' حوس کی وادیوں سے دور، حیا کی چادر میں
ہم بھی کسی سے ملیں گے اصولِ شریعت کے مطابق'
' Hawas ki waadiyon se door, haya ki chadar me
Hum bhi kisise milenge usool-e-shariyat ke mutabiq.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Sarah I, I love you-" Haider stopped in the middle when Sarah screamed.
" Haidi nooo! N-no please." Sarah said with her voice shaking.
" No Sarah no, you have to listen today. I can't hide it anymore." Haider was persistent.
" Haider look, there's nothing like-" Sarah started again.
" I love your annoyed face!!" Haider said loudly.
" Lov- wh-what? You- you what?" Sarah asked baffled.
" I love when you are red with embarassment, or frowning with confusion, or your wide eyes when you are baffled. You are adorable Sarah and I love it!" Haider said biting his inner cheek at her flushed face.
" YOUUU!!! You idiott, stupid, pagal, gadheee. Haiderrrrrrr!!" Sarah angrily cursed throwing her pillows one by one on him who was shamelessly laughing at her.
" Battameez insaan, saari tameez bech kr mere liye lockets laaye thee??? Zra bhi sharm baaki reh gyi h???" Sarah scolded glaring at him.
" Ya Allah ladki, ruk bhi jaao. Ye toh btao kiya kya h maine??" Haider said snatching the last pillow from her hand.
" Kya kiya h?? Ye main btaun!? Haider mera dimaag na kharab kro mazeed." Sarah glared at him again.
" I just confessed my love for you- I mean your expressions!" Haider teased again.
" Yhi! Yhi ghatiya harqat ki h tumne. Kisne kaha tha ye sbb bakwas krne ko? What confession? What love?" Sarah asked angrily.
" Haww, kaisi sangdil hogyi ho tum, mere itne mukhlis iqraar ko tum ghatiya harqat keh rhi ho? Glt baat h Rani Sahiba." Haider shook his head dejected.
" Allah ki pnah, chup kr jao Haider. Kya kya bole jaa rhe ho? Tbiyat kharab h?? Dimaag pr asar hogya h??" Sarah asked falling on the bed tired.
" Achha achha ek baat btao." Haider chuckled sitting infront on her on the ground.
" Kya h?" Sarah asked.
" You thought I'm gonna propose you!?" Haider smirked wiggling his eyebrows.
" I thought? I THOUGHT? You made sure that I think the sameee!" Sarah said hitting him with her pillow.
" Achha, agr maine sch me propose kiya hota toh? Kya karti?" Haider asked with a different spark in his eyes, something Sarah haven't seen before.
" Rone lagti." Sarah shrugged.
" Kya? Mere propose karne pe tum roti?" Haider laughed.
" Hnn toh, we are cousins. We are Best Friends since years, all of a sudden aisi romantic feeling aa jaati toh mujhe toh drr ke rona hi tha na." Sarah explained.
" Hmm, chlo now I know 'What not to do when proposing you in future.' " Haider said while nodding.
" Kya mtlb h iss baat ka?" Sarah asked alarmed.
" I mean agr future me I catch feelings for you which won't be very surprising, toh mujhe tumhe propose karte time kya nhi krna h!" Haider briefed.
" Chale jaao yahan se, ekdm jaao yahan se tum." Sarah angrily said.
" Achha madam jaata hun lekin khuda k liye ab ye toh btao milna kyun tha mujhse???" Haider asked.
" Whii toh, aapki bakwas k chakkar me kaam reh jaata h mera." Sarah stood up walked towards her almira.
" Here, I got this for you!" Sarah came with a small paper bag and passed it to him.
Haider frowned looking at the bag. Neverthelessly he thanked her taking out the box from the bag.
" Wha- Are you maddd???" Haider screamed looking at the box. It nearly fell from his hands but he saved it.
" What? You didn't like it?" Sarah asked nervously.
" Do you even know what you got?" Haider asked opening the box.
" It's a perfume!? I guess." Sarah asked confused.
" It's not just a perfume! It's Jo Malone's perfume! Do you know how luxury of a brand it is?" Haider asked looking at her dumbly.
(The Gift)
" Ohh, Hnn mujhe price dekh k lga that isn't it kinda expensive for just a perfume? Lekin maine socha gift h toh le lun." Sarah casually shrugged.
" Pagal ladki!! Kuch bhi khareed logi?? Pehle banda check kr leta h thhoda." Haider reprimanded.
" Arree maine check kiya h. Mujhe smell achhi lgi. Aapko nhi lgi? Achha toh chhod do, kl saath me chalna exchange kr lenge. Maine baat ki h." Sarah proudly said.
" Arree meri bholi bibi, ye boht expensive haii!!! Koi idea hai??" Haider asked again.
" Hnn toh maine pay kiya h toh mujhe idea hoga hi naa. Kya faaltu ka sawal h ye?" Sarah asked annoyed.
" I can't take this." Haider pushed back the box to her.
" Pasand nhi h?"
" Behd psnd h, I was looking forward to get this!! But not as a gift! Specially not from you!" Haider refused.
" Kyun? Main kanjus nazr aati hun? Main gift nhi de skti achha?" Sarah asked.
" Allah taubah, maine ye nhi kaha. It's just nooo Sarah, pleaseee." Haider whined.
" Haider maine boht dil se liya h ye aapke liye. Itna kya natak? I know thhoda expensive h, I'm not denying. Lekin gift h na, please le lo." Sarah said softly and passed the box to him.
" Sarah-"
" Haidii pleaseeeee. Mere liye lelo."
" Thank you soooo muchhh!!!" Haider said with a big sigh.
" You are welcome!" Sarah grinned.
" Isiliye milna tha?" Haider asked and Sarah nodded.
" Achha toh ab so jaao its too late. Good Night!" Haider wished her and stood up.
" Good Night Haidii." Sarah smiled at him and Haider smiled back.
Haider left for the guest room which he was sharing with Arsalan. While Sarah laid on her bed tired.
She looked at ceiling and replayed all the happenings of the day. She smiled remembering Haider pranking her. He actually scared her, Sarah never wished to face something like that ever, not even in future. She hoped that no one finds out about the little harmless prank and Haider too never bring it up. But unknown to her, someone was already aware of it, someone who have heard each and every word clear.
At last, all the tiredness took over Sarah's consciousness and she drifted off to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haider entered his room to see Arsalan sitting on the bed with laptop on his lap, wearing headphones. He quitely placed the perfume in his bag and jumped on the bed peeking on the screen.
" Arree aap ab dekh rhe hain ye movie? Maine toh kb ka dekh li! Theek hi h bss, end me hero mrr jaata h orr heroine ki uske bhai se shaadi hoti h." Haider innocently gave him spoilers.
" Just for your kind information, I've seen this movie twice." Arsalan smiled at Haider who quitely shrugged.
" Itni psnd aagyi? Baar baar dekh rhe ho." Haider shrugged.
" Psnd toh tumhe aayi h. Woh bhi koi." Arsalan said shutting off his laptop and placing it aside.
" Kya Matlab? Bhai aap Nida ka naam na lena bss. Shit, Sarah ko toh uski baat hi nhi btayi. Kl yaad krana." Haider said laying down.
" Sarah ko btana itna bhi kya zruri? Nhi btaya toh nhi btaya." Arsalan asked looking at him.
" Ye aapke andr badi Mami ki rooh kaise aagyi?? Aap kabse Sarah k against hogye." Haider laughed.
" Nhi, against nhi hun. Bss puchh rha hun, Sarah itni kyun special h? Jaise Nida waise Sarah." Arsalan asked laying beside him.
" Ye aap bhi jaante hain k Sarah is different! Uska koi comparison hi nhi h, orr ye baat mujhe aapko smjhane ki toh bilkul hi zrurt nhi h." Haider glanced at him for a second.
" Different toh h, tbhi you proposed her and not anyone else." Arsalan said looking at the ceiling while Haider's head snapped towards him.
" What?" Haider asked shocked.
" Yeah, you love her don't you!? Ohh sorry, you love her annoyed face." Arsalan turned towards him.
" If you heard us, toh poori baat sunna tha na." Haider relaxed knowing that Arsalan heard everything.
" Poori baat suni, isiliye puchh rha hun tujhse." Arsalan said and Haider looked at him.
" Kya?" Haider asked.
" Sarah psnd h?? Do you love her?" Arsalan asked and Haider took a deep breath sitting up.
" Look bhaiya, before answering your questions I'll make one thing very clear. Mujhe nhi pta aapne kitna or kya suna, but it was all a prank on her! And we both know about it!" Haider said looking at him.
" Now, answer to my questions." Arsalan said while sitting up a little and leaning on the headrest.
" We are bestfriends! Main behd psnd krta hun use, as a human being! She is an amazing lady! I do love her as my bestfriend! And I can go to extents for her as her bestfriend. There's no romantic feelings involved." Haider said straightly.
" Haider sun, bestfriend hone me koi burai nhi h. Orr bestfriend se pyaar hone me bilkul msla nhi h. You guys know each other since childhood, you both are close, it is possible k romantic feelings aa jayen beech me. Isme kuch surprising nhi h." Arsalan said and Haider immediately went to flashback where he said the similar line to Sarah.
" Bhaiya possible bhi h expected bhi. Lekin humara ye case nhi h! None of us look at the other like that. With those dreamy eyes, thumping heart, desires and hopes. We are just two bestfriends who love each other dearly and respect each other platonically!" Haider calmly explained.
" Mtlb tu Sarah k liye kuch feel nhi krta?" Arsalan asked.
" Main Sarah k liye butterflies feel nhi krta, as a man kuch feel nhi krta. But as her bestfriend, I do feel emotions for her." Haider replied.
" Agr uski kisi or se shaadi hogyi toh?" Arsalan asked.
" I would be happy! I would make sure that she gets someone deserving, and he take cares of her. She deserves nothing less than best!" Haider said.
" Agr tujhe future me usse pyaar hogya toh? Mtlb pyaar wala pyaar, saccha!" Arsalan asked again.
" I would embrace it! As I said, Sarah is an amazing ladyyy!! She is perfect! Wo alg baat h k I don't see her as man sees another woman, lekin agr future me aisa hua kabhi, toh I'll face it!" Haider said.
" Haider, sirf itna kahunga. Just don't misinterpret your feelings or emotions! Unse bhagna mtt. Time lena khud ko smjhna phir kuch bhi krna. Meri ye baat yaad rkhna." Arsalan said and laid down switching off the lights.
" Good Night bhaiya." Haider wished and slept beside him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The morning came later than expected. Surprisingly Sarah wasn't late and tired as she expected herself to be. She woke up on time feeling fresh. And quickly getting ready she went to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast for today by herself.
" Good Mornin- princess?" Rameez said looking at her.
" Good Morning bhai. You are back?" Sarah smiled buttering the toast.
" Yes and, how are you up so early?" Rameez asked looking at clock.
" Ab aaj uthh gyi toh usme bhi msla h. Late ho jaata h toh usme bhi msla h. Kya karun kya main?" Sarah asked.
" Chai bna do bss." Rameez and laughed when she threw the sides of the bread at him.
" Ek kaam kren, chai ki tapri khol den bahar! Main usipe kaam krti hun! Busy bhi rahungi as you want me to!" Sarah sarcastically said.
" Shi h yrr. Itni bdhiyan chai toh bnati hi ho, achhi khaasi kamai ho jayegi. Naam socho naam, tapri ka!" Rameez said grabbing a water bottle.
" Bhai subah subah gussa na dilayen mujhe. Boht achhe mood me uthhi hun main!" Sarah warned pointing the butter knife at him.
" Achha achha theek h, butter knife se marogi??" Rameez laughed.
" Offo, jaayen yahan se naha k aayiye." Sarah scolded.
Rameez have just returned from jogging. He loved morning walk which turned to jogging when he left working out.
Rameez went to his room to get ready for the day.
" Rani Sahibaaaaa." Haider yelled coming towards the kitchen.
" Haan?" Sarah turned around towards him.
" Kaisa?" Haider asked forwarding his hand towards her.
" Kya kaisa?" Sarah asked looking at his hand.
She hold his forefinger lightly and turned his hands to look.
" Kya kr rhi ho?" Haider asked looking at her.
" Jo dikha rhe ho whi dekh rhi hun. Kuch h kahan??" Sarah asked pushing his hands away.
" Arree pagal. Smell it." Haider laughed and again forwarded his arm.
" Ohh." Sarah said and smelled his wrist.
" Nhi aayi smell." Sarah scrunched her nose.
" Maine achhe se spary kiya h." Haider said and inhaled near his shoulder.
" Achha main idhr dekhun." Sarah moved closer and smelled his shoulder.
" Ahhh! Woww. Kya psnd h meri Haidiiii!!" Sarah said grinning.
" I must admit! I loved the scent!! Thanks again Rani Sahibaa" Haider smiled flicking her shoulder.
" Htoo." Sarah smacked his shoulder and walked past him.
" Good Morninggg." Arsalan came there.
" Good Morning bhaiyaa." Sarah smiled and placed the dishes on the table.
" Aaplog khao main apna bag leke aati hun." Sarah ran upstairs bumping into Rameez on her way.
" Kahan?" Rameez asked.
" Bag leke aa rhi hun." Sarah said and went to her room.
" Rani Sahibaa." Haider said after a while when they were done with their breakfast and Sarah stood up wearing her abaya.
" Hmm??" Sarah hummed holding a safety pin between her lips.
" Arre ladki ye sbb cheezen munh se nhi lgate." Haider said and took the pin out.
" Achha toh kya bol rhe the?" Sarah asked taking the pin back.
" That I'll be dropping you today. Mujhe kuch kaam h udhr." Haider said pocketing his phone.
" Ohh. Allah hafiz bhai, bhaiyaa." Sarah waved at them and Haider took her bag.
" I can carry my bag." Sarah glanced at him.
" And you will be carrying it in university." Haider shrugged and placed her bag on the backseat and opened the passenger door for her.
" Ohh chivalry isn't dead yet." Sarah mocked sitting inside making him laugh.
" Yeah, when I'm alive how come chivalry be dead!?" Haider smirked.
" Nhi, chivalry can be dead even if your alive. Like if women like me don't exist then whom will you be chivalrous with?" Sarah asked back and Haider laughed heartily.
" You are one of a self-obsessed woman!" Haider shook his head.
" See, here's the problem. I'm not self-obsessed. It's just I'm aware of my worth." Sarah smiled.
" And that's fabulous! Everyone should be." Haider said.
" Ohh. Haidi can you please tell bhai to pick me up at 2 today? Actually there's a competition at uni and I wanna attend." Sarah said.
" Okay, kis cheez ka competition h??" Haider asked making a sharp turn.
" Basketball!" Sarah said.
" You like sports?" Haider asked surprised.
" Not really, just one of my friend is participating and I wanna be there for him." Sarah shrugged.
" For whom?" Haider repeated.
" My friend!" Sarah shrugged.
" You said him!" Haider looked at her.
" Toh? Can't a him be my friend?" Sarah asked.
" You never had male friends." Haider shrugged.
" Hnn, but he is nice. Abhi hi dosti huyi h usse." Sarah said.
" And you are going out of your comfort zone for him." Haider shook his head.
" It's okay. We can go to extents for our dear friends no!?" Sarah said Haider stopped for a while isn't she saying the same thing Haider said last night.
" Is he as important as me?" Haider asked directly.
" Noo! You are my bestfriend! And he isn't. No one will ever be." Sarah smiled.
" Byee Haidii!!" Giving him a smile Sarah got out of the car.
" Take care!" Haider yelled at her back and she just waved back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See, I'm not that bad!
I updated before time, just for you people!
And you all can't even vote or comment for me *pouting sadly.
Now I really hope you guys like this.
Have a good day✨️
~🦋