Assalam-o-Alaikum!!!

Chapter 5.7

Shehry's POV

"Qadir bhai bhi New York shift ho gaye hen"

"Acha? Chalen achi bat hea, jab bhi Salma bhabi se bat hoti thi she used to sound tense there, its good they are back"

"I was thinking to invite them over for lunch or dinner some day"

"Han to make it Saturday. Weekend hea sab farigh bhi hon ge"

"hm. Chalo let me call him"

"Haya ko bhi dekhey hue kitna time ho gaya, I really loved that girl"

Haya? Hawn! Wo moti..... nakchirri jahan k nakhrey wali. Huhn!

"han buhat he piyari bachi hea, MashaAllah!" dad agreed.

"Salma bhabi bata rahi theen she is interested in interior designing, hea bhi MashaAllah buhat zaheen bachi" Mom added.

It wasn't like I was interested or something but my ears got alert at her so much tareefein.... You know these desi parents; you should get alert when they out of nowhere start praising a girl in your presence, acting as if they aren't talking to you but actually you are their target...

Was I their target?

For a moment I removed my gaze from the laptop screen and peeked onto Mom dad, sitting right in front of me. Hussain was lying in the sofa with his eyes shut and head in Mom's lap and she was caressing his hair softly.

"So gaya lagta hea" Dad looked down at Hussain who was calmly snoring a little, looking like a small kid sleeping peacefully in his mother's lap.

"Asif! Did you talk to Hussain about the wedding?"

"What?" and before Dad could reply I gasped looking at both of them and they frowned, with their heads shot at me.

"Hussain's wedding?" I asked and Mom smiled shaking her head while Dad made a face.

"ye gadha kahan abhi is kabil k itni bari zimedaari uthaye? Its Usman's wedding next month" Dad stated and I sighed in relief.

"And we want you two to attend the wedding, Hussain Tehreem se bhi mil le ga or shadi mein hamari taraf se shirkat bhi ho jaye gi" Mom added and I nodded thoughtfully.

"But Dad! next month is his exams" I reminded them. "and even I have to submit my synopsis by then"

"Oho exam k bad ki date hea, or bus 5 ya 6 din ki to bat hea Shehry beta!" Dad told me and I nodded, reluctantly.

Hussain moved a little in his sleep and shifted his head over the sofa, his back turned towards me.

Mom Dad got up. "Shaista! Wo black wali file zara dekh dena, pata nai kaha rakh ker bhool gaya hoon mein."

"apko to samney pari cheez bhi nai nazar aati Asif! Jab tak mein apne hath se utha ker nai doon gi, apko nai miley gi" Mom boasted with a little complaint and Dad chuckled, as the walked towards their room.

And just when their room slammed shut Hussain gave me a little heart attack as he almost jumped off the sofa sitting straight on it as if he was the circus clown or some thing.

"What the shmurrfff! You were awake all that time?"

He turned around only confirming Mom Dad weren't there anymore then pointed his index at me with a straight face. "there is no way am going to Pakistan okay"

"What? Are you mad? Or mujhey kia keh ra hea bey! Go tell Mom or worse Dad" I added and he cursed under his breath as he moved his hand though his hair.

"whats your problem Hussain! You are already talking to her, by now you two know each other enough to have a meeting or something. Come on!" I tried to convince him but he shook his head.

"its not about knowing or meeting her Shehry! I know where Mom and Dad are pushing me; I know what they want and what is coming ahead of all this"

"Hussain! ya to tu tameez se seedhey lafzon mein bat ker ya dafa ho ja yahan se and stop eating my brains" I stated irritated as I couldn't get what the eff he was talking about.

"tu nai samjhey ga" he grumpily stated as he crossed his arms and I sighed.

"in fact tu samjhey ga, bus Saturday aa lene de merey Bhai!" he added all of a sudden his expressions turned smirky, I knew what he was pointing at but I frowned acting oblivious.

He came near me and almost shoved his index in my chest "This Saturday man! Your fate is gonna be sealed and pealed off as well" he dramatically stated and I rolled my eyes.

"Shut up!" I pushed him back and he fell on the carpet chuckling. "they were only talking about her okay, it doesn't mean anything even near to the tatti you have in your mind" I snapped but he was still smiling meaningfully.

"dekh leen tu putter ji! Saturday ko Mom ne usey bahu na na bana liya to mera naam bhi Hussain nai" he stated firmly and I decided to ignore him

"hayee! Haya bhabi. Sounds good han" Hussain smiled his 32 and I shot him a look. "shut up!!"

"no seriously man! Haya Shehryar. Aaayee hayeee matlab k kamal ki Jodi hea sunney mein to bhai!" Hussain kept on teasing.

"you better concentrate on Tehreem and this next month wala trip to Pakistan okay" I reminded him and yep! The smile faded from his face as he leaned back with the sofa and like an upset grumpy kid he started stamping his feet on the carpet.

"mein ni jana. Mujhey nai pata mein ni jana kaheen bhi. Mujhey nai milna us se"

I laughed at his expressions and he angrily crossed his arms at his front looking away.

"Meri berbadi per hansney walo! Khuda karey ye Saturday teri zindagi ka yadgaar tareen Saturday ban jae" he cursed and I laughed again.

"Saley! Bakwas na ker. And on a serious note am excited for the trip to Pakistan" I added seriously. "and trust me its good for you two, Hussain! tu us se mil le ga to ye terey kuriyon wergey nakhrey to muken ge at least"

Hussain got up over his feet and glared down at me. "there is a NO and there will be NO. doesn't matter how many trips am gonna have to Pakistan. Samjha?" he stated in a threatening way and I mockingly backed off in the couch.

"Samajh gaya Boss!" I pretended to be afraid and he walked towards the room ignoring my chuckle at his back.

Sala! Pata nai chahta kia hea? Kun Tehreem se bhagta hea?

Kaheen....kaheen koi aur to nai? Per he never mentioned....

Kaheen Gul......

What? Hussain or Pathani? Dono k bachey Shahrukh khan or Barood Khan ka mixture hon ge.

Ibraheem's POV

I stepped inside hanging the keys back on their slot and my coat over the hanger near the door.

"I dunno why Mom wants the coats here on this hanger when I have my own room and can keep my stuff there without anyone's privacy disturbed." I stated shaking disapprovingly.

"We always have a fight over this" I added walking ahead.

"But that's normal between us, you know all these fighting and daily dose and quarrels on minutest things around us keep us going" I chuckled stating as I entered in the hall, I placed her laptop bag on the sofa and just then I realized she was a little too quiet, so unlike her.

I turned around finding myself alone in the hall.

Hain!! Where is she?

I almost ran back to the door finding her still on the door step, her expressions confused and afraid as if a little girl had seen a cat or worst a lizard on the wall.

"I didn't know you would like my door that much Aleena! Or else I'd have brought it down to your feet that instance" I remarked keeping the sarcasm hidden but she pouted, I stepped closer sensing her discomfort and fear.

It was almost a month I had been asking her to visit my place. We actually had a bet over who would come to the other's home first, I won and so I brought her along with me today.

"Aleena! No one is going to bite you here, if you are afraid of Mom then please! Leave her to me. wesey bhi she is never home before 7 in eavening" I stated assuring her, she still blinked her eyes at me.

"Its not about your Mom Ibraheem bhai!" I frowned.

"then? Are you afraid of me? seriously?" I placed my palm over my heart. "ah! Ouch! Dill torr diya yar" I acted offended and she rolled her eyes grabbing my wrist moving my hand down from my heart.

"Its not about you and me or anyone. Its about right and wrong Ibraheem Bhai!"

"Oho! itna nai sochtey meri chutkiiii!" I pressed my palm over her head above her hijab and she giggled instantly.

"come on! Now come in" and I grabbed her arm almost pulling her inside with me.

Coming into the hall she looked around the house, appraisal evident in her eyes as she made a face as if was impressed by the interior.

"you have a beautiful house bhai!"

"ha! House...yes, I have a house. I wish I had a home instead; less decorated, less furnished, less equipped with less facilities but it would be a home." I chuckled coldly and she made a face coming to me.

"Bhai! Stop complaining about everything" she actually shoved her little fist onto my chest disapprovingly and I laughed.

"jo hokum apka. Aur kuch?" I bowed down dramatically and she smiled nodding.

"Wanna see your room" she asked excitedly and I narrowed my eyes before mirroring her smile and showing her the way to the stairs.

"am warning you Bhai! Mujhey jo cheez pasand aa gai na apne sath le jaoon gi. Roken ge to nai na?" she asked popping her eyes out with her index pointing at me and I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.

"One condition"

"Whats that?" she asked as we halted to the door of my room.

"will tell you later. After you" pushing the door I gave her way and she smiled stepping in, but the very next moment her smile faded and mine turned into ever broader.

"This is your room?" she actually gasped as she looked into my room and found almost everything from out of its right place, starting from my guitars to my drum beats to my clothes to my punching bag and bla bla bla....

"Q? tumhen ghoron ka astabal nazar aa raha hea?" I asked keeping my hands at the side of my waist.

"I haven't seen a place messier than this Bhai!" she stated innocently and I chuckled.

"There can be a messier place" I narrowed my eyes stating and she frowned. "the same room" I added and she rolled her eyes hard.

She stepped forward, looking at everything, touching my study table, picking up the up side down book placing it back in order, holding my knuckles placed on the table looking at that closely as if she was looking at something she had never seen.

All that time she had that cute soft smile plastered on her face and I just stood there gawking at my sister, she was beautiful... kaheen se meri behen nai lagti thi wo.

"Bhai! Do you have a side business of musical instruments" she looked at me with a frown and I laughed.

"they are mine. All of them. pagli!" I told her and she made a face.

"ek se kam nai chalta apka? Pandra guitar? Sarey ek jesey he bajtey honge. Nai?"

"pandra nai only six I have and they are my life dude! So no disrespect towards them" I pointed my index at her mockingly and she rolled her eyes.

"and they all aren't the same, this is electric, that one is only when I play lead, this is for Bass, and that blue and black one is my favorite" I pointed at the guitar and she kept on looking at them with such concentration as if I was gonna take her test after that on my guitars.

"Gul and Hussain gave me on my birthday, see! What it has" I picked it up and showed her the base of it, she looked closely and the pouted shaking her head.

"It's an autograph?"

I rolled my eyes at her innocence. "Not an ordinary one, its Zyan's autograph. They got it signatured for me in one of his concerts in Brooklyn" I told her but still no excitement was there on her face.

"yeah! I have heard about this boy. Zyan Malik. One of my school friend liked him a lot" she casually remarked and I smacked my forehead hard.

"you know what you again reminded me of Tehreem. She has a good collection of Qurans in her study at home, I remember she used to tell me about them; one that she liked to read in Tahajjud and another one with amazing tafseer, and one she reads for her hifz and another one that belonged to her great grandmother" she told me excitedly her eyes glittering and I just looked at her face.

"You miss her a lot. Yeah?" I asked and she nodded, grimly.

"just as one misses her sister when she is far" she shrugged her shoulders stating. "but I have her voice, whenever am low and dull and my spirits are going down I listen to her and feel amazing" she smiled widely as she took out a small mp3 player from her cardigan and I pinched her nose making her giggle.

"You know Bhai! After coming here I have come to realize that it was easier staying away from bad in Pakistan, here, in America you are so much exposed to everything that the exposure pulls you in towards something regretful, something you don't wanna do. Sometimes I feel insecure"

Her expressions serious, grim as she looked down at her hands, and when I didn't respond she looked up eventually ending in a frown.

"whats wrong?" she asked and I heaved up a sigh, placing the guitar back.

"I was wondering jitni samajhdari ki batein tum kerti ho na, utni mein assi saal ka ho ker bhi nai ker paoon ga" I stated gravely and she laughed.

"No, honestly are you 16? Like really?" I asked narrowing my eyes and she made a boastful face.

"Am wise and I know it" she boasted and I pulled her cheeks making her giggle. 

"Acha lemme get fresh then will go and have lunch. Okaa?" I asked showing her my palm up in the air and she instantly gave a high five. "Sokaa!" she announced with a smile.

After taking my clothes from the wardrobe I stepped into the bathroom.

"Oye! Tumhen darr to nai lagta akeley?" I asked remembering, as I halted in the doorframe and she smiled shaking her head.

"Ub nai lagta" she replied assuringly.

I was busy taking a shower, alongside my melodious voice when the door got knocked.

Aleena's POV

He stepped inside and I looked at the mess in his room, taking a deep breath I decided to clean it up. Standing in front of the mirror I took off my hijab and cardigan, my shirt was reasonably long, long enough to look decent at least.

After brushing my hair and tying them up in a rough bun, I started to pick up his mess and I was amazed how in nearly 15 minutes the room was like a brand new just arrived from IKEA.

What? IKEA??? Is there even an IKEA exist in New York.....

Shrugging my thoughts away I spun on my heal taking a good look of the now neat clean room, I dunno where I had put and shoved his stuff but I hope mostly I placed things on their allocated slots.... Hopefully

I was standing in his balcony when suddenly something popped in my mind and a smile spread across my face. Running back to the bathroom I knocked on the door.

"Bhai! Can I have your WiFi password?"

"Yeah sure. Its there on the front wall" he informed and I looked at the wall, it was covered with every kind of writing, in each and every color and tint ever existed.

"Bhai! I can only find khichrii over your wall" I made a face and heard him chuckled.

"Oho! Go near and find out the scribbling in mauve, Hussain wrote that down so just track the worst writing ever and there you are." He added. I walked towards the wall.

The whole wall is covered in writings, scribbling, blabbering in words. Trailing my finger tips over the words I read a few; there were poems and quotes and strange remarks even extremely funny poetry.... It was cool though.

Madness in words....

Finally after looking closely I found the only scribbling in mauve, I frowned not understanding the meaning of it, it sounded other than English.

Khair. Matti pao! Opening my laptop I connected it with the WiFi and I suddenly felt alive. Sending the document to our Literature teacher I sighed in relief.

Bojh utra shuker hea....

I walked out of his room and went to the kitchen; it was a cozy small kitchen I found a smaller pantry attached.

Ah! I love cooking.

But what should I cook? What does he even like to eat? A cake? No! it's lunch time... maybe chicken...no! I hate it.

Ch! Kia banaaooon? Scratching the back of my neck I stood there for a few minutes before I remembered bhai praising the lunch he had at Hussain bhai's place and mentioning the world famous Daal Chaawal aunty makes.

Yes! Walking to the cabinets I opened them one by one finding the ingredients and took them all out of the counter.

Ingredients are all here but pakatey kesey hen ye????

I took out my phone from my pocket and called Mom at home, it kept on ringing but nobody picked up.

Ibraheem's POV

"I hope I didn't take long......

I stopped in the mid as I couldn't find Aleena in the room. Walking towards the dresser I combed my hair and stepped out from the room.

"Aleena!"

"Chutkii!!!"

I called but no response.

Kahan chali gai?

My feet halted as I went downstairs, somebody was laughing.

Who was Aleena laughing with?

I slowly walked towards the kitchen.

"And you know what he calls me chutkii. It sounds amazing" I smiled as Aleena spoke. "am actually toooo short and he a little too heighted, trust me he is total Dad" she added and I sighed, my heart thumped at his name.

"I told you Aleena! Rabb is going to take care of this mess in your life" I heard a voice. I stood with the glass wall, Aleena's back was turned towards me as she stood there in front of the main counter in the kitchen.

"Am happy. Am happy after a long time" Aleena stated.

"Acha now tell me what else do I have to put in it?" she added asking and her head turned a little to the hotplate and only then I realized she was cooking something.

"ummm did you put garlic?" the voice came again, it was a girl it can't be her Mom, it sounded young.

"Yup I did, what about zeera? Should I add some? Its there on the internet wali recipe" I chuckled mentally as Aleena asked.

"No, don't add it into it now. Once it is done then make that terrka and add cumin into that. It smells awesome" the girl stated, I tilted my head but just saw the corner of the laptop.

"How to make terrka?" Aleena asked innocently and heard the girl laughed a little.

Her voice was soft and soothing, even her laughter had a rhythm like the best composed song.

"Aleena! You are going to be one genuinely amazing bahu" she remarked and Aleena giggled.

"yeah! But just a little less awesome than you, Tehreem!" my eyes widened as I heard Aleena called the girl by her name.

Tehreem? Tehreem Sultan?

The girl laughed, again the melody strummed the strings of my heart.

I don't know why something stirred inside me, suddenly I started to feel restless a strange alien feeling oozed up. I wanted to look at her.

"Acha note it down, for terrka first you have to put some oil in a sauce pan, let it to be heated a little and then add about half an onion make sure you cut it in a fine way, then let it for a minute to turn into a darker shade of pink and then add hari mirch and kari patta. The one you showed me before...remember?" she was telling Aleena, and she showed up a dry wrinkled dark brown leaf . "this one?"

"yep! Okay then add about a half tea spoon dhaniya, that round one, I mean seeds not the powder okay" I smiled at the way she was explaining and Aleena continuously nodding her head.

"and only if you want you add those round red chilies, lal mirch. But I dunno if he likes spices or not so even if you want to add, add just one or two" once again something stirred right in my tummy, knowing she was talking about me gave me an odd feeling. Odd, but good in a strange way.

"then finally add cumin at the end, when everything in the terrka becomes dark brown took it off the flame and swiftly add into the daal. Just make sure you keep a good distance from the pan Aleena! It will make out a crazy sound but don't worry, nothing will happen. Inn shaa Allah"

"be safe" she added and Aleena nodded.

"I hope it turns out good. kuch kam ya ziada na ho jaye" Aleena wished innocently, It felt amazing, my sister was cooking for me....somebody was there who loves me unconditionally. It felt amazing.

"Kuch kam ya ziada ho na ho, tumhara piyar buhat ziada hea is mein. So don't worry. He would love it" Tehreem assured her.

And just when I was about to move a head, Aleena stepped out of the place the laptop screen came bare in front of my eyes, that glass wall felt like a total hindrance.

"lemme gather everything for it first. Don't go okay. am coming in a minute" Aleena stated and stepped into the pantry.

"Fine. am here" Tehreem stated.

I tilted my head a little and I felt I would never be able to look away from the screen, from that face in front of me.

Man! She was beautiful....

My heart started to race inside my chest, my tummy hurt as if someone growled inside maybe it was empty that's why or maybe something else.

Knowing Aleena's camera wasn't working I stepped inside, I dunno why my legs felt jelly as I walked in and then there was no glass wall in between us.

She was sitting cross legged in the bed, her gaze lowered at the book she was keeping in her lap, a few locks were hanging down from under her dupatta and fell aside her face that looked flawless.

She was wearing a light shade of pink a loose shirt and I guess a trouser, that color... it was difficult to decide which shade was prettier, her dress or her face?

I went oblivious to the surrounding, what was Aleena doing? Where she was? I lost track. I was lost in the girl in front of me. I was looking closely at her when she stretched her arm to grab something, next moment she wore glasses, she looked cute in them...they were a little too big for her small round face.

A frown faded from her forehead as she pushed all the hair back tugging them at the back of her ears. Only for a couple of moments I could see those little dangling in her ear that moved as she adjusted her dupatta and then they were hidden.

She pulled her face up a little shutting her eyes, her lips parted and then slowly air filled with her voice, she was reciting Quran.

"Ch! Ohoo..." suddenly she halted shaking her head, she opened her eyes and looked down at the quran.

"Concentrate Tehreem! Concentrate!" she smacked her forehead a little before she looked up at the ceiling. "Please! I have to memorize these verses before fajir. Please!" she begged, I smiled at her expression but the next moment I heard a thud and my head spun back, Aleena was staring at me with her eyes wide in horror and the boxes of different spices now on the floor.

"Aleena! Aleena! You okay? what happened?" Tehreem was asking, I looked back at her and only then I realized my hand was half to the screen in the mid air.... what the heck I was up to????

"yeah am- am fi-am fine Tehreem!"

Aleena ran into my direction and in a blink of my eye she grabbed my arm almost dragging me with her she ran out from the kitchen.

"what happened girl!" I asked as she looked up at my face, she looked tensed and worried as if was about to break into a cry.

"what were you doing Bhai?" she asked firmly but in a hushed tone and I frowned.

"Nothing"

"ap kab se thy wahan kitchen mein?" she asked much horrified and I shrugged my shoulders. "I stepped in when you went for the pantry"

"you should have come to me, or at least told me that you were there" she stated as if pata nai kon sa pahaarr toot para ho.

"you can't look at her like this Bhai!" she helplessly smacked her forehead.

"Relax Aleena! I was just looking"

"Just looking?" she asked disgusted, I could see sweat beads on her forehead. "you know if she is going to find out, she would be so upset and sad and...and maybe angry on me and on herself too"

I felt Aleena would start crying any minute, I held her by the shoulders trying to calm her down.

"Bhai! You can't just stand there and gawk at a girl who is...who is a na-mehram for you, this is bad. You don't do such things deliberately" she wasn't calming down.

"Okay okay! calm down. Am sorry. Am sorry okay" I looked into her eyes and felt she gulped down.

"it was my mistake I shouldn't have forced her for turning her video on. I knew you were in the house I shouldn't....ch!" she shook her head, stating to herself and I heaved up a sigh, I turned and picked up a glass from over the dinning table and filled it half with water.

"come on! Have it" I kept the glass near her mouth, she took it from my hand and walked to the chair. After sitting down she drank the water but still looked tensed.

I went and knelt down near her, with my hands resting on her knees. "Am sorry" I pouted.

"is it that bad? Looking at a girl?" I asked and she remained quiet.

"you don't know Bhai?" she asked softly but I could sense disbelief in her tone.

"I know. But...." I trailed off, a part of me felt ashamed. "but I have never taken all this that seriously" I added. "I mean bus dekh he to raha tha yar, I wasn't doing her any harm"

Honestly it was the truth, kon sochta hea aj kal k lerki ki taraf dekhna ya ghoorna gunnah hea, ya lerkon ko dekhna, bat kerna ya aesi fantasies kerna ghalat hea....who thinks like this today?

Hum to aj kal lerkiyon k sath perhtey hen, ek sath beth ker movies dekhtey hen, hanstey hen, ghoomtey phirtey hen....or jin lerkiyon k sath ye sab nai possible un ki fantasy kerty hen.

Kia Aleena or Tehreem jesi lerkiyan bhi hoti hen?

"Ibraheem bhai! Maybe for you all this is normal and considered as nothing but a casual act but trust me these little things cost a lot" she stated, concern there in her eyes.

"mein ne ap ko bataya tha na apni friend k barey mein? Tehreem" she asked and once again just on the name I felt that kick in my stomach, ignoring that I nodded.

"wo Tehreem he thi, ap jantey hen wo shara'ee perdah kerti hea, like she never even goes in front of her cousins with out it, and you....." she took a pause, her featured disturbed once again.

"you are a complete outsider, a na-mehram. Agar usey pata chala that you were standing there looking at her shamelessly she would get hurt, and not physically am talking about spiritual dignity of a girl" I looked down, couldn't meet her gaze anymore.

Stating that I was ashamed was an understatement.

"Am sorry" it was just a whisper.

"Don't sorry me Ibraheem bhai! Namaz perhiye ga to maafi mangiye ga Allah se. I pray that he forgives you" she stated, mentioning namaz casually, she didn't even bother to ask me if I pray or not??

"mein namaz nai perhta" I stated hesitantly, for a few moments she just looked down at my face and then blinked her eyes, she didn't say a word but I could read essays in her eyes.

"Daal...." She suddenly sniffed something in the air and got up from the chair as she walked towards the kitchen, I followed her but my feet halted in the door step.

"Tehreem!" I heard Aleena called, I looked inside a little finding the screen blank now. The video was turned off already.

"Aleena! Are you okay? where have you been? What happened?" Tehreem asked with concern.

"Nothing the boxes, they fell off my grip" Aleena replied.

"thank you so much Tehreem! And I feel bad I disturbed you at this hour of night at your end" Aleena stated, the usual chirp from her voice was gone, I felt bad.

"That's okay, I wasn't sleeping. Its almost fajir here, In fact abhi Abbu was here he just left a few moments before you called. "He was listening to my memorization" she added.

"I hope your Daal tastes awesome. Inn shaa Allah!" Tehreem's voice had a smile in there.

Even after that dose that scolding and piece of mind from Aleena, a part of me was still begging to have a look at her face.

Pata nai ye mehram na-mehram ye halal haram ye sahee ghalat meri samajh se bahir kun hen???

"Bhai!" I felt a hand over my shoulder, I stepped out of my thoughts.

"am sorry if I was rude" Aleena stated, her face was still crimson out of embarrassment and regret, I smiled and pulled her hung low face up.

"Behnen bhaiyon ko sorry or thankyou nai bola kerteen. Samjhi?" I firmly stated and she lowly smiled, nodding her head.

"And I can smell something amazingly good" I sniffed high in the air.

"Daal is done bus am left with the terrka" she stated and I smiled.

"You took that too seriously han! I was joking yar about all that khana pakana stuff. You don't have to...

"I like to cook and make others eat Bhai! It makes me happy" she cut me through assuringly and I smiled.

"Chalo phir jaldi se le aoo. Am famished" I placed my palm over my tummy and she giggled.

"Bus ten minutes and your Daal chawal is ready" she snapped her fingers.

"Bhai! Why don't you make some salad till then?" she suggested and I showed her a thumbs up as I walked towards the fridge.

"I hope your Mom won't scold you for all this" Aleena asked hesitantly.

"don't take tension. Mein hoon na. I will handle" I assured her and she smiled, while putting something in the saucepan.

I was happy she got busy and I started making salad, didn't have to talk or face her for a few minutes, I had to ease my heartbeats and that feeling inside me, that feeling of being ashamed for what I did, but this wasn't the first time, najaney kitni lerkiyon ko dekha ho ga mein ne, ghoora ho ga, najaney kitni bar kitni lerkiyon per comments pass kiye hon ge....doston k sath beth ker unhen discuss kiya ho ga.

My laptop is full of pictures, my cell phone has a wallpaper of an American Model I drool over

If it was a shameful act then my life was full of those.....

And Hussain.... Hussain and Tehreem? Are they seriously going to get married?

Kahan ek shara'ee perdah kerne wali lerki or Kahan Hussain Asif.....

I dunno why but it felt bad and wrong, wrong for both him and her.

I lost my appetite ....

Aleena's POV

"If you are going to make such yummy food for me no wonder I will kidnap you from your house and keep you in.....ummmm" He made a thoughtful face before snapping his fingers excitedly. "in one of my chest drawers" he added and I laughed.

"To aur, chunnniiii si to meri behen hea, I can hide you anywhere" he stated and I smiled. 

"I had a wonderful time Ibraheem Bhai! and I hope one day we all will sit together and have such amazing moments" I said and he heaved up a sigh, as he looked ahead out from the windscreen of his car. 

"I don't know Aleena! Mom hates him, am not sure if this can ever happen" 

"When you have belief Bhai! nothing remains impossible. there was a time when I used to hate myself Allah brought me out of that, then till just a couple of months back I used to believe that you will hate me but see! Allah took me out of this as well" I places my hand over his arm. "and now I have a firm belief that a day will come when everything will be okay. Inn shaa Allah"

"I hope so" he lowly stated, his words unsure.

"Acha ek bat kahoon? manen ge?" I asked hesitantly and he looked at me with a smile.

"Anything"

"Start praying Ibraheem Bhai!" I told him and he looked away from my face.

"namaz mein apna he ek sakoon hea, ek ajeeb sa sakoon, khushi. you will start feeling it once you will start to pray Bhai! I have felt it witnessed it myself" I added and he nodded a little.

"I will... but its not a promise, okay?" he looked at me and I smiled wide. 

"Even trying is enough. Allah loves those who try in His path" I stated.

"Tehreem says so?" he asked casually and my head spun into his direction, it flashed back across my mind and once again it felt bad.

"Wesey mujhey almost sari achi batein usi ne sikhaai hen but wo hamesha kehti hea k ye batein us ki nai, us k Rabb ki hen. so Tehreem nai Allah says so Ibraheem bhai!" i mentioned firmly and he nodded in agreement.

"Ibraheem Bhai! i think I forgot my mp3 at your place, please kal yad se le aaiye ga" I searched my pockets and my bag but it wasn't there.

"Really? oh! okay mein dekhoon ga ghar per. I will bring it tomorrow." he quickly stated.

Ibraheem's POV

Dropping her in front of her house, I just remained there for a while looking up at the building her apartment was on the third floor. She insisted me to come up stairs but I just couldn't. 

Dad would be there.... my Dad. 

jinhen pichley 18 saal se nai dekha mein ne. kia baap aesey hotey hen????

Shaking off my thoughts I drove off to home.

Suddenly my thoughts wandered to the mp3 and I touched the place over my pocket in my Jacket. I felt guilty for keeping Aleen's mp3, but I dunno what got into me and I picked it up.

It had her voice in it...... Tehreem's voice.

I wanted to listen her again...that melody I had never heard in my life. 

....

Stay Tuned lovely readers <3