Everything is as normal as it was before except the fact that the car ride to and from school is no longer the boring heated one but a fun filled self discovery and communicative one .I learned a lot about Muntaseer and him about me,I didn't know I can laugh so loud and hard till tears fill my eyes until now.

Simran is the happiest that I finally and in such a short period of time warmed up to Muntaseer. We were waiting for the lecturer in class who is late and might not even come .Simran adjusted her sitting position with a small smile and said " soon to be Mrs M how is everything going on with you and your soul mate" she stated nonchalantly and I grasp in horror turning my whole attention to her automatically saying " what the frigging potatoes did you just say??? " I shrieked not too loudly so that only her can hear me .

She winked again saying" you know what I just said ,just admit it already ,even a blind mind can see that you guys are in love " I couldn't talk because I honestly didn't know what to tell her, we are getting close yes,he's sweet and nice,yes,I like him a lot, yes but as a brother and nothing more ,we've even started acting cool for just a few days how can it be love ??? Those were the things running through my mind the whole day till after classes .

My phone beeped indicating an incoming message which is from Muntaseer.

Hy pumpkin how's school today hope good ? I'm sorry you have to catch a ride with Simran because Abby has assigned me to do something for him .see you at home I'm sorry .

I am not supposed to be sad right ? neither disappointed but honestly that's how I feel, all through the ride back home I didn't say anything to Simran's ramblings about her new boyfriend I just nod or answer her with a mmm and hmm here and there.

I went into my room grumpily and undressed before going into the bathroom to take a refreshing bath and made ablution to perform salatul zuhr. After saying my prayer and azkars I didn't feel like talking to Ammy so I decided to stay in my room to watch a movie , half way through the movie I lost interest in it and my mind went back to what it has been doing since after school , thinking about Muntaseer. I was deep in thoughts on how someone I had vowed to make his life miserable is making mine miserable without even trying or having the slight knowledge that he's punishing me in ways that I can't comprehend. I had vowed to hate him right? To make him run for the hills in four weeks and here we are , with me getting too attached and warming up to him unnecessarily ,is this love? I have no idea because I've never been in love. I kept on thinking about random and crazy things until Ammy came into my room clapping her hands several times to bring me out of my reverie .

" Manaly habibty are you alright? Why are you so deep in thoughts? " Ammy asked looking concerned at the situation she found me in .I managed a small smile telling her it was nothing , I'm just bored and now that she's here we should go down so that I'll help her make dinner.

"You haven't even taken your lunch , I waited downstairs for you but you didn't show up so I thought you were sleeping but here you're thinking of only Allah knows what " she stated while getting up towards the door . she turned again with a tender look in her eyes and said " if there's anything that's bothering you Manal ,I am your mother you should tell Me because no one on this earth loves you more than us ."

I smiled at what she said picking out a scarf from where I hanged them following Ammy behind to go make dinner.

As I was ascending the stairs I saw a male figure sitting majestically like he's the owner of the house watching TV and laughing with the real owner of the house . I should've gone straight to the kitchen where I'm supposed to be , but my curiosity gets the best of me and I sauntered towards them ,saying salam and smiling up at the best man in the whole world my Abby.

" so Abby you are back and you didn't even call for your princess to welcome you back ba?" I pouted

" Yah rahman when will this little princess grow up ?" He said looking amused at my childish tantrum .

I heard a chuckle in the room ,and I turned my attention towards the main reason why I came into the parlour in the first place . To my utter shock it was the guy that made my life miserable for the past few hours looking amused at me with his killer smile and a Twinkle in his eyes, suddenly I felt so angry and I glared at him shooting daggers his way ,if looks could kill Muntaseer Muhammad will be dead and buried by now .

"Abby lemme go and cook something delicious for you huh ? " I said standing up to leave .

He dragged me down asking the question I didn't expect

" why are you looking sad my dear and you didn't even say hi to your bro. Are you okay ? Is everything alright ?" He asked concern evident in his voice .

I don't know whether it is the fact that I've never felt this way before or the fact that I'm being so childish and an over pampered lady , I burst into tears saying " Abby it's Muntaseer that didn't pick me up from school today and he promised to come pick me right after and its your fault for giving him so much work to do that he couldn't come " I wailed .

They all burst out laughing so hard, Abby was even clutching his stomach .What the frigging potatoes??? Did I say something funny ???The devil in person of Muntaseer was also laughing hysterically like a certified maniac.

" Seriously Abby ??? After telling you what is actually wrong with me you're laughing along with him??". I shrieked making Ammy to come out of the kitchen in haste asking what is going on , I couldn't answer her because I'm blinded by anger and them because they are laughing their hearts out .

" can anyone please tell me what's going on here ??" Ammy asked again looking slightly annoyed. After a while their laughter died down and Abby recounted what I had told him earlier to Ammy and to my additional misery the only person I thought will stand by me through whatever situation I find myself in started laughing harder than Abby and Muntaseer

." so that's why she was so deep in thoughts and depressed when I went to her room? She didn't even take her lunch " Ammy said in between her laughter and from the corner of my eyes I saw Muntaseer's eyes soften and he stood up. I was too angry to talk to my parents so I decided to go back to my safe haven which is also known as my room.

" where are you going little miss drama queen " Abby teased

" To my room since you have turned my sincere confession into a comedy movie " I said sulking with a pout.

" After giving us this hysterical comedy you should at least stay so that I can apologise for what I have made you go through " Abby said in a serious tune now .

" I don't need any apology Abby , its okay you can keep laughing since I've now become your source of entertainment " with that being said I raced to my room with the sound of my parent's laughter at the expense of my misery trailing behind me.

I huffed in annoyance for God knows how long just looking for something to vent my anger out on but there's nothing and I'm not the type of person that destroy things when I'm angry .I heard a knock at my door " go away Ammy you don't love me anymore I am leaving this house " I said knowing that Ammy will follow me to soothe her only daughter .

There is no answer but the knocking continues till I got annoyed and decided to open the damn door thinking it was Ammy .I saw Muntaseer standing with a tray of food with a stupid smirk on his face. My parents already made me embarrass myself in his presence why is he here to add salt to my already throbbing wound ?

" food for the cute pumpkin " he says passing me the tray .I collected It and dropped it on the floor .With hands on hips I looked at him sternly saying " last I checked I haven't asked you to bring me food, I know my way to the kitchen even with a blindfold .Just tell me you came here to laugh at me more because you haven't gotten your fill huh ?"

He was just looking at me stifling a laugh but I can see right through him like an open book.

" am really sorry manal for making you angry ,sad or depressed .It wasn't intentional but it won't happen again in shaa Allah .You can punish me if you want but do me a favour by taking your lunch its almost maghrib time and I don't want my adorable angry tigress to go hungry please " he cajoled .

I nodded and took the tray closing the door behind me .I felt so small for what I've done, like who on earth does that ? and now everyone at home will have an inside joke to torture me for the rest of my sorry life .And isn't Muntaseer just so nice ? even my sweet parents didn't take it upon themselves to beg me to eat but here he was, bringing me food even though he knows I might be rude to him. Yah Allah don't let me fall for this guy or should I say don't let me fall too hard for this guy because I think I've already fallen in love with him.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

The next day after school I decided to invite my two friends over for lunch, it has been long since when Simran come to visit us last and I wanted Ammy to see my new friend Jiddah. Simran decided to come along with her car alone and Jiddah and I rode with Muntaseer. I am grateful that earlier in the morning he didn't bring up what happened yesterday neither did I .

After reaching home,we went into my room to pray and then came down to eat lunch .Ammy was in her room so I called her to come and meet the Jiddah I've been telling her about .From their conversation I know that Ammy like Jiddah and the poor girl is too shy hardly looking at Ammy .We laughed at her after Ammy left telling her that she will get used to Ammy and drop that shy facade soon enough.

" let's watch boss baby " Simran suggested

" that's a kids movie babe, we are too old to watch it " I retorted

" why don't we watch zee TV then ?" Jiddah countered aiming for the remote control on the bedside drawer.

" No way !!!I hate watching sappy Indian love series they are too emotional for my liking " Simran shrieked in protest.

" let's just sleep then " I said getting annoyed.

" why don't we go down and Cook some mouth watering foodie then " Jiddah says walking towards the door without even waiting for our opinion. I had no choice than to follow her like a tail right ? And I'm trying to be a good host for the annoying devils in form of guests.

Simran huffed in annoyance trailing behind me plugging her headphones to listen to her new found favorite song that makes my ears hurt whenever she plays it.

We met Muntaseer in kitchen making a mouth watering noodle in a small pot which can only satisfy him.

" Ahhh so you guys are having a mini party without inviting me huh?" He asked no one in particular.

" you're invited now " Simran answered while Jiddah looks uncomfortable since she's not used to him or so I thought .

" lemme finish this sweet noodle first and get back to you girls so that we can make spring rolls and guava juice " he said bouncing out like a little boy.I just smiled at how cute he looks and Simran started sieving the flour.

After we finished making the snacks we packed some for Ammy and Abby and some for Simran and Jiddah to take home .Then I heard Muntaseer on phone saying " okay Amir I'll be right there just make sure the little money we can spare will be enough for the orphans and jazakallah khair for helping me you're indeed a good friend "

He turned towards me with a small smile "I have to go see you later " he says while walking away.

" wait ! I'll follow you " I said before realising what I had done .

So we left together with Jiddah and after we dropped her off we went to the orphanage. To say that I was touched Is an understatement ,we gave the children ' the little he has ' as Muntaseer said but the amount is 75% of what he earns .

" bro you should at least keep 50% next time and give them 50%" Amir advised while Muntaseer just laughed shaking his head saying " I don't have anything to do with the 50% Amir .I get breakfast ,lunch and dinner everyday and my Masters program is free ,the rest is for the upkeep of my mother and miscellaneous needs .That's all and I'm grateful I can help this poor lads out because I know what it is like to be an orphan " He explained with a small smile and if you look into his eyes you'll see that he's sad.

How good exactly is Muntaseer?? I kept staring at him having so many unwanted thoughts in my mind.

A girl of about 5years of age tugged at my hijab and asked me the most embarrassing question " are you two married ?" She innocently asked looking directly at Muntaseer .I couldn't answer her because I was too shocked and part of me wanted to tell her yes ,what comes next shocked Me more Muntaseer took her hands in his and looking directly into my eyes he replied " She's not my wife now but she will soon be in shaa Allah "