In deep slumber she felt an arm caging her against a hard chest. She didn't protest. A pair of lips landed on her cheek, she didn't react but it weaken her slumber. A hand caressed her hair which forced her to open her eyes. She knew whose fragrance it was. She knew whose touch it was.

"What are you doing here?" Turning her side she opened her eyes and saw the person properly but pushed his hand away.

"Yaad aa rhi thi tumhari..."

(I was missing you.)

"Jhuut."

(It's a lie.)

"Tumhe aesa kyu lagta hai?"

(Why do you feel so?)

"7 din se yaha hu aapne ek baar bhi call nhi kri, aur keh rhe hain yaad aa rhi thi..."

(I'm here for the last 7 days, you didn't even call me once but here you're claiming to miss me?)

"Ab aa to gya hu." He snaked his arm around her but she pushed it away.

(But now, I'm here.)

"Kyu aaye hain? Mene bulaya tha kya?"

(But why are you here? Have I asked you to come?)

"I'm here because I love you."

"No, you don't. You just hurt me. That's it."

"Achha abhi bohot raat ho chuki hai, abhi soo jao, kal baat karte hain." Said Ashar in a tired voice. The long journey then struggle to gather some courage to stand in front of his wife already tired him.

(Well, it's late at night, sleep now, let's talk tomorrow.)

"Baat karne ki zarurat hi kya hai? Main to faltu baate karti hu na, ek aap hi to hain samajhdaar, sincere, sensible aadmi jo soch samajh ke boolte hain to mujhse baat kyu karni hai aapko? Ek kaam kariye shishe ke samne khade ho kar baat kriye, waha aapko ek sensible insaan dikh jayega baat krne ke liya" Bisma closed her eyes and Ashar sighed. He could be angry at this argument but he preferred not to lose his patience this time.

(What is the need to talk? I talk useless things, you are the only intelligent, sincere, sensible person who speaks after thinking, then why do you need to talk to me? Do one thing, stand in front of a mirror and talk to him, you will find him to be a sensible person to talk to.)

"Umm... You know what Bisma that's your problem... Tum bolti zyada ho samajhti kam ho." Ashar state a fact best of his knowledge. The chatty girl talks endlessly about everything, useful or useless, on the other hand, the reserved and reticent guy loved tranquility, every useless word and senseless question spoils his mood very quickly.

(you talk much but understand less.)

"Ji ji... Main to apni galti maan rhi hu. Sari buraiya mujh me hain, sari achhaiya aap me." Bisma huffed and Ashar controlled himself to get irritated.

(Yeah, sure. I'm admitting that I'm at fault and you're all correct.)

"Bisma, main itni dur se isliye aaya hu taki ye masla hal ho sak..." Bisma didn't let him compete and burst out.

(Bisma, I have come from so far so that this matter can be resolv...)

"Haa to kyu aaye hain aap? Main to aapki jaan baksh ke, aapko akela chhod ke yaha aa gyi na, ab kya pareshani hai aapko?"

(Yes, so why have you come? I spared your life, left you alone and came here, what is your problem now?)

"Bas bhi kar do ab..." The man, as brave as a lion became a mouse in front of his favourite lady.

(Isn't it enough for now?)

"Excuse me... Main bas kar du? Maine kra hi kya hai jo main bas kru? You were the one to tell me 'Yaha se Chali jaao Bisma, jaan baksh do meri, thak gya hu tumhari bina sar peyr ki baate sunte sunte.' kuch yaad aaya? Ab aapki jaan baksh ke yaha aa gyi hu to aap kyu meri jaan nhi baksh rhe?" Ashar kept watching her and then sighed. This talkative girl talks endlessly and this sincere and introverted boy loves sedateness. They were together but poles apart.

(Excuse me... should I stop it? What have I done that I should stop it? You were the one to tell me 'Leave me alone Bisma, spare my life, I am tired of listening to your useless talks.' Do you remember anything? Now that I have come here after sparing your life, why are you not sparing my life?)

"Achha baba... I'm sorry." He joined his hands in front of her.

"Sorry bhi aese bol rhe hain jese ehsaan kar diya mujh par." The daughter of Maizah glared at her husband and the son of Arham tried to express his love in his actions. Shifting a little closer to her he cupped her cheek.

(Why this 'sorry' sounds like a sarcasm or favour?)

"To kese bolte hain sorry?" His voice was full of love and emotions.

(So what's the way to say sorry?)

"Hurt karne se pehle to kabhi nhi puchha kese karte hain hurt... Sorry bolna main sikhau?" She turned her side and closed her eyes waiting for her husband to do some effort. He was trying to conclude how to say sorry, he knew only two ways, first was the verbal way, which he already tried and failed, but the other was different as well as difficult. He thought about the second method and closed his eyes.

(Did you ask me the way to hurt me before hurting me? But I need to teach you the art to say sorry. Wow.)

For the next few minutes Bisma waited for him to say something or to express his sorry but he was silent, turning her side she saw him and got annoyed when found him sleeping with half open mouth.

"Allah kre inke muh me matchar gus jaye." She huffed and slept.

(May a mosquito enter his mouth.)

<><><><>

"Danish Bhai, are you sleeping?" She walked in his room. Since it was Rizwi Mansion so the room of privacy was still empty. "Thank God you're awake otherwi..."

"Fayra let me sleep." Said Danish with a down face without even glancing at her nor he bothered to hear the complete question.

"Aapko hua kya hai? Itne chup chup kyu hain aap?" Fayra asked while pushing her curly hair away from her face and Danish only closed his eyes. Fayra sighed with anger and pushed the blanket away from the bed to make some space for herself.

(What happened to you? Why are you so quiet?)

"Bataiye kya problem hai? Maha se ladayi ho gyi kya? Meri baat karaiye unse, main batayi hu ki mere..." Before the sentence could be completed she got a sharp glare from Danish. She knew this look means anger. Only and only anger. But she was also Fayra. She didn't know how to be afraid of Danish.

(Tell me what the problem is? Did you have an argument with Maha? Let me talk to her, I will tell her that my...)

"Agar aaj ke baad Maha ka naam bhi liya na to ek thappad maarunga tumhare muh par. Bataya tha na client hai wo."

(If you again mentioned Maha's name, I will slap you on the face. I told you she is a client, right?)

"Oh... wow Itni young aur khubsurat Client? Aur wese bhi... Clients se itni lambi lambi baate kon karta hai? Jese mujhe to kuch samajh hi---" Fayra didn't complete the sentence because Danish was again glaring at her. She gulped and smiled nervously

(Wow, Such a young and beautiful client. And by the way... Who talks to his clients so long? As if I couldn't understand---)

"Is she really a client?" She muttered with nervousness. Danish's eyes kept glaring at her.

"Achha na... Gussa na dikhaiye." She grimaced but the very next moment she grinned "Friend hai na aapki?" Danish kept watching her with same anger but then sighed and joined his hands with front of Fayra.

(okay... don't show anger.)

(But... She is your friend. Right?)

"Haa... Friend bhi hai, lekin client zyada hai."

(Yes... She is a friend too, but she's more of a client.)

"So what's the matter bro?" She asked Danish who made a cry face.

"Mujhe Dubai jana hai, Dad nhi maan rhe aur Mumma to bilkul bhi nhi."

(I want to go to Dubai, Dad is not agreeing and Mum is not agreeing at all.)

"What? Aren't they agreeing? How dare they not agree? Don't worry Danish Bhai, I'm with you. They will have to let you go wherever you want, no one should stop their children from fulfilling their dreams." Fayra gave a long speech and Danish grinned. He knew this girl had the potential to change Anzala's mind, and if she was saying to help him then it would be impactful for sure.

"Yeah, they should let me go. Isn't it?"

"Aur kya... Bilkul jaane dena chahiye. Kitne din ke liye jaa rhe hain?" Fayra nodded and asked the last with a great amount of sensibility on which Danish blinked.

(Of course! They should definitely let you go. For how many days are you going?)

"Days?? I'm talking about settling down in Dubai." Fayra's heart skipped a beat. Rizwi Mansion without Danish was a big no for her.

"What? Permanently?" She asked and Danish nodded.

"Danish Bhai... Don't worry." She smiled. He also smiled with hope but... "I'm standing with Dad and badi Mumma, you're not going anywhere. How dare you even think about leaving us? How dare you even think about going away from this home?"

"Traitor! You're going to leave us all, you're the one who's going to leave this family, even your surname but talking about this nonsense." Danish huffed. He didn't know his strongest player would do the goal of the opposite team, but she did.

"Whatever, you are not going anywhere. Stay here only. And get up, drop me to the college. Papa and chamu both are busy today." And she was running away from the room the next moment. Danish huffed but grabbed the bike keys, set his messy hair with fingers and stepped out of the bed.

<><><><>

"Danish Bhai, I'm already getting late." Fayra cried while glancing at the traffic light which was showing yellow but as soon as their bike was about to pass the queue of cars it turned red.

"You should think about it earlier." Danish rolled his eyes stopping the bike to wait for the upcoming 100 seconds.

"Danish Bhai do something." Glancing at the red light she almost cried.

"Ab kya traffic signal ke khambe pr chad ke green flag host kru tumhare liye?" Danish scolded and Fayra grimaced.

(Should I climb the traffic signal pole and host you the green flag?)

Sar se peyr tak red flag hain, ye kya khaak green flag host krenge? Pta nhi us Maha ko inme aesa kya dikh gya?

(He himself is a red flag inside out, how can he host a green flag? I wonder what Maha saw in him?)

"Aapko pta hai aap khadoos hain."

(Do you know you're rude?)

"Agar ek baar aur bakwaas kri na to yahi utaar dunga. Phir peydal jana college." Fayra grimaced and cursed the college timings. She always wanted to sleep till afternoon but never got a chance. All thanks to school and college. When she was grimacing an instruction grabbed her attention.

(If you keep on talking nonsense again, I will drop you here only. Then walk to college.)

"Pakad ke baithna." And she glanced at the traffic light which was yellow and about to turn green. A smile crawled to her lips but before she could be happy for this, the bike started moving quickly. Gliding amount cars and bikes.

"Danish Bhai..." She yelled and held him with right hand while the other hand was holding her bag. "College se pehle qabristan na pohcha dijiyega mujhe... Main apne maa baap ki ek looti aulaad hu." Fayra yelled but Danish didn't care, he was the son of Maizah and Anzala, how could he care about anything.

(Please don't send me to the graveyard before college... I am the only child of my parents.)

After a thrilling ride Fayra jumped off the bike just in front of her college and took a deep breath.

"Apne maa baap ki ek looti aulaad, mene tumhe scooty chalani kyu sikhayi hai? Khud kyu nhi aati tum?" Danish set his messy hair with his fingers and Fayra grimaced.

(You, the Only child of your parents, why did I teach you to ride a scooty? Why don't you come yourself?)

"Aapne chamu ko dar lagta hai koi road accident na ho jaye." Danish rolled his eyes. He always wondered why Adnaan and Sara were so protective towards Fayra, unlike Anzala and Maizah who let their children explore different ways. They never stop them to enjoy, well... Momina Rizwi was there for this task so no one else was needed.

(Your chamu is afrad I might have an accident.)

"Ab jaao bhi ya yahi khadi rahogi?" Danish pointed towards the college gate and turned his bike to go but…

(Now go, or will you stay here only?)

"Danish Bhai?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't come to pick me up, I'll come back with my friend." She muttered

"Sure?"

"Yeps." She nodded with nervousness and Danish turned to go again but... "Danish Bhai?"

"Haa Fayra..." He was irritated and Fayra bit her lower lip. Danish noticed her expressions which were between fear and nervousness. Forehead full of creases.

"Danish Bhai..." She fake cried and he huffed.

"Don't tell me you forget some of your books or project at home... Main pehle hi bata rha hu main nhi launga."

(I'm already telling you, I won't bring it.)

"Umm... not a book or file, I forgot my wallet. Give me some money for lunch." 

"Tumhari bhulne ki aadat kab jayegi? Koi baat yaad rehti hai tumhe? Itni badi ho gyi ho lekin kisi kaam ko dhyan se na karna." With a good amount of lecture Danish pushed his right hand in the pocket of his trousers to realise he also forgot his wallet and mobile at home.

(When will you get rid of your habit of forgetting? Do you remember anything? You are grown up but careless.)

Fayra pressed her lips together to control her laughter, it wasn't difficult for her to understand the situation.

"What were you saying? I'm grown up but careless?"

"Shut up, it's all because of you..." How could he hear something against himself but Fayra gave him a puppy look and he sighed. "I'll send some money to your e-wallet. Okay?" And she nodded her head.

"Danish Bhai." Before he could start the bike she called him.

"Hmm..."

"Thode zyada pese bhejiyega..."

(Give me a little more money.)

"Why?"

"Umm... Actually it's my friend's birthday so I need to buy a cake."

"Kya? Abhi kuch din pehle hi to uski birthday party thi, ek saal me kitni baar birthday aata hai uska?"

(What? It was her birthday party just a few days ago, how many times does her birthday come in a year?)

"Wo wali nhi... Dusri friend ki birthday hai."

(Not that one... it's another friend's birthday.)

"Tumhari to ek hi friend hai na?"

(You only have one friend, right?)

"Danish Bhai aapse kuch pese kya maang liye aapne to CBI enquiry shuru kar di." As usual, Fayra showerd tantrums but Danish glared at her and without wasting time she smiled with all the fake love and respect in her eyes.

(Danish bhai, why you started a CBI inquiry when I asked you for some money?)

"Mera matlab tha, itna soch samajh ke har decision lete hain aap." She couldn't afford to annoy this man right now as she knew the art of waqt aane par gadhe to baap banana, (bowing before the buffoon in times of need)

(What I meant was, you take every decision mindfully.)

"Haa to batao kon hai ye nyi friend?"

(So tell me who is this new friend?)

"Yaar Danish Bhai, she is my new friend, and don't tell mummy papa about this... Okay? Please give me some money. Don't let me feel like a beggar." She demanded and Danish nodded.

"I'll send you the money after reaching home." And he turned his bike to go when a voice stopped him again.

"Danish Bhai?"

"Ab kya hai Fayra?" Danish was irritated this time, but this girl huffed.

(What now?)

"Thank you bolne ke liye rooka tha lekin aap deserve hi nhi karte."

(I stopped you to say thank you, but you don't even deserve it.)

"Ab tum late nhi ho rhi?" Danish asked and Fayra smacked her forehead. "Ye sab aapki wajah se hua hai Danish Bhai, duniya ke sabse bure bhai hain aap." The very next moment she rushed into the college and Danish closed his eyes for two moments.

(Aren't you getting late now?)

(All this has happened because of you Danish bhai, you are the worst brother in the world)

"Hi... If I'm not wrong you're Danish. Right?"

"Umm.. yeah, but..." He was confused. The girl with long hair and a perfect figure knew him but he didn't know her.

"I'm Esha, Fayra's friend." She held an introduction without any delay.

"Oh, hello." Danish smiled a little. "Nice to meet you." And he was gone without giving Esha a chance to say something more. On the other hand Fayra walked towards the canteen with good intention to miss the first lecture. Taking a seat she opened her bag to draw out the wallet from it.

Holding a debate in herself she counted the money she had collected today only from Anzala, Adnaan, Afnaan and Sara separately.

"Kon kahega main itne Ameer baap ki ek looti aulaad hu? Chande ki tarha pese ikathe karne pad rhe hain..." She grimaced while gathering the money and bit her lower lip.

(Who will say that I am the stolen child of such a rich father? I have to collect money like donations...)

"Itne peso mein gift dene layaq kuch mil jayega?"

(Will I be able to get something worthy of giving as a gift with this much money?)

"But... Do girls also give gifts to boys on their first meeting or date?" She questioned herself to get no response..

"Am I looking good enough to go in front of Arsh?" She smacked her forehead when realised that she was wearing simple faded jeans and a tunic.

<><>