"PRINCESS!! Wake up!!" My eyes snapped open at his scream. The sudden noise had given my heart a kick start and it was thumping so loudly against my chest, that I couldn't move for a moment, until he began to nudge me.

"Wake up! It's your birthday!!" His annoying voice clashed with my ears and all of a sudden, I felt immense rage burning in me. With a loud and irritated groan, I pulled the sheets to my face and turned away from him.

"If you don't wake up this instant—I am going to carry you Princess style—" Even before he could finish, I had sat up and pushed him away with a shove.

"Uff Navi—!! What the hell is wrong with you! Do you have a death wish?! How dare you wake me up from sleep—!" My voice was laced with vexation and all sign of sleep from earlier was replaced by burning fury. My words seemed to have zero effect on him and his response came in a signature smirk. Just before I could reprimand him further, he had bent over; with his hands placed on my either sides on the bed. His face was only inches away from mine when he whispered through a smile.

"See, I remembered Princess." I felt his hot breath against my skin and the anger from before was replaced with intense apprehension. That and a rapid heartbeat. I was at a loss of words but he didn't give me an opportunity to reply and moved away with a chuckle.

"Now get up—! Or I'll tickle you so hard—" He threatened with a mischievous grin and I immediately got out of bed, grumbling.

"I freaking hate you so much—" I announced whilst putting on my slippers.

"It's okay—I love you regardless." He smiled softly, taking my hand in his. I felt my heart skip a beat at his words and immediately averted my gaze down to my hand in his grasp. Following this, he led me to the basement where he had prepared a birthday surprise. Last year, he had missed my birthday because I never told him about it. For some dumb reason, he was extremely pissed at me for that and was determined to make up for it next year. Hence, this nonsense.

"This is so over the top, Navi. Don't you have like assignments or presentations to work on?" I rolled my eyes at the extravagant decor and wrapped bundles of gifts on the table. However, the rest of my complaints were drowned by the sight of strawberry cheesecake on centre table.

"No. Freaking. Way—! Did you actually—!" I turned to him with a wide grin and almost yelled I love you on reflex, but caught myself before making that insane mistake. Saying this to anyone else wouldn't have had any consequences but Navi wasn't just anyone. Snapping my mouth shut, I looked away from a soft pleased look on his face and went over to sit down beside the cake, on the couch.

"Wait—there's still 23 seconds—" He distractingly caught my hand reaching for the knife. His eyes remained fixated to the timer on his phone while I kept my eyes down, hearing him do the countdown with a feeling of growing guilt.

"Happy birthday, my Princess." He murmured against my ears. After letting go of my hand, he had come to sit down beside me and I could feel the heat radiating from his chest against my back. He was leaning against me and it was making me extremely uncomfortable. But Navi seemed so absorbed in waiting for me to cut the cake that he didn't realise he was overstepping my personal boundaries.

"Make a wish—" He interrupted before I could blow out the candles. For a few moments, I could do nothing but stare blankly at the fire burning infront of me. But then, I closed my eyes and folded my hands infront of my face.

'There's nothing that I can think of to wish for myself because I know You will never grant my any wish—but I know You grant the prayers that someone makes for another believer. So even though I am sinful and a coldhearted person with no hope for reforming—Please help Navi, ya Allah. He could use some help and there might be little goodness in him. Ameen.'

Snapping my eyes open, I blew out the candles; glumly cutting into the cake, with Navi singing the birthday song in my ears. Taking the sliced piece, I turned slightly to hold it to Navi's mouth, which was almost touching the side of my face. But instead of eating it like a normal human, he first made me eat it from my hand and then took a bite of it. This was an insignificant thing; yet, Navi always made sure to put me before everyone and everything.

This didn't make me grateful at all—It was burdensome and uncomfortable. Only made me shrink from him further. Whatever could make him understand that I am never going to appreciate him or his efforts?

"Navi—you didn't have to you know." I grumbled looking at anything but him.

"The real surprise is tomorrow—" He grinned evilly and my mouth was left hung open.

"NAVI!! You know how much I hate parties—" My screams were cut short when he took my face in his hands, peering down into my eyes.

"I know—but I have prepared it especially for you—" He smiled down at me, almost touching his forehead to mine. Wrenching free of his hold I turned away, with my back to him.

"Just this once—please, Princess?" He cooed coming to sit in front of me with a puppy dog face and holding me at arms length. Clicking my tongue at his shenanigans, I turned away with a sigh.

"Fine!! But this is the last time—" because after this I will leave this place and everything behind to never return—I completed in my head.

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Staring at my reflection in the mirror; cladded in the perfect peach gown, perfect hair and perfect makeup, was still not enough to make me feel any sort of happiness. 

"I really am so ungrateful." I mumbled to myself. Just then with a knock Navi strode in.

My eyes caught his reflection in the mirror. He looked handsome as always but unexpectedly formal for a birthday party. I had never seen him in this attire before. Still, I had to admit that he seemed very 'not Navi' in his navy blue slim-fit button down shirt and black pants. His usual messy dark hair were slicked back with gel, making him look a year or 2 older than his actual age. 

"Are you raping me with your eyes?" He remarked with his usual cocky grin at which I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

'Right. He is the same monkey, unfortunately.' I thought with a grimace, shaking my head in defeat. 

"I still feel that it's all so pointless—" I mumbled with a sigh. A few seconds had passed before he reached my side and took my hands in his, making me turn to face him.

"It won't be. I promise." He added with a smile. In return, I could only turn away with a scoff until he took a step closer and bent down to place a kiss on my cheek. I became frozen on the spot and could only stare at his shoulder wide eyed while he slowly pulled away from me. My hand was still in his grasp when I slowly turned to him with my mouth hung open.

"You look gorgeous." He said in a small voice,  almost a whisper. Freeing his one hand, he tugged a lock of curl behind my ear; his fingers slightly brushing my heated cheeks in the process. I could only gape at him horrified through this entire process.

"Let's go." He said finally, pulling away but never letting go of me.

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The party was grander than my expectations. Many important friends of Uncle and Auntie were invited. Even Navi's college and university friends had come too. All for my birthday—

I was still busy cursing the choice of Plain Vanilla cake by Auntie when my gaze landed on someone unexpected. My feet became rooted on the spot while I watched the familiar figures walking towards me. Their face were filled with smiles, which I didn't recognize. My eyes drifted from Mom and Dad's face to his, who flashed me a smile.

'Is this the surprise—?' I couldn't finish the thought as Mom, Dad, Uncle and Auntie all had come together to greet me. I had expected to feel more emotional than this on seeing them after 2 years—Yet, it involved for the most part just awkward hugs and fake pleasantries.

About time that the announcement was made and everyone gathered around whilst the orchestra played birthday song which everyone sung along to. Taking hold of the knife, my gaze fell on him, who was standing to my right, while Mom and Dad stood to my left. His eyes held an unusual gleam as he watched me with a lopsided grin.

'Did he think I was missing my Mom and Dad and did all this to make me happy?' I thought with a gulp.

'Lets just get this over with.'  And with that thought, I blew out the candles not remembering to make a wish this time.

'Not like the last one had done me any good.' I thought with an internal scoff while everyone around me kept clapping and singing along.

"May you have many more—" 

'I think the last 17 years of life were already more than enough.' I almost snickered out loud at the thought and caught Navi, eyeing me suspiciously with a smirk.

'Maybe, I did after all—' My train of thought was interrupted when I took the piece and extended it to Mom and Dad before extending it to Navi who grabbed it from my hand, making me eat it first. 

"Happy Birthday, my precious Princess." He added softly with a gentle smile. Unable to hold his gaze or say anything in return, I offered him the cake again. This time he ate it. 

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It was only a few minutes after the Cake was cut, when Uncle's voice on mic reverberated throughout the hall.

"Thankyou all for becoming a part of such an auspicious day—" I snickered at auspicious.

'Since, when had my birth become auspicious?' I thought with a roll of eyes. Uncle was still saying something but then the lights had become dim and only two spotlight were focused—one on me and the other on him, who was walking towards me from across the hall with a solemn expression.

"—tonight marks the day when my oldest business partner will be becoming my family—" I gawked at a loss of senses from Dad walking up on the stage to Navi who had almost reached my side.

"This is not how I wished for it to happen—" He remarked with an exhausted smile, rubbing a hand over his face. I knew this was my chance to bolt but my feet had become rooted on the spot. It was becoming impossible to look away from Navi, who was now on his knees holding a ring out to me.

"I love you Aasiya Bashir. Do the honour of marrying me and sharing this dreadfully dull life with; making it brighter with your presence." At some point, I had stopped breathing.

"Navi—don't—" I finally managed to quack out. Unconsciously aware of shaking my head. 

"I love you Aasiya. More than anyone you know or will come to know in the future. I will always love you. No matter what happens. I will always be your shelter. Your rock. Your happiness and everything—"

"And I won't give up on you. Never. " He whispered for my ears to hear only.

In one swift move, he grabbed my hand and slipped the ring onto my finger. I felt too stunned to make any sort of movement. And even when he got up to hug me, I let him. My senses getting drowned by the cheers.

All except that one thought, always alive in the back of my head; which felt most real tonight.

Why? Why do You hate me so much, oh Allah?

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