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                The next morning.

I stride towards the kitchen, after helping mom, sit in her chair in the lawn. Today it is pretty sunny and the soft rays of sun in winters is giving a warm sensation to the body.

I decide to make tea for both of us and stretch above my arm to open the cabinet. I am taking out the ingredients for tea when suddenly my phone beeps twice in a second. Furthermore, I fill the kettle with milk and put it over the turned on stove. I pick up my phone from the cream-coloured marble shelf and press its power on/off button.

Two texts are unread there, waiting for me in the notification bar to click on them. I open the mailbox and can't help scrunching up my nose in disgust.

            IGNORE ME ONCE, TWICE OR A MILLION
            TIMES, BUT I WON'T STOP BABY.
            I WILL KEEP BOTHERING YOU.

            JANEMAN(DARLING).

           NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU
           BLOCK ME.
           MY PHONE LOVES TO POKE YOU WITH
           DIFFERENT NUMBERS.
          
          JANEMAN(darling).
                                                     SENDER-UNKNOWN.

   I roll my eyes before hitting the block option and  divert my attention towards the kettle in which the milk is now boiling.

I walk out of the kitchen towards the lawn, holding a tray of tea and biscuits and reaching my mother, I put it on the table in front of her.

“Arzu, did you ask that gentleman for tea?”

“Who?” I sit down in a chair next to her and give  her a cup of tea.

“The one who brought me home from the hospital.”

“Oh! That guy. Of course, I asked him but he refused. He said that he had to go somewhere urgently.” I tell her before taking a sip of my tea.

“ Such a nice man he is. May Allah bless him, Amen.”

“Did he tell his name?”

“Yes. He told me that he is Vural. Vural Sha.” She nodes at me before sipping her tea.

After a few minutes our house bell is rung and I get up from my chair and go towards the gate.

“Who is there?”

“Arzu my dear. It is me your Phupo Jan (aunt).”

“As-salamu alaykum.” I say my Salam to them after opening the gate and stepping aside.

“Wa-Alaikum-Salaam.” She steps in with Junaid following her and gives me a gentle hug.

“Mumani Jan(aunt), what happened to you?” Junaid goes to her with a concern filled voice and pecks her on her forehead. He is indeed good at showing off.

“Thanks to Allah, my son. I am better now.”

“Zunaira, how did this accident happen? We were so worried and shocked when Sumbul called Arzu, and she told her about this.” Junaid's mother holds my mom's hand, and then she tells her the whole incidence of the accident.

“Arzu, go and make some tea for our beloved guests.”

“Sure, Mom.”

“Arzu, please make some pakoras too. You know, you make them delicious.” His voice makes me stop in my steps and without looking back, I grit my teeth before responding.

“Sure.”

I step in the kitchen and begin to prepare tea and pakoras. I am standing there in front of the stove with my back facing the kitchen door.

“Bhaoo.” Suddenly someone touches my shoulder,whispering in my ear and I yelp with fear. I turn around swiftly and hit him on the arm with the spatula in my right hand.

“Ouch. Arzu. It is hot.” He rubs his arm making a pout.

“Oh yeah? Where did it burn?” Such an actor he is. Spatula isn't hot at all as I haven't put it in the hot oil, in the fry pan, yet.

“My heart is burning in your love.” He puts his right hand over his heart and grins at me.

“Then it should be dead with burning.” I hit him with sarcasm and turn back to pour  the tea in the tea pot.

“My beloved is so cruel.”

“Shut up or get out of the kitchen right now.” I snap at him, putting down the empty kettle with some force on the shelf.

“What if I don't leave?” He leans forward and I step on his foot. He yelps with pain and jumps aside. I take the tray of tea, pakoras and other snacks and smirk at him before striding out of the kitchen.

“Thank you, my dear.”

“It is my pleasure, Phupo Jan.” I start to serve her tea. After a minute Junaid arrives back in the lawn with a frown on his forehead.

“Here, the tea and delicious pakoras for you. Junaid bhai(brother).” I serve him tea, putting emphasis on the word brother. He grits his teeth in response and I try to suppress my chuckle.

We all spend an hour in talking about here and there. Junaid talks about his business to mom. He loves to brag about his wealth and success. When I can't bear any more of his useless talk. I excuse to take my leave and go upstairs in my room.

Something clicks in my mind and I hold my phone and text Junaid to meet me on the terrace.

“How lucky I am that you called me yourself to apologize.” He steps forward on the floor of the terrace and grins at me with a wink. Whenever he grins like this, I urge to punch him in the face.

“ Woha. You are always dreaming.”

“ Hahaha. I won't mind your rude behavior right now. So, why you called me?” He raises his chin, looking at me and folds his arms on his chest.

“Why are you texting me nasty texts from different numbers and how dare you to call me janeman (darling)?” I snap at him at once, and he gaps at me in astonishment.
Wow, such a pretentious jerk he is. He is behaving like he doesn't know what I said.

“Arzu. Have you slept well? Because you don't seem to be in your sense.”

“I am in my senses, nonsense. Look at this.” I show him the phone's screen. His face expressions become furious.

“Do you think that I am a coward who will mess with you with texts from different numbers?” He speaks through gritted teeth.

“Maybe not a coward jerk. But you are a jerk.” I point my finger at him with fury in my eyes.

“Shut up. This is not me.”

“Any proof?”

He clenches his jaw in rage and snatching my phone from my hand. He sends all the blocked numbers to his own phone and hands me back my phone harshly.

“I will give you the proof. And whoever this person is, won't be saved from my wrath.” I stand there in shock after hearing him so confident.

He leaves the terrace in fury and after a few minutes I look down from the terrace and find him leaving  with his mother. I come back in the lawn and sit near my mother in the chair.

“ Did you say something to him?” She stares at me.

“No, I didn't.” I shift in my place.

“He looked somewhat angry. He was in extreme hurry to leave.” She is still looking at me with suspicion.

“Come on, mom. Why would I say something to him? He must have some business meeting etc. Why are you looking at me like a police officer?” I shrug at her, and she sighs before shaking her head slightly.

I am lost in my thoughts, twirling my hair strand around my forefinger.
'If it is not Junaid then who is it?' I frown in my thoughts looking at the roses planted in our lawn.

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TO BE CONTINUED...........
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Still any guesses about the text sender?

Comment below!