Assalam-o-Alaikum!

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Chapter # 7.4

Hussain's POV

....a few days later....

I was completing my assignment with my ears plugged in and music actually helping me out in finishing that boring topic in a little better way.

Finishing it in a couple of hours I literally threw the laptop back on the bed and stretched my arms and back as I got up from the chair and looked down at my watch. I realized I didn't have dinner so I shoved away the ear phones and stepped out of my room.

Reaching near Samra's door I found it slightly open and a beautiful voice was coming out, my speed lowered as I stopped in front of the door finding Tehreem sitting crossed legged in the bed with her eyes firm shut and lips busy in recitation.

For a while I forgot I was hungry.

She was constantly repeating the same verse of I dunno which surah from Quran. But the words just felt like the sweetest.

Every time after the verse would end she would look down at the page open wide in her lap and then once again shut her eyes and repeat but then helplessly opens her eyes and finally smacked her head.

"What has gone wrong with you Tehreem?" she stated to herself but then her gaze went up and she caught me staring down at her. for a moment she couldn't react and I realized I was looking like a total creepy person so I cleared my throat a little before pushing the door a little back.

"Ander aa sakta hoon?" I asked. Keeping the heavy looking book close to herself she got up from the bed and stood in the middle of the room as I walked in.

"Hi!"

"Assalam-o-Alaikum!" she greeted and I frowned for a moment before remembering it was her habit she would greet with a salaam doesn't matter what time it is, what place it is and how many times she does....

"is it like a serious sin saying a hello?" I asked casually, narrowing my eyes and she frowned.

"No. its not"

"then you could have replied with a simple hi" or maybe the religious people want to show every second that they are religious and better than the rest of the world

"Salam is not just a greeting it's a good deed. when you say Assalam-o-Alaikum you are actually seeking for blessings both for yourself and the other person and my Rabb likes it. This is the best way of greeting and off course for earning a good deed in just a few seconds" she stated and I scratched the crock of my brow, speechless I went.

I nodded my head in agreement.

"uh- Samra nai hea?"

It was a bad move Hussain! obviously wo nai nazer aa rahi to matlab nai hea. what was the point of asking?

"she is downstairs"

"oh! Okay. um... what were you doing?" I asked adding and she looked down at the Quran.

"Memorising something"

"Achaw! So yad nai ho raha tha kia?" I asked casually with a little frown and she nodded pressing her lips in a thin line and I obsevered even with no gloss no lipstick her lips were the most beautiful shade of pink.

I cleared my throat shaking the thoughts off my head. "why don't you listen to it. I mean you learn faster when you listen to stuff rather than you read it" I suggested.

"I have tried it but I dunno why am stuck on these few ayahs of Surah baqarah. This is my last surah to memorise before my hifz completes. Inn shaa Allah" for the first time she talked in no-stern way and it felt good.

"wow! Sounds awesome" I flashed a genuine smile and she tried to return with her gaze lowered.

She was so distant as if coming near me would burn her.

"uh, you should record your own voice you know and then listen to that. Trust me fatafat yad ho jaye ga sab" I assured her.

"Ji. Inn shaa Allah"

We stood there for a few awkward moment when I pressed a smile and backed off. "mein wo...khana khaney ja raha tha. Tum ne kha liya?" I asked quickly and she nodded her head with a simple. "ji. Alhamdulilah!"

And with that I found it was no use to stand over there any more and bardged out of the room. I dunno why I let out a deep breath which was caught up in my throat for long.

What was that Hussain? you went in to her room and talked to her?

I mean no fight wali talk. Simple casual talk....?

Is that even happened?

Tehreem's POV

Mujhey nai pata tha k Hussain k us idea se mujhey itni asaani se wo tamam ayaat yad ho jaen gi. I never thought of recording my own voice for memorization. It helped and I was really greatfull of him for that.

Sometimes I used to feel he wasn't all bad, not at least from inside. He was only a little careless about life and stuff which should be taken seriously. He bothered least about his prayers and above all his stare.

I don't understand why he would stare me? I mean I was an average girl with nothing special or at least not what a boy like Hussain would want in a girl.

Or khaney ki maiz per to ek niwala bhi halaq se utaarna muhaal ho jata tha mera. Every now and then I would find his eyes on my face which he quickly turns away catching my gaze.

It was already so much difficult for me to sit in just a yard's distance from him and his gaze made things harder.

I finished half of chapatti with extreme difficulty and got up.

"Tehreem beta! kun khana peena chorti ja rahi ho? Kuch bhi nai liya tum ne. ye roti bhi wesey he pari hea" woi hua jis ka der tha Aunty stopped me.

"Nai Aunty! Alhamdulilah mein ne theek se khaya hea. bus wo rat ko neend nai aati ziada khaney se." I tried to be as logical and truthful as I could so I stated one of the reasons keeping the main bone of contention hidden.

"She is on diet Ammi!" Samra joked and I rolled my eyes with a smile.

"Aye haye! Pehley he itni si jaan hea us ki ub kia ghayab hona hea?" Aunty remarked disapprovingly and I smiled.

My gaze unintentionally went on him catching him looking at me with a frown and this time he didn't even look away. I did.

I walked into the kitchen and washed my plate, drying it with a clean napkin I kept it in the stand and went into my room.

....

"Tehreem! Yar khana kun chor deti ho beech mein? Is it Hussain?" she inquired as I finished my prayer and was keeping the mat over the table.

"Pata nai. I have started feeling uncomfortable around him Samra!" I stated honestly as I slowly walked towards her. "Uncomfortable and confused.... i dunno why"

"I mean when I first saw him here I freaked out but then I convinced myself to be calm and ignore him and this is what I was doing but I don't know what has happened to me. kuch dino se mujhey apna ap he samajh nai aa raha" I sat down in the bed as she looked at me with concern and a serious face for a change.

"its not that he affects me but I just don't feel like staying near him. mein chahti hoon ye jo bhi mera dil or damagh mehsoos ker raha hea ye sab yaheen ruk jae. khatam ho jaye. Mein bus door rehna chahti hoon Hussain se"

"I know. I understand Tehreem!" she stroked my arm with a little smile when suddenly the door got knocked and my head turned towards the voice and my heart felt a pinch inside.

"Can I come in?"

Unlike always Hussain had at least started taking permission before entering in the room. I looked back to Samra who was smiling at him and then her forehead crumbled into a frown.

"What is this Hussain?" she asked making me look back at him as well and found him carrying a tray in his hands as he walked in.

We both glanced at each other as we got up. Hussain placed the tray laden with food on the table and stood straight looking at me.

"If my presence makes you that uncomfortable that pulls you to leave your food not even half done then please! Do not do this" I tried to speak but he stopped me with his palm in the air.

"I know what you think of me that am some kind of a shaitaan or something but this shaitaan can stay in his room and have meal if it makes you feel at ease" he added and for a moment, for the first time I felt bad.

I didn't do anything on purpose or to embarrass him.

"khana kha lo" he gestured towards the tray and before I could speak a single word he walked out of the room. Leaving me there a little surprise plus flushed and embarrassed and with the most idiotic broad grin on Samra's face.

"itney piyar se laya hea munda. Kha le"

....another day....

"Arey nai Sahaista! Tum bekaar mein pareshan ho rahi ho. Hussain bilkul theek hea, khush hea or ub to adjust bhi ho gaya hea. Masha Allah" I was clearing the kitchen slabe when I heard Aunty talking on phone.

"Aj kal late ho jata hea, university k bad koi job dekhi hea bus wahan se ata hea to thaka hota hea so jata hea"

"Ye to Asif ki ghalti hea sarasar. Baap ka ferz hota hea samjhana ye nai k utha ker ghar se itna door phenk diya bachey ko. Ghalti kis se nai hoti Shaista?" Aunty stated disapprovingly. I kept the platters now dried in the stand and wiped the slabe.

"Ub semester ki fees bhi khud pay karey. Apna khercha bhi khud uthaaye... itni umer to nai na bachey ki k itna bojh daal diya hea us per." She added in the same tone.

Oh! So that's why he had been worried about job for past few weeks..... I thought to myself.

"Nai Shaista! Tum fikr mat karo. Hussain meri apni aulaad se kam thori hea" Aunty assured her.

I looked up at the clock, it was 8 already and Hussain wasn't home yet. Its been a few weeks since he had started a job and normally comes late. Mager aj kuch ziada he time ho gaya.

"kisi ka intizaar kiya ja raha hea kia?" I realized I was frowning up at the clock when Aunty asked. I flushed instantly.

"Uh nai. Nai to aunty!" I started looking here and there and she chuckled.

"Aane he wala ho ga bus" she patted my cheek and walked out of the kitchen.

Mujhey kon sa intizaar hea Hussain ka ya fiker hea. mujhey q bata rai hen? Aa jaen ge jab aana ho ga.

Switching the lights off I went to my room and found Samra busy on her laptop. I opened my bag and took out my book, I had a couple of homework pending so I thought to finish them before going to bed.

I was busy in my assignments and could notice time flew so quick and when I looked at the clock it was half past 11. I turned my head finding Samra already snoring a little. I cleared all the books mess and headed towards bed.

Pata nai Hussain wapas aa gaye ya nai.....?

I laid in the bed and pulled the quilt over me when the door got knocked, it was a small hesitant knock and my hand halted in the mid air.

I looked to my side. Samra was fast asleep and then looked at the door.

Shaid Hussain hon ge..... I was thinking when I felt the knob being turned and I hurriedly slipped inside the quilt, laying all motionless covering myself completely with it.

I felt footsteps towards the bed and my breath caught up in my throat when I heard him clearing his throat a little.

"Samra!" he called in a hushed tone.

"SAMRAAA! Uth yaar!" Samra's body moved a little at my back as he nudged her a little I guess. Samra was a heavy sleeper.

"Samra!" he hushed once again and then I heard him heaved up a sigh. He sounded tired and for a moment I felt pity for him.

After a few silent moments I heard the door got shut once again.

....

I opened the door and looked out. It was complete silence, Hussain's room was open and the door was wide ajar. No sound could be heard and suddenly my nose scrounged as a strong smell came and I sniffed in the air. It smelt like something.... Burnt?

Hesitant much I walked downstairs and headed slowly towards the kitchen, the light was turned on and I could hear movements from inside, it was little smoky in the lounge.

Silently I stepped ahead; kitchen was almost foggy with smoke filled inside and the smell was too bad to bare. Hussain's back turned towards me as he was bent over the sink with his hands moving rapidly over something.

"Ya Allah! What happened?" I literally gasped. He turned instantly with the pan leaving his hands and crashing onto the floor, suddenly something chocked up in my throat as I inhaled that smoke along with air.

Hussain's POV

What the hell man!

I cursed myself for being so lousy as I kept on rubbing the hard sponge over the burnt sauce pan.

Sari biryani jala di Hussain! kisi kam ka nai tu!

"Ya Allah! What happened?"

Shittt!

I turned instantly and the sauce pan went landing onto the floor as I saw Tehreem standing in the door frame with her eyes wide and horror spread on her face. But before I could explain she started coughing...

"Oh! Am-am sorry. You stay out please!" I took a few steps towards her when she raised her palm up gesturing me to stop while still coughing. Ignoring me she stepped ahead and pressed a button over the switch board.

I facepalm myself as I heard the little fan fixed in the ventilator started. She moved further and picked up the saucepan from the floor, her forehead crumbled into a frown and eyes narrowed down at the burnt poor thing.

"Uh- wo jal gaya thora sa" I scratched the back of my head as she glanced up at my face for a second. "no I mean kafi jal gaya" I cleared and she turned keeping the pan in the sink.

"wo actually I was warming the food but Mom called and I just forgot about the meal on flame" I tried to explain though she didn't ask for anything.

"I will do that" embarrassed a little I was about to step towards the sink.

"Its okay" when she stopped me. "mein ker doon gi. Ap khana kha lijiye" she added.

"Khana to jal gaya yar!" I pouted. Without any talk shalk she stepped towards the fridge and searched inside.

"its okay. am not hungry" though it was a complete lie, I tried to stop her but she had already picked up a couple of eggs out.

"there are just eggs. Omelet?" she asked simply and I shrugged my shoulders. She shut the fridge and headed towards the counter.

"Mein ker loon ga"

"Its okay" she didn't let me so I just backed off and leaned with the wall watching her cutting onion. Starting from her hands to her face to her eyes to her lips...she was delicacy personified.

Suddenly she sniffled a little and shut her eyes tight, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Onion tears.... She shook her head as if was trying to avoid the irritation and the moment she opened her eyes she caught me staring her face.

She quickly wiped her cheeks and I looked away.

"let me beat the eggs at least" I offered when she took out the dough from the fridge for making a chapatti. I picked up the eggs as she didn't protest this time.

For a few moments I kept on looking at her sideways just to see if she was looking back at me or not but to my dismay she didn't even bother to glance over me. not even once.

I think she hates me. or maybe am not handsome enough to be liked or praised by her.

Wo to dekhti bhi nai meri taraf

I started juggling the eggs casually as she was busy with the rolling pill, and yes she did notice though much hesitantly but she did look at me as I kept on throwing the eggs in air and catching them back like a total pro.

Then I stopped all of a sudden and looked at her face catching her staring back at me.

"you wanna try?" I offered and she quickly detached her gaze from my face looking down at the chapatti. She shook her head firmly saying not a word.

I just smiled at her, she looked like a small kid reluctant to talk but eager to see the show.

After I was done beating the eggs, she was already done with the chapatti.

"would you like tea?" I asked and she looked at me as if she was processing the answer. "am making some" I gestured the milk pack up towards her and she shook her head.

"Nai. JazakAllah"

"mein buhat achi chae banata hoon" I insisted but she remained busy in her omelet making. I heaved up a sigh helplessly as I made tea. Two cups anyways.

Now if I will tell Shehry that Tehreem made dinner for me and that even at mid night and we two were all alone in the kitchen. I swear Shehry would burst up in excitement and anticipation to know what fried fish happened between us.

Nihayat he koi beghairat bhai hea mera.

I was straining tea in mugs when she placed everything in a tray and walked out of the kitchen holding it. My gaze followed her till the dinning table forgetting about the tea which spilt over my hand and I winced loud.

Fuck!!! Looking down I found tea spread over the counter. Quickly wiping the tea with the sponge I stepped out of the kitchen finding her stepping the stairs already.

"Uh- Tehreem!"

"ji?" her feet halted as she asked in a very plain flat tone.

"um wo beth jao thori der yahan" I stated hesitantly and she looked away trying to say a NO. "chae bhi ziada ban gai hea, zayaa ho jae gi. Pee lo" I pressed once again.

Quite reluctantly she walked down towards the dinning table and sat on the farthest chair from me. I gave her the mug.

"JazakAllah!" she pressed the smallest of the smiles that even not looking up at me.

Sometimes I feel curious. Curious and eager to know the reason behind her behavior. Was it just her values or maybe I was right...she hated me to the most.

Silently she kept on sipping tea, looking down and I kept on eating with my gaze fixed on her; purple dupatta hiding the most of her, her eyelashes spread carefully over her big eyes hiding whatever lies in them and her lips a little wet every time she would take a sip from the tea.

"Ek bat poochoon ap se?" she asked out of nowhere and my stupor ended.

"yeah sure"

"Do you stare everybody the same way?" she asked not directly looking at my face and God! I felt embarrassed at her direct and sudden embark.

"No. not everybody. And not the same way too" I replied and felt she shifted a little in her chair as she blinked her eyes.

"people who talk less are the people most attractive" I stated and she glanced up at me for a second. "I mean, they are like secrets, as if they are keeping things hidden and...

"I am not keeping any secrets in fact I don't have any" she cut me through. "mujhey khamosh rehna acha lagta hea. khamoshi ibaadat hea" she added.

"tumhen sab se acha kia lagta hea?" I asked curiously.

"Rabb or uski ibaadat"

I stared her face for a little too long and she slowly lowered her gaze. "Us k baad?" I asked, her finger was trailing on the edge of the mug and forehead a little frowned.

"Ma and Abu"

"Un k baad?"

For a few moments she didn't reply and then holding the mug she got up from the chair.

"I think I should sleep" she announced, the sternness was gone and hesitation was evident. She walked into the kitchen to wash the mug I guess and then came out heading towards the stairs.

"Tehreem!"

This time she didn't look back me just stopped near the first step.

"Thanks for the dinner" I added, with a light feathery glance on my face she walked up.

I had started feeling different around her..... different in a good sense.

Tehreem's POV

"MashaAllah tehreem! You are almost there. Am so happy for you" she touched my cheek beaming as I recited in front of her the remaining part of my hifz and she calmly listened to every word with as always her keen observation trying to pin point every single nook and crook.

"JazakAllah! I still cant believe I have almost made it Ma'am" I stated, I felt my palms were sweaty and heart pounding inside my chest.

I wanted to cry or maybe fall into prostration and spend the rest of every moment of my life in thanking my Rabb for blessing me with such beautiful gift..... Hifz

"you deserve it my love! A student of Quran as eager as you cant be seen every day Tehreem! MashaAllah you are blessed" she smiled and I felt my heart swelled up in gratitude and overwhelming joy.

"But I still have to go through all over for a few times Ma'am" I mentioned and she nodded.

"Never leave Quran Tehreem! You are done with your hifz and now the responsibility has increased even more" she explained and I blinked my eyes. "stick to this guidance and it will lead you to stars, to the brightest future and the peace. Such peace which you had never even imagined Tehreem!" she smiled softly at the end.

Her face had something I always loved and wanted to be in me as well. It was her love for Quran and Rabb, sometimes I used to envy her.

"what happened?" she asked and I smiled shaking my head.

"Mera dil kerta hea mein Rabb k sab se ziada qareeb hoon. Bus mein hoon or Wo ho, teesra koi na ho. Mera dil kerta hea Rabb sab se ziada mujh se muhabbat karey...." I blurted out and she chuckled softly.

"Call me greedy but I want the most beautiful place in Jannah. I want to witness with my eyes what I have dreamt for millions of times ma'am! This life feels like a hurdle in my way...

"Aesey nai kehtey Tehreem!" Ma'am Nausheena cut me through with her index near my lips and I looked at her face. "Rabb ka shuker ada karo is zindagi k liye k Us ne tumhen chuna for being so much blessed and spend every moment in gratitude. Never call this life a hurdle" she explained and I smiled nodding.

"Abbu is coming back next month. Am so happy I could finally go back to home and Hussain se bhi....

My eyes widened as realization struck me. what was I even talking about.

"Ahan! Tum ne bataya nai kesa hea Hussain?" she asked suddenly remembering and I gulped down.

"He is good Ma'am!" I stated shortly keeping my gaze fixed on the Quran in my lap as my fingers trailed over the edges.

"Tehreem!" she touched my chin and pulled my face up. "is he the person you would like to spend your life with?" she was searching my expressions and I blinked.

"I dunno. I mean Hussain achey hen Ma'am bus he is different than me. maybe he isn't the person who would take my hand and lead me to jannah"

I always wanted a husband whose footsteps can lead me to paradise.

"hmm...." I looked up at her face she had a thoughtful expression.

"Ma'am! Can I ask you something?" I asked with extreme hesitation and she smiled.

"anything"

"Hussain stares a lot and I feel like disappearing from the face of this earth" it blurted out of my mouth and she chuckled at once making me flush hard and I looked down feeling heat emitting my face.

"You are pretty. Us ka qasoor nai" she joked and I looked up at once with a frown.

"Rabb has asked men first, to guard their gaze in Surah Ahzaab Ma'am! Then He ordered women to cover themselves and guard their shame. Un ki ghalti kesey nai phir?" I asked grumpily and she sighed a little before holding my hand.

"Tehreem! Meri bachi try to understand his situation. He has come from a background where most of the people don't follow what is there in Surah Ahzab" she looked closely at my face stating.

"And then he knows that you two are going to be husband and wife so maybe that's why the thought gives him the right to....

She trailed off as my frown came again on my forehead.

"isi liye mein insaan ki muhabbat se derti hoon. Bandey ki muhabbat Rabb se door ker deti hea. hea na Ma'am?"

"han mager kabhi kabhi ishq-e-majazi he bandey ko ishq-e-haqeeqi tak le jati hea Tehreem! Never forget this"

"Agar Hussain tum se muhabbat kerta hea to usey mat rokna kia pata tumhari muhabbat usey Rabb k kareeb le aaye. Kia pata tum se muhabbat bus ek bahana ho, Rabb usey der haqeeqat Khud se kareeb kerna chahta ho" Ma'am stated and I just went lost of words. I stared her afce thinking about what she just said.

"And never leave his hand Tehreem! He needs you" I couldn't understand why she said so.

"Maybe its you who will take his hand and lead him to jannah?"

"just keep distance and guard your gaze and shame the rest...leave it in the hands of Rabb" she smiled and I tried to return one but it came out a bad try.

Haya's POV

"but Dad! you already know what he had done with me there in Pakistan and still you people want me to marry him? that pervert" stating I was angry was an understatement.

"How could you two even think like this? I thought that chapter was closed for ever and for good" I looked at Mom.

"Haya beta! Jawad sherminda hea apney kiye per. And Razia bhabi bhi to kitna sherminda theen"

"Mom! un k sherminda honey se mujhey ferk nai perta. I can not stand that man around me even for a second and you people are here asking me to make him my life partner?" I stated firm. I was disgusted by the stupidity and indifference of my own parents.

"Haya! Think wisely. They are coming here in vacations. You two sit together and try to sort out the differences. Rishtey is terha se nai torey jatey beta!" dad tried to convince em and I just felt like a total looser who was left with nothing.

"I cant marry him" my voice sounded like a plea.

"Is there anyone else?" Mom asked and my eyes widened and then narrowed in disbelief.

"Coz if there is anyone else then you can tell us Darling!" Dad urged me and I just gaped at both of them. "we won't force you without your will but if there is no one then....

"There is nothing like this Dad!" I literally announced and dad got up from the sofa.

"Then you must ponder over the discussion we just had" he pressed a small smile and left the hall. I looked helplessly at Mom who heaved up a sigh giving me a no-help signal before following dad.

I almost fell in the couch grabbing a tuft of hair in my hands as my head hung low in extreme depression.

"us characterless insaan se shadi kerne se behter mein zeher kha ker mrr jaoon" I stated to myself as I got up, kicked the couch hard before marching towards my room.

Shehry's POV

"Shehry! Shehry beta!" Riaz mamoo called me from downstairs and I kept my laptop back on the bed before going down.

"Ji mamoo?"

"Beta! here is somebody to meet you" he informed me as I stepped down the stairs, pointing towards somebody I couldn't see as the back was turned towards me.

"kon hea ma....

My words got lost in my mouth as I stood there shocked finding Haya sitting there in the sofa. Somebody near me cleared his throat and I turned finding Waqas smirking at me. I frowned at him hard before looking back at her.

"hi!" she smiled and I was so confused I couldn't even return the gesture

"Uh- hi!"

"Uh- Mamoo ye Haya hen. Dad's friend's daughter and Haya ye merey mamoo hen and this is Waqas. My cousin" I introduced them. Haya smiled at Maamo and then Waqas and she shook hands.

"Nice meeting you" Waqas chimmed and I rolled my eyes. "Same here" Haya replied with her as always fake smile.

"Uh actually I went at your place but it was...

"Yeah! I have moved here since two weeks" I informed her and she nodded, her expressions screaming fish and I could smell something terrible coming already.

"Tum dono batein karo mein chae bhijwata hoon." Mamoo stated as he left us there.

"Can we go outside?" Haya asked, her expressions worrisome and I shrugged my shoulders. "only if you aren't busy" she added quickly.

"I wonder if you will be comfortable with a dog outside?" I stated sarcastically and she rolled here eys.

"Monkey" she reminded me and I couldn't help but smile. I showed her the way and we walked out of the house into the front lawn.

"So, how are you?" I asked killing the silence.

"I need your help" she stated ignoring my question and I frowned.

"Yeah! Kia phir koi peecha ker raha hea tumhara?" I asked narrowing my eyes and she sighed in frustration, her hand ranked through her curls and I wonder if her fingers go struck in them and never come out back.

"Jawad and his mother is coming here New York next week. They want me to forgive the pervert for whatever he did coz he is so-called ashamed of that" she made airy marks as she stated.

"then dont ask me, go and ask your parents to say a straight a head NO." I suggested and she shook her head.

"they want the same"

"What?" my frown went deeper in utmost shock and she nodded.

"What can I do? Kidnap Jawad and disappeare him somewhere? Or to hijack the flight in which he is coming or maybe trap him in my love so that he may forget you....?" I asked keeping a straight afce but this time she was so preoccupied in her tension that she ignored my blabberings and did not even roll her eyes at me.

"acting kerni hea thori si" she hesitantly stated and I narrowed my eyes.

"in front of my Mom and dad you have to... I mean we have to pretend as if we are....

My frown was getting even deeper as she trailed off. "as if we are into eachother and...

"What the fried fish!!!" I literally jumped in my place as she stated.

"Come on Shehry! its just acting. For like a couple of weeks. Us k baad you will be free forever. So shall I be" she tried to explain but I backed off.

I knew it something horrifically terrible was coming ahead when I saw her in the lounge as my guest.

"Look haya! my dad and Mom will kill me for this. Secondly I don't want to act any such rubbish" I told her firm. "this is not just acting, it's a down right lie that is going to break a lot of hearts ultimately. So it is a big NO" I added firmly.

"please Shehry! if only I had other friends I would have asked them but I only have one male friend and he is...well, I cant tell Mom Dad that am in love with James" she blabbered and I rolled my eys.

"and you are willing to tell them that you are inlove with Shehryar? wow! Sounds so natural" I chuckled and she rolled her eyes. "they would definitely believe it"

"That would be only for a few weeks. Please!"

"Haya! This can be very stupid and can end up horribly" I warned her. "I don't know about yours but my parents are touchy people, Mom would never forgive me once I will tell her the truth"

"think of something else girl" I suggested.

"I don't have options. Its not that I am having a buffett here" she made a face and I heaved up a sigh thinking what should I do.

"okay maybe you can tell Shaista Aunty from the very start that you are only acting and its just to help me out of this crap shitt...." She stated, yeah that can happen. "or if you aren't comfortable I will call her and explain things myself" she added.

For a few moments I remained silent and then I saw Waqas bringing the tray out into the lawn. I heaved up a sigh glancing at Haya who was looking at me expectedly.

"Here is the tea guys! I hope all is okay" Waqas placed the tray on the tea table before looking at my face suspiciously.

"Yeah all is well. All is well" I stated like a mantra and he chuckled.

"Chal! am leaving for studio. See you there" Waqas informed me and I smiled. "Nice to see you Haya! Bye" he then looked at her who pressed a smile and he left.

"so what have you decided?" Haya asked eagerly and I frowned at her desperation. "Look! Don't think that am dying to creat this drama with you okay. its just that you are close to my parents, they like you so its definite if its you they wont resist" she explained.

"Fine" I reluctantly stated and felt the tension from her face washed away instantly as she sighed in relief.

....

"but you told me that you two are poles apart and Haya seriously dislikes you. tum to us k ghar nai rehna chah rahe thy now what is all this?" Mom's voice was laced with worry and suspicion.

"Mom! its not me. its Haya. She wants my help or dekha jaye to she isn't wrong Mom! how can se marry Jawad after whatever he did to her? Salma Aunty and Qadir uncle are definitely not doing right"

"Han mager Shehry beta! this isn't right as well. what about the result of all this?"

"Mom! its about a few weeks that's it. Once they will be gone Haya will explain things to her parents"

"Shehry! beta is there anything else?" Mom asked, I wish she was here with me itni door beth ker unhen pareshan ker diya tha mein ne. I felt bad for her.

"Nai Mom yar! All is fine. bus it's a small act we have to put on and I wont let you or dad embarrass in any case. You have my word" I assured her and heard a sigh.

I was convincing and assuring Mom but deep down I had a terrible feeling that this is going to be one extremely wrong move of my life.

As if am gonna end up in an even bigger mess.....

....
Hope u all liked it :-)