Zulqarnain's POV:

"And this will be your bedroom." I say, opening the door to a master bed in this portion of the house.

She nodded and smiled before asking, "Where is the kitchen?"

"Ah! Yes. About that, actually there isn't any kitchen on this floor Actually, this portion is built for my Khala's family. They used to stay here whenever they come to visit. There wasn't any point of making a kitchen and so you'll have to share ours."

"Oh! So where will they stay if they come again?" she asks worriedly.

"They won't come again since her family shifted here."

"Hm." She says, scanning around the room, while I try to read her face. She is still nervous and unsure.

Stop it... stop it...

I barely manage to turn my gaze before she could notice me and things could get more awkward.
"It's almost lunchtime. So why don't you freshen up a bit and meet me at the dining table downstairs?"

"Where is your family?" She completely ignores my question.

"Dad has been out of the city as always, Ami will be back before tea time and my brother is somewhere in the city probably with his friends." I inform her. She changes her position uncomfortably and I regretted telling her that we are almost alone. Few maids are working downstairs.

Should have stopped Ami from going...

"On second thought, why don't you stay here and I will send you lunch and get some sleep after that."

"Thank you." She mumbles with a forced smile.

"Stop saying thank you on every single thing. We are friends, na? And besides, it's your right to know everything about this place, as you will be paying rent." I assure her about the 'renting' part because I don't want her to think that I pity her.

"Right." She finally smiles.

"Good. So, now that you've understood my point, I can leave. See you when Ami returns." I wave my hand and got back to our portion.

After instructing the servants about lunch, I went to my room.

~*~

Hira's POV:

It's been one week since I come here, but not for even one second I felt relaxed. I call Hassan twice a day as promised and Saba calls me whenever she likes. Still, it is hard to spend my time here. I miss Baba and my house every minute.

I go to Auntie whenever Zulqarnain and his brother are not home, which is almost every day. Zulqarnain comes late at night and sleeps till late morning until his PA calls him or comes to drag him up and then he would run to work like his tail is on fire. So, we practically don't talk or see each other. And his younger brother Ahmar, I also haven't met him because he'd always stay in his room whenever he is home.

Auntie told me that Ahmar is studying in college and his father wants him to take over their business because Zulqarnain is not interested in the field. I feel kind of bad for him. It's not right to burden kids with your own wishes and demands, but there isn't much I could do.

I came out of my thoughts when I heard knocking on my door.

"Yes?" I say loudly and a servant came in.

"Bibi (madam), Bari bibi (elder madam) is calling you for tea." I nodded and she left.

I ask servants not to call me Bibi but they won't listen. I am not used to such formalities. Never had servants. Not because I could not afford it, but because I was always at home. So, there was no point in wasting money, which could be saved for Baba's treatment. But Baba left me with that money...

Biting my lower lip, I got up and went downstairs. My feet came to a halt. For a nanosecond, my eyes spotted Zulqarnain sitting on a sofa in the living room near Auntie. I feel hesitant to go in front of him like this. This is probably our first normal meeting.

"Assalam o Alaikum." He got up to Salam me as soon as our eyes met.

"Wallaikum Assalam." I answer and sit on the farthest sofa from them.

He gave me an indescribable look and say, "You can sit there if you want." as he points behind me.

Both Auntie and I turn our faces to where he is pointing. It was a single chair on the other side of the room. I turn my face back to him and Auntie glares at him for his sarcasm.

I took the hint that he wants me to get up from my seat and sit near Auntie, opposite of him. A mischievous smile appears on his face and disappeared as soon as it formed.

Eh???

We sat there for almost an hour, talking about different things. We also discussed my future plans. So I told them that I have already applied for a job. The whole time, Zulqarnain didn't make eye contact even when he was talking directly to me. But I felt like he keeps stealing glances whenever my attention was to Auntie, which I find quite strange. I mean, he is the same Zulqarnain who irritated me on calls and keeps bugging me by saying stupid stuff, like I will come to meet you, I will ask you this and that when we meet, you are daydreaming about me, and many other stupidities. And now he is acting like a completely different person.

"Beta, I am going for dinner at my friend's house. Would you like to come with me?" Auntie asks.

"Thank you, Auntie but... I don't want to go." I really don't feel like doing anything after Baba's death.

"Hm! I can understand how you are feeling but beta, sitting at home all day is not good for health."

"I know." I lower my head. What she's saying is right. Still, this heart of mine doesn't want to move forward.

~*~

"I must say, that was a clever move." I literally jumped on Zulqarnain's voice and on turning around, I find him leaning against the kitchen entrance. Wearing black trousers and a white t-shirt, with both arms folded on his chest.

"What do you mean?" I turn back to my dinner.

"Sending Ami away alone so we can talk in private." My mouth drops when my mind registers his words.

"Pardon?" I turn my face back to him, completely forgetting that I have to finish my meal.

"You can continue eating." He says, coming into the kitchen.

"I will eat, first tell me what you said earlier?"

"I said, it was a smart move to say no to Ami, so we can have some time alone." He shrugs, taking a seat on my opposite, on the small dining table in the kitchen.

"And why would I want to have some time with YOU alone?" I ask frowning.

"I don't know.... maybe my charms are too much for you to resist." He says, picking a piece of cucumber from my salad.

Before I could clarify his misunderstanding in a way that he would never ever get in any sort of misunderstanding from me, his smiling face shuts my mouth.

Idiot...

He was teasing me. I ignore him and continue on with my dinner.
"Why didn't you eat with me?"

"I wasn't hungry."

"Or didn't want to eat with me?" He asks, picking another piece of cucumber.

"That's my cucumber." I frown.

"Han? I don't see your name on it?" He says, looking carefully at a piece before putting it into his mouth.

"Or on this one...." He puts another piece into his mouth.
"Or any of these pieces." He says, gathering all of the pieces and put them into his mouth.

"Huh?" My mouth left ajar. He just ate my cucumber.

"Close your mouth before you catch a fly." He says, chewing the pieces, with a mocking grin on his face.

I kept staring at him in disbelief until both of our attention was turned towards a loud sound from the living room. Motioning me to remain in the kitchen, Zulqarnain went into the living room. I waited for a few minutes but when he didn't return, I make my way to the room but abruptly stopped at the entrance when I heard Zulqarnain yelling at someone. I carefully peek inside but the other person who was standing with him saw me. So, I came forward into view. There wasn't any point left of hiding myself.

The other person is Ahmar. He could be recognized from his tanned skin, unlike his big brother. For a few moments, he stares at me with disgust, which gained the attention of Zulqarnain as he follows his gaze and turns to me. On the other hand, I didn't break eye contact with Ahmar, trying to find the reason behind the look he is giving me. But before I could come up with any resolve, he averted his gaze and went to his room, glaring at Zulqarnain.

Angry teenager...?

~*~

Zulqarnain's POV:

"Assalam o Alaikum." She hesitantly Salam Dad and quickly lower her gaze.

Why is she nervous...?

Dad knows everything about her and before he could go to Ami's point and start lecturing and arguing like a typical Pakistani elder, I managed to convince him about her residing in our house. However, he showed his typical colours once the topic of Hira is brought up after coming home and since I like to spend my time cheering her up, he banned me from being alone with her. It irritates me. What does he think of his son? Do I look like someone who should be restricted from meeting his own friend? He never said that about Sara.

Dad came home yesterday - an unexpected surprise for all of us. Including Ahmar, who was currently out of the city with his friends. He panicked when Ami told him that Dad is here and was angry at him for his absence from home for most of the time. So, he is coming back tomorrow. I am happy about it. That boy needs a good lecture from Dad.

"Wallaikum Assalam. Have dinner with us." Dad says and she reluctantly took a seat far from us. I open my mouth to say the same thing as that day but avoid it since Dad is here and I don't want any other restrictions on me.

"I have heard of your loss. May Allah forgive him and let his soul rest in peace." Dad says, looking at her. She nodded with a weak smile and mumble 'Ameen' and so does Ami and me.

"My wife told me you went for a job interview today. How was it?" He asks, to break the dull moment of silence.

"It was good, Alhamdulillah."

"Any positive response?"

Why is he so interested in her job?

"No, they needed an experienced person and I have one."

"Hm... So what is your education? What sort of job are you interested in?"

"I have done a Masters in Education and am willing to be a teacher."

"I see." He didn't say anything after that and continues eating in silence.

"Hira, have you met my other son, Ahmar?" He suddenly asks and she shook her head in negative.

"Hm! He studies in college and his college principal is a very good friend of mine. If you are interested, then I could talk to him about whether there is a vacancy available or not?"

"I think that's a good idea. Uncle Wajahat will guide her properly." I speak up before Hira could object. I know she will, it's in her nature. She likes to do everything by herself without any help.

"I was thinking of the same thing... I will talk to him. Let's see what I can do for you."

"Thank you so much, but your family have already done so much for me. You don't have to go through the trouble to find a job for me." See? That's what I meant. She will refuse it.
"Hira, to you, my wife is your auntie, so you better listen to what your Uncle says and since you are here, you are our responsibility. We want you to work in a safe environment, so you'll get used to it." She smiles genuinely and nodded in agreement.

Wow! Never thought Dad could be this protective...

~*~

Hira's POV:

"Uncle talked to his friend, I went for the interview and got the job." I told Saba.

"That....was easy."

"Hm! Easier than I thought. Yar, I know I shouldn't have been saying this or thinking like this, but I have a feeling that Uncle throws me into that college to keep an eye on his son."

"It could be.... but I see no harm in it. You got the job. Work here, gain some experience, and leave. Then you find another job or continue here if you find it suitable."

"Planning on that. Anyways, I better go to sleep now. I have a job tomorrow."

"Allah Haffiz." Saba says.

"Allah Hafiz." I say and drop my phone on my bed, along with myself. A smile spread on my face, as a tear slips from the corner of my eye.

Ami, Baba... tomorrow will be my first day on the job. Wish me luck...

From tomorrow onwards, I can proudly say..... I am a teacher.

________________________________

Salam and hello everyone!

*An early update for you guys.

*Next update will be of 'My Four Eyed Husband'.

*So, Hira is about to become Ahmar's teacher. What are your thoughts about it?

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Take Care :)