Zubiya walked forward as Faryal followed her and Gaiti to Gaiti's room.

Gaiti talked non-stop about the environment, the things that were different now in Pakistan while Faryal hummed non-committedly. Now and then, her eyes would follow Zubiya, which she would ignore.

She heard Faryal, whisper to Gaiti, "Who is she?"

Gaiti who stopped talking and hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to explain everything about Zubiya. She seemed lost and finally looked towards Zubiya who was staring them, waiting for Gaiti to answer. When Zubiya saw Gaiti hesitating, she walked towards Gaiti and Faryal and answered, "Your father and Usman uncle were maternal cousins of my mother. My mother has just recently passed away and since I don't have any other relatives Usman uncle has asked me to live here."

Faryal having nothing to say just uttered out, "Oh. I am sorry to hear about your loss."

"It's alright." Zubiya replied, giving her a slight smile.

"Okay! Come on, let's take a stroll outside. Faryal, now tell us how do you feel about coming to Pakistan permanently after living abroad for these many years....." Gaiti lightly asked Faryal as she dragged both of them outside towards the lawn.

"Gaiti bhabi, wait! Let me freshen up first... and then I'll join you both, okay?"

"Okay, miss! But come fast! I hardly get any time to spend with you... You are always busy with your college and then the kindergarten school." Gaiti said as she slightly pouted at Zubiya who laughed and hugged her tightly.

"I am so sorry, bhabi. I'll definitely make it up to you. Okay, why don't we plan something? Let's go for an outing tomorrow.. We'll take Faryal for some shopping, and then lunch... Then.. we'll watch a movie and just go for a long drive. Just us three. Okay? You okay with the plan, Faryal?" Zubiya asked Faryal on a whim as Gaiti bhabi squealed and grabbed her in a side-hug.

"Okay... I'm game.. But.. kindergarten school?" Faryal asked as she looked at her confusedly.

"Zubiya teaches at a government kindergarten school after she is done with her classes at her college. I'm whining that I don't see her much. I fear the day she will get admission in a medical college. I'm sure she won't do much other than go to college, study, work and sleep. Am I wrong?" Gaiti asked Zubiya, as she raised an eyebrow at her.

"Ye- I mean, No! I'll surely manage something.." Zubiya stuttered as she lightly shrugged her shoulders at Gaiti, who laughed and pulled her into a side-hug again.

"I'm sure you will do. I have full faith in you!" Gaiti said.

Faryal smiled at the pair wistfully and chuckled lightly.

"Bhabi, why don't you give Faryal some company.. Let me just get freshened up first and then I will join you both again." Zubiya then quickly turned to start heading back to the house when she smacked straight onto a body, the force making them both fall to the ground.

Zubiya's eyes clenched shut automatically as she felt herself falling along with the other person. She gasped as they hit the ground and breathed in the familiar scent from the shirt she had grabbed a hold of tightly.

Asfandyar.

She could recognize that scent anywhere.

As they both laid on the ground huffing out short breaths, she slowly unclenched her eyes and took a peek at Asfandyar. He seemed to be knocked out of breath as he stared above. His expression gave away his thoughts which were similar to her - What the hell happened?

Asfandyar, as if remembering what happened looked at Zubiya with concerned eyes as she quickly shot up, righting her dupatta in it's position, "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"

"Shouldn't it be me asking you that question? You took a really hard blow.." Zubiya questioned him back softly as she stood up from the ground.

Asfandyar gave her a cheeky smile from his position and said, "You sure do come in like a wrecking ball, you know?"

Zubiya snorted at his words and chuckled softly. She shook her head at her clumsiness and his cheesy lines as she felt Gaiti bhabi take a hold of her hand and turn her towards herself to check on her.

"Zubiya, are you alright? And mister, what are you doing still lying on the ground?

Did you get hurt?" Gaiti bhabi questioned them as she looked over him as well.

"No bhabi, I'm perfectly fine. Just got knocked out of breath by a small wrecking ball, that's it." Asfandyar shrugged his shoulders as he chuckled lightly at his words, making Gaiti laugh and Zubiya turn crimson with embarrassment.

Faryal smiled slightly as she stood beside Gaiti and silently observed them. Asfandyar and Zubiya to be precise. She felt a certain connection between them as she watched them sneak glances at each other when the other wasn't seeing. Or pretending to. Perhaps they themselves were unaware of it.

She wasn't sure of it as they were so synchronized to each other. It felt like wherever one went the other's eyes followed... She shook her head and joined them.

After Asfandyar greeted Faryal and they were shortly introduced to each other, he and Zubiya went on to their ways, specifically to their rooms on Gaiti bhabi's forceful insistence to get changed.

Zubiya stood as she watched the sky trying to find her favorite set of stars - a pair of stars that stood aligned, one after the other with another pair of stars standing on either side of them. In childhood, she would always consider the two stars that stood one after the other as herself and Rehan bhai whereas the other two stars that stood on either sides as her parents. Her family. Until last year, she still held to that silly thought, but after her mother's death her opinions shifted. Nonetheless, whenever she watched the sky her eyes would inadvertently search for the stars. Her stars.

She had never shared her silly notion with anyone. Well, except for Asfandyar when one day he asked what had caught her attention that she stared at the sky so reverently. She had meekly shared her notion expecting him to laugh. But he didn't. He just nodded and stared at the sky himself and never bothered her with the same question again. He understood her. He didn't think her as a fool. For which she felt grateful. And some more.

She smiled as she heard a set of footsteps coming closer towards. He was on time today. 11pm was their allotted time. She had become late once or twice. But not him. It made her feel glad that he liked spending time with her as much as she did.

Asfandyar walked and stood by her. He gazed at the sky as he said, "Heard Gaiti bhabi and you are taking Faryal for a trip tomorrow?"

"Hmm.. We are going to watch movies, do shopping, have lunch and then go for a long drive. Only us three." Zubiya said as she smiled excitedly. She was eager to get out on a trip as it would be her first time. She had never gone out on a trip as her father had always detested such trips. He considered them a waste of time. For which they had always been cooped up inside the house.

Asfandyar smiled at her. He felt happy that Zubiya was slowly coming out of her shell and was eager to slowly try out new things. He hoped he was correct on that notion.

"Um- Zubiya... I have tell you something." Asfandyar slowly said as he fidgeted with his fingers.

"Yes?" Zubiya asked back as she looked at him, giving him her full attention.

"I-..." Asfandyar was just about to continue when Zubiya's phone rang, startling them both.

"Gaiti bhabi...." Zubiya murmured, uncertain whether she should answer the call or just ignore it.

"Pick it up. Could be something important.. Or else she wouldn't be calling you at this hour." Asfandyar said.

Zubiya nodded her head as she slowly answered the call and spoke, "Gaiti bhabi?"

"Zubiya, where are you?! I have been waiting for you in your room for about 15 minutes! Where are you?!" Gaiti bhabi exclaimed.

Zubiya's eyes widened as she looked up at Asfandyar who had the expression on his face.

Oops!