Chapter-2

2.As thought

Adnaan was busy checking his accounts and delivering items ,when his phone rang.

"Yah mom, what happened? "

Adnaan asked without taking his eyes from the file.

"Come home. I want to go to-"

He didn't let her complete it.

"No mom. I am not coming with you anywhere. Yesterday I wasn't here and it's already a mess. I want to check alot of orders. " He said in a stern tone.

"What am I supposed to do? Your sister wants to talk to Aalia about something important. And she asked me to go with her. Then tell me, how am I supposed to go? " His mom defended.

"Are you going to Aalia's place?" Adnaan asked out of curiosity, closing his file.

"Yah." his mom replied

"Let me check. Hmm.... I will reach there in 1 hour after finishing these." he hung up and looked at Aalia's message.

"I will." he said

On the way to Aalia's house Adnaan's mom (Mina) kept on talking about how Aalia was refusing to get married.

Reaching her home, he waited for Aalia but she was nowhere to be seen. Aalia's dad left for some work. His mom and sister were busy discussing random issues with Aalia's mom (Mahira).

"Where is Aalia?" Adnaan asked Aalia's mom.

"She is sleeping upstairs. You can call her now, she has been sleeping for a long time." (Mahira)

"yeah. I will. Khala.."

(Khala means Aunt)

He climbed the stairs and opened the door slightly without making noise. He found her under the blanket sleeping peacefully. He decided to leave without disturbing her sleep when he noticed the bracelet he gifted on her hand. He sat on her couch and looked at her with a smile. He clicked her picture in order to irritate her when needed. He decided to wake her up as he was feeling alone and bored.

"Rise and shine Princess..."

He said.

She opened her eyes with a smile and found him.

"Ewwh....what are you doing here...."

She threw the pillow on him. He threw it back at her face. She started throwing all the pillows and things she could find. Adnaan got into the bed and pinned her down.

"Now ,what will you do? Huh?"

Adnaan asked, challenging her.

Their faces were too close.

She smiled. He frowned his eyebrows.

"Why are you smiling, fool?"

She turned her head to the opposite direction and said-

"I am having morning breaths. I will blow it on your face."

He jumped out of the bed.

"Urgh....Go......brush your teeth."

She stomped to the bathroom mocking him. She looked herself in the bathroom mirror.

"Ewh, Aalia. You look like a walking dust bin. A real mess." she said.

She freshened up and came out of the room. He was gone.

Aalia took her phone and called Hana.

"What's up buddy? (Hana)

"Adnaan is here. Yesterday he brought me a bracelet. I was wearing it when I slept last night. He was the one to wake me up and I skipped a beat when I saw him. I think I messed it up. What if he saw me wearing the bracelet?"

Aalia asked in one breath.

"I think you are exaggerating. And just stay calm OK? If he saw you in the bracelet it's good. He will have faith that you admire his things. Understood?" (Hana)

"Yeah.... Will that be good? What do you think...will we buy gifts for those we don't love?" (Aalia)

"Maybe he likes you....like how you like him..But you didn't tell me that he brought you a bracelet...awww...He is so cute...And I think you can stop blushing....." (Hana)

"Ahh..stop it already....I am not blushing....and I should go downstairs now. Bye" (Aalia)

She cut the call and ran to the sitting room. As thought everyone was busy talking while Adnaan was busy watching reels.

"As-salamu alaykummmm" Aalia went into the room.

(As-salamu alaykum is a greeting in Arabic)

Aalia sat on the couch next to her mom.

"Wa-alikkum assalam. How are you doing? " Mina khala asked Aalia.

(Wa-alikkum assalam is the reply for greeting in Arabic)

"I am doing great." Aalia said, putting a pillow on her lap.

"You are supposed to do great as your daily routine only contains sleeping, eating and blabbering."

Adnaan said in between.

"Khala was talking to me right? Then why are you interfering? Nosy.... "

Aalia threw the pillow on him. They started throwing pillows.

"Adnaan..you are hurting my girl."

Mina Khala was taking Aalia's side and asked him to stop it. He looked at her and she seemed so happy.

"Aalia...we want to talk something with you.. And... It's a bit important.." Adnaan's sister said.

Adnaan was tense. He knew what she was going to talk about and how Aalia would react to it.

"What happened?" Aalia could feel the tension in the air.

"Your mom and dad has been trying to get a good marriage proposal for you, so that your life can be secured. So why are you denying it? " Adnaan's sister (Afna) asked her.

"Okay... So that's the thing? It's nothing complicated or important. Firstly, I am not living my life to get married. Secondly, I am happy being single. And finally, I don't want anyone to be concerned about my life."

Adnaan laughed at that point where Aalia said that she was happy being single. Afna juster gave him a death glare.

"Aalia, it's not something funny or kind of a joke. It's your life." (Afna)

Aalia felt her chest tighten. She sighed and said

"Let's not talk about this anymore."

She was about to leave when Afna stood up and said

"Why are you doing this? "

"What are you saying di?" (Aalia)

(Di means sister)

"You know how hard your parents are trying to keep you happy. They are sad thinking about you." (Afna)

"I want to settle down with a good income job ,first. And what makes you think that my parents are sad about me? " (Aalia)

"Aalia...Its only you who is not seeing the pain in their eyes. That are hurt about your decisions. You are disappointing them. " (Afna)

"I don't want to be involved in this conversation anymore. I am sorry. " Aalia turned around to walk back to her room.

"Aalia, I want to talk to you personally. "

With that Afna took Aalia's hand and took her to her room. Aalia turned around to look at her mom. But she was not looking at Aalia. She felt warm tears rolling down her cheeks.

After a long Afna came out of Aalia's room and she told everyone that Aalia was alright. She said that they were having a normal chit chat. Even though everyone knew that it wasn't a so called 'chit chat' they agreed to Afna.

Aalia's mom went to her room and came out with a smile. Everyone was talking normally like nothing happened. Aalia was nowhere to be seen. Adnaan was not feeling good. He went to her room and knocked on the door. There was no response. He opened the door. She was sitting on the ground hugging her unicorn, covering her face.

He went and sat beside her.

"Hey. " (Adnaan)

She didn't bulge.

"It's OK. Don't be sad. Everything is going to be fine. Trust me." (Adnaan)

She looked at him.

"Can we go out? I don't want to be here. " (Aalia)

Her eyes were wet and she seemed sad.

He didn't know how he was going to convince his and her mom about this but he agreed.

He got up and held her hand. He took the car key and asked her to wait in the car. She nodded.He came out of the house within a few minutes while Aalia waited for him in the car.

"Did they say a no? "

She asked, showing her puppy face.

He looked at her and asked-

"Where do you want to go? "

"Somewhere calm." (Aalia)

She was silent throughout the drive. He looked at her in between and saw her looking out of the window. He knew that Aalia hated that topic. He felt bad that he couldn't help Aalia. He stopped at a cafe. They both walked in. He asked her to wait at a seat and was talking to the waiter. She laid her head on the table. After a moment Adnaan came back and asked her to follow him. They climbed a few stairs and reached the rooftop.

She walked with him to the edge. She looked at him overwhelmed with feelings. He patted on her head -

"It's going to be fine.... just wait and watch."

"Why did she say that? Am I a burden?" (Aalia)

He sat on the railing. She sat like him.

"She said Alot and my parents never said those to me. I heard her saying that we had a chit chat? It wasn't a chit chat..she was blaming me. How can I marry someone I don't like? She was being ridiculous. I never knew that she was like this. She always helped me and now.... Where did the marriage topic come from? And do you know what my mom was also not taking my side. Am I a disappointment? "

She wiped away her tears. It was then she realized that she was talking about his sister. He was silent.

"I am sorry. "

She said softly.

"Don't feel sorry..Don't mind them...and don't waste your tears for them. Don't listen to their irrelevant words. They are meant to hurt you. You are not a dissappointment. Or what not. Just know one thing. You are something really precious. And you shouldn't mind their talks. okay?" He said looking at her. She looked at him and smiled.

"Now wipe your tears." (Adnaan)

Aalia wiped her tears away and looked at her hands.

"I am sorry. " Adnaan said.

"For what?" Aalia asked in amusement.

"I was there but I couldn't do anything for you." Adnaan said, looking at the sky.

"How come it is your fault? You know what you did your best. And you took me WITH YOU... and that's a great thing. I am no longer sad. Your words are absorbed in my mind and will stay there forever. " she said, stressing on with you.

"Is it so? " Adnaan asked.

"Yah... Obviously." Aalia said, looking at him.

"What do you want?" Adnaan asked.

"For what? " (Aalia)

"Inorder to regain your mood?" (Adnaan)

"I am alright now. Look, I am smiling and my heart is light like a feather." Aalia raised her head to look at Adnaan with a pretty smile. Adnaan smiled at her.

He took out his earphones and they shared it with each other.

"You can select the song." Adnaan passed his phone to her.

She selected her favorite song.

"Do you like this one? " Aalia asked.

"Yah...it's good. " Adnaan said.

Aalia sighed softly and gave a small smile.

"I was sure that you will help me out." (Aalia)

She laid her head on his shoulder. And he rested his head on her head.

"The view. It's beautiful." (Aalia)

"I knew that you would like it...." Adnaan said.

They both were silent and were enjoying the music. In a sudden Adnaan switched the music off.

"What happened? " Aalia asked.

"I am going to ask you something. Don't take it the wrong way, OK?" Adnaan said.

"o-k. " (Aalia)

"Do you have a boyfriend?" (Adnaan)

"Huh?" She looked at him in amusement.

"Now are you thinking that I am denying marriage because I love someone? " (Aalia)

"No. I am just curious...." (Adnaan)

"Can we go for a walk?" (Aalia)

"Yeah. for sure." (Adnaan)

They were walking together in the street when Adnaan took her hand. She looked at her hand. Their hands were held tight. She could feel his warm hand embracing her cold hand.

'I hope it stays like this forever.'

She thought.

"So... I didn't get an answer to my question." (Adnaan)

"Oh...I swear..I don't have a boyfriend..do I look and act like I have a boyfriend?" (Aalia)

"No... I just asked." He felt relieved.

"What about you? " Aaliya asked.

"What? " (adnaan)

"Do you have a girlfriend?? It's because I was curious like how you were.. "

Aalia asked all of a sudden. She was eager for his reply

"No!" He shortened his answer. She smiled.

"That's great." (Aalia)

He looked at her.

"What? Me not having a girlfriend?" Adnaan asked.

"No no no... I was talking about the balcony you took me to today.. It was superb... I liked it...It was great.. Can we go back now? "

Aalia wanted him to stop asking any further questions.

"Were you really talking about the balcony? " he asked.

"Yah..." she ran towards the car inorder to skip his interrogation.

While driving back home Aalia looked at Adnaan.

'Will he ever fall for me? He is perfect..he deserves everything..do I deserve him?'

She was in her thoughts.

"Hey....where are you? "

Adnaan was talking to her.

"Thanks for trusting me and supporting me." Aalia said.

"As I said...you will get someone who is ready to listen to you the whole day and will take care of you because you deserve everything . Just wait for the right time. Don't cry anymore and take your food. ok? And act normally. I know that you don't want to create a scene. " (Adnaan)

"yeah.." Aalia smiled at his concern.

They reached home. She talked to everyone normally. They had food together. Aalia was about to go back to her room. She heard her dad talking with Afna Di.

"Afna... don't stress too much. I don't want Aali to marry someone right now. Because she is happy with me and all I want is her to be happy. She wants freedom in her life and I must provide it as a dad. Make sure that you don't do anything like this the next time. "

She felt relieved. She sent Adnaan a thank you note for his advice and called Hana to say everything that happened. Hana supported her and gave her tips to get to know more about Adnaan.

'What if he wasn't there? That would have been worse. God, Please keep him safe. '

She slept thinking about how Adnaan helped her like a hero.

DO VOTE AND FEEL FREE TO COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS.

_rs