Pulling the curtains to the side, Yusra opened the window to let fresh air in. Daud was busy on his laptop leaning against the headboard. Yusra sat on her side of the bed and looked at his busy form.

"How long are you going to take? It's way past midnight. You should sleep now."

"I know. I pulled an Elaf and piled this work. Was hoping to get done with it today but Amma called me and now here I'm. Nowhere close to finishing this work."

He smiled sheepishly which wasn't reciprocated by Yusra. She nodded absentmindedly.

"How's everyone there? How's Amma ji?"

"Everyone's good. Amma as well."

"She didn't ask about me and Elaf right? Why didn't we accompany you today?"

Daud looked away and sighed. He should've known.

"Oh! Right! How could we accompany when we weren't even invited. It was just you."

"Yusra.."

He held her hand. Yusra didn't say anything for a while but for how long was this going to last?

"What it is this time around?"

She asked slowly.

"Which of Elaf's doing or her word did your mother find unfitting and disrespectful?"

"Yusra, Amma doesn't hate Elaf or you! She just thinks that we've lived away from the family all our lives and because Elaf hasn't grown up with the rest of them, she's not like her cousins. But this doesn't mean she isn't one of them."

"I know my daughter is outspoken and she questions things which this society overlooks. But she isn't spoiled like your mother always tries to prove. Her heart is at the right place."

"She's her grandmother only! She doesn't think that Elaf is spoiled or ill mannered."

Yusra kept quiet. She didn't have in her to start an argument right now knowing fully well Daud would try his best to prove how his mother was the well-wisher here. Yusra hoped that were the case. Mrs. Bilqees Durrani hadn't accepted that one decision of Daud years back when he had announced he wanted to marry Yusra. A love marriage in the orthodox Durrani clan. It was chaos and a messy affair but Daud had stood his ground and to further prevent any damage, he had chosen to live in a separate house with Yusra where they were blessed with Elaf after an year. Things had fallen into place and to anyone else it seemed like Mrs. Durrani had made her peace with her son's choice but Yusra knew this wasn't the case. Mrs. Durrani had never liked Yusra and now Elaf with her rebel tendencies was getting her own place on the list.

But Yusra had had enough of this cold war. She hadn't said or done much when it was about her but now her daughter was being dragged into it without any fault of hers. She knew it wasn't easy to brain wash Daud against Elaf. He had his life, happiness and hopes all centered upon her. The reason why Mrs. Durrani wasn't able to pull things off the way she wanted to but she would never be able to do anything to Elaf just because she didn't fit a criteria that was applied on every girl in Durrani household. Yusra wouldn't let that happen.

She nodded in Daud's direction telling him silently that everything was fine but deep down she was still worried.

_____

Safwa placed the last book on the shelf and took a step back to see her work. After coming back from the market she had spent the whole evening holed up in her room. This Sunday she had dedicated to her shelf which was calling out to her for this attention for a while now. It was a productive day. Safwa not only gotten her books sorted which she was stalling for so long but had few of these rebind as well.

She picked up the poetry volume with new covering and ran a finger on its spine with a forlorn look on her face. Her mind had gone back to the evening when she had run into Izaan Shoaib and had met his grandfather as well.

She wasn't used to the company of elders given the fact that she had no elderly person around her but there was a warmth about Izaan's grandfather which made it so easy to converse with him. His aura was different from Izaan's and this made Safwa think was his whole family like this? So welcoming? She had a long discussion with Kamran Ansari about the books he had bought and Safwa knew that she'd love to meet this old man once again because it takes a bookaholic to recognize the other and Kamran Ansari aka Abba was pretty proficient in the art of books. It was almost an honor that he appreciated her taste and even invited her to the library in his room to show her his collection. Safwa smiled with her heart into it. How many times in life do you meet people who are so genuine? She was looking forward to having another discussion session with Abba.

As she pulled her earphones in and scrolled down through her playlist, her finger lingered on a certain song.

Sar kiye ye pahar-Strings

The song was on repeat for her these days. Reason was unknown to her as well. Strings was her favourite band but there was something more than that about this song. As she dropped herself on her bed her mind was at ease. And there was warmth. And something was blooming. Slowly marking its territory.

In the other corner of the city, Izaan closed his heavy notes and leaned into his chair. After coming back from Hesham's all he wanted to do was falling face down on his bed and wake up only with the next morning alarm but when you're a medical student, you don't get every wish of yours fulfilled. He had to prepare for an important test which was scheduled tomorrow.

As he put his things back into his bag his eyes fell on the news books Abba had gotten for him on Safwa's suggestion. Izaan was the only one among his brothers who had an liking for reading. He wasn't an ardent reader like Abba, or Safwa though.

Safwa.

He smiled remembering the way her face had lit up talking to Abba. Their share interest had made them immediate friends. Izaan even told Sarim and Hesham about this new development. Hesham had asked him to start letting Safwa picking books for Abba because she was a natural at it.

Izaan skimmed through the pages. He wasn't that into poetry but he wanted to give this book his time. There was no reason. Or maybe the reason wasn't known to him.

As he pushed his bag to its designated place in the corner, the Ahmed Faraz poetry was already inside, a stark contrast from his medical books.

_______

Elaf adjusted her bag on her shoulder and knocked at the wooden door. On finding the cue she entered inside. Professor Kaleem looked up from his file and gave her a welcoming nod.

"Elaf! I was waiting for you only."

"Good morning, sir."

"Morning, morning. I heard you ran into a bit of trouble with Professor Makhdoom?"

Elaf bit her tongue. Exactly what she needed.

"Yes, it was a bit of a problem."

"Lying never takes us anywhere."

"I know, professor."

"Have you worked on his assignment?"

"I'm coming from his office only. Just handed that to him."

"Should serve well to stop you from attempting something like this again."

Elaf thought of the way she had managed to complete the assignment after working her ass off all weekend. She sure as hell wasn't pulling something like this ever again.

Professor Kaleem shook his head and took out a file from his drawer. Elaf immediately straightened up. This was her favourite part of coming to his office.

"Narmeen completed it just yesterday. I liked her work this time around."

Elaf opened it and started reading the lines.

"No Shakespeare this time around."

Elaf exclaimed relieved.

"There's nothing bad in Shakespeare in my opinion."

"It's not but I'm tired of Narmeen always pulling something out on those lines."

Professor Kaleem didn't comment on it. He knew Elaf Daud had her own way of working which was different from her team mates. She had stepped down this time around because Narmeen had specially asked to be in charge and Elaf being accommodating albeit rather begrudgingly, had obliged.

"This is good but I needed to have some modifications."

Elaf looked up. She knew what he was going to say.

"Narmeen will never take my suggestions into account."

"But you can convince her. You always have very good points don't you."

"Why don't you ask her yourself, Professor?"

Professor Kaleem smiled. How would he tell her that the kind of modification he needed in the play would only come from her. Elaf Daud was an asset to his dramatics club and literacy society.

"Because, I'm not Elaf Daud. The kind of subtle touches she can give to a normal play, well I can't. So help Narmeen out in finishing this and then prepare for it well. We have a show coming Friday."

"Coming Friday? It's too early."

"Nothing my team can't handle."

Elaf got up picking her bag. She had to find Narmeen, convince her to change few points, and then start gathering the team as well. Oh how she loved this chaos which always brought out the best in her. Something she was a pro at. Her forte. Where the stage was hers.

Mumbling a hurried bye over her shoulder, Elaf was out of the office while Professor Kaleem had gone back to his work without any trace of worry. His best student was in charge. He had nothing to worry about.

_____

The cafeteria of NMU was buzzing with activity. An influx of the student gathered around the counter was waiting for their order. When you walk on the pavement to the side of the sitting area, a small lane lined with ornamental plants was leading to a hidden recess into the wall where students could sit down and enjoy both solitude and fresh air.

Even before spotting the familiar blue bag or the messy mop of brown hair, Kumail knew this is where he was going to find Izaan. After all who would want to get away from the lively scene of the café just to have some me time with his books?

"Here you're!"

Kumail patted him on the back making Izaan stumble. He sharply turned around to glare at him but a disposable cup of hot coffee was thrust into his hand.

"Your tasteless, useless fuel."

Izaan still gave him an annoyed look but took a sip of the coffee nonetheless. Kumail scrunched his nose and shook his head.

"Abysmal."

"Stop repeating Dr. Naveed's words when he saw your answers today."

"In my defense starting my day by making Naveed happy isn't something I entirely enjoy."

Izaan had turned back to the chapter he was engrossed in before Kumail interrupted him.

"This place really evokes the fantasies of those hidden areas in schools where you'd be able to do what you want to do. A make out space? Yes. A joint area? Wow. A Sutta spot? Take all my money!"

Izaan snorted without looking up from his book.

"But one fine day, before any lad in this godforsaken university could even get to this place, Mr. Izaan Shoaib settled here with his satchel of magical books weighing like trucks and now he has changed the whole settlement into a nerd nook . Only you Izaan. Only you."

"You can write a book on me, you know."

"I'm considering it as profession if I ever got expelled from here."

"I won't be that doubtful if I were you."

Kumail mimicked Izaan's expressions and sat down close to him. Five minutes passed without any action from his side but for how long was he going to stay put? He pulled Izaan's bag towards him and started looking for something to eat.

"It's a lost cause."

"I was just trying my luck."

"Izaan!"

They both looked in the direction of the voice. A slow smile reached Izaan's lips and Kumail immediately straightened up.

"I'll appreciate if you don't try it anymore."

He whispered for Kumail to hear and got up.

"I've been looking for you around the whole campus!"

Roshna huffed dropping herself on the ground.

"You could've called me."

She narrowed her eyes at him. Izaan held up his hands in surrender. His old habit of never bothering with his phone when he was engrossed in studies.

"You promised me you'd explain the point in Dr. Naveed's lecture which totally went above all of our heads."

She nodded to Kumail who was staring at her like there was nothing else to do. Izaan wanted to laugh out loud. This was the most bizarre yet interesting situation he had been in. He had known both Kumail and Roshna since his first day here in NMU. He had no friends and that day he made two. Kumail and Roshna were stark opposites. Kumail, a full of life guy who had the talent of turning everything fun while Roshna was a typical medical student. There was no match but this hadn't stopped Kumail from falling for her. Too bad Roshna was pretty good at ignoring the signs.

"I was myself not sure about few points. Will have to go to Dr. Naveed to get some more explanation."

"Argh! I hate when that man does that."

"Same! That loser with the personality of a fart."

Roshna looked mortified. In his attempt of impressing her by agreeing to her point of view Kumail had gone too far.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll see you around, Izaan."

She got up and giving another weird look to Kumail was out of there. Izaan tried his best but as soon as she was out of the sight a laugh bubbled through his lips.

"You should quit. This is proving to be too much for you."

"Shut up! Smartypants!"

"She's way better than you in everything. This isn't going anywhere."

"All the more chances of her being my better half me thinks."

Izaan shook his head.

"Love does this to a person."

"I don't about that but I'd love to know who did this to you though."

He showed Izaan the poetry book he had placed into his bad last night. Izaan snatched it from him.

"Get off your horse! Abba brought this for me."

Kumail looked visibly pained.

"Seriously, Izaan? No action! Nothing whatsoever. The little caresses you give to your books is going to be the only romance in your life."

"At least I'm not observing how much of a personality farts have to impress a girl."

"Oh, bugger off!"

Both picked up their belongings and made their way towards the main building. Kumail hadn't noticed but Izaan had secured the book in the last pocket of his bag. Safe and somewhere only he could know.

______

The open area at the back of the coaching center had a sense of evening serenity to it. Irma leaned against the chair and tapped on the wood absentmindedly. She had just gotten done with her lectures for today. The usual happiness that came with teaching and interacting with the students was missing these days. A numbness was surrounding her being. She was ready and not ready at the same time. Everything was sorted and yet in shambles.

"Here you are!"

Samavia took the seat next to her. Irma didn't respond to her. But Samavia wasn't a fool. She knew something was up with her always smiling and cheerful colleague.

"Hey, everything's okay? You can talk to me if you like."

Irma smiled and then looked at her.

"Everything's fine. In fact more than fine. I'm getting married."

"What? And you're telling me now!"

"I myself got to know just few days back."

There was something in the way she had said this which turned Samavia's grin into a solemn look.

"You aren't happy with it?"

"I have to happy. I don't have any reason not to be. I know the guy. I know how he's like. His family is loving. They are looking forward to having me as a part of theirs. I'll have secure future with him at such a nice position in a multinational company. I should be happy."

"But still you aren't."

Irma didn't say anything. Happiness was a very difficult word. Specially in the kind of environment she'd been brought up into. All her school life she was an excellent student but lacking the confidence. Her personality got a glow up when she reached university. Her hidden abilities were unleashed and she acknowledged her true potential.

She understood what gave her happiness and marriage was nowhere close to that. She wanted to use her degree into something worthwhile. Something she'd enjoy doing. Having a career was a dream but she had forgotten in the household she was living, dreaming wasn't allowed. Sarim was brave. He could fight all the obstacles their father had put in his path but same wasn't true for her. She wasn't as brave as him.

Shaking her head, Irma got up.

"I should get going. Sarim will be here soon to pick me up."

She had taken few steps to reach the door leading inside the building, when Samavia's voice stopped her.

"Irma!"

She turned around. Samavia was pointed towards her belongings.

"You forgot your things."

As Irma gathered her stuff without meeting Samavia's curious eyes, the realization hit her. One day, in the near future, she'd have to leave the bundle of her dreams and aspirations here as well and she won't be able to get back and pick those up.

_______

Pulling the curtain to the side, Sarim looked at nothing in particular in the depths of horizon. The setting sun was casting an orange hue and the air had a hint of melancholy to it.

He wanted to shake off these feelings. Thinking on these lines wasn't going to prove good for anyone. The atmosphere in the house was already tensed due to his and Nauman's argument the other day. It was clear why Irma's in laws were coming. The unusually active Farwa was an indication enough.

"Sarim!"

She called out standing close to the stairs. His room was upstairs while Irma's was next to her parents at the ground level. He was often found lounging on the sofas close to the open terrace. The reason why Farwa was calling him from there.

"In here, Ammi!"

In few seconds, Farwa was inside his room.

"You haven't gone to pick Irma up?"

"It's still time."

She was talking to him while examining the curtains of his room.

"I think I should replace these as well."

Sarim rolled his eyes.

"Ammi, they won't come to my room."

"Oh! I know they won't. But if I'm at it might as well do it thoroughly."

Desi mother! Sarim saw her trying to get the curtains off when he held her from her shoulders and made her look at him.

"Irma isn't ready for this marriage."

"She's just scared. You know how sheltered life she'd spent till now. The idea of getting into a new house and living with a new family is just freaking her out."

"Sheltered? The life we've lived is anything but sheltered, Ammi. It was plain caging. No sugar coating here."

"Sarim, not again!"

"Why not? You should ask Irma why isn't she ready yet!"

"Your Baba will not allow this."

"It's Irma who'll have to marry not Baba so the ball should be in her court. She should be the one to make the call."

"You're talking as if your father is your enemy. He was the one who came with this proposal and look! Irma knows Mohid! Mohid knows Irma. They both can work it all."

"Are you hearing yourself right now, Ammi? It's not Baba's doing that somehow Irma's luck worked and she ended up engaged to a guy she knows not a stranger. But had that not been the situation, Irma would be marrying a plain stranger by now just because our father chose him for her. It's not about how and what it's always have and always will be who! And in this house the "who" will always be Baba! Even where he shouldn't even be."

Farwa had always struggled with arguing with Sarim regarding his father. His points would always leave her speechless.

"This is about Irma's life. Baba can't use his dictatorship mentality wherever he wants to. I refuse to live like this. I always have. What can I do I'm after all a Pakistani. We people are slow in identifying the harms of dictatorship but let me be very clear, Ammi. I won't be spending all my life under this rule. Baba will have to listen to Irma. She'll be marrying Mohid only if she wants to."

Putting a stop to the conversation which was more of venting on his part and listening on Farwa's part, he had picked up the keys from his side table and the long and forceful steps he was taking to get downstairs were echoing in the silent house. Farwa looked towards the open door and sighed. She didn't want another showdown. But she also didn't want to see her children suffering. The dilemma was calling out to her everyday telling her one day she'd have to choose a side.

__________

The ongoing week was miraculously less packed for both Safwa and Sarim. While for Hesham, well it could be said that he was getting a new project every day with the deadline not far. He was neck deep in work these days and this was the reason he wasn't able to fully hang out with them as well. But that wasn't the cause of worry being discussed in a very worry filled phone call made that particular Friday.

"He's not himself and I don't like it."

"You mean to say he's not witty anymore? That's a news!"

Hesham replied making Safwa sigh.

"He can still pull a one liner banter even when he's sulking. But I hate to see him like this."

The topic of the call was Sarim only who had been in a bad mood all through the week and somehow all

of his friends knew it was because of anything that must've happened between him and his father. Safwa didn't know as many details as Hesham and Izaan but she was sure that Sarim didn't like his father at all.

"His Dad and him, well they don't see eye to eye in most of the things and since Nauman uncle is a typical strict father and Sarim a disobedient rebel, things often go out of hands."

"In which age his father is living though? This isn't the time to boss around your children just because you can. I mean look at your and uncle Atif's relation. I don't think he has ever pressurized you or burdened you with something."

A certain phone call his father had made just few days back came back to his mind in whole swing and Hesham didn't know if he could agree with Safwa with full conviction.

"Anyways, when are you getting free? We should do something to cheer Sarim up."

"I have one more class to attend and only after that I can join you guys. Do one thing, call Izaan as well. His classes don't go on for long on Fridays. I'll be there after almost an hour and then we will make Sarim's day a lot better than his hair style."

"No need."

Safwa traced the open invite pasted at the notice board and a smile reached her lips.

"I know what in fact who can cheer him up. Meet us in the main auditorium as soon you get free."

"You sound like a woman on mission."

"Oh! I'm! I'm a woman on the mission of cheering her friend up! Now go take your class loser!"

She hung up the call and immediately dialed another number.

__________

"I'm in no mood of anything. I think I should just go home and sleep for a while."

Sarim exclaimed as Safwa pushed him through the throng of people to get to the main auditorium which was situated right in front of the main entrance to IST campus.

"Not happening, Mister! We are sitting through this play and seeing another mind boggling performance of Elad Daud!"

He stopped in his tracks and turned around almost bumping into her.

"She's performing? I was told she isn't."

"I was wondering why you didn't take any interest in the Dramatics club's new play. Now I know the reason."

Sarim shook his head to deny whatever she was suggesting but his eyes fell on the person coming hurriedly out of the auditorium back door. A smile reached his lips. Elaf Daud was about to go on stage and make everyone her fan once again and Sarim Haider wasn't going to miss it. He never did before.

Safwa hadn't seen when Sarim's confusion had changed into a grin. She couldn't focus because right now her focus was on a smiling Izaan coming to where she and Sarim were standing. Safwa Kirmani was looking forward to meet Izaan Shoaib after that market incident and the reason even she didn't know.

And somewhere, an interlinking of the fates was also happening. Things were changing. Without even asking making their place.

_________