"MAMA!!"Alayna's loud voice echoed in the large haveli as she ran behind her brother.
"Alayna kyun itna shor macha rahi ho sare ghar Main?!" Qainat said exasperated.

"Mama Fary bhai ny meri sary lays kha li" Alayna cried to her mother while Faran laughed hysterically at his sister's sad face.
"Toh kya ho gaya hai, bhai hai tumhara, share karna seekho janwaron" Qainat glared at both of her kids.

"Alayna api ap mere sath kha lain" a delicate voice said behind the older girl.
"Ek Yahi hai meri behen is ghr main, Baqi to sauda ese krty hain jesy behen nahi dushman hun" Alayna scoffed playfully and hugged Hooryia to her chest as the petite girl giggled.
"Faran bhai aap bhi le lain" she smiled.
"Thankyou Hoor !! Tum meri Sahi wali behen ho, ye churail pata nahi Kahan sy utha ky lae thy mama baba" Faran squished Hooriya's cheeks.

"Baba ko any dyn aap bhai" Alayna glared at her brother as Hooriya shook her.
"Api apne decide kr lie apne kapre?" Hooriya questioned her api as they walked towards the living room.

It was Sunday and as always their Phupo had invited all of the Daryab haveli for their traditional Sunday dinner.
It was a way for all of the family to meet up and spend some quality time together.
"Kahan yaar, main soch rahi thy Kuch simple sa pehen lun." Alayna made a face.
"Main Yashfi ko phone kr ky puch thi hun" Hooriya suggested and Alayna nodded enthusiastically.

Despite living just a few meters away the girls were always excited to see their Phupo and cousin, they had a bond with Yashfa that went far deeper than just being cousins.
They were a knot that was inseparable and they prayed to God that it always remain that way.

That evening everyone got ready and were now heading towards the Baig haveli.
The men wore their shalwar kameez and a few of them had a chaddar sitting on their shoulders due to the chilly February breeze.

Asfandyar and Zarrar had returned from work a few hours earlier, both the men were handling their fathers' textile business and were also involved with their older cousin's export business.

Rafay had opened his own construction firm, having studied architecture, he was exeptional in his line of work.
Sheharyar was in his last year of medicine and was preparing to graduate the same year and Faran was studying chemical engineering.

Despite the constant bickering and banter here and there the khandan was extremely proud of what their kids had achieved, letting them always know that their parents were always there for them.

As they reached the mansion they were warmly greeted by the family.
"Haye mere bacche" Hazal caressed all of her nieces and nephews.
Her husband stood there amused as if his wife did not see them everyday during her daily chai meet-up with her sisters.

Yashfa jumped in her mumanis' arms as she saw them enter, a minute later the girls squealed as they hugged each other,making everyone chuckle.
Hooriya bit her lip as she shyly looked around her Phupo's house but not finding the source of her interest she sat on the couch.

"Hooriya, bete kesy ja rahy hain apki studies?" Hazal questioned her softly.
"Acchi ja rahy hain Phupo" she smiled warmly and hugged the elder woman.

"Use to chor hi do Hazal, parhai main iska dimagh lagta nahi Aur jbh kaam krne ko kaho tbh madam ny novels main sar ghusaya hota hai" Hira shook her head at her own daughters antics.

Hooriya was the best daughter she could ever get, she was obedient, a little clumsy but tried her best in everything.
Her father was the happiest when her dil ka tukra was born, and was intact very protective of his little girl.

"Hazal tum yeh Batao ke hamary bete ki kabh shadi kr rahi ho?" Samar playfully asked Hazal.
"Kya bataun bhabhi! Is larke se to baat Krny ka time hi nahi milta, sara din to office hota hai aur jbh baat kro to bas sar hila deta hai. Dekh lain Abhi tak nahi aya " Hazal huffed.

Hooriya stood up from there, a little uncomfortable by the conversation, and went towards the rest of her cousins.
Yashfa pulled her best friend beside herself and all of them started talking about what was going on in their lives.

Yashfa and Hooriya looked towards the other couch and smiled secretly as they saw Alayna and Asfandyar immersed in a deep conversation.
Alayna was very extroverted, unlike Hooriya she was capable of expressing herself openly and the girls immensely admired this about their api.

"Kitny pyary lag rahy hain saath bhete hue, Hayee" Yashfa squealed in a hushed voice as Hooriya giggled.

Just then they heard a Salam from the main door and footsteps coming their way.
They stopped for a second to greet the elders and then made their way to the living room.

Hooriya bit her lip in anticipation and adjusted her dupatta.
She had in the end opted for a simple long shirt with a velvet dupatta.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum" His crisp and elegant voice greeted the youngsters.
" the men got up from their places and greeted their elder brother.
"Aaj boht der ho gayi bhai" Zarrar questioned and Ayaan replied.
"Han Mr Qureshi ki call a gayi thy to mujhy rukna para" His partners nodded.

He then greeted Alayna with a hand on her head and a hug from Yashfa.
Hooriya, on the other hand, hadn't been able to even look at him as it seemed like her eyes were permanently stuck to the ground.
Her heart trembled in his presence and self awareness made its way into her mind.

Ayaan's gaze fell on the little lamb sitting near his sister and a little smile began touching his lips.
"Assalam-o-Alaikum Hoorie" he greeted in a voice that felt like a caress to her but nobody noticed as everybody else had started walking towards the dining room.

"W-wa Alaikum-o- Salam"she whispered, still looking at the ground.
An amused expression played on Ayaan's lips as he took in her slightly trembling form.
"Kesy ho?" He questioned and she nodded meekly.
She then hesitantly stood up and headed towards the dining table, Ayaan followed.

All of them enjoyed their meal as the males engaged in their own conversation and the ladies talked about everything in the world.

Hooriya sat in her seat and never looked towards anyone and no one questioned it a lot since she was extremely shy and mostly preferred being alone.

The cause of her state was the man sitting a few seat away from her, as he conversed with her father.
"Hooriya Aur lo" Hira said to her daughter but her little girl refused.
"Kya Karun main tumhara Hoor, Aur khao thora beta" her mother urged but a little pout formed on her pink lips.
"Beta mama Sahi keh rahin hai, kitny kamzor ho gayi ho,shabash kha lo thora aur" Qainat cooed.
Hooriya reclutantly ate a few more bites and then stopped, fearing her stomach would explode any second.
Unknown to her a figure watched her keenly and made a disapproving shake of his head.

__________
"Mama please....please" Alayna begged her mother.
"Bhabhi rehne de na bachion ko" Hazal smiled and the mothers agreed.
All of them squealed as they ran to Yashfa's room.
The rest of them bid goodbye and returned home.
_________
The girls sat on the bed cuddling as they watched a romcom on Yashfa's MacBook.
"When will I get this in my life" Yashfa sighed and the girls nodded.
"Api....ap kyun Han kr rhy hain...apky to full maze hain" Yashfa teased and got smacked on the arm from Alayna.
Hooriya giggled as she saw Alayna's red face.
"Api main Aur Yashfi boht khush hain apke lie" Hooriya reassured her api.
"Mujhy dar lagta hai" the eldest finally confessed.
"Mujhy to asfi pasand hain..."
"OHHH TO ABH ASFAND BHAI SY ASFI" Hooriya and Yashfa laughed.
"Badtameezon baat suno!! Mujhy to wo pasand hain lekin unky dil main kya hai wo to Mujhy samajh hi nahi ata...kabhi lagta hai ky shayad wo kuch mahsoos krty hain mere lie...toh kabhi lagta hai ky sirf behen mante hain.." Alayna sighed.

Hooriya moved closer to her and held her hand:"aghr bhai apke naseeb main likhy hain to apko wo zaroor milyn gy api".
Hooriya smiled at the irony of the situation, she understood her api's dilemma.
The only difference was that in her destiny there wasn't even a chance of her getting him ,but her heart couldn't but beat for him even though it knew the consequences: pure and utter heartbreak.

"Accha in baton ko chorain, ice cream khane chalain?" yashfa grinned mischievously.
"Is time kon ly ky jayega bewakoof" Alayna lightly hit her in the back of her head.
"Ayaan bhai Aur kon" Yashfa stated naturally.

"Accha chalo tkh hai" Alayna agreed as she was craving something sweet as well.
Hooriya took a deep breath.
"Aap log jayen Mujhy neend a rhy hai" she tried convincing them but her sisters weren't having it.
"Chup chap chappal pehno" Yashfa stood with her hands on her hips and said in an "intimidating" voice.

Hooriya nodded and went to the bathroom to retrieve her dupatta meanwhile Yashfa and Alyana went on a mission to convince their brother.

As she adjusted her dupatta and came out of the room she failed to notice the huge back moving towards her same direction and as a result collided directly into it ,almost kissing the floor with her butt.

Big arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her securely towards a warm chest.
A hiss escsped Hooriya's mouth.
"Kahan dard ho raha hai" questioned a rich and velvety voice.

Hooriya's eyes finally rose and found her dushman e dil staring right into her.

She gulped and hurriedly tried moving, but failed.
Ayaan's hand came lightly caressed the tip of her nose, knowing exactly where she had collided with him.

Hooriya never looked up at him, making him chuckle slightly.

"Tumhary isi haya pe jaan jaty hai mery, Hoorie"

"M-main tkh hun" she spoke ignoring his words and mentally cursing herself for stuttering.

His hand came up once again and with two of his fingers he grasped her chin and tilted her head towards his eyes.
"Mujhsy itna darty kyun ho?" His eyebrows rose in question.
The girl in his arms shook her head and freed herself from his grip, running downstairs leaving a mesmerized man behind.

As Hooriya descended the stairs she found her sisters waiting in front of the door, scrolling through their phones.
"A gayi! Chalo ghary main bhet ty hain!" All of them strolled towards the garage and sat in Ayaan's car .

"Hoor tum darmyan main bheto, Mujhy nahi bhetna idhr" Yashfa said and Hooriya being the sweet girl she is gladly moved in the middle.
A minute later Ayaan came and sat in the car, put his seatbelt on and turned towards the girls:"Seatbelt pehno teeno" and they complied.

"Kya khana hai?" Ayaan questioned them but his eyes were fixed in one particular face as he reversed the car.
"Ice cream!!" Two voices shouted.
When he saw that his lady had also nodded he started driving.
Hooriya cursed herself for sitting right in the middle, she knew that he had been repeatedly glancing at her through the rearview mirror, making her insides churn.
Ayaan on the other hand couldn't believe how a being like her could actually exist.
Her milky complexion ,Gray eyes and a small button nose with pink pouty lips made his heart go berserk.
Not to mention her pure heart and soul.

She was an angel sent from heaven.

As they arrived Yashfa and Alayana hurriedly walked out of the car, leading the way for Hooriya and Ayaan who followed them.
One content and the other one nervous.

Hooriya had wrapped a bigger chaddar around herself before sitting in the car but it being very large fell a little bit on the ground.
Ayaan decided to pick it up from the ground and continued walking behind her.

But as Hooriya looked around and couldn't find her sisters she turned around hastily colliding with a large chest.
His arms held her shoulders in a gentle yet steady manner as he balanced the petite woman.
"Dehan sy" Ayaan let go of her shoulders but gulped as he saw her dainty and long fingers placed on his chest.
"Wo Yashfi aur Alayana Api...." Hooriya said in a soft voice.
Ayaan looked around and shook his head.
"Chalo hum bhet ty hain, Yashfa pura mall ek dafa ghoom na le to usko sukoon nahi ata." He said with a faint smile on his face.

Hooriya chuckled a little and then moved towards the dessert place that they had choosen.
"Kya khao gy?" Ayaan questioned his little lamb.
That was what she was to him. His little lamb.
So delicate and pure, always so reserved and gentle.
Never looking into his eyes like a scared lamb.
His heart ached to touch her rose colored cheeks but his mind kept repeating what he so desperately wanted to ignore.

"Stop it Ayaan! She's a decade younger than you!" His mind scolded but his heart was sitting in his angel's hands and no matter what he told himself the feelings he so desperately tried  to extinguish came surfing back as soon as her ethereal face came into his view.

"Kuch bhi" she told him a little flustered by his intense gaze.
"Abh ayi ho Khud decide kr lo." He encouraged and she nodded.
"Brownie" Hooriya said after a few moments.
"A-aur extra ice cream aur chocolate syrup please" she voiced out meekly and held his shirt as he got up to give their order.

Ayaan nodded smiled to himself as he moved.

He came back and sat opposite.
"Hoorie" he called and the girl in question looked up at him with her big Bambi eyes.

'Hoorie' How she loved hearing that from his mouth.

"Parhai tkh ja rahy hai?" He asked softly and moved forward to grasp her hand.
"Gee" she nodded softly.
"Koi tang to nahi krta na?" He questioned knowing that his little bug never expressed her worries.
Hooriya shook her head and looked up at him.
"Phupo, chachu, Alayna api aur Yashfa ky lie bhi kuch le lain" she suggested and Ayaan melted at the care she had for all of their family members.

Meanwhile Hooriya dug into her brownie, her favourite dessert, and moaned at the flavour.
Ayaan chuckled at her expression and brought his head up to wipe the whipped cream on the side of her mouth leaving her speechless and blushing.

How he loved seeing that blush coat her pale cheeks!

A shy smile pulled up at Hooriya's lips and smirk on his.

___________

"Bhai you're the best!!! Aap brownies bhi laye hamary lie?!" Yashfa squealed and hugged her brother.
Hooriya smiled at the duo and then all of them went to their respective rooms to sleep.

Two of them were immersed into each other's thoughts the whole night, sleep was far away from their eyes.

But Hooriya's heart ached at the thought of him, she was nowhere near his age...what if he thought of her as a child or even worse, his sister.
Not to talk about what all of his business partners would say.
The news of him getting married would eventually get out and never in her life she would ever want to make Ayaan feel embarrassed because of her.

While her Phupo was already thinking of getting him married, her parents hadn't even distantly thought about their daughter's marriage.
She was just too young they thought.

Furthermore her father would never agree to their alliance because of how different Ayaan was from his daughter.

He had seen him in his professional field multiple times and the hardness that he executed was the opposite of the caring nature that his beloved daughter carried within her.

Where she was warm like the glowing sun, he was cold like the winter breeze.

Where she was gentle and loving, he was harsh and rough.

As Hooriya thought of all the obstacles standing in her path tiredness took ahold of her body, succumbing her into a much needed sleep.

__________
Not edited!!
I'm sorry for any grammatical mistakes.

First chapter!
I hope you guys enjoyed it!
Comment all about your thoughts, I love reading them lmao!!!

You guys can recommend any romance scenes in particular if you want, I will try and fit them into the best chapters. <3

Lots of love, Laiba!