"One of the Gifts
Of life
Is friendship
And
I have
Receive It"

~ Sanam Arafat Shaikh

Sanam's POV

Ughhhh, I don't understand why do this educational institutions have to be in early morning and the cherry on top they expect us to be presentable enough. Don't they see the struggle students go through. Can't they just arrange some afternoon or evening classes I was muttering to myself while trying my best to getting out of bed.

"It's because they want Sleepyheads like you to adopt the habit of waking up early and be presentable to the outside world. Now stop speaking to urself like a crazy person that you are and get ready before you get late" I heard mum speaking while my eyes shot open to find her shuffling through my cupboard.

"Oh c'mon mum am not Sleepyhead" I whined. Leave it upto desi parents to blame everything on ur sleeping schedule. I say you pals, even if you are on the verge of dying or hanging on a cliff it will be because either you didn't slept early or you didn't wake up early.

"Yeah yeah whatever sails your boat beta" she replied sarcastically.

"Umm but what are you searching in my cupboard this early" I questioned while ignoring her sarcasm and raising an eyebrow at her.

"Have you seen my Maroon shawl which have a design of thread flowers" she asked to which I nodded my head in no.

"This house is definitely possessed by a Jin. Things just disappear on their own and the members of this house never seems to know about it" she was muttering to her own self while exiting my room.I let out a yawn before dragging my lazy self towards the bathroom.

After having breakfast dad dropped me off to Uni. I entered my class and sat on my usual spot and looked around to find Tahseen but she seems either late or absent. I guess the latter part is right because the bell rang indicating for start of the first class.

The classes were boring as usual and it was already time for lunch. I was sitting alone while opening the lunch box when someone placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Jazakallahu Khayran Sanam for yesterday. I was not in my senses, I panic really easily" Nooreen said while laughing.

"Wa antum fa jazakum Allahu Khayran, no problem dear and i can understand that" I replied.

"Why are you sitting alone? Come and join us" she said.

"Tahseen isn't present today. Yeah, i will join you but dnt you think others will mind" I asked.

" No, they will not and now stop thinking and come with me. I will introduce you to them." She replied.

As soon as Nooreen and I walk towards them their heads turned to us.

"Hey everyone, this is Sanam" she said.

"Assalamualaikum am Areeba" said the girl with sea green scarf.

"Hey am Khadijah" said the girl with little tan skin.

"And am the famous Aiman everyone is fan of." said the girl with fair skin and everyone chuckled.

I gave them a small smile while settling myself beside Aiman and soon everyone started having lunch. It was full of talks as everyone was narrating incidents or talking random stuff, while I was smiling occassionally at them.

Soon the bell rang indicating for the gates of prison to get open that is we are free to go home.

"Girlsssss listen uppppp" dragged Aiman and everyone including me turned towards her.

"Go on Aiman, it's not like you will stop even if we don't listen" said Khadijah while rolling her eyes and getting smacked by Aiman in return.

"Stup up and lemme speak. Why don't we all go to nearby Cafe and hang out there for a while as we have an early leave anyhow it's been ages since I have gone somewhere" she said dramatically.

"Ummm I think its alright if we everyone's okay with it" Areeba said while everyone nodded their head giving their consent. I turned to leave from there.

"And where do you think you are going Miss" I heard Nooreen asking while dragging me with them.

"Umm you guys carry on I will join you some other time"I said while freeing myself.

"Nah, Nada, Nope. You are coming with us and we are not arguing over it San" She said while leaving no space for argument so I nodded my head with a sign.

The ride to Cafe was really short with only Aiman talking and trying to include me in there discussions. We entered the place while I noticed the Cafe is not a big one but definitely not small though just the medium size with a little touch of greenery everywhere giving it a natural look and with small Chandeliers hanging here and there. We all took seats and I texted mum about my whereabouts.

"So Saan, if you don't mind me calling that. Tell us about yourself. You actually seems a quiet person" questioned Khajidah.

"I dnt mind, am actually not used to many people so I tend to get nervous hence become quiet. And there's nothing much interesting about me to be honest" I replied.

"Aaray aaray when you get comfortable then u will not be nervous and yeah wait till this person annoys the hell out of you then you won't be quiet either." Nooreen said while pointing towards Aiman and everyone laughed.

"Oh c'mon I know you all love me though" replied a pouting Aiman leaving everyone with a smile.

"Guyssss let's take some selfies before we forget" Areeba said after a while and everyone nodded.

"Ummm Saan, Aiman here forgot her mobile at home and Khadijah's phone is switched off and about mine let's just say it's resting in peace somewhere on this Planet. So do you mind if we take in yours?" Nooreen said with an exaggerated sign. But before i say yes i was interrupted by someone.

"Oh but didn't you gave it for repair" Areeba questioned.

"Yeah I did but the mobile dude said wait I quote The damage is done beyond repair so i gotta buy a new one I guess" Noor said.

We started taking selfies on my mobile at first it was only us but then I came to a conclusion these girls are crass as they included waitress and every freaking person who passes our table of course the female ones. I am actually getting comfortable with them more coz they match my level of craziness.

"Okaie dokie that's enough selfie session, let's start eating" said Noor and we all agreed.

"Saan take our numbers so that you can send us the pics" Aiman said and they all started saving their numbers in my mobile one by one.

"Saan this is my bhabhi's number send pics on that till I buy my own" Noor said.

"Sure thing" I said with a smile.

"Do you know our Chemistry Sir is single. I mean he's soooo handsome and he is freaking SINGLE. I CANT BELIEVE IT" Khadijah exclaimed with a dreamy look.

"Ikr, I was astonished too" I said with a smile without thinking till I notice everyone was looking at me with wide eyes that made me do a quick recap of what I said.

"I umm that jus..t uhh stating" I said while stuttering and a loud bloom of laughing took place. Every person in Cafe gave us weird looks.

"You don't have to be embarassed for speaking your mind Saan. But yeah do we see some one blushing here" Noor said while wiggling her eyebrows and I rubbed my cheeks to get rid of that colour.

"No am not blushing, it's just a bit cold here" I said trying to ignore their teasing.

"Oh c'mon guys she was just stating facts not like she has some teeny tiny crush on Sir" Aiman played along teasingly to which I just rolled my eyes while my lips tucked in upward curve.

"Guys I will be back in a minute just need to fix my hijab" Khadijah said while getting up but just as she took two steps a waiter tripped and the contents he was holding came out ruining Khadijah's Abaya.

"Ya Khudaya, you piece of a.." before she can complete her swearing we heard a voice.

"Stop right there Khadijah, no swearing" Noor said while glaring at her.

"...Rotten loaf which has ugly flies flying over it. You ruined my Abaya" Khadijah completed her cursing fuming while we all burst into guffaw to which she turned towards us with glare and went in the direction of restroom.

"She's one sarcastic one though"I said while trying to contain my laughter and everyone nodded. I checked the time on my watch and it showed we passed almost two hours in this cafe.

"Sheesh My Allah I need to be home soon before my mom blare up my mobile with her non-stop texts" I said while standing and started greeting everyone.

"Wait, wait even I should get going before everyone in home thinks I have gone MIA" Noor said while chuckling. We both started moving towards the exit when suddenly Noor exclaimed "My Allah I forgot my hand bag I guess. Saan you get going I will grab it and leave."

"Okay as you say so" I replied and started moving forward but soon my mobile beeped with a text saying Be home soon sweetie. I was so engrossed in phone replying to the text that suddenly I bumped into a wall and lost my balance waiting for the impact of hugging the ground but instead my arm was grabbed by a hand and I opened my eyes only to be met by the most gorgeous face I have ever seen after my dad ofcourse Masha Allah. His hairs was messed up like he has been running his hand through his thick soft hair. He wore shades which covered his eyes while settling itself on his sharp pointed nose and his eyebrows is narrowed like he's in confusion while his lips with perfect bowed formed into an 'O' shape. He smells of something between musky and wood precisely sandalwood or I don't even know why the actual fish in the world am sniffing his Cologne but it's soothing. I draw the conclusion that am officially gone nuts.

I was dragged out of my trance when he cleared his throat and I balance myself out of his hold while straightening my position. My phone was laying on ground due this bumping thing. While I was bending to pick it up he bet me and handed me my phone.

"Umm.. is it alright. I mean am sorry I was in a little distress so didn't notice you coming. I hope it's not a major damage" he said pointing towards mobile. I checked it and Alhumdulilah it has just a small scratch .

"Yeah, it's okay even I was in a hurry so didn't see you coming" I replied but felt him stiffened.

"Are yo..u okay...?" He trailed stuttering a bit. Even though he was wearing shades I can feel his eyes penetrating bores into my soul as if trying to figure me out and this had sending chills through my spine. This guy here is creeping me out.

"Yeah Alhumdulilah and Umm.. Jazakallah" I replied a little baffled and hurriedly.

"I must get going" I said and started heading towards the direction of home without even waiting for his reply.

Shahmir's POV

Today's my day off coz I have to board a flight in some six hours. The Charles Euripides International Group of Hospitals where I work as a Neuro Oncologist have offered me to train and motivate the interns of its other branch which is in other country so in order to gain more experience I took the offer without much thought.

I guess it will take a few months for me to return till then Saair bhai can handle it and hopefully we can persuade him into shifting. With that thought in my mind I reached my Bike and started the journey to Noor's Uni.When I reached at the entrance I found no one standing there so I went towards the watchman whom with now I have become very familiar.

"Uncle haven't Noor's classes finished yet?" I questioned.

"No beta her classes finished a bit early today. So she informed that she was going with her friends to a nearby Cafe" he answered.

"Oh, do you know which Cafe they went to?" I questioned again a little worried coz she's not too familiar with this place. I hope she's safe.

"I don't know beta but they went that way" he said while showing towards a left direction. I went in that direction and started to search for Cafe but there are more than one Cafe in this direction. Looks like I gotta search her.

I went to the first Cafe and ran a gaze in the whole Cafe. It was a small one with only very few people settled here and there which makes my search easier. The second Cafe is closed so this means I have more three to search in.

The next Cafe is full of hustling bustling with a lot of boys and girls everywhere more than my liking. I tried to look for her but my heart stopped when it spotted a certain girl with familiar Abaya being teased by a couple of boys. I went towards their table with agonizing steps and with the build up anger.

"Noor, is that you?" I questioned and the girl in question turned towards me with pleading eyes.

"Oh Bhayya I was waiting for you" she said while walking towards me so I asked her to wait outside.

"Next time you tease someone remember there's always a brother looking after his sister or a father after his daughter who wouldn't even waste a second to change the beauty of your face" I said glaring everyone of them and left Cafe.

"Thank you bhai for what you did back there I was starting to panic really bad" the girl said.

"It's alright. Go home now and be safe" I said while running a hand through my hairs and turned in the direction of another Cafe.

I don't even understand why people have to bother others. Wallah the youth of this generation are being more astray with the each passing day. Either they have no morals left in them or they wanted to act "cool" and give in their self into peer pressure. I again raked a hand through my hairs while being in my thoughts when I suddenly bumped into something soft.

The girl infront of me closed her eyes waiting for the sudden impact but soon enough I held her arm to avoid her from falling onto ground and that single touch ignited all the different sparks inside me. She snapped her eyes open and was in her own daze when I cleared my throat. She straighten herself and look at the mobile which was lying on ground so I handed her phone back.

"Umm.. is it alright. I mean am sorry I was in a little distress so didn't notice you coming. I hope it's not a major damage" I said pointing towards the mobile.

"Yeah, it's okay even I was in a hurry so didn't see you coming" as soon as the words left her mouth I stiffened on my place. The voice sounds oddly familiar yet unrecognisable. It helds the weird magic which leave you enchanted.

"Are yo..u okay...?" I trailed off not knowing what else to ask. Am staring at her deeply might I add I don't know but I have heard this voice somewhere

"Yeah Alhumdulilah and Umm.. Jazakallah" she replied while narrowing her eyes maybe in confusion.

"I must get going" she hurriedly said and left without even waiting for a reply. Shaking my head I was about to go into Cafe when Noor bust out looking here and there making her eyes land on me.

"Bhai!!! You here?" She questioned.

"Yes Miss Hyper, now let's go I have to catch a flight too" I retorted. The ride to home was filled with talks about how Noor made a new friend who's too silent unlike her. We reached home while I directly went to my room and crashed on bed for some peaceful nap.

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Assalamualaikum hunny bunnies. How's you.

How's the chap?

Do you think Shahmir recognised our Sanam's voice?

Am just being the procrastination queen that I usually am so dnt mind me if the next chap is a little late.

Handovers Pizza to every single one of you who are willing to join journey of SanaMir.

Spread love, Spread smiles.....
Let ur Ambience shine............

Till next time Fiamanillah

Yours
A.S