Her long manicured fingers quickly moved over her phone's screen; only halting when a reply came from the other side. For a moment, she sat still in the backseat of her moving car. Her full lips, adorned with red lipstick drawing apart in an expression of disgust, which was mimicked by the frown forming between her eyebrows, until she looked away to exhale a scoff.

With renewed resolve, she prepared herself to give a piece of her mind to the person on other end of her phone, until a call disrupted her flow. Clicking her tongue in exasperation, she rejected the call; which was futile, because she all too well knew how annoying Ammar had the capacity to turn, if given a chance.

With a grunt, she looked up from her phone and shot daggers at the driver.

"How much longer?" She inquired irritated, gritting her teeth in exasperation. At this, the driver nervously met her gaze in the rearview mirror.

"5 more minutes, Maam—" He returned meekly, but Isra had already looked away with a roll of eyes, to take her phone call.

"Ammar, I am almost there—" She returned absent-mindedly, rolling her eyes at his remarks on her tardiness.

"—Alright, fine. I'll meet you guys there." She ended the call with a shake of head; and just then their car was halted outside the University gate.

"Private Cars aren't allowed to go in. You may park it here in the parking lot and go ahead on foot—" The guard instructed her driver before glancing in her direction, who responded with a sweet smile. Just as the driver had pulled up the window, she called out from the backseat.

"Drive straight to the main block—" Isra instructed, while pushing back on her seat with a long sigh. Her fingers running through her long silky hair, while she kept her gaze fixated on the passing by scenery. The driver managed to sneak up a glance at his Boss's spoiled daughter through the rearview mirror, before his gaze had skid past to side mirror; which showed the guard shouting at them to stop. Brushing away the brutal attacks of his better conscience, he pressed on the accelerator and hoped this would pass without another unnecessary incident.

In no time, the car had parked directly outside the main block. Isra caught sight of Ammar and Mateen standing in the centre of a group and couldn't help but exhale a long irritated sigh.

"They just talk to anyone—" She exclaimed distastefully, out-loud; not paying any mind to the driver's presence in her car; while retouching her crimson lips. Giving one final glance to her reflection on the compact mirror, she snapped it shut and stepped out onto the cold asphalt in her Louboutins; whilst the driver held the door open for her. Covering her eyes with expensive shades, she made way towards them, clicking in her pointed heels; only to stop a few feet away. Some of them spotted her and turned in their place to gape at her in awe.

Standing there impatiently, with her Birkin bag hanging from the crook of her elbow; she took in the people crowding her childhood friends with apparent disdain.

"Are we leaving today or what?" She exclaimed irritated, through gritted teeth and everyone stopped what they were doing to turn in her direction, including Ammar and Mateen; who were pressed into the centre of circle. They caught sight of their impatient friend and after flashing her a knowing grin, began to walk away from their friends; bidding their goodbyes.

Without waiting for them to reach her, she had turned away with an irritated sigh to start walking ahead; while they quickly caught up with her.

"What's got your knickers in a twist, Bonbon?" Ammar chided in cheekily after reaching up to her side and slung an arm around the back of her neck.

"Uff Ammar! Don't infect me with your germs! We don't know what kind of infections you might've caught from all those patients you see everyday—" She whined; yet, didn't push him away.

"Bonbon, we are first years—We don't see patients, yet—" He returned with a cheeky grin, at which Isra turned to eye him through a narrowed gaze.

"—Fine. Then maybe those stupid people you hang out with. There's just too many of them—It's getting out of hand—" She muttered furiously, while they made way towards the parking lot.

Mateen exchanged a knowing look with Ammar, before passing his arm through the nook of hers.

"Did something happen?" Mateen inquired in a concerned voice and Isra turned to him with a puckered lower lip.

"That good-for-nothing Filza, forwarded a complain to Professor Somya that I was against her being a part of our group project because, I felt she was bringing our whole group down with her lack of competency—" She complained through quivering lips and face heated with anger.

Mateen caught Ammar's attempt at hiding his smile and got rid of his own, before clearing his throat and beginning in a cautious voice.

"So, did you—?" At his voice, Isra turned to him aghast. Her either arms, still in both of their hold.

"Of course! You haven't seen how she dresses and carries herself! And God—! That squeaky and annoying way she talks! I don't know how some people manage to get this far ahead!" She continued furiously, without taking into notice the amusement on her friend's faces.

"Right. Totally understandable—So, how are you going to deal with this?" Mateen inquired with seriousness and watched Isra's face fall.

"I don't know—Professor Somya isn't willing to accept my project, unless I apologise to her and take her back. She says, I need to learn the right approach on dealing with people, if I want to get further ahead in business field—" She returned exasperated and by then they had reached over to Mateen's car.

"Whatever. I'll think of a way around this. There's no way I am dropping my standards and putting up with people like her—" She huffed after renewing her resolve.

"Talking about standards; Mateen here, is quickly shedding all his dignity, very swiftly—" Ammar added through laughter and they both turned to watch him roll his eyes.

"I am taking my sweet time to crush her. And she is just playing hard to get—Girls like her and Filza, can only do this to boost their self-confidence—" Mateen returned in a bored tone, while stepping into his car.

"Whatever you say. But today, you got slapped in the face, Man—! It was hilarious, Bonbon! Dude—you should've seen your face! When she rejected your offer! You were standing there like a wet puppy who'd gotten kicked!!" Ammar cackled in his seat beside him and Mateen reversed the car with a sharp screech.

"Woah! Easy there buddy, you better take good care of my car."

"Ha ha. In your dreams—" Mateen added to his remarks, without any hint of emotion.

"Wait, what? Did a girl reject you, Mateen? Wow—Who is she? Do I know her?" Isra continued with growing excitement, while moving ahead in her seat, but earned another roar of laughter from Ammar; who was nowhere near stopping.

"It's a silly bet—" Mateen answered plainly, while glancing at her through the corner of his eyes.

"Uh, no—It's definitely not silly. Because I have bet my Lamborghini, if he can manage to woo this girl and make her grades fall. She's some charity case—Got in through full scholorship. But if Mateen fails to do that, then this baby is gonna be all mine." Ammar ended, while running his hands along the dashboard. Mateen sufficed to roll his eyes at Ammar's shenanigans.

"Mateen? Really? I mean, I could've expected this stupidity coming from Ammar—" Isra added tragically, but was quickly cut off.

"Hey! It was solely his idea! But it is not too shocking, since we all know how competitive Mateen gets about winning—" At Ammar's words, Isra pushed back in her seat with a sigh.

"It's a waste of time and effort, Mateen—Why would you waste your time on people below your class and standards. I don't understand—"

"It's only a game for me—I wouldn't even have to do much. Just a few smiles would do, I am sure—" He returned lazily with his one hand grazing the edge of steering wheel.

"Whatever you say man—Hajra is starting to seem more than that to me. She hardly spared you a second glance—" Ammar returned indifferently with a shrug, but was cut short by a hearty chuckle escaping Mateen's lips.

"Different? Maybe until she finds out, who my Dad is after which she would come back crawling. In face of Money, these people quickly shed all their morals—" There was an edge to his voice. An undecipherable emotion, which neither Isra, nor Ammar had ever seen coming from Mateen, before. Instead of retorting with a comeback, Isra changed the topic of conversation with an exasperated sigh.

"Whatever—All this talk about insignificant people is making my head hurt. I just want to have a nice meal right now and enjoy your birthday party to the fullest, with my two best friends." She ended with a smile, before moving ahead and giving Mateen's shoulder a squeeze; whose reply came in a small smile.

—————————

In a dimly lit corner of an old and worn down house, with one lamp to suffice her; Hajra sat on her study table with books stacked up on either sides.

She was so engrossed in completing her task, that she didn't hear her Mother's footsteps approaching.

"Hajra—No plans to sleep, tonight? It's past 12, dear. You've got college in the morning, too—" Her Mother called out, as she came up to her. Hajra turned in her seat startled at her voice, before looking up at her with a small smile.

"I am almost done, Mamma. Was just about to go to bed." Her Mom instead of replying, engulfed her in a side hug and pressed a kiss on top of her head.

"My smart and hardworking child. Always making us proud. May Allah swt ease all your tasks for you and bless your life with every happiness and success—" Hajra listened to her mother with a soft smile and returned her embrace by passing her arms around her waist.

"I'll warm up some milk for you. Have it before sleeping." Humera returned slowly and pressed a kiss to her temple before leaving.

Hajra watched the retreating, small and strong back of her mother with a flood of emotions surging through her. Gulping them down, she returned her attention back to her books. But not before silently praying to Allah for her mother's happiness; who had spent all her life living solely for her kids and never once uttered a single word of complain. She could only wish to be half the person, her Mother was.

—————————

It was past 12 when Mateen walked back into his house; the Abbasi residence, in Clifton area of Karachi, spread over 6 Kanal.

Without waiting for his party to end, he had been the first one to leave. Yet, on returning home he was like most times welcomed by silence. His both parents were doctors and like Ammar's family, owned multiple private hospitals around the country. However, unlike Ammar's parents, his family belonged to third generation of doctors and was one of the most influential family in the country.

That's how the two of them had known each other since childhood and soon afterwards they had met Isra, who had joined them in middle school. Her father was a business tycoon and since they'd known each other, their families had always been close. But more than anything, the reason for the three of them to always stick together, even after all this time, was owing to their combined interests and ambitions. No matter how many people came in or went out of their lives, their bond always remained unaffected. They would always have each other's back, no matter what the circumstances were.

Not getting affected by the familiar silence; with heavy steps, Mateen climbed up the stairs to his room and slumped face down on his bed. A prickly thought haunting him since afternoon.

"Mateen! When you meet him, you'll see what I mean! I've never met anyone like him! He's just—Gosh! I don't know how to explain it—He—he's just 'different', I guess?"

Exhaling an exhausted sigh, he turned onto his back and blankly stared at the ceiling for a long moment, before swearing under his breath and getting up with a scoff.

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