I AM BACK :D

<3

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Kasim,

Aaj kya likhu? It was a weird day. Ek loan sir se utra aur dusra chardh gaya. But, this one feels a little better. I won't have to live with all the taunts now. No one is going to accuse me of steeling their money. Kaam karte karte paise chuka doongi. Bas ek baat ka bura lag raha hai. I think I was too rude to Hussain.

It's not my fault right? Wasim chacha's loan was already being a pain and if I would have accepted the money from Hussain, I wouldn't have been able to look into his eyes. He is so nice but, paisa sabko badal deta hai. Aaj toh help kar di thi. Par kal unheen paiso ke liye zaleel karta toh? I couldn't take that risk. The bank authorities, insurance company, Wasim Chacha and Adil Chacha have humiliated us enough already.

"And what if he was genuinely trying to help you?" I inhaled the cold air as I heard his voice beside. Keeping the pen in the diary, I turned to my left.

I bit my lips as I didn't have an answer to that.

"Mujhe nahi chahiye kisi ki help," I muttered after a while, "and I told him that."

"Kab tak bhagti raho gi? Slow down Madiha," he sighed and I looked up at him.

"I don't have time to slow down, Kasim. Do You realise I have to do so much for Abba and Amma," I told him, "if anything happens to me then I need to leave behind some sort of support for them and I don't think I want to trust the insurance companies anymore."

"Yeah, I know where this is coming from," he nodded and I looked away. "No you don't. Khud toh chale gaye hein. Wapis bhi nahi aatey."

He realised a loud sigh, "I have told you so many times. Aa sakta toh zaroor aata."

Pata hai kabhi nahi aayeinge aap. Itni door chale gaye hein humein akela chor ke...

"Ok listen to me now," he whispered, kneeling in front of me, "main nahi aa sakta par use aane do."

He looked behind him and I followed his eyes. Hussain walked along the fence with his phone pressed against his ear.

"He looks quite tensed. Aaj khana bhi nahi khaya na usne?" Kasim asked in concern and I nodded.

"Maybe he is angry?" I asked, almost to myself.

"Possible. Talk it out... Tell him your reasons maybe?" Kasim suggested and I nodded. "Yeah I will... Acha aap neeche kahan beth gaye hein?"

He chuckled, shaking his head, "You will do it. And you will do it now Madiha. Aur main ab chalta hoon."

I sighed as he got up, "call him." He pressed on it and I yelled out Hussain's name. Hussain turned to look at me and ended the call.

"Par main kahoongi kya?" I mumbled to Kasim and he laughed. "How about starting with a sorry?"

I huffed as he bent down in front of me again, "and just let him sit there. Main toh waise bhi jaa raha hoon." He pointed at the left side of the bench and I stared at the spot.

Kaise bethne doon?

~~~HUSSAIN's POV~~~

"I knew it! I knew you will ruin it again," dad groaned in the phone and I shook my head, "a pat on your back for living up to my expectations."

I sighed at his words. I left file at home so, I couldn't present anything in front of the investors. After a lot of requests they agreed to give me another chance but, dad being dad, found another scenario to taunt me about. He just doesn't understand that sometimes people make mistakes.

I just make them way too often.

"Shehry tell him I'll fix it!" I said in the phone as dad handed him the receiver, "I will do the presentation tomorrow. We will get the contract."

"Hussain, don't screw it up this time. This is your chance to prove yourself," Shehry replied and I nodded to myself. I heard dad saying something in the background when the line disconnected. He ended the call on my face.

I gulped the soreness down my throat. When will I make him proud like Shehry? I blinked at my own thoughts when someone's voice grabbed my attention. I heard my name being called and turned to find Madiha sitting on her bench. I took the phone away from my ear and shoved it in my pocket.

"Ji makan malkin?" I asked as I approached her, remembering her words about me being just a paying guest.

She looked at me and rolled her eyes, "what happened to that teacher ji?"

"I don't think I can afford pissing you off," I sighed, "I don't have anywhere to go right now. What if you kick me out of this house?"

She looked back at me with her big brown eyes. Thin line of kajal along her waterline stood out.

"Sit," she said, almost making me choke on nothing but air. She was patting the spot beside her. The bench!

Last time almost laat maar ke bhagaya tha.

"Are you sure?" I raised an eyebrow and she reluctantly nodded. I sat down and no one spoke even a single word.

"I... I am sorry," she mumbled after a while and I chuckled. "Don't you think you have been saying that too much lately?"

Her head jerked towards me and I held her gaze for a few seconds before she blinked and looked away.

"Sorry," I sighed. Maybe I am being too rude.

She nodded and then turned to me, "aapki jagah koi aur hota toh bhi main woh paise nahi leti."

"I was only trying to help," I told her and she nodded. "I know. I just don't have good experience with people who try to help. You saw a demo this morning."

She fiddled with her fingers while I urged her to speak, "that man... He is abba's brother and look at him. How money changed him," she gulped and I noticed how her voice became heavy, "One day when abba will find out how his brother turned his back to us, I can't even begin to imagine how he would feel about it."

"I would have never done that," I mumbled almost to myself. "But, money changes everyone," she added again and I frowned at her.

"But, in situations like these, you realise who is truly there for you and who is just pretending."

"Agar aisa hai, toh mera koi nahi hai," she whispered, running her finger across her waterline. The kajal smudged under her eyes.

"No Madiha, you have amma and abba. You have--" I paused and faked a cough at what I was almost going to say. Uhh.

"You have... You have Zariya, right?" I finished and she looked at me with a half smile. Her eyes had a certain light reflecting in them.

Is that hope? Hope that I just gave her?

Or maybe just the street lights.

This is dumb.

"Hussain, I really didn't mean to be rude. I just didn't want to give you that chance to change," she whispered and I raised an eyebrow. "To change? So you like me this way?"

"Thore irritating ho but ache ho!" She chuckled and I ran a hand through my hair, grinning at her. "Oh ho! Toh teacher Ji issi baat pe ab toh dost bana lo!"

"Bana liya!" She smiled and brought her hand forward. I accepted the handshake and she shook her head.

She was laughing! Mere sath? Arey Wah!

~~~MADIHA's POV~~~

He was ginning like this friendship meant the world to him. He looks cute with those dimples that form on either side of his cheeks every time he smiles. Aise khul ke muskurana. Mujhe bhi woh din wapis chahiye.

"Ek baar dost bana liya na, ab dekhna," he leaned closer and looked right into my eyes, "Hussain Asif apne dosto ke liye jaan bhi de sakta hai par unse moon kabhi nahi mor sakta."

He didn't even blink once.

I glared at him as he genuinely smiled at me and then I got up, "come on, you need to have dinner."

"What? No, I am fine," he shook his head and I sighed. "Hussain, you have eaten nothing since you came home. Bhook lagi hogi."

He looked up at me and was about to shake his head again when I added, "it's an order!"

He stood up and chuckled, "ok teacher Ji."

I rolled my eyes and turned around. He followed me inside and I quickly warmed up rice and curry. I sat beside him to give him company while he ate.

"Nice diary by the way," he commented and I looked down at the hard cover book that I was clutching on to.

"Thanks," I smiled.

"How do people even write in those things?" He asked and I release a soft puff of air. "Using a pen or a pencil," I gave him a sarcastic reply and he rolled his eyes.

"I mean I find these things boring. I can never keep a diary," he added and I nodded. "I am glad. I hope you never feel the need to write in a diary.... Ever."

He frowned at me and I lowered my eyes, "it's getting late, I am going to sleep. Good night."

I got up before he had a chance to stop me and went back to my room. Closing the door behind me, I rested my head against it.

You seem like a very lively person, Hussain. I hope you never feel the need to share your feelings with a diary. I hope you always have someone at every step of life, who would just sit there and listen to you while you will rant about your problems. In fact, I wish you don't ever come across to that phase in life where you will have to face problems. Kash aapko Zindagi main kabhi koi takleef na ho aur khushiyaan baantne ke liye bohot saare pyaar karne wale log ho.

~~~HUSSAIN's POV~~~~

"Amma please! Let me go!"

"No means no, Madiha."

"Abba bolein na!"

"I am not letting you go alone Madiha and that's final!"

"But, I'll have fifty other students with me! Please!"

I watched as the convo between Madiha and Aunty bounced left to right. Uncle contributed here and there with light chuckles. Madiha wanted to attend a school camp while Aunty didn't want her to go.

"Amma. Zariya is going too, please!" She asked again and Aunty shook her head. Madiha looked at uncle first, who raised his hands in defeat, and then at me.

I sighed as I got up from the chair. "How about you go with her too then... I mean as volunteering."

Aunty looked at me and then shook her head, "aur mere jaane ke paise kaun dega?

"Toh main chala jata hoon! I am free for three weeks after today's meeting anyway," I blurted casually and Madiha shot me a glare. Was I not supposed to suggest that?

Oh well.

"But Hussain-"

"Oh ho Aunty. I haven't done much site seeing since I have arrived. This is a great opportunity for me," I smiled at her, "plus I'd love to help out with kids.... And protect them for once. Koi toh hona chahiye na unhein teacher ji se bachane ke liye."

Naah. I am just bored sitting at home. You see, I can be a little selfish sometimes.....

"Are you sure you want to go? It's going to be five days long and out in a jungle like place," Madiha frowned at me and I nodded. It would be fun.

"I am in for a bit of camping."

"Fine I'll get you a form," she shrugged and I smiled, "now can I go Amma?"

"Jaana par dhyaan se jaana," Aunty said to both of us and Madiha shrieked, hugging her.

It would be interesting camping in Pakistan's woods for the first time...

With a bunch of school students....

And animals.. I hope not.

~~~~

Camping in the woods! Hmmmm sounds interesting ;)

The rest of my August is pretty packed with 2exams and 3 assignments all worth over 25% each!! Passing those is like almost passing the semester. . . It means less work later on in the year :D

So, I'll be missing for a while :(

I may or may not update ....... I don't know.

Until then, keep voting, commenting and Sharing ❤️

LoveAlways!! <3