It had been almost ten minutes since they had arrived to their shabby unkept hotel room and neither of them had spoken a word.

Yaseen, simply lay on the squeaky old bed while Dina sat down by the foot of it. Her back facing Yaseen.

Yaseen felt restless as he saw her silhouette shaking. She must be in pain.

Why did it bother him so much though?

He sighed getting up, Dina Farooqi would definitely be the death of him.

He slowly walked towards her and kneeled down facing her, she had her face buried between her legs as she sobbed softly.

"Ab maine aisa bhi kya keh diya ke tum itna ro rahi ho?" Yaseen mumbled, biting down on his lower lip.

(Now what did I even say for you to shed so much tears?)

But, Dina remained mute. Not even looking up.

"Dina yaar" Yaseen groaned,"We aren't ten anymore."

Dina jerked her head up as soon as these words left his mouth.
Her eyes blazing with incomprehensible fury.
"Why are you even concerned? Let me be. We aren't ten anymore. You don't have to worry about me."

Yaseen sighed as his eyes softened. His orbs fleeted towards her face. That was puffy and red from crying.

"I'll always worry about you. No matter what age we are." Yaseen whispered, his gaze holding her captive.

Dina scoffed at him as she looked away from his face. It pained her immensely to hear him say that.

Suddenly, she felt two warm hands across her cheeks as they turned her face to face him.

He stared at her with so much intensity that it was almost impossible for her to look away. A lone tear trailed down her cheek as she closed her eyes shut.

"You've hurt me Yaseen. And it's not the first time you've done this." Dina whispered, as she sucked at her lower lip.

She felt his thumb rub against the tear, that fell down.

"You remember, when we were young, you used to wear that awfully purple dress of yours almost thrice a week despite phupho's constant dislike towards it." Yaseen said, as he slid down sitting beside Dina.

Dina flicked her eyes open as she stared at him in confusion.

"You even stole Phupho's lipstick and wore her heels, just because you felt pretty in them" Yaseen smiled lost in his thoughts as he narrated.

"You would roam around the entire house, stumbling in those heels that were too large for your tiny feet along with unevenly applied lipstick."

Dina frowned not knowing why he was reminiscing all this.

"And remember how one day, our watchman's son; Usamah, bullied you for being everyone's spoilt princess. And always showing off in that purple dress."

Dina's eyes widened.

"You cried for hours that day, never confided in anyone about what had happened. And suddenly after that you never wore your awfully purple dress again. It was like it had never existed." Yaseen concluded, causing a realisation to strike within Dina.

"And the next day you had beaten up Usamah and were punished by Dada Jaan. You knew what Usamah had said to me" Dina exclaimed horrified.

Yaseen only smiled down at her softly.

"You see Dins, I have always cared for you, so much more than I want to. But, that's how it's always been. It's like my body and brain automatically program themselves to protect you. Maybe in the process of protecting you, I end up being the person who inflicts the pain on you."

Dina remained silent after Yaseen had  uttered out his thoughts.

"Why did you not wear that purple dress again?" Yaseen questioned trying to get her to speak her thoughts out.

Yet, she didn't utter a word just remained dead silent staring into space.

"Jab main hota hoon, to aapni zabaan kaichi jaise chalti aur haath to lohai jaise ho jaate hai. Par doosron ke saamne jaise bheegi billi bani phirti ho." Yaseen asserted. Tired of her being so unresponsive.

(When it comes to me, your mouth works like it doesn't have a stop and your hands become iron rods but, in front of others you become a scared cat.)

Dina knew he was right. He was absolutely correct that it pained her to no extent.

"I am tired, Yaseen." Dina mumbled, tears clouding her eyes and she leaned on his shoulder, placing her head on in.

Yaseen sighed, putting his head on top of hers.

"You can't run away from your problems and the truth forever Dina. You know that right? One day you'll have to face them even if you like it or not."

Dina hummed in response as she closed her eyes.

•••

Waking up to Yaseen Hamidi screaming his intestines out is one of the most horrid things out there.

"Dina! Dina! Uth jao dayan!" Yaseen cried shaking Dina.

(Wake up witch)

"Kaun mar gaya hai, ghadey? Ese kyu chilla rahe ho?" Dina mumbled as she hugged a pillow to her chest.

(Who has died, donkey? Why are you screaming like this?)

"Abhi mara nahi hai, tumhe maarna hai ab." Yaseen cried as he dragged a half-asleep Dina towards the bathroom.

(It has not died, you have to kill it now)

"See--" Yaseen said as he pushed her inside the bathroom.

"What--" Dina cut her speech short when she looked at the bathroom wall with blurry eyes. Rubbing her eyes to clear them she saw the horrified creature. It was a huge lizard right above the toilet seat.

A scream left her mouth as she comprehended it's unbelievable size. It was huge and bloated almost the size of a bar of soap.

Hearing, Dina scream, Yaseen screamed too! Causing Dina to glare at him.

"Shut up!"

"Kill it!"

Both of them exclaimed simultaneously.

"Are you out of your mind? I can't kill it."Dina screamed walking out from the bathroom.

"But why? You have killed lizards before and on top of that you are a freaking Dayan. Lizards are your enemies."Yaseen groaned walking behind her.

" I have, but did you look at the size of this lizard. It will eat me alive. Also, get your facts straight. It is claimed that Dayans imbibe themselve as lizards. So how will lizards be their nemises?" Dina explained as she sat down on the bed.

"See I knew it. You were a Dayan from day one." Yaseen chided.

Dina smacked her forehead at his antics.

"Dina, mar do na please. Mujhe bathroom jaana hai, yaar." Yaseen pleaded making puppy eyes.

(Kill it please, I have to go to the bathroom.)

"Chii, get away from me." Dina replied rolling her eyes at him.

"Gareeb ki dua lagegi Dina. Churailon ki sartaj ban jaogi is dua se tum." Yaseen cried, falling at her feet.

(You will recieve a poor man's prayer.You can become the leader of the witches with this prayer.)

"Accha zyada drame na karo, utho. I'll kill it but on one condition."

( Okay don't do so much drama. Get up.)

"Manzoor hai, Manzoor hai." Yaseen exclaimed desperately.

( I agree, I agree)

"Pehle condition to sun lo pagal aadmi." Dina let out a chuckle by looking at the expression on his face.

(First hear my condition, you idiot)

"Abhi nahi sunni mujhe. You first kill that ugly lizard. After that I'll hear." Yaseen said, pulling Dina up from the bed.

" Yaseen, tum pehle number waale gadhey ho. Us monster chipkali ko kya mai aapne haaton se maaroon gi? Aur agar wo mere upar hi gir gayi mare bina to? " Dina flinched, just thinking about it.

(You are a number one donkey, Should I kill that lizard with my bare hands? And what if it falls on me instead of dying?)

Yaseen's mouth formed into an o-shape as if he had just had the biggest realisation.

"That is where my condition comes in."

Yaseen eyebrows shot up in curiosity. He resembled a puffer fish and Dina wanted to do nothing more than pull his cheeks.

"You will be the barrier between me and the Lizard when I kill it. And you will also dispose the dead body, that is if it dies." Dina said laying down her conditions.

"Dafa ho. Isse behtar to main hi maar loon us gandi chipkali ko." Yaseen exclaimed horrified.

(Get lost, better I will itself kill it.)

"Okay then." Was simply Dina's reply as she plopped down back on the bed.

Yaseen scoffed as he entered the bathroom, but returned back screaming like he had just seen someone getting murdered.

Dina jerked up staring at him wide eyed.

"What happened?"

His lips quivered and his eyes turned glossy as he clenched his shoulders in disgust.

"Haye Allah, kya hua hai?" Dina questioned walking towards him worried.

"I-I s-stepped on i-it." Yaseen broke out sobbing, leaning in on Dina's shoulder.

Dina couldn't decide if she should laugh at him or be disgusted.

She patted his shoulder awkwardly as she consoled him, trying to control her own laughter.

Suddenly a knock resonated throughout the room as Dina made Yaseen sit on the bed with a kerchief and headed towards the door.

Dina opened the door half to find the creepy guy from the reception.

He smiled at her with crooked teeth.
Dina frowned.

"Jee?"

"Wo-wo aapko pareshan karne ke liye maafi, par aap dono bohot aawaz kar rahe hai. Doosre clients bhi humare itni awaaz nahi karte." He said, biting at his lips mischievously as he stared up and down at Dina who was taller than his frame.

(I am sorry to disturb you, but both of you are making a lot of noise. Even our other clients don't make so much noise.)

Dina looked at him in confusion and was about to reply, when Yaseen barged between them. Pushing Dina behind him.

"Pehle to tum apni had me raho. Dusri baat, paise pure liye hai na tumne hum jitni chahe aawaz karenge. Tumhara kya jaata hai? Waise to aise waahiyaat bathrooms aur room hai tumhare. Jangli chipkalion ko paal rakha aur bade aate ho hume bolne wale."Yaseen said, narrowing his eyes at the shell shocked man.

(First you stay in your limits. Secondly, you have taken the whole fee for the room. So we will make as much noise as we want. How does this harm you? You already have such disgusting bathrooms and rooms. You have enhabited wild lizards here and you are one to complain)

"Woh..hum-tum-" The man began getting flustered but Yaseen cut him off.

(That..we-you-)

"Hum tum kya? Maine gaana nahi gaane ko kaha hai tumko." Yaseen screeched.

( What we-you? I didn't ask you to sing a song.)

Dina was at the verge of laughing out loudly as Yaseen belittled the man. Dina clutched the back of Yaseen's shirt and she hid her face in his shoulder, controlling the bubbling laughter.

For once Yaseen's weird mouthed arguments were being put to good work.

"Maaf kardo, saab. Mujhse galti hogayi." The man cried joining his hands in front of Yaseen.

(Forgive me, sir. I made a mistake.)

"Wo to mujhe bhi pata hai. Tumhari shakal pe hi likha hai ki tum kisi ki galti ho." Yaseen sassed.

(That even I know. It is written on your face that you are someone's mistake.)

The man let out another frustrated cry.

"Maine kaha mujhse galti ho gayi hai, maine khudko galti kab kaha? You know what. Let it be. I am going to go now. Maafi."

(I said I made a mistake, but when did I call myself a mistake?)

Yaseen frowned and called after him before closing the door and running towards the man who was already jogging away.

"Oye ruko. Mujhe koi doosra bathroom to dikhate jao."

( Show me some other bathroom.)

Dina smiled as she walked back towards the bed. Her heart fluttered loudly in her chest. The feelings she had long buried for Yaseen Hamidi were coming back even fiercer than before, and Dina could only think of surrendering this time even if it was going to be her downfall to that ocean eyed nonsensical being.

Suddenly the door swung open and Yaseen entered hurriedly, his eyes roamed franctically around the from before her grabbed Dina's arm and their things before rushing out.

Dina looked at him puzzled as she slowly limped along with him. Her sprained leg only providing limited movements.

"What happened?"

Yaseen just shrugged as he looked around stressed.

Suddenly, their was a loud commotion and people started rushing out from their rooms half naked.

There were sirens of police echoing outside the building.

"It's a police raid!" Someone screamed as Yaseen clasped his hand of over Dina's frozen eyes.

"Yaseen?"Dina gasped as she comprehended what this motel actually was.
"I think I need to wash my eyes with acid."

"For once in my life, I agree with you." Was Yaseen's reply and he wrapped his other hand around Dina's waist and told her to not open her eyes. He then grabbed her and took long strides towards where he thought was the exit to the building.

"Holy Shit--"

"What happened, now?" Dina mumbled troubled as she flicked her eyes open.

"Inspector Zeenat and Dilbar." The said in unison.

They quickly ducked, behind a pillar and the cops pulled out all the residents of the building.

Dina spotted the creepy receptionist running towards the opposite direction having escaped the police.

She pulled Yaseen's sleeve grabbing his attention as she pointed towards the man.

Yaseen grabbed Dina's hand once again and scurried towards the receptionist who was on flee.

Catching up with him, Yaseen slapped him on the back before dumping their bags on the man.

"Mujhe chod kar bhag rahe the tum?" Yaseen grinned, as he lifted Dina in his arms. Since Dina was limping and slowing them down.

(You were leaving me and running away?)

"Arey-nahi." The man smiled out of spite as he carried their heavy baggage.

After they were a good distance away from the hotel, the man muttered.

"Ye acha hai, mujhse apna saaman uthwalo aur khud ladki ko uthwakar bhagwaalo."

(This is nice, make me carry the luggage and you carry the girl.)

"Haan waise to accha hi hai na?" Yaseen grinned wide as his eyes drifted to the girl in his arms, who was staring at at his shirt buttons.
"What is you name?"

"Mehboob." The man whispered, in frustration as he started sweating from carrying the heavy weight of the luggage.

Yaseen let out a hearty laugh causing Dina to crane her neck up to look at him. His chest rumbled and his jaw line glistened under the dark sky. The slight crimping of his eyes added along with two dimples that formed on either sides of his mouth made him seem like a Greek god. Dina held her breath looking at him.

"To apni mehbooba ka intezaar karo, doosron ki maashooqaon ke upar kyu dhere daalte rehete ho?" Yaseen chuckled once again causing the man to grump again.

(Then wait for your beloved, why do you put your eyes on other's lovers?)

"Gareeb ke zakhm par namak to na daaliye, saaheb" the man said, putting the bags down and sitting on the ground taking a huge breath."Waise ye hoor bibi kya aapki maashooqa hai?"

(Don't put salt on a poor man's wounds, sir) (Is this angel your lover then?)

Dina's eyes closed shut on hearing the man's question as she clutched onto Yaseen's shirt tightly.

"Maashooqa ka to pata nahi. Par biwi hai meri."

(Don't know about lover, but she is my wife.)

Dina's eyes snapped open at once to already find him staring down at her.

unki nazar ka kuch aisa nasha tha
agar dil na dete to jaan chali jaati humari

(his gaze held such an intoxication,
that if i hadn't given my heart i would've lost my life.)

•••
a/n

Hello, my beautiful jaanis!

Ramadan Mubarak to all my muslim readers!

Did you enjoy the chapter?

It was a pretty long one in comparison to the other chapters I have written!

The lizard sneaking up behind Yaseen as he does his business

Please do shower you precious feedback on the chapter. It means the world to me.

Insha'Allah I'll meet you'll after Ramadan but, I will definitely be reading each of your comments!

Much love!

~flawfully