"Anaya ... Adil bhai ke liye chai bana do" Nafisa said cutting an apple for Arham

(Anaya...go..make tea for Adil bhai)

"Huh....abhi toh sab ke liye bani thi" Anaya frowned taking a slice

(Huh...everybody just had tea a while back)

"Wo kisi aur ke haath ki chai peeta hai" Jameela asked with a smile making Anaya shake her head "Tayi ammi aap ke bete ke na bahut nakhre hain.......bata rahi hun mai" she was about to continue when Nafisa twister her ear "Bada hai wo....izzat se baat karo"

(Does he drink tea made by anyone else)
(Tayi Ammi ... your son is too demanding)
(He is elder to you...so show respect)

"Ammi........." Anaya whined "I respect him a lot...aap janti hain...mai toh bas"

"Nafisa...bachi hai....chhodo" Jameela caressed Anaya's ear "Meri bachi"

(Nafisa .. leave her)

"Ek aap hi hain tayi ammi jo"

(You are the only one Tayi Ammi who cares for me)

"Acha.." Nafisa's typical mother tone made Anaya smile and she added "Aap  bhi hain......"

(You are also in the list)

"Acha ab baatein banana band karo....aur jao" Nafisa signalled towards the kitchen making Anaya huff.

(Now go and make tea)

"Bhaijaan .... chai" Anaya kept the cup on the table and turned to go ..

(Bhai ... tea)

"Anaya"

"Ji bhaijaan"

"Yahaan aao...." Adil patted the space next to him on couch

(Come here)

"Aaj to maine kuch nahi kiya....kal bhi nahi kiya tha" Anaya pouted and whined...which made her look like a cute adorable doll.

(Today I didn't do anything...yesterday too...)

She was busy thinking of any other mistake when a laughter broke her thoughts.

She kept looking at the man who she had seen laugh like this probably for the first time.

Seeing him laugh so freely, the first thought came "He can laugh...I didn't know this......hell no one knew this"

"Aap haste hue bahut ache lagte hain....."

(You look very good when you laugh)

"Acha...." Adil stopped laughing but still a smile was there

"Haan aur handsome bhi" Anaya's eyes widened at her own words and she kept both her palms on her mouth......."Allah maaf karna"

(And handsome too)

Adil looked at her amused "what a cute bundle of joy she is......."
Clearing his throat, he stood up "Aise mai tumhe bahut bura lagta hun...mujhe pata hai"

(Yeah...this way you don't like me I know)

"Kar di Arham bhai ne chugli" Anaya's eyes narrowed but she thought of confronting him later....for that she needed to remain alive and that seemed like a herculean task at the moment.

(Arham bhai must have told him)

"Nahi bhaijaan....aap to bahut sweet hain"

(No bhai...you are very sweet)

Adil arched his right eyebrow challenging her words which could have got a place in the top section of Anaya's lie diary.

"I mean ... bhai......"

"Idhar aao.." Adil beckoned her "Mai tumhe dant ta hu toh tumhe acha nahi lagta ... lekin kabhi socha hai..kyun dant ta hun"

(You don't like when I scold you..but have you ever thought why I scold you)

"Kyunki aapko mujhe dant na pasand hai?" Anaya asked like she was keeping it an option to his question

(Is it because you like scolding me?)

"Pagal ho tum" Adil hit her head lightly "Yahi kaaran hai...tumhara bachpana....kisi musibat me na fas jao..isliye tumhe ehtiyaat karta rehta hun"

(You are mad....this is the reason...you are childish and and I don't want you to get under any trouble)

"I am not a kid" she pouted

"Exactly..you are not a kid....so grow up" Adil said tapping his finger on her temple..."samajh aaya"

"Hmmm" Anaya pressed her lips .....and stood there.

Taking something out of his pocket, Adil forwarded it to Anaya who jumped seeing a velvet box "Gift....."

She opened the box to see a ring......her eyes shone emoting her happiness

"Yahi ring achi lagi thi na....." Adil's voice brought her out of her grinning session and she at once hugged him" Thank you thank you bhaijaan....you are the best"

(This is the ring you liked na..)

"Acha baba........saans lene do" Anaya came out of the hug muttering a sorry and moved back.

(Ok ok...let me breathe)

"Thoda bachpana kam karo .. hmm" Adil kept his hand on her head with a light smile

(Stop being childish all the time)

"Jee bhaijaan" and with that Anaya ran out of the room .... to show the gift to others.

"Paagal" Adil smiled shaking his head and picked up the file he was working on.
(Mad)

--------

"Humi aapi..." Anaya squealed seeing Humeira in her room "aap toh shaam tak aane wali thin..."

(Weren't you about to come in the evening?)

"Haan...but.. kaam jaldi khatma ho gaya aur here I am"

(Yeah...work got wrapped up early)

Anaya thought not to tell Humeira anything about Arham....and she could easily hide the fact as both Adil and Arham were in the office and Jameela had gone to her relative's place.

"Acha...mai aap ke liye noodles bana kar laati hun"
(I am going to make noodles for you)

"Nahi yaar...I am full " but seeing Anaya's face Humeira chuckled "tumhe khane ka man kar raha hai?"

(You want to have?)

"Aisa nahi hai....."
(There is nothing like that)

"Acha.....I am going for a shower.....uske baad hot noodles what say"

Anaya showed a thumbs up.

"Waise tumhare classes nahi chal rahe"

(Don't you have classes today?)

"Abhi Freshers k preparation me sab lage hue hain toh classes off kar diye gaye"

(Classes have been called off because of the Freshers' day)

Talking... Humeira went to her room and Anaya to the hall. Humeira preferred to use her room instead of Arham's as she was fond of cozy rooms....and Arham's room was a liitle big with french windows. Moreover, she had stopped considering herself as his wife.

Humeira was rushing towards the hall and was hurriedly walking down the stairs constanly waving her dupatta off her feet so as to not step on it.........but seemed like someone else was in a hurry too........the double rush resulted in both the bodies colliding....

"Bhaijaan ...." Humeira was shocked seeing Arham home....when did he arrive...nobody told her...oh he must have told them so that I don't go irritating him

But next second, her eyes filled with concern seeing him go stiff "Aap theek hain bhaijaan....."

(Are you okay bhai?)

He was just staring at her.......not getting any response she called the house help.........who came but Arham warded off his hands "I am okay"... Giving her a long stare, Arham sauntered towards his room.....

"Ab maine kya kar diya" Humeira huffed but then shrugged it off and walked swiftly to the main door.
She had ordered something for Aqib and Asif for their birthday, and it was the third time, the delivery boy was calling her ..  she didn't want the parcel to get in the boys' hands now.

Humeira picked up her parcel and then went to Haniya's room....she could only trust Hania aapi in keeping this a secret.

On the dinner table, Arham's eyes were constantly roaming on Humeira who was not even reacting  on his presence. She was beautiful, he knew but her beauty was captivating him. He couldn't help but notice her long eyelashes...her supple lips.....oh stop right there Arham.....since when did you become such a creep)..

Aqib, Asif and Anaya were looking for a chance to pull their leg but the presence of elders was a hindrance...."Aapi dinner k baad hum sab lawn me carrom khelenge"

"Nahi mera man nahi hai"
(I don't feel like playing)

"Aapi please Arham bhai itne dinon k baad aaye hain....aap bhi camp par gayin hui thin........humne bahut dinon se nahi khela"

(Aapi please..Arham bhai has come home after so many days...and you were also on a camp...it has been long we played together)
and who can say to Anaya's whinning pout...

"Acha theek hai baba"

(Okay)

The elders smiled seeing the sight.

-----

Humeira came to the lawn and saw Aqib, Asif, Anaya and Arham already sitting on their respective sides.

"Aaiye aapi....wahan baith jaiye" Aqib smiled

(Come Aapi...sit there)

Looking here and there Humeira frowned "koi seat chhodi nahi hai ... kaha baithu"

"Tch...hai to aapi" Aqib frowned

"Kahaan"
(Where)

"Arre aapki official seat to hai hi..."
Humeira's frown deepened
(Your official seat is there)

"Arre Arham bhai ki god hai na"
(Arham bhai's lap is there na)

Aqib started laughing and Asif and Anaya joined him a second later.

Humeira's cheeks were red....she just wanted the earth to split and swallow her up. She saw Arham from the corner of her eyes......and didn't find any remorse or frown....instead it felt like he was enjoying her predicament.

Finally after laughing their hearts out, the trio stopped after getting a few hits from Humeira and started dividing the team.

"Humi aapi...mai Arham bhaijaan ko apne team me le lun" Anaya asked taking the striker

(Humi Aapi..can I take Arham Bhaijaan in my team?)

"Mujhse kyun puch rahi ho...unse pucho"

(Why are you asking me...ask him)

"Hain to wo aapke hi na......" Anaya stiffled her laugh seeing Humeira glare...

(But ..m he is yours)

"Mai ja rahin hun .. mujhe nahin khelna" Humeira was about to go when Anaya started doing sit ups for manofying her.

(I am going...I don't want to play)

With the fear that Humeira might address him as Bhaijaan again and that too infront of these musketeers, ....Arham refrained himself from getting any words out his system. He was just smiling and that was enough.

"Chalo ... bhai good night" Arham wished Aqib as the rest had already retired to their rooms.

He entered his room with a smile but then frowned seeing no one in the room......wasn't Humeira supposed to be here.....it was okay for her to use her room when he was not there...but now that he was back....she should also be back to his room.

After thinking for sometime, he got up .

"Ahm....abhi kaun hai" Humeira grimaced and got out of the bed hearing the loud knocks....

(Who is there at this time?)

"Bhaijaan ... aap itni raat yahaan kya kar rahe hain"

(Bhai...what are you doing here at this time of the night)