Almost 6 months have passed and everything's back to normal.  One new friendship was all it needed and the kingdom of Aasimgadh finally rejoiced.  For sure things weren't the same as they were earlier but at least better.

Shaziya smiled to herself as she saw little Afsa playing without any care of the world.  It reminded her of her childhood,  the way she used to live,  like there's nothing to worry about.

She walked down the stairs and inside the garden where Afsa was playing.  Her innocent smile on full bloom.

" Khala flowers!!  Butterfly!! " she spoke in her tender voice,  showing Shaziya all the beauty that surrounds her.  Shaziya bent down and picked Afsa in her hands,  carrying her to the nearest rose plant. She plucked one rose and was about to give it to her when suddenly a voice stopped her dead in her track.

" Roses don't deserve to be plucked.  They are beautiful the way they are. " Ahaan spoke and Shaziya turned with a jerk to look at him.  He still looked the same,  actually better than before .  His eyes still held the same pain but now it was dull,  like almost gone.  He looked like the same Ahaan Shaziya had seen before everything went wrong.  The same bubbly personality.

She looked at him carefully,  as if asking him through her eyes,  where he was.

" I had some business to attend.  But now I'm back special friend. " He said while pinching her cheeks and she slapped his hands away.  She felt cheated. She knew there was no valid reason for her to behave this way but at least he could have told someone where he was.  At least informed Aasif. 

All this time she thought he left because he no longer wanted to be there with her when in reality he was away because he had some work to do.  Some work which was way more important than his friend who had just lost her voice and needed some emotional support.

She turned the other side and started walking away when she felt a hold on her wrist.  She knew it was him but still she did not turn.  Her eyes burned with the pain of hiding her tears. She felt him come closer to her. His breath tickled her shoulder.

" I know I shouldn't have left like that but it was important.  I know you're angry,  hurt and you feel betrayed but please try to understand. If I had not left that day then I don't think I would have ever been able to stand in front of mirror and stair right through my eyes.  I promise I'll tell you soon,  maybe even sooner but please wait till the right time.  Please special friend. " he said, his head now resting on her shoulder and his hand holding hers.

Within a second his words reached her soul and she at once turned. He did not move back,  both their faces almost touching. He looked straight in her eyes and saw forgiveness in them.  He smiled and slowly moved back but at this instant what he failed to realize was what Shaziya felt.  Her heart was beating at the rate at which no normal heart could beat.  At that moment she forgot how to breath,  it was a feeling she had never experienced and it frightened her.

Slowly she took deep breaths and tried her best to calm her heart. Ahaan looked at her, confused at what she was doing. He somewhere feared that she was still angry with him but when she opened her eyes and gave him a bright smile all his fears washed away in drain.

" Come on special friend,  let's give everyone a huge surprise! "  He said walking forward and kept his one hand on her shoulder. She looked at him hesitantly but then picked up his hand and threw them aside.

" I don't mind. " He said and then kept them back and she again threw them aside.

" Oh come on special friend,  it's not like you'll catch some serious disease.  Now let's go. " He said as he again placed his hands back on her shoulder and then pushed her back towards the palace.  They both started to walk inside but stopped when they heard a sudden voice.

" Mamu what about meeeee? " A little,  high pitched voice called out and they both realized how they forgot little Afsa in their reunion.  Suddenly Shaziya started to laugh,  Ahaan was shocked but soon he too joined her realizing why she was laughing.  All this time the little girl looked at both of them as if they are some aliens who have came from some far away planet.

" Ammi Mamu Khala mad!  Ammi Mamu Khala mad!!  " Afsa shouted while running back to the palace.  They tow looked at her disappearing figure but then again started to laugh at their silliness.

" let's go! " Ahaan said and dragged Shaziya inside along with him.  She continued to laugh along with him. 

...................

The whole palace was filled with voices of laughter.  Both Ahaan and Shaziya were still busy laughing at their silliness. Their noise brought everyone down. All wearing the same shocked expression because no one had seen Shaziya even smiling for once and today she was laughing.  What shocked them more was the person she was laughing with,  Ahaan's.

" Ahaan! " Both Sara and Aasif called him together and they both stopped their laughing session.  Ahaan looked at the stairs,  at his brother and ran to hug him.  Aasif too hugged him back and finally the two brothers reunited.

Sara too walked up to him and slapped him lightly but then gave him a huge welcoming smile.  Alisbah saw this whole scene from beside and smiled slowly.  Her eyes filled with tears of joy as she saw her family happy once again after a long time.  Ahaan saw her smiling and walked to her,  his smile never fading.

" Hey little fish!  What's up with this secret smile? " Ahaan asked as he did his bro code thing with her.  She simply smile but said nothing.

" I wish this remains like it is now! " She said, looking at her family all happy and enjoying.  Ahaan and Shaziya were beside her and they could not help but wish the same.

" Don't worry,  now that I'm back I won't let things go out of hands again.  " He said,  prising himself and Shaziya slapped his head lightly.  She looked at him and tried to tell him how he should not think too high of himself.

" It's called believing my abilities,  not thinking too high of myself. " He said and Shaziya remained shocked, wondering how he understood what she wanted to tell him so easily...