Chapter 22

One arm under the head, another hugging the stuffed teddy. Half open mouth, Fully closed eyes. Black curly hair scattered on the white pillow. Half a blanket was covering her and the remaining half was dangling from the edge of the bed. A melodious sound was mingling with the cold air of the room and she was lost in the streets of dreamland. 

A garden full of flowers, and she was sitting in the middle of it. A man whose back was visible to her was plucking some flowers from the bushes. After some time he came and sat beside her. She was ignorant at first but there was something in that figure that she couldn’t help and looked up towards him. Just one glance and she forgot to look away from the face of this man who was now making a fine bunch of those freshly plucked flowers. He was regularly smiling and his handsome smile was doing something to Fayra’s heart. She looked down and felt happy because somewhere she knew this man was connected to him. They both again looked up, their eyes met, she looked down shyly but he kept watching. 

“Aap aese kyu dekh rhe hain mujhe?” Fayra asked shyly. 

(Why are you looking at me like this?) 

“Aapko sari zindagi dekhte rehne ke haq hai hamare paas.”  

(I’ve right to watch you for the rest of my life.)

“Lekin mujhe sharam aati hai, aap aese na dekha kariye na.” shifting her eyes from his face to hands, which were busy pulling out the grass from the land beneath her, she muttered .   

(But I feel shy, Please don't see me like this.)

“Agar sirf mere dekhne se sharam aati hai to aage kya karogi?” he asked and she felt his hand wrapping around her waist, pulling her closer to himself. 

(What will you do further if you are feeling shy only by my gazing.)

Fayra’s breath hitched, she tried to stand up but before she could walk away he grabbed her hand and pulled her back beside himself. There was no space for words. His cold hand landed on her cheek and slipped down to neck. Hot and cold blended together, arousing new feelings in both hearts. He softly leaned near her and his lips brushed on the soft skin of the side of her neck trailed to the front middle part.

“Fayraaaaaaa… wake up. You again missed the alarm.” Sara shook her daughter who was sleeping on her stomach, and she woke up with a jolt. Breaths were heavy, her heart was still beating more than normal. Sitting down on the bed she looked here and there. No Arsh was present there.

 “Do you sleep or go to hibernation?” Sara asked, looking for the mobile which was ringing. Turning off the alarm Sara threw the mobile on the pillow carelessly only then noticed a shocked Fayra. 

“Are you okay?” Touching Fyara’s face with her fingers Sara asked 

“Yeah, I’m.”  

“Sure?”

“Yeah.”

“So get ready soon, you are already late.” Sara said in a hurry. This was the third time when she was coming to wake this girl up and each time she slept again however the said dream took away the peace of her heart. 

“Go and take a shower right now.” Sara pointed out the bathroom door.

“Going.” She muttered while throwing the blanket away and Sara saw her walking to the bathroom. 

‘When will she start behaving like a mature girl?” Asking herself Sara looked at her daughter and started setting the bed but she was unaware about the fact that her immature daughter was having some mature dreams for the last few months however the dream partner was nowhere present in her life anymore. 

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Standing under the shower, she closed her eyes and let a cold sigh out, the hot tears mingled with the cold water running over her and an unnamed pain clenched her heart.  

The more she tried to forget Arsh the more he came to her erotic dreams. Sometimes she watched her walking with him holding hand in hand, sometimes she watched him bringing her gifts and sometimes these kinds of dreams. In short all her wishes were turning to some beautiful dreams.  

Dreams that couldn’t come true.

Dreams that make life horrible.

Dreams that break her heart. 

Turning off the shower she wrapped a towel around her hair and wore the bathrobe before stepping out into the bedroom. Standing in front of the mirror she looked at herself. Her eyes turned red and then wet. 

“Why can’t I forget him? Why?” With a cleaning pain in her heart and tears in her eyes she sobbed.

“Fayraaaaa…. You are getting late.” Sara yelled from downstairs. 

“Coming.” Yelling back she wiped her tears and picked her clothes in a hurry. Today she had to submit her assignment as well as give a presentation otherwise she would be bunking college and sleeping for some more time. 

“Where is papa?” Going downstairs she asked in a hurry but Sara informed that Adnaan already left a few hours ago as he had some urgent work. 

“Okay, Chamu must be at home na….” Fayra walked towards the door but stopped again by Sara's voice.

“No they all are not. They have gone to attend a parent- teacher meeting.” Fayra looked at the clock, she was already late. Rushing back upstairs she opened the door and walked in the room where a man was sleeping on his stomach, covering himself in a blanket. 

“Danish b…” she huffed in her thoughts and looked at him again. “Danish… wake up.” Only she knew how awkward she felt calling him without BHAI, “Danish…” this time she shook him but she was sleeping. Even his face was covered. 

Uncovering his face she again shook his arm but Danish gave her a shock by holding her hand and tucking it under her head as if it was a pillow for him. 

“Leave my hand, I know you're not sleeping.” Fayra huffed and waited for Danish to respond but he only snuggled up before adjusting into a comfortable position. 

“Ye kya badtamizi hai? Aapko samajh kyu nhi aa rha ki main in sab chezo se uncomfortable feel karti hu.” She pulled her hand away with a jolt and Danish opened his eyes. He was surprised to see Fayra standing in front of him. He closed his eyes and opened them again just like a blink to believe that the scene was real, not a dream. 

(What are you doing? Can't you understand I'm not comfortable with all these things.)

“Good morning princess. It's going to be a good day for me.” He smiled and picked his specs from the other pillow, the blurred figure converted into a beautiful face which was looking frustrated at this point. 

“why? How do you know?” She asked with the same anger and frustration. 

“Aapka chehra jo dikh gya subah subah…” he smiled without knowing what he was actually doing. 

(Because I get your glance early in the morning.)

“You… you're… what's your problem? Why can't you understand? I'm tired. I'm tired of trying. I'm tired of you.” Anger reflected in her words just like tears in her eyes. Danish didn't know why she was mad at him but in reality she was tired of her dreams, her desires and tired of Arsh who came again and again in front of her. 

“Fayra, listen to me…” Danish called her but she was already gone. 

“What happened to her?” He muttered and went after her but she was already going out of the home with long steps. 

“What happened to her?” Sara asked when found Danish standing on the uppermost stair but he himself was clueless.

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It was the first time she was taking a bus to the college. Otherwise someone from home had always picked and dropped her, but today she was already late. Glancing at her mobile phone she stepped into the college with long steps. 

“He will kill me for sure!” She muttered when noticed an ongoing class. The most khoon jalau (irritating) teacher was already present in the class explaining something but she couldn't miss this lecture. 

“May I come in sir?” Fayra slowly knocked the already opened door grabbing everyone's attention.

“Oh… Miss Fayra. Welcome.” The teacher smiled. Clearly a sarcastic one but Fayra took the words seriously instead of focusing on the tone. 

“Good Morning, Sir.” She muttered without looking up and walked into the class but the teacher was angry by now. “Is this your friend's birthday party?” 

She was stopped midway after hearing this call. 

“Sorry sir, I'm a little late.” She turned and muttered with a smile but the teacher furrowed. 

“A little? Only fifteen minutes. The quarter of an hour. Right?” Fayra was standing like a dummy now. 

“Sorry sir.” She muttered. All eyes fixed on her face. 

"And what would you like to say about the research work?" Before Fayra could take her seat this question stopped her and forced her to turn around. A pile of files was already present on the teacher's table which reminded her about the research work. 

"Oh no... I forgot!" She mumbled while cursing herself and looked everywhere. Today she was the centre of attention for the whole class. "Sir, I've already written down my research work, but I forgot that file at home. I'll submit it tomorrow?" Knowing very well that this is the last date of submission she still requested but do teachers listen to what their students are trying to tell? 

"A lame excuse! At least learn the art of lying!" The teacher was looking angry but she wasn't lying. He always disliked Fayra because of her dull responses in the class. But what a girl could do if she hated Political Science but she needed to study this subject chosen by her only.

"Trust me, sir, I'm not lying, I've already completed the research work." 

"If it's in your home then what's the problem? Call at your home, oil and truth must come out. Ask someone to bring it.” the teacher said in a challenging way. How could she call Danish when she already bursted out at him just a little ago? But at this time she had no option other than calling him. She dialled Danish's number. He was the only life saver at this time. Sara was already sick so Fayra couldn't even ask her to do this work. 

All eyes fixed on her… her heart was pounding nervously with every passing moment and… at the end Danish didn't receive the call. She again dialled Danish's number but again he didn't get an answer.

“Sir, he is not receiving the call. I'll bring it tomorrow...” she requested. 

“Today is the last date for submission and I don't change the rules for anyone." She was standing dumbfounded. "Don't waste our time and take your seat. The one who does work never forgets to bring. Stop making stories." The teacher burst out at her and Fayra looked at him then everywhere. She was looking like a fool standing in the middle of the class. Tears filled in her eyes but she silently gulped down her insult as well as tears and took her seat. 

"Fayra, it's okay. Many of us haven't completed the research work. It was way too difficult for us." Esha, her best friend, said in a hushed tone but Fayra gave her a disappointed look. Her already spoiled mood was now more than foul. 

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“Shaaz where are you?” Zinia muttered while her hands holding her mobile phone, eyes searching if she could get some clue about Shaaz but this little bookworm failed. Walking from one corner to the other she was thinning uncountable things when a voice grabbed her attention.  

“Zinu,”

“Yeah Daddy?” She turned to see her father. Worried. 

“Beta, don't you trust your father?” Afnaan asked as he curled his arm around his daughter’s shoulder, matching the footsteps and walking in the lawn. But this sudden question was confusing for Zinia. 

“I do daddy, why are you asking this?”

“Because I can feel there is a problem for sure, however I don't know what is that… tell me beta so that I can solve it?” He said politely. Today they came back home after attending the Parents Teacher Meeting, while going to the school Afnaan and Fiza were sure that, just like each time, Zinia would score highest in her class but this time Zunera’s performance was better than Zinia. The topper of the class hardly scored 50% this time. Her Teachers talked to Afnaan and Fiza regarding Zinia’s declining performance as well as her lostself.  

“There is nothing daddy.” She muttered and stepped ahead leaving Afnaan’s arm hanging in the air.  

“Zinu kisi ladke ka matter hai kya…” Afnaan asked knowing very well that teenagers usually get involved in these matters which mentally distress them and eventually weaken them physically and emotionally too.    

(Zinu, is it about any boy?)

Zinia turned to see her father, she was not expecting this question to be thrown from his side. Her naturally beautiful face suddenly turned pale. Afnaan could see some kind of fear dancing on her face which testified his doubt. 

 “Zinu, you can tell me if there is something, or if you have any problem. Is anyone bothering you?” He asked which gave a little relief to this girl. At least her father couldn't think about the real matter. 

Afnaan was friendly with his daughter, they could share everything with him as well as Fiza but Zinia knew how important name, reputation and status were for Rizwis. She couldn't afford to let her father know about Shaaz.

“No daddy, no one is bothering me, I’m just unable to focus on studies without any reason… Maybe because of my health. I will try my best in the next exam. I promise.” She assured her father unfortunately he was not satisfied yet however he didn't drag the matter and nodded with a smile. 

“Your wellness and happiness are more important for us than your good score. If you can handle the pressure of a competitive exam go for it otherwise leave it.” 

“Okay daddy.” she smiled while sitting on the swing present in the lawn, Afnaan came closer to her but she said that she wanted to spend some time with herself, resulting in him walking inside leaving her alone.

 Almost half an hour passed, she was silently gazing at the sky and lawn occasionally when a figure walked towards the main gate crossing the lawn but she ran towards him. 

Her one and only hope. 

“Danish Bhai…”

“Yeah Zinu?”

“Danish bhai…” her eyes filled with tears. 

“You promised me to find out Shaaz.” Danish was stunned. How could he forget his promise? How could he be so busy in his own life that forgot his little sister? “Bhai, Have you got any clue about him?” How could he tell her about the clue when he didn't even start the search? 

“I will find him out, It is the promise of your brother.”

“Please do bhai… please do.” Danish nodded and walked towards the door while pushing his hand in the pocket to draw out his mobile but where was it? Taking a step back to his room he looked everywhere and found it still connected to the charger. 

“Two missed calls from Fayra?” He muttered and called her back while going downstairs. 

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“Achha ab mood to kharab na kro, Fayra.” Esha whispered. 

(Come on, don't spoil your mood.)

“Puri class ke samne itni beizzati ho gyi aur tum keh rhi ho mood kharab na karu?” Fayra rested her head on the desktop while closing her eyes. The girl who didn't listen to anyone's scolds got a good amount of lecture in front of everyone. 

(I was insulted so much in front of the whole class and you are saying not to spoil the mood.)

“So what's new in this, Sir insults everyone in the same way.” Esha shrugged. Fayra kind of glared at her without lifting her head but the very next moment the ongoing lecture was again disturbed because of her mobile which started ringing. 

“Oh no.” She muttered because she forgot to put it on silent mode. 

“Whose mobile is this?” The teacher yelled and Fayra hurriedly opened her bag. The already loud voice became a bit louder and she looked at the teacher. 

“Get out of my class right now.” 

“Sir, I'm summoning the research report from my home.” Fayra babbled but the middle aged teacher glared at her.

 “Get out.” 

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When Danish reached college he found Fayra sitting on the bench. She was crying sitting beside her best friend who was passing her a bottle of water but Fayra being Fayra preferred to cry. 

“Your work,” she looked behind, a handsome man was passing the file towards her. She cleaned her tears but Esha’s eyes twinkled. She hurriedly sat down with a straight back, set her pentadent which she was playing with till a moment ago and pushed her already open hair on her shoulder but left a few hair locks hanging on the face. Deep down she was cursing herself for not applying a good shade of lipstick, she had a no make-up look but if she knew that today she would meet Danish then she would wear something special with a good amount of makeup. Alas. 

Danish saw Esha, her heart skipped a beat when this handsome man with light stubble, rectangular glasses and fluffy hair threw a glance at her. 

“Esha. Right?” He asked and the girl was shocked. Does he still remember her name? 

Really?

“ye..” She nodded with a smile and opened her mouth to say yes but before that little word could be completed Danish looked at the crying Fayra then again towards Esha. 

“Can you please shift away?” He asked and sat beside Fayra after picking Esha’s bag which was occupying the space beside Fayra. 

“Kitna rooti ho tum, pagal ladki. Agar file dhyan se rakh leti to ye sab kuch nhi hota.” 

(Why do you cry too much? Idiot! If I had kept the file carefully then all this would not have happened.)

“Main pagal nhi hu, ye sab kuch aapki wajah se hua hai… na aap subah itna drama karte na main late hoti na hi main file ghr par bhul kar aati… apni galti aap mujh par na daliye.” Fayra bursted out. If it was not Fayra but some other person, Danish had bursted his head but he carried a different rule book for this girl. 

(I'm not mad, it's all happening because of you. Neither would you have created so much drama in the morning nor would I have been late nor would I have forgotten the file at home… Don’t put the blame on me for your mistake.)

“Umm… okay. Sorry! Now go and smack this file on his table.” 

“On the table?” Fayra asked with anger and stood up. “I will smack this on his face.” 

“Fayra, Badtamizi nhi.. Teacher hain.” Danish scolded her but she huffed and walked away without any delay. 

Danish sighed and drew out his mobile from the pocket then noticed the girl sitting beside him. Strangely, she didn’t join her friend. 

“Did the teacher scold her too much?” Asked Danish after putting his mobile back and Esha’s breath hitched. 

Was her crush talking to her in real? 

Wasn't it a dream? 

“Hmm?” she was confused for a moment but nodded in a hurry. “But I handled her. Don't worry.” 

“Thank you so much.” Danish smiled looking towards the way Fayra walked a few moments ago,

“Fayra is obsessed with you. right?” asked Esha and Danish looked confused about the question but nodded with a fake smile. “Maybe.”

“You don't know me but I know you well,” Esha tried to lift the conversation and Danish furrowed. “I mean… Fayra talks about you… often.” 

“Oh I see.”  Danish smiled again and there was nothing to talk about… they both were silent for a few minutes when a voice echoed. 

“Umm, Esha.” Her heart skipped a beat again. He called her by name. 

“Yeah Danish?” She said nervously. 

“May I ask you something…” 

“Sure.” she held her madly beating heart.

What was he about to ask? 

Did he also feel something for her? 

Would he ask for her contact number? 

Or something else about her?

The mind of this poor girl was busy making new questions but Danish burst the bubble with the pin of his question. 

“What does Fayra say about me?” 

“What?” Esha was beyond shock but could not show it. Maintaining a smile she cursed Danish for asking this question but answered him in a few words. 

“That you are the best brother in the world.” 

“What?” he almost yelled. 

“What’s wrong, Danish?”

“When did she say that?” he asked but Esha was already hot under the collar after hearing Danish chanting Fayra’s name. 

“Sorry, but I don't keep a record of Fayra’s statements with date and time.” It Wasn't difficult for Danish to detect her anger. He was  Anzala’s son, though not a flirt like him but he knew how to make other people happy. 

“Kya hua aap naraz ho gyi? Mene kuch galat keh diya kya?”

(What happened? Are you angry? Did I say something wrong?)

“No, nothing wrong.” Esha said without looking at him but Danish rolled his eyes while mumbling. “Just like her friend.” 

“Well, I already know, I don't do anything wrong.” Shrugging his shoulders he smiled proudly and Esha looked at his charming face, she blinked twice and suppressed her smile while looking away but couldn't help and laughed silently at his come back. 

“Your sense of humour is not less than your personality.” Esha tried her best to flirt with Danish and he raised his eyebrow proudly.

“Thanks for the information, but I already know.”

“Wow, you are smart too.” She raised her brow but soon noticed the bruises on his forehead. 

“Yeah, ever since.” he smiled one more time. They both were smiling and laughing when an angry Fayra came back with long steps and saw both of them with furrowed brows. 

“Kya baate chal rhi hian?” 

(What are you both talking about?)

“Hamara chhodo apna batao tumhe kya hua? Itna gussa kyu kar rhi ho? Sir ne kuch keh diya kya?” Esha asked and Fayra huffed she couldn't control her anger anymore..

“Allah kre ye ghar jaye to inki biwi ka mood bohot kharab ho aur wo inhe bohot sunaye.” 

(May he get a good amount of scolding from his wife as soon as he reaches home.)

“Aameen” Danish said loudly.

“Ye khana khaye to usme namak teez ho.” 

(May he get food with extra salt.)

“Aameen.” He and Esha somehow stopped to laugh aloud.

“Allah kre inki favourite shirt par ink lag jaye.”

(May his favourite shirt get an ink stain.)

“Aameen.” This time Danish was enjoying it along with Esha. 

“Kutte inke Ghar ki khidki ke neeche aa ke bhooke aur puri raat inhe soone na dein.” 

(May all the dogs of the locality do a night concert outside his window and he couldn't sleep the whole night.)

“Aaameen.” This time only Esha said because Danish was not in a condition to say anything, he was already dead laughing. 

“Jab inke mobile ki battery 1% ho tab light chali jaye.”

(May it will be a power cut when his mobile battery is only 1%) 

“And what if he already has a fully charged power bank?” Danish asked while laughing and Fayra glared at him with deadly eyes.

“Inki car pr bada sa scratch pad jaye.” Fayra huffed with anger but this was too much for Danish. He himself was a car lover, how could he think this much negative for someone?

(May his car get a big scratch.) 

“Ye to zulm hai Fayra, Aesi khaufnaak bad-dua kon deta hai?” Danish protested but Fayra glared at him again, grit her teeth and looked towards the sky above her head. 

(That’s cruelty Fayra, it’s a horrible curse.) 

“Allah paak jisko sir ke sath sympathy ho uski car ke sath bhi aesa hi ho.” She said as if her orders are being recorded somewhere in the sky to come into the procedure, but Danish was shocked. He couldn't even imagine his car with a scratch. 

“Allah paak Ameen for the previous dua, please cancel this one.” Looking towards the sky he asked to cancel the subscription of this dua and Fayra glared at him again but this time she didn't wait and turned to go towards the cafeteria. 

“I am sorry.” he grabbed her hand and she turned towards him with a jolt. 

“Don't talk to me.” Pulling her arm away from his grip she stepped ahead but stopped by another call. 

“Wanna go for a Pizza treat?” her stomach craved, head begged to look behind but ego stopped. “Followed by shopping.” her breath hitched. 

Will he increase the offer if I stay like this only? 

“An ice cream and choco lava cake right now.” holding her breath she was waiting for the bid to be increased but this time Danish was in a mood to play with her. 

“No?” he asked, Fayra turned to see him, glared at him with fake anger but Danish shrugged with a mischievous smile. 

“Okay,“ He shrugged and looked at Esha, “I was thinking of giving someone a special treatment but…” 

“You can give me that special treatment.” Esha offered, which was enough for Fayra to turn red. 

“Esha, we are getting late for the next lecture, better to go to the class.” Grabbing her hand Fayra kind of pulled her away from Danish’s left side. 

“At least let her join if you are not coming,” Danish yelled when saw his dear wife dragging her friend to the class but he got a deadly glare from her. 

“You go, I am coming in a few minutes.”  Leaving her hand Fayra came back to Danish with long steps and pointed her index finger to him. 

“Sudhar jaiye.”

(Mend your ways.)

“Main pehle hi sudhra sudhraya hu.” putting her finger down Danish said with a proud smile. 

(I’m already very innocent.)

“Ye Esha se kya baate chal rhi thi? Konse joke suna rhi thi wo jis par itna khikhi khikhii kar ke has rhe the?” She could burst his head right now for talking to any other girl but Danish was surprised to see Fayra’s new side. She had seen him hanging out with his female friends but this sudden reaction was unpredictable.  

(What were you talking to Esha? Was she joking around that you were laughing like a mad?)

“Umm… It was something personal.” Danish fake a smile and Fayra's red face turned pale. 

“Stay away from my friend and get out of my college.” She pointed towards the gate of the college but Mr Danish Anzala Rizwi was in no mood to step back from this debate.   

“For your kind information, I'm also a student of this college, I’m doing a PG diploma in marketing, forget it?” Danish pinched her cheek as he was enjoying the condition of this jealous Fayra. 

“Stay away from my friend.” she huffed.

“Now, She is my friend too.” He smiled but smacked his forehead too. “Oh no, Can you summon her again? Actually I need to take her number and give her mine but we forget it.”   “Fine, Now talk to her only, don't talk to me. okay?.” She huffed and walked back to the classroom leaving Danish with a smirk. 

“So Miss Fayra… No Mrs Fayra… You feel uncomfortable when I am around you but you feel more uncomfortable when I’m around some other girl. Nice.” He muttered and turned to go back but understood what he had to do now. 

However he didn't know, Life doesn't go according to our plans, it has its plans.   

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