I woke up at the ringing of my phone, Allah, let me sleep, please "Laila uth jaaye University Bhi Jaana hai" Ammi yells nudging me, making me sit up on the bed.
"Ammi please, hum nahi Jaana chahte" I groan and cover myself with a duvet.
"There is no room for argument Laila Ansari get up this instant," she says, in a monotonous tone.
I sit up and groan loudly stomping my feet like a kid "Ammi, please not today".
"Why you don't want to go, tell me one reason?" She asks getting up from the bed walking to my closet taking out clothes for me.

(Laila wake up you have to go to the University)

(Mom, please I don't want to go)

I kept quiet my reason is so lame that is I just want to sleep there is no other reason. Ammi leaves the room not before eyeing me to get up from bed without much further ado, as soon as she leaves I close the door and went straight to the bathroom looking at my reflection in the mirror my dark brown eyes looking tired because of lack of sleep all blame goes to my studies if I haven't had that stupid assignment I never would have slept late, splashing water on my face I tie my dark brown hair in a bun, I started doing rest of my chores.

Soon I was ready to go to University, doing Fajr I gave myself one last look in the mirror Ammi's choice of clothes is always amazing I was wearing a dandelion yellow cotton kurta, embroidered cotton pants with a white embroidered dupatta, my hair cascading down my back covering my head with dupatta I grabbed my bag and went downstairs, Ammi and Danish Bhai both were settled "Assalamaalikum" I greet both of them.
"Walikumassalam" Ammi and Danish Bhai say.

"You should start getting up early because soon you will get married and no one will tolerate this behavior of yours," Bhai Jaan teases me while stuffing his mouth with paratha.
"You first learn to eat or else no one will marry you" I retort back fixing my dupatta.
He rolls his tongue out "Ammi Keh de ise tehzeeb se baat kia kare".

"Stop being a Mamma's boy" I replied rolling my tongue out at him.

"Khuda Hafiz Ammi, sham ko thodi der ho jayegi assignment k liye Alaya ke Ghar Jaana hai" I inform whilst grabbing my bag and giving a kiss on her forehead I leave for University.

(Bye, Mom it will be late I'm going to Alaya's place)

I'm studying Clinical Psychology because since I was a kid I had the urge to help people, serve my country in whichever way I want to just like Abba Jaan, he is in the army the last time he came home was on my birthday just for one day, next day he had to return I miss him so much.

I wish he comes back soon, my Abba Jaan loves me so much he says I'm his Noor-e-Jaan, just like he is my Jaan, he is the one who spoilt me with the gifts and all the other luxuries Danish is Mama's boy and I'm Daddy's little princess, in my family, it's just four of us though we have cousins bunch of them one of my cousins is Alaya who happens to be my best friend, she has two brothers one of them Amaan whom I have never met he is stranger to me but Shahzain is always been there.

I reached University, after a drive of half an hour after paying money to the cab driver I reached the gates and spotted Alaya talking to Shahzain, "lein aagyi Hamari Shehzadi" Shahzain says sarcastically.
"Shut up and let's go," I tell punching him and we leave for our classes.

(Here is our Princess)

"You will be coming with us after classes right?" Alaya asked me as we settled at the back of the class.
"Yes and I need notes of Organizational Behaviour," I tell her keeping my bag on the table.

Soon the class started as Professor came in "Laila, Laila " Shahzain whispers from behind.
I lean back at his desk "what?" I whisper yell at him.
"Should we bunk the next class?" He asks, I turn around and glare at him.
"Are you out of your mind Zain?" I ask him smacking his forehead making sure Professor doesn't notice me.

"Guys, shut up and concentrate don't make him throw you out like last week" Alaya whispers pinching me on my arm, I groan ouch, I rub it and slap her.

Zain kept quiet for the rest of the class. As soon as class was over we all went to the cafeteria "Allah I swear if Mr. Mirza gives one more assignment I will die" Alaya huffs out in frustration throwing her bag on the table.
"Exactly, it's so frustrating when are we supposed to do something else when we are always making assignments" I agree with her, I mean come on let us study what we will achieve by only making assignments.
"Here are your juices ladies" Zain comes holding two glasses in his hand.
"Thank you, " we both say in unison.

"Aren't you eating anything?" I ask him as he was using his phone.
"No, I will later, anyway Ammi ne Bhut khila dia tha breakfast mai," he says keeping his phone aside giving his full attention to me.
I just nod in response after having our meal we all went to our next classes we all three are studying the same subject, we have done almost everything together since we were kids.

"Mom made me eat so much for breakfast)

Soon my phone starts to ring it was Danish Bhai Jaan" Assalamaalikum" I said my salam as soon as I pick up the call.
"Walikumassalam, tum jab free ho jao mujhe call kar Dena main pick Karne aa jaunga," he says, oh my protective brother I will never understand what they are so afraid of since Danish has completed the studies he has thought of joining politics it is part of the reason they never let me go anywhere alone beside University, that too Danish Bhai comes to pick me up or Shahzain drops me off.
"Ji Bhai Jaan" I reply because I know there is no use in arguing with him on this matter.

(When you are free give me a call I'll pick you up)

(Okay Brother)

We are not some filthy rich family my father is in the army we are rich plus middle kind of family but still, this fear keeps lingering over us since Danish declared him joining politics, it hasn't affected anyone that much except me, Ammi goes to her school every day without any obstacle and me I have to report my every movement to Bhai or Ammi, my mother is a principal of an HSSC, she works so hard because I have my studies to complete and we have a household to run.

Arggh, this is so frustrating sometimes.

"What happened?" Shahzain asks me noticing my frustrating look.
"Bhai Jaan, you know him" I gave a short reply because he knows how it is. Everyone in my family knows how it is.

The rest of the day went by quickly and I went with Alaya and Shahzain "Assalamaalikum Khala" I said my salam as I settled down on the couch.
"Walikumassalam Beta, how are Ammi and Danish?" She asks handing me a glass of water.
"They are fine, Ammi misses you so much but because of school, it's hard for her to come these days" I explain, I have always seen my parents working hard, Abba Jaan serving his country, and Ammi teaching students, taking care of a school I'm aware with the word struggle and I never thought even for a mere moment that I shouldn't do because I know if you don't work hard you will never achieve your goals.

"I understand Beta, your mother is a very hardworking woman and this is what I respect about her," Khala says patting my head.

"Chalo aa jao Bacho Pehle khaana kha lo," Khaloo says from the dining room, unlike our family Alaya, Shahzain belongs to a filthy rich family I mean my Khaloo runs a business in the textile industry they have a big house more like a mansion, there are different wings also one belongs to the children Alaya, Shahzain, and Amaan that is east wing and the west wing belongs to Khala and Khaloo, and all the guest rooms are also in the east wing, there is a big living room decorated with beautiful chandeliers, so many couches of red color because we are a big family and when anyone has functions it is always held at Khala's house, big lawn, swimming pool, even the dining table is so big and as we enter the house the first thing in the foyer, which has two-way stairs. This house is been in Khaloo's family for a very long time it is always passed down by the fathers to their sons, just like Khaloo's father passed it on to him.

(Come on kids have dinner first)

We all settled down at the table Khaloo was sitting at the head of the table beside him Khala was sitting and on the other hand, the chair was empty as it always is for Amaan, next to that chair sits Shahzain, and the opposite of him Alaya sits, did I tell you guys they are twins, no okay, they are twins.

Since I was a kid I have never seen Amaan, because when Khala and Khaloo adopted him he was ten and he went to boarding school though I have seen his pictures when he was a kid then they had Alaya and Shahzain, he never comes to any family functions let it be anything.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Alaya nudging me "where is your mind wandering off to now?" She asks.
"Nowhere" I shrug off my shoulder.
She keeps quiet and gets back to eating I know she will bother me with these questions of her later.

"How are your studies going on Laila?" Khaloo asks as wipes his mouth with the napkin.
"Alhamdulillah, everything is going great soon I will be a graduate" I reply smiling, thinking how perfect my life will be once I'm done with my studies all my hard work will pay off.
"Good, good now soon you will get married I'm going to talk to your Abbu about it once he comes back," he says, and I almost choke on my food.

Marriage?

I'm so young and a lot to do with my life if I get married all my late-night preparations and hard work will go in vain which I will not accept at any cost, working being independent is all I want in my life so that I don't have to look up to anyone even for my littlest need or want. I want to fulfill all my needs with my money, I have lived off on my parents' money for so long but now when I'm capable of doing something I want to do everything by myself. Marrying someone would mean asking my husband for everything no matter how great and understanding the guy is but still, this point always comes in where you have to ask before you do anything, and I don't want that life for me.

I'm not saying I'm against marriage but everything is needed to be done at the right time, I believe women should be independently stable, or else men don't respect you they look at you as you are nothing, and I can never accept that look from anyone.

No matter how much the world has changed or the time has changed still this is a world lead by man.

"Are aap bhi na fizool ki baatein leke baith Gaye, phele use padhai puri to kar lene dein" Khala says, smiling nervously and Alaya holds my hand under the table giving it a squeeze she knows my thinking and thoughts about this topic. Alaya's alliance is already fixed with one of Khaloo friend's son
we haven't met yet all we know is their last name.

(Let's not discuss this, let her finish her studies first)

He nods at her and the rest of the dinner was in silence.

******
Hello and Assalamalikum to all my readers I hoped you liked the chapter cause this is my first story which includes Urdu, this is just a start so have patience and things will start to fall in place I promise.

Abba Jaan- Father
Ammi- Mother
Bhai Jaan- Brother
Khala- Mother's Sister (Aunt)
Khaloo- Uncle

These are terms I hope I got right if there is anything I left out you can ask them if correct them in the comments and I have mentioned the translation I hope I got them right if not you can correct me in the comments or PM.

So what do you think about our Laila?

And all over your thoughts on the chapter?

Don't hesitate to share it with me cause I'd love to know what my readers think.

Until next time.

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