🖤

Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai
Ye Pyar To Tum Se Karta Hai

Kitna Isko Samajhata Hu, Kitna Isko Behlata Hu
Kitna Isko Samajhata Hu, Kitna Isko Behlata Hu

Naadaan Hai Kuch Na Samajhata Hai, Din Raat Ye Aahen Bharta Hai

"Mama?!", Mrs.Salman looked up to find her daughter rushing towards her with her doe eyes on the verge of tears.
Silky dark brown hair cascading down her back, all tangled. Her daughter was clumsy, but adorable at the same time. She couldn't believe she was almost 20.

"Mama? Where is my box?", Inaya whined demanding an answer from her mother.
She had spend almost two hours finding her most treasured possession but all in vain. It had vowed not to show its face to the owner.

"I threw that away", Inaya's eyes widened hearing her mother reply so casually.
She threw it? She threw her box?!
SHE THREW IT?!

"Mama?! Maine apko bola bhi tha usko nahi phenkne ke liye, aapne phir bhi phenk diya? Apko pata hai..Mama?!", she almost shouted watching her mother giggle. Here she was near to getting a nervous breakdown and she was giggling?
(Mama?! I told you not to threw that away, still you did? Do you know..Mama?!)

"Mera bacha..I just threw that box beacause wo kafi kharab ho gaya tha lekin uske andar ki cheeze tumhare cupboard ke drawer mein hain", Mrs.Salman informed pinching her rosy cheeks. If she didn't tell her soon she was sure Inaya was going to call her father and brother and cry complaining to them how cruel her mother was.
(My daughter..I just threw away the box because it was all worn out, the things inside it are in your cupboards drawer.)

"Aap sach keh rahi haina?", Inaya's eyes twinkled hearing her mother's words.
(Are you telling the truth?)

"Bilkul sach", Mrs.Salam smiled evening out her long dark brown waves but before she could even do that properly she saw her sprinting towards her room in a rush.
(Absolutely.)

"Inaya aaram se!", she smiled telling her to be careful. But less did she know her daughter was crazy for her most precious possessions.
(Careful My daughter!)

__________

Inaya opened her drawer anxiously and sighed seeing the book in her drawer. A smile touched the corner of her full, pink lips as she picked the old book in her hands. She wiped the slight dust away from it as she walked and and sat on her neat and soft bed.

She creaked open the worn-out book and gasped as the dried-up rose fell from her hands.

"Oh..sorry!", she giggled picking up the crispy pink rose.
"Hm..I wish maine ussi din de diya hota", she slumped taking out the colored piece of paper from the book.
(I should've just given it on that day.)

"Thank you Mr.Knight", she could barely read the jumbled letters. A little girl had been drawn on the corner and a boy standing infront of her with his hand forwarded. Well that was actually what she had intended to draw but what can we expect from a child's drawing. Some funny faces? Probably yes.

"Huh?", she turned towards the nightstand when she heard the ringing sound of her phone.

"Hello? Asalam-u-Alaikum", she smiled greeting politely but covered her ears as soon as she heard expected shouts from the other end,

"VA ALAIKUM ASALM! Inaya! Inaya larki kaha hoti ho tum poora din?!"
"Han! kaha hoti ho?! Ham dono subho se 10 bar call kar chuke! Lekin nahi miss goody two shoes ko to kam se fursat nahi mili ho gi"
"Aur nahi to kia! ham-"

(Inaya! Girl were you the whole day? )
(Yes! Where were you?! We've called you more than 10 times since morning but miss goody two short was so busy that she didn't even thought to answer her phone, right Rimsha?)
(Yes! And-)

"Ouff!, aaram se Mahrukh, Rimsha! Kitna cheekhti to tum dono", she spoke, otherwise the chatterboxes were going to cook up her brain.
(Ouff! Calm down Marukh, Rimsha! Why do you guys always shout like crazy?)

"Jab hame ek ulu dost mile gi to ham cheekhe ge nahi to aur kia dulhan ki tareh sharmaye ge?", Rimsha exclaimed dramatically and Inaya laughed hearing her blabber. She sure had a dramatic duo of friends.
(What do you expect us to do when we've got a dumb friend? Do you now want us to act shy like a bride?)

"Ye to yahi chahti hai Rimsha ke ham bhi iske jese ban jayen", Mahrukh added.
(Rimsha she wants us to become like her too.)

"Itna drama ku karti ho tum dono?"
(Why are you both so dramatic?)

"Hamari baatein tumhe drama lagti hain Senorita?", Rimsha gasped audibly causing her to facepalm herself. How did she manage to bear them and their antics for four years?
(Our words sound like a drama to you, Senorita?)

"Kisi bhi normal insan ko lagen gi", she whispered audibly.
(They will, to any normal person.)

"Matlab ab ham abnormal ho gaye?", Mahrukh asked in a serious tone.
(Now we've become abnormal too han?)

"Mene esa kab kaha?", Inaya scowled. How did they manage to convert every single word of her into a whole new argument?
(When did I say like that?)

"Esa ho to kaha tumne, kaisi bemurawat dost di hai Allah aapne hame", Mahrukh complained with a sigh.
(Yes, You did! Allah what kind of a bemurawat friend did you gave us?)

"Bemurawat? Mai?"

"Han tum!"

"Bemurawat ka matlab bhi pata hai tum dono ko?", Inaya asked raising her brows. She was more than sure they didn't.
(Bemurawat? Me?)
(Yes you!)
(Do you guys even know what bemurawat means?)

"Lo ji..Zahir hai pata hai hume kia ulu smjh rakha hai tumne? Mahrukh btao isse", Rimsha chuckled lightly.
(Lo ji..Of course We know, do you take us for fools? Mahrukh tell her.)

"Han Rimsha bta de isko aj ke hame bhi bohot kuch pata hai", Mahrukh answered enthusiastically causing Rimsha to scowl.
(Yes Rimsha, tell her we know alot of things too.)

"He he..Mahrukh wahi to maine kaha btao na", Rimsha spoke nervously and Inaya bit her bottom lip to stop her laugh. These two were never gonna change.
(He he..That's what I'm saying Mahrukh, tell her.)

"Isme itna larne ki kia baat hai dono hi bata do, I'm all ears you know", she said seriously holding her laugh.
(Why are you guys laughing? You both can tell, I'm all ears you know.)

"Mahrukh bol"

"Rimsha tum hi bol lo yaar"

"Mahrukh koi baat nahi aj tum bol sakti ho"

"Arrey nahi yar mai tumhara chance nahi lena chahti please.."
(Mahrukh tell.)
(No Rimsha you can tell.)
(It's okay Mahrukh you can tell today.)
(Arrey no, I don't want to take your chance, please..)

"Aj shaam tak decide kar lo gi tum dono?", Inaya chuckled softly hearing their blabber.
(Will you decide until night today?)

"Ek minute..ek minute bas aa raha hai yaad,
Wait a moment..HAN! not accommodating! bemurawat ka matlab not accommodating hota hai!", Mahrukh shouted causing Inaya to flinch. Mahrukh and her loud speaker.
(One minute..one minute, I'm telling. Wait a moment..Yes! Not accommodating! Bemurawat means not accommodating!)

"Finally google ne answer de diya tumhe", she spoke opening the curtains of her room. A smile spread across her angelic face as she looked at the pink roses in the garden.
(Finally google answered for you.)

"Google se nahi dekha mujhe ata tha! I was waiting ke Rimsha bol pare but usko kuch ata ho ye kabhi hua hai bhala?", Mahrukh's shrill voice broke her stance and she huffed opening the window. Could she ever win an argument against them? No.
(I didn't see from google! I knew it all along! I was just waiting for Rimsha to speak up, but she never knows anything.)

"Jhooti! Nahi ata tha isse Inaya! Google se hi dekha isne bhi mujhe message kar rahi thi ke Ami se poochon jaldi", Rimsha spoke hastily.
(Liar! No Inaya! She didn't know anything! She saw it from google! She even messaged me to ask from my mother.)

"RIMSHA?! bewakoof ki bewakoof hi rehna tum!", she giggled hearing Mahrukh grumble loudly.
(RIMSHA?! Why are you so stupid?!)

"Bewakoof mai nahi tum ho!", Rimsha replied faster than she had expected.
(I'm not stupid! It's you who's stupid.)

"Ek bari University reopen hone de phir btaon gi bewakoof kon hai!"
(Let Universities reopen, then I'll tell you who is stupid and who's not.)

"Han han-"

"Bas! bas karo ab tum dono, ek number ki gunda ho, tum logo ki wajeh se kisi din mujhe University se bahar nikal dena hai management ne", she said hitting her forehead lightly. Guess the semester break had worked as an enhancer for their craziness.
(Stop! Stop it already girls, you guys are complete gangsters, University management will kick me out one day because of you guys.)

"Senorita, gunda is much better then being sushel and chanchal"
(Senorita, gangster is much better than being pleasent or playful.)

"What? Seriously?", Inaya giggled hearing her choice of words.

"Hmm, ab ye choro and tell me, Is Rafay bhai home?", Rimsha questioned instead of replying.
(Yes, now tell me Is Rafay bhai home?)

"Why do you want to know?"

"We've asked first", Mahrukh said before Rimsha could answer.

"Allah, tum pehle bata do gi to kya kuch ho jaye ga?", she exclaimed softly.
(Allah, will something happen If you'll answer first?)

"Han", she closed her eyes hearing their instant answer.
(Yes.)

"Nahi, abhi he's not at home but I guess ek ghante tak wapis aa jaye ge", she spoke calmly.
(No, he's not at home right now but I guess he'll be back in an hour.)

"Ala ho gaya phir!", she heard Rimsha scream from the other end.
(Then It's perfect!)

"Kia ala ho gaya?", she asked scrunching her brows.
(What's perfect?)

"Aj hamne dinner bahar karne ka plan kiya hai and you're joining us", Rimsha answered with excitement dripping from her tone.
(We've decided to have dinner outside and you're joining us.)

"But I don't think bhai free honge"
(But I don't think bhai's gonna be free.)

"He won't say no to you, ab bahane bnana band karo aur dress select karo jaldi se", Rimsha said hastily showing the desperation in her voice.
(Now stop making excuses and quickly select your dress.)

"White colour pehena we're all going to wear the same, alright?", Mahrukh added leaving no space for her to refuse.
(Wear white, we're all going to wear the same, alright?)

"Ham jaye ge kahan lekin?"
(Where are we going?)

"A new cafe opened nearby Murtaza was saying bohot acha hai, wahi jaye ge", Mahrukh told her.

"Yes! bohot maza aane wala hai It's been so long ke maine kuch naya try kiya", Rimsha spoke causing her to
chuckle. Mahrukh and Rimsha for sure had infinite mood swings.
(Where are we going?)
(A new cafe opened nearby Murataza was saying It's really good, we'll go there.)
(Yes! It's going to be so fun, It's been so long that I tried something new.)

__________

"Mahrukh yar galti kardi hamne isko white pehene ka keh kar", Rimsha spoke as soon as Inaya appeared from the dressing room all dressed up.
(Mahrukh, we did a mistake asking her to wear white.)

"galti? wo kese", Inaya asked coming infront of the full length mirror.
(Mistake? how come?)

"Ab ye itni pyari lag rahi hai, ham dono ko to complex se mar jana chahiye", she said looking at Inaya dressed in a white organza shirt with light embroidery on it's sleeves. Her shiny long hair sprawled on her back. Face devoid of any signs of makeup yet dazzling. Indeed Alalh had blessed her with lots and lots of husan.
(Now she's looking so beautiful, we should just die of complex.)

"Qasme yar, itna makeup thobne ke baad bhi iske sath to ham dono ne kam waliyan hi lagna hai", Mahrukh sighed dramatically holding her head.
(I know right, after applying so much makeup we're still gonna look like maids infront of her.)

"Koi na koi fazool bat kar hi leti ho tum dono", Inaya spoke caging her silky hair in a clip, and tucked the stray strands behind her ear.
(You guys can speak every stupid thing in this world.)

"Senorita ye bhi hamare talents me se ek talent hai", she turned as she saw them high five through the mirror.
(Senorita, this is also one of our talents.)

"Mai kuch nahi keh sakti", she said defeated, and grabbed the pashmina shawl from the armchair.
(I can say nothing.)

"wo to hai", she heard them exclaim as she draped the shawl over her head. She smiled looking at their happy faces and opened the drawer to take out her favourite lip balm, Rosebud salve. Applying it over her lips she put it back and turned towards them.
(That's right.)

"Let's go"

"Mahrukh yar phadda ho jana hai aj cafe mein", Rimsha spoke eyeing Inaya from head to toe.
(Mahrukh yar, there's gonna be a fight is cafe today.)

"Agar kisi larke ne bhi Senorita ko tarrah na to mai keh rayi phadda ho jana hai", she added looking at her, she looked ethereal in white.

Whereas Inaya chuckled softly on her remark. No doubt they would really go to the extent of having a phadda. This had once happened at University.
Rimsh had slapped a random guy in the University cafe because he would not stop staring at Inaya. It had lead to a huge fight. Mahrukh and Rimsha hadn't taken a breath of relief until he had got suspended from the University.
(If a guy even attempted to look at her then I'm saying, there is going to be a fight.)

"Koi tarh ke to dikhaye hamari Senorita ko ankhein na nikal dein ge uski", Mahrukh said taking Inaya in a bone-crushing hug causing her to yelp in response.
(If somebody even tried to do that, we'll remove his eyes.)

"eh?..Mahrukh aaram..Aye! Rimsha!", she was still trying to wriggle out of Mahrukh's arms when Rimsha joined the hug with a laugh. They were going to crush her petite figure one day with their fierce hugs. She knew that.

___________

"Thank you Bhai", Inaya smiled lightly as they got off the car. Rafay had given them a ride to the cafe.

"It's okay gudiya, call me when you guys are free, I'll come to pick you up", Rafay smiled softly looking at his little sister.

"Are you leaving for office again, Bhai?", she asked him.

"Nahi wo Asfand is back, I was just going to meet him", Inaya felt her heart tingle as he mentioned him.

Was he back? Was he really back? Before she could even ask something else they got interrupted by Rimsha's shriek,

"Rafay bhai is your friend back?!", Inaya's eyes widened on her question. She abruptly turned towards Rimsha to stop her from blabbering anything else but the damage was already done.

"Do you guys know Asfandyar?", Inaya bit her tongue as Rafay asked.

"No-"
"Yes! We do!", Inaya closed her eyes in embarrassment as Marukh cut her off and shouted almost instantly.

"Inaya told us He's your best friend, are we right?", Mahrukh spoke answering Rafay.

"Han bas yahi bataya tha bhai, a..aap jaye ab a..ap late ho rahe honge", Inaya stuttered stopping Mahrukh by her eyes. She was sure their big mouth would cause problems.

(Yes I just told them this, yo..you should leave, otherwise you're going to be late.)

"Didn't he use to be in Canada bhai?", Rimsha spoke from behind causing Inaya's head to whip towards her.

"Han abhi ek hafte pehle hi wapis aya hai-", the shrill sound of his phone stopped him from saying anything.

"Ek minute", he excused picking up the call.

(Yes he came back a week ago-)
(One minute)

"Koi baat nahi Bhai, app utha lein", Mahrukh smiled telling him to talk.
(It's alright bhai, you can take the call.)

"Hello?"
"Han han, bas tum niklo mai bhi aa raha hun"
"10 minute mein"
"Theek"
"Okay..Allah hafiz"

(Hello?
Yes, I'm almost there
In 10 minutes.
Okay.)

"Was it your friend?", Rimsha asked as soon as he kept the phone back in his pants.

"Yes, I was just going to meet him, you guys should head inside", he answered pointing towards the cafe and Inaya took a breath of relief holding Rimsha's hand. She was about to drag her but instead Rimsha pulled her back making her eyes widen with shock.

"Bhai you'll come again? Why don't you call your friend here? You can meet him too and take Inaya with you back from here", Rimsha said causing Inaya's heart beat to fasten. No way! She did not say that!

"Yes bhai, Rimsha's right, you can just call your friend here, that'll save your time too", Mahrukh smiled causing Rafay to ponder over the option.

"Hm..You're right, I'll just call Asfandyar here, wese bhi we were going to meet at a restaurant so why not here", Inaya bit her tongue nervously as Rafay spoke taking out his phone.

"Gudiya tum log andar jao I'll come after guiding Asfand the way", he patted Inaya's head lovingly whereas she just glared at Mahrukh and Rimsha who winked grinning at her.

She was sure she had done the biggest mistake of her life by telling them about him. This was going to be a heck of dinner.

______________

"Tum log pagal ho? Bhai ko ku bola yahi rukne ke liye?", Inaya asked as soon as they sat on their place. She had forcefully made them sit on the farthest corner of the cafe.
(Are you guys mad? Why did you ask Bhai to stay?)

"Senorita, shyd tumne Rafay bhai ki baat theek se suni nahi, He's here!", Rimsha exclaimed with excitement.
(Senorita, I think you didn't heard Rafay Bhai, He's here!)

"So what?", Inaya asked bewildered, why were they so excited?

"Senorita! He's back, your first love is-", her eyes widened as Mahrukh said a bit loudly. She instantly put her hand on her mouth to cut off her words.

"Stop it Mahrukh! It's not like that, haven't I told you guys already? Bhai ke samne koi bakwas nahi kar dena tum dono please", she said nervousy.

"Ahan..It's not like that? Instagram ID kon stalk karta hai aj bhi han? Aur Thankyou letter bhi-", Risha said wriggling her brows causing Inaya to gulp with nervousness,

"Esa nahi hai Rimsha!  Aur wese bhi unke instagram par sirf ek hi post hai-", she bit her tongue releasing her mistake and Mahrukh and Rimsha laughed causing her ears to turn red slightly.

(Ahan..It's not like that? Who stalks the instagram ID still today? And the thankyou letter-)
(Rimsha! It's not like that! And his instagram has only one post-)

"Awe, Senorita is shy?", Mahrukh teased piching her soft cheeks and she closed her eyes in embarrassment. She was dead meat. For sure.

____________

"Yar, why aren't they coming?", Inaya peeked towards the door as she heard Mahrukh sigh. She could feel her heartbeat quicken with every passing second. Why was she being so nervous? She huffed taking a deep breath.

"Oye! They're here!", Rimsha yelped suddenly causing her heart to flip.

"Is he Asfandyar?", she released a breath hearing Mahrukh's question.

"Damn! He? Ohmy OHMY!", Rimsha yelped causiing her to fidget with her fingers nervously.

"Shit! He's so good looking"

"Figure check kar Mahrukh, I guess he gyms alot",

"Inaya! You sure have good taste in men, Agh Rimsha look at his jawline-"

"Stop It already-", she whispered turning around but her words died down as soon as her eyes fell on him.

There he was, before her eyes after 6 damn years. Dressed in a grey turtleneck, hands in his pocket. Just like the old times. She felt her heart miss a beat as he looked up and her eyes met his, for a mere second only, the same stormy eyes which ruled her dreams.

"P..pari"

"Pari?"
"Hun..P..ari"

"You have a beautiful name Pari"
"Th..thanko..Wh..what's y..your n..nam..name?"

"Asfandyar"
"A..aph..Aphand..aar?"

"No, It's As.Fand.Yar"

"A..aph..Aphnd..er? it..na muh..kil hai"

"Hey? Hey? Acha okay don't cry, Pari?"
"Pari? You said you were a strong girl?"

"Gurlll! I already ship you two", she snapped her head in the opposite direction hearing Mahrukh chirp.
What was that? She breathed placing her palm over her heart,
'Calm down Inaya, calm down'.

"Inaya, we'll be sitting on another table, you guys can order, okay?", she looked around when she heard Rafay and just nodded as an answer.

Inaya slightly raised her lashes and saw him seated on a table already, directly across her. Her eyes instantly lowered to her lap as she saw him calling the waiter with his hand. He had surely become more sturdy over the years. Towering above almost everyone present in the cafe.

"The dinner's on me, you guys can enjoy", Rafay said looking at Rimsha and Mahrukh who nodded excitedly.

"Thank you Rafay Bhai"
"Thank you so much Bhai"

"Oh My God! Inaya, why did you never told us he was so handsome", Rimsha shrieked almost instantly after Rafay had left.

"Ouff..I give him 10/10 for you Senorita!", Mahrukh said turning around to peep at Asfandyar.

"It's nothing like that, why can you guys not believe me", she whispered tucking the strands of her hair behind her ear. The fact of him sitting in the same room causing nervousness to take over her.

"How can we believe when you were staring at him as If he's your long lost lover", Rimsha chuckled and she bit her cheek with embarrassment.
Was she seriously staring like that?

Why was she not being able to get over this childhood crush? She breathed taking a peek towards his direction but gulped as her hazel eyes came across his deep blue orbs.

Was he looking her way? She blinked trying to clear the frenzy state of her brain.
Heat crept up her cheeks as his eyes trailed down to her hands placed on the table in front of her. Did he remember her? Absolutely No! Why would he? Or did he?

Her heart flipped lightly as his eyes turned towards Rafay not before he had taken a last glimpse of her face. The moment was so brief, so quick she didn't even get to decipher what happened.

Did he just check her out?

                         🖤

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Hello and Asalam-u-Alaikum Sweethearts!

How's everyone? I hope everybody's doing good in their life, May Allah bless you all.❤️

How was the start? Do tell me sweethearts! Next chapter not coming until you tell me😤
Just kidding, I hope you like it🙃❤️

Don't you guys think we're having way too many weddings in quarantine? Or is it just me who thinks like that?🌚

P.S
Thank you for your love and wait❤️
Stay happy Stay safe.