old and even before that. I am sorry." She seemed genuinely apologetic as she said that. "I am trying to forget that time. Nightmares have haunted me all these years and it scares me to try to find out what I have forgotten."

"Nightmares?"

"Yes. Some nights I get these dreams where I am a little child and I saw something I shouldn't have. Can we not talk about this?" I saw the Zoya shudder and nodded reluctantly. I had wanted to know more but I didn't want to push her.

"I am sorry. I won't push you for it. It's just that when I lost you back then, it drove me insane. Two very important people in my life left me and I just couldn't take it." I clenched my fists as I remembered that day. I couldn't find Anushay or her. It was a real nightmare.

All that was left behind was a note from her. An unsympathetic and heartless note that left me shattered.

"Two?"

"Yes. You and my sister."

"I have found you, Zoya, I never want to let go of you again. I don't think I can stay sane if I lose you ever again."

"What about your sister?"

"I have yet to find her."

Author's Note:

Hello and Asalam o Alaikum Lovelies!

There is something I really want in life but I can't disclose it right now. I would just like everyone to please pray for me so that I may get it. Can I please get loads of Ameens?

It's really close to my heart and I know all of you want the best for me too. You guys have prayed for me before too so it would be great if you could do it now too. It is the blessed and holy month of Ramadan so please remember me in your prayers. It would mean so much to me. 💖