Chapter-3

The Day

Aalia was watching a BL Thai drama.

"These guys are adorable..awee...Why can't they just propose each other already?!" She was totally into it.

"When will you stop watching these Korean and Chinese dramas? If you are free enough, come and help me pack these bags."

Her mom started saying her everyday dialogue.

"Mom, first of all it is Thai not Korean... And I think you should also watch one of these instead of watching all those useless cooking recipes. Because watching these dramas help us to improve our standards about love life but your cooking recipes are going to waste as you are never ever going to try making them. " Aalia excused.

"Yeah...you and your excuses..Come on get ready now, it's time for your college. We won't be there when you return from college...we will leave just after dropping you at your college...so....just clean your room and don't go on creating a mess. OK?"

Her mom said.

"Oh....I am going now. Mom, I know how to drive so you don't want to drop me. I will go by Myself. And wait ,Do you think that I create a mess? Is this what you think about me? I am not happy about this... I am going...bye and I Won't Miss You..." Aalia blurted out and went in to get ready.

After a few minutes she was dressed in her denim shirt.

"Mom...I am leaving....bye.... Will call you after college...." (Aalia)

"Go meet your dad." her mom said all of a sudden.

"Okie" she walked to the sitting room.

'Did I do something wrong? Aalia...think...what did you do that dad wants to see you? '

She was busy thinking about the reason why her dad wanted to meet her all of a sudden. She found him sitting there with his phone.

"Were you looking for me?" (Aalia)

"Yeah. Sit here." Her dad said and she sat near him.

"I think I should tell you this. Don't think too much about what Afna said. She was just exaggerating and never ever thought that you are a burden for me. And you are not a disappointment. I am proud of you. Because you are my little girl. OK? So..just calm down and leave it for me.."

He said, patting her shoulders.

"Dad..I haven't taken those words in my mind...I trust in faith and mainly I am sure that you won't find any dumb guy for me. Who you find for me will be per-fect.. I am happy with you guys and you know that you are my superhero."

She hugged her dad tight.

"Now show me your smiley face... " Her dad looked at her face.

She smiled looking at him.

"I should leave now. It's almost time.. " She said looking at the time.

"Drive safely..ok?" Her father said.

She loved the way her dad cared for her.

"Yah, for sure.....guys take care.....and...call me frequently....will miss you...." (Aalia)

"Mom....I am leaving..bye...." She hugged her mom.

She put on her helmet and headed out for college.

At college, Aalia was gloomy .

"What happened Yaar?"

Hana asked as Aalia was gloomy.

"Yaar as I said mom and dad are leaving to see Aleesha di (Aalia's sister) and they are gonna stay there for a while."

(Di means sister)

"Oh....come on....just chill.... These days are going to be super fast and we can have fun"

Hana calmed her friend.

"My mom was the one to deny, when I asked her whether I could join them to visit Aleesha di..." (Aalia)

"Yaar....come on... Don't spoil the mood. Let's watch some dramas. "

She put on a Thai drama and both were lost in it.

"Look....Everybody has couples. It's just us who are sitting here watching everyone move on with their soulmates.... I can't take it anymore... "

Hana started blabbering.

"These moments are only possible in Korean ,Chinese and Thai dramas...Do you want a couple? It's going to be super hard to adjust with a stranger.." Aalia joined her.

They spend the rest of the day in classes. Finally they reached home.

"Let's go to my place... " Hana recommended.

"Yaar...it's fine..I will stay here...you can go....and I have instant noodles with me..so I will cook it...you can leave me...if you are uncomfortable." Aalia said.

"No....How can I leave you? Your mom and dad assigned me to take good care of you....so how can I betray them? Let's take some rest. Then I will call my parents and ask whether I can stay with you or not." Hana suggested.

"Yah for sure." Aalia agreed.

They freshened up and called Hana's parents. They agreed .

"There is something smelling fishy." Hana said.

"Wae?" Aalia asked

(Wae means Why in Korean)

"Did they just let me stay with you? Without asking anything..did they just agree to it? I didn't even beg like I always do. "

Hana was busy thinking about it.

"Oh..come on....don't think too much....maybe they decided to give you a bit of freedom as you wish."

Aalia suggested.

"I don't think so....." (Hana)

"Whatever..let's complete our notes." (Aalia)

They were about to start their activities when a door bell was heard.

"Who?" Hana asked.

"Let me go and check." Aalia opened the door and saw Hassan standing there with his cat .

"Oh..hey...what happened???"

Aalia was waiting for his answer.

"Dad and mom asked me to stay here with you guys."

He said in a normal bold way.

"I knew it...That's what I was thinking....why would they allow me to stay with you without me begging them. "

Hana was going to burst.

Hassan stood there with an emotionless face.

"Come in. Suit yourself." Aalia let him in and closed the door.

"Are you guys hungry?"

Hassan asked Aalia and Hana.

"Nope I guess. " Aalia said with a small smile.

Aalia and Hana were busy writing the notes.

"He may get bored. " Aalia looked at Hassan who was sitting on the couch playing with his cat.

"Nah....he loves to spend time with it." Hana said while eating her Doritos.

"Aali...can we take a nap?"

Hana asked, showing her puppy face.

"You can take a nap. I am gonna read stories on wattpad." Aalia excused.

Hana stood up and walked towards Aalia's room.

"Aali...wake me up when dinner is ready. Ok?" Hana said, winking at Aalia.

Aalia stuck her tongue out.

Aalia sat on the couch and saw him petting his cat.

'I shouldn't disturb him.. '

She thought and decided not to blabber. She looked at his cat in between. She wanted to play with it but was confused about what he would think if she asked him.

"What are you doing? " Hassan asked Aalia.

"Reading.." Aalia answered.

"Do you want to play with him? "

Hassan asked her, raising his eyebrows.

"Yah for sure." She ran to his couch and sat there. She asked him to keep his cat in her lap so that could gently pat him. He kept it on her lap. It lay on her lap comfortably.

"Thank youuu '' She said and gently patted it down the tail so that it could feel good.

"It's good that you like cats." Hassan stated.

"Wait, I have something for him. Can you hold it for a while? I want to take something. "

Hassan took his cat and watched Aalia running into her room. She returned with a small cat hat. She put it on it.

"Look how cute it is... Boo boo boo..." she was admiring the cute little thing.

"where do you get it from? " Hassan asked.

"Actually it's not mine. It's Aleesha's. She had a cat..but it was then my dad asked her to give it to her friend as it was furious those days." Aalia explained.

"Oh... Is it cute..? " Aalia asked him.

"Yah...it's really cute." Hassan assured.

"Bo bo bo...look at you...pretty big eyes.... " Aalia was busy talking with the cat.

"How do you attract everybody's interest?" Hassan asked all of a sudden.

Aalia looked at him with widened eyes.

"um.... Me???..ummm... " Aalia was struggling to answer his question.

"Leave it.." Hassan started talking about his institution and Aalia blended in with his talks.

"Hassan...will it be fine if I cook instant noodles for dinner?" Aalia asked him.

"It's not time for dinner yet. We will think about it later, OK?" (Hassan)

"Yah...fine.. " (Aalia)

"wait...are you hungry? (Hassan)

"Yah... A bit...you wait for me..lemme cook something."

She smiled at him. Aalia was about to stand up when he held her hand.

"I will cook for you." (Hassan)

"nah-nah.. it's fine I will cook by myself." (Aalia)

"Hey, lemme do it for you..follow me.." (Hassan)

"OK..." (Aalia)

He wore an apron and Aalia instructed him as he was searching for things.

"oh.. So...men can cook!" she blunted.

"what? Did you think that we can't cook?" (Hassan)

"No... I have seen Master chef. I know that men can cook. But I am seeing a man cook in real life for the first time. Like in my life...like.." Aalia was explaining herself.

"I understood." He chuckled.

"Oh..You got what I meant right?" (Aalia)

"Yah. Try it" he gave her a spoon of noodles.

She took it and took a bite.

"um.... It's too good.. But not as good as mine. " she started giggling.

He smiled at her and They took the noodles to the table.

"Is the food ready? I am not getting sleep bro.. " Hana came out of her room.

"Yah.... Hassan made it and you know what? He nailed it...he is a super chef. "

Aalia kept on praising him.

They ate together and talked about random things. Aalia looked at her phone and saw Adnaan's messages. She wanted to check but she didn't look at it because he was late at replying to her messages..so why should she reply to his messages early.

Aalia and Hana decided to finish her work. Aalia went to the kitchen to fill the water in her bottle, she saw Hassan sleeping uncomfortably on the couch.

Aalia went back to the room.

"Hey...Ask Hassan to sleep here so we can sleep in Aleesha's room."

Hana went to inform Hassan and Aalia cleaned the room. They bid Good night to each other and were about to sleep.

"Hey..... Adnaan messaged me..." (Aalia)

"and...." (Hana)

"I ignored it. " (Aalia)

"Oh! Why did you do that?" (Hana)

"Because he gives me late replies...always...." (Aalia)

"Do you think that it would be fine?" (Hana)

"Ooh... Don't scare me. He won't do anything. Duh! I am so strong that I can smash him. " (Aalia)

Hana sat on the bed and started praying.

"What are you doing now? " Aalia asked getting irritated

"Praying to God to save you from Adnaan." (Hana)

"It's not funny." (Aalia)

"Who said that it's funny? I am serious, Aalia. I think you should check his message." (Hana)

"Don't manipulate me. And don't divert me from my mission." Aalia warned her.

They started talking about Adnaan. Aalia was eager to check Adnaan's message but she forced herself not to do it and she was sure that Adnaan would freak out when he gets to know that she hasn't seen his message.

She woke up in the middle of the night.

"Aalia control...we can check it after a few more hours you got this....fighting girl..."

She took her phone and switched it off so that she would be diverted.

"I should control myself..yah Allah help me from Adnaan. I got this." She said in bold tone.

She kept her phone away ignoring his messages and slept hugging Hana not knowing what was going to happen to her the next day.

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_rs