A week before the wedding, the busiest one. Almost all the preparations were done which was a relief yet some were still left. Everyone was excited and it was clear on their faces.

Irfa hadn't thought about her past much for few days but then past doesn't leave anyone that easily. Sometimes she would think that what if her family was alive? How would it feel to be together? Thinking about something she sipped her coffee while sitting on the bench in the lawn.

“Hey...” she heard someone and turned back. It was khizir, with a beautiful smile.

“Hi.”she replied giving him a small smile.

“Um... can I sit here?” Khizir asked nervously.

“Yeah of course.” She replied making him sit on the bench with a distance between them.

“What do you do?” He asked. Hearing him Irfa got perplexed and led out a chuckle.

“Khizir aap itne formal kyu ho rahe hain?”(why are you being so formal)

She asked.

“Woh mujhe conversation start karni thi par samajh nahi aaya kaise karun.”(I wanted to start the conversation but I didn't know how to do it.) he said scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment making her laugh loud.

Shereyar was coming out when he heard someone laugh.

“Irfa...she is with khizir...he said he will talk to me now he is talking with her.” He mumbled to himself and went inside.

“Irfa one more thing pls don't call me aap...we are cousins and friends too”

“Jaisi aapki marzi(as you wish).” She said emphasizing 'aapki' and both chuckled.

“ Irfa can I ask you something?”

“I hope it's not quantum physics.” Irfa joked.

“What has happened in your life...actually I only heard that you are Zafi mamu's daughter.”

She turned her head forward and went silent for few moments. Her life? The one she had been living yet unknown of the purpose, her life that had given so much problem to so many people. She was emerged in her thought, and he was looking at her trying to register what was going in her mind.

“When I was born Amma died...after that baba jani was my mother and father. Bhai was also there....but as I was a bad omen dad met with an accident. He left us...alone. I only had bhai and nanu. You know what where there is a bad omen nothing good can happen. Bhai was killed by vagabonds and left me and nanu alone. We started living with mamu....he loved me very much but mami didn't accept me. I used to cry in front of nanu. She used to say...everything happens for to a reason and there is always good behind bad.

She was my only one, and she also left me alone in this world....and chachu brought me here.'' she was speaking as if pouring her heart out, and he was listening to her with concentration.

“ Oh my! I am sorry, mai bhi kya ye sab bol rahi hun (what am I blabbering.)” she spoke looking a bit embarrassed, she never spoke these things to anyone except Mr Ahmed and this man sitting beside had easily taken out things from her.

“Your life was so tough...everything was up and down.” Khizir said looking down.

“Now it's your turn...you heard everything about me now tell me about you.” She said with a beautiful smile.

“My life is just normal...not like yours...easier than yours.” He said with a sympathetic tone but not the kind one would feel awkward after receiving, the genuine one.

“ I was born with Shehry, not the same date but same year...we grew up together…studied together and did all sorts of fun together. We went for studies to London and he came early. Now I am here to enlarge my own business and give a tough competition to Sherry.'' He said and showed his fingers towards Shereyar who was talking on phone and her head snapped in the finger's direction.

The smile that was adoring her face instantly fell seeing him She instantly turned towards Khizir and spoke,

“Umm ok I should go now.” And she went inside.

Shereyar had come out to receive a call, he was in middle of his call when he saw Khizir pointing towards him and then Irfa saw him. She was smiling and it was the first time he had seen her smile, the beautiful smile. For a moment he froze but regained his mind when her smile fell, and she went inside after saying something to Khizir. He walked toward Khizir and sat beside him.

“So...what were you talking with your new friend?” He asked Khizir emphasizing 'friend' in a sarcastic tone which obviously didn't go unnoticed by Khizir

“Ummm nothing much just about her past and present.”

“What about her past and present?” He asked, he was curious. He was the only one who didn't knew much think about her past. Why would he?...it wasn't required.

Then why are you asking now? His inner voice snapped making him frown at himself.

“You don't know... really shehry?” Khizir was bewildered at this new information. He had thought something different.

“Umm...no.” he said blankly.

“She told me about all her life before coming here, everyone left her… Zafi mamu, her brother and her nanu. She was called a bad omen...she really has suffered a lot.” Khizir said.

“Well I didn't know these.” Shehry said blankly looking forward.

“Really! I thought you both were good friends.”

“I was wrong.” Khizir said. Was he too engrossed in judging her to see what she had gone through? He hadn't done any good than those who had called her bad omen, nobody deserves to be treated like that. She wasn't lying but it was already late to realize as the damage was done.

“Khizir what have you planned now?” He asked trying to change the topic.

“I want to enlarge my own business as you know after baba's death the company was being handled by his family and it's getting hard to keep it under control. Chachu's alone there and his health is deteriorating and his sons are still young. Besides, I want to give competition to you.” he said with a smirk.

“Woah really? But alas I will beat you my new enemy.” Shehry said with smirk on his face and ended up laughing with him.

“Hey Shehry what do you think about Irfa?” Khizir asked trying to inquire about something his curious mind was thinking of.

“She is a mess you know what? She has thrown water on my file, chocolate cream on my face and drenched me in juice's rain.” Shereyar spoke with irritation clear in his voice making Khizir's thought express to stop whatever he was thinking.

“Woah...she is such a brave girl. She did something worth praising.” Khizir said with a chuckle receiving a punch on his stomach from Sherry.

“Ow you just killed me.”Khizir said reacting way too more than required.

“You are really a big drama queen Khizir.” Shehreyar said and chuckled.

“Bhai, Khizir.” mean time Shifa came out shouting.

“What happened Shifa why are you shouting?” Shehreyar asked

“Bhai mamma is calling you and Khizir. Haven't you seen the time it's almost 8?....come fast.” Shifa said as if was annoyed.

“I didn't trouble her then why is she annoyed?” Khizir asked turning towards Shehreyar making him shake his head and get up with Khizir.

“Ooh, now this little rat knows the value of time whoa I am so impressed.” khizir said in dramatic tone.

“Ughhhh...stop calling me little rat you owl.” Shifa said in annoyance.

“Come on now don't fight you are not children anymore.” Shehreyar said and went in.

“I will call her little rat forever because it's my right....right little rat?” He said and pinched her nose. Glaring him with her brown eyes she wiggled out of his grip and ran inside stomping her foot

____________