A dreamy smile was not leaving his lips and his eyes were fixed on the mobile screen where he could see her even in her absence. Even after trying to control them many times, he was unable to control his craving to listen to her voice and finally his thumbs refused to obey his brain's commands as his heart took over the control, and dialled her number.

"Hello." it was a hushed answer which brought a big grin to his dull face. "How are you?" He asked, his voice packed with emotions and unexpressed love.

"I'm attending a lecture. Talk to you later." Whispering that she hung up the call without knowing what she had done with his heart. Glancing at the screen he sighed while pushing his mobile into his pocket and relaxed his body.

"Why are you home? Don't have to go office?" Came his mother from her bedroom with this question and he shook his head while closing his eyes. "There is no important work in the office, so..." And preferred to leave the sentence in between, lazily.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you angry?" He asked while glancing at his mother and then again shutting his eyes, but that lady was turning red with an unknown jealousy that she was holding for the last two and a half decades.

"Your father has lost his mind, he's choosing such low-grade girls... How could he even think of her? Is she even considerable for marriage?" Said the venomous lady with full of anger

"Kyaa...?? Papa dursi shadi kar rahe hain? Mana aapne unhe bohot preshan kar rakha hai phir bhi is umar mein..." He forgot his laziness and sat straight with a jolt, well his mother's face was sightable.

(What? Papa is doing second marriage? I agree you're a troublemaker still... at this age??)

"Tum dono baap beto ne mera khoon jalane ki qasam khaa rakhi hai kya?" It was an outrageous outburst of Rani which confuses Shariq for a moment but the very next moment his mother cleared the situation which brought a big grin to his face. "Tumhari shadi ki baat chal rhi hai, wo Afifa hai na... Use pasand kra hai tumhare papa ne... Pehle Shifa ab Afifa... Saari achhi ladkiyan mar gyi hain kya?"

(Have both of you father and sons vowed to make my blood boil?)

(We're discussing about your marriage, and your Papa has selected Afifa. Earlier he had chosen Shifa and now Afifa... Isn't any nice girl available?)

"Now what's wrong in Afifa?" Shariq inquired, his tone holding irritation which wasn't hidden from his mother.

"Ye Afifa ka naam aate hi tumhe kya hua?"

(Why are you giv8ng this reaction for Afifa?)

"Mujhe kya hona hai? Main to bas puchh rha hu Afifa mein kya burayi hai?"

(I'm just asking what are the flaws in Afifa?)

"Buryi ko chhodo... Achhai hi kya hai usme? Jesi uski dost hai wese wo khud bhi hogi." Rani huffed, her face were showing a red tint which was clearly indicating how much hatred she was holding for Shifa as well as her friend.

(Flaws comes following the qualities however she doesn't have any good qualities. She must be like her bestie)

"Agar Afifa apni dost ki tarha hai to aapko kya preshani hai? Asal mein to use aapse preshani honi chahiye." Shariq rolled his eyes while jerking his head and stood up from his place while grabbing the bike keys.

(If Afifa is truly like her friend then not you but she'll have issues with you.)

"Kya Matlab? Kehna kya chahte ho?" Now Rani was looking red due to the volcano of anger activating in her.

(What do you mean?)

"Well... You also know what I mean!" Raising his brows he muttered, his hands still holding his mobile phone which was now showing a shopping page.

"No, I don't know, So explain it." This time Rani was glaring at him with anger but Shariq smirked while standing up from his place. "I trust my mother's intelligence, she's as sharp as a tack," his reply was short yet obvious so his mother understood the meaning behind it. He didn't wait further, just shove his mobile into his pocket and stepped up towards the exit but was stopped by a voice.

"Ek baat kaan khool kar sun lo Shariq... Mujhe Afifa pasand nhi hai." Rani replied with all guns blazing towards his only son but she shouldn't forget that an apple does not fall far from the tree.

(Mind my words, I don't like Afifa.)

"Mummy, why are you worried about Afifa?" Shariq asked with an unmatched smile, "Because I don't like her."

"I know," he replied with same smile, for a moment Rani thought that her interpretation is wrong, Shariq doesn't like Afifa but very next moment he burst that bubble too. "But you'll start liking her, don't worry." And he left clasping tight on his smile. Rani was shocked. Shocked? No- she was beyond shock. Her son indirectly told her that he doesn't care about her choice.

"I'll not get agree to this marriage. Never!" She mumbled and literally drop herself on the couch. "I'll talk to Musa... How could he even select a girl for Shariq without even asking me?" She mumbles to herself. Though the lady wasn't so naive to understand that not Musa but Shariq had selected Afifa for himself but maybe her brain was too stressed to understand such a small piece of information.

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"Where are you lost, girl?" Snapping her finger just in front of her eyes Afifa asked her best friend who was gazing at the author's introduction page of a book for last fifteen minutes, bit reading nothing.

"Affoooo... Yaar I'm missing your jiju..." Shifa fake cried in a whisper while resting her head on Afifa's shoulder and Afifa sighed before resting her head on Shifa's head. "I'm also missing your jiju... I mean your would-be brother-in-law,'' she muttered dreamily but Shifa clenched her nose while pushing her head away and sat down with straight back.

"You mean you're missing that choomu? Eww..."

"Shifaaaa... Stop calling him this... How would you feel if I call jiju as Choomu? You'll feel bad na?" Asked Afifa with a cute offended pout and Shifa shook her head.

"Nope" she shook her head twice, a proud smile not leaving her lips, ''I won't feel bad because my Deni in not a Choomu,"

"Tu mujhse pitegi." Afifa not only threatened but hit her with the book she was already holding in her hand, but both of them laughed.

(I'll beat you)

"It is the library, not the cafeteria." A loud voice which was wrapped in a blanket of anger echoed in the big hall which was silent till a minute ago.

"We are sorry Ma'am" Shifa somehow controlled herself to laugh and mumbled while standing up, Afifa followed her action and they scoot out from the library, still laughing like idiots.

"He's again calling." Afifa muttered when her mobile phone started ringing and this time she received the call and muttered "Hello."

"How are you?"

"I'm attending a lecture. Talk to you later." Whispering that she hung up the call and Shifa looked at her with confusion.

"Are you attending a class, Affo?"

"When you get something easily it lost its charm and I don't want to lose my charm," Afifa smirked but Shifa smiled sadly at her way of thinking.

"Real love does not lose its charm, attraction does."

"So let's check if he loves me or if it's just an attraction."

"Yaar Affo... You're out of my mind." Shifa mumbled and dialled Maryam's number, she receive the call very soon.

"Mumma, are you sending Bilal?" Inquired Shifa. Today it was off from the radio station, moreover, all the remaining lectures were free so she decided to go to meet her mother. Today she didn't want to waste time in the metro so asked her brother to pick her up from college.

"Yeah Beta, I've already told Bilal. He must be coming there in fifteen minutes." Said Maryam and Shifa hung up the call.

"I never thought that one day I would be able to live without Mumma." She smiled sadly, on the one side she was happy and satisfied to get such a loving and caring family but on the other side, she misses her mother almost every day, either for a tiny second or she misses her like anything.

"Sometimes I wonder how difficult it would be to live away from my parents!" Afifa sighed, "You know what Affo, Ammi and Baba are so nice, especially Baba. Ammi has scolded me two or three times albeit it was only my fault every time, but Baba never said a single word, even though sometimes I feel like I'm getting the most awaited fatherly love from Baba. Still, I miss Mummy and papa..." Shifa's voice was full of emotions.

"Do you also miss uncle?" Knowing the relationship stature of this father-daughter duo very well, Afifa asked and Shifa nod her head. "Papa doesn't love me, but I love him." Her voice holds longing for fatherly love.

"Why are you sad now? You've got such a great family... Stay happy yaar," mumbled Afifa and gave her a side hug

"Affo I'm worried about you. Yaar... I've noticed that when a mother's scolding hurts less than one from a mother-in-law. Well, my case is different because Ammi loves me very much so those scoldings don't matter for more than half an hour but do you have any idea how Rani Phuppo will treat you? Affo, it has been twenty-five years of Mummy and papa's marriage, and she still taunts Mumma." Shifa's point was valid and somewhere Afifa was also scared of it.

"It is complicated," Afifa mumbled but before the conversation could go further both of them found their mobiles ringing.

"Papa is calling,"

"Shariq is calling."

Both mumbled and Shifa received the call, but Afifa didn't. "Billu is busy so Papa has come to pick me, I'm going, bye.'' Shifa hurriedly scoots towards the exit of the college while Afifa let the mobile ring.

..........

The pair of old eyes, which were surrounded by a little number of wrinkles, were fixed on the boy who was standing outside the college gate, his bike was parked two steps away and he was lost in calling someone who was not answering his call. His other hand was holding a flower and a big chocolate.

"Is he...." the man muttered while staring at the guy, only his back was visible, but his bike was helping in his recognition.

In no time Shifa appears, she grabbed the already open car door and hops in, "Assalamualaikum, papa." She mumbled with the hope that her father may reply with love but he ignored her because his sharp eyes were trying to recognise the boy whose back was visible to him.

"Papa, Chalein?" Shifa asked

(Should we go?)

"Is he Shariq?'' After all, Anwar voiced his doubt and "Where?" Shifa muttered, trying to Shariq everywhere, she was in hire so didn't even notice the boy standing near the gate of the college, but instead of replying Anwar unfasten the seat belt and moved toward the boy.

"Shariq?" He calls him in his overbearing voice and Shifa followed him to see the whole scene. Giving attention to his name, the guy turned behind without leaving the same smile that he was holding for the last hour, "Mamu..." But now his blood was on the edge of drying.

"What are you doing here?" Anwar asked in his regular style- overbearing and rude. First of all, Shariq hide his hand behind the back but he didn't know that his Mamu (uncle) has already noticed what he was holding.

"Umm... A-actually... Mamu..." Shariq was confused about what to say. "Hmm... What?" Asked Anwar.

"Hm... Actually, there is a friend of mine, his younger brother studies here... So I... I come here to meet him. I... I have some work with him." He answered back with a fake smile as if Anwar was a naive man who couldn't read the expression of love in his eyes.

"Will you give this flower and chocolate to your friend's brother?"

"Umm... Mamu..." Shariq was running out of words, he didn't know what to say in reply, and before he could say something another question came from his uncle.

"Rani aur Musa ko pta hai tum apne dost ke bhai se milne aaye ho?" It wasn't a question but a warning from Anwar. No matter how bold and clever Shariq was, somewhere he was afraid of Anwar's anger as well as the consequences of Musa knowing about his meeting with Afifa because in the very beginning he warned him to stay away from Afifa and let him handle this matter in his own way.

(Do your parents know about your meeting with your friend's brother?)

"Mamu..." This time Anwar glared at him with anger, and cherry on the cake, at the same time Afifa came out from the college gate. Her hair was open, her eyes were decorated with kohl and liner, and her pink-coloured lips were coated with a big smile. But that beautiful smile was lost after witnessing Shariq's ongoing interview.

"Assalamualaikum uncle," Afifa muttered.

"What are you doing outside the college at this time?" Afifa gulped, and for the first time, she understood why Shifa feels scared of him.

"Uncle... There is no class... So I'm going back home." Afifa lied but Anwar trust her as he didn't find anything fishy in that.

"Shifa ke sath car mein betho, main tumhe drop kar dunga."

(Go to the car with Shifa, I'll drop you at your home.)

"Nhi nhi uncle main chali jaungi, aap preshan na ho."

(No uncle I'll manage, I won't wanna bother you)

"Jao dono car mein betho, main aa rha hu." It was an order for the girls who just nodded but didn't move from their place. "Aur tum... Seedha apne ghar pohcho, Musa se baat karta hu main," and that's how Shariq was dismissed from there. Anwar saw him going away swirling his bike on the road and turned to both the girls.

(Go and wait for me in the car)

(And you, go to your home. I'll talk to Musa)

"Why are you both still standing here?" A little amount of a holding and they both scoot to the car. "Does anyone of you knows with whom Shariq meets?"

Both girls shook their heads without expending time, Shifa occupied the front passenger seat and Afifa took the back seat.

Afifa I'm scared, what will happen if papa told Musa uncle about Shariq?

Shifa, who was also worried about everything, texted Afifa who was sitting without showing any sign of worry.

I don't think anything wrong will happen. Shifa's mobile beeped and this message appeared, she was amazed at the confidence level of her friend.

But I wish Rani Phuppo won't create a new drama after knowing about this.

Afifa received this message from Shifa, thankfully her mobile was silent otherwise Anwar would get to know very easily that they were talking to each other. Shifa was tensed and scared for Afifa but she was relaxed.

Oh, girl... Take a chill pill. Relax. Shifa's mobile beeped one more time.

How can you be so relaxed Affo?

I'll handle everything, trust me!😎😎 Shifa's mobile beeped one more time and this message brought a big grin to her lips but Anwar was already frustrated with this beeping sound.

Soon after the car stopped on the right side of the road and Afifa jumped out of the car. ''Thanks for dropping me uncle, Allah Hafiz."

"Cross the road carefully." Said Anwar in reply to the greeting as if she were a small girl and Shifa's mobile again beeped, this time it was Daniyal's message which brought an enormous grin to her lip. Before Anwar could glance at Shifa her mobile started ringing, it was her Deni's call, which she immediately disconnected. It again rang and she again cut the call.

"Who's calling?" Before Shifa could text Daniyal this question came to her and she dared to look at her father.

"Deni." She managed to mutter.

"So receive the call. Why are you cutting it?"

Shifa gulped and looked at her mobile which again rang, how could she receive her Deni's call in front of her father? No matter though she was married Daniyal for the last four months, she was still feeling hesitant to talk to him in front of Anwar. As if they were not husband and wife but girlfriend and boyfriend.

"Assalamualaikum Deni." After all, she receives the call with this whisper.

"Walekum as salam. Sab kheriyat hai mohtarma?" He asked as she was not attending his call and Shifa glanced at her father who just resumed driving.

(Is everything fine?)

"Ji. (Yeah)" She muttered.

"Aap college mein ho?" After noticing her hushed tone he asked and Shifa bit her lower lip nervously.

(Are you in college?)

"Nah..."

"Ammi ne call nhi kri, wo theek hain na?"

(Is Ammi alright?)

"Ji" (yes)

"Masroof ho?"

(Are you busy?)

"Nhi"

"Tabiyat theek hai aapki?" Trying to conclude the reason for her silence he asked

(Are you alright?)

"Ji"

"Tabiyat bhi theek hai, masroof bhi nhi ho, college mein bhi nhi ho to itna dar dar ke baat kyu kar rhi ho? Thaki hui ho kya? Neend aa rhi hai Aapko?"

(Okay... If you're alright, you're not busy, nor even attending college then why are you talking in a hushed tone? Are you tired or sleepy?)

"Nhi." Glancing at her father she muttered nervously.

"Shifa aap ese baat kar rahi ho jese papa aapke saamne bethi ho!" For a moment Shifa was amazed. How well he understands her, he even knew the meaning of her silence.

(Shifa you're behaving like youreitting in front of papa!)

"Jiiii."

(Yesss)

"What? You're sitting with papa?"

"Ji" again glancing at her father, Shifa mumbled and this time Anwar also looked at her, he was also noticing her continuous answers in the form of yes and no.

"Papa se baat karao meri," Daniyal demanded which dried up Shifa's blood

(Make me talk to papa)

"Nhi..."

"Kyu bai? Baat karao meri!" The first part was a question but it doesn't require an answer as the next part was an order.

(Why so? Lemme talk!)

Poor girl removed the mobile from her ear and looked at her father with fearful pair of eyes. "Papa... Deni wants to talk to you." Offering the mobile she demanded and Anwar glanced at the mobile and then at the steering wheel, how could he take the mobile while driving? Shifa understood that and put the call in speaker mode.

"Hello." An overbearing voice echoed in the car and Shifa's heartbeat turned fast. Daniyal didn't even know how scared was she.

"Assalam o Alaikum. Kese hain aap, papa?"  Anwar was overwhelmed by that respectful tone.

(How are you, papa?)

"Walaikum as-salam, main theek hu, tum kese ho aur kab wapas aa rhe ho?"

(I'm fine, how are you? And when you're coming back?)

"Main bhi theek hu, kal wapas aa rha hu." Though Shifa already knew that he'll come back tomorrow, still she felt satisfied after confirmation.

(I'm also fine and coming tomorrow)

"Main aapse bohot din se baat karne ka soch rha tha, Shifa ki shikayat karni hai aapse." Shifa's smile was lost, Anwar glared at her with a usual furious gaze which dried up her blood.

(I was thinking about talking to you, I wanna complain about Shifa )

"Kya kra hai Shifa ne?" Again focusing on the drive Anwar asked in his overbearing voice.

(What Shifa has done?)

"Papa aapki beti ne mere walidain par koi jaadu kar diya hai shayad, unhe Shifa ke aage main dikhta hi nhi hai." Shifa let a breath out which was stuck in her chest and covered her face with her hands. She was so scared that her brain ran in every direction to understand what Daniyal could tell Anwar.

(Papa, your daughter has done some magic on my parents, now they love Shifa more than me.)

Anwar smiled while glancing at Shifa and hummed, "Ye jurm to tumne bhi kra hai, main tumhari shikayat kis se kru?" Anwar asked with a smile and heard a chuckle from Daniyal. Shifa was amazed, other than Bilal, Daniyal was the only person who had the power to make Anwar smile.

(You're also accused of committing the same offence, to whom should I complain about you?)

"Aapko kisi se shikayat karne ki kya zarurat hai? Aapke paas haq hai, khud hi saza de dijiyega." This wasn't a playful act but a respectful reply which managed to make his space in Anwar's heart, and Shifa again fall for him even harder than the last time.

(You don't need to complain against me, you have the authority to give me punishment.)

"Theek hai, phir aa jao kisi din dinner par tumhe usi din saza de dunga"

(Fine. Come for dinner, I'll punish you on that day only )

"Jesa aapka hukm... Lekin dinner mein biryani zarur honi chahiye." Daniyal demanded rightfully and Shifa blinked twice. Was he the same Anwar who never talk to anyone in this informal way?

(As you wish, But the biryani is a must)

"Biryani ke alawa aur kuch?" Asked Anwar with this thought that Daniyal is a foodie so he would demand for something else too but his demand was beyond his expectations.

(Anything else other than biryani?)

"Ji, aapki duaye."

(Yeah, your blessings)

"Wo to hamesha tumhare sath hain." Said Anwar with truthfulness and gave a sign to Shifa to take the mobile back.

(My blessings are always with you.)

"Baba kese hain, Deni?" After turning off the speaker mode, Shifa placed the mobile on her ear and asked.

(How is Baba?)

"Baba theek hai lekin baba ka beta theek nhi hai." He muttered in a hushed tone which was enough to make Shifa uneasy and suddenly her eyes travelled to Anwar who parked the car near a small grocery store.

(Baba is fine but not his son)

"You stay here, I'm coming back in five minutes." She nod her head on Anwar's order and he stepped out of the car.

"kya hua aapko? Aapne mushroom wali koi cheez to nhi khaa li na Deni? Ammi ne aur mene kaha tha aapse hum kuch pack kar ke de dete hain bahar ka khana nhi khaiyega, lekin aap sunte hi nhi hain... Kar li na tabiyat kharab— ab dawai li hai aapne ya nhi?" Knowing very well that he is allergic to mushrooms she asked for everything in a single breath. Daniyal was stunned for a moment, he wasn't expecting a scolding from her sweet wife but then a smile conquer his lips.

(What happened to you? Don't tell me you've consume something having mushrooms. Ammi and I already told you to don't eat anything from outside, we're giving you homemade food but you didn't even listen. Now, have you taken medicine or not?)

"Sabr-o-tahammul khatoon... sabr-o-tahammul! Kuch nhi hua hai mujhe sirf thodi thakaan hai." He kind of chuckled.

(Patience lady, patience! I'm absolutely fine just tired)

"Really?" She asked in a hushed tone "Are you really fine?"

"Ji haan mohtarma, main theek hu... Bas thak gya hu" and his hushed tone was addressing her tiredness.

(Yes miss, I'm absolutely fine just tired)

"Bohot kaam hai kya? Thoda araam kar lijiye." Shifa felt bad for him, if he were there she would do anything to make him comfortable, well she was still doing by talking to him.

(Is there a lot of work? Get some rest.)

"Nhi yaar... Koi kaam hi to nhi hai, main araam karte karte thak gya hu."

(No dude... That's the problem... There is no work. I'm tired of resting?)

"Really Deni? Araam karte karte kese thaka jata hai? Use thakaan nhi bore hona kehte hain." Shifa rolled her eyes while mumbling so, at the same time Anwar came back with a few bags in his hands and hopped in the car.

(How one could be tired while resting? That's called boredom, not fatigue.)

Shifa sat down with a straight back and her smile vanished immediately.

I can't even talk in front of papa, how does Deni talk to him so easily? Questioning herself and her attention was grabbed by her husband who was still on the call.

"Hmm... I'm kind of bored."

"Hmm..., aap araam kariye, aur baba ko mera salam kahiyega." She just muttered, Anwar secured himself with his seatbelt before resuming driving.

(Okay... Take more rest and convey my greetings to Baba.)

"Hmm... Baba aapko yaad kar rhe the."

(Hmm... Baba was missing you.)

Baba hi yaad kar rhe the, baba ka bete ko to meri yaad ayegi nhi! She kind of huffed in her thoughts but why she forgets every time that someone knew the art of reading her mind?

(Only baba is missing me, baba's son won't miss me!)

"Kya sooch rhi ho?"

(What are you thinking?)

"Nothing!" She muttered.

"Someone else is also missing you. Bewaquf aurat." He whispered in a voice which was hardly audible but Shifa was shocked! Did she already voice her thoughts? No! Not At all!

(Idiot woman)

''Ji? Kon?"

(What? Who?)

"Samajh jao." Again a whisper and her heart skipped a beat but a shy smile captured her lips immediately. Though she wanted to talk to her husband for some more time but it was already enough of her courage as she was in front of Anwar.

(Guess who!)

"Allah Hafiz. Take care of Baba."

"Jesa mohtarma ka hukm!" And the call ended with a new feeling in both hearts.

(Your order my command)

This man is a magician or something else? He knows the art of making people his! But how?

She was asking herself without knowing that she was also proficient in that art.

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