Thanks RTdhoomie for the amazing book cover ❤️❤️

Just a translation:: puchka (poo-ch-kah) means gol gappe! ;)

I HAVE A QUESTION so, do read the second half of the A/N (:
Thanks @mishukhan for the chapter title
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~~~PREET's POV~~~

I stirred in my bed as it dipped behind me. Must be Hussain, I thought and smiled, half sleeping. Yawning, I turned around to wrap my arm around him but, found Nihal sleeping there in bhabhi's lap. I sighed internally and sat up.

"I didn't mean to wake you up. I am sorry," she whispered as Nihal had just fallen asleep, "he made my bed wet so I brought him here until it dries."

Little kids and their favourite habit, I guess.

"It's ok," I smiled at her and ran a hand through my hair. My eyes fell on the clock and it struck 1PM. "Why didn't you wake me up? It's so late and where is Hussain?"

"You were tired last night so, he asked to not wake you up," she told me with a smile.

"But where is he?"

Bhabhi's looked at me and frowned, "you don't know? His flight was at 9AM today."

What?!

"And he left without saying goodbye to me?" I gasped out loud and she chuckled. "Koi ni aa jayega. Kuch din uske bina- hamera sath bh reh le."

Yahi toh problem hai- uske bina. Ab at least ten days ke baad ayega.

With my shoulders and mood touching the ground, I dragged myself to the washroom. Bina mile kaise chala gaya?

Hmph!

Not fair.

~~~HUSSAIN's POV~~~

I reached the shoot location and threw myself on the closest chair. Checking the time on my wrist watch, I pulled out my phone. Ab tak toh uth hi gayi hogi. Ek toh subha mil bhi nahi Saka and all thanks to Adeel's urgent flight arrangements. He could have asked at least? It's not like I have a scene scheduled for today anyway.

I shrugged and dialled Preet's number but, no one answered. Ok, ab itni dayr tak kaun sota hai? I redialled the number and after four rings finally someone answered.

"Hey my puchka," I stretched the words and said in a baby voice. Well, at least I think that's how babies sound like?

When there was no reply, I sighed, "babu gusha hai?"

There. I heard a giggle. And almost died of embarrassment when the owner of the giggle spoke from the other end.

"Puchka? Seriously Hussain?"

"Kashish bhabhi?" I chocked and checked the number. I had dialled Preet's number- I am sure.

"Your puchka is in the washro- Lo aa gayi," she laughed and then I heard some shuffling on the other end of the line.

"Baat kar?" I heard bhabhi whispering.

"Oops galti Se phone cut Gaya," I heard Preet saying before she disconnected the call. On purpose.

Oh wow!

Kuch zyada hi naraz hai madam. Lamba phas gaya Hussain iss baar tu.

~~~SHEHRY's POV~~~

I paced up and down outside Zara's vanity van while she waited for her makeup artist to arrive- which happened to be Asmaara. It's been over two hours since I arrived here and Asmaara was still not here. I sighed and dialled her number but, it kept saying that it was switched off.

Kahaan ho tum Asmaara? Kahi iss baar bhi tum-

"Shehry kahaan hai teri make up artist? Kaun hai jisse time Ki value nahi hai?" Hussain came up to me, complaining, "Zara aur meri chemistry is always perfect. Jaldi Jaldi songs shoot karte hein phir Auckland chalte hein."

I chuckled at his impatient state, "abhi abhi toh aya hai. Itni besabri?"

"Ab kya batau," he sighed and I smirked. "Batao batao? Kya Hua?"

"Main apni personal life kisi ke sath discuss nahi karta. Shoot ke baad mere bhai Ko hotel bhej dena director sahab," he laughed and said 'director sahab' louder than the other words. Hearing that from someone close, felt good.

Wow! Finally I am the director and not an assistant director. The feeling itself was beyond amazing.

Par yeh Asmaara kahaan hai? Woh aaye toh mera kaam officially shuru ho.

"Oh freak!" Hussain chocked out and my head snapped to follow his eyes.

Now I am not sure if this is a think-of-the-devil-and-the-devil-is-here situation or Bari-Lambi-umar-hai-aapki wali situations hai....

"Hey guys," Asmaara nervously smiled at Hussain and nodded at me. I sighed in relief and smiled at her.

"How did you get here? Weren't you out of town?" Was the first this Hussain blurted and Asmaara laughed. "Well, technically I am still out of town."

Soon Asmaara went inside Zara's vanity and Hussain pulled me to a quite corner, "are you- are you okay with... You know? Having her around like this?"

"Been three years, Sain," I let out a short laugh, "move on." He didn't look as convinced but, still he dropped the topic.

I sighed internally. Honestly, it's hurts. But, I am trying to not let that effect me anymore. Hamari kismat main saath hona likha hai yah nahi- mujhe nahi pata but, If her friendship is all I'll ever get- then I am still happy that at least she is a part of my life.

I shook my head and walked toward the camera man to discus the first shot for today however, Hussain yelled out, "agar move on ho hi gaya hai toh mama ko haan bol du?"

I stopped and rolled my eyes. Phir wahi shaadi Ka topic. "Do whatever you want!" I yelled and he laughed.

~~~ASMAARA's POV~~~

The day was long and I was exhausted by the end of it. First I met up with Mrs Wong and then Sam showed up. Time passed while catching up with him about his health and life in general. Then I chose to bus here as I fancied the little walk between the bus stop and the shoot location. Yeah, not a great idea- now I realise.

Yet, coming here wasn't as bad as being on the sets was. Zara is one sweet angel with a b*tchy attitude. She is completely opposite to the modest and generous image that she puts up on talk shows or at interviews. Khud ko kahi Ki rani samajhti hai, churail.

Damn, I never realised how much efforts it required to hide her uneven skin tone and pimples under that creamy foundation and concealer. To top it all, she needed to touch up before and after each take- so, that was like every five minutes. Itni si dayr main kaunsa makeup dhul jata hai? Really, a pat on the back to her regular makeup artist!

Honestly, at a point I wanted to throw the whole make up kit at her face but, I kept telling myself that it's ok as only going to last for ten days. Aur vaise bhi- Shehry Se promise kiya hai and that's the main thing that's going to stop me from murdering her over the next few days, I guess.

Sigh.

I walked out of the sets and the watchman locked it for the night. It's one of those nights that I just can't completely hate or love because the white snow glows under the moonlight, making it seem like a fairy tale and the frosty smell is something I could lock in my memory forever. But, at the same time, it also numbs my face and cringes my hands, sending shudders of chills down my spine. I am not too sure if this dreamy setting is what I want or the warm summer sun that won't be arriving for months from now.

Oh well, the best I can do is cope with it and reach home safely. I walked myself to the nearest bus stop and checked the time table. 20 minutes for my bus. Awesome! No.

While I waited for the bus, I mentally made a note to myself to ALWAYS bring the car because vehicles would drive past me and every time they would freaked me out. I often found myself gripping on to the pepper spray that I always carried in my bag. Damn, I didn't even have my phone on me since I switched it off after my chat with baba in the morning.

I had called him back and bluntly told him that I am not coming back until I wish to. The most he would do is block my credit cards and I guess I'll manage without any money for the next ten days. Yeah, the eleventh day, I'll be out of this city because now my only reason for staying behind is Shehry's shoot. Plus, the next shooting location will be in Auckland and Jessica will be take over.

I squinted as the bright headlights for a car blocked my vision. I glanced over to it and realised that it had stopped only a few meters away from me. Unable to see anything, I panicked and began walking away from it. I could hear the doors opening behind me and foot steps suggested that someone was now following me. Maybe running after me.

The thought made a chill run down my spine as my hands tightly gripped around the pepper spray. Turning around all of a sudden, I whacked my elbow on the guy's face and he howled. "Oww shit!"

I was about to temporarily turn him blind when I realised that it wasn't just anyone but, Dr. Bilal. "Oh crap! I thought-"

"It's ok," he panted, running a finger across his bleeding lip, "what are you doing here at this hour?"

I was about to answer that very politely when I remembered our last meeting, "I should be the one asking you this. Are you following me?"

"You need to stop answering my question with a question," he complained and I rolled my eyes. "You need to stop asking me questions."

Just then, my eyes fell on the bus that I was supposed to catch and I walked past him.

"No freaking way. I can't let you catch a bus at this hour. It's not safe," he said, blocking my way.

"Thank you but, since when did I appoint you as my body guard?" I fired back and he groaned. "Look, believe it or not. Coming with me is a safer option and even you know that!"

"How could you be so sure?" I questioned back.

"Because look at you. Pepper spray in your hand and pale expressions," he said like he could really see my skin tone in this lighting, "plus I am Shabir's cousin and you can definitely trust me more than a stranger bus driver."

"I can't even trust my own cousin," I muttered under my breath and stepped backwards while Bilal took a couple of steps towards me. "I know."

"You know what?" My eyes snapped to meet his'.

"You wouldn't want me to repeat," he sighed and I felt my eyes stinging. As much as I want people to leave me alone, they end up treating my like a charity case. It's frustrating because they literally barge into my personal space. I know I have issues but, I'd rather handle them all by myself. I don't need anyone- no friends, no doctors.

And just like that, while we were arguing, my bus drove past us. "Ugh! I missed my bus because of you!"

"Good! Now you are coming with me," Bilal grinned and shoved me in his car, "zara sa bhi doubt hai toh yeh pepper spray apne hath main hi rakhna."

Feeling defeated, I bucked my seatbelt but, at the same time, I didn't let go off the pepper spray. Through out the ride, Bilal kept trying to converse with me but, I was least interested. Sighing, he finally gave up and then we finally reached home. It wasn't supposed to be a long journey but, the awkwardness turned it into one of those never-ending, torturous car rides where you fee like you spent almost half of your life.
Ok, may be not but, you know what I mean right?

"Thanks," I mumbled as I unbuckled the seat belt

"So, are we friends now?" He asked when I was about to close the car's door and I sighed.

"You are just not going to give up, are you?"

~~~
So, a quick one and Probably not the most interesting too

Not fully edited as I had no time.

Only wrote it because I am amazing at procrastinating and I desperately needed time off from my exam preps :P

>>READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO <<

For those who follow me on social media, probably know about this already; I have ANOTHER STORY in my mind.
what would you prefer?? Should I start updating that one now or after Adhoore Hum ends??
If I start updating now so, the updates will obviously be slow as my time will be divided into 2 stories at the same Time.

Do let me know what you have to say here ---->>

Love Always!