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    “I ordered the black forest cake. The one which was right here. How can you let anyone else buy it?” I furrow my eyebrows at the salesman, standing right across the shelf.

“We are extremely sorry Madam......”

“What sorry bhai Sahab(brother)? I went outside for a few minutes to attend the call and in the meanwhile my cake is stolen.” I am furious at their rough dealing with the customers.
How can they let anyone else buy your cake, especially when you needed it the most?
Now how would I wish happy birthday to Mom?

“ It wasn't stolen Madam. Someone else bought it. And he insisted that he would leave the bakery only if we let him buy this cake.”

I roll my eyes over it and think to myself that what a stubborn person he was? I am never going to forgive who ever he was for this.
I flare up my nostrils before looking at the salesman gently this time.

“OK. Well. Do you have another one like that one?”

“No, Madam. Sorry. It was the last one.” He looks down with apologizing eyes.

“ Hmm. OK. It is OK.”

Gulping down my anger, I buy a vanilla chocolate cake, which looks delicious but not as much as the previous one.

“ Aye. Why were you giving a lecture to that poor soul in there?” Maheen's shrill voice makes a connection with my eardrums and I stumble backwards while exiting the baker.

“Uffff Allah. In your vocal cords there is a damaged speaker fitted.” I shake my left ear with my hand, watching her pout at me.

“Are you done with your meetings on the pavement?” I ask her as I watch her waving a hand to a girl, going away from us.

“It was Seema. She lives in our neighborhood.” She tells me, as we start towards the rickshaw lane.

“Mmm. Hmm. And you told her your bunch of stories right here on the pavement. I pity the brain of that poor soul. You ate it a lot.” I feel the amusement building up inside as I watch her glaring at me through those big brown eyes.

“Arzu. That's so bad of you that you think of me like that.” She fakes wiping off a tear from her cheek with her fingers, making me chuckle at her.

“I was just enlightening her about today's affairs.” She winks at me and I gap at her.

“Still you ate her brain.” I make a face at her. She laughs throwing back her head.

“You eat mine. I ate hers. This is called a cycle of survival. After all I also deserve some brain eating, like you.” She grins at me, shoving my shoulder playfully. I pass her a fake glare before getting inside a rickshaw and giggles, then get inside behind me.

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“Arzu. You didn't tell me that why were you getting furious on that salesman?” She asks me, creasing her forehead before getting out of the rickshaw.

“Someone else bought the cake which I had ordered. That's why I was being furious on him.” I tell her while handing the rickshaw driver, his fare.

“Oh. That's so out of manners.” Maheen Shakes her head in contempt, following me as I pace towards my house.

“Arzu. There is someone at your house's gate.” She pokes my shoulder and I look at the figure standing at the distance of a few steps from us.

“Excuse me! How can I help you?” His back stiffens at my voice, and slowly he turns around.

“As-salamu alaykum. Arzu.” I hear his voice and my eyes take in his appearance in a slow gaze. In his black button — shirt with rolled up sleeves below his elbows and fresh skin pants, he was holding a cake.

'Cake?' My subconscious smacks me and I fix my gaze over the packed cake.

“Is something wrong with the cake?” He knits his eyebrows in confusion before looking at me and his cake. I look up and feel my eyes wandering over his symmetrical nose, chiseled face and tousled  dark hair.

'Stop scanning his face. You look weird while doing so.' I shake my head listening to my mental voice. I wasn't scanning his face. I was looking for a hint of guilt for stealing my cake.

“No. Nothing is wrong with the cake.” I tell him politely before pressing my lips together.

“Hey. Arzu. What is this Celebrity kind of face doing at  your door, with a cake? And what is his name?” Maheen whispers in my ear.

“ I am Vural Sha.” He introduces himself gentlemanly before knocking once more on our gate. Maheen is lost in searching for his name in her memory storage of brain.

“What are you doing here?” I wait impatiently for my answer, but before he can reply, the main gate is opened and my mother peeps outside.

“Arzu.” She utters.

“As-salamu alaykum. Aunt.” He greets her with a genuine smile.

“Wa-Alaikum-Salaam.” My mother is astonished as she looks at him.

“Won't you ask me to come in?” He slightly bows his head in front of her, showing respect.

“Oh yeah. Sorry. Please come in.” My mother takes a side, letting us in.

“Arzu, such a gentleman is at your house. I am sure he doesn't love his life. Doesn't he know that you detest boys?” Maheen whispers again in my ear.

“Shut up. I don't detest boys just don't let flirts cross their line.” I speak through ground teeth.

“Oh.” She utters before entering my house through the main gate behind everyone.

“Please have a seat.”

“Thank you. Aunt. But before I sit down, I must wish you a happy birthday. Please accept my wishes and this cake.” He slightly bends down to put the cake on the table.

“Oh my dear. Thank you Vural beta(son alike).” A smile like the morning of spring spreads across her face.

“Aye. He has beaten you to the happy birthday wish, Arzu.” Maheen gaps at him before turning her big eyes towards me.

“Hmm and stole my cake.” I hope to whisper out these words, but unfortunately they are heard by everyone.

“Stole your cake?”  Mom asks me quizzically.

“No. What she meant to say was that Vural has beaten her to giving you the cake and birthday wish. Right Arzu?” Maheen tugs at my arm.

“Yes. She is right. This is what I meant to say.” I smile at my mother and find the satisfied expressions covering his handsome face.

“Oh my dear child. Show me your cake and the smile on your face is the biggest wish ever.” My mother pecks me on my cheek and I hug her gently.

“Arzu, would you please bring the knife?” Vural coughs a bit to gain my attention.

“Oh. Umm. Sure.” I go into the kitchen and return with my plates, knife, forks, spoons and my own cake.

“Thank you.” He takes the knife and gives it to my mother.

“Now one cut on Vural's cake and one cut on Arzu's cake.” Maheen chirps.

“OK. Our grandma.” Mom pinches her cheeks, and we all laugh looking at Maheen's. Vural doesn't laugh, only a gentle smile conquers his lips.

“Happy birthday to you.” We all clap and wish her. Then I cut both cakes into slices and serve everyone.

“I will be right back with tea and some snacks.” I tell my mother and walk towards the kitchen.

“ I hope you didn't mind me coming like this and wishing you on your special day. I know I am a complete stranger for you but I mean no harm to you aunt. Hopefully I can call you aunt, if you allow me.” I hear him talking to my mother as I enter the drawing room dragging a tea trolley with me.

“ No, Vural my dear. I am glad that you came to wish me with such a delicious cake and of course you can call me aunt.”

“ How much sugar?” I ask him, holding the sugar pot in my hand.

“No sugar please.” He offers a tight lip smile.

“Diabetes?” Maheen blurts out receiving a glare from my mother.

“Haha. No. I just don't like my tea with sugar. Thanks.” He takes the cup of tea from my hand.

“By the way. How did you know that it is my mother's birthday?” I fix my eyes on his face and his gunmetal eyes fix on mine.

“Her ID card. The day she met the accident and I took her to the hospital, there I saw it on her ID card. 27th of December.” He speaks before taking a sip of his tea.

“Oh.” I pull away my gaze from his face, setting it on the vase of flowers, resting on a side table.

“Alright aunt. Thanks for such a warm welcome and tea. I have to go now.” He asks for the leave, but the mother tells him to stay for a while more, but he insists on leaving.

“Allah Hafiz, Arzu.” He comes near me.

“Allah Hafiz and no thank you for the cake.” I glare at him through the corners of my eyes. He chuckles at my response because he has gotten what I meant.

“Then no sorry for stealing your cake. Miss Arzu.” He twists his lips in amusement before striding away towards the main door.

“Arzu go and see him off at the door.” I gulp down my irritation at mom's words, and I am about to turn towards the main door when suddenly my phone starts ringing.

I hit the accept, creasing my forehead and attach the phone to my left ear.

“Hello!” I utter, looking at Vural, who is about to turn the knob of the door but stops at once after seeing me coming towards him.

“H... Hello. A....Arzu.” A scared and shaky voice drains all the color from my face.

“Sumbul?” The name I utter is almost a whisper. Vural steps towards me sensing my anxiety through my face.

“Arzu. Are you alright?” He asks me as he nears to me.

“ Hello Sumbul? Sumbul, are you there?” I almost yell in anxiety but the line on the other side is cut off.

“Ye... Yes. All is fine. Thank you.” I tell him, removing the phone from my ear and holding it down in my hand, I open the main door for him.

“If you need my help......” He parts his lips for the words but I cut him off.

“Thank you. But it is a personal family matter.” I give him a tight lip smile.

“OK.” Pressing his lips together he moves out of the main door. I close it with a thud and run towards my room.

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Tdaaaaaaa!
Hello my precious readers so it was a long chapter. Yay!

What do you guys think of this chapter?

And what you guys think is gonna happen next? Why Sumbul sounded worried on phone?

Any guesses?

😁❤️

Stay tuned for next update!

~Elif Hoorain!