Chapter-7
Missing piece
"What's it?" Aalia asked, trying not to show her nervousness.
"Yaar. Listen. First calm up your mind." Aleesha held Aalia's hand.
"Tell me. " Aalia said.
"Adnaan is going to get married. I guess." (Aleesha)
"Explain." Aalia commanded with a emotionless face.
"Hm.. It's like..... our mom said that he is in love with some girl in our locality." (Aleesha)
"What? " (Aalia)
"You don't need to know everything in detail, Aalia." (Alessha)
"JUST TELL ME. " (Aalia)
"Aalii....It's like...he has been visiting our locality frequently and his parents are thinking that he is visiting us. But he never came here. Last week Mina Khala called mom to talk about his weird behavior these days." (Aleesha)
"No... He visited me all these days. He is not lieing." Aalia defended him.
"Aalia...look, try to understand that I am letting you know this because I know that there is something wrong. Mina Khala wants him to get married because she doubt whatever he have a Girlfriend or not." (Aleesha)
"Maybe he is spending time collecting the stocks for his shop." (Aalia)
"Then why is he lying? " (Aleesha)
"He is a workaholic man. No... I don't think so. He and falling in love? No. " (Aalia)
Aalia tried her level best not to show her disappointment.
"um... I think we shouldn't talk about it anymore."
Aalia switched off the light and laid back on the bed.
For her it was the longest night. Every second seemed to be too long and she was getting tired of everything.
The next day she freshened up. She looked at the mirror.
'Adnaan is not that kind of guy. He won't do anything wrong.'
Aalia thought. She took a deep breath. There was a note on her bench. She took it and walked out her room.
"Aalii... Aleesha left. Son in-law wanted to do some paperwork and Aleesha decided to leave inorder to help him. She asked me not to wake you up. Call her if you want." her mom explained.
"Ya.." (Aalia)
As she was not in a mood, she left for college. Hana took a leave of absence as she was going to visit her relative.
Aalia was left alone. She took out her phone and saw the message Adnaan sent the last day.
'Are you free? '
She texted him and kept her phone away. She took the note that Aleesha left at her table.
'Sorry that I left. I wanted to talk to you. I am damn sure that you are not gonna believe in what I said. But I only want to tell you something. Be brave enough to face the reality. You are strong and you deserve the best.
-love
Alessha.'
Aalia looked at it for a while and kept it back. She laid her head on the bench and stared at her message. The whole day at college without Hana made her worse. She was over thinking every time she thought about Adnaan.
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It's been 1 week and 5 days. She took her phone but, the message she sent him that day was still there with no replies. He haven't visited her from that day. But what hurt her feelings was, She saw his car in front of a house. She wanted to check who's that house was. But she stopped herself. Let him live his life.
Alessha called her everyday and talked to her. Hana was staying with her grandparents as her grandfather was not well. She stared at the sky through the window. A tear fell from her eye. She wiped it off.
Aalia walked into the kitchen and hugged her mom from behind.
"What happened, Aali? You alright?" (Mom)
"Nothing...." (Aalia)
"Aalia... I want help from you." (Mom)
"What? " (Aalia)
"Can you drop me at Nooha's place." (Mom)
"Are you guys having a get together?" (Aalia)
"Yah... I told your dad but he is busy. So you will drop me there. Right? " (Mom)
"Yah.... Get ready. " Aalia smiled.
The ride was short but her mom was busy talking about her friends. They reached their destination.
"Come on. You can join me" (Mom)
"Nah... I don't want to be a speed breaker. You can enjoy it with your friends. Bye. Call me when you are done with everything. Okay?" (Aalia)
"Are you alright?" (Mom)
"Yah... Khuda Hafiz." (Aalia)
"Allah Hafiz" (Mom)
Aalia was driving back home. She stopped in front of the particular house, she saw his car that day.
'Why was he here? Maybe Aleesha di was right, I should stop thinking about him.'
She thought.
It was raining softly. Driving gave her a peace of mind. As soon as she reached home, she sat on the couch. She took a book and started writing on it.
'I hate this. Why can't you just ask me to stay away from you if you don't want to be with me. But trust me when I say this I really mean it from the bottom of my heart - "Being with you is all I want". I don't know whether you are ignoring me or acting dumb. Everytime I try to act normal in front of you. But my feelings for you are too much for me to handle. It grows whenever you look at me. It sucks when you genuinely like someone but don't know whether he loves you back the same way. Fine, I agree to leave you alone. I won't disturb you anymore. But then why are you doing things that make me feel like you like me too? But I am damn sure you won't know what I feel for you. It feels like I am empty. I have given you all my feelings and emotions but you walk away ignoring it. I calm myself down by saying- "maybe you are too busy. " "maybe you are not well. " but the true reason is "maybe you don't want to be with me". No one will ever know what I feel...what I am going through...what they see outside is my smiling face. That doesn't mean that i am happy. I am broke inside. You broke me. I can't fix myself up because you smash my heart so badly that I can't find my broken pieces. Remember one thing I will be here..right here where you left me waiting for you until you come back. Do you know how I live? HOPE..it's the only thing left inside me. '
She dropped the pen and wiped her tears.
She took her instagram and put a story-
'Maybe it's true to state the fact that sometimes the one who loves you is the one who hurts you the most.'
She laid her head on the couch memorizing those days.
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( a recall/ a memory)
It was the day of Afna Di's marriage. Adnaan was busy with his friends and family, while Aalia was helping Afna Di with her dress. After their marriage Afna di was taken along with her husband to his house. Aalia felt exhausted. Adnaan was nowhere to be seen. Aalia walked into a room when she heard a whimper. She knocked on the door, but there was no reply. She tried to open the door. Adnaan was standing next to the window wiping his tears.
She walked towards him and held his shoulder.
"It's OK." (Aalia)
What she felt the next moment was his head on her shoulder and his hand wrapping her waist. She could hear him crying. He was holding her tight.
"hey.... It's ok... She is still your sister. You can visit her whenever you want." She tried to console him.
His grip tightened.
"Just take a deep breath. You are fine. " Aalia patted on his shoulder.
"mmm" he hummed.
Aalia knew that Afna di and Adnaan were close but never knew that he was too attached to her.
After a moment he released her and wiped his tears.
"I will be back. " He said and left her alone.
After a while she got a message.
'Thank you. It really helped me. I have something important to do.'
She smiled at his message. She looked for him and saw him standing at the balcony.
"Hey...what are you doing?" (Aalia)
Adnaan looked at her.
"Hm... Checking the bills." (Adnaan)
"I was waiting for you in the room." (Aalia)
"Who's that? " Aalia asked pointing at a guy.
Adnaan looked at that guy.
"My friend." (Adnaan)
"wooohh... He is too handsome." (Aalia)
"Why are you standing here? Go inside." (Adnaan)
"wait...let me look. " (Aalia)
Adnaan held her hand and took her inside.
"what happened? " (Aalia)
"It's too cold outside." (Adnaan)
"Are you serious? I am getting sweaty." (Aalia)
"Yah... If you want, you can use the air conditioner in my room." (Adnaan)
"What?" (Aalia)
"Stay in my room OK? Don't go anywhere." (Adnaan)
"Are you jealous? " (Aalia)
"I have a Lot of things to do. Stay here." (Adnaan)
With that he switched on the air conditioner, leaving the room.
After all the ceremonies, Aalia was tired and decided to sleep in the car as all the rooms were filled with chatters of aunties. She sat in the car and was about to sleep when Adnaan knocked on the window.
"Why are you sleeping here?" (Adnaan)
"Do you want me to sleep in between those aunties?" (Aalia)
"Ooh... I will join you. " (Adnaan)
He sat on the passenger seat in the front.
"looong day.." Adnaan sighed softly.
"Yah....." (Aalia)
Aalia closed her eyes.
"I don't know why, but I am happy when I am with you." (Adnaan)
Aalia looked at him. She was blushing like a fool. She suddenly looked out of the window in order to escape from his gaze.
(end of the recall)
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Aalia was brought into reality by the doorbell. She washed her face and opened the door and saw Hassan.
"Hi.. " (Aalia)
"Hey....what happened?" (Hassan)
"what happened? " (Aalia)
"I saw your instagram story." (Hassan)
"Ooh... It's nothing." (Aalia)
"Are you free right now?" (Hassan)
"Mm..." (Aalia)
"Can you come with me?" (Hassan)
"where?" (Aalia)
"Surprise." (Hassan)
Aalia wanted a break from everything.
"I should ask mom about that. " Aalia took her phone and dialed her mother's number.
"Hello.. " (Mom)
"Mom.. Can I go out with Hassan?" (Aalia)
"Where are you guys going?" (Mom)
"We haven't decided. I am getting bored sitting here. So
can I?" (Aalia)
"Yah...and Aali, your dad will pick me from here. You don't have to come. Okay?" (Mom)
"Yah.. Thank you so much mom.... Will see you..." (Aalia)
"Mom agreed." (Aalia)
"Get ready. " (Hassan)
"Yah..." (Aalia)
Aalia wore a cream hoodie and walked out of the house locking the door.
She was shocked when she saw Hassan wearing a cream shirt.
"What happened to your black shirt?" (Aalia)
"Huh... You said that you will compliment me if I wore something other than black and now, it's your turn." (Hassan)
"Oh.... " aalia smiled
"You look good in this. Still handsome as always. " (Aalia)
Hassan smiled.
"Are you blushing? " Aalia asked.
He covered his cheeks.
"Am I? " (Hassan)
Aalia laughed dryly.
They got into the car and he was talking about his grandfather's condition.
They stopped in the parking lot.
"Come on." Hassan said.
They walked towards the beach and the warm breeze was blowing. They walked around talking about random things.
"Wait for me. I will be back. " Hassan said and left her.
She nodded in agreement and took her camera, clicking the sunset view.
Hassan came back.
"Come with me." (Hassan)
Aalia walked with him and there was a table and two chairs set in the corner and the view of sunset from there was mesmerizing.
"wow....Thank you so much!" Aalia exclaimed
Aalia sat on the chair and looked at him.
"This is for you. " He passed her the coffee.
"Thanks." she smiled
They sat there for a while.
"Aalia, I have been noticing you for the past few days. What happened to you ?" (Hassan)
Aalia was searching for an answer.
"um... Actually I was not well." (Aalia)
"Physically or
Emotionally?" (Hassan)
"There is a Lot of things that cannot be expressed. So it's better this way. " (Aalia)
"You can share it with me if you will feel better. " (Hassan)
Aalia took a deep breath.
"Nah. I am fine. " (Aalia)
"You sure? " (Hassan)
"Yah. " Aalia gave him an assuring smile.
"I don't know what you are going through, but be patient. Everything is going to alright." (Hassan)
"Yah... I will try my best. I will stay strong and positive." (Aalia)
"You can call me anytime." (Hassan)
Aalia nodded.
"Is Hana going to stay there for long?" (Aalia)
"Yah." (Hassan)
"That's not good." (Aalia)
"You are going to be alright." (Hassan)
"You don't have to tell me what happened to you, but can I help you regain your mood. " (Hassan)
"How?" (Aalia)
"Are you ready? " (Hassan)
"How? " (Aalia)
"Just say a 'yes' " (Hassan)
He held his hand for a handshake.
They gave each other a handshake.
"Deal? " (Hassan)
"Deal. Let's give it a try." Aalia smiled
Hassan talked to Aalia. He was too positive and he radiated his positiveness to her.
'Maybe he is true. Everything happens for a reason.'
Aalia thought with a small smile.
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