The euphoria we get whenever our phone beeps, whilst knowing it would be another meme video or post on my group and checking the notifications every two minutes later has now become my routine on weekends. Even after knowing that there won't be any special message apart from my friend's group, I kept on scrolling through Instagram, feeling utterly bored staying at home, knowing that there is no class for two days as it was weekend.

The sky was pitch dark, dogs howling, owls screeching voice, giving the night sky a stimulating inflexion, and indicating that it was the time to slumber. But, I was nowhere near sleep and felt like spending my night scrolling on phone, having nothing to do.

"Naiza, are you up for a movie night?" My sister, Nuhma asked.

Normally, weekends were spent watching endless movies or Korean dramas till dawn and then waking up at noontime. As this has become our routine, our parents had stopped asking us to sleep early and now doesn't even bother about our bad sleeping habits, as it was nothing new for them to witness.

But the most interesting part was, my mom also accompany us to watch Korean dramas. I and my sister made her sit with us and watch a drama and to our surprise she instantly liked it. Then, from that day onwards she too joined watching with us on weekends but she only stays up till two in the morning and that too only if the heroine is Park Shin Hye, as my mom is a great fan of her.

"Yes! Coming," I told, got up from my bed and scrolled the Instagram for the last time to check stories.

I swiped the newsfeed to refresh and a few new stories from the people I follow were uploaded. And one among those people being Shaym.

Yes, Shaym, Mr Cute.

I again send him a request a few days later our last encounter. Seeing him daily from campus and secretly glancing him has now become normal for me which felt uncanny. So, instead of gawking at him from college, I thought it was better to follow him on social media to know his updates. Like previously, he sent back request and this time I wholeheartedly accepted it without deleting.

The story he uploaded on Instagram was a post where there were more than fifteen questions and to pick or ask him any two questions. The questions were numbered like,

1.Do you smoke?
2. What is your favourite food?

I pressed my phone screen to read all twenty questions and an idea popped on my mind. Guess this is a chance to initiate a chat.

Now the difficult thing for me was to select the best two questions. But, the little heart in me was overjoyed so without pondering and debating within myself much, I replied to his story, "1,11"

I already knew the answer to question numbered as one but still, I asked it just to know the answer from him. Question 11 was, What are you thinking right now?

As time was past midnight, I was a little curious to know what he was doing at this time or what he was thinking. So, that was the reason why I asked him that question. But there were many other interesting questions too but I ignored and adhered to the question which caught my enthusiasm.

I stared and probed my focus on the phone screen, waiting for his reply. Like a frantic girl, I refreshed my phone every now and then to check if there were any messages or whether if it was the problem of my phone.

I gave up the staring competition with my phone after five minutes and joined my sister in the living room to watch a movie with her.

Nevertheless, I kept my phone aside leaving the net on, which was so unlike me. I never kept my phone's internet on whilst watching movies or doing something else. However, I did this expecting to see his message on time as I didn't want to miss it.

We started watching Tangled, which was one of my favourites. Watching my favourite movie over and over again never bores me and rather, it amazes me every time I watch. Lost in the fantasy of Tangled movie, the message sent to Shaym was long forgotten now.

It was nearly half-past two in the morning when we finished watching. I drifted off to slumber, feeling drowsy and didn't bother to check my phone before dozing off.

•••

The vexatious resonance of a Korean song, precisely my alarm tone quivered me up from my sleep at five in the morning. It was time for the Fajr prayer so, shutting my phone off, I nudged up from my slumber.

After praying, I checked my phone and got appalled to see that there was notification of a message from Instagram, which was Shaym's. Like I always do, I read the message from the notification bar without opening it.

1:no

11:why did you ask 1 🤔

Obviously, You don't smoke so your answer would be no.

But, the answer to my second question? He was thinking why I asked that question?

ARGH... whatever.

I pondered that it would be best to give him a reply later as I didn't know what to reply at the moment.

The rest of the day was spent watching the drama Descendants of the Sun and completely forgot that I had to reply to Shaym's message. Nonetheless, I still was not sure what to reply and decided to send an emoji.

I clicked on our chat and looked at the time when he messaged and saw that he had sent me back a reply exactly forty minutes later my message.

Oh, I thought you slept early.

S H A Y M

12:30 a.m

1,11

1:11 a.m

1: no

11: why did you ask 1 🤔

7:40 P.M

😅😅

Okay, perfect. I grinned looking at my reply. According to me, emoji's spoke more than words and was always fond of sending emoji's when I don't have a proper answer for a question while chatting.

Jolting me, he replied to my text exactly after eight minutes.

Wow, man. That was fast. I smiled.

However, I decided to open the message later so that he doesn't feel like I was waiting for his reply.

With a heavy heart and trying hard to kill time, I gave up my ego after twelve minutes. Seconds and minutes felt like hours for me at that time.

S H A Y M

7:48 p.m

😄

8:00 p.m

I simply asked, (1) 😅

8:13 p.m

Hoo

8:17 p.m

Haa😅

8:24 p.m

Mm ✋

Mm? And what's with that emoji?

The word or text I despised the most whilst chatting was Mm or Hmm. I don't know why but whenever I get 'Hmm' as a reply from someone I always got pestered. For me, this word meant they are not interested to chat with me or they want to end this chat. There was much more explanation for this single word in my perspective.

However, I still felt that my first chat with Shaym went well and I just opened the message not even bothered to reply as I knew this chat lead to nowhere. Some things are better left aside.

I hope he didn't find my chat stupid.

It was just a mere crush, and all I wanted was, just to be causally friends with him. Nothing more, nothing less. I was even surprised by how I have shamelessly sent him a message as it was something new for me. I was that girl who was always lazy to reply to anyone's messages except my close friends. But now, why is he an exception?

•••

I felt retarded of the conversation I had with Shaym so I didn't even share this incident with my friends from college as I was more than one hundred per cent sure that they would bash out on me. That whole week I ignored him and his topic with my friends. But one thing made me content which was the photos he uploaded as stories on Instagram in alternative days.

The new week of a fresh new month was here, I roused up a little early for the reason I didn't want to miss my attendance anymore. I took a relaxing shower, brushed my hair, changed into my mandatory kurta and leggings.

I donned into abaya and started the hunt for my black hijab which I normally used to wear as I was a fan of wearing everything black. Irrevocably after five whole minutes, I found the shawl from my wardrobe. I always had to do a long search to find my apparels, making everything on the wardrobe fall on the floor as my vestments were always messed up.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, fixing the hijab on my head. For a strange reason, I felt like I seemed dull donning a black hijab. Therefore, I rummaged my wardrobe again for some colourful hijabs and ultimately picked a navy blue coloured hijab.

The shade was of a deeper blue, adding a hazy effect, which may look like a black coloured hijab at Longsight. But this one looked good on me when I crumbled. I applied Lakme eyeliner, a tint of lipstick, and finally a normal powder for a touch-up.

A pleasing and appeased smile curved on my lips upon glancing at the reflection in the mirror. All other days, I went to college who resembled like a living zombie, but today, I seem a little presentable like a college-going girl.

"Assalamu Alaikum Mmaa," I greeted her and directly went to the kitchen.

"Wa Alaikum salaam. Ma Sha Allah, You look different today," Mma stated and kissed on my cheek.

"Do you have any programs at college?" she inquired, sensing the change in me.

"Actually, yeah. Did I tell you about being in a palliative group? Today, we are conducting a campaign as it is world diabetes day," I explained whilst trying hard to cover up the grin befalling when I pondered on the possibilities of what would happen today at college during the campaign.

"Oh, that's nice," she responded and gave me Parathas and Aloo Gobi curry. I promptly ate my breakfast, bid her bye and proceeded to the bus stop.

•••

"Oho, Naizaa is wearing a coloured hijab and looking pretty. But for who?" Jina charged as soon as I entered my classroom. I stuck out my tongue and took a seat beside Anna, completely ignoring her perpetual teasing.

Within no time, Sir came in and commenced taking the class. Nevertheless, my mind was completely excited about the campaign, which was going to start after two hours.

The time was half-past eleven, the time for the campaign, which was reckoned to start at the college main entrance gate. We all reached the gate on time without any delay. Almost all students had already reached there and we were astonished to see everyone's punctuality.

My eyes which lacked steadiness were rummaging for that one, cute little guy with the beard. Scanning all the people present over there, I stopped my eyes where there was crowded.

Gotcha! There he is!

Shaym was distributing remarkable pluck cards and posters to students, which were related to diabetes as the campaign was based on World Diabetes Day. He was busy giving them out and did not even contemplate our gang nor me.

Soon after a few minutes, they directed us to stand in two lines where half of the boys would lead the rally from the front. And told the girls to stand in the back, joining them. The remaining boys stood in the last and the arrangement of students were set, girls being in the middle.

Some of the seniors emerged in between the rally and proffered us some pluck cards to hold up. This campaign was held to create awareness among students about diabetes and how it could affect one's life very severely. The central point was regarding the excessive eating of junk food among young students which would later affect them.

We were marching in two rows where Jina was in my back and following her was Anna. Shifa and Issa were opposite to our row, standing adjacent to us. Seniors commenced screeching the slogans which were about junk food and diabetes. The main person who was reading slogans was none other than Shaym as he had a keen stentorian, booming voice, which could be heard by all 250 Students presented on the campaign. We repeated the slogans after him with unrivalled enthusiasm.

We were proceeding towards the chemistry department which was on the north side of the college. Unanticipadely, the voice of the slogans started getting nearer to my ears. Without making it obvious, I gently turned to my left side and was startled to see that he was standing right behind me. He was standing in between the two rows, in the middle where there was a passage. The fact that he was just behind me frightened me to the core and my heart started throbbing harder, resulting in anxiety and excitement. I promptly stopped repeating after the slogans because, as always, my tongue was tied and it felt difficult to utter a word.

Shortly, stairs came into view, and we were climbing them up. I paced extremely slowly because of the impulsiveness I was having, but the next thing which happened jolted me up rigorously. Shaym was walking beside me, on my right side. He was no longer on my back but, he was beside me, near my shoulders as the stairs were narrow.

Oh, my! This is so freaking great!

We both were taking each step on the stairs together and even the slogans were stopped, maybe as we were in the stairs. And this created an unknown silence and contemporary atmosphere to me. Excitement, impatience and contentment; all the emotions came together and like a clown, without my consciousness, I was smiling more and smirking like an idiot. It was so arduous to suppress and hold the smile from forming on my grimace.

I wanted to freeze this moment, walking beside him and to cherish it forever. Certainly, it was not expedient but I badly desired to halt this concise moment.

My friends were making some noise from behind, probably taunting me. But if I turn and look at them, I would have to eventually face the one who was walking beside me on my right side. I was so grateful for one thing that we didn't face each other and he didn't see my face. So, turning back to see my friend's reaction at that time seemed like a bad idea to me.

Promptly, the long stairs were over, and he marched abruptly to the boy's side from me, to stand in the starting row.

"Wow, Naizaaa! What was that?!" Anna asked instantly when he went ahead.

I was not able to give her a reply in my current state as I was trying hard to catch my breath, which I held back a few minutes before when he was near me.

"It was so cute; taking each step together. Woah, so romantic!" Jina affirmed it a bit dramatically and squinted her eyes at me.

She and her dramas. I shook my head, grinning.

I sighed and asked them, "Did you guys take a picture or video?"

"Well, not an exact video but still, I took an Instagram live but stopped it when we started giggling and there was no option to save the video," Anna said wistfully.

"Oh, not even a single photo?" They shook their heads, and I was a bit disappointed to hear it as I wanted that moment to be captured and relive on it whenever I view the picture or video. Nevertheless, I was happy to experience a moment like this with him.

"We all were equally excited as you were and when he started walking beside you, we forgot to take a picture and video. Sorry, next time we'll take it," Jina told, and I nodded, and we continued our rally.

Now, we were walking near the ground, and I was busy talking to Shifa while walking. Asudden, I heard my name being told to someone by Anna and Jina. I could hear their shrieking voices behind me. I promptly turned to know what was happening and why they were squealing.

"Hey, can you read these slogans. We need a girl to read these slogans on the girl's side who is having a loud voice," Shaym said, I blinked my eyes being bewildered and my jaw almost dropped open, forming an O shape.

I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. A few minutes ago, he was walking beside me, and now, he's asking me to read the slogans! Wow, am I dreaming, is this even real? The great Shaym, who never mingles and talk to girls, is now asking me to read the slogans. He passed me his black iPhone on my hands from which he was looking and reading out the slogans.

I immediately looked at the screen and felt like crying. It was written in our native language and I had difficulty in reading the powerful native words.

"Sorry, I don't know how to read in this language," I said so elegantly.

"You can just try it. It's not that hard to read." After saying this, he strolled away from me, to the front without even listening to what I had to say.

"Anna, how did this happen? Why did he come and ask me to read out these slogans? " I asked her as I heard her saying my name.

"Well, he just asked who had the loudest voice in girls, so I just instantly suggested your name, and he came and simply asked you," Anna answered grinning widely.

"But I don't know how to read, and you guys know it too well," I spoke and glanced gloomily at the phone screen. It was the first time he requested me something, and I was not able to do it. I tried to read it, but it was too difficult and stressing for me.

Without a warning, Anna grabbed the phone from my hands and started reading out the slogans powerfully, and we repeated to the words she was saying. Out of nowhere, I suddenly got immense confidence and without reasoning, I seized the phone from Anna's hand and began to read out the slogans vehemently with lots of energy as I was an expert when it comes to sound. All the girls turned and gazed at me whilst repeating my words. I felt proud and content when they were repeating after me and it boosted my self-esteem.

I was reading out loud, and the tune in the slogan was slowly changing into the form of rhymes as my tone of speaking was different. When I was reading out slogans without a pause, Anna came, laughing out loud and said,

"Shaym was asking, 'Is this a nursery rhyme?', from the back and was laughing out loud," Anna said without stopping her chuckles. I felt embarrassed, but I did not regret taking up the courage and reading it aloud in front of everyone. I continued to read out the slogans more emphatically this time instead of stopping it after hearing his remarks.

The rally was almost coming to its end and we were walking back to our starting point whilst saying the slogans. This time we were at the last department of our college and then again, he walked right beside me for a nanosecond.

Abruptly, Shaym said, "Hey, please catch this." Where he tossed the pluck card, which he was holding, to me. I gave mine to someone else when the campaign started, and now, he gave me his pluck card to hold.

Wow, is today a dream?

Straightaway, the campaign was over after two long hours of walking in and out of campus, and a small awareness class was held after this. As always, Shaym was the main man of today's program. He even took an interactive session regarding food. All the girls were drooling over him and giggling out so boisterous at the things, which were not even funny. We had one lecture left and were not interested to sit in the class after a very long, beautiful afternoon. Merely the lack of attendance made us go to class and attend the boring lectures.

After a little while, the class was over, and we were happy about that. We strolled towards the college entrance gate, we noticed that there were big speakers and a scarce crowd near the gate. Wondering what was happening, we glanced at the people present. It was some of our seniors and some unknown faces, so I thought about leaving. Precipitously, a voice halted my steps.

"Hey, our flash mob is going to start now," Shaym came in front of me and spoke out of nowhere. My breath hitched at that moment. Out of all of us, he came in front of me and said it to me. Today was seriously a dream for me as all the unexpected things happened. Argh, I don't want to wake up from this dream!

To be continued...

Assalamu Alaikum

So Surprisee!!
Yes I thought of updating after my exams but!😭 Todays exam was so tough for me and I was irritated the whole day.
So I quickely wrote a chapter for you guys
So show some love everybody and make me forget todays horrible exam!

How was the chapter?

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Lots of love💕
Thatabayagirl