Sitting on the railing of college garden, I saw the big bunch of red roses and a box of chocolates in my hands, which I brought by the savings of my pocket money.

I was waiting for her but she was three minutes and twenty four seconds late from her usual time to arrive.

"You're late" I jumped off making her startled, she gasped loudly but then sighed before glancing at her wrist watch. "Nope, I'm not. There are still ten minutes to first lecture" She replied with a confused smile and I passed her the chocolates and flowers.

"Happy Birthday" She greeted me, I was amazed! She remembered my birthday! "Thanks" I muttered while trying to pull her attention towards the flowers and chocolates. "What is this?" She looked confused.

"It's for you Adeena"

"But Why?"

"Because we're friends"

"It's your birthday Daniyal, I should be giving you a gift, but here you're doing this work"

"Please don't refuse." I requested. After confessing my love she was feeling a bit hesitate to talk to me, and in the last few days we haven't had a properly convo.

"Sorry Daniyal, but I can't take it from you"

"We're friends Adeena. Or aren't we?"

"Yes we are, but I'm sorry, I can't take a gift from you or any other man. Still, thanks a lot." Saying that she walked ahead and I was stunned.

"Daniyal" I almost jumped at my place after hearing that call with a knock on the door of my room. It was Ammi's voice. Taking a deep breath I tried to calm down my heart which was still wandering around Adeena and the past.

Stepping down from the bed I wore my slippers before going towards the door. "Ammi what happened?" I asked after opening the door, she was already going back but stopped by me.

"I thought you're sleeping that's why I was going back'' with this statement she took steps towards me with a smile.

" Happy Birthday" She greeted me and I focused at the clock. Wow, exact 12 o'clock. She lift her hands to cup my face, but I was out of her react so I bend down a little allowing her to kiss my forehead.

"Aap ko yaad tha" I asked with a big grin and she smiled more, still cupping my face between her hands like I was a small kid.

(You remember )

"Kese bhul sakti hu? Khush rahiye, shaad-o-abaad rahiye, aur jaldi se shadi kar lijiye" she blessed me and I stood up straight while rolling my eyes.

(How could I forget? Maybe you always stay happy, health and blessed. And get married soon)

"Is se achha to aap bhul hi jaati" I mumbled with irritation but she heard it and thought I was teasing her.

(Better you would have forgotten it)

"Daniyal why are you halting this matter?"

"Because I'm fine like this" I shrugged but got a glare from my sweet ammi. 

"You're such a useless son. Can't you fulfill a single wish of your parents."

Oh wow. My ammi is emotionally blackmailing me.

"I don't care about anything, I want you to get married this year only. You're turned thirty. If not now then when will you get married? In your sixties?" I sighed and glanced at the clock. People get midnight brunch I was getting midnight scolding.

"Ammi Instead of giving me gift you're scolding me." I complaint and she glared at me again. Thankfully baba wasn't there to support his wife otherwise my condition was going to be worse.

"I'm not giving you any gift. I'm starting bride hunt, If you like anyone, tell me and if you don't, I'll find out a nice girl for you" it was an order.

"Ammi" I was shocked.

"Do you like anyone or not?" She asked and I shook my head.

"Then I'll search a match for you" I smack my forehead. "Ammi no need to do this" I fake cried.

"Why? Do you already like anyone?" She inquired and I was answerless. "If you do, then introduce her to me, otherwise I'll start bride hunt"

"Okay, I'll introduce her soon" I shrugged, it was the only way to stop Ammi to do bride hunt for me.

"It means you like someone?" I saw her over excited for the first time in my life.

"Ammi neend aa rhi hai, sone dijiye" Saying that I stepped in my room and lock the door.

(Ammi, lemme sleep... I'm tried.)

How could I tell ammi that I was in love with Adeena and my heart stops at her only.

I was trying to forget her, not really... Still I tried hard to avoid her thoughts but they come in front of me every time. Today when Shifa said 'I'm sorry but I can't take a lift from you or any other man. But thanks a lot', It hit me hard. Adeena was just like this. She was crazy for chocolates but not ready to accept them from me or any other guy. Sometimes Shifa reminds me of Adeena. She is a nice girl, just like Adeena.

To kill some time I lift my mobile and started scrolling Instagram but I noticed the green dot on the official account of Shifa.

"Assalamualaikum, Ghar time se pohoch gyi thi?" I text her.

(Did you reach home on time?)

"Waalaikumas salam, no I was late." I got the reply immediately.

"Faced any problem?" I asked a general question.

"Not really. I had called my Mama (maternal uncle) and he came to pick me from the metro station." She replied and I send an emoji

"Talked to your papa?"

"Not yet, actually I'm at my grandmother's place, tonight. But I'm trying to gather some courage."

"Okay" I text back and think about myself. Wasn't I taking more than enough interest in Shifa? But she is a nice girl. I didn't realise when my eyes started getting heavy in between these thoughts and I was consumed by the slumber.

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"Khatija, aapne apne bete ko kuch samjhaya?" Baba asked Ammi on breakfast table. But it was the hidden question for me.

(Khatija Did you describe something to your son?)

"Ji, Aapke sahabzaade ko koi pasand hai, isliye aur sari ladkiyon ko reject kar rahe hain" I choked on my tea and Cough hard. Ammi was high in prediction.

(Yes, your son does like someone that's why rejecting all the other proposals)

"Ammmmiiiii... I don't like anyone" placing the cup of tea on table I protest trying to not to cough.

"Daniyal now you're backing off from your words, you have already told me you'll introduce that girl to me" I stood up in hurry before stepping towards the door, that's what I could do to help myself in that situation.

"Where are you going?" Baba asked loudly but I scoot out from the home.

Why they want me to get married?

After killing a few hours here and there I went to the radio station before my usual report time.

"Daniyal sir, David Sir is waiting for you in his office" I was a bit surprised because David didn't tell me about anything special. I nodded while signing the register and the receptionist phoned David to inform about my arrival.

"Yeah David?" I pushed open the door and...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" I blinked blankly on that warm welcome and greeting, I don't remember if I had experienced this kind of greeting in childhood what I was getting at my 30th birthday, it's kinda weird for me, but I passed a smile to four people present in the room. David, Shifa and two more ladies. 

"Roll off the recording soon and then there is a small treat from my side." David bounce a ferrero rocher towards me which I catch in the air and raised my brow in questioning way while unwrapping it.

"Ye zarra nawazi ki koi khaas wajah?" I asked and he close the file he was reading.

(What's the reason behind this special treatment?)

"College me tune bohot treats di hain, aaj treat meri taraf se" I smiled with a nod while having that chocolate and picked two more from the bowl placed on his table.

(You have given a lot of treats in college, today the treat is from my side.)

"Hey, it's mine... No sharing of ferrero rocher" he protest as if I do care about his command.

In no time Shifa and I were in the recording room preparing ourselves for the work. "Isn't it your college time?" I asked her and she nodded "so what are you doing here?" Passing a chocolate to her I asked and she shook her head to accept it, but informed me that David call her for some very important and urgent work that's why she left the college lecture in between but in reality there was no important work other than my birthday for which she had to come early and record the program. I felt guilty. Due to me her studies suffered.

"I didn't know what David was up to. I'm sorry" I apologise formally to gain her smile. "It's actually better than attending a philosophy lecture" Mumbling that she took the chocolate which I offered her one more time.

"Your welcome!" She looked up and I like to gain that shocked facial expression from her. She was looking embarrassed and I was enjoying it.

"I'm sorry" She looked down "Tsk tsk... You need to learn basic vocabulary. Thank you is the correct word to use at this place" I scolded her with disappointment. I have to admit, I'm a good actor, specifically in front of Shifa.

"Sir you're teasing me, aren't you?" Her question was not less than a joke because of fear dancing on her face.

"Not Sir, but Daniyal or Deni" I smiled and she understood that I was teasing her, she looked away while suppressing her smile and we started recording.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

After completing the recording Shifa greeted me and stepped out from the room. But David stopped her to join us for the lunch, he wanted to apologise by offering her lunch. She was politely refusing but after a few more demands wrapped in the sheet of order she nodded with hesitation.

I could feel her situation, David is her boss so she couldn't refuse by showing her stubbornness. But her colorless face was indicating how much she was scared.

I along with David, his wife and Shifa, went to nearby famous restaurant. I ordered the lunch according to my choice as I was the special guest. We three were talking and laughing but Shifa was looking here there, as if trying to find out someone. And suddenly, David's mobile started ringing, he received the call and stood up in hurry. "Daniyal I have to go right now."

"Is everything fine?" I asked him and he informed me that he got a call from his son's school to inform that he fell down from swing. Though the boy got only a few scratches but he was crying a lot so his parents were being called immediately.

Conclusively, Shifa and I was sitting in front of each other holding an awkward silence because She was looking scared.

After Adeena, Shifa was the first girl with whom I was sitting in a restaurant. She was highly uncomfortable.

"I think, I should also leave" She grabbed her bag while standing up.

"Shifa Main itna bhi bura aadmi nhi hu ki aap ek public place me mere sath beth kar lunch nahi kar sakti" I told her in my defence.

(Shifa I'm not such a bad person that you can't have lunch with me at a public place)

I understood she wasn't ready to took lift in my car at night, but I didn't find out any flaw in having lunch together.

"Deni aap achhe insaan hain, lekin main aaj tak is tarah kisi ladke ke sath lunch par nahi gyi" She explained and surprisingly it didn't hurt me, however, she gain a point of respect in my eyes.

(Deni you are a good person, but I have never gone to lunch with any guy like this)

"Shifa you're here to have a lunch with me like a professional, we're not here for a date" I explained and she thought for a moment.

"Agar kisi ne dekh liya to problem ho jayegi, it will be difficult for me to explain who you are and why I'm with you?" I could only see fear in her eyes when she was explaining.

(If anyone see us together it will be a problem)

"Sit back" I smiled and gestured her towards the chair, she fearfully obeyed.

"Can you see anyone from your known?" I asked and she looked here there.

"No"

"What do you think, in the population of 30 million someone is specially focusing on you? Why are you so scared?" I questioned and she looked down at the floor.

"Deni aap nahi samjhenge"

(Deni you won't understand me)

"To aap samjhao" I crossed my arms on my chest. 

(So explain it to me)

"Mujhe kisi se dar nahi lagta, ilzaam se lagta hai aur ilzaam se zyada anjaam se... How will it effect my family." My heart skipped a beat after listening the last sentence. Sometimes she sounds exactly like Adeena. But I make sure to focus on the discussion instead of Adneen and the past.

(I'm not afraid of anyone but accuses, and more than I feel scared of consequences)

"Ilzaam lagane walo ko saboot nahi chahiye hote Shifa, aap apne aap ko ek room me lock karlo, jhuthe log tab bhi aap par ilzaam laga sakte hain. aur Ilzaam badkirdaari ka saboot nhi hote, agar aapka kirdaar theek hai to ilzaam se darne ki zarurat nhi hai."

(The accusers don't need proofs, you can not save yourself from blames even if you lock yourself in a room. So do not be afraid of accuses, they can't prove you characterless)

"Dar apne liye nhi lagta Deni, is baat se lagta hai koi meri Mummy ki tarbiyat par sawaal na uthaye. log kya kahenge is baat se dar lagta hai." I smiled. such a pure-hearted girl she is.

(I'm not afraid for me but my mom, I don't want anyone to question her upbringing. I'm afraid of what would people say?)

"Shifa aapka kirdaar kitna bhi paak ho, Hazrat-e-Aayesha jitna paak to nahi ho sakta na... Logo ne to un par bhi ilzaam laga diya tha. Ilzaam aur sawaalo se mat daro, sahi kaam karo, burayi se bacho aur hamehsa sachhai ka sath do, use chupao nhi, kyuki ek na ek din sachchai sab ke saamne aa hi jaati hai" I explain and this time she was looking no more afraid.

(Shifa no matter how pure and pious you're, but you're nothing in front of Hazrat-e-Aayesha, right? People had accused her too. So don't be afraid of questions and accuses. Perform right deeds, Avoid evil and always support the truth, some hide it as it will come out one day, for sure)

"Deni, Aap bohot accha bolte hain"

(You speak very well, Deni)

"That's why I'm RJ" I showed my bright smiled

"Ab to has do, aap to meri itni achhi speech ko waste kar rahi ho" I chuckled and she rolled her eyes before looking away from me but yes, she smiled.

(Smile now, you are wasting such a nice speech of mine)

"Keep in mind,

Kehne do Jo kehti hai,

Duniya chup kab rehti ha" I ended my speech and she smiled

(Let people say whatever they want to,

People can't be quiet)

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