******************************

   "Mom, I won first prize.” I throw my arms around her in a jubilant way and spin her around.

“ Oh my goodness! Arzu, you are spinning my head. Leave me right now.” I leave and hold her until she gets steady on her feet.

“ You are such a child.” She holds her head in her hands and I pout at her.

“ Come on mom, it is you who always tell me that children  always remain children for their parents. So I am allowed to be childish.” I flash her a grin.

“ My naughty child.” she twists my ear.

“ Ouch! It hurts mom.”

She releases my ear and I take out a box of chocolates.

“ Let's have a little sweet celebration.” I unwrap a chocolate and pop it in her mouth. Then open another for me.

“ Oh mom, here is the prize.” I give her the cash prize and the trophy. She kisses them both and then getting up puts my trophy on the shelf where she had kept all the shields and awards of Dad that he won due to the hardworking and faithful days of job as an engineer.

“ Mom.” I put a hand on her shoulder.

“ If that accident had not happened then he could be here and celebrating your victory.” Her face reflects the sadness, she often tries to hide from me.

“ Mom, you never told me who were they, how dad died?” I try to look into her eyes, holding her by the shoulders gently.

“ They were bank robbers and five people got shot during the robbery. One of them was Shahid Azeem. Your Dad.” I hug her firmly and my eyes are stuck on the photo of dad, hanging on the wall.

“ It's been seven years since he has gone. He won't come back, nobody does from there.” She looks up and then with a weak smile, she gestures me to sit in the single seated sofa.

“ Oh I always start to talk about past stuff. I forgot to tell you that your aunt Sabeena had arrived to give the invitation card of Muneeb's wedding.” She shows me a beautiful silvery decorated card.

“ Wow, Muneeb brother's wedding. We would enjoy so much. Mehndi, Barat and Waleema. All will be fun.” I can't hold the excitement.

Muneeb is the eldest son of my aunt Sabeena-my late father's elder sister. He is the total opposite of Junaid. Junaid, a devil wearing a mask of good looks with hobbies which are unknown to everyone in the family.
Muneeb, a gentle person with moderate features, slightly dark skin tone and a heart made of gold. After Dad, he has always been a great big brother to me.

“ If you have decided to land on the earth from the world of thoughts then would you like to help me the kitchen.” My mom shakes me by my shoulder. I give my head jerk, before looking up at her with a smile.

“ I will be in the kitchen to help after I change my uniform and get fresh.” I get up to go upstairs.

“ Mehndi is tonight. So get ready in time.”

“ It's afternoon yet, many hours I have to get ready, mom.” I tell in a little loud voice as I go upstairs.
And what she said in reply, I couldn't hear it clearly because her voice faded away when I entered my room.

***********************************************

I open a small jewelry box and take out a pair of stylish earrings, matching the silver lace of my yellow traditional dress with a touch of green that girls wear on Mehndi functions in our culture.  Then I style my hair in French braids. I look at my reflection in the mirror and then apply subtle blush on my cheeks, apply eyeliner but don't do its wing because God knows, I suck at doing it and always end up making it a mess.
I apply a sparkly pinkish lip gloss over my natural shaped lips which are neither too thin nor too big.

“ Arzu, hurry up. Come downstairs. We are getting late.” I hear her shout from downstairs as I slip into a pair of flat shoes decorated with golden beads.

“ I am coming mom.” I spread the yellow dupatta with tiny silvery and golden sparkles on it, over my shoulders and chest.
I turn the door knob and go out, shutting the door behind.

“ Junaid is here and he will take us."
I look at him for a second with grave expressions and then look away instantly. He is wearing white Shalwar Kameez with greenish waistcoat over it. He smirks looking at my expressions. Why does he always show up to spoil my mood?

“ I think we should leave, everyone is waiting for us.”

“ Let's go. Let's go.” My mom follows Junaid outside the main door and I follow her behind.

I get in the passenger seat and constantly look at the view of the city passing by, outside the car.

After a few minutes, I sense the heat of a gaze on my face and I look up.
He is time to time staring me through the back view mirror of the car. I furrow my eyebrows and look away to look at my mom. She is on a phone call with one of her relatives, siting beside me.

Suddenly he turns on the music in the car and I know he did it on purpose.
Sitting in the same car with him, is nothing more than a hell on earth.

I sigh in a relief when he hits the brakes and the car stops in front of a beautifully decorated house. Of course my aunt Sabeena's house.

We get out of the car and enter the house. There is beautiful decoration of flowers and fairy lights everywhere. A stage is decorated were soon to be married couples Muneeb brother and Sara are sitting.

“ AsAs-salamu alaykum, congratulations bhai (brother), Now you won't be writing status single on Facebook.” I joke and Muneeb laughs. He is looking handsome in his umber coloured kurta with white trousers. Sara in her mehndi yellow lehanga (traditional brides wear on weddings usually), looks enchanting.

“ Arzu is still my little child. Sara.” Muneeb teases me and I slightly pout in protest.

“ Muneeb bhai (brother), I am 21 and in final year of my masters. I am no more child. It is that only you are getting old.” Sara laughs at my last sentence and Muneeb brother fakes a glare at me.

“ Arzu, come here.” Sabeena aunt calls me and I go to her.

“ Yes, Phupo (aunt).”

“ Go upstairs in my bedroom and there is a set of gold jewelry  in a navy blue box in my cupboard. Take these keys and bring it to me.” She hands over the keys to me and I go towards her bedroom upstairs.

“ I see the enchanting night dwelling in thy eyes." I yelp with fear, taking a step back when Junaid suddenly appears infront of me.

“ What is your problem Junaid bhai(brother)? And please keep your useless poetry to yourself. I am not interested. Thank you.” I take a step forward, but he blocks my way with his arm.

“ Why you want me to be tough on you? Arzu.” He tilts his head to look at me.

“ Get out of my way. I said leave.” I snap at him.

“ I don't leave what is mine.” He steps forward and I immediately look around to see if anybody is coming.

“ Don't worry, honey. No one will see us.” I can't step back because my back is touching the staircase. He gets closer and my heart beats faster. Our faces are inches apart when I swing my right arm to slap him, but unfortunately he grasps it in his hand before it can hit him.

“ No, no, no. My dear. You should not repeat the same mistake. Remember you are not as powerful as me.” He shoots daggers at me through his dark eyes.

I wriggle my wrist in his grasp, but he tightens it more. I wince in pain.

“ Junaid. You are a psychopath.” I try my best to get out of his tightening grip.

“ Yeah. Psycho for you my love.” He comes once more near and I bite on his arm. He hisses in pain and leaves my wrists instantly.
He swears under his breath and glares at me.
Without wasting one more second, I run upstairs. Go inside the room, bring out the jewelry set and stand upstairs and then look down at the path of stairs.
I find it empty. No sign of Junaid. I pat dry the sweat on my forehead with the back of my hand.

“ Arzu. Aunt Sabeena is looking for you.” A girl in with glasses and fair complexion informs me.

“ I am going to her.”

Who she is I don't know but I tell her to stop when she is about to go.

“ Will you come with me? If you don't mind.” I smile at her.

“ Sure.” She shrugs her shoulders.

I go to aunt Sabeena with that girl, hoping that Junaid will stay away when he won't find me alone.

-------------------------------------------------------TO BE CONTINUED.....
-------------------------------------------------------
So what are your views about the character of Junaid?

Please comment down below. I would love to read your thoughts ❤️❤️❤️.
Stay tuned for next update!