.

***

Irfa couldn't sleep the whole night, the incidents between him and her were continuously playing in her mind, .be it their first time seeing each other in the kitchen or being it the playful way he had wiped off the henna from her dupatta. She was perplexed on the sudden changes, but then she also didn't know that it was her persona that had changed him.

Her mood was not that good due to lack of sleep and tiredness from last night. Addition to that her matching bangles were nowhere to be seen. She was searching for it at every possible place. The whole room was a mess. Everything was scattered here and there.

“Yaar Irfa bas karo kitna raita phailaogi?(how much more fuss you want to create?” Shifa was irritated at her new childish side.

“Raita.....raita nahi churiyan thi wo meri.(fuss?no it was my bangles.)” She sounded heart broken as if her boyfriend betrayed her, dramatic but hilarious.

“Shifa my matching bangle...what will I wear today...han bolo(say now).” She stepped towards Shifa and started shaking her to and for by holding her shoulder. Shifa literally could see stars in the day sky and her head spinned on the sudden jerk. Suddenly the door burst open and like an angel...a light for Shifa emerged Khizir.

“ Khizir you are an angel...save me from this lady devil.” Shifa ran towards him and hid herself behind him. Khizir was puzzled. He couldn't register the situation. He looked at Irfa then at Shifa trying to decipher the sudden war between them.

“Wait who is lady devil?...you were the one who put it in some strange drawer.” This time it was Irfa, her hands were resting on her waist and an angry frown on her face.

“Girls what's going will you tell me please?” Khizir asked in a confused tone.

“Irfa lost her bangles.”

“Shifa lost my bangles.”

They both said at the same time.

“Wait what? What did you say...speak one by one.” He was annoyed. He came to ask for a cup of coffee but now he was stuck in this cat fight.

“I asked Shifa to keep my matching bangles, and she kept in some strange drawer and now it's nowhere to be seen.” Irfa said huffing and puffing in anger, her chubby cheeks appearing chubbier.

“Actually I kept it in a drawer and now I don't remember in which drawer I kept it...see Khizir it isn't any big problem, but she is just killing me.”Shifa said sheepishly and hiding more behind his back.

“It is a big problem what will I wear tonight. I am going to kill you.” Irfa said in anger, she wasn't realizing that her lack of rest had taken a toll on her, and she was being tough.

“Khizir listen take her to the shop please so that she can buy new one....please le jao is bala ko yahan se(take this problem away.)” Shifa said and khizir couldn't stop the laugh that escaped his mouth.

“Khizir stop laughing.” Shifa said clenching her teeth.

“No it's ok I will wear something else you go Khizir.” Irfa said after realizing that she had created a scene.

“It's ok Irfa come let's go.”Khizir said but she was not ready to go.

“Go.” Shifa was still hiding behind him.

“Ok let's go.” At last, she agreed and both of them left.

“Finally.” Shifa took a long sigh of relief.

Poor Khizir came for coffee but was going for bangles. Irfa and khizir were moving towards their car when they saw Shehreyar standing beside his Mercedes.

“Hey Shehry what happened.”Khizir said walking towards him. He turned on Khizir's voice and his anger got amplified seeing her with him.

“Nothing just this damn car isn't working.” He said suppressing his anger.

“Come join us.” Khizir said placing hand on his shoulder.

“No it's ok.... I don't want to intrude in your matter.” He said the same sentence she had said and sarcasm was dripping from his voice.

“Oh come on, let's go.” Khizir shrugged dragging him towards their with Irfa trailing behind.

Khizir was driving and Shehreyar was at the back seat, it was a hilarious scene! He was mentally groaning in anger. He thought she would sit in the back seat, so he happily got inside but to his utter dismay Khizir asked her to sit in front, bursting the small happy bubble of Shehreyar.

“ Khizir where were you going?'” He asked.

“Irfa's matching bangles got lost, so we are going to buy new one.” Khizir said making him hum, and then he got lost in his thought. The ride was hardly of fifteenth minutes to the mall.

“Khizir mujhe churiyan kharidni thi....mall mein kyu laye ho?(I had to buy bangles why did we came here?)” She asked.

“What they don't sell bangles here?” Khizir asked in a confused tone.

“Yes they do but....leave it, let's go.”

before they could enter the mall Khizir's phone rang, he answered the call and after a minute or two hung up. Shehreyar was standing near the car, and they were standing at a distance, seeing Khizir's expression he went towards him.

“Guys I need to go right now...mamu jan has some work. You buy your stuff and give me a call I will come to pick you...ok bye.” He said in hurry and ran back to his car leaving a surprised Irfa and an annoyed Shehreyar behind.

“What the hell...what about my work?” Shehreyar mumbled in annoyance but smiled as the realization dawned upon him.

“ We can skip this.” She said in a low tone seeing his tensed face.

“No it's ok let's first finish your work.” He said and both of them went inside. Irfa was shocked, and to say that it would be an understatement, she was more than shocked. Where was the arrogant Shehreyar?

'Is he a duplicate' Irfa thought but mentally cringed on her own stupid mind.

“I am done.” She said and turned towards him, nodding his head he dialed Khizir's number. It was the 15th time he was trying to contact him but...'the number you have called is currently unavailable' was the response.

“Damn this phone.” He almost semi yelled at the phone, like really on the phone. Irfa glanced his way and got tensed, they were alone and it was legit that she was scared. But little did she know it was just a facade, he was flying on sky.

“Now what?” Irfa asked in a tensed tone...she was worried about Shereyar's work and his anger too.

“For now we will eat ice cream.” He said smiling at her.

“What...ice cream?” She was totally confused. Was this man for real?

“Why...you don't like it.” he said faking anger in his tone and the innocent girl fell for the trap.

“No it's not like that...let's go.” She said to avoid his anger. She was confused....how can someone change this much?

“Which flavor?” He asked.

''Chocolate.'' She was still confused.

“See Irfa you don't want to eat...it's ok but just don't behave like this” He spoke

“No no I really do want to.” Taking the cone in her hand she started eating, while her mind still unable to take in his behavior. And him? He was enjoying every second of this, specially her adorable confused scene.Now and then he was stealing glances of her.

She is so cute...what cute stop it Shehry don't be a lover boy...lover boy...hey I don't even love her. What's wrong with me?.' His musings ended when Irfa called him, she was done.

They booked a cab and after reaching the house Irfa instantly went inside, and he slowly strolled towards the lawn. He was smiling continuously. Her every move...her facial expressions and her modesty were the things that had attracted him the most.

____________

The Nikah ceremony was done amongst the family members and everyone couldn't be happier seeing their two children tried in a bond of love, support, compassion and lot more. The after ceremony was held in a hall, and after that it was the time for the bride to leave.It was genuine for the bride to cry.... Sana was hugging each and every person.

Shehreya was hardly able to control his tears seeing his second mother, his sister leave but then it's what meant to happen. He was happy for her and Imran, he had prayed with all heart for their beautiful life and the teary smile he was beholding was its evidence.

Sana came towards him and hugged her little brother. The unshed tears couldn't stop themselves from shedding, it flowed without any stop. They were tears of separation, tears of joy and sadness, joy overpowering other.

“I will miss you Sher Khan.” She whispered near his ear making him chuckle. They were small kids and Shehreyar had fought with Khizir for being Sher Khan, though Khizir too was saying that, but he hadn't listen, from then Sana used to tease him with this name but this time it felt pleasing.

“ Me too.” he said.

Imran's family, means her phupo's family lived in another state so for the reception they had to be here, another one was at their own resident which was a week later. His phupo's family stayed with The Siddiqui's like they were but Sana and Imran left for the hotel they were to stay at.

The family members had called it a night, but he was still standing in the lawn, thinking about the golden childhood with his sisters and how they grew up so soon, and how she left to start a new beginning.

Suddenly he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. It was Khizir. Khizir knew his friend very well. He would not show his soft side, but he is as soft as cotton inside. He went near him and the next moment Shehreyar hugged him tightly and cried...as much he could. For god knows how much time they were in the same position.

“Shehry it's ok now will you stop crying like a baby?” Khizir said trying to be playful.

“Yeah... I am sorry.” He said with awkwardness in his tone.

“Oh my god! Shehry you are red as tomato.” he teased. Whenever Shehreyar would cry his face would turn into deep red and these things weren't known to everyone and it was something he was embarrassed of.

“Stop it Khizir.”

“Yaar agar Shifa ya Irfa dekh leti toh?(what if Shifa or Irfa had seen you?)” He was now in full mood to tease him.

“Khizir you will stop it or...or I will not leave you.” He said showing him his fist to him.

“Relax bro...my mouth is zipped now.” Khizir said zipping the imaginary zipper of his mouth making both of them laugh.

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