#6

“Go submit it now… it’s not that late!”

“Naysal!... to Mr. Nawab’s office…. You can’t be serious huh!”

“what are you going to do then?... get zero for the assignment you already did?” her brows pulled up questioningly 

“Escort me to his office …. please.. please Ishq please!” she begged childishly but Naysal sent her a look that implied a NO without even having to say it

“Naah please you know I feel uncomfortable around that man….. I can’t be anywhere alone with him please help me!” her face looked sympathetic but her tone annoyed

“okay…let’s go!” muttered Naysal as she stood off her seat

Zahra jumped off her seat blissfully as her wide unserious smile revealed her one sided dimple

A long stride to the office followed, outside his office the two girls stood there for like five minutes before Naysal finally decided to knock and a single knock was followed by the entry permission from the inside figure

“morning sir…..” they greeted in unison but one’s tone came out low like she was scared to be noticed 

Nawaz whose gaze was all fixed on the assignments by his table retorted casually without even lifting his gaze “morning…” 

“mmh… mhh..:” *clears throat*

“well sir… I’m sorry I delayed collecting my work.. I had an emergency!” that voice took his attention and finally his gaze was lifted just to land on that face he would swear to stare at the whole day

then slowly his gaze softened, from the coldness he carries himself with all along to the soft, sweet and lovely one he always presents towards her 

“give it” he extended his hand eyes fixed on Zahra who was almost shaking like Nawaz’s eyes burned or maybe pierced right into her bones, her hand gripping hard on Naysal’s dress while the other hardly handed the assignments

She gave the papers as fast as she could before she could turn to leave praying that he does not call her back

“I haven’t said you should leave yet!” muttered Nawaz and that made the two girls freeze like a very strong electric shock slammed their bodies  “Naysal…. Give us space please!” his gaze shifted to Naysal cold and sharp that it would pierce her

their eyes shifted towards each others, Zahra shook her heads slightly not to be noticed 

begging her friend not to leave, Naysal held Zahra’s hand tightly enough to reassure her presence

Naysal…. Give us …. Space!” he commanded his voice calmly but his gaze and words came as loud as a yell

“o…. okay …. You go Ishq I will manage!” she stuttered but still wanted to let her friend out of this 

“I… will be waiting outside!” she whispered before disappearing 

“take a sit!” he muttered eyes on her not even a moment to blink

“I’m…. fine like this!”

“take a seat Zahra… I don’t bite… neither do I kill!” his tone soft but not comforting enough for her, but she sat anyways

“Am i…. that scary that” the pain in his tone a bit unhidden yet still Zahra denied his words with a simple nod that she genuinely didn’t want to give

Nawaz smiled noticing all the time her eyes never met his, she would look everywhere but at him

“you… are … scared” trying to match her tone low, and like forced “but don’t be…… I’m not a bad person at all!” trying to reassure her

“well as if his gaze isn’t on me all the time……’ I’m not a bad person” 

“sir…. Can I go to my class….. i…. have sessions to attend!” she said a bit quick and loud like it was a warning in disguise 

He smiled over silly behavior finding it cute, as his unmannered gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than he planned, with her gaze lowered she could still feel the piercing gaze on her intimidating her even more

“you can go!” he let out after hardly convincing himself that he can still see her sometime later

she stood to her feet not even a thank you to give she stormed out of his office, 

just outside the door Naysal was there waiting for her, she released along breath she didn’t 

“nothing important …. Let’s just go away from here” she walked away this time not holding her hand as she always did

“ooh this man should stay away from my friend!” she muttered following her

But somewhere near the office a girl with a group of her friends, has been noticing the scene quietly observing as a trained detective

“Zahra….. mhhh… in MR. Nawaz’s office!” muttered Alhaa inwardly as if she

wanted the answer as soon as possible, suspiciously staring at her raged leaving cousin 

“Student-teacher things maybe!” convincing herself knowing for sure she isn’t ready to mind her own business

“how I don’t like that man Naysal… if you could open my heart……” she lamented fixing her bag on her shoulder

“ don’t be angry now…. Calm down sweetie don’t stress yourself”

“I’m not stressing myself unnecessarily Naysal…. This man is up to something… and I have a feeling that it’s not a good thing for me!” 

she almost yelled, her face already frowned just at the memory of Nawaz and all his gestures towards her, the way they make her feel that uncomfortable 

“God forbid” they both muttered in unison, as they lead their way home with Zahra lamenting and lamenting all about Nawaz and how she hates her behaviors and all Naysal could do was just advice her to talk to him and tell him how she is uncomfortable with his actions and gestures peacefully maybe that would change him

------

“so tall uncle what’s your name?” asked Anaya seating beside Waqas who sat on the grasses together with the kids surrounded by the beautiful flowers and shading trees 

“tall uncle?.....” he smiled sweetly enjoying whatever this was

“my name is Waqas”

“and what’s your father’s name?” added Wasim

“my….” He paused as the question triggered the wound he never wanted to show

“my father is called Yazid” he smiled warmly, clearly on pretense but the innocence in those kids didn’t allow them to see through it

“ooh I have a friend called Yazid at school!” muttered Sameer

“who is that with the kids?” questioned Zahra looking at the figure in a white shalwar kameez with a black shawl, something familiar to their eyes yet still not convincing enough to trust 

“I don’t know maybe one of the parents!”

“let’s go check….. what if he is not a good person!” she muttered taking strong and fast steps like a rescue team

“hellow…. Who are you!” her sharp tone represented her before she could calm down

He smirked, joy brightening his face, his drums yearning for her tone even more be it harsh or calm

“I’m talking to you!” she added

“Zaza calm down….. it’s not like you are here to fight!” she whispered

“Assalaamu aleykum….!” He turned to her side his eyes on them briefly, like too brief before he turned them, back to the kids like it was burning on their side 

“mmmhhh… you..!” muttered Naysal as her friend’s mouth remained wider opened, embarrassment caught on her face like a second skin, it could kill her any moment sooner, And before embarrassment killed her a voice came again

“So protective Miss Zahra…. But I am not here to harm the kids!” his calmness whipping away her embarrassment like the way her voice whipped his sorrow

“aaah… I’m sorry i… didn’t know it was you!” she muttered calmly as she meant it

he smiled then nodded like it didn’t matter to respond 

“sister Zaza… look the tall uncle gave us candies…. A lot of them so I kept some for you!” muttered Anaya pulling Zahra’s Abaya from down there to get her attention

“ooh…. My beautiful cutie…. Thank you!” she bent down to her before placing a soft kiss on her forehead

The distance between Waqas and Naira was so close that Zahra’s rose scent hit his nostril violently sweet that his eyes went closed so he could capture the scent perfectly well before she stood to her feet again

“and miss…. Naysal… I got candies for you!” muttered kartikey as his dimples overloaded his face as soon as he smiled

“mmh… Kartikey…. So you choose sister Naysal over me?.... I thought you would choose me!... isn’t that unfair?” teased Zahra for a moment she forgot his presence

“but….. Naira has already chosen your sister Zaza!” 

“ooh really?” so you won’t choose me because of that?”

“leave the boy alone…. Or maybe you should choose one if it’s that easy!”

“yes…. Maybe you choose on your own then!”

“I want you all…. So I won’t be choosing… and you can have us all handsome!” she pinched Kartikey’s cheeks gently

“that’s fair then!” added Sameer

“and … there is someone I missed here….. this cute lastborn!” she muttered walking to Wareed beside him before she put him on her laps

“come sit here Ishq!” she muttered pointing a space beside her for the girl standing there

But then again, that word.. Ishq did things to him he couldn’t say in public

Before she did more of her clumsy acts something crossed her mind a stranger’s presence that’s too a man she shifted her gaze from Wareed’s face to check on him

 but he wasn’t looking so it was her good chance to do so, her eyes landed on his almost hidden veiny palm with his thumb slowly tapping his fingers then she gazed at his face again, his lips slightly moving hardly to be noticed unless a person focused properly, like her 

And before she could ignore it her friend leaned closer to tell her the same thing she just saw with her own eyes minutes ago but still she caught it, a smirk formed on the corner of her lips after throwing a single secret glance at him before a voice interrupted whatever thoughts were going in her mind

“Sister Zaza!”

“yes my love!” she smiled

“won’t you tell us a story today?”

“oohhh.. you all want some stories huh…. Okay let me think of something!” she muttered playing with the kid’s hair as her eyes wondered she wanted to know if he is still doing dhikr or not, 

they went on him as his mind also wanted to steal a single just one glance at her just once, and before he could procrastinate his eyes landed on her as their gazes collided, he forgot to lower his gaze, his heart yearned for this stare for long and now was the time to consume it

the world behind him froze, for a moment he felt nothing and no one around them like they were in their own world

the collision between their eyes bought an unspoken bliss to his heart, like he wanted this even more.

His mind screaming look away while his heart whispering this is what we want and for once the whispers of his heart were louder than his screaming mind, his heart swore to curse his eyes if they ever blink even for a second

And that moment they both noticed how hard it was to lower their gazes from each other’s, the struggle was quit real 

she swallowed hard, it’s her first time looking a stranger in the eyes this long and yet she got to see something she couldn’t name, for a minute she didn’t want to look away maybe if she stared a bit longer she would know and name what she saw in those dark almond eyes

but reality hit her, hard and violent she blinked before she looked away, helpful!!!

That helped him to collect himself to look away too

“Astaghfiru-Llah” two minds whispered both regretting, but both hearts wanted that moment again, he wanted to see himself dwelling in those beautiful ocean eyes again and again while she wanted to name what she saw in those dark eyes 

“the kids are asking for a story” muttered Naysal as she raised her gaze from her phone switching it off

“the kids?... do you count yourself as a kid too?”

“well….. no… but I can be one if you permit!” she teased raising her brows playfully

“kids…. I have no story!”   

“please sister….!” Begged the little girl

“maybe sister Naysal can tell you something!” she winked at Naysal

“hey…. What can I tell? Mmh?... “

you read a lot of books and yet you can’t tell us even a single story?... is that fair?”

“we read together… forgot that,, so you tell us what you always read!” she shot back playfully

“tall uncle…. Can you tell us a story please” Sameer turned to Waqas after seeing the girl were just wasting his time and already killing his excitement

Waqas groaned in shock, like he didn’t believe he was the one mentioned, and unfortunately all kids’ eyes were on him already 

“yes you….”

“ well…. I don’t know if I can…. But we can try okay?” he smiled looking down his fingers then back to the kids, nervous like he was scared to spill even a single word that would spoil the reputation he was already trying to build

“yaaayyyy!” a blissful scream came from the kids before it went silent again

“So…. There was a princess………..

--

On their way to take the kids back home left with two kids only, with each holding one kid walking down the streets freely peaceful till Zahra noticed his presence from far again

“Is he still following us?” whispered Zahra

“yes…. And let him be….. he doesn’t bite… and by the way at least he doesn’t awkwardly look at you like Mr. Nawaz!”

“ooh please don’t remind me of that name…. my mood was already good!” she muttered stopping at the doorstep of Sameer and Wareed’s home before she knocked there

“assalaamu aleykum” they greeted warmly smiling

“waaleykumussalaam… ooh you bought them back… thanks Zahra!” muttered a girl a bit above their age standing by the door

“not a big deal…. I also enjoyed being with them…. so bringing them back should be my payback!”

“ooh thank you so much!... Wareed come to mom.. Sameer get in!” she muttered extending her hands to carry Wareed from Zahra

“bye didi!” muttered Wareed placing a soft comforting kiss on Zahra’s cheek causing her to smile

“byeee baby boy!” she smiled handing him to his sister

“bye then!” she added before they turned to leave

Just upon turning then they saw him standing like ten steps away from them gaze fixed down to the ground, but conscious enough for his presence to be recognized

“he is still here!...” muttered Naysal her tone appreciating than lamenting

“let’s just go… let him get tired and he will leave us!” muttered Zahra who held Naysal’s hand then walked away, they passed past him like he was a statue, little did she know he wasn’t planning to get tired anytime sooner

he stood there waiting for the distance between them to be valid enough then slowly he started following, calmly and composed as always, dhikr on his tongue as usual the more he followed the more she felt frustrated 

“he isn’t getting tired huh?.......” she lamented

“Zahraa… he isn’t even looking at us… and how do you know?.. maybe he is going to his home too?”

“mmh.. oh really… why do you keep defending him huh?”

“okay fine don’t turn to me please!”

“you better don’t defend him!” she increased her walking speed, but that didn’t stop him from following

Till they reached the bus stop where they boarded a bus

“why are you getting on the bus… your home is just a few steps away!” questioned Naysal

“what if he keeps following me till home?... I will get off at the next stop… I just want him to stop following us.. I genuinely don’t feel comfortable around stranger men!” she whispered

“uuuh!” she gasped confusedly

While looking outside the window as the bus drove away Zahra noticed Waqas turning to leave at the very moment the bus drove away

“strange man” looking at his steps that presented his calmness in jus like everything he did showed how calm he was his talking, his small warm and calm smile, his walk. the view of him ended as the bus kept going forward

“what are you looking for there!” 

“him… !”

“he said his name … yet you still call him “him”.. really”

“I mean Waqas!.... he was still there… he left as soon as the bus left!”

“yeah because he wasn’t following us…. just want to ensure the kids got home safe maybe"

“he still followed us didn’t he!”

“okay I’m done with convincing you….. believe what you want to” she gave up

“yes I will!” she shot back