___

ussey muqammal kar bhi aao
woh jo adhoori si baat baaki hai
___

They ran.

Mustafa Rahmanzai and Madiha Liaquat ran until they lost their breath, until they lost sight of the paunchy dhaba owner and his lanky server boy. They ran until their cheeks swelled up with colour and their feet felt numb.

Finally when they stopped their eyes collided and lungs heaving for air they broke down laughing. In that moment nothing existed between them. Despite their unconventional circumstances, one being a a runaway groom with no direction in life and the other being an injured-knife- swinging assassin who had secrets up her pocket that she was too burdened down with. Right now, they were just a boy and a girl who had run for their lives, run to survive their desperate circumstances.

Once their laughter ceased they slumped down on the road beside each other, their shoulders unconsciously touching. The scorching torridness of the sun sizzling down their bodies as the dark asphalt beneath their bums seeming like an impeccable conducting material for heat.

"Shit, it feels like I am sitting on raking hot coals ready to become a sheesh kebab" Madiha hissed as she shifted uncomfortably.

"Urgh what I would give to have a sheesh kebab." Mustafa groaned absent mindedly as her closed his eyes and ran a hand through his curls.

"Yes and a cold lemonade too, please." Madiha joined in as she leaned her head on his shoulder closing her own eyes.

Mustafa's eyes snapped open as he felt her head on his shoulder, even through the thick layer of his favourite olive green bomber jacket, he could feel her soft skin, which made him want to touch it, feel it, although he knew how so desperately impossible it would be.

His heart felt like it was soaring high, like it was finally free, he had never experienced something quite like this before. He knew that the both of them were on different paths in life yet somehow at this very point, with her on his shoulder, he felt like he could conquer the world, like he had the stars, the moon, the celestial beings all in the palm of his hand. He didn't want to move, or even breathe if it meant this will last forever. What was wrong with him?

"Mustafa, I am glad you are here with me." Madiha's voice dragged him out of his la-la land thoughts, as she still lay on his shoulder.

"I am glad I am here too." Mustafa whispered back as he contemplated on his life decisions that had lead up to this very moment. To her.

"What have you always wanted to do with your life, Mustafa?" Madiha questioned now, not liking the silence or maybe she was feeling a little chatty, but whatever it was it caused Mustafa's body to go rigid.

"Just humor me please, I need a distraction from the pain in my arm." Madiha snuggled further into his shoulder as she leaned her weight on him more.

"Are you going to be alright?" Mustafa frowned as he angled his head in her direction, before touching her forehead lightly with the back of his hand.

Madiha moaned at the contact as she pulled at his arm, Mustafa sighed in helplessness, her fever had still not gone down.
"We need to get you to a doctor."

"I will be fine, hotstuff. I have seen worser times."

Mustafa could only imagine what would be worse than this and it made him sick to the stomach, he shifted closer to her, making sure she was in a much more comfortable position now. The urge to wrap his arms around her shoulders and pull her petite body to his chest was strong, but he decided against it.

"I have always wanted to fly..." Mustafa mumbled softly as he unconsciously removed a strand of hair that was on her forehead.

"You are not a bird, Mustafa." Came Madiha's giggle. This caused a soft smile to spread across his lips too as he gratified her.
"Really? I never noticed."

"You can still fly though." Madiha nudged him softly with her head as if asking him to continue and he did.

"I was 13 years old when I first flew on an plane sitting beside the pilot. Liya Aapi was the one flying the plane. As we took off, I saw the city becoming miniature, when we pierced through the clouds and into the clear blue skies, I fell in love. I truly did. I was far away from all the problems of the world. The skies were mine to rule. I flew a plane for the first time when I was 17. I was very young but it was most liberated I had ever felt in a while."

"Why did you stop flying then?" Madiha questioned, when she found him getting lost in a pile of gloomy thoughts.

"Because my parents hated seeing their children happy. They hated not being in control of every single moment of our lives."

Madiha slowly lifted her head off of his shoulder as she comprehended the weight of his words. How could parents not want their kids to be happy?

"Well, Captain Mustafa promise me a seat on your plane once you take your first official flight." Madiha exclaimed out as she stared at him through her exhausted sterling eyes.

"How about this? I promise you a seat right beside me, Madiha. I promise to make you feel as liberated as I felt when I first flew beside Liya Aapi." Mustafa let out a small laugh as he nudged his shoulder with her as if sealing his word of honour.

Liberated. What a strong word it was. Was she truly ever going to not feel the burden of her past, of her responsibilities? Was it even possible? She desperately hoped it was. Mustafa 's promise was a balm to her now pessimistic mind. She hoped to survive at the end of this.

"You have proven to be an annoying but awesome friend, hotstuff." She declared, slumping against his shoulder again.

Friend?, Mustafa's mind uttered it like a curse. Of course, he was just a friend, how dare he think he could be anything more?

"Where--" just as Mustafa was about to ask her something his eye caught a bring orange Volkswagen microbus trudging its way down the highway. The sun reflecting off of it made it look quite a sore sight to the eyes.
"Look someone is coming this way."

Madiha jerked up in surprise as she squinted her eyes to see it.
"I am going to ask for a lift."

"How do you know if the person has not already seen the news and decides to drop us at the police station?" Madiha questioned sceptically, groaning at the heat.

"We should take our chances. You know it better than anyone, we might just die here." Mustafa mumbled as he got up dusting his black chinos.

"Alright, but if i sense even an ounce of suspicion off the person I will legitimately not think seconds before castrating him/her." Madiha sighed in resignation as she herself got up holding onto the bright scarlet red Gucci handbag. Yes, they still hadn't abandoned the goddamn bag. It was starting to feel like a safety net to Madiha at one point.

"I do not expect anything less of you." Was Mustafa's reply as he discarded his bomber jacket, and wrapped it around his waist, revealing his tanned muscular arms in a white Adidas short.

Madiha gulped at the display as they flexed in the sunlight, they were not super veiny or overly abstract but just perfect. How was this man so perfect? God clearly had his favourites.

He waved his arm in air, as the microbus neared eventually causing it to come to a halt. A trippy bollywood song was blasting through the speakers as a man came out of the driver's side.
He had salt and pepper hair and seemed quite fit for his age, dressed impeccably in a suit, as if he was a door to door salesman or was part of some corporate pyramid scheme.

"Are you both real human beings?" Was his first question as he removed his black aviators and squinted at them.

"Urm yeah." Mustafa answered skeptically, as he exchanged a glance with Madiha.

"I don't believe you." The man said waving his hand in the air in disbelief, as he looked at his microbus and whispered something to it in hushed tones.

"Is he crazy?"

"Is he a male prostitute? Who dresses up like that in middle of the desert?"

Mustafa and Madiha both mumbled simultaneously, but Madiha smiled sheepishly as she heard his question.
"Crazy sounds more appropriate."

Mustafa could only shake his head at her in disbelief as he walked a little closer to the man.
"Sir, would you be able to give us a lift?"

"Are you a jinn? I only give lifts to jinns." The man replied back with a serious face.

"I am sorry what?!" Mustafa exclaimed in shock as Madiha grabbed at the sleeve of the jacket around his waist and gritted out lowly
"We are not fucking getting inside this man's van. He is batshit crazy."

"Oh come on, I was just kidding. I'll give you a lift." The man chuckled as he sat back into his car, motioning the duo to follow him.

"Come on, Madiha. We need to do this. I don't think he has any idea of who we are. He was just kidding." Mustafa tried coddling her into agreeing but she was leaving no room for argument.

"He might be a serial killer, you forsaken eggshell. He might slice our skins and sell them to the devil or even worse eat them! And who knows if he's not actually the Jinn." She ranted as she pulled at his sleeve with all her might, pulling him back.

"Trust me. We will be fine."

"I--" Madiha began but the man interrupted her as he screamed from within his van. "Are you both coming or not?"

"Yes we are. Just a minute." Mustafa screamed back causing the female beside him to glare daggers into his skull.

"Listen, you need medical attention, whether you think you are tough or not is besides the point. I am not going to let you die just because we were under the assumption that a very nice, potentially weird man, is a serial killer or a jinn."

"I am not going to die." Madiha mumbled, looking down at her hands on his sleeve pouting.

"Not yet, but you might if we stay here because who knows how long until someone else drives by that fulfils all your demanding expectations."Mustafa reasoned, hoping to convince her, but to be honest he himself was scared shitless.

"We will be fine. I promise. And if he does try killing us, I will sacrifice myself for you." He added dramatically, causing Madiha to smirk and she wrapped the sleeve of the jacket around her hand and swung the scarlet Gucci bag in his face.

"Don't worry, princess. I will save you." She fluttered her eyes at him innocently, causing him to blink back at her in awe. And she was back.

They walked towards the microbus, Madiha pulling him by the sleeve and him trailing behind like a lost puppy. Getting inside the microbus they observed the surroundings nothing seemed like it was out of the normal.

The man lowered the volume on the radio, as he turned back around grinning at them widely.
"I am Momin Ejaz, you can call me Momin Bhai. And this is my Gul e Rana that you are seated inside. She's the love of my life."

Mustafa and Madiha exchanged a nervous glance at the ludicrous man's words trying not to react in the most ridiculous ways possible. So they each gave out a very awkward smile in return. It made them look like chimpanzees begging for their lives to not be murdered in broad day light.

"It's common courtesy to tell me your names too." The man exclaimed raising his brows at them in suspicion.

"Urm.." Mustafa began nervously trying to make up a name but Madiha beat him to it. " I am Laila and he's Majnu"

"Laila-Majnu?" The man tested their names on his tongue once before scratching his head in wonder. " Have we met before? Your names sound familiar."

"I doubt it, Momin Bhai. I would remember if we would have met. I never forget faces." Madiha enthusiastically conversed, as if she was well versed in lying.

"Hahah. It's a pleasure to meet you Laila and Majnu. Where would you like to go?" He questioned causing the duo to make eye contact again. This they had never discussed before. Would they part ways soon?

"Can you get us into the city without passing any government checkpoints, Momin Bhai?" Mustafa questioned ignoring, Madiha's questioning gaze.

"Boy, I never pass check points. They are a waste of time and money. I avoid them at all costs." Momin Bhai replied turning back to the steering.

"Great, can you drop us at Grand Trunk Street in the city?"

"Of course. Hang tight then, it's a long ride. There are few snacks and beverages in the back, feel free to indulge. "

Madiha jerked at Mustafa's sleeve causing him to fall towards the seat next to her.

"Why are we getting down at Grand Trunk Street? We never discussed this. " She hissed in anger, glaring down at him.

"I know we didn't, but you need medical attention. I have a friend who is a doctor, she can help." Mustafa explained calmly as he searched through the box to find sealed packs of food and water.

"I do not need you taking decisions for me. I don't like it. Never do it again." She turned her head away from him as anger bubbled through her veins, she didn't want to be rude but treating her injuries was the last thing on her mind. She had more important things to take care of.

"Do me this one last favour. Get yourself checked and then you go your own path and I go on my own." He said handing her a trail mix and a bottle of water.

She but down on her lower lip, as she twisted the bottle open. Why was he so considerate? The thought of never seeing him again made her very vexed. This was not supposed to happen.

She saw him rummage through the box and at the bottom of it was a stash of strips of tablets, among them was ibuprofen which Mustafa immediately gave to her. She gruffly nodded his way as she got up and tumbled into the passenger seat beside Momin Bhai.

They began conversing and Madiha's interrogation began, she however was quickly charmed by the salt and pepper haired man and his words. By the end of it as Mustafa could barely keep his sleep deprived eyes, he heard his ears bustling with lyrics, as he slipped into oblivion.

"Tu cheez badi hai mast mast
Tu cheez badi hai mast"

Safe to say Momin Ejaz was no serial killer or a Jinn. He was just a man who was in love with his van.

____

(Le author realising how much she has backlog on this book)
_____

How are my extraordinary keema samosas doing?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I am incredibly rusty rn cuz it's been a hot minute since I've written on here, but i am trying to get back to it.

How was the Momin Bhai cameo? (To my written in the stars readers ;))

Madiha and Mustafa are chilling rn but things are about to become really stressful for them so hang in there because I am back for good. I will try being consistent with the updates as much as I can do. (Yay an achievement!)

Also Ramadan Kareem everyone, i am half a month late but i hope you're having a very happy, safe and productive Ramadan so far. My best wishes and duas to your families.

Alright then, please do leave your precious feedback!
(I will be replying to all your comments so please do!)
Bring your foreheads to your screens.
*smooches*

Love you
Byee!

~flawfully