"Noor you have a visitor." Mrs. Khan said who was standing near the stairs.

Noor frowned as it was odd for her mom to say a visitor instead of the name of that person. She quickly took her scarf in her hand and left the room. While walking towards the living room she warped her scarf loosely.

"Oye!" Noor said when she entered the living room.

"Assalamu Alayekum." Sufyaan said who was sitting on the chair.

"Walekum assalam! Wow, Mr. Sufyaan Shaikh came to meet me. How did that happen?"

Sufyaan rolled his eyes,"I'm fine thanks for asking."

"Why did my mom say visitor instead of your name?"

"I told her to do that. If she would have said my name you would have taken years to come down and I'm in a hurry."

"Ok Mr. Hurry what do you want from me?"

"You know what happened  last week. I was really upset about that."

"I know. That's why you didn't show me your face for the whole week! I came here a week ago and you didn't even meet me! And I call you my brother."

"You would have not seen my face for a longer time if you had not come here."

"Why? You cannot come and meet me at my in-law's?"

"That would be awkward. Your in-laws might not like it."

"I hate such complications. Anyway what do you want?"

"So like I said I was upset. Unfortunately I totally forgot that even Zyva might be upset. Last night she did not eat anything and was really sad. That's when I realised that even she is upset about the whole baby thing."

"Yeah she was upset yesterday. I came to meet her."

"Then help. I know you will do something stupid that will make her smile. So do that."

"Stupid? Sufyaan Bhai." Noor narrowed her eyes.

Sufyaan smiled,"Do whatever you want."

"Ok."

"I will leave now."

"Ok! Say Salam to my brother."

"Walekum assalam."

"Bye." Noor said waving her hand.

"Where is Iiman?"

"She is sleeping. Sorry."

"It's ok. I will meet her some other time."

"InshaAllah."

"Bye now."

"Bye."

Noor sat down on the couch after Sufyaan left. Last week she wanted to do something for Sufyaan and Zyva but everyone told her to leave them alone for some time so she backed out. But now that Sufyaan himself told her to do something she thought of working on her plan again. She almost had the plan ready last time so she didn't have to think a lot. After an hour she was ready with the whole plan.

***

Wildan picked up the newspaper from the table before sitting on the couch. He read it for five minutes before he looked up and saw Zeeshan. Zeeshan was sitting on a chair,lost in his own world. 

"What's up?" Wildan asked.

"Thinking something."

"What?"

"That how much Noor screwed me."

Wildan kept his paper aside before frowning,"What? How did she do that?"

"She made me addicted to her and then left."

Wildan smiled with his eyes wide open."Wow." He said after a while.

Zeeshan look at his friend,"What?"

"You are missing her."

"So?"

"Wow you are accepting it."

"I thought it would be dumb and stupid to hide it. What am I going to get from it?"

"Smart. Very smart."

"What a waste."

"What?"

"Wasted thirty years of my life hating that girl for this day."

Throwing his head back Wildan started laughing which made Zeeshan roll his eyes. After some time he asked,"Who told you to hate her? You should have started this love story years ago!"

"What love story?"

"You know when two people love each other it's called a love story."

"That sounds like a girly thing."

Wildan closed his eyes,"Hate story? Will that go? Actually that suits you two more."

"You have a lot of time to waste."

"You should go to New York now."

"No it's fine. I will stay for few more days."

"No. I want you to leave."

"But wildan."

"Zeeshan I'm fine. You need to get a job soon."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm. So take this." Wildan picked up his laptop from the table before extending it to him,"Book your ticket and leave."

"What's the hurry?"

"Yeah right. First call Noor. She called you when you were praying."

"And you are telling me now?"

"Sorry for keeping you away from your lady love. Please call her."

Zeeshan narrowed his eyes before pulling out his phone from his pocket. He dialed Noor's number before standing up and leaving the room. 

"Salam." Noor said.

"What happend? Why are you sad?" Zeeshan asked

"How do you know!?"

"What happened Noor?"

"Iiman broke my favourite watch. My grandfather had gifted me that."

"Oh. You cannot fix it?"

"I guess we can but It's still heartbreaking. That was the last gift he gave me."

"You are talking about your mom's father. I thought you were talking about our grandfather."

"No." Noor shook her head although Zeeshan Could not see her. "my nana."

"We will get it fixed don't worry."

"Ok."

"What are​ you doing?"

"Feeling sad. You?"

Zeeshan smiled,"Nothing."

"You should do something."

"Why did you call?"

"I thought you were missing Iiman so video call would help."

Zeeshan smiled,"That would have really helped both of us"

Noor smiled before sitting down on the bed,"So should I call?"

"No not now."

Noor frowned,"why?"

"Wait for some time then we will see each other."

"Why? you are busy?"

"Yes. I'm very busy."

"What are you doing?"

"Something important."

"Forget that! I'm planning to arrange a dinner party for all couples in our group this weekend. I have planned everything. Will you be able to come by then? You still get six more days there."

"No, Noor I won't come there this weekend."

Noor looked down," So when will you come?"

"I have not yet decided."

"Ok."

Zeeshan smiled,"you are fine?"

"Yeah. What will happen to me?"

"Ok then. I will call you later."

"Ok." Noor said and disconnected the call without saying him bye.

Zeeshan smiled at her silly act before removing him phone from his ear. He was happy because once again he succeeded in annoying Noor. He turned around and went back to the room to book his ticket. He was missing her and he wanted to see her as soon as possible.

***

"No!" Noor said.

"But why?" Haajar asked.

"Because it's just for couples."

"That's so not fair." Zynah said crossing her arms.

"Then why on earth are we helping?" Haajar asked.

Noor picked up few french fries in her hand before saying,"because you both want to help Zyva.She is your sister and your cousin."

"What a great way of emotionally blackmailing us." Zynah said

"I know."

"Why did you call us to the mall? We can plan things at home as well. It's not a surprise party." Haajar said.

"Because Zubiya and Iiman were bored at home."

"They or you?" Zynah asked.

"We all are same."

"How long will Zubiya stay with you?" Haajar asked looking at Zubiya who was playing with Iiman.

"I don't know. Her mom said her best friend will take her but she is not here yet."

"That's weird."Zynah said.

"Poor girl."

"Now enough of wasting time.Help me decide what we should do."

"How will we know what couples like to do?" Zynah asked.

"Yeah. And couples are boring. They won't like the stuff we like." Haajar said.

"We are not boring!"

"I agree with Haajar."

"You two are... Hey!" Suddenly Noor stopped mid-sentence and said Hey when she saw Raiyan smiling at her.

Haajar and Zynah turned around and saw Raiyan walking towards them.

"I have seen him somewhere." Haajar said.

"He is Raiyan." Zynah said smiling.

"Who Raiyan?"

"Salam Raiyan. What are you doing here?" Noor asked.

"Walekum assalam. I'm here for some work."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. How are you and Zeeshan?"

"We are fine."

"Where is he?"

"He didn't come."

"Mr. Workaholic always working."

Noor smiled,"something like that."

"Hey Zynah! I didn't notice you."

Zynah smiled,"ouch!"

"I'm sorry." He said smiling.

"That's fine. How are you kiddo?"

"I'm not a kid."

"Yes, you are. For me at least."

"What's your age grandma?" He asked.

"Twenty two."

"And I'm eighteen. Just four years difference."

"I have four years of extra experience of life."

"I don't know what to say. Wow?" He said making everyone smile."I have to go so I will leave. It was nice meeting you two."

"It was nice meeting you, too." Noor said smiling.

"Bye. Take care."

"Bye."

Raiyan smiled at Haajar who smiled back at him before leaving. Then Haajar and Zynah turned back to face Noor.

"Who was he?" Haajar asked.

"You don't remember him?" Noor asked.

"No." Haajar shook her head.

"He is Ibaad's brother." Zynah said. "I hope you remember who Ibaad is."

"Oh! Yes! Yes! That's why he looked familiar."

"Ok girls come back to our topic." Noor said.

"Noor please leave us!"

***

"Thank you so much Zeeshan." Wildan said.

Zeeshan removed his last bag from Wildan's car before keeping it down.

"Take care Wildan. You can message or call me any time."

"I know. Take care of yourself. And please accept that you love your wife. She is a very good lady Zeeshan. Appreciate her before it's too late."

"No need to get emotional every time."

Wildan smiled,"Ok. But remember what I said."

"I will try."

Wildan smiled again looking down which made Zeeshan frown,"what happened, Wildan?"

He looked up at him thinking if he should tell Zeeshan everything or keep it a secret forever. He had decided to tell Zeeshan everything but it was more difficult than his expectations. It was easy to decide but when it came to finally say that he was scared of losing his friend.

"What happened, Wildan?"

"I want to tell you something."

"Ok"

"I have thought about it and I have even consulted my therapist. I want to tell you everything and remove it from my heart. It has been bothering me for years and I cannot take it anymore."

"Wildan, what are you talking about?"

"I want you to remember that I always wished good for you."

"Wildan?"

Wildan took a deep breath,"Zeeshan, have you ever thought why all of a sudden Jonny wanted to be your friend?"

"Jonny who?"

"Jonny marks. Who made you a drug addict."

"Why are you all of a sudden talking about him?"

"He came to you because of me."

"Wildan I'm not understanding anything."

"I was jealous of you Zeeshan. My parents were dead but you had a happy family. You were not a good student and you were also rude to your parents at times. I always thought you didn't deserve that happy life. When your parents separated I won't lie but I was somewhere happy because you were finally sad. I thought if I was suffering so were you. Which according to me was fair. But then one day you came and told me that you talked to your father and he agreed to come back home. I was really upset and angry about that. Jonny was my neighbour and although he was a drug addict was always nice to me. He asked me why I was sad and I told him everything. I told him that your happiness kills me. He asked me if I wanted to end your happiness. I said yes. He never told me what he would do and I was not interested in knowing that either. A month later he told me that he made you a drug addict. I was very sacred but still I was not guilty. It was only after you went missing for a week when I realised that I had made a mistake."

"What?" Zeeshan asked not able to believe what his friend just said.

"Yes. I was too guilty and scared to face you. That's why I didn't come to meet you. After another month our friend Vicky told me that you were moving to India. I wanted to meet you and apologise but I was too scared to face you. I have never regretted anything in my life as much as I have regretted telling Jonny everything. When you came back I gathered courage and met you."

"So that means all the help and support was the result of your guilt?"

Wildan looked down,"yes. But please don't doubt my friendship. Yes, I agree in the starting it was my guilt but soon you became my best friend. Someone I loved and cared about. Zeeshan you are really important to me and now my only family. Please forgive me. I didn't know that my jealousy would destroy your life. I'm extremely sorry. I know you hate me now but please don't forget that you are my brother and I don't wish bad for you. Not anymore."