"So Mr Chotttuuuu...." she dragged the last part and called him.

"Yes?" he chuckled hearing the name Chottu from her.

"Why did you marry me?"

"Huh" he walked towards the balcony.

"Was it because of pity?" she questioned.

"No, no. When my father requested to attend your marriage, I already knew it was your marriage based on the information father gave on you and your family. So I decided to attend the wedding to genuinely congratulate and see you after years."

"Oh, I didn't know our fathers were friends. And you still didn't answer my question" she again asked.

"When I heard the news about the groom backing off in the last minute, I know what people will be talking about you and your family also, I know you, you know me, our fathers are old best friends. I know this is not the best solution but I did want I felt right at the moment without asking your opinion. I'm sorry" he said all in one go scratching the back of his head.

"Oh, that's it?" Afiya asked feeling like something more is left to be answered.

"What? Were you expecting something else as my answer?" he teasingly asked to which Afiya made an embarrassed face.

"By the way, earlier you said I was annoying and you didn't like me?" now it was her time to answer his questions.

"You already know the answer to it." she boringly replied.

"No, I don't know."

Flashback

All the students were so drained out listening to the boring lectures although it was just the third hour of the day.

"But Sir, I have heard that it is not like that" Ali corrected the lecturer.

"Here starts this boy like always!" Afiya said irritatingly.

"But it's always fun to watch him correcting and engaging more into the topic with Sir, our time is saved from listening to the lectures," Alina told.

"Yeah, that's right and nerds like him are good for us to ask all sort of stupid doubts and questions so that he stops the class," one of Afiya's friend said.

"Huh, whatever. He is still annoying." Afiya declared.

Soon the period was over and it was short break time. Mohammed approached Afiya, who is a friend of her when she was going out of the class along with her friends.

"Afiya you know right, the college election is soon to be held. Since you have a good character and you mingle easily with almost everyone in our class, I want you to elect this year and give nominations."

"Huh? Me? Election? NO!" she declined immediately.

"Don't just blankly say No. Just think and take your decision. You know our party only got a few seats last year. This year we want to make sure we get more seats. You already know The Youngsters Party is the majority here but still, we want to try. If you nominate, I and my party are sure you will win. Please Afiya." Mohammed pleaded sincerely.

Afiya thought for a few moments and looked at her friends to see their opinion. Alina nodded, indicating her to go for it.

"But already two girls from our class has given their nomination and one among them being my friend. I don't want to nominate against her. I need to give her my full support."Afiya tried to reason.

"But she is electing under The Campus Party, and I know you have a little interest towards our party because you come to support us in some of our strikes." Mohammed tried to explain.

"Since no one in our party among our class is eligible to nominate because of their lack of attendance, you are our last hope. Please today is the last day to give nominations. And you already know, Ali is electing under The Youngsters Party, he is surely going to win in boys side. But on the girl's side, you have more chance than Aysha, electing in his party. Their party will get two seats. But if you stand for election you will win and we will get that seat." other boys from her class came and said.

Everyone was pleading her so much to which she couldn't deny and finally accepted to elect after thinking for two days.

"For nominations, we need your identity card and mark list of your previous exams." Mohammed happily said.

"Oops. I forgot to take my identity card today" Afiya guiltily said.

"Can you try to bring it here somehow? Only two-hours is left to submit nominations."

"I will try," Afiya said and walked off to think on how to get her identity card.

Two hours fled quickly than expected and she was not able to get her identity card as her Father was not at home so was not able to bring it to college.

"I'm sorry Mohammed, I was not able to bring it and without that, I am not eligible for nominations."

"Tell your Mother to WhatsApp the identity card. Let's take a print out of it. We have no other choice. They may accept it." Mohammed said and his friends also agreed to it.

To get the image and take out print outs it took almost half an hour. Only two minutes were left to submit the form. Afiya and Mohammed ran with the nomination paper along with the identity card print out and mark list.

They reached the staff room of their department were the nominations were held. Ali along with other nominees was standing in there.

Mohammed quickly ran to the Teacher in charge of elections and placed the papers there saying,

"Sir, nomination."

Ali had an irritated and annoyed look.

"Oh, You are electing?" he asked Afiya.

She was already irritated by his present and but she proudly replied,

"YES".

Just like Ali got a smack on his head the reality hit him and like a small kid he complained to the Sir,

"Sir, they are late for the nominations. It is already 2:04 pm."

"No, they reached in the department at the correct time. I have checked the time when they rushed and came here." Sir replied to which both Afiya and Mohammed grinned.

Ali was sure if Afiya is electing she will surely win, and the girl in his party against Afiya will lose. At the time, his party meant everything for him and he wanted Afiya's nomination to be cancelled. Like a kid, he peeped and looked at the papers as proof and he saw that Afiya has not brought identity card with her and instead a print out was taken. This seemed like a good enough reason for him to disqualify her nomination and again said,

"Sir, this is not the real identity card. It can't be taken to consideration"

"We only need proof of her identity. So this is enough" Sir replied with a smile. Afiya and Mohammed were trying so hard not to laugh. They both very well knew what his problem was. By seeing him trying so hard to disqualify Afiya's nomination, she got more motivated and felt like to win against him. She also prayed the boy electing against Ali to win.

After two days, the election was held to which Afiya and Ali won.

"Arghh... I don't want him as my co-representative of our class."Afiya irritatingly said.

It was the duty of class representative to collect money for the programs and all work. Afiya and Ali always fought from class on whom to collect the money.

"Hey, you Ali! You collect the money for the books this time. I'm the one who always collects money and takes the burden."

"Sorry girl, I'm busy. You collect this time too" saying this he walked away.

End of Flashback.

"You remember how you used to make me do all the works and tasks given by the teacher. You were so annoying!" Afiya glared at Ali and said.

"Oh really. I don't remember" he chuckled saying.

Afiya took the pillow and thew at him.

Afiya took the laptop from the table and suggested to play a game for couples which she so badly wanted to play after watching videos on YouTube.

"What's this?"Ali asked.

"It's a game couples play. I wanted to play it with someone. Since you are here today let's play. It's called 'How well do you know each other'. Even though we studied together for three years, I still don't know much about you. So we can say this game more like 'Get to know each other'. So you ready?" Afiya explained and asked to which he nodded.

The game had 20 questions. Afiya answered all her questions without showing it to Ali and later he also filled his answer for the questions. Some question had options, some had the option to fill. After both of them entering their answers, it was time for them to play. Ali has to read the questions of Afiya and answer it. If he clicks the right answer it will show green and if it's wrong red. Ali was getting almost all the answers right to which surprised Afiya.

"Did you peep and look when I was selecting my answers?" Afiya doubtfully asked him.

"No," he said and laughed being proud to get the answers right.

Ali was going to answer the second last question, which didn't have an option to it. Afiya was sure he will get this one wrong.

"Afiya's Favourite sports?" was the question.

"Car racing" he typed and the answer was correct.

Afiya was beyond shocked seeing this and thinking how did he get this one correct. How does he know about this? Does Ali know about him? she thought.

"Yes" he replied and her eyes almost bulged out.

ASSALAMU ALAIKUM

How was the chapter?

I haven't read this after writing so forgive me if you found any mistakes.

Some more flashbacks coming hehe.

On a side note,

My book Forbidden Crush got selected in the second round of The Scribblers Awards. So if you think my book deserves your vote, you can find my book under the Category, BEST NOVEL. In line comment +1 near my book Forbidden Crush by thatabayagirl.

You can find the link to the awards on my Message board.

hose who have already voted THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'm Only participating for the ones who nominated my book. ILYSM❤