Half an hour had passed. There was an awkward silence in the classroom since he entered. He had only said 'Good morning' since that time. The voice was very competent even though it was two words.

After assigning something on the calendar and setting a time limit, he sat on the chair beside the window; labeling something from a newspaper. He took light sips from the black coffee mug kept on the table and examined the students from time to time.

"Mujhe to daal mei Kuch kala lagta hai,"

Zaina whispered to Minahil from behind.

"Kale ka pata nahi.. safaid to zaroor hai!" She replied.

"Minahil ki bachi.. khaberdaar jo tune iss vadere ko check out kiya ho to.." Zaina tapped her shoulder.

"Mujhe to dar zyada lag raha hai bhaeee."

"Tujhe kyu lag raha hai?.. sunayi to mene thi."

"Pata nai.. lagta hai usne tujhe pehchana nahi hai abhi tak.." Minahil had predicted.

"Haan.. niqaab se wese bhi nai pehchane ga tu chill maar." Zaina sat back.

There were now whispers and gossips spread in the room. No one spoke to him, they didn't know his name, subject or department but he just didn't give them "professor" vibes. Nonetheless, everyone was too hesitant to ask him any questions. As soon as he would look up, the whole class would look at their pages and pretend to work; then back up when he

would look away.

Another 10 minutes, He got up holding his mug with one hand and the other in his pocket walking back and forth between the rows. The top few buttons of his shirt were open just like it was the day before in the car and his white cuffed sleeves were rolled upwards. He still had those shaded spects on which prevented any view of his eyes from a distance. His hair was black with a few brown highlights. That was all Zaina and Minahil could figure out sitting at the farthest end.

He was now walking towards their desks.

"Hayeee Minahilll ye yahan kyu araha hai. Isko keh duje pasey jaye."

"Acha mei kehti hoon k professor chacha zara aap apni chehal kadmi uss taraf jaa ker kareinge please?.. yahan hamari Zaina bibi aap se chup rahi hain!" Minahil said sarcastically.

"Dafa ho! Kisi kam di nai tu." Zaina opened up a book to hide her face as much as possible.

"Yaar ek to stress mei tumhari Punjabi baher ajati hai aur mujhe Kuch samaj nahi aati." Minahil complained.

As soon as he came beside Zaina's table, she could smell his strong cologne. She didn't dare to look at him, her eyes were stuck on the book. He paused walking. Zaina prayed that he didn't say anything.

"Your book is upside down." He turned to Zaina.

His voice sent her unexplainble shivers.

She had never wanted to run away from somewhere so bad.

She quickly turned the book up right, her hands felt cold. He still didn't move from his place.

"Stay after class." He said with his convenience and walked away.

Zaina froze.

Minahil had turned around as soon as he left, her eyes open wide and hand on her mouth.

"Bacha ley mujhe meri behn." Zaina pleaded.

"Agar isne warning laga di to baba ko pata chal jaye ga.." She couldn't think what to do.

He went back to his seat, putting his mug back on the table and checked his phone leaning on the wall behind.

Zaina was now staring at him.

"Qasmey agar isne mujhe Kuch kaha ya mere baba ko bataya to mei issey-"

"Kya?" Minahil interrupted.

"Meii issey- UFFFF mamaaaa.." She closed the book loudly.

Minahil started inaudibly laughing.

"Chup ker nahi to us se pehle mei teri batti gul kerdungi!!!" Zaina said annoyed.

He took a look at Zaina carefully from his table, taking off his spects.

"Oye chup ker vo dekh raha hai.." Minahil whispered to Zaina looking at the front.

"Dekhta hai to dekhe.. mei koi darti hoon?"

"Achha? Abhi usne teri taraf kadam barhaya to teri ayat-ul-kursiyan nikleingi."

"Minahil tu ek aur lafz boli to dekhna."

******

Class was almost over when one of the students sitting at the front asked him if he could leave class early.

"Why?" He crossed his arms and sat back.

"I have books pending from the station."

"Books?" He titled his head.

"Yes.. Sir.."

"Your permit.." He asked him.

"Uhh.. I just realized so I don't have one.."

No one in the entire room created a noise.

"Then you're not allowed Mr Saif," He said strictly, bending to his laptop.

How did he know his name when no one even knew his own and neither had they seen him before? Everyone wondered.

"But Sir it's important." Saif said adamantly!

His eyes looked up at him in a second, eyebrows raised. He stood up straight. His terrorizing gaze caused Saif's to look down.

"Did you say something?"

"S..Sir I have to go, it can't wait."

"No, I think the cigarette can wait.." He was confident. Saif was now being looked at by the class. There were whispers.

Saif's face turned red out of rage for him. He had never faced this type of humiliation before.

"Excuse me. SIR." He dared and walked to leave the room.

"Leave. Or at least try to..." It was said in a high voice, he sat on the desk behind.

"Oh. God." Minahil looked at Zaina.

Zaina was perplexed at this man.

"Yaar... Tu sahi keh rahi thi. Ye koi Vadera hi hai."

"Nahi.. Ye koi aur hi balaa hai. Allah meri khair karey." Zaina replied.

Saif stopped in his way. He didn't plan to but that voice had forced him to as IF he didn't obey, it would cost him. Saif turned around looking back at him whose jaw was clenched and fist was on the table, eyes still tearing the soul away.

"Good." He said to him and Saif walked back to his chair in an unjustifiable compulsion.

He put his spects back on.

*** **

No one uttered a single word until that bell had rung. After everyone left, Zaina's heart was racing and she held onto Minahil's hand for dear life. He was standing facing the window, both hands in his pockets. As they both approached the door, Zaina pulled onto Minahil's hand signaling her not to leave with her eyes.

"Ms. Minahil, did I ask you to stay?" He asked without turning back.

Minahil made an empathetic face at Zaina and had to leave. Zaina now stood alone.

"Is the ring on that shelf yours?" He pointed towards a shelf on the wall beside Zaina.

Zaina looked at the ring, it was hers. The one that Hassan gave her. How could she be so careless? She picked it up now facing him.

His facial features were more clear to her. He had a strong and defined face, sloped in serious expressions. His face was tanned, features were sharp but rugged and eyes were still not clearly visible.

"How..d.did-" She started but was interrupted.

"Jab kal tum apni takreer mei masroof thi tab tumhari ye ring mere bonnet mei gir gayi thi." He said without a second looking away from her eyes in the niqaab.

"Thanks." She turned to the door.

"Stop. Turn around."

She hated the way he ordered instead of asking, but did she have a choice?

"Kal tumne crossing ki red light pe stunt mara tha.. Aur...mei kisi ko itni asan mot nahi deta."

"Tum jaa sakti ho." He turned around.

Zaina zoomed out of that room like her life depended on it.

As soon as she walked out, She realized what he said at the end. She paused walking and turned around upon thinking something. Then brushed it off and left.

•••••

•MIRZA MANZIL•

Shahvez was leaving for Kuwait for two weeks on a sudden notice. He was invited to attend an important ceremony there and also planned to visit one of his close friends. He had to leave earlier due to the fog in the weather forecast later and to prevent a last minute cancellation. His flight was after magrib in the evening.

Zaina came home to this news. Just adding on to her "naas peeta din". Shahvez promised her that he would be back before the nikkah and will bring her favorite sweets from Kuwait.

***

After seeing off Shahvez with a heavy heart, she sat in her room thinking about today's events. Everything was just confusing! No, That man was confusing!

"Ajeeb pagal admi tha.. Lekin herat hai, ussey sab Kuch kese-" She was thinking when Minahil had called.

"Kesi ho? Theek ho? Kya hua? Kya kaha? Ghar aagayi?.." Minahil bombarded her.

"Bilkul theek hoon, kisi ne nahi khaya hai mujhe."

"Acha chalo shukar hai ufff mei dar gayi thi."

Zaina at that moment, felt like the luckiest person to have a best friend like Minahil. She was like a lifeline to her through these years. Not a single person could care for her besides her family like she did. She couldn't imagine life without this girl.

"Acha ab batao Kya kehta hai vo?"

Zaina described to her the whole conversation very dramatically!

"Ya Allah, puri qatil vibes!.." Minahil replied.

"Aur Kya.. pata nahi konse idaron se issey certifications mili hai, dehshat gardon wali to harkatein hain." Zaina added.

"Ab tum zyada exaggerate bhi mat karo. Kal road pe bhi tumhari hi galti thi. Aur vo tumhari itni expensive ring, araam se 1 lakh ki hogi."

"Ek to mujhe teri samaj nahi aati..tu meri dost hai ya uss vadere ki?"

"Teriiiii" Minahil shouted and laughed.

"By the way, banda handsome tha bas thora sa khatarnak tha.. I agree!" Minahil teased her.

"Juta na kha layein mere kolon," Zaina said.

"Acha Hassan kesa hai?"

"Mujhe Kya pata Hassan kesa hai... mere taye ka puttar lagta hai?" Zaina said annoyed.

"Ummm.. Haaan?." Minahil clarified.

Zaina was now laughing.

"Sorry Yaar bas mera dimag thora sa kharab hai.. ek to uss- choro! Dusra baba chale gaye aaj kuwait. Tujhe pata hai na vo jab nahi hote to mujhe wese bhi Kuch Acha nai lagta."

"Hmm, phir meri himmat hai na. Purey do Saal ho gaye amma abba ko nahi dekha."

"Shit! Nai nai meri jaan mere moo se nikal gaya I'm so sorry!" Zaina regretted.

"Koi baat nai hai, ye to sach hai. Bas dukh itna hai k zindagi gair mutawaqqa hoti hai. Kab iss se nijat paa li, pata hi nahi chale ga."

"Beshak lekin yaad rakhna mere parents bhi terey hi hain. Balke tu meri sach ki behn hai."

"Pata hai!" Minahil cheered up.

"Ab I love you to mei tujhe Kahungi nahi. To tu khudi samaj jaa.." They both laughed.

•••

The date of the nikkah was coming closer and time was passing by way faster than before. Only about a week till Zaina was officially married! Something that she was looking forward to expecting a change in her life but also something that she was very anxious about. The pace of these passing days was causing her weird panic attacks day and night. What she couldn't figure out was if they were positive or negative.

Minahil and some of her other close friends had decided to help her with the preparations of the bride. Minahil lived with her mamu's family not very far away from Zaina. She insisted that she to come over for this week until the nikkah to stay with her but that was hard. Convincing Minahil's strict Mamu was not an easy job. Zaina had talked to him on call to ask him permission herself, he had agreed but didn't allow a minute after the nikkah was over.

Zaina and Minahil were both in the clouds! They could finally actually live together, everything had begun to get exciting as the nikkah approached. Although within the excitement, there was grief of leaving everyone once the rukhsati was done, which wasn't too far.

Noor, Fahad, Iqra, Sara and hadi were the closest to her. She imagined how after marriage, she wouldn't have a carefree life where her parents would be in charge and all she did was enjoy. She wouldn't be able to see little Alisha everyday. And the biggest change, she was going to be addressed by another man's name and not her baba's anymore.

*****

Both Minahil and Zaina went shopping together. Now that everything felt more real, she enjoyed the whole shaadi wala ghar scene. They wanted to spend time and freely pick whatever they wanted so Zaina had planned a day out for only them.. and a guard of course! She tried but it wasn't possible without one. They walked around all evening one shop after the other. Zaina had strictly told her that she would pay for her clothes as well despite Minahil's refusal.

This trip wasn't anything like previous shopping trips, it was fun and real for Zaina. They talked about the nikkah, Minahil's future wedding, Hassan Abid and his charm (mostly by Minahil pulling her leg), countries they want to visit one day etc. She bought so many dresses, new hijabs, abayas, jewellery for both her and Minahil. Also, a few things for Hassan and her own family. They both had dinner at a fancy restaurant.

Minahil also received a slap for thanking her continuously. They were both exhausted but yet energetic by the end of the day returning home.

••••••

It was a time around Asr when Amina phuppo had come to visit. She sat Zaina down explaining the same traditional responsibilities and advising her on different things. Zaina loved her phuppo but also knew she can be a bit backwards sometimes. Either ways, phuppo had a great sense of humor and she loved her company. She was like a second mother to Zaina and also knew Shahvez the closest from all of the siblings.

Everyone was in the living room talking when Madiha had asked her to get the old picture albums from her closet.

She came running into the room and opened the closet. The albums were on the top right shelf that she couldn't reach. She got a stool from the room and stood up to reach the shelf. About five albums were piled up on top of each other. She extended her hand to reach for them when a few of them had slid and fell on the ground. She got the rest of the albums and got down.

While picking up the ones from the ground, she found a small notebook. She was about to put it back when she saw the title on it which said "Shahvez". That was kind of unusual for a diary to have his name because he didn't keep any writings associated with him. She thought that her baba had written about his memories and the curiosity led her to open the diary from the book mark! The page had a date on it somewhere around more than 15 years ago, she was guessing. She continued reading that page.

*****

"Mere Mohsin,

Mei iss kabil to nahi k tumhare ehsanat chuka sakun, lekin tum yaad aate ho...

Mei gunahgar hoon aur meri saza shayad baki ho, lekin tum yaad aate ho...

Mei tumhara aur yousi ka mujrim hoon,

lekin tum yaad aate ho..

Mei na qabil e maafi hoon,

lekin tum yaad aate ho.

Mujhe pachtawa marte dam tak rehega lekin jab tak zindagi hai, tum yaad aate ho..

Vo meri niyat aur bebasi thi lekin vo bewafai mujpe bhaari hui, jab jab apne bachon ko dekhta hoon, tum Bohat yaad aate ho..

Tera badkismat Mirza,"

*****

Zaina had never been this puzzled at something in her entire life. Was this written by baba? Who is Mohsin? What had baba done? Regret of what? She couldn't think straight. Her father was the strongest and most firm person she had known. But this book belonged to some other person, She almost refused to believe.

She wanted to turn the pages and read more when Madiha had called her name.

"Beta kal tak ley aogi albums?"

"Mama bas aayi.." She quickly closed the notebook and kept it where it was.

***

After two hours of a headache trying to bring sense into what happened, she gave up. Zaina hadn't discussed any of this with Minahil although she had asked the reason behind her lost concentration several times. She wanted to figure it out herself first. Then suddenly she thought of Amina phuppo who was now just about to leave. There was no one else in the house that she could've asked besides Amina. She just knew they would brush her off even if they knew the truth, of which the chances were very low.

She ran towards the door and begged her to stay a while longer as she needed to talk to her. Phuppo was running late to attend a patient at her clinic, she had no choice and Zaina had told her that it can't be talked about over call. So Amina promised her that she'll come again very soon, specially for her. Now what was left was plain intezaar.

••••••

"Bhai.." There was a knock on the door.

"Hmm" He lit a cigar.

Ali had walked in, his shirt had fresh blood stains on it. He was short of breath, almost sweating.

He turned to look at him.

"Kuch bola usne?"

He asked in his threatening tone.

"Nai bhai, saale ko Bohat ache se patti parhai hai!" Ali exclaimed, opening up a bottle of water.

"Jhatke diye?" he sat on the couch.

Ali looked up at him.

"Vo de diye to..." Ali tried to say.

"Do degree... agar zinda bacha or apna moo na khola to mere paas ley aana." He said,

looking into Ali's eyes; that told Ali not to question.

"Ab vo zinda na bachey to uski behtari hai."

Ali walked out.