Hot tears were blending with the cold water which was running over his frame but that couldn't wash away the memories of his unsuccessful love. The sound of running water was proving adequate coverage to his inexpensive emotions. "How can I give your place to Shifa?" He muttered while placing both hands on the wall, just to support his frame which was feeling weak while diving into the dept of past.

"Daniyal... How long will you take?" A bang on the door gave him a hint that he was not in a good state for the last thirty minutes.

"Daniyal." Again a knock on the door of his room and he closes his eyes before fake cleaning his throat.

"Coming Ammi." Yelling that he let the tears flow down in the veil of running water.

Who says man does not cry?

True love and tears are the best companions. Almost everyone cries in love!

Either for love or due to love...

So as the strong man who was hiding his tears in the shower but he also knew it couldn't last for too long. Turning off the shower he tried to step out from the marsh of his past love but couldn't.

An hour ago, he was holding a smile while entering the home but soon his mother announced the news about visiting Shifa's home for dinner as well as their proposal. From that time he was fighting with himself and even after countless attempts to forget Adeena and her love he always found himself failing to do so. Well, whenever he runs back from Adeena's memories every time he finds himself even closer to her.

The poor man was stuck in the world of his first love.

Stepping off from the bathroom he sat down on the edge of the bed and recalled that day when he promised Adeena to visit her home with his parents just to get their match fixed. "Adeena, sometimes I feel like I'm dead in present and alive in past!" He muttered before throwing himself back to lay down on the bed; ignoring the fact that his parents were waiting for him to go to Shifa's home.

"Listen"

"What?" She asked with a smile but tried to show herself normal as if his call didn't affect her, but in reality, it made her heart skip a beat.

"Oh, God!! This attitude!" Daniyal rolled his eyes dramatically and Adeena giggled before adding playfully, "suits me. Right?"

"One day I'll come to your home to ask for your hand, then I'll not see all these tantrums," Daniyal smirked so as Adeena, just to tease him. They both were in a good mood. Only yesterday she confessed her love for the first time, and they both wanted to live the rest of their lives together.

"First of all, come to my home." She rolled her eyes, Daniyal jumped off from the boundary wall of the garden and stood up just a few inches away from her.

"May I come today only?" It wasn't only a question but a reflection of his uncountable emotions. "Why not?" She didn't want to smile but couldn't help herself to hide her shyness. Her gaze automatically travelled to the floor as it was difficult for her to see right in his grey orbs which holds a deepness of pure love.

"I also want but..." He sighed sadly before continuing, "what will I tell your parents? How will I make their daughter's demands fulfilled?"

"I won't make demands, don't worry." She smiled and Daniyal narrowed his eyes.

"Why so?"

"Because I'll not like to make you feel irritated with my demands." She muttered innocently but Daniyal lost his heart one more time. "Making demands will be your right and fulfilling them will be my duty. I want to make myself capable to make you happy in every way possible. Just wait Adeena, one day will be together." His truthfulness gave warmth to her heart and soul  

"In'sha Allah" she muttered while lowering her eyes and Daniyal chuckled at her act of shyness.

"I love you." He whispered and she preferred to take long steps to go away from him.

"Why all these things are happening in my life only? Why?" He asked himself but he forget that every question is not meant to be answered.

"Daniyal..., we have to go today only." That was a happy call from his mother who pushed the door which was already unlocked.

"Hmm... Ammi... Just a minute." Daniyal muttered but till then his mother was already entered into the room, she was pretty surprised to see that darkness in the room, moreover Daniyal wasn't ready to go.

"Daniyal, what's wrong??"

''Everything" he mattered, but Mrs Kazmi was unable to hear it. "Hmm?" She gave him a confusing look while switching on the lights which provide her another great amount of shock!

"Daniyal, aap ko kya hua hai? Aapki aakhen itni lal kyu ho rhi hain?" She raised a question which was clearly addressing the motherly love.

(Daniyal, what happened to you? Why are your eyes so red? )

"I'm fine ammi." He stood up from the bed but his arm was grabbed by his mother before he could disappeared in the bathroom to hide his emotional distress.

"No, you're not! Tell me what's wrong." Mrs Kazmi asserted! Daniyal gazed his mother for next few seconds and smiled while kissing her temple gently. "Ammi aap tension na liya karein, main bilkul theek hu."

(Don't worry Ammi, I'm absolutely fine)

"Daniyal mene aur aapke baba ne to aapko sach bolna sikhaya tha phir ye jhut bolne ki buri aadat aapko kaha se mili?"

(Daniyal, I and your father taught you to always speak truth, then where did you get this bad habit of lying?)

Hiding his emotions from his mother wasn't Daniyal's cup of tea, this lady reads him everytime like she has a magic power to read his emotional state.

"Jhut bolna to aapne aur aapke shohor ne hi sikhaya hai. Bhul gayi kya Subah ke 7 bje aap kya bol kar uthate thi mujhe? Uth jao Daniyal 9 baj gye hain." Daniyal faked a laugh, he tried his best to divert his mother's attention from he main topic but he forgets that she was his mother!

(You and your husband have taught me how to lie! Have you forget how you used to wake me up at 7 in the morning? Get up, Daniyal, it's 9 o'clock.) 

"It's not funny. Will you tell me the real matter instead of trying to divert my mind?"

This time Daniyal was failed to do what he wanted to do, he sighed and shared a defeated look with his mother. 

"Ammi sir mein shadeed dard ho rha hai upar se aapke sawal jawab hain, jo kabhi khatam hi nhi hote." He complaint just like a whispering and Mrs Kazmi touched his forehead to check his temperature which was completely fine. Before she could show her motherly love a voice from the doorstep grabbed her attention.

(Ammi, I'm having a severe headache. Moreover, your questions have no end. )

''Khatija, Shifa ke ghar se call aa rhi hai." Mr Kazmi stepped into the room with a ringing mobile phone and passed that to his wife. It was Maryam's call which Mrs Kazmi didn't delayed to receive.

(Khatija, it's a call from Shifa's home)

"Hello." Daniyal looked towards his mother when she received the call. He was praying for a miracle which could cancelled that visit but in reality that meeting wasn't less than a miracle because Anwar got agree for that without any problem.

"Ji Ji Maryam, hum aa rahe hain..." Mrs Kazmi replied Maryam as she called just to confirm Kazmi's plan to visit them.

(Yeah we're coming.)

Mrs Kazmi gestured Daniyal to get ready soon, unwillingly he nod his head before grabbing the crisp white shirt which was waiting for him for the last half an hour.

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Contentment of heart was reflecting in the shine of those dark brown eyes which often considered black. And shyness was peeping out from the sheer curtain of her smile.

Happiness had no boundaries as she was able to take the very first step towards what she wanted from the deepest core of her heart but never asked from Almightly.

Making a cup of her hands she lift them in air and just smile before mumbling "Thanks for this Allah paak, and help me in future too." And her palms automatically covered her face which was showing a different shade of cuteness and shyness. Only a single word came out from her mouth which was Ameen

"Is this real? I can not believe it." She pressed her lip in between her teeth just to suppress her wildly growing smile.

"Shifaaaa... Get ready and help me." A loud call knocked her with little amount of realisation that she could feel shy after some time too, for now she had other works to do.

"Thanks Allah paak you're great" in a hurry she stood up while folding the prayer mat and draw out one of her simple yet elegant suit from the closet.

It was a mustard colour cotton suit with tiny floral embroidery at the bottom after the last Eid she was going to wear this suit for the first time, after all this day was not any less than Eid for her.

After changing herself in that pair of clothes she was standing in front of the mirror holding a debate with herself. Some part of her wanted to get ready as if it was a festival but other part of stopping her to do and forcing her to stay in her simplest look. And she decided to go with the second half.

Only a fine line of kohl in her eyes and natural blush of her cheeks were together making her more beautiful than a normal day Shifa. "Shifaaaa... Beta kitna time lagega?" And she listened Maryam's voice which forced her to come out of the day dreaming land.

"J..just five minutes mummy." She yelled back while picking the comb and again she dangled in between her thoughts

Should she left her hair open or tie them in a ponytail?

"Shifa you don't have time to decide." Scoldinh herself she make loose braid when stepping out from the room.

"Yeah mummy, now tell me what I have to do?" Stepping into the kitchen Shifa asked in a hurry and without even any instructions she picked fruits to wash them. A smile wasn't leaving her lips which provide immense satisfaction to a mother's heart. Shifa was busy in her work when her arm was catched by a hand. "Masha Allah my daughter is looking beautiful and happy too." Maryam kissed her forehead while embracing her and the mother daughter didn't break the hug until Shifa's heart felt scared one more time.

"Mumma, Papa kese maan gaye?"

(How did papa get agreed?)

"Abhi maane nhi hain, Agar Daniyal pasand aa gye to maan jayenge."

(He's not agreed yet but he'll if he likes Daniyal. )

"Deni achhe hain" this time Shifa's voice didn't come out, only her lips moved but a mother reads the heart, understanding mouthing wasn't a big task.

(Deni is nice)

Maryam didn't hear Shifa's words but what her eyes said, for a couple of moments she found same love what she held for Aatish.

Love that destroyed her.

But very next moment she throw away all the negative thoughts and cupped Shifa's face. "Meri beti bhi to bohot achhi hai."

(My daughter is also nice.)

Their conversation was stopped in betweenby the sound of door bell.

"Shifa... Go and open the door." Maryam tuned towards the gas stove in a hurry after that quick order but

"Oh no... Mummy, Dinner is not ready yet." a panicked Shifa looked towards the pot of almost cooked Biryani, and Maryam couldn't help but smiles.

"Don't you think you're over excited? Go and open the door, it will be done in ten minutes."

"Mummy, I'll make sheer for dessert." Shifa said and Maryam's eyes became wide.

"Do you have time now?"

"I'll manage, don't worry" and Holding the pondering heart, Shifa's feet moved towards the door. She was feeling shy, happy, nervous as well as something different. A different emotional flood which she hasn't experience yet.

Opening the door she found Mrs Kazmi standing with Mr Kazmi, but Daniyal was nowhere. Her gaze wanted to search him but controlling the desperate heart she welcomed the old couple formally with a nervous smile. For Shifa's surprise, Anwar himself came to receive the guests and after a formal greetings she found herself alone on the doorway of home.

"Allah paak please do something and being around papa" she was about to shut the door when a voice fall over ears. 

"Assamualaikum."

"Waalaikumas Salam, Deni aap kaha reh gye the?" Shifa asked holding back her wild spread smile which was begging to dance on her lips.

(Where were you stuck?)

"Umm... Actually... " Daniyal stopped and think for two seconds as if the question was impossible to answer. "Oh..yeah... I was parking the car and..." He gain back his senses and replied without any expression on his face, then gestured towards his hands. He was holding a small fruit basket along with sweets.

"Are you alright?" Shifa inquired. She could see the lost Daniyal, the person who has power to give timely replies but here his behaviour was different.

"Headache, severe headache.'' He muttered without looking at Shifa, because he was examining her home. " Hello, Mr RJ Deni."

And the small talk was ended up by the interruption of the grown up little boy.

"You're standing here... Who'll give water to the guests?" Bilal kind of scolded Shifa and she stepped towards the kitchen, not before Slapping Bilal's head. Before she could step in the kitchen her heart begged for Daniyal's glance.

And her brain refuse to believe what she was experiencing. "Is this a dream?" Pressing her lips she muttered, and smiled like a fool while quickly paying the last glance at Daniyal who was going towards the living room with Bilal. He was looking smart in white crisp shirt and black formal pants. "Shifaaa... Enough for now." She scolded herself and taking a deep breath she arranged three glasses of juice in a tray.

Everyone was talking formally but Daniyal was sitting silently. He was not somewhere due to his headache moreover heart ache due to memories of Adeena.

"Daniyal... juice." Maryam said in a hushed tone which pushed Daniyal to look up at Shifa, she was standing holding a tray.

"Oh... Thanks." He muttered while lifting the glass and his behaviour was unexpected for Shifa. She was asking a single question to herself is he the same Daniyal?

Anwar glanced at Shifa as well as Daniyal but didn't get any clue of their love story. He knew eyes speak more than words and both Shifa as well as Daniyal's eyes were silent.

Shifa was feeling nervous to sit in front of Daniyal and his parents so she preferred to move towards the kitchen to cook sheer but all attention was fixed in the room.

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"Maryam itne takalluf ki kya zarurat thi?" Mrs Kazmi asked with wide eyes when she noticed dining table filled with numerous delicious looking dishes. 

(Maryam, what was the need of such a huge arrangement?)

"Ji Anwar Sahab, itne takalluf-o-ehtmaam ki koi zarurat nhi thi!" Mr kazmi said in a polite tone while having a seat beside Anwar.

"Now what is the meaning of takalluf?" Shifa made a fake cry face, she was amazed that not only Daniyal but his parents were also urdudaan (masters in urdu)

"I was about to ask the same... What's this takalluf-o-ehtmaam? Mummy is this a new dish which you have cooked today?" An over excited Bilal asked and his eyes were trying to find out something new eat but Daniyal literally smacked his forehead after witnessing Bilal murdering Urdu right in front of his eyes. But Mr and Mrs Kazmi laughter at that.

"Takalluf means..." Daniyal and Anwar both said at same time but stopped by each other. "It means formalities." Anwar complete the sentence and Daniyal nodded.

"And what is Ehtmaam?" Shifa asked and Daniyal sighed, "arrangements." He replied in a single word making Shifa nervous.  

"Kazmi sahab, khana to ek bahana hai milne ka, isme takalluf wali koi baat nhi hai." Anwar passed a dish to Mr Kazmi with his kind words and Shifa was amazed, she wasn't expecting such behaviour from her father but he was showing the whole formal behaviour in one go.

(Kazmi sahib, good dine is just an excuse to meet, there is nothing to worry about.)

The dinner was nice, everyone enjoyed a lot. Anwar and Mr Kazmi were discussing their old topics and Maryam was active in sharing her knowledge and hobbies with Mrs Kazmi, but no one knows Daniyal's condition. Each passing minute was making his head burst with pain.

"Daniyal, your plate is empty." Anwar glanced at his plate then glared at Bilal "can't you just serve him? When will you grow up Bilal?" A scolding but Bilal smiled as if he received an award.

"Nevermind! Now I'm used to of it." Bilal's statement brought a smile to Kazmi Family but Shifa smacked her forehead and hit bilal's leg under the table

"Behave." She whispered while showing a fake laugh, Bilal elbowed her while picking up a bowl and filled that with sheer.

"Try this... RJ..." He stopped for a while. "By the way, what should I call you?" Poor Bilal was confused with the salutation.

"Whatever you want, feel me like a friend."

"That's great!" Bilal literally took Daniyal's reply on heart and pass the bowl of dessert with a smile. "Have it Deni, it is one of my favourite too."

Everyone gave a surprised look to Bilal for calling Daniyal like this. "What? Why everyone is looking at me like this?"

"Is he younger than you?" Maryam kinda glared at Bilal and he shrugged. "He told me to be like a friend. Is it fine Deni?" Bilal asked the last part and Daniyal forgot his headache for a few minutes. He was concluding that Bilal and Shifa both were exactly opposite.

"No, it's not fine." Anwar glared at him which he ignored. "Okay fine, Deni... I mean Daniyal bhai, you have this." Finally Daniyal grabbed the bowl of sheer and Shifa's heart started beating fast because she didn't even taste that before serving, lowering her gaze she was only trying that she would not be insulted in front of everyone for making something not good. 

"Aap log Bilal ki mojudgi mein kabhi bore to nhi ho honge." Mr kazmi asked like a teasing which make everyone laughed.

(You will never be bored in Bilal's presence.)

"Never, he's the joker of our home." Maryam pulled Bilal's cheek. The environment was full of joy and happiness when a voice echoes in the air.

"Masha Allah, it's very tasty." Daniyal compliment on very first morsel and Shifa looked at him with surprised expressions.

"Shifa has made this." Maryam informed Mrs Kazmi while serving her the same. she felt shy because Daniyal liked what she cooked, but Daniyal's heart again skipped a beat.

"You should get married to a great cook, you're a big foodies Daniyal." An old voice which was lost somewhere in the fog of time suddenly echoes in his head

"So Will you start to learn cooking?" He asked making her rolled her eyes

"Have I said, I'll marry you? Come out of your day dream" a teasing tone forced Daniyal to laughed but he narrowed his eyes.

"Adeena, Jitni shiddat se maine tumhe manga hai na, mujhe Allah par yaqeen hai tum meri ho kar hi rahogi."

(Adeena, I have asked you in every prayer, I have faith in Allah, you will be mine.)

"Daniyal bhai," Bilal slowly shook his shoulder to pull out him from the land of past. "Papa is saying something."

"Umm... I... I'm sorry... I'm not feeling well. So just..." He tried to explain himself for being absence minded and Anwar nodded with a fake smile.

"He's having a headache..." A mother defend her only son and Maryam looked towards Daniyal whose red eyes were giving testimony of his condition.

"Daniyal will you like to have some tea?" Maryam asked because according to indians tea is the solution of many small problems like cold, flu, headache and sometimes anxiety too.

"Yeah, thanks."

And Soon Shifa got an order to make tea for everyone, she felt nervous when Anwar started talking to Daniyal, she wanted to listen all the conversation but couldn't as she had to make tea.

On the other hand Mr and Mrs kazmi bring out the topic which was their main reason to visit. Daniyal was holding back his emotions, he wanted to live all those moments but only with Adeena. Shifa couldn't take the place what Adeen holds in his life.

"Maryam I've already inform you about my intentions regarding Shifa and Daniyal." Mrs Kazmi said in a polite tone and Maryam looked towards Anwar for any kind of reply but he stays silent.

"Hamara maan'na hai ki shadi ke baad zindagi sath guzaarni nhi hoti, saath jeeni hoti hai aur uske liye ek dusre ko samajhna zaruri hota hai." Mr Kazmi said wisely and Maryam nodded.

(We do believe that life is not meant to be spent together after marriage, but it has to be lived and for that it is necessary to understand each other.)

"Aur mujhe lagta hai Shifa aur Daniyal ek dusre ko samajh jayenge." Mrs Kazmi added and this time Anwar smiled.

(And I guess, Daniyal and Shifa will understand each other.)

"What else parents want for their children? Shifa is our only daughter, we want best for her." Anwar took part in the conversation which provide great satisfaction to Maryam. In the time being Shifa stepped into the room with tea. She didn't know about the topic of discussion but she found every gaze other than Daniyal's fixed at her, she felt nervous but didn't show up. She started pouring tea in the cups and passed to Mr and Mrs Kazmi and they smiled.

"Daniyal is also our only son, we also want the best for him and we found that best as Shifa." Mrs Kazmi not only said verbally, she practically meant that, but her statement give two different feelings to two hearts.

Shifa felt shy and nervous, her heart was beating fast and her cheeks were turning red as if all the blood rush to her cheeks only at the same time Daniyal's face was turning pale, his heart was sinking and dreams were shattering in front of his eyes. 

"Deni." Shifa whispered while passing him the cup of steaming tea, "thanks." He muttered while lifting his hand towards Shifa but his lost self wasn't ready to hold the cup and eventually the almost boiling golden brown liquid spilt over the beautiful white hand letting a loud whimper escape from those lips which were holding a smile till a moment ago.

"Shifa carefully" Maryam stood up in a hurry but Shifa already had tears by then

"I'm sorry... Shifa..." Daniyal was clueless about what to do, a small amount of tea had also burned his finger but Shifa's right hand was burned miserably.

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