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There were still somedays before the wedding preparations started so they had decided to spend the day outside, riding horses and then have a little picnic in the vast fields.

Dua was walking weirdly and then she started jumping on one leg when Hoorain stopped walking with her and Ali who was walking behind them also stopped.

"What are you doing."

Dua eyed her,
"There's a pebble in my boot. Wait a minute."

They were walking to the horses where they would ride them for a while. Dua was excited, it had been years since she had done it.

Surprisingly, Azlaan was with them and Dua couldn't help but admire him. Taking off her boot, she shook it in the air upside down and a tiny pebble rolled a feet away.

Dua eyed Azlaan's back as he walked, the boots and the fitted jeans were not his everyday style but he looked like an absolute fitnah.

Leaning bit into Hoorain's ear she said, "Yaar have you looked at that man? So hot."

Hoorain slapped a hand on her shoulder and Dua flinched.
"Are you mad? He is my brother."

Dua shrugged her shoulder, black hair floating in the wind.
"Yey tau tumhari kismat khraab hai."
( Bad luck for you, then.)

Hoorain shook her head, both of them giggling whenever Hoorain caught Dua staring at him. But both of them failed to notice the expression on Ali's face as he walked or rather stomped past them quickly.

Straddling the horse, they took off. Azlaan was ahead them all and behind him was Ali, then Dua and Hoorain on their own horses. Amna was being helped by their maid's son who was with them.

There wasn't a proper race course for them to race on, but the horses galloped across the vast fields, enjoying their freedom.

After a while, all of them were tired and they took the horses back to the barn.

Dua's white horse was majestic, she couldn't get off it easily. With one foot on the horse and the other trying to find the metal support but couldn't and hence, Dua was literally hanging off the horse but she didn't even ask for help.

Ali got off his brown stallion, running his hand through his head as he wound his arm around Dua's waist tightly, clutching her hanging foot with one hand to lower her down the horse.

Through he silken blouse, Dua couldn't help but feel the warmth of his fingers on her waist and feel the ridges of his body as her body slid down his naturally,her back to his front.

She moved forward but he bent down,his mouth beside her ear to whisper mischievously,
"Maybe I should've let the hot brother help you."

And then he had already turned around to help his sister down
when she turned to look at him in embarrassment.

How did he know?

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When they all sat down for the picnic on the checkered white and red mats, time flew by.

It was nearly sunset when Dua looked at Ali. He was sitting beside his younger sister, Amna and stealing one or two grapes from her plate after every minute. She watched as he ruffled her hair and a small smile met her lips when Amna ruffled his hair back and they became all fluffy.

Her eyes immediately compared the two brothers.The dying sun was casting a golden hue to Ali's brown hair which were messy. Azlaan had brown hair, too. Surprisingly, both of them had grey eyes but Ali's were a lot lighter that they seemed silver. Right now, they seemed translucent in the purple sky like you could stare into his soul through them. Ali's features were a little boyish, his body a little leaner  than Azlaan's, given their four year age-difference. Both of them wore jeans and but Ali's were ripped and his T-shirt was a sky blue as compared to Azlaan's black one.

Dua's stare was interrupted by Hoorain's hand which she had waved in front of her eyes.

"Kya hua? Ab mera doosra bhai pasand aagya?"

(What happened? You have started liking my other brother now?)

Dua rolled her eyes, hiding her shame at being caught.
"Shakal dekhi hai uski? Pasand aa hi nah jaye."
(Have you ever seen his face? It would be a miracle.)

Some time later, they were back home, busy in changing their clothes and then resting.

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Under the pink sky, the nimbus clouds floating around like candyfloss, Ali heatedly talked on his phone in the garden.

"God! How many time do I have to tell you that I don't love you? ...No, Katherine. For God's Sake! We had a good time together, okay? But that's all it was! Don't call me again."

His hands closed into fists. What the hell was wrong with women. They cling to men like leeches, really. Katherine had been Ali's girlfriend, since he was a romantic one, in the US when used to study there. And now, after nearly a year and a half, she was still after him.

His phone rang again and he wanted to smash it against the giant tree they had in the garden in from of him when a figure jumped in front of him from above.

It was Dua, one hand holding a half eaten apple and mouth chewing, hair as messy as always and a mint green night suit lined with dirt as the other hand rubbed the dirt off her leg.

"God, men are so heartless."

Ali started fuming.

"Were you listening to my call? Who do you think you are huh?"

Dua raised her eyebrows, mischief in her eyes.
"Ooooh. bacha aaj boht hawaaon mey urr raha hai. Khairyat?"
(Oh, my child, aren't you flying too high these days?)

His hand rose up to pinch his nose, the black T-shirt tightening around his exposed bicep.

Strong muscles clenched as he held her arm so tightly that she felt like her bone would break.

"Kya museebat hai tumhey? Mera sukoon kiyun barabaad kar rahi ho?Apnay kaam sey kaam rakho. Aur tameez sey baat kiya karo."

(What is your problem? Why are you destroying my peace?Mind your own business and talk to me with respect."

His hand left her arm and she felt the blood starting to flow, and he turned around, not noticing the glassy sheen in her eyes.

What did she do?

What was wrong with him? They had always been frank with each other. The whole family was always very loving and close to each other and now he wanted respect? Hmmph.

Three years ago, Dua and Ali were more close as friends. Hoorain had been more close with Jannat and Azlaan with Ibraheem. Hence, Ali was her only option. She remembered how they had followed Azlaan and Ibraheem put on their little 'date'. But since that engagement broke and talking about it became a taboo, their relationship deteriorated,too. She had always been close with Khaala's family but then, everyone was.

Now, Dua had come to spend her vacation with them in hopes of renewing her relationship with this whole family but Ali seemed a little different now, different than that 19 year old he used to be.

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Ah, can only wish my horse riding experience was like that a little bit.

My horse was called 'Sharmeeli' but it was quite opposite. It was freaking jumping and I was screaming in the silent roads of Murree at night.

Had to get off it after getting helped by the horse's owner(A middle aged man), definitely not an Ali.

Anyways, did you like it?

Please vote and comment!

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