Maham's POV

The air in the car getting heavier every second. I'm playing with my hands on my lap, not daring to even look at his directions. I guess I'd leave the car before he humiliate to get out. Grabbing the seat I'm about to untie it when he again speaks, "Which direction?"

Direction? What is he talking about?

Looking up, I find we are already at the area where Chachi lives. Oh! That means he wasn't kicking me out of the car. I breathe in relief. It would really difficult for me to find another ride in this weather if he'd have decided to leave me in the middle of this drastic weather.

"Miss Qazi!" His call makes me snap my head at him. "Left or right?"

"Um, r-ight." Can't I talk without stuttering even for once?

He turns the car to the right and keep driving straight. "Stop. We've reached."

Arriving before the peach colored building, I tell him to stop the car. I untie the seat-belt and prepare myself to get myself out of the car. Though he hasn't been nothing but polite and a gentleman but I can't ignore the discomfort I feel under his black gaze. My heart always skips a beat whenever he looks at me. There is something I can't figure out - something is there yet invisible.

What is it with this man?

"Thank you for the lift, Mr. Rahaman. You're very kind." Thanking him, I try to open the door but it's locked.

Why the door is locked? What he is planning? Allah I haven't made the wrong choice right? But he can't do anything. We're in my area. And if he tries anything I'll scream for help. It's an society so it wouldn't take people to reach for me.

LOL Maham! Just look around. Do you even a dog out there? There is no one in compound except you and him and this rich money coated car. In the speed at which it is raining, your voice won't go more than three centimeter from here. My subconscious says.

He moves forward - in a blink he comes too close seizing my comfort zone. I suck air in but failing to exhale. The distance between us is an inch and a wrong move won't end up pretty. What on earth he is doing? He moves a little further to my side of the door and begin to check something - me being trapped between the seat and his broad shoulder.

I grab on the seat with my both hands and start to recite every Dua that I've learnt in my lifetime. I dare not to budge an inch because the closeness has been spelled me to be stupefied. Sweat is evidently forming on my head, panic has the complete control over me now. A sharp smell of cinnamon cologne hits my nose providing soothness in this awkward situation.

He back off with one swift motion as a loud sound of something being bolt up kills the tension in the air. "Apologies for the inconvenience. My younger brother broke the lock of this door in the morning and I didn't get the time to fix it." He explains.

He was opening the door me. Damn me! How come I always end up thinking the worst? I let go the breath I was holding. Calming my racing heart down a bit, I thank him once again before opening the door and this time I faced no difficulty to descend from the vehicle. Rushing inside the apartment, I remember I haven't asked him to come inside for tea. He is long gone from my sight as I turn back to find him. He must been thinking how ungrateful am I.

Wait! Why does his opinion matters to me again? It's not that I'll be seeing him for the rest of my life. I sometimes can't comprehend my own self.

Clearing all the useless thoughts, I climb in the elevator and reach to the eighth floor. As I ring the bell, Raiza opens the door open wide and hugs me as if her life depends on me. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?!" She yells. "Come inside I'll tell you what's wrong."

I unwrap my wet scarf stepping inside, letting my hair fall down in the open air.

"Mahru meri bacchi! (Mahru my child)" This time Chachi engulfs me into a bone crashing hug. "Raab ka lakh lakh sukhar tu thik hai. (Thank God you're alright.)"

What's going on exactly? Everyone is behaving like I've come alive from a battlefield.

"Where were you? Do you've any idea how tensed were we?" She breaks into tears. "I was trying to call you but your phone is switched on. It's been three hours since you left."

"Chachi I'm so sorry for causing trouble. It's raining and I couldn't get any ride. I'm so sorry." The sense of guilt washes over me. I'd have called her after the meeting. I'm so careless. "Relax please, you're a heart patient. Too much worrying isn't good for you. I'm home now, safe and sound."

After a long convincing she inhale air of calmness. I narrate her the reason of being home late.

"How can you be so ungrateful?" She scolds. "That good man dropped you home and you forgot to offer him tea. I'm very disappointed with you"

"Ammi, let Appi to change first. She is dripping wet. She'll catch fever." Raiza saves me.

Coming into my room, I enter the washroom and strip out of rest of the clothes and take good warm shower. I wear black leggings and a full-selves long kurti and finish offering Zuhr namaz.

I hang his coat to the handle of the almirah to dry. I forgot to return his coat and he hasn't asked back either. I'll dry wash it and deliver to his office tomorrow.

"Appi come for lunch. It's already late." Raiza calls.

"No need Chachi you go and rest. We'll serve ourselves." She insists to serve us but I decline. She works more than she should.

"So Appi how was he like? I've heard he is very handsome, just like a model straight out of the magazine." I almost chock on the morsel in my mouth hearing Raiza. Gulping down few sips of water I swallow the morsel.

"Astagfirullah! What are you talking about?" I scold.

"What Appi? I was just asking." She pouts. "Don't worry I won't be eyeing your knight in shining amour, I already have mine."

"What?" I wrinkle my eye-brows. "You've a boyfriend! Are you kidding me? Don't you know it's forbidden in Islam to mingle with any man without marriage?"

Allah! Grant this girl some sense!

"Shh...Appi relax please." She says. "Ammi will hear you. Beside we never crossed any lines. He is very good. To tell the truth I love him a lot. I was planning to tell Ammi once I graduate. Please don't tell to Ammi anything." She pleads.

"I just have one request, never I mean it never bring any disgrace to your family. You're mature enough to judge the right and wrong. And all these relationships - I don't know what to comment." I sigh.

"Don't worry. He is a good man and we know our limits. We wouldn't do any wrong." She says. "Thank you so much for understanding Appi."

"What does he do?" I ask.

"He is in his first of university. He is a student of law." She proudly says.

"University?" I raise my both eye-brows. "You're in college. How you guys met?"

"He was my senior." She replies.

After chatting for a few more minutes, I get up and clean the table along with the dishes. I know Raiza is a sensible girl and she knows what she is doing but I can't help and worry. One wrong step and she will doomed for her entire life. I can only worry. I can't dictate her life.

Ya Raab keep your blessing with her and guide her to the right path.

Later in the evening we decided to play ludo as it is impossible to step outside - the rain has covered the area with mud and pools of pudding and I've no wish to go out in that condition.

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The rest of the week goes well. Raiza and I went to sight seeing Delhi as we planned. It's been really interesting and adventurous. Qutb Complex, Red Fort and the landmark of Delhi - the India Gate are few places we visited.

Enjoying a great time with them, it's time for me to go back home. The reason for which I came here didn't result in success. But it's okay. It was meant to happened. One can't fight his fate. All I hope now for Baba not to be upset. I let him down. I failed.

"Chacha will you please stop at RAR Enterprise on the way? I need to return Mr. Rahaman's coat." I didn't get the time to return it as I got busy with Raiza and our tour. Before leaving, I should return his coat.

"Meri baachi (My child), do come again okay." A few drops of tears falls from Chachi's eyes.

"Don't cry please. I'll come again I promise. Now wipe these tears and give me a bright smile." I hug her. "Take care of yourself."

"Raiza, look after them and yourself too. Don't do anything stupid please." I whisper the last sentence only for her to hear. She nods in reply.

Bidding goodbyes to Chachi and Raiza, Chacha drives me to the company first. Taking out a paper and a pen from my bag I write a small thank you note and keep it inside the coat. Stepping out of the car, I enter into the lobby.

"Assalam Alaikum. I'm here to return this to Mr. Rahaman, please." I hand over to the coat to the same man I met a week ago when I first came here. He as always gives a pleasant smile and take the coat. Thanking him, I hop inside the car and we drive to airport.

"Take care of yourself beta and give my salam (Greet) to Bhai (brother)." He says while he takes out my luggage out of the car.

"I'll and please drive safe home. Khuda Hafiz." I murmur.

I walk into the airport and Chachi drives away. Now it's time to face Baba.

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The plane reach to the airport of Lahore, making me tensed. Baba must be waiting outside with a hope of hearing a good news but how can I tell him that I failed him. I couldn't muster up the courage to inform on the phone because I thought it would be easier to tell him in person. But I was wrong. Facing him with a disappointing news is beyond my ability. I'm feeling so delinquency that my hands become sweaty. Baba has done so much for me - always fulfilled my every wish and look at me - I couldn't even do this slightest for him.

Coming out of the airport, I greet Baba with a happy face, not wanting to drop the news yet. The ride to home has been smooth. He didn't ask anything about the meeting either. May be he can guess seeing me. He is a father after all - he knows when his child is at distress - when his child is hiding something - when his child do something wrong - he always knows everything. The car ride has been silent.

Reaching home, I greet Bano and Mulak mamu and enter my room to freshen up. After changing into homey clothes I come out of my room in search of Baba. I'd tell him that I couldn't fulfilled the purpose for which I went Delhi - it's a complete failure. He is sitting in the garden, drinking his evening tea, enjoying the process of sunset - lost in his own world of thoughts. I wonder what he might be thinking. Perhaps secretly mourning on the fact that Ammi's dream stopped in the middle of coming true.

I march towards the bamboo table and sit beside him with a mild smile. A few minutes has passed but no words has been exchanged between his daughter and him. He keep staring blankly at the vermilion sky. Sighing he puts the cup on the table, he crosses both of hands together. He always locks his hands together every time he has something important to talk to me, or correcting me on my wrong doings.

"When you're little, might be eight years old, you became so determined to ride Murat's cycle. You remember that incident?" He softly laughs.

I quietly nod.

"Amina told Murat to buy sugar and he denied. You heard it and decided to buy it yourself so that you'd please your Ammi. You went out but your cycle's tire was punctured so you decided to take Murat's cycle." He says.

"But my legs didn't reach to paddle. I tried so hard yet I failed." I mumble.

"You began to cry saying that you couldn't make Amina happy. You're a bad daughter." He pauses and looks at me. "Remember what your Ammi said back then? She said that it's okay to fail because you at least tried, that's what matters. Sometimes things aren't in our ability to accomplish but the real hero is who never gives up without trying. She was so proud of you because you knew that you might not be able to bring sugar for her yet you tried."

"Baba I'm -I'm..." I couldn't speak. Sadness is piling up in my throat, tears are threatening to flow down.

"Beta you didn't fail your Ammi nor you fail me. It was meant to happened." He engulf me to a side hug. I put my head on his shoulder. Just like every time when I break down. "You tried that's what matter and believe me I'm proud of you princess and Amina is too. Don't let the failure dim your hard work."

Wiping my tears, I smile sadly at him. "But Baba we can't open the restaurant now. I lost the land."

"We'll see some other land then."

This is what always surprise me about him - forever optimistic. Not for once he let me feel down. He knows Ammi wished for that land where the restaurant would be built, but just because for me he is pretending that everything is alright. That's what we all do at times - pretend.

Pretend to be happy when you're sad. Pretend to be fine when you're scrambling inside. Pretend until it seems real. I guess it's my turn to pretend until I'm alright - which I'll never be. Because I don't have such courage to let my emotions out. All my life I've learnt the world don't care emotions.

"Bade Abba!(Elder father) Mahru! Come inside now." Bano calls. "It's your medicine time Bade Abba. If you don't come in right now I'll be very angry.

"Coming meri Maa (my mother)" He chuckles. "I thought I'd be saved from scoldings while your stay in Delhi but she scolds me more than you do."

"After all she learnt from the best." I pat myself confidently.

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It's been more than a month since I came from Delhi. First I was heartbroken as I couldn't get the land but nothing reaches you without Allah's will. From the single drop that falls on the face to every hardship that is destined to be endured has been willed specifically. Whatever happens it's by His will and it's for the best.

The matter of building the restaurant is at a pause now as we need to find another land plus it's a matter of stupendous amount of money. Baba said that it's okay even if the restaurant wouldn't be build, not every dream comes true. He's a great cook, though didn't receive much popularity like other chefs do. He always wants to keep everything simple - his most intriguing specialty makes everything he does to turn into extraordinary.

"Excuse me is my dress ready?" Nisha asks.

"Oh yes, it's all ready. I was waiting for you to come and collect. Just a sec." I get up from the counter for fetching the dress.

"You'd certainly look gorgeous on your special day." I complaint.

"All because of your amazing design. Why are you wasting your talent here? Step out to the world and I believe you'll make it big." She says.

"I can't leave Baba alone here and I'm happy to work here. I like to keep it simple."

"How can I forget you're the daughter of Emad Qazi!" Rolling her eyes she leaves after paying.

I keep getting such reactions because I try to follow Baba's footsteps - those rules that doesn't apply in today's glamorous world. Those morals that are too back dated for modern days. But I never complain. I prefer to stay back dated rather than becoming a money hunger shark. Being in the spotlight is not what I want.

Closing the shop in the evening, Bano and I walk to home. Malak mamu opens the door, informing me to see Baba first. His sudden statement makes me feel worried. Mamu never spoke like this. I hope everything is alright. Washing my face and hands I knock at Baba's room. He permits to come in. He is sitting on the sofa near the ceiling to floor bookshelf, with his reading specs on his nose.

"Assalamu Alaikum Baba. Is everything okay?" I question.

"Walaikum Assalam beta." He says. "Sit I want to speak to you about something."

He walks to the side table and fish out an envelope from the drawer. He hands it to me and signs me to read it. I'm feeling mixed emotions right now. Tension, confusion and a bit fear of the unknown. Wriggle my nose, I open it and begin to read the paper.

"Miss Maham Ferdous Qazi,

This letter is to inform you that your request for negotiating about the land in Islamabad has been granted. The RAR Enterprise has agreed to lend you the land for six years for free of cost. For further details, please visit our headquarter by 25th of this month.

Thank you."

My eyes widen matching the length of Pacific ocean. It would've popped out if I was any animated character in kid's shows. I read it once again to be double sure. I look at Baba, my mouth open in shock. The more I try to comprehend of what I just read, the deeply the web of confusion grabs my mind, leaving me speechless. I don't know how to react - shall I do my happy dance? Shall I sit confused? Shall I cry out?

What am I suppose to do?

"Beta relax." He takes the letter from my hand. "I can't tell you what to do about this offer. It's your choice. Be aware of the terms you'll be burying yourself into."

"Baba." I speak. "Do you think it'll be wise to accept it? These rich people never do anything without calculating their profits. They think about profits even before they breathe. Why would Mr. Rahaman be such kind to us?"

"Not every rich man is bad. Don't judge everyone basing on one person's wrong doings. I think there is no harm in giving this opportunity a try. Be positive."

I leave his room with a mind stuffed with millions of thoughts, all meeting at the end of one question.

What's the catch?

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I'm back with another chapter.

I've exams and need to prepare for it too so can't be online for sometimes but whenever I get the chance I update... just like today.. I've some guests at home so I take the advantage of the time...hehehe...

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