ARHAM'S POV:

I closed my eyes then again opened then again closed them and again opened them and every time Muskan's face was coming in front of my eyes. That's really weird of me.

"Chachuuuuuu" I listened to that voice and opened my eyes.

{Chachu: Paternal Uncle/ Younger brother of father}

"Chachu ka babyyyyyyy" copying the way of my five years old niece I said with happiness in my voice

"Chachu I'm hungry" She said innocently and I opened my arms for her. She ran towards me and sat down beside me on the bed.

"Is my kitten hungry?" I asked and she saw me with a pout

"I'm not a kitten, I'm Usma" She said with a pout and I pulled her cheek. 

"Chachu I'm hungry" she said while placing her both little hands on her belly, but I was confused as to why she was hungry when we all had our dinner just an hour ago.

"Then go to your mummy and tell her that you are hungry" I said while kissing her soft cheek but she shook her head.

"Chachu I'm very hungry and I wanna eat ice-cream... But mummy said that we don't have ice-cream in home" she made a little pout and I smile, because she was making excuses to eat ice-cream

"Are you very hungry?" I asked lovingly and she nodded with her cute pout making an innocent face and I suppressed my smile.

"If my little Usma is very Hungry then I should make a paratha role for her" I said she clenched her little nose

"Chachuuuuuu.... Ice cream pleaseeeee" She made the please and chachu so long that I couldn't help myself to pull her cheeks but she started buttering me.

"Chachu please please please ice cream, chachu please" she again requested and I punched her cheek but lightly on which she acted to fall down on bed, I was very tired so I wasn't in the state of even stepping out from the bed.

"Chalo bhago yaha se, apne papa se demand kro, wo to Bach jate hain Tum mujhe preshan karti rehti ho" saying that in friendly way I turned my side to face opposite to her and covered my face with blanket. But I felt her pulling the blanket off from my face and she peeped towards my face.

(Shuu Shuu.. Go away.. Ask your father for ice-cream)

"Chachu papa said he is tired, pleaseeee... You are my best chachu.. Pleaseeee... I'll give you my chocolate too" I surrendered in front of her innocent yet clever demand. I looked at the clock which was showing five to eight and I sat down on the bed.

"Let's go," She said while jumping on the bed.

"Where? You are not going anywhere, I'm going to buy ice-cream, you wait for me" saying that I stepped out from the bed but that girl.

"Chachu I wanna go on bike, Papa doesn't take me on bike, I like to go on bike with you" that girl and her beautiful eyes which were full of shine

"Usma you know you're a demanding queen" I said in a tired way and she smiled shyly.

"Papa was also saying the same thing that I'm his demanding princess" I smiled and kissed her cheek.

"Wait a few minutes" saying that I went to change my clothes.

"Bhabhi I'm going out with Usma" I informed while going out from the door of the apartment and Usma smiled with joy.

"Hold me firmly" Saying that I started the bike and soon we were in front of an ice cream shop.

"Chachu chocolate ice cream" She demanded again and I held her hand before entering in the shop, when we come out from the ice cream shop, Usma was having her ice-cream biscuit and I was having my vanilla cone, my gaze went to a familiar face with very big moustache and overbearing eyes and face.

No one else but Mr. Arsalan Haidar.

He was wearing his formal jogging dress with his jogging shoes. His muscular and well maintained body was enough to indicate that the man was an army person. At the same time his gaze went towards me and I was amazed that he didn't glare at me like he did Everytime in our past meetings.

"Usma come with me" holding her hand I moved towards Mr. Colonel,

"Chachu, will you buy me a chocolate too?" I nodded my head without paying attention to that demanding queen and soon I was in front of him.

"Assalamualaikum Sir" I greeted him with a respectful voice and he hummed while nodding in response to my greeting.

"Assalamualaikum Uncle" I smiled when Usma did salam without my instruction and shockingly the lips of Mr. Colonel converted into a small smile.

"Waalaikumas salam, what is your name, little girl?" He asked to Usma and I huffed in my thoughts

'Haven't he listened when I did salam?' I questioned myself with anger but what could I do!

''My name is Usma Asad Ziyadi" I smiled proudly on the way to talk to my little niece. She was only five but fearlessly talking to the man with big moustaches, Even I felt scared of him, sometimes little kids amazed us with their conversational skills. Meanwhile I noticed my ice-cream which was going to melt so I suddenly to a big bite and Mr. Colonel glared me. What's the matter with this man? Why he always glare at me?

"You are young but you don't have any concerns regarding your health, look at me, even at this age I'm fit and look at yourself" I really felt that I was a cadet in front of him.

"You are unfit in just..." Said the overbearing Retired Army man while pointing out towards my abs...

The abs which were nowhere... Or it's better to say that I also had abs but they were like a hidden gem which were hidden behind the fat on my belly.

I suddenly breath in and held that just to show my belly flat through the tightly fitted T-shirt. But suddenly hone wale sasur ji (would be Father-in-law) complete the sentence which he had left in between

"Unfit in just... You don't look like 20 or 21." he said in a questioning way and I nodded. I wasn't 20 or 21 like Anzala, Maizah and Muskan

"I'm 24" I state and he again furrowed his brows while rolling the corner of his moustache.

"But you are graduating... In this age!" He was looking confused and I nodded.

"Chachu..." Meanwhile Usma pulled my hand and I looked at her.

"Shhh... I'm talking with uncle, papa told you na, when two elders are talking don't interrupt!" I whispered and she tried to say something but I looked at hone wale sasur ji (would be Father-in-law).

"Sir, after completing my schooling I started working with my father in his business, side by side I did BBA too, just because my Baba (father) wanted me to pursue BBA but since beginning I have interest in philosophy that's why after completing BBA I shifted here in Lucknow just to pursue my philosophy degree" I state and he again rolled the corner of his moustache, maybe he did that act when he need to ask something.

"Shifted to Lucknow! That means you don't belong to Lucknow?" I shook my head in reply.

"I belong to Aligarh. My family lives there but my bhai lives here due to his job, with bhabhi and Usma" I state and he nodded.

"Chachuuuuuu...." Usma again shook my hand while whispering

"Usma I'm talking naa '' I whispered back while widening my eyes but she made a pout.

''Your mobile is..." She said and I realised that my mobile was vibrating in my pocket but I didn't notice. I don't know how she heard the small vibrating sound.

"Excuse me" I said while drawing out my mobile and Mr. Colonel nodded, but I cut the call as that was Muskan's call. I was happy as well as shocked that she was calling me! For a moment I thought that I was watching a dream then I realised that was reality. At the same time she again called me and I again cut her call but quickly type a message and send her

Ttyl ryt now i'm busy wid sum1

"Start working out, health is wealth... At such a young age you are unfit. What will you do when you turn to a middle aged one!" He said and I nodded. But a smile creeped to my lips after listening to his last sentence.

"What is the matter of laughing at this?" He asked with a glare which made my heart shutter and my smile dropped off.

"No.. I.. I'm. Not laughing... But I... Remember my baba after listening your words" I tried not to stammer but couldn't, But that was true

"Baba always scolds us that what will we do in our old days if we aren't serious enough in our young age!" I state and he nodded with an angry look. I don't know if he was really angry or his face has that angry expression naturally!

"Hmm.. He is right.. Focus on your health, start at least morning walk and jogging" He said and I nodded while gulping.

"Use your tongue for reply" I blinked in disbelief, he was sounding just like a Colonel and I was a cadet in front of him.

"Sure sir... I'll start working out from tomorrow" I said trying to sound confident but couldn't, he hummed while turning to go but...

"Bye uncle" Usma, who had already finished her ice-cream, waved her small hand and the overbearing army man turned to her with a smile. I was shocked to see his smile.

"Bye Beta, take care" He replied with a smile while caressing her head with his huge hand.

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After coming back home I checked out my mobile which was showing four missed calls from Muskan. But since I was talking to her father then I was on bike so I couldn't attend her call. I dialled her number, the ring was going and she picked the call,

"Hello"

"You were calling me!" I utter something like a question and she stay silent for a moment

"That wasn't anything important, I'm sorry to disturb you" She said in a hushed tone and I smiled.

"I'm always ready to be disturbed if the reason is you" I state the truth but her reply made me feel angry

"Arham you are sounding just like Anzala... Please leave these cheesy dialogues for him, it doesn't suit you" She said in duh tone and I sighed.

"Don't you like these cheesy dialogues?" I asked in a defeated tone.

"First of all I don't like these cheesy lines secondly it will be better if you will tell these lines to the girl whom you like." I felt a different anger in her voice, maybe her father scolded her

"The girl whom I like!!'' I sighed again.

"Arham I'll talk to you later, Anzala is calling me" she said but I stopped her.

"Muskan at least tell me the reason of your call" I asked seriously

"Arham, that was just a mistake that I called you, bye" she said and I listened to a beep which was due to the cutting of the call.

"What the hell... She is ready to talk to Anzala but not with me!" I punched the pillow resting beside me.

"What is better in Anzala?" I asked myself but didn't get anything. I looked at myself but didn't find any flaws, "I look a bit better than him" I muttered while running my fingers in my hair and my gaze went to my belly..

"Maybe my fitness!" I mumbled and held my breath in. "Now I'm looking much better" I mumbled looking at my flat belly but soon it again came out.

"Arham you have to work hard to gain Muskan's attention" I said to the one who was inside the mirror and walked towards my bed to pick up my mobile.

"5:05AM" I set the alarm.

"Umm.. It's too early"

"6:00 AM is fine"

"It's also too early" I said to myself as I could break the record of sleeping, so how could I wake up that much early?

"6:10 is fine" I set the alarm and lay down on the bed. Waiting for the next morning. I was compromising with my sleep for Muskan, and I could do anything for her.

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_Naaz Jamal