•••

I hardly see Fahad now, he's usually out with Shahzad or in a meeting with the investors he is helping Abbu with expanding the company and also planning to help Sara with her start-up company. I feel he is avoiding me which might be good because I'm scared of getting hurt.

Most of my days are spent again in my room with my sketchbook, I have fallen in love with drawing again it has become my escape to everything once again, just like it was before.
"Come on get up we are going shopping Ayat," Sara shouts barging in the room, she will never learn to knock I think.
"But why Ammi bought you clothes last month," I said closing my book and keeping it aside.
"Oh come on Ayat I'm in serious need of some new clothes and a model too because there is a fashion show in my college this decides my future," she says propped up by the pillows on the bed.
"Okay fine, give me fifteen minutes I'll meet you downstairs," I said making her stand.
She pulls me in a hug "you are the best and Fahad Bhai is driving us so don't make a drama out of it" she says casually, what does that supposed to mean.

"What you mean by it?" I ask.
"I know you guys had some kind of argument so keep your issues aside for today and help me out," she says, leaving me with a weird feeling, shoving all the thoughts at the back of my mind I start to get ready putting on my red embroidered bottleneck kurta and plain pants, pulling my hair in a braid covering my head with white dupatta slipping bangles on my hand I wore my juttis giving one last look I picked up my bag keeping my phone I left for downstairs.

Fahad was on a call with someone, which looked like in some kind of heated conversation so I stood near the stairs waiting for Sara to come down she walks down after a moment, by that Fahad hung up the call giving me a glance he averts his gaze to Sara "ready?" He asks, she bobbed her head as yes and we left.

• • •

The whole day went like an express train me and Fahad followed Sara like a lost puppy around the market the whole time she made me her model she made me wear so many dresses I guess I never tried that many clothes in my life but it was fun, we are having a party tonight as Fahad cracked some kind of deal to celebrate that Abbu is throwing the party.

We reached home some of the closed ones were already present ushering ourselves inside the house I and Sara went to our rooms to get ready Allah as much as I hate wearing heavy clothes occasions are being thrown at me testing my patience. I sighed looking at the dress laid on my bed mocking at me, quickly getting freshen up I did a light make up leaving my hair in soft curls. The suit was simple yet beautiful beige silk round neck, full sleeves kurta embroidered with work of the gotta Patti, Dori, and stones same was on the pant and the net dupatta, pairing it with my heels I gave myself one last look and went to Sara's room.

"I'm done let's go downstairs," I said barging into her room.
She glares at me "what is this Ayat Baji, you shouldn't be barging in people's rooms like this" she says slipping in her heels.
"Acha Ji or jab aap chali aati hai hamare room mai Bina knock kare," I said as I sat on the chair.
She looks at me rolling her tongue out biting on it" I'm sorry I'll knock and then come okay" she says holding her ears, I chuckled at her antics, this is the reason everyone loves her in the family she brings a smile to everyone's face.

We went downstairs the whole room was filled with people some known and some unknown I took a glance through the room Fahad was not there yet "he is not here " Sara whispers in my ear to which a small smile crept on my lips.

"Aye haaye, blush and all huh," she says nudging my arm, teasingly.
"Parey hato aap Sara madam,bewajah logo ko pareshan karne ke alawa or Kuch bhi karlia kare," I said giving her a fake glare.
"Ahh, tamatar bane Phir rahi aap, nazre dhund rahi hai aapki, or bechain khud ho rahi hai, aur hum aapko pareshan kar rahe hai Waah Waah Ayat Baji waah," she says raising her hand in the air, then wipes her fake tears.
"Such a drama queen you are Sara" I whispered lowly so one hears our bickering.

"Sara, Ayat what are you two doing here I was looking everywhere," Tayi Ammi says gaining towards us.
"Oh we just got down Tayi Amma, the party looks happening by the way" Sara exclaims sounding almost proud.
"After all Fahad did all the arrangements so it had to be good, anyway Ayat, come with me for a moment," Tayi Ammi says pulling me with my arm.

She took me through the crowd "you remember Azfar right?" She asks.
"Yes, Uncle Abrar's son we met at the dinner party," I said.
"Good, you guys talk I'll be just back okay," she says hastily giving a nod to him, and leaves abruptly. Something looks fishy I wonder what's happening.

"So we couldn't talk that night, because that guy came in between anyway I can not stop myself from thinking about you since," he says chuckling nervously not meeting my gaze.
"Why is that?" I ask.
"I don't know, uh, so Abbu told me you like to teach students...he trails off.
"Uh, I'm sorry but I think I should go and check if anything is needed," I said smiling nervously at him and left promptly.

I went into the kitchen Ammi and Tayi Ammi were busy with the preparation of food "Ayat what are you doing here?" Ammi asks.
"Ah just came to check if there is anything I can help with," I said looking around the kitchen.
"No, no we have got everything covered you go outside and enjoy," Tayi Ammi says smiling, I gave them a forced smile I don't want to go outside I don't want to talk to that guy Azfar.

"Ayat?" I heard his voice it came out like a question.
"Yeah, it seems they don't need me, they've got it covered, " I said chuckling, where is Fahad when he should butt in he's not here when that day it wasn't needed he came instantly.

Looks like I don't have any choice I start to walk with Azfar when my eyes fell on Fahad talking to some woman with long brown hair, she was wearing a dress which was revealing most of the part of her body a pang of jealousy takes over my heart, I felt enraged for some reason.

Oh don't fool yourself Ayat, you know what is this feeling my mind snaps at me.

I chose to ignore him, "come on let's go in the garden," I tell Azfar, walking from where Fahad was standing with that woman as soon as he saw he stopped talking to her I rolled my eyes at him walked off from there. If he is going to act like he doesn't care I can do too.

After everyone started to leave informing Ammi I retired to my room my feet were killing me because of the heels this is the reason I usually go for juttis anyway I went up to my room taking a quick shower I changed into my comfy clothes white pant and kurta I was about to lie down on the bed but the knock on the door makes me groan loudly, I was really tired and sleepy.

"What are you doing here?" I ask Fahad who stood there casually.
"Why were you talking to that guy Azfar?" He asks entering the room pushing the door open.
"Why do you care?" I retort folding my arms against my chest, did I question about him talking to that woman.
"That's not the answer to my question," he says in his deep voice.
"And do I look like I care huh? " I replied, ignoring him, and started to clear things up on the dressing table.

He grabs my arm pulling me closer to him, I glare at him jerking my hand away "don't talk like that to me Ayat" he says with a long face.
"And how would you want me to talk to you?" I asked mockingly.
"I only want to talk to you Ayat like some normal person, not someone who is always yelling or arguing," he says aggrievedly.
"There is nothing to talk about Fahad, please leave me alone" I replied moving away from him, keeping a safe distance between us.

"Why are you so adamant to push me away, I know I have done wrong by you but that doesn't mean you will ignore me and mind that you cannot ignore me for your life," he says.

"I know what you said that day about not feeling anything was a lie just like you have been lying to yourself," he says softly.

I turned my back at him I cannot face him, my heart beating erratically against my chest "it was truth Fahad, now leave please" I begged, he is right about me lying but he should know he had hurt me, even though we were kids and probably didn't know the meaning of love but the feelings and emotions we had were strong.

I heard him leave closing the door I laid down on my bed I feel sorry for pushing him away he is my friend with whom I shared so many memories and thoughts everything that used to bother me or which would make me happy but now looking at him like this here it aches me.

• • •

The next morning I woke up with a migraine because of all the twisting and turning thinking about Fahad and Hamza, one was like sweet, caring our relationship was good I was happy in our marriage or maybe I had learned to be happy with what I have then there is Fahad with whom I don't have to tell myself to be happy or smile everything just came naturally.

I don't know if this is right or wrong but there is always one person in your life around whom you are just yourself and don't have the fear of anything you are just a natural beautiful self of yours, all the emotions and thoughts come out without even worrying but there are some people in your life which makes you think every decision and everything part of your life.

With Hamza, it was like that my life was measured by me, I used to think twice about everything before saying or sharing it with him, I'm not saying he didn't love me or treated me wrong but for some reason, I wasn't that open in front of him as I always have been with Fahad.

No, Fahad is messing with your head, my mind yells back at me but my heart was telling a different story.

I shrugged all the thoughts at the back of my mind and went to do my chores taking a shower I went downstairs to prepare breakfast for everyone and some tea. Abbu Ji and Taya Abbu won't be returning for another week, and today someone is coming to see Sara she doesn't know that yet, and I have been assigned with that task. Allah knows what qahar she will bring once she knows about this. Sara is one of those who are against marriage plus she wants to concentrate on her career which I believe is right she should be independent first marriage can happen later.

"Assalamaalikum Ayat" I heard Fahad's deep voice.
"Waalikumsalam Fahad" I replied with a straight face.
"Just came to grab some coffee and I'll leave," he says filling a flask with coffee, I just hummed in the response I wanted to say something but no words came out of my mouth and he leaves.

I might've hurt his feelings this time which I didn't want to but I'm just scared "Assalamalikum Ayat" it was Sara chirpy as always.
"Walikumassalam, so off to University?" I ask this is the time you should talk to her.
"Yep, everything alright between you and Fahad?" She questions wiggling her eyebrows together.
Suddenly I stopped doing what I was doing, turning around "what do you mean?" I looked at her innocently.
"Oh come on what do you think I'm blind, I know you guys had some argument and now brooding," she says while taking a sip of tea.

"I'm not brooding," I said chuckling nervously.
"Yeah, yeah keep saying that to yourself" she mumbles and leaves the kitchen, this girl.

I got back to prepare the breakfast and set the table everyone came to the dining room "Ayat beta tumne Sara se batt ki?" Tayi Ammi asks.
I nodded my head as no "she didn't give me any chance".
"Okay, I'll ask Fahad also, then both of you can talk to her together," Tayi Ammi says.
We had breakfast in silence but the next question almost had me choke on my food.

"So what is it with you and Fahad?" Ammi pops the question.
I cleared my throat" uh...ahem what do you mean?"
"Wasn't my question clear, we have seen the way he looks at you, and Sara told us about your grumpy behavior this past days" she concluded, I gulped feeling parched that traitor Allah knows what did she told them.

"It nothing of the sort Ammi, and don't believe whatever Sara told you," I said calmly.
"Oh dear we are old but not stupid Sara doesn't have to tell us anything we have our own eyes and ears" it was Tayi Ammi, these ladies are scaring me right now, what I am supposed to say I love him since I was a kid, and I didn't want to marry Hamza but had to because my mother wanted me to and your son left.

I took a deep breath exhaling "Tayi Ammi...before I could continue she shoots another question" do you love him?" And that's it I choked on my food.

"Uh what no I mean...uh I don't want to talk about it" I try to ignore their questions and their gaze which was piercing is giving me chills.
"Okay, so you won't mind if we get him married to someone else right?" Tayi Ammi asks with a straight face.
I went quiet my mind went blank I don't know what to answer on this.

Would I mind if he gets married to someone else? I mean, after all, he was married to Kubra, but then why should I bother if he wants to marry someone again. It's not my right to be angry or anything like that because it's his life after all.

Then why do you sound like you are assuring yourself my mind snaps at me?

I shrugged mentally at all the thoughts before replying "if he wants to who are we to say anything against it" and with that, I left abruptly.

After a while, Sara walks into my room with a smug look on her face "so what's up?"
"You are asking me that?" I said glaring at her.

"Ab kya qayamat aagyi?" she sits down on the bed.
"Tauba, phle yeh batao tumne konsi Patti padhai hai Ammi aur Tayi Ammi ko?"I retorted folding my arms across my chest.
She bites on her tongue then rolling it out"vo Aik din Fahad Bhai Jaan muh sada ke baithe the to Maine insaaniyat ke Chalte unse guftgu Karli bas " she says fiddling with her dupatta.

"Acha aur fir yeh zehmat kyu Kari aapne ki vo baatein jaa kar Ammi or Tayi Ammi ko bata di" I question sitting across her.
She sits up comfortably "Dekho Ayat Baji, mai bas aapki eaanat Karna chahti hu, sabko Nazar aata hai aap or Fahad Bhai Mohabbat Karte hai aik dusre se bas khaufzada ho rahe hai tasleem karne se," she says earnestly.

"Sara, tumne kya zarurat thi iss masle pai Kuch bhi bolne ki," I said sternly.
"Haaye Allah ajkal to mufeed hona Jaise gunah hogya hai," she says making tsk tsk sounds.
"Drama na kare Sara madam, aur vaise bhi tumhare Fahad Bhai to nikah karne ki soch rahe hai or tum fazool mai pareshan ho rahi ho aur baki sab ko kar rahi ho," I told her.
She gasps her jaw on the floor "hain Yeh kab Hua?" She looked at me astonished.
"Mujhe kya maloom jaaye apne pyare Fahad Bhai se puche," I said and with that, she leaves the room, I decided to take a nap before the kids come to study.

*****

Hello and Assalamalikum Lovelies!

So how was the chapter?

What are your thoughts on Sara? I'm liking her character.

Any guesses what happens next?

Btw, what are your thoughts on Ayat's behavior?

And as some of you might have noticed I used some Urdu words some I read in books, some I knew so I thought of using them if I got them wrong please spare me, but do tell me if the word is irrelevant for the situation.

And as I have already mentioned translations will be updated after I complete the book.

As for this story, I guess there will be three more chapters as you know this is a short story so I don't want to drag unnecessarily.

Well, that's it for now, don't forget to share your thoughts on the chapter.

Till next time.

Keep Reading, Keep Smiling ❤❤