"When will Bashar come" Rabiah was marching to and fro in the hall when she heard a car's honk.

She immediately dove towards the couch and opened her books. 

"Rabi" Bashar called softly, but got no response...seeing Rabiah so much engrossed in her studies brought a proud smile on his face.

He walked towards her "Rabi take a break ...you need to have refreshments in between...it charges you up"

Rabiah finally lifted her head up and gave him a smile " You know Humeira  also keeps saying the same thing. We need to enjoy ourselves and study too."

"Hmmm" Bashar pecked her cheek.

"You know our batch is going to be taken on camping next week...Humeira and I are thinking to enroll our names" Rabiah came to the main point.

"You are not going ...let Humeira go" Bashar gave a straight answer and picked up a magazine .

"Bashar..everyone is going"

"We don't need to imitate others Rabi..moreover camping is full of risks." Bashar reprimanded. 

"Bashar pls..." Rabia pouted.

"No..means no...understood" saying this Bashar went to his room leaving Rabiah in tears.

--------

It was 9 when Bashar came down for the dinner. 

"Where is Rabi?"

Zareena didn't say anything but passed a glare. 

"She wants to go for camping" Shaziya explained in a helpless tone.

"Phuphi it's dangerous. "

"Bashar..professors are also going...moreover Rabi is not a kid anymore." finally Zareena broke her silence favouring her niece.

No response....Bashar was busy making a plate. After making it, he stood up and went to Rabiah's room where she was lying on her stomach probably crying.

"Rabi" Bashar tried to lift her head lovingly

Rabiah hid her face in the pillow but Bashar pulled her up and wiped her tears " Pls don't cry baby...you know na I can't see you cry"

"I want to go for camping" she hicupped.

"You are not understanding Rabi..." Bashar started but seeing Rabiah's red eyes sighed " ok how many days?" 

" Only three and my professors will also accompany us." Rabiah wiped her tears.

"I will meet your professor tomorrow and check the details myself" Bashar said and forwarded a morsel towards her mouth. 

Rabiah smiled and hugged him tight " I love you."

Bashar smiled and hugged her back.

After feeding Rabiah...he came out of the room.

Sensing the absence Rabiah woke up and rushed to the washroom and started splashing water " Allah miyah sorry...but Bashar ko manane ka bas yahi tareeka tha" . Yes it was all planned out by Zareena and Rabiah. She had put glycerine in her eyes and purposely kept the door open .

She peeped out of the door and winked at Zareena who was coming to meet her.

---------

Next day in the college, Bashar met Rabiah's professors to assure himself again and again. Finally getting thoroughly satisfied. ..he gave a thumbs up to the trip.

The week passed and it was time to leave for camping.

Shaziya and Zareena packed Rabiah's bag

"Allah ...I am going only for three days"

" Toh...khana aur khilana...and don't argue otherwise it won't take seconds to unpack it." Zareena scolded in a loving tone.

" Rabi come you will get late" Bashar took the carkeys and called Rabiah.

"Bye " Rabiah peeped out of the car window and waved at her darlings.

"Rabi make sure you take my calls" Bashar warned in a caring tone.

"Haan Bashar...aapka call sar aakhon par" Rabiah smiled.

"Bye" Bashar kissed her forehead. 

Finally Rabiah settled and waved at Bashar giving him a childish flying kiss.

--------

A silence was engulfing the Khan mansion as the toofan was out.

By 3 in the afternoon Rabiah called to inform that she had reached safely...and in response Bashar had given her a plethora of advices what to do..  what not to do...finally on Zareena's call he stopped and hung down.

--------

Night time at the camp, all the students were divided into groups and given a tent each.

Rabiah and her friends were sitting in a friend's tent playing some game. 

"Let's go to our tent now "  Rabiah yawned and  pulled Humeira. Just after they left...a phone started ringing .

One girl found the phone " Arre it is Rabiah's cell" she was about to go and give it to her when the other girl saw BASHAR flashing " Ye Bashar sir ka call hai"

" Waah ji waah Bashar sir to lattoo ho gaye hamari Rabiah par...let's tadpao him " the girl smiled and kept the phone in silent mode. 

Every time Bashar flashed on the screen they made a comment and laughed. 

For them it was a joke...but it was dead serious matter for someone else.

At Khan mansion

"Bashar Bashar stop panicking beta " Zareena tried to calm down Bashar who was nowhere close to being calm. His face had turned pale with worry

"Ammi Rabi is not picking up the calls .....what if something"

"Bashar she must be having dinner...you go to sleep..." Abbas finally spoke seeing a panicky Bashar.

"I can't sleep if I don't listen her voice at night you all know that" Bashar said running his fingers through his hair.

Zareena and Shaziya were not showing but they were also hell worried as for the first time Rabiah had gone for such an event...moreover everbody took her as a kid.

After 15 minutes Bashar's phone started ringing.

Bashar at once took it " Rabi are you alright ? Shall I come there? "

"Bashar I am ok" Rabiah said getting scared.

"Then why the hell you were not taking my calls?" Bashar finally blasted.

Seeing Bashar's anger Abbas took the phone from his hand " Haan beta...you are alright naa?"

"Jee Maamu wo I had forgotten my phone in my friend's tent and then " Rabiah recited the whole tale.

"Ok Rabi.. don't worry we are ok ..Bashar is ok too...go to sleep good night" Abbas cut the call and told them the reason behind Rabiah not picking up the calls.

"Why does she have such foolish friends" Bashar gritted his teeth and left for his room.

------

"Yeah Rabi...I am not angry baba" Bashar was consoling a scared Rabiah who was constantly asking "You r not angry na...it wasn't my fault." He was angry but at the end of the day, it was his Rabi who was asking for forgiveness and that couldn't be ignored under any circumstances. 

"Ok they are giving you all proper breakfast na.." Bashar went back to his caring mode.

But hearing Rabiah's answer his facial expressions changed. "You haven't done your breakfast till now.."

"What happened Bashar?" Shaziya asked Bashar seeing him getting tensed.

"Those college people haven't provided breakfast yet...so careless...it's 10 Phuphi"

Shaziya signalled him to put the phone on speaker.

"Bashar...I will die" Rabiah started cribbing...she was used to having her breakfast by 8 due to the college schedule...moreover a foodie like her couldn't suppress her hunger for long...her stomach was growling in need of some food which was making her all the more cranky.

"Rabi" Bashar reprimanded in a loud voice..." I am coming ..don't worry "

Zareena who just came there  and heard the conversation intervened " Rabi I had  packed some gujiya in your red bag" 

"Really..I will go get it...thankyou" Rabiah  started showering kisses on Zareena through the phone. 

After ending the call, Bashar shook his head "such a kid she is" 

Finally the camping got over and Rabiah rerurned home.

Bashar entered holding Rabiah's bag..."You have lost weight Rabi"

"Ya Allah Bashar she just went for three days not three months " Zareena laughed at her son's silliness and hugged Rabiah

And with in 5 minutes Rabiah was found sleeping on the sofa...Bashar picked her up and marched towards her room.

---------------

"Bashar..see" Rabiah came inside to show him a card.

"For me?"

"No...this is not mine ...this is Humeira's ...she is a big fattoo ...so she is proposing to Aariz through this card ...I am just helping her "

" You mean they are a couple?""

"No wanna be " she chirped. 

"So you also want a boyfriend" Bashar said just to know her thoughts. ...otherwise you know very welll;;

"Naah...I can't stand them...waise bhi aap ho na...sab log toh aapko hi mera boyfriend mante hain" 

"Ahaan " Bashar rose her brows

Seeing Bashar in a jolly mood, Rabiah teased  "Aap toh itne handsome hain mera bas chale toh mai aapse shaadi hi kar lun"

Bashar smiled...he kept staring at her face...her eyes her lips ...and all it took a moment to develop something new in his heart for Rabia. A new tender feeling...

"Bashar Rabiah come for dinner" Shaziya called their names bringing them out of their chit chat.

They settled on the dining table and Rabiah attacked the food.

"Aaaram se Rabi...food is not going anywhere" Bashar reprimanded 

"Pata nahi shaadi k baad tumhara kya haal hoga" Zareena teased Rabiah

"Mami...I am not going anywhere I will live here only all my life" Rabiah said 

"Tab to phir meri bahu ban jao" Zareena played along.

"Why not beautiful lady...I am in...Bashar r u?" Rabiah chirped

Bashar smiled "Always"

Today's happenings were creating butterflies in Bashar's stomach. ...he was feeling like a fresh bud.

Soon everyone went to their rooms.

Bashar lay down and picked the photoframe carring his and Rabiah's photograph.

He caressed Rabiah''s face and smiled "Goodnight Rabi"