It started with a soft buzz as my phone vibrated.Unlocking the screen my eyes scanned the message,

Coming down in a minute~Sofia

My impatient fingers tapped the dash board as I waited for her.

It was very early in the morning.The dawn just broke and only the oranges and yellows of the sun were visible.The rays were yet to come as they peeked at us from behind the mountains.The green leaves and plants still glistened with dew drops of last night as they shined against the illuminating light.

The birds just awakened as they sang merry tunes around the city.

A perfect day.

Sofia had insisted that I show her around the city as she had never seen Abbottabad closely and moreover no one had time for her to take her to a tour since she came back from Canada.So being polite to her, I said yes because she would only argue and fight and at last say something provoking that would lead to more frustrating arguments.I wasn't even happy with our last fight and her threatening but each time I forgave her.Because I had to.

We planned to spend the day by visiting all the beautiful places.I had already informed Ammi and after praying Fajr here I was, waiting for the infamous woman who was apparently getting dressed.

Opening the door of the escalade, I slid out, taking in the neighbourhood.

The sound of clicking heels had me turning around to look at the woman who hurried to the car.Dressed in a blue shalwar kameez, her hair were in a bun with minimal makeup on her face.She waved at me making me raise my eyebrows at her,

"Are you seriously wearing those?"Pointing towards her high heels I asked.

She scrunched her perfect eyebrows looking down at her feet.Confusion filling her face.

"Why?"She asked.

"You'll have to walk a lot.And I mean it a lot.Climbing hills and walking on stones and rocks."I emphasised trying to explain my point.

Her head nodded as if understanding before she kept her handbag on the bonnet, turning around.Along with the picnic basket, she insisted to bring along.

"Coming in a minute."And then she was walking back to her house.

I huffed out.Her 'one minute' was equal to twenty minutes.Minutes later she came back in brown pumps, smiling ear to ear,

"Better?"She grinned and I only nodded.Walking to the car door.

"And are you seriously wearing that?"She pointed to my clothes, taking her handbag off the bonnet.

"Yeah, what's bad in them?"I asked looking down at my attire that was white crisp shalwar kameez with a black waistcoat that fit perfectly against my chest.

"I was asking only because, you look so handsome to be true."She stated looking down shyly.

Bring the engine to life, I sped off once the woman was settled.The greenery passed us and we drove along the mountains.The green fields passing in a blur with the mountains.The sun was visible now as it glowed all the things on ground.

The pine trees along with the rich fir trees were lined all around the side of the roads.The old and ancient trees stood around against the mountains covering them randomly.The hills were covered in all green grass that looked bright and fresh.The mountains were carved after years of hard-work of men and were able to bear the small roads or dusty paths that were used by many to go up to the houses that were build at the top of the mountains.

Sofia looked relaxed as she rolled her window down.The cold wind brushing past us.I cast a glance towards the woman besides me as she murmured mesmerized,

"Its so beautiful.I am already loving the day." Her voice was soft.I smiled as my eyes swept to the house over the mountains.

I always loved those wood made houses of the natives that lived there.It fascinated me to think how they lived so up high and how they risked their lives only for coming down on the land.Abbo would always say that they were skilled and practiced and their kids were also trained from early age to live a life like this.

Sofia inhaled a large breath as she spread her hand out of the window.She clicked numerous snaps from her camera as we passed down the mountains along the river.

"I want to go over there." She said pointing her finger down to the river.

"Yes, we are going there."I assured her over her excitement earning a grin from her.

Soon enough we were getting down the car, Sofia was so excited like a little girl that she practically forgot to close her side of the door.She ran down the hilly path that lead to the river.I shook my head at her laughing loud at her joyousness.

"Slow down.." I shouted after her, following her form down the river.The place was basking in the early sunlight with almost no other soul other than two of us.

Sofia leaned down, her fingers feeling the icy water pass by.I sat down on a large rock as she snapped some pictures.Her eyes were twinkling with amazement as I stared unnoticed at her.

She looked so carefree and happy.The nature around was itself alluring.My mind also wondering how beautiful and how perfect everything was made.By the perfect of Creator.My ALLAH.No matter how much I praised it would never be enough.

I sighed a breath as Sofia handed me her camera.She too sat besides on a rock.Keeping her shoes away from the water, her fingers folded her trousers from the ankles as she dipped her feet in the water.

I chuckled out loud when she froze.Her dark eyes moving to my face, she shivered lightly, having no control she shout out,

"Oh God! Its freezing."Her eyes were wide like a saucer.She was about to move her feet, when I kept a hand over her hand.

"Stay.It'll get better in sometime."Her eyebrows scrunched before she turned in her place.

Bringing the camera to my eyes, I angled it towards her, She didn't notice as I clicked a picture of her.My eyes moved to the screen as I noticed that even a random click of her looked beautiful.

She was beautiful but I couldn't give her what she wanted.

I clenched my jaw at the thought.The sprinkles of icy water touched over my forehead as I turned my eyes to the culprit.She was pressing her lips hard as she held her bubbling laughter in.

Taking some water in my hand, I threw it her away, as she moved away laughing.

Soon we were laughing and sprinkling water over each other.My white shirt was a little wet now but Sofia was so good at moving away that she had no water over her.

"Hey, my camera.."She said between her laughter pointing to her camera in my hand.I angled it towards her taking a shot of her.She was surprised but I already clicked a laughing shot of her.

"Show me."She said coming towards me.Silence filled between us as she wore her shoes back up.The water was glistening besides us now due to the shining sun above our heads.

"Here."I showed her the picture.A small formed over her red painted lips.Her eyes filling with appreciation.Her small eyes looking up at me.The sunlight making them look much lighter shade than the darker they were.

She was pulling me in a daze, in which I didn't want to go in.As though she understood, she averted her eyes taking a step back.

"Look.."I pointed to the sheeps and goats that grazed the grass over the mountains.A young boys was with them up with a stick in hand.

"Awee.."Sofia looked up.

"I've never seen something like this.."She trailed off sighing.

We stayed for five more minutes before leaving.Our next journey was the glaciers encased between the mountains.

Stopping the car at the side of the road, Sofia and I got out.The frozen snow from winters was carved in the mountains naturally as the melted water slipped passed us and down the road.We didn't stay there for long and soon we were heading up the mountainous regions.The roads were well built for tourist activities but they weren't wide enough for two cars to pass easily.The side of the road wasn't railed by a barrier and so the cliffs and edges could easily be seen.

"Arsalan, slow down."Sofia squeaked.She was clutching the seatbelt tight whilst she had dug lower in her seat.

"Oh God.Its so scary."She peeked through the window as we drove up.She was afraid, I could see it.I just shook my head at her because I was used to it.

I laughed a little as she clutched my arm when a car came from the front and passed us.

"Are you crazy? We don't have to go up there.Lets go down."She whined.

"Sofia .. It's okay.You'll love the view from up.I am sure its something you've never seen before."I assured her.

"Just close your eyes."I added.

When we reached the top, the sun had hid behind the fluffy cotton like clouds.The sky suddenly looked much nearer.Sofia looked fine now as she twirled around taking in her surrounding.

"Oh.My.God"I heard her whisper as she covered her mouth.

Greenery covered all around us with wild flowers.People were around us but they was no crowd as everyone was busy in their own worlds.More higher mountains hovered over us.

Sofia was jumping as she again walked off happily.Taking off my shades I placed them on the dash board as it seemed the sun wasn't going to grace us with its presence.

Till the time I reached the woman, she was blowing bubbles.Really a little girl she was.I being her photographer, clicked shots for her poses.

We decided to have lunch there.And Sofia set the basket.We had a small picnic as she spread a mat under a tree before taking out the sandwiches and food.

We enjoyed our food silently basking in the beautiful atmosphere.

"Its beautiful from up here."Sofia stated referring to our city below us.Her eyes were looking far away but her soft tone didn't go unnoticed by me.

"I cannot believe that I've missed so much in my life."A bitter smile coated her lips.She was thinking about something.

"I've never thought about nature this way.Maybe because I've never experienced something like this."Her brown eyes looked up to mine but I didn't interrupt her.

"Someone once told me that:You start to see things differently when you are with someone you want to be with."Her words were like a whisper as they rolled off her tongue, weighing me down.

I only nodded.

"Sofia - No"I stated firmly.

"Yes."The stubborn woman replied back.

"No"I said sternly.

"Yes.Yes.Yes."She nodded her head not backing away.

Crossing her arms, she tapped off her shoes on the ground, looking away from me.I huffed, surrending before the woman.

"Fine.Go Ahead."I said.

"Really?"She asked, her eyes brightening up and face lightening up instantly as she looked at me.

I nodded my head at her silly request.She wanted to go over to the wooden bridge that was made over the flowing water and connected two ends of the land.Afternoon air brushed past us as we walked to the bridge.

I was only declining because it wasn't a proper bridge.It had broken sled of wood too and with the crushing sounds of water from below, Sofia would definitely freak out.But the thick head she was, she still wanted it to be a part of the adventure.

She was the first to step on it and as she kept her foot on the wood it creaked.She grinned turning to me while I glared at her.

"Please.."She said sweetly.

Taking the support of the ropes holding up the bridge, she moved forward as I followed close behind her.The camera was in the car because I already had 'someone' to handle and taking the device with us would not have increased the risk of it falling.

"Its not so bad."She said nodding her head but the fear was evident in her voice.She was gripping the ropes very tightly.

"Uhm Hmm"I only managed to utter out.The water crashed beneath us.

We were halfway when the bridge started to shake.Sofia was screaming for her dear life now.Her eyes were wide as she turned around to face me.

"Don't."I shouted to the small kids who shook the ropes purposely.They were enjoying and so was I.

Serves her right.

"Shoo..Go Away..you little-"Sofia yelled this time.The kids were laughing, they seemed to be the residents as one of them said something in strong pashto but it got jumbled over the crushes of water.

The shaking of the bridge made Sofia to loose balance as she landed onto my chest.Her small fist grabbing my shirt as she shook in my embrace.

She was very afraid as she leaned her head on my chest.

"Save us Arsalan."She kept on repeating.The kids had now ran away and the bridge wasn't shaking.Pulling her face away she looked around before meeting my eyes.

"Save US Arsalan."She said softly and I could here the double meaning behind her words.Ignoring her words I looked up at the sky that displayed greying clouds with no sun.

Taking a step back from her, I grasped her hand before leading her safely to the car.

We had evening tea in a restaurant before watching the setting sun by the hovering mountains.Sofia was feeling cold so we didn't go to the streams.

The day was coming to an end and silence filled the car as I drove in the dark towards Sofia's house.

"I loved today." She spoke quietly.

"I am glad."I smiled at her.

"I loved all this because I had YOU in this with me."She said looking out of the window yet her fingers were fiddling.

"I had a great time with you."I could only respond this much.

Stopping the car by her gates, I helped her to her gates carrying her basket.I smiled as I kept it by her feet.

"Look Arsalan."She began,

"I am not asking for much.I am just asking for you and nothing else"She said.

I chewed the inside of my cheek looking over at her.She frowned when she didn't get a response from me.

"Why is it so hard? I am doing so much for you.I always dress the way you like, I am even trying to be patient with you."She expressed crossing her hands.

I shook my head at her.

"Sofia, You deserve all the happiness in the world but I don't think that, that happiness is something I am capable of giving you."

"I don't care."She said looking up at me.Her eyes were desperate and her lips curled down as tears formed in her eyes.

"Sofia, try to understand.I am not the one for you.I cannot be with you.You deserve someone better than me.Someone who can keep you happy and love you.Unfortunately I am not that man."I said turning around.

"But you'll have to be that man Arsalan.I am going to make my life hell and you'll have to follow me in it too.."

Her words were determined threat like as I walked down her driveway ignoring her words as she slammed her gate behind me.

Hell

Hell

Hell

Hell.