Days went by and it seems Mustafa was ignoring Maria. The reason unknown to him or maybe he didn't wanted to acknowledge the reason. In the whole ignorance fiasco she was getting affected.

She knew he was ignoring her. She was easily able to detect his weird behavior towards her. Whenever she tried talking with him, he excused himself, leaving from there and whenever he wasn't able to leave, he replied her with simple short answers.

His behavior was now irritating her now. She wasn't able to understand what wrong did she did to earn this kind of treatment from him. She decided no matter what she will talk with him and clear everything between them.

She was waiting for him at the breakfast table but he didn't came so she decided to ask osama about it.

"Where is hero ? Why is he not present on the breakfast table, knowing very well that dado doesn't like late comers ?"

Osama was amused to know that she is not aware of his brother's whereabouts. She is the first one to know everything about him and now she is unaware of where her hero was.

"I am amazed that you don't know about bhaai's whereabouts. Anyways, he has gone for a meeting regarding hospital, then he had a delivery scheduled after that, so he'll come at night."

Osama told her making her nod on the new found information. She was annoyed by the fact that he didn't informed her about anything. Now, she was more adamant to talk with him and know what's going on with him.

"Salam everyone."

Greeted Hassan who just came back from business trip after months.

Everyone was surprised seeing him

"What a surprise bhaai, when did you came back ?"

Osama grinned seeing his brother. He knew his brother would have brought the list of things he asked him.

"Last night."

Hassan smiled back at him. He was a man of few words and had an authoritative aura with him. He was the man who respected his elders and valued everyone's feelings. He was the person who loved his family to the core. His elder brother Mustafa was his mentor and he gave him respect just like his own father.

"How are you Hassan ?"

Maria asked smiling at him, seeing him seeing him after a long time.

"I am good."

He replied smiling back which shocked both Osama and Maria. They both shared a shocked look making Hassan nervous.

"What ?"

"Y-you smiled."

Replied Osama looking intensely at him.

"So what ? I am a human and I can smile."

He casually told, looking at both Maria and Osama.

"But...."

"Shut up Osama. You speak too much."

He glared at Osama shutting him up. Maria was busy gaping at Hassan who was behaving odd. He was not acting himself rather someone different.

"And you stop ogling me and close your mouth before it catch flies."

He whispered to Maria startling her. She closed her mouth immediately, heat creeping on her face with his words.

"Sorry."

She mumbled and started having her breakfast.

"I was joking girl, don't take my words too seriously."

He chuckled seeing her flushed with embarrassment.

"Now I am sure he hit his head somewhere."

Osama mumbled seeing Hassan chuckle, making Maria nod at his words.

"I second you, monkey."

She mumbled back to Osama, both busy thinking what made Hassan change.

" I have an important thing to discuss with you Hassan, so come and meet me in the study, when you are done."

Aaqib Ahwaan commanded his son going towards the study to which he nodded and was back to his cold self.

"Ji abba."

(Okay.)

Finishing my breakfast I went towards the study to meet Abba. I wonder what he wants to discuss with me. He sounded serious though. Only he could tell what he wants to say.

Knocking the door of study I stood out waiting for Abba to call me. Few seconds later I heard a faint 'come in' and that was my queue to enter.

He was busy reading files when I entered. Looking up he kept them aside asking me to take a seat, making me nervous. From his look I knew he wants to have a serious talk.

"Hassan I want you to get engaged."

His words shocked me to the core. I was speechless and tongue tied for few minutes.

"But baba.... Mustafa bhaai should get married first as he is older than me."

"Here we are talking about you son not your elder brother. I have found a girl for you. I just want to know if you have someone in your mind or not."

He asked looking at me at an expectantly. I don't have anyone on mind, maybe one girl and I like her. But I still want to go for Baba's choice cause I know he will always choose right for me.

"I don't have anyone in my mind baba."

My answer brought a big smile on his face and he heave a sigh of relief.

"That's good. I have a girl in my mind and you know her. She'll be perfect life partner for you Hassan. Do want to know who she is ?"

I nodded waiting for him to tell me the girl's name. It would be wrong if I say I am not nervous. I am hell nervous to know who she is. I want to know the girl my baba chose for me.

"Maria....I want you two to get engaged."

He said making me speechless and moreover I was shocked. Maybe I heard him wrong. It can't be true.

"W-what ?"

"What's there to feel shock about Hassan ? Maria is a good girl and is perfect for you. If you have any reason to reject her then you better give me one good reason for it. If you'll not agree then I'll find a...."

"Wait... Baba I never said I am rejecting her."

I hurriedly replied, making him smile amusingly at me and that was the time I realized that I sounded too desperate.

"Ohhh... Then what you want to say ?"

He was smirking obvious of my answer.

"It's a yes from my side only if she agrees and please don't pressurise her for anything baba."

I finally told him my answer he smiled patting my head and answered

"Of course nothing will be done without my princess consent. If she gives a green signal then everything will go further otherwise it will not... But at the same time I am happy that you took the right decision."

I smiled back at him. I was happy that he chose a girl whom I liked. Yes, I like her.

I don't know when I started liking her but I know that I do like her a lot. I mean who cannot like her she is full of life, she is religious, funny, caring, cute, innocent and everything a man could ask for.

"So you like her... Right ?"

Baba asked smirking breaking me out of my thoughts of her.

"Baba..."

"What ? I asked you a simple question. Answer me."

I know he is trying to extract information out of me. He is playing innocent card so that he could tease me.

"I am not going to answer you baba."

Feignedly glaring at him I stood up to leave. I heard him laughing when I was about to leave.

Leaving study I heaved a sigh of relief and happiness. I am happy that I will be engaged to the girl I like. I wish she approves of this relation too.

It was late at night when Mustafa came back home. It was pretty hectic day for him. Feeling hungry he directly went towards the kitchen to have something when his steps halted seeing Maria inside the kitchen having ice cream. She was smiling while eating it, making him smile automatically seeing her. It had been long since he looked at her properly.

Feeling eyes on her she turned her head and saw Mustafa leaning on the door looking at her intensely, making her feel nervous with his gaze on her. She cleared her throat to get his attention, breaking him out of his reverie.

"Ummm... Do you need something ?"

She politely asked him but he ignored her again, making her angry at him. She stood up to face him face to face. Well not face to face as she was unable to match his 6'1 to her 5'2 height.

"Why are you ignoring me ?"

She questioned catching him off guard.

"I am not ignoring you."

He answered her politely but he was not able to meet her eyes.

"Don't lie... I know you are ignoring me. I am sorry if I did anything wrong. I really am, but please don't stop talking with me."

She shouted at him catching his lie and started crying feeling frustrated with his behavior.

"Shhhh... I am sorry. Please don't cry and forgive me."

He hugged her seeing her cry. Seeing her cry made his own heart bleed with pain. He felt like a jerk for ignoring her. He knew his ignorance was not liked by her but he didn't knew that she was too much affected with it.

"Promise me you'll not ignore me again."

She held her hand out for him to promise her which he accepted holding it. She was unaware that another promise was to be broken and this was just a start to misery and pain. She was unaware that she had to cry countless tears in his love and go through sleepless nights.

"So now if you have stopped crying, can I get something to eat cause I am famished."

He asked wiping her tears away as they were disturbing him a lot.

"Of course... You sit here I will heat up dinner for you."

He nodded, going outside and switched on the TV and started watching Discovery channel. On the other hand Hassan was unable to sleep due to happiness and decided to take a walk inside the garden area, when he saw his brother sitting there on the sofa of their living room.

"Bhaai.... What are you doing here ?"

Mustafa smiled seeing his brother after months. He got up and hugged him.

"How are you Hassan ?"

"I am good after seeing you bhaai but what are you doing here all alone ?"

He again questioned his big brother.

"To eat. I am waiting for Maria to bring my dinner, she is heating it up. I wasn't able to had my dinner as my schedule was very busy."

"Maria ? Is she awake ?"

Mustafa told his whole story but Hassan could only focus on Maria. What was she doing here at this point of time ? He thought. Clearing his thoughts away he waited for his brother to answer him.

"Yeah she is. When I came she was inside the kitchen having ice cream."

Mustafa laughed as her cute face eating ice cream flashed before his eyes. Both the brothers were laughing at her when she entered the living room.

"What's so funny that you both are laughing ?"

She asked looking at both the brothers who stopped hearing her but again laughed seeing her sharing an eye contact which was noticed by her.

"Then why are you both laughing like maniacs ? Tell me ?"

She suspiciously looked at them but

they both innocently shrugged their shoulders, knowing she'll not spare them if she gets to know that they were laughing at her.

"Then I can assure that both of you have gone mad. Anyways, I have settled your food on the dinning table. Allah Hafiz, I am off to bed. See you both tommorow."

Bidding her goodbyes she was about to leave when she was stopped by Hassan.

"Wait I am coming with you too."

Hassan wanted to go with her but he stopped when Mustafa requested him to accompany him. He reluctantly nodded, seeing Maria going back towards her room. He was a little upset for loosing a chance to be with her.

On the other hand Maria was now content that her hero is now talking with her and slept peacefully with a smile on her face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Salam everyone,

Your favorite scene ?

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Till next time,

Allah Hafiz