❝︎ looking pale, feeling chic
that's so you, that's so me
that's so us ❞︎

- “That's So Us” by Allie X

★★★

After offering zuhr in a Masjid near the campus, Shahveer walked to his classroom leisurely. He had one of his MBA classes that day—quite an unexpected class as they were usually scheduled online or on weekends, if on campus.

Business interested him and he was keen to have his own but for some experience he decided to work for a few years in a respectable company and then start himself. For this reason, he had almost left his work at the coaching centre but the head convinced him to stay till the student's exams the same year, to which he reluctantly agreed and now he was really glad that he did.

He wore jeans and a button-up shirt, which he had tucked in, with full sleeves in a black and white combination, assuming it to be simple so as to not attract attention.

Little did he know, girls loved the black and white duo.

Taking a seat on one of the front rows, he removed his shades and thought of revising the last lecture when someone came and sat at some distance from him. He took a glimpse and saw a female sitting there, looking in his direction, but that wasn't something new. He could easily not pay attention to her, as he was used to it.

He may have enjoyed it in his early teens but now or precisely, since a few couple years 'female attention' didn't interest him. Especially now that she was back in his life, though it was only for two weeks but she was, and only that mattered to him. What happened two years ago, left him with questions and he believed that reuniting was a chance given by Allah.

He was not a person who would ignore things by giving them the term 'coincidence'. He was persistent and would strive for whatever he wanted. He was not one to give up, unlike someone else.

Back then, when it came to Fizza, he had grown hesitant. He was never ambivalent about his observations before, but Fizza made him doubt that. He started thinking that maybe he was wrong. He hoped and was almost sure that the feeling was mutual, if not that then he was adamant that there was at least friendship blooming, just like Haroon and hers. However, the way she acted towards the end of her 12th grade made him doubt everything.

So now that she was back, he was resolute to do something about it. Ask her about her thoughts or tell her about his own, anything but nothing. Now, he wasn't going to leave things as they are.

Lost in his reverie, he didn't notice the girl sitting beside him moving closer until she poked him on the shoulder faintly. He flinched and then turned to face her, raised his brows and tilted his head, as a gesture to ask why she did that, and she answered with a question;

"Do you mind if I sit here?"

Shahveer just replied with a shake of head and continued with mindlessly glancing at his notebook, though briefly due to the girl voicing her concerns again.

"What's your name?"

'I wonder why that concerns you.'

"Excuse me?" He pretended as if he didn't hear her, hoping for her to read his mind and not talk to him anymore. He wasn't fond of talking to girls. They would always expect something if he became friendly, so he preferred to not communicate at all.

He knew judging people was not a good habit, even more so when it's because of others he had encountered in the past for the reason that not everyone is the same, but he was also not some blind fool. If this was one simple friendly approach, then first of all she wouldn't need this, as it was their third semester and she'd already have friends. Secondly, she came from the back benches, not outside, and the instinctive glance he gave in that direction while entering, didn't dictate anyone sitting alone.

"I asked what is your name." The girl stated, totally not reading between the lines.

"Shahzain Sikandar." He lied, noticing how her eyes narrowed as he turned to his notebook and for the third time in the last five minutes, got interrupted by her.

"That's not it."

"If you knew already, then why'd you ask?" Shahveer replied with a straight face and the girl stuttered.

"Well, that, I-I...b-because it was a dare to talk to someone I don't already know." She disclosed finally, her words losing sound as she spoke.

He turned his head to look at the other girls—supposedly her friends—whose hushed voices had been reaching his ears since she sat here and they almost choked on their giggles, owning to the sudden action.

"Please do everyone a favor and keep your dares within your own circles. Don't disturb others just for some fun." Shahveer advised, his dislike for such lame games laced in his tone.  

The girl was beyond embarrassed and Shahveer noticed it. He sighed and opened his mouth to tell her it's okay and to just go back, but someone beat him to it.

"Shahveer, dude? You got someone else as a seatmate? No need for me anymore?" He looked up to find his friend wiping his non-existant tears and he wondered how he was able to make friends with only the dramatic people amongst the millions.

"No, its not like that. She was just asking something regarding this and is leaving now." He replied while pointing at his notebook and the girl stepped away in awe and admiration, unable to comprehend why he'd go as far as to hide her stupidity.

Though in reality, Shahveer only did that because it would be easier than explaining the truth. 

~~

Fizza applied maskara as a final touch and after draping her dupatta on her shoulders, fashionably, as she'd state, she winked and shot finger guns at herself through the mirror. She walked out of her room and after basically yelling a 'I'M GOING' and getting an 'OKAY' of the same pitch, she exited her house. Looking around, she didn't find Daneen's Audi but boys.

Did anyone announce that a girl is gonna ramp walk on this freaking road or something, so all the boys are hanging on their windows like monkeys as an audience?

She rolled her eyes while mumbling a 'whatever the eff' and started walking. She wasn't one to have regard to trifles like these. She could feel their stares, and unlike someone's, they made her uncomfortable, the bad way. Still, turning their way was something Fizza Aftab considered beneath her.

As strange and unbelievable as it might sound, it was the truth that women, no matter of what status or which country, would have to face such jahalat (immorality) from time to time. However, Fizza, being the one who preferred rationality over emotions, concluded that the more attention they get, the more fun they'll have and depriving them of their fun would be something of interest for her.

Reacting at this would only attract unnecessary attention and gossips from the neighbourhood. She was also aware that telling them off wouldn't actually stop them, even if they'll, there were countless others to continue their legacy, so she had given up even before trying.

Although, Fizza was not mayoos (despaired) from Allah's side, but yes, except her family memebers and close friends, she didn't trust others and didn't consider humans as beings you could expect much from. After all, she firmly believed that seeking absolute goodness in others is like hoping for water in a desert.

She scoffed, as she heard a few hushed laughs and suppressed the urge to flip the middle finger in their direction as she had now reached the corner of the alley and could see Daneen's car. She got in and didn't wait a second before calling her with the nickname, only one person in the world calls her with, and espied how her cheeks tinted.

"Princess, why did you even bother to come? I could've walked all the way."

"Shut up girl and don't call me that." Daneen paused to tell the driver to turn up the Air Conditioner and looked at a chuckling Fizza before continuing; "I thought it'd be nice to watch you doing the model walk but-"

"Uhuh and I know I slayed." Fizza chimed in, fixing her glasses.

"Nope, you flopped." Daneen clarified and got a hit on the shoulder by her best friend before the two starting laughing wildly, causing the driver to cast them a look through the rearview mirror.

After sobering up, the two quitened down but not for long, as Daneen broke the silence with her question;

"Why did you talk to sir Shahveer like that yesterday? I mean, the guy was just asking why you didn't attend those classes and you replied pretty indifferently I think."

Fizza's facial expressions changed, which didn't go unnoticed by Daneen, but soon she gave her a calm answer.

"I was just kinda pissed because, you know, I was not ready for the job at the time, so I guess I lashed out at him."

Her calm answer seemed like an explanation to herself and Daneen just looked at her without saying anything. She could feel Fizza was hiding something but didn't want to push her to spill the beans.

However, a little digging wouldn't hurt, right? So they spent the rest of the car ride rather actively, one in listening to excuses and the other in making them up.

They arrived early and were sitting on the setti, still chit-chating about random stuff, when they heard a knock on the door. There stood a man they didn't know and his speech sort of ticked them off.

"Assalam o Alaikum, new girls."

★★★

Author's Note

Assalam o Alaikum and Hi!

Okay, so this chapter is actually a way to depict their characters. I wanted there to be one, to express their views on certain aspects that we face in our daily lives.

Also, do leave some love in the form of votes or comments please <3

Well then, Allah Hafiz and take care.

Laters✌🏻