ARHAM'S POV:

"Hmm... Who are you and why are you coming with my daughter?" As soon as Muskan moved inside her home I was bombarded with that question.

That man is half crazy! Who owns such a cheap mentality even after being an educated one? I hadn't expected such cheapness from Retired  colonel Arsalan Haidar.

"Uncle I'm Arham Ziyadi, Muskan's classmate..." I introduced myself and he huffed which was enough to make me shiver as his soundly breath made me scared and his bloodshot eyes were glaring at me.

"I already know that you're her classmate... But listen carefully, stay away from my daughter... I know boys like you always try to be close to girls" That was enough for me, I wasn't a boy who roamed around girls, even girls used to roam around me but I don't want that.

"I'm sorry Sir that I'm cross answering with you but I'm not from those boys who roam behind girls, I b...." my sentence was cut off by him in between

"Only my eyes are enough to understand the reality of people, I don't need your falsifications..."

Such a jangli aadmi (uncivilised man) he was! if he wouldn't be Muskan's father, then I would reply him in his own style but then suddenly I listened my inner voice

'Arham hone wale sasur ji se panga mat le, bhari na parh jaye...'

(Arham don't make a negative impression in the eyes of future father-in-law)

But some part of me was dying to give him a befitting reply so I did that too but in a respectful way...

"I know sir, you have many years of experience. Moreover your post in the army gave you this positive attitude to watch the reality of this world in a single glance but this time maybe you are making some mistake in recognising your own daughter.... She isn't a girl who pays attention to boys" I said in a respectful way and he again glared at me .

''I'm not talking about Muskan, I'm talking about you. you better stay away from my daughter" I literally grind my teeth but showed him a smile.

"Sir Please don't think negative, sometimes our eyes aren't able to understand the reality behind the scene, we only see one face of coin at a time, other face always stay hidden." I state politely but he stay silent with his angry expressions, for a while I become scared

'Does he own a gun which is going to shoot me very soon?' my heart asked to my own self and I just gulped.

'No Arham... Jo dar gya wo Mar gaya (one who is afraid is dead) be brave' I said to myself and took a deep breath.

"Sir, I too have sister... I know the importance of dignity in a girl's life, not only for a girl but for her family too." I state the truth, I have a younger sister and I know what I would feel if any boy would flirt with her. Surprisingly my statement didn't calm him down but somehow Mr. Colonel became more angry.

"If you have a sister then you tell me will you like it if your sister will roam around in a boy's car?" He almost burst on me and I thought for a moment but then shook my head which led him to glare at me with more anger.

"To be honest, I won't like my sister to roam around with any boy.... '' my words were cut off in between by him.

" So how could I tolerate my daughter with.... " that time I didn't let him complete

"Sir let me complete at least.... I won't like my sister to roam around with any boy but if my sister and that boy would share a bond like Muskan and me then I don't think I would have any problem... " I state the truth from my heart

"Sir I know many girls, many of them are my friends but Muskan is the one who owns a different respect in my eyes. I respect Maizah and Muskan both in the same way in which I respect the ladies of my own family, please trust me I'm not like those boys, neither is your daughter from those girls who give attention to boys" I state the truth.

I love Muskan very much; in my opinion respect and love are not two different emotions, love is not the name of attraction towards a beautiful face but it's the name of a beautiful feeling to protect that special one from every difficulty as well as to give her the place that she deserves. One can only love a person if he/she respects the other with the depth of heart, love without respect is just like a pen without ink which doesn't have any value.

"Whatever... I don't want to see you again near Muskan, I don't like my daughter to come with any boy...." He said with angry voice and I rolled my eyes mentally

'Is insaan ko bardasht karna kisi azab se kam nahi hai, pta nahi bechari Muskan kese jhelti hogi apne param pujay abba ko' I cursed that man to make me irritate but I wasn't going to give up easily

(I don't know how poor Muskan tolerate her father, tolerating him is not less than any damnation)

"Sir I'm sorry but I can't commit that I won't drop Muskan again..." I took a pause just to gather all the courage from myself and he glare me one more time

"Actually if two girls are standing on the road waiting for an auto rickshaw and some boys are teasing them or passing comments on them then I can't stop myself to drop them to their home." I said and the facial expressions of Mr colonel were changed, but I have to salute how efficiently he managed to maintain that angry face.

"What do you mean?" He asked in his overbearing voice which was enough to make me scared, but

"I was going back to my home from college when Muskan and Maizah both were standing on the road waiting for auto rucksack but when I noticed both of them uncomfortable due to some boys I offered them lift, Muskan was denying but I literally scolded her to come with me" I state 70% truth and the remaining was lie, because we three were coming together from college.

"Hmm... But.." Mr. Colonel was going to say something but I stopped him.

'Time for some dialogue-Bazi'  I decided with a smirk in my mind.

(Dialogue-bazi= delivering effective dialogues, something like parroting)

"I'm very sorry sir if you found my deed wrong, if you wanna punish me for this I'm ready to accept that punishment whole heartedly, but I can't commit that I won't do the same in future." I delivered that dialogue full of emotions and I was thankful to our drama team who gave me the same dialogue for a play...

Actually I had only a single dialogue in that whole play for which I practiced for some two months... That's a different matter that even after repeating that dialogue some ten thousand times I forgot that on stage, but luckily I keep remember that in front of hone wale sasur ji (would be father-in-law)

"Why didn't you tell me about this before?" He asked while showing his anger

'Yaar kaise aadmi ho aap? Pehle bolne ka moqa hi kahan diya aapne..' 

(What type of man you're? First you didn't let me say anything)

I said to myself but didn't know how I said the second last pass so loudly that he listened.

"Hmm... I see" He mumbled while rolling the corner of his big moustache.

"Not only Muskan or Maizah, if there was another girl in their place I would do the same thing" that wasn't a dialogue but a truth statement from my side.

"Hmm... Better then"

'Waahhh... Hitler ke muh se tareef sunne ka maza hi kuchh or hai.' my heart screamed loudly and I felt happy.

(Wow, it's amazing to listen the praising by villian)

"But why do you leave those boys? You should hand them over to police"

"Sir I haven't made that matter very big because in the end Muskan and Maizah both would have to go to the police station every now and then.... And might be Maizah's family won't like that and you too." I state and he nodded

After exchanging few more words he finally took relief breath that his daughter and I wasn't involved in any affair, in the time being my gaze went to the balcony from where Muskan and Maizah were peeping out, I wanted to fix my gaze on her face but I stopped myself and smiled looking at Mr. Colonel

"Sir I should take my leave now, my bhai and bhabhi must be waiting for me" I said in a respectful way and he nodded.

"Nice meeting you" holding my hand in front of him I said with a smile on my face and he held my hand to shake but his hand was so big and rough, if someone got a slap from his hand he would die on the same spot.

THIRD PERSON'S POV:

Rizwi Mansion

Anzala, Adnaan, Afnaan and Rumi were sitting in the lawn of their home. The cold and naughty breeze was busy playing with their hair as well as hearts.

"Adnaan bhai, where is Maizah aapi?" Afnaan asked and Adnan showed his fake smile.

"She is in My pocket, don't you know?" Adnaan replied in a mocking tone and Afnaan rolled his eyes.

"Anzala bhai don't you know?" Anzala shrugged and, giving his weight on both of his palms , he placed them on the grass while leaning backwards.

''I haven't noticed her since the time she has returned from Muskan's home" Anzala said and both the boys nodded, at the same time Maizah appeared in the lawn holding a tray in her hands.

"Coffee for all, I have made this" Maizah Chirped.

"You have made it?" Anzala asked in a surprised way and Adnaan laughed out.

"I don't wanna have this coffee. I doubt you might have forgotten to mix sugar in this," Adnaan asked and Afnaan glared at his elder brother with fake anger.

"Adnan bhai... Please.. Don't say this about the coffee which aapi has made for all of us" Afnaan said and Maizah smiled thinking that her brother was taking her side but....

"But I doubt that she has mixed salt in this instead of sugar"

"You both donkeys..." Maizah said while slapping the arms of both of them but Anzala silently picked one mug and sipped the coffee which gave happiness to Maizah.

"How is it?" she questioned asked and Anzala didn't moved his gaze away from the mobile phone "It's fine" he replied in whisper.

Maizah picked two mugs of coffee and moved towards Rumi who was smiling regularly since half hour fixing her gaze on mobile

'' What are you doing Rumi aapi?" Maizah asked before passing coffee mug to her

" Nothing.. Just chatting wit..."She said as fluently but stopped in between and sipped her coffee,

"Chatting with Naail. Right" Maizah asked with half smile and Rumi nodded, only Naail's name was enough for her to turn her cheeks red.

Maizah felt disheartened because she was remembering how Anzala was praising those girls due to her makeup, in sought of gaining his attention but he didn't even glanced at her. Maizah slightly rubbed her lips with her thumb to remove the lipstick with the thought that might be those girls were more beautiful than her. She believed that Muskan was more beautiful than her that's why Anzala always praises her. That thoughts bring a wave of sadness in her heart

"Maizah Coffee is tasty" talking the last sip, Rumi utter and Maizah came out of her thoughts.

"thanks“ she mumbled with a artificial smile

"When did you learn to make coffee? And how have you planned to make coffee?" Rumi asked in his belief because Maizah never took initiatives to do any kitchen work even after Momina's scolding.

"It's been almost a week since I learned to make coffee and today I made it because we all like to have coffee after dinner." Maizah said everything in a low voice but Rumi, who was busy replying to a message, suddenly looked at her in her last sentence.

"No.. We all don't like to have coffee after dinner" Rumi asserted and Maizah preferred to stay silent.

"But Anzala does" Rumi added and Maizah suddenly became pale, that's true, she had made coffee because Anzala likes that.

"Maizah where are you lost girl?" snapping her fingers in front of Maizah Rumi Asked but Maizah shook her head suddenly

"I.. Nowhere else.. But right in front of you" Maizah tried to pretend happy but Rumi could sense her Longing

"Maizah, you made this coffee specially for Anzala. Right?" Rumi asked but actually that wasn't a question but declaration

"Huh.. Coffee that too for Anzala... What is so special about him that I would make an effort for him?" Maizah asked while rolling her eyes and Jerking her head but she wasn't that much good actress or maybe her emotions weren't supporting her at that time.

"Anzala is your husband, this fact makes him special for you...you are watching him without blinking waiting for his gaze to come towards you, You are applying lipstick for the first time, making coffee after dinner all these things are making him special for you" Rumi state and Maizah was shocked that Anzala didn't noticed her but Rumi was noticing everything.

"No aapi nothing like that... Wh.. What are you saying...." Maizah tried to be confident but her words weren't supporting her situation

"Isn't it true that you are doing these efforts just for my brother?" Rumi said in teasing way which made Maizah's heart flutter but she tried her best to show herself normal and shook her head in reply with an egotistical expression on her face

"But Maizah he is your husband!" Rumi state and Maizah nodded..

"Yes he is my husband, a husband who is in love with some other girl and I'm his wife because our family didn't trust us and pushed us into this relationship which doesn't have any future." Maizah state and Rumi was shocked to know that

"Anzala loves someone else? Who told you?" Rumi asked and Maizah smacked her head in her thoughts because she couldn't reveal about Muskan in front of anyone in her family as they could make a new matter out of that.

"No.. No one tell me, I felt like that" She mask the situation and Rumi placed her hand on Maizah's shoulder

"Stupid, nothing like that, yesterday Abbu and Ammi were talking that they will announce your engagement in my marriage and after a month they will do your marriage in front of all" Rumi told and Maizah looked at Anzala who was busy in his mobile. At the same time Rumi's mobile beeped and after reading the text she blushed while biting her lips. Maizah looked at the condition of Rumi which gave a pang in her heart.

"Naail talk to you at this time.. I mean it's too late if Badi Ammi gets to know she will be angry with you" Maizah said and Rumi smiled.

"Naail is very busy with his work. He gets free time at night so we talk at this time.. And don't worry, Ammi will never got to know that we talk to each other" Rumi states that Maizah smiled, Soon Rumi became busy in talking to Naail and Maizah was sitting silently just gazing at Anzala and sometimes gazing at the sky.

'Why is it all happening to me? I never try to gain someone's attention but why do I want to gain Anzala's gaze?' she asked to herself

'First I was thinking about Naail but his alliance is fixed with my sister..and now Anzala... His eyes can see everything but he is blind to me!' Maizah said to herself. At the same time Anzala turned his face towards Maizah who was already watching him.

'Ignore Anzala' he said to himself and averted his eyes from Maizah's face within a single second, which hurt her to the deepest part of her heart. She preferred to go back to her room.

=============

Next day Anzala was completely ignoring her and she was confused due to that.

"Anzala, why are you ignoring me?" Maizah asked when they both were college garden

"I'm not ignoring you Mazi, but I am trying to make a perfect distance between us. I'm still ashamed for what I did that night, that was a mistake and I'll never repeat it, so it's better to stay away from each other" Anzala said and Maizah nodded but she felt hurt when he said that that small kiss on her forehead was just a mistake.

"Muskaaaaannn..." Anzala said getting up from his place and Maizah was just watching him in disbelieve.

"Mazi come to the gate at the time of off, I will be waiting for you" saying that Anzala ran towards Muskan holding his bag.

"Hey Muskan, are you offended with me?" Anzala asked and she shook her head.

"Why would I?" she asked with a smile.

"Yaar, why is your smile so sweet?" Anzala asked and Muskan giggled shyly

"Her smile is so sweet because she is sweet" Arham came there and said with a smile looking at Muskan and Anzala felt angry.

"Muskan" Arham said in slow voice and passed a big Chocolate to her which she didn't accept

"No thanks..." Muskan mumbled

'Give to that girl whom you love, it's not my right to take this but hers' Muskan said to Arham in her thoughts but didn't say anything in reality, but Arham gave her a pleading look so she took that chocolate with a hesitation filled smile.

"Muskan you are looking beautiful in this dress, yellow color suits you" Anzala said and Muskan again smiled. But Arham fisted his hands, he felt angry, jealous and disappointed that couldn't Muskan notice his love?

"Anzala I think you said the same thing to prachi just a couple of minutes ago that she looks beautiful in pink color because she is wearing pink today" Arham said with a taunting smile and Anzala raised his brow

"Bro you leave what I'm saying to whom, you focus on the girl who is playing with your heart... You too say some cheesy lines to her maybe you will come to her good books sooner" Anzala said with a wink and Arham was shocked

"Who told you?!!" He asked suddenly

"Suna nahi hai kya ishq or mushq chupaye nahi chupta.. Tumhari aakhe kehti hai ki tum kisi ko dhundh rahe ho... Wese kon hai hai wo bad kismat?" Anzala said everything in a teasing way, but Muskan felt hurt

( haven't you heard that it's impossible to hide love and fragrance? Your eyes always show that you are trying to find someone... by the way who is that unlucky one?)

''Wo hai ek shehzadi Jise main ek din apne dil ki rani banaunga, lekin har ladki cheesy dialogues par marne wali nahi hoti, kam se kam wo un me se nhi hai jo flirting karne se khush ho jaye" Arham said with a smile and Anzala hoots in teasing way

( she's a princess whom I will make my queen one day.... But keep remember one thing every girl don't like cheesy dialogues, and she is one of them)

"Iska matlab apne jesi boring ladki ko like karte ho?" Anzala said in mocking way.

( it means she is boring just like the way you are)

"Tum mere bare me kuch bhi keh lo uske bare me ek lafz bhi nahi sununga" Arham threatened Anzala and Muskan felt wetness in her eyes but she controlled herself.

( no matter whatever you say about me but I won't listen anything against her.. not even a single word)

"She must be a lucky girl, I think you won't be happy if you will get someone else except her" Muskan said in almost no voice and Arham nodded with a honest smile.

"Ohhoo.. Romeo.." Anzala teased him and Muskan smiled but only she know how she stopped her tears

"Ma..May Allah bless you with that girl as your wife" Muskan said in a hushed tone and Arahm smiled wholeheartedly.

"Aameen" Arham said from the depth of his heart which was full of love.

"Summa Ameen" Muskan said with a broken heart Before turning to go to the washroom because it was impossible for her to control her tears.

"Arham will be happy after getting that girl in his life, I have habit to tolerate Longing for love" Mumbling the same she wiped her tears and stepped in the girls restroom and she was shocked to saw another girl standing in front of mirror, and tears were flowing down from her eyes unstoppably.

She wasn't anyone else but Maizah, who was crying after watching Anzala's ignorance, for the first time she realised how much she loves him but she never understood that love.

"Why are you crying?" Both asked one another in unison, but Muskan hugged Maizah without saying anything. Both of them didn't try to console each other as their hearts were already broken and they weren't in the state of asking or saying anything.

Both were crying but Muskan was unaware that her prayer was answered! After all she said prayer with broken heart and Tute dil ki dua bohot jaldi Qubul hoti hai (prayers of broken heart never stay unanswered.)

================

This is such a clumsy chapter 😭

I haven't edit it yet, just corrected some spelling mistakes, but I'm highly disappointed with my own writing 😭😭😭😭

_Naaz Jamal