"So, where did you go when I was shopping? Harleen and I were searching for you the whole market!" Gurbani roared. 

Faajal kept her head lowered, avoiding her eyes to escape interrogation. If only a hint of her disappearance was disclosed, it would bring her scorn, far less than restrictions. Harleen had her mouth curled, bitterness apparent in her expression. 

"Answer my questions, FAAJAL! Where did you go in the name of seeing churis?!" Gurbani slammed the dining table, her face reddened from fury. Should Faajal disclose the truth or mask it with an excuse? She could have leaned on falsehood if not for Harleen's keen stare. Perhaps, Harleen had already supposed the thing, and now, she was devouring it. 

"Ma-" Faajal opened her mouth, but Harleen intervened, "Ma, the bazaar is big. She might have gotten lost." 

Faajal wobbled her mouth, but Gurbani's glare sapped her courage. "You know what? I shouldn't have brought you two," she heaved a sigh and dashed out. Harleen darted a crooked smile at Faajal, who stayed quiet, reckoning the elder's intentions. 

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Ravinder and badi amma had returned from their outing about an hour ago. Now, they feasted on dinner and blabbered about the grand house they witnessed. Fajaal sat on the balcony, letting the soothing gale of night brush her skin. The moon again shimmered in the sky, in the form of a crescent. But, whatever appearance it took, it would still be the night's ornament. She flicked the pages of her diary when the rose came in sight. Its petals had lost the liveliness of a week earlier, yet the dimmed colour seemed stunning to her; light and healing. Instinctively, the sides of her lips lifted. She picked it up and touched the petals, hardened yet brittle. 

Her daze broke when Saira called, "Faajal, come here." She walked inside their room and saw the elder glaring a smirk at her. She beckoned with her finger to call the younger near. Faajal quenched the fire already sparking in her. She would spare her no chance to humiliate her again.

"This payal," Saira hovered the payal Yusuf had gifted and wound around her finger. "That boy gave you?" 

Faajal released an exasperated breath. "Hmm,"

"Does anyone know?" Saira arched a brow.

Faajal woodened her posture. Saira enjoyed toying with her patience. "No," 

Saira patted her shoulder. "You know, I am your elder sister, right? I deserve many good things, but unfortunately, I....couldn't. You and I share the same roof of torment." 

A silence swept through before Saira added, "I shall keep it." Her face flared the sweetest smile while her inward thoughts dribbled with the venom of envy.

Chanchal came from the bathroom, wrapping a towel around her head. Faajal stole a glance but quickly returned to Saira. She'd better take her silence as an answer. 

"What's happening?" Chanchal approached. 

Saira pointed her finger towards her. "Don't disrupt when elders are talking," She faced Faajal again. "So, Faajal, won't you do this favour to me? After all, we are sisters." 

"How dare you take her thing?!" Chanchal growled, flinging off her towel. "It's her, Saira di!" 

"You have too much courage, little brat!" Harleen spat. "What did she give you for supporting her?" Harleen's gaze shifted to Faajal. Her hazel eyes spiked venom at her. "Nothing! So, stop taking her side!" 

"Don't tell me what I should do! I know my things very well, and at least, say that mine aren't as malicious as yours! You truly are Ravinder's daughters!" Chanchal shouted while Faajal held her back. If she didn't quail her words, a bigger disaster awaited them.

"Look, Faajal. I already know what is going on between you and that boy, Yusuf. And baba would never approve of that if he gets to know." Saira folded her lips. Faajal curled her fingers into fists, refraining her composure from cracking. The slightest diminish in her tolerance would spare Saira more chances to vex her.

"If you want your relationship unharmed, give me this. Give for give." Her mocking smile tested Faajal profusely, yet calmness was a necessity now. "Okay," It pained her to say. "Take it."

Saira tossed the payal, then caught it in her hand. "Brilliant girl," she sneered, putting the payal in her jewellery box. "Go-" Chanchal growled from behind, but Faajal shot her a glare to stop. This matter better not exceed this room.

In the morning,

"She took your thing, and you agreed?!" Chanchal screeched. Faajal sipped her tea while the morning sun bathed her in its rays. "Then, what should I have done? Let baba know?"

"What if Yusuf bhaiya asks about it?"

This question lit a thing in Faajal she had almost forgotten. He had fixed that they would buy another one by visiting the shop together! "I'll see, then." Faajal masked her hesitance with indifference.

At lunch break,

Ravinder was gone and supposed to return not before 7 pm. After all, he had earned Devika Rani's attention, and now, most studio heads also started chatting with him.

Faajal had sneaked into the garden behind the studio building and now, plucked chamelis from chameli trees. There were innumerable chameli trees in this garden that wrapped their fragrance into the air of this area. Sometimes, it could reach beyond the fence and tempt people to drown in its lure.

She picked one by one and stored them in her dupatta. After minutes, she slid back to the studio to find Yusuf. At last, he popped up.

"Hey, Faajal! Meet my first love!" Yusuf motioned towards a boy of his age. His height matched with Yusuf's, around 5'9. He had a pathan-kind built with remarkably fleshy arms and a swelled chest. The difference was in skin tone and facial features. While Yusuf had extremely fair skin, that boy had a golden tan. Yusuf had a softer face while his accomplice's could slash iron.

"Meet, Pran, Faajal. He's been my best friend since I learned to talk! We used to live in the same lane! We ate the same, wore the same, and even talked the same!" Yusuf patted Pran's shoulder.

"So, you're the Laila to my Majnu, hmm?" Pran laughed.

Faajal traded that chuckle. "I don't know about Laila-Majnu. But, he is my Yusuf and I am his mehbooba."

"Mannu vabi badi mast kudi hain!" [My sister-in-law is such a fun lady!]

"Arrey aashique ka choice bhi dekhiyo!" Yusuf jeered and glanced at Faajal. His mischief was at its peak today. [Oh ho, look at the loverboy's choice too!] 

She gave him a wink and arched her brow. The side of her lips quirked. If he loved teasing her, she was no less deft.

"Vabi ji, I mean, Faajal ji, how many months have you been with this donkey?"

Yusuf charged towards Pran with fists ready to strike. "Teri to-" [You're imposs-]

"Bas hua, Yusuf! Mehman ka koi aise qadar karta hain?" Faajal reasoned, knitting her brows. [Enough of this, Yusuf! Does anyone treat their guest like this?]

Yusuf pointed a nasty glare at Pran, his nostrils stiffened. "Dekhlunga bandaar tujhe. Ekbaar mere haat mein aaja!"  [I shall see you, monkey. Once you just come in my hand!]

"Mera kaam hain kucch. Main chalta hu," Pran curled her lips at Yusuf. [I have some work. I shall go now.]

"Vabi ji, Sat Sri Akal." he flashed a grin across his face and strode ahead. [Sister-in-law, goodbye.]

"That monkey!" Yusuf hissed in disappointment. "Why? I think he's amazing! A comedic splash in our bond." Faajal said. 

"What's in your dupatta? It smells like chameli." Yusuf sniffed. 

"It is! I picked some from the garden backwards. How fresh they are!" Faajal exclaimed. 

"You thief," Yusuf mumbled, reining the curve wobbling his lips. "Not more than you," Faajal retorted, securing the chamelis with a knot on her dupatta. "How dare you steal my thing, thief?" 

Yusuf gasped, widening his eyes. "What did I steal?" 

Faajal motioned at him with her finger to step closer. "Mera dil dede mujhe, jo there pas hain." She poked the left side of his chest. [Give me my heart, the one you have stolen.]

A wild snicker crept up his face, igniting the twinkles in his orbs. "Cheeze yahan wahan rakhte hain aap, aur dhamki dete hain hame?" [You leave your stuff lying around everywhere, and then you threaten me?]

"Kucch pal saath bitaayen? Baba to abh der se aate hain." she whispered, closing the space between them until his blazing exhale caressed her cheeks. He showed an approving smile, pinching her cheek. [Shall we spend some moments together? Baba comes late now.]

They trailed to the backyard garden, where the sun cast a golden aura. Fresh leaves rustled against each other and birds chirped, singing a blissful melody. Flowers reeked fresh and alluring, few of their petals rested on the ground, forgotten as they aged further. 

Yusuf and Faajal plopped on the mushy ground. A cool waft rushed past them. Faajal untied her pouch of chameli, and the strong fragrance filled the air. Yusuf inhaled deeply. "The smell of Chameli, aah!" Faajal picked up the needle and thread she cautiously brought along and started inserting the buds into the thread, one by one. Her gentle fingers stroked the smooth petals. 

"After Roses, I love chamelis the most! I even have a chameli aatr." 

Faajal snickered. Yusuf, no matter what, always kept his outer fit polished and vibrant. Even at the cost of a night's peaceful slumber, he would wash his clothes and grant himself a nice bath with herbal products Faajal hadn't ever heard of. 

"After so many days, Pran has come. You know, we lived in the same bazaar. Our fathers were good friends, so we often met. We even went to the same school before I came here." 

"So you two were inseparable, then? Well, you got him back, now. You won't spend much time with me," Faajal pouted teasingly, earning an eye roll from him. "Both of you are important to me, mehbooba. He's my wit and you.....you are my heartbeat." 

Faajal snickered, completing almost half of the Jasmine chain. "You know, Faajal. Sometimes, no matter how much we cherish a thing, we have to leave it one day. Taqdeer will compel you, regardless of your admiration. Everything has an end, Faajal." his voice dwindled to a hoarse whisper. 

Faajal secured both ends of the chain and formed a ring of fragrant buds. "Some things are so special, Yusuf, that we don't want to leave them. They become an inseparable part of our lives. They mould a chapter of our life." She gently placed the band on his head. He peeked above, and a contented smile spread across his face. Wind slithered through them, grazing their skins. Dusk beckoned in the west, having violet splashes all over. A sheer glow overcast their faces. Suddenly, Yusuf made a gesture Faajal never expected at this moment. He planted his lips on the curve of her cheeks, coating it with winsome heat. Consciousness lost all meaning since then, but the acknowledgement of her afire skin. Millions of butterflies ruptured in her stomach. 

She glanced at him, his countenance didn't bear a vivid sign of contentment, but glints in those grey-blue pupils—fervour yearning. Her heart smashed against her ribs, like the mighty wave of an ocean, roaring with full rage and reached so high it might collide with the stars. He neared slowly and thumped his temple with hers. His eyelids dropped, so did hers. 

Her sight was blank, but senses were intact. Faajal could feel his steadfast pulse and the euphoria coursing through them. "Tere mohabbat ne meri qatl kardi." she muttered, her exhales reflecting on his face. [Your love has slit my soul] He clasped her hand. "Aisa maat bol. Allah tujhse pehle, mujhe apne pas mujhe pehle bulale." [Don't say such things. May Allah call me to Himself before you.]

She fluttered her eyes open along with his. His delicate fingers cupped her face. She wished she could capture this moment and transcend eternity.  

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

At home, 

Faajal enjoyed the soothing gust of night while skimming through her diary. She wondered what theme she could pick to embellish in a shayari.  

Chameli aur ishq mein bas faraq hain aur kucch,

Dono ki vishal jo huyi hain, vajaye husn aur roop.

Ek hain justajoo-e-nigaah aur ek yaar-e-dil,

Dono mein hi behti hain sanam ka ehsaas aur junoon.

[Between jasmine and love, there's but this slight difference—

Both owe their fragrance to beauty and form.

One is the longing of eyes, the other the heart's companion,

Yet both flow with the beloved's essence and madness.

Faajal closed her eyes, pressing the diary to her chest. Suddenly, some tinkling broke the blanket of ecstasy she immersed herself in. She spun to catch Saira shaking her feet in front of the mirror, the payal dancing on her ankle. Faajal gagged her fury, which threatened to lash out. The payal held a special meaning to her, but that wasn't the only thing to preserve her love. Faajal retired to bed, allowing the serenity of night to unstrain her nerves. 

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Faajal stretched her eyes open with the scream of the alarm clock. She bashed it off and was to kick off her blanket when she detected Saira crouched in a corner, her back facing Faajal. Faajal quietly peeled the blanket and landed a toe on the floor. She stepped another leg down when the bed creaked, to her dismay. Saira sprang and made her trail briskly to the bathroom, sharing an eye nowhere. Faajal tilted her gaze aside to shirk off the matter, but something claimed her eyes. Faajal fixed her stare again on Saira when she was pulling the door closed. She had something hidden beneath her dupatta. The hint of the covered thing reminded her diary, it almost had that same shape. Faajal scrambled to the dressing table and searched every nook and cranny of the drawer where she always kept her diary. It wasn't there. 

Did Saira take it with her to the bathroom? What was she up to? Faajal went to the dining room to let things shape clearly. She downed sips of water while keenly inspecting the door of the bathroom. Seconds later, it creaked open, and Saira peeped out, and what was in her hold? Faajal's prob turned accurate; her diary. She watched Saira bury the rose back and arrange the papers before closing the diary and sliding it into the drawer. The absurdity of these situations evoked one question in her mind: Why was Saira suddenly invading her belongings when before, she had never bothered herself with such a deed? 

Were some obstacles awaiting on the journey of Yusuf and Faajal?

A/N: Sorry for the late update, loveliess! I had tests going on. But from now on, I promise to update weekly.