***

A week had passed to the incident of Joshua and Irfa and not a day went when Shehreyar didn't think about that. It was jealousy, but then he didn't even know. In the offi,ce work was going like always and Irfa still was struggling a little but Mr Ahmed was helping a lot.

It was Sunday after a long week, Shifa was too engrossed in her university as the starting days were busy, from running around to get to know her classes and registration of different forms and activities. All in all it was hectic.

“Assalamoalaikum mami.” Khizir greeted entering the house with his mother and Zainab.

“Walekum assalam beta....what a surprise?” Saba replied with a grin on her face. Welcoming them inside she called Irfa.

“Assalamoalaikum phupo...how are you?” She came near her and hugged her, the smile of seeing her aunt was evident on her face, it was beautiful.

“Walekum assalam beta I am fine how are you?” She asked gesturing her to sit next to her. They got indulged in a conversation, the laugh and smiling once again prevailed making each of them forget about their tiring week.

Sometime later Shehreyar entered the lounge area and found the guest making him smile. He came forward and saw Irfa laughing with Khizir, the pang of jealousy that had cooled down a bit erupted again, now the target was Khizir. Clenching his fist in anger he tried to control his emotions.

'Why is she laughing?' he thought

Can't she laugh you idiot? As usual his inner voice was in her favor but little did he know it was he himself who was having two different thoughts. It was getting too much for him to control, it was so pathetic of him to get jealous of her laughing with others but then love makes you pathetic.

“Irfa please come here.” he called her trying to be calm. Irfa and Khizir saw each other with confusion, and she went to him. Still thinking what went wrong this time.

“Um…can you give me the file which I gave you yesterday?” He asked.

“For?” She raised her eyebrows. He had given it yesterday saying that everything was checked then what was the need for taking it back?

“I have to recheck it.” He said making her confused more than she was.

“But you said it's done?”

“Please give it...”he said simply yet the rudeness of his voice made her agree. It was better to return it back than hear his scolding.

She nodded and went upstairs to get the file. Seeing her go upstairs Khazar got up and strolled towards Shehreyar, wiggling his eyebrows all the way. Shehreyar scowled at him and asked,

“What?”

“Kuch to hua hai…kuch ho gaya hai...” Without replying him Khizir started singing making a quizzical look form on his face.

“Um Shereyar what about the deal with Collins?” Irfa asked as she came with the file and once again his anger rose hearing the name Collins from her mouth.

“It's final...they will work with us.” Shereyar replied curtly but she didn't notice.

“Alhamdulillah!” she exclaimed and went towards the kitchen with a small smile playing on her face. It was just a smile, yet it seemed to have different meaning to him.

“ What is this?...its smell is so good...mami what are you making?” Khizir asked entering the kitchen.

“Kebab...” came the reply making his face light up.

“Khizir can you call Shifa from lawn... I don't know what is she doing there since morning?” Saba said turning towards him and giving him a bite of kebab. Munching on the delicious bite he directed his steps towards the lawn. Reaching the gate of the lawn he peeked outside and found her doing something with a flower pot.

Silently moving towards her he shouted just near her ear, so loud that Shifa jumped back in fear making her fall back on the ground. Her face paling with fear making Khizir laugh heartily.

“Oh God Shifa...look.at your face.” He said in between his laughs receiving a death glare from her...increasing his laugh more.

“Shut up.” she snapped, composing himself he stopped laughing but a smirk was evident on his face.

“What are you doing?” He asked sitting on his heels beside her.

“People say right...owls can't see in day time...” she said with a glare and then rolled her eyes.

“ Can't you see I am planting this flower.” she said with annoyance clear in her voice. It was holiday and it had been a long time since she had paid any attention to her plants, she was towing and weeding every pot on her own from morning. Finally, when the work was done she decided to plant a new flower.

“Woah I am impressed...first time in the history a rat is planting a flower...” he said emphasizing 'rat' and started laughing again, earning a smack on his head.

“I didn't do this to impress you and shut up for Allah's sake.” She said clenching her teeth but smiled when he offered help.

“Ok let me do this...” he said taking the pot from her hands.

It was impossible for Khizir to stay sane beside her so an evil idea came to his mind, and he slowly turned towards her and touched her cheeks, she froze on her place and looked his way. He was about to run, that meant something was wrong. She touched her cheek and found mud on her fingers.

“I will kill you Khizir.” She shouted and ran behind him with some mud in her hand.

He ran towards the lounge area, and she ran behind him.

“How dare you?” She screeched.

“See Shifa forgive me... I won't do it again...little rat” At first his voice seemed to be like an apologizing one, but he being him again called her rat. Looking at him in disbelief she glared him and again ran towards him making him laugh and hide behind his mother.

“Stop calling me that...” she yelled.

“Mom save me from this witch please...” he pleaded.

“Why should I...sherni ko pareshan kiya hai tumne ab bughto(you troubled a tigress now suffer.) “ She said laughing and Khizir ran towards Shehreyar.

“Shehreyar mere bhai mere, dost bacha le mujhe teri is afat behan se please (Shehreyar my bro my friend please save me from your sister.)”

“Mujhe mat laao apne mamle me tum to chale jao ge maine to yahin rehna hai na(don't pull me in your matters you will leave and I have to live in this house only).” He said giving him a wink.

Khizir saw Shifa coming near him, so he ran towards main door. Suddenly Shifa threw the mud, and he dogged it...and the mad landed on Mr Ahmed's face who was entering the house.

Everyone gasped at this and Khizir stood up grinning.

“Missed it.” he said with a smirk and then Irfa indicated him to look back. He furrowed his brows and turned back and gasped putting his hands on his mouth.

There was utter silence for some time and Mr Ahmed wiped off the mud with his hands and the next moment the whole lounge erupted into fits of laughter.

Everyone was laughing and Shifa and Khizir was looking at Mr Ahmed and few moments later they also started laughing and Mr Ahmed himself couldn't control and laughed.

_________

Walking towards Baba I was thinking about all the possible things he wanted to say. He had called me immediately to his study and that mean something important was to be discussed.

“Come Shereyar...sit”he said. Okay Shehreyar...something's fishy he calls me by my full name when there was something serious.

“Yes baba...any problem?” I asked sitting in front of him.

“No there is no problem I just want to discuss something with you.” He said removing his spectacles.

I nodded and he smiled.

“Zawaar sent proposal.” he said...oh zawaar sent...wait what? Proposal? How dare he sent a proposal for my Shifa? Before I could speak baba added,

“Not for Shifa.”

“For Irfa.” I could feel the ground slipping away, it was way too shocking to react.

“Why?” My voice was loud, it was impulsive but then the bomb that had been dropped was blowing my senses efficiently.

“Shehreyar you don't know why proposals are sent?” He mocked, with annoyance clearly written on his face. Damn what should I do now?

How dare he?

She is mine.

Mine?...what's this, who am I to call her mine? On what base I called her mine? She is not mine, I am no one to call her mine. I have no such feelings to call her mine.

What was all the feelings you had for her? What was all those burning sensations you felt seeing her around anyone?

Really what was that?

Love.

Not it wasn't.

It was and it is.

“Sherey what happened?...where are you lost?” Baba said looking worried.

“No where baba....but why her?... I mean.-” I couldn't even speak...how could this happen? And why the hell was my heart clenching.

“Only a fool won't like her.” he said making me look down. Yes baba and that fool is your son.

“So what do you say? I like the proposal...he is a nice guy, settled and his father is my friend. He is well-mannered too. So what's your opinion?” Baba asked.

I think all those traits are in me too and somewhat better than him.

But you are not well-mannered specially towards her...

'No I am and stop it you dumb.”

Oh, baby I am you and so...you are dumb.

“But baba we should check more about him... I don't like that guy much.” I spoke the truth.

“It's not you who got the proposal. I will talk to Irfa and I have also checked everything... I think I should accept the proposal after confronting her...”

_________

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