***

I was feeling a different sense inside me, the kind I had never felt. It wasn't something sudden...just after that stupid but kind of beautiful girl bumped into me. However much I try to kick her out of my brain her angry face knocks in with double force.

Groaning in frustration I rounded my car inside the tall gate if my house, the driveway was as usual empty. What could I expect from a family of two women and a man...my father was no more. He had left us quite early but then it wasn't early for him. It was his time to go. As planned by the almighty.

I stepped out of my car and entered the large double door. The first thing that came to vision was my mother, my everything. Sitting on of the couches she was watching some news on the television. Her aged face showing the unexpressed pain and emotions.

“Assalamoalaikum ammi.” I greeted and sat next to her. It felt like I was meeting her after ages, these days were very busy.

Baba's company is in debt and huge trouble. My uncle has tried every way to handle it, but he couldn't, his old age had tackled him. Though mamu Jan and Shehreyar are helping me a lot. I just hope everything turns out fine.

“Walekum assalam beta. How are you?” She replied and kissed my forehead. A smile formed on my face seeing her loving eyes gaze me.

“Hell tired...ammi where is Zainab?”

“She is in her room maybe sleeping.” She replied and tuned back towards the T.V. Kissing her forehead I turned my way towards Zainab, my sister's room.

Turning the knob of the closed door I entered the room only to stop hearing a soft sob. Fear engulfed me making me move forward and look for her.

“Zainab what happened...where are you?” I asked. The room was dark making me turn on the lights.

“Bhai...” she called me and got up from the bed. I reached forward and held her face in my hand.

“What happened why are you crying?” I asked looking at her tear strained face. A look of realization flashed in her eyes, and she started looking here and there.

“Bhai see…these stupids made the male lead of this drama die…is it necessary for him to die.” She said sobbing in my arms.

I heaved a sigh of relief, I thought it was again the attack. From the time of my father's death she has been facing some attacks. My mother didn't know about this...we couldn't tell her. It's been more than ten year but then losing her father at an age of six is something really traumatic experience. She would cry like this every time she would have attack.

“Hey doll listen to me...it was just a drama baby...why are you wasting your precious tears huh?” I said caressing her hair.

“Bhai...he was so good.” she again sobbed, but I didn't know why those words weren't directing towards the drama's lead?

“Oh pleas I am better than him.” I tease trying to ease her.

“No...shut up he is.” She snapped.

Just wait my princess how I make you smile.

“No I am.”

“No he is”

“Me.”

“He.”

“Me”

Our fights most time turn like this. She chuckled softly and shook her head.

“Aha...that's what I wanted...my princess you should always smile.clear?now sleep.” I said and she smiled at me.

My little sister, she grew up so fast that now she would hide things from me to not make me worry. I had seen my father's photo frame peeking from under her pillow.

“

Mom...mom…amma...ma...”Shifa was shouting like a maniac in the whole house.

“Are kya ho gaya kyu gala phar rahi ho(wait what happened...why are you shouting?” Saba came walking fast towards her daughter.

“Mom.my university starts from tomorrow. How will I live outside for 5 hours. I will miss you and my plants.'' She said hugging her mother tightly. It wasn't anything new for Saba, it was usual for her to find Shifa doing some weird stuff randomly.

“Nautanki baaz. "(dramatic) control your tantrums." Shehreyar teased coming near them, for a moment Saba's eyes widened seeing her son's light mood.

Shifa glared Shehreyar and looked towards her mother with a pout.

“Maaaa…see bhai is troubling me.” She whined like a child.

“Me? You are troubling mom...go prepare for tomorrow.” He spoke to and she went out stomping her foot.

“Kitni bari ho gayi hai ye par harkate bachon wali hain iski.(She has grown up so much but her habits are like children).” Shhreyar said.

“She will grow up when time will come...you tell me how is every thing going in office?” Saba asked entering in her room with Shehreyar following her. Shehreyar made his mother sit on the bed and laid down keeping his head on her lap making her ran fingers in his hair.

“Fabulous mom. Everything is going nice, the meetings we do all the contracts and tenders comes in our hands Alhamdulillah.” He started, the joy evident from his voice.

“Ma sh Allah. What about Irfa and Khizir?” Saba inquired still running hand in his hair.

“Irfa is just perfect mom...she does her work so well that none can take out any faults in her work. Her dedication had earned us two contracts back to back. She is just amazing, very professional....you know ma every one is impressed with her.” he was speaking non-stop and Saba was literally staring him in amusement yet shock.

A meaningful smile formed on her lips listening to her son's rant. She was his mother and mother knows everything. She knew what had happened, she knew what had changed.

“Um…beta I also asked about Khizir's company.” She said suppressing her smile.

“Oh yeah...see mom we have bought 70% shares of his company to ease the debt...and when his company will be re-established nicely then we will handle the shares rationally. Their first big project is going on and it will take some time, but I am hopefully everything will turn out fine. He is really working hard mom In sha Allah he will succeed.” He said and closed his eyes.

“In.sha Allah.” Saba also mumbled and kept messaging his hair.

_________

“How dare he ask you for a date huh?...say something Irfa...why are you not speaking.” Shifa was shaking her badly but her mind was still on the colorful words said by Shifa a few moments ago.

“Irfa.” Shifa yelled and Irfa jumped from her place keeping hand on her heart to calm herself from the sudden shock.

“You scared me Shifa.”

“What? I am speaking non-stop and you are not listening...huh. Fine, tell me what did you say to him? Did he insist?” Shifa asked sitting beside her.

“Nah...meanwhile I saw Shereyar and ran away making an excuse to give him a file.” she said casually on which Shifa hummed.

“Shifa your University starts from tomorrow, did you prepare for the first day?” She asked.

“ Yes. I just hope it goes well.” Shifa whispered. It was clear she was nervous.

“Everything will turn out to be perfect.” Irfa held her hand and pressed it in assurance.

“ Leave it tell me more about Joshua.” Shifa said lying on the bed followed by Irfa.

“How many times will you ask of him?” Irfa asked in annoyance.

“Ok...ok leave it tell me one thing...he asked you to call him Josh.” Shifa said and wiggled her eyebrow.

“Shut up.” Irfa shouted making them laugh.

___________

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