Alizah was the first one who noticed the secret glances stolen between her best friend and her stepbrother's best friend. If they think they're playing oblivious, then they're the most foolish duo. Anyone with two eyes could clearly see the tension between them. A mischievous glint formed in her eyes as she cleared her throat, snapping Mahira out of her thoughts, whose eyes were subtly looking at that corner where the crush of hers was seated.

"What?" She didn't mean to snap, but that was the only reaction sixteen years old Mahira could give after being disturbed from watching her crush. Yes, she has finally come to the acknowledgement that Ameen Qureshi is her crush. She has tried a lot to deny that fact, but couldn't anymore. She has been crushing on him secretly for nearly a decade now. That's a long time indeed.

The first time when she saw him, Ameen Qureshi was sharing his biscuits with two stray cats. Mahira loves cats and that small gesture of his has unknowingly created a special place in her tiny little heart, which only increased when he saved her from falling down the tree.

Growing up, she really hoped that whatever she felt towards him would fade away slowly, but it grew stronger than ever. And now at sixteen, she was finally courageous enough to admit it to herself that there's something about him. Something so special that it keeps pulling her towards him all the time. She was crushing hard on Ameen Qureshi and even his one small glance or one small smile towards her would make her day.

"Stop being so obvious dear friend, you're drooling." Alizah teased her with a smug smile making Mahira mortified, her feelings were supposed to be a secret and no one was to find out. But her best friend had to find it out like this.

"What are you talking about?" Mahira acted all nonchalant while silently glancing towards Ameen's side, it was a habitual thing, she didn't mean to glance at him at all, not right now.

But the exact same moment he eyes her way, their gazes gets locked for a second. Black against hazel brown. And they remained like that for a brief moment, the world seems to freeze for the both of them. Neither of them could even blink an eyelash before she quickly turned away with a hue of redness on her cheeks.

"See what am I talking about." Alizah snapped a picture of her best friend's blushing cheeks and smiled sweetly at her horrified self. Now that the cat was out of the bag, she's going to have so much fun teasing Mahira.

Laughing at her expression, she added, "Why don't you go and talk to him? He's just there."

"Talk to who?" Another voice interrupted them both, who held an apple juice in her hand.

"None of your business, Maya." Alizah rolled her eyes at her stepbrother's snobbish cousin. She was of her age, sixteen. But acted and dressed like an adult already.

Mahira had no particular reason to hate her, but just because her best friend hates her, she was hating her too. Hate might be a strong word. They just don't like Maya for no obvious reason and yes, they were petty.

"Go away, we don't like you," Alizah muttered with a huff while possessively holding her best friend's hands, attempting to walk away.

"This is Asad's birthday party anyway. Its not like I'm here to talk with you." Rolling her eyes, Maya walked towards Asad instead and then passed a flirty smile to Ameen, who politely smiled back.

"God, I hate Asad and his stupid family. Why did mom marry his dad?" Alizah marched away from there, suddenly becoming too emotional and sad. Mahira couldn't get herself to move her legs after watching the sight in front of her.

While she knew Ameen for nearly a decade, never did she dared to talk with him except for that one day where he saved her from falling down the tree. All she did was just glance at him secretly. And rarely smiled. Those days when he smiled back would make her day. But here, a girl who barely knew him is already flirting with him.

And that exact moment Mahira felt this stupid yet strong kind of hatred towards Maya and the feeling was never going to fade away. She was sure about that and how very right she was.

***

"You shouldn't have just left like that, Mahi... Everyone was asking about you." Rashida told in a disappointed voice, whilst serving Mahira dinner. They were back from her elder daughter's house, tired and exhausted but missed having Mahira around throughout her granddaughter's birthday party.

"I was not feeling well, Ammi." Mahira ate her dinner nonchalantly whilst fighting an inner battle of her own. Her feelings were on haywire right after he caught her in his arms, saving her from falling like all those years ago.

It was nostalgic yet bittersweet.

Being so close to him like that, in his arms, breathing the same air as him, after four years of separation gave Mahira goosebumps and whatnot. Her head was still replaying that moment again and again. Ameen Qureshi had that freaking effect on her.

"Ammi, its okay. She just came back in the morning." Ahil for the first time backed her up and she gave him a surprised look, who nodded at her instead.

"Rashida, he's right. Leave it." Akram sided with her as well. That was unexpected. But she was glad anyway. Passing a grateful smile towards her older brother, Mahira walked to her bedroom after finishing her dinner and jumped on the bed exhaustedly.

The travelling of three hundred miles and then visiting her older sister right after that without taking a break and coming face to face with him for the first time after four years of separation. It has been a really overwhelming day for her.

Mahira couldn't stop that tears flowing down her cheeks and sleep overtook her eyes in the middle of the night as she kept replaying all those happy moments spent with him in her mind.

The next day arrived faster than she expected and her best friend Alizah has called her twenty times already, that girl is still as stubborn and adamant.

"Ali, I'm sleeping. What do you want?" Mahira mumbled whilst yawning lazily.

"You're supposed to hang out with me today, you promised and we don't break promises," Alizah replied dramatically. Just like her usual self.

"Its still early in the morning, go away. I'm sleeping." Even though she missed her best friend so damn much, there are no compromises when it comes to her sleep.

"Babe, it's nearly twelve. What early morning are you talking about? Wake up and come here already. I have lots to catch up with you." her stupid friend was having none of it and with a huff, she got up lazily but shot open her eyes as a thought struck her head.

"Is he going to be there?"

"N-no. No. Just come. Or, I'm cutting all ties with you." A frown etched on her lips as she stared at the blank screen. Something felt weird but she brushed it off.

With a shake of the head, Mahira woke up finally and got ready to meet her best friend. Its been so long, but they're still as close. Texting frequently and talking in video call every single day. It was like the four years gap didn't happen at all and they both know what's happening in each other's lives. They were that close.

***

"I can't breathe, Alii." Mahira grinned ear to ear as her best friend pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, telling how much she has missed having her around, "I'm sorry." Alizah added guiltily and she gave her a confused glance which turned into a furious glare when she understood what Alizah meant.

"How could you do this?" Mahira snapped as she saw Ameen standing in the foyer looking desperate and a little sheepish.

"You can kill me later, yeah. But talk to him. He was so desperate and helpless." Alizah pouted cutely making her huff. She had no idea what he had planned in his mind but was curious to listen anyway.

Mahira was stupid yes. But right now, she wanted to listen to him. She knew she was a hypocrite but this was another level of hypocrisy. Just yesterday she wanted nothing to do with him and today, she was dying to listen to him. Listen to his explanation. She badly wanted to know why he did what he did. They didn't end their relationship on the best terms after all. She needed a damn closure.

"You only get five minutes. Talk what you want to talk." Keeping a straight face, she uttered those words and he beamed at her in return, but the glare on her face intensified which made him sigh.

Ameen was determined though, he will explain everything to her, clear all the misunderstandings and have her back in his life. He was pretty confident but not so much.

"Why don't you guys go to the backyard or something. My parents and brother are still in the house." Alizah smiled sweetly making Mahira frown at her, but she walked towards the backyard without another word, Ameen followed her behind not before passing a grateful smile to Aliazh. The girl showed him thumbs up and mumbled all the best.

The Khan's backyard made her feel so many things. Standing under the same tree where he saved her all those years ago, Mahira was feeling lost. Memories were flashing before her eyes, of their childhood, teenage days... And how happy they were four years ago and how he ruined it all.

"Hira..." the name triggered something in her, which got her so mad and angry with him.

"Its Mahira... how many times I have to tell you?" He smiled sadly at those words.

"You'll always be my Hira. You can't stop me from calling you that, Hira."

The freaking nerve of him, "I am not yours, Mr Qureshi..." She snapped at him furiously.

"Yes, yes you are."

"You lost that right when you cheated on me four years ago." Her eyes were burning with rage and anger.

"Damn it, Hira. I never cheated on you. It was all pretence." Ameen finally snapped, feeling irritated and angry at his own self for messing everything like the way he did. Things could have handled in a much better way, he realized it now.

"I saw the lipstick mark on your shirt, how is that a pretence?" Did he think she was a fool?

"It was my own lips." His voice was barely a whisper.

"Sorry?" Mahira couldn't help but widen her eyes. Did she hear him right or was she hallucinating?

"I applied your lipstick and kissed my shirt." His voice was incoherent again.

"Are you stupid? Why the hell would you do that and why did you say that it was someone else's then?" Mahira felt so desperate and annoyed. Desperate to know his stupid reasons and annoyed at him for playing her like that. Annoyed was not the right words, she was furious at him.

"I wanted to have a valid reason to break up with you, Hira. Otherwise, I was sure that you wouldn't leave the city." Of course, she wouldn't. She came to him that day tearfully to let him know- let studies be damned, I am not leaving three hundred miles away from you.

But she got the shock of her life when he acted all cold and ignorant confusing her, and Mahira completely lost her cool when she eyed that lipstick mark on his shirt.

"You did that to send me away? So that I'll concentrate on my studies?" It was her voice which came out as a whisper, all these years she thought he had cheated on her and here, he was doing something as foolish as that.

"I wanted to be your strength, Hira. Not your weakness. I couldn't digest the fact that you've failed your twelfth board exams because of spending too much time with me and I'm sure you wouldn't leave the city just like that, not when we were so much in love. I had to do something to make you leave. That was such a good college and you'd have left that for my sake, so I did what I felt was right."

"But Maya said- Her words were cut short when her phone rang, startling them. Mahira answered it with a huff.

"I'll be there in an hour, ammi. Will call you later."

"So you did all that for me to study properly without your distraction?"

"Yes." He sighed in relief for clearing everything. Finally!

"Thanks for your consideration, Qureshi. What do you want now? I have completed my graduation with flying colours." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm making him wince.

"I want you back, Hira. Forever."

"In your dreams, I'm not coming back to you, not now. Never." With that being said, Mahira strode from there angrily, as a lone tear dropped down her cheeks which she wiped away quickly.

Ameen on the other hand was taken aback as he watched her disappearing figure. She didn't want to be his it seems. How can he let that happen? And the exact same moment he vowed something.

He vowed to woo her back, win her heart and love all over again. And he will do it. He was a fool once, but not anymore.