"I love you."

Aman could not believe what he just did. He was just excited and didn't mean it that way. He says I love you in excitement to his friends as well. He knows what he meant but Kehara don't. How will he explain that to her? How will he face her? Will she help him now? What if she tells Sufyaan? Will he still be his friend? All these questions are giving Aman a serious headache and a mini heart attack. He have to explain her everything before its too late. After gathering enough courage he finally decided to call her. As the phone started ringing his heart beat started rising. Finally kehara picked up the call.

"Assalamu alaikum."

"Walekum assalam kehara. I don't know how to say this but I'm sorry about the message."

"Message? Which message."

Aman's eyes lit up.

"You didn't get any message from my number?"

"No. My phone is creating some problem. Maybe that's why."

"That's great!"

"What?"

"That's sad."

"Yeah I know. Anyways what did you message?"

"Oh nothing important. Look kehara I have to go. Bye."

Aman didn't even wait for her reply and disconnected.

Alhumdulillah was the first word that left Aman's mouth. He looked up as if he can see Allah there and smiled. Sometimes we do something really stupid but Allah saves us. He is Ar Rahem the most merciful.

***

Step one is done. Now time for step two.

"So aunty have you ever worked?" Kehara asked. Mehrunisa is still with kehara. Her father and brother could not come because of some reason. They are staying at her cousin's house for the night. Mrs khan decided to be with kehara in case she needs something.

"Yes."

"Oh wow. Tell me more about it."

"Well I was a professor of mathematics before I got married."

Kehara's eyes widened in shock.

"professor? Wowwwww. You know you can be a mathematics professor here also right?"

"Of course I know that."

"Why did you stop then? You can do that here as well."

"I know. But when I came here first I had my own problems. So I decided to solve them first and then think about it. Unfortunately I'm still not able to solve them."

"InshaAllah very soon you will solve them."

Mrs khan smiled.

***

With many difficulties and pain kehara had gone to her room last night.  Yet she wanted to come down in the living room in the morning. So without disturbing Mrs khan she came down. Although it was really painful but it was not bleeding. She switched on the TV. Mrs khan was in the kitchen and hearing the voice she came in the living room.

"What are you doing here kehara?" She placed her hands on her hips. Kehara smiled and said

"I was getting bored and all the girls are going to come to meet me today. That time I have to come down. So I decided to come now."

"That's fine. But you should have called me. Why do you always want to play fear factor."

Kehara laughed and Mrs khan smiled.

"Your breakfast is ready. Give me five minutes."

"I hope you made extra." Someone said and both kehara and Mrs khan turned to see Aman coming in. He came and sat on the couch.

"What are you doing here Aman? Don't you have your own house." Mrs khan joked and everyone laughed.

"What to do I can't live without my mom." Mrs khan smiled widely and seeing that kehara smiled as well.

"Wait I will bring you two breakfast."

"Make it three." Aman said typing something on his phone.

"Noor is coming as well. Good good." Saying that Mrs khan left the room.

"No dad is coming." Aman said and looked up to see his mother was already gone. He turned to look at kehara. He said Alhumdulillah as soon as he saw her. Thank God message was not delivered. He was still staring kehara so she gave him a confused look. He smiled immediately.

"So how are you?"

"Alhumdulillah I'm good."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine Alhumdulillah."

For the next few minutes Aman was typing something continuously on his phone and kehara was watching TV. After some time kehara said.

"So why is your dad coming here? To see your mom?"

"No to see you. That's what he said. But that reminds me. You won't believe me but my dad called your dad just to know when he is coming back in order to know when his wife will return home." Aman was talking like a little kid who had gone to Disney land for the very first time. Kehara smiled. His eyes were dancing with happiness and hope.

"Wow. That's cute! So he is coming here to see her by using me. He is so cute!"

"I don't understand this. Why is everything so cute for you girls."

"Because it is cute!"

"Whatever."

Before kehara can reply Mr khan came.

"Assalamu alaikum kehara. How are you?"

"I'm fine Alhumdulillah. How are you? And Please sit down."

He sat next to Aman and said with a smile "I'm fine as well Alhumdulillah."

"So here is your breakfast. Aman is your second breakfast partner here?"

Mrs khan said coming in with breakfast. She stopped when she saw her husband.

"Yeah he is here." He said placing his hand on his father's shoulder. Mr khan is staring her.

"Salam." Mrs khan said and kept the food on the table.

"Walekum Assalam. You didn't come back."

"Khurshid Bhai could not come back last night and I didn't want to leave her alone."  Mr khan is still staring her.

"I told her I will be fine. Go home. But you know how caring your wife is." Kehara said.

"Yeah I know how caring she is." He said not looking anywhere else but her.

"Sit down." Kehara said pulling Mrs khan next to her.

"So kehara when will your father return?" Mr khan asked finally looking at someone else.

Kehara and Aman both smiled widely.

"InshaAllah in few hours."

"You are very much interested in knowing when Khurshid uncle will return." Aman teased.

"He is my manager. Of course my office is affected because of his absence."

"Of course. of course." Aman said smiling.

"Aunty if you don't mind can you do me  a favor?"

"Of course dear. Tell me how can I help you?"

"Will you help me with math. I'm struggling a lot."

"Of course sweetheart." Mrs said smiling.

"Thank you." Kehara said smiling.

"I don't think so she can help you kehara. You should ask your teacher." Mr khan said.

"I don't understand what my teacher says. And she can help me after all she was a professor of mathematics."

"What!?" Both Aman and Mr khan exclaimed together scaring kehara.

"What happened?" Kehara asked.
"You were a professor?" Mr khan asked.

"That to of mathematics?" Aman asked.

"Yeah." Mrs khan said shifting uncomfortably and kehara stared them in disbelief. How can they not know this?

"You never told me mom!"

"You never asked Aman." Mrs khan said softly.

They were silent for few seconds before Mr khan stood up and said

"I have to go. Bye AllahHafiz. Take care kehara."

"Thank you. AllahHafiz." Kehara said with a smile and he left.

"Oh I forgot the cake in the oven." Mrs khan said and left.

Aman saw his mom go and turned towards kehara. She was staring him in disbelief.

"What?" Aman asked.

"How can you not know about your mom's profession?"

"I always thought she is less educated. That's why dad is like this."

"Still!"

"At least I don't lie like some people." Aman said rolling his eyes.

"I don't lie!"

"Oh you just did!"

"When!?" 

"You said you have problem in math. Sufyaan told me Math is your subject. You love it more than him."

"Oh that's true." Kehara said smiling and Aman rolled his eyes.

***
*Two weeks later*

Mrs khan is explaining kehara something in math and she is day dreaming. Not that she is boring or she cannot understand her teaching it's just that she do math on her own. She cannot pay attention to someone else. But she is a really good teacher. Topics which kehara cannot understand Mrs khan explains it and now she started loving math more than she use to. She told everyone and now almost everyone comes for math tuition to Mrs khan.

"So kehara everything is done. Tomorrow is your test. Do well." Mrs khan said. Kehara is at Aman's house. They are sitting in the living room.

"Thank you so much aunty. You are the best teacher on earth." Kehara said and Aman rolled his eyes who is also in the living room.

"Wait I have something for you. I will get it from my room." Mrs khan went to her room.

"Why are you rolling your eyes?"

"You are such a liar! You were not even listening to her and you are saying she is the best teacher."

" How can you say I was not listening!?"

"Because you were smiling while she was explaining. Definitely math is not so funny."

Kehara laughed at that and said "I cannot pay attention when someone is teaching me math. I do that on my own."

"Wow. I cannot do math even if someone teach me and there are people who can do it on their own."

Kehara chuckled. Mrs khan came back with a small box in her hand.

"This is for you." She extended that box towards kehara. Kehara hesitated at first but then took it. She is looking at it with confusion.

"What is this?"

"My father was a mathematics professor as well. When he started teaching he decided he will give this to his best student. He gave that to me and said, give this to your favourite student.  For me you are my favourite student. So here it is. Open it."

Kehara opened it slowly and gasped loudly. It was a beautiful bracelet.

"He bought it from his first salary."

Kehara had tears in her eyes. She was not able to speak. Finally after five minutes she said.

"Aunty I seriously don't deserve it. I was not even paying attention to you today. Please take it back." Kehara said extending the box to her.

"Kehara I know that. I'm taking tuitions since I was eighteen. I know when a student is paying attention and when not. It's not because of this. When a topic is very difficult you pay attention and try your best to understand and you pick up really fast. That is a sign of a good student. And my dad told me I was not his favourite student because of of my studies but because of the person I am. He loved me as a person not because I was his daughter but because he saw a spark in me. That's exactly why I'm giving this to you. I see that spark in you." Kehara didn't say a word for few minutes. The emotion was too much for anyone to speak. After about five minutes kehara said.

"I still don't think I deserve it. But thank you. You have no idea how happy I'm."

Mrs khan smiled and said "You deserve it kehara. And what you are doing for me after that you definitely deserve it."

Kehara wiped a tear which was about to fall and said "what I'm doing for you? What is it that I'm doing but I'm not aware of it?"

"Oh don't act. I know what is going between you two." Aman and Kehara looked at each other before looking back at her. Aman was going to say something when Mrs khan stopped him.

"You don't have to say anything Aman. And don't you dare say it's not true. I must say you guys are great actors. I saw kehara's message in your phone. So I read the whole conversation."

"Mom we were just trying to help." Aman said looking down.

"I know Aman. Thank you so much. But I don't want your help. Promise me you both will stop this nonsense."

Kehara stood up and said "I won't. And I'm getting late.  I have exam tomorrow. Mostly we will get the result tomorrow itself. So I will let you know my result. Thank you so much for this gift. Best gift I have ever reserved." She started walking when Mrs khan stopped her by holding her hand give her a sad look.

"We are not doing anything big. You deserve happiness. It's been many years and it's enough now. Take care." And she left.

Mrs khan looked at Aman with a pleading look and tears in her eyes. He cannot see her cry so he said.

"I promise."

***

Someone is ringing the door bell continuously. Noor came running and opened the door.

"Kehara! Where is the fire? Why are you ringing the door bell continuously." Noor scolded.

"Oh ho sorry. But I'm too excited to be a good citizen. Now tell me where is your mom."

"In the living room." Noor said pointing towards the room.

"Okay and is your dad home?"

"Yeah he is also in the living room. We were watching a movie."

"Perfect." Kehara exclaimed and started walking towards the living room leaving a confused Noor behind.

"Noor who was it?" Mrs khan asked when Noor did not return.

"Me!" Kehara exclaimed coming in.

"Kehara! Is everything alright?" Mrs khan stood up and walked towards kehara.

"No! Everything is perfect. I got a A. Each and every answer was right! I don't believe I could do derivative. I thought I will never be able to do that! Thank you so much! You are the best teacher in the world." Kehara said hugging her.  She said the last part looking at Mr khan making Aman smile.

"Oh that's awesome. And it's all your efforts. Sit down please."

"Oh no I have to go and tell this to bhai and daddy also. I will come some other time."

"No. Sit down we have just baked a cake. Eat that and then go." Mrs khan ordered and left for kitchen. Noor followed her.

"Congratulations kehara." Mr khan said.

"Thank you." Kehara said with a sweet smile. Mr khan got a call so he left the room. Aman and kehara were in the room alone. Aman was looking at her and his look said 'you are impossible'. she said.

"What? I didn't promise her. You did."

"How do you know I promised?"

"I hardly left the room when you said 'I promise'." Kehara said imitating him.

"Here you go Kehara. Eat and tell me how is it. I made it today." Noor said giving her some cake.

"I can tell before eating it's amazing!" Kehara said and took a bite. "See I told you it's amazing!" Kehara and Noor talked about their college for some time. Before kehara left.