7

When Arman woke up it was already afternoon, and no one even knew he has arrived.

He freshened up and redressed before he made his way downstairs, to meet everyone, he knew no male would be there and he'll be only meeting all the ladies,

Reaching downstairs, he could make out the voices coming from the main living hall.

When He rounded the corner and came face to face with people sitting there,

Everyone went dead silent. As if no one was sitting there few moments before.

' assalamualaikum'

He said calmly.

'walaikumassalam'

His ammi who was sitting, talking to Arfa stood up , ran and hugged Arman,

' kese ho beta?, Aagai maa ki yaad?'

(How are you son?. You forgot your mother)

Arman chuckled.

'ammi ab aagaya na, ab nahi jaunga,

Or aap kesi Hain?'.

( Ammi now I've come, I'll not go now.

Okay, and tell me how are you?)

He said kissing her hair.

' Mai theek hun'

(I am good)

She patted his shoulder then kissed his forehead.

'Tum kab aaye?'

( When did you arrive?).

'bhaaaiiiiiiee'

(Brotherrrrrrr).

Arman was about to reply when Armeen cut in,

Arman side hugged her then kissed her hair lovingly.

' Bhai mere liye Kiya laye?'.

( What did you bring for me?).

She asked enthusiastically.

'Bohat saare gifts'

(So many gifts).

Arman replied with the same enthusiasm.

' Bhai Maine aapko bohat miss kiya'

( Bro I missed you alot)

' Maine bhi Kiya armeenayy'

(I also did)

He then came forward and bowed a little in front of his Chachi.

'assalamoalaikum Chachi'

Arfa who stood up when he entered the lounge, patted his shoulder and replied,

'walaikumassalam beta, theek ho?'.

(You are fine?)

'jee Chachi bilkul theek'

(Yes I'm set)

'Assalamualaikum Arman Bhai', Hira and Hareem said,

Arman lovingly patted their heads, and replied to their Salam.

'or tum dono kese ho?'.

(And how are you both)

Arman asked them taking a seat beside Hareem who was sitting alone on the 3 seater.

'hum to bilkul theek' hain'.

( We are both good)

They said again, taking their seats.

' beta tum Bata to dete k tum Khana sath Khao ge, Mai kuch special banwaleti tumhare liye'

(Son if you would've told us, I would've made something special for you)

His Chachi lovingly said,

Everyone loved Arman to no extent, he was the apple of everyone's eye, when he grew up to be a powerful man, their respect and love increased.

Arman loves his family, everyone respect each other, everyone share's a secret bond, that cannot be broken.

' nahi Chachi esa koi masla nahi hai, Jo bana hai wahi khaunga'

( No it's fine Chachi, I'll eat whatever is cooked).

He said with a small reassuring smile.

'Dadi Kahan Hain?'.

(Where is Dadi)

'apne kamre Mai rest kerrahi hain'

( She's resting in her bedroom).

Arman nodded.

'Beta tum raat ko kab aaye the?'

(Son, when did you arrive yesterday?).

His ammi asked,

' ammi subah Ma-'

(Ammi in the morn--)

'assalamoalaikum'

Everyone looked at the door where a very exhausted Noor was coming.

' walaekumassalam'

Everyone replied to her Salam

Noor who was hell tired, without glancing anywhere, said her salam loud and dragged herself to the sofa,and sat with a huff beside Hira.

Everyone again busied themselves in their talks, when Noor felt a strong gaze, with very tired eyes, she ran her eyes around the hall,

All the tiredness and sleep left her and travelled to  Neptune, when her dark brown orbs clashed with the darkest of black. Ugh not again.

Arman was again amused, he never saw her this carefree when he was around, he thought she was a reserved person. But he thought wrong.

Arman was enjoying her state, when she made eye contact with him, and when he saw how alerted she got and how straight she sat up when she realized that he was sitting there, smirked at her.

Noor saw how he was smirking at her expense, could not help but throw a glare his way, ugh gawarr.

' Azaan Kahan hai tayi?'.

(Where is Azaan?)

' beta wo tumhare kamre Mai so raha hai'.

(Dear, he is sleeping in your room)

'Or Dadi?'

(And dadi?)

'so rahi hain'

( She's also sleeping)

Noor nodded, too tired to reply, she kept her head behind on the sofa and dozed off.

Why did he had to come? Why can't he stay in another city or wherever he was living before,

Why can't he just leave her alone?

Why can't he give her peace by staying Faraway from home, it was his home but then t---

She was pulled out of her thoughts when Arfa asked.

' Noor Bache Kiya hua?'.

( Noor what Happened?).

' kuch nahi tayi ammi, mujhe Kiya hona hai?'.

( Nothing, what would even Happen to me?).

She asked a rhetorical question, politely.

'beta itni thaki Hui lag rahi ho? Tabiyat theek hai na?'.

(You are looking so tired, are you fine?).

This time her Bari ammi asked.

' tabiyat to theek hai bas wo raat ko assignments bana rahi thi to sahi se soi nahi'.

( I'm fine just a little bit sleepy because last night I was completing may assignments).

'acha Chalo ab khane ke baad foran rest kerlena'.

( Okay then take rest after having lunch).

Noor again nodded.

She was again going to get dozed off

When again got distured by Arfa.

' Arman tum kab aaye the raat ko? Pata hi nahi chala'

( Arman when did you came, no one got to know)

' Chachi Mai subah takreeban 4 bajy aaya hun'.

(Chachi I came at almost 4 in the morning).

Arman replied politely.

' to kisi se mile to nahi hoge?

, tumhe Bata ker to Ana chahiye tha, itne saalo baad aaye ho or jab aye to baghair bataye'.

( So you couldn't have gotten the chance to meet any one. You should have told us )

Arman looked at Noor who was unintentionally looking at him already,

Waiting for what he was about to say,

' aaj subah ka wakiya to mujhe hamesha yaad rahe ga, or jahan tak batane ki baat hai to wo Maine khud nahi ki, mujhe pata tha aap sab nahi soinge or Mera intezar karinge'.

(Today's incident is something I'll never forget, and for the part where why I didn't tell anyone is, because I knew you would all be awake to welcome me)

He said the first sentence looking at her, telling her that it was something amusing for him, where as she only wanted to forget what ever happened,

Noor mimicked him, he was so over confident,

mujhe pata tha aap sab nahi soinge or Mera intezar

karinge, hunh.

Fazool

insan.

At the end she rolled her eyes, unaware that Arman was watching her.

(I knew you guys will not sleep and would wait for me.

Foolish person)

Arman was furious, how could she mimick him, how could she insult him by doing this.

His ego was wounded.

On the other hand Noor was oblivious to the fact that she was digging her own grave.

The day was very hectic for Noor, she was packed for all her classes, and that doubled her tiredness.

She long forgot the encounter few hours back, she even forgot that Arman was at home. It totally slipped out of her mind.

But then again when she saw him in the Haveli again, she knew she will be encountering him again.

'Kis tarha se yaadgar?'

( How so eventful?)

Her ammi asked as she could not understand the hidden meaning behind his words.

' aray ese hi ammi, kuch nahi hua, aap pareshan na ho'n'.

(It nothing ammi, nothing happened, you don't worry).

He replied politely with a small reassuring smile again.

Everyone was busy talking, when after a while, his ammi again asked.

' aray Arman itne kamzor hogaye ho, wahan kuch khane ko nahi milta tha Kiya?',

( Arman dear, you're looking weak,

Don't you get any food to eat there?).

Haathi

jese to ho ker aaye Hain, pata nahi kis angle se kamzor lag rahe hain.

Bhens na ho'n' to,

(He's looking like an elephant, I don't know from which angle is he looking weak?

Buffalo)

Noor mumbled, but never the less, Hira heard it.

Arman who was about to reply, stopped when heard Hira laugh, he narrowed his eyes towards them both as Noor was busy making her shut her mouth.

Everyone's attention was now on them both, Hira in her laughter muttered a small sorry, to divert everyone's attention.

And everyone ignored Hira as they knew she might be laughing on something stupid, it was her nature to laugh at the wrong times.

But Arman was doubtful, he knew if Hira would be laughing on something stupid Noor would just ignore her or laugh with her, but she would never stop her, so it lead him to being suspicious, he thought to ask later, form obviously Hira as Noor would never tell him.

▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️

Arman was very silent and a little angry at the lunch because of the ego of his that was hurt,

He kept glancing Noor's way, who was busy glaring at Hira time to time, and in reply Hira would again busrt out laughing.

After lunch he went to his study, to get his works done that were pending.

He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't notice that it was now getting dark,

He was reading a file when a knock on his door made him reply with a small com in.

Hira entered with a sup of tea,

' Arman Bhai aapki chai'.

( Your tea bro)

Arman nodded and gestured her to put the cup on the table,

When Hira was about to go, Arman called her.

' Hira?'.

'jee'

(Yes)

'Mujhe tumse ek baat poochni hai'

( I wanted to ask you something)

Hira nodded and said

'jee poochein'

(Yes ask)

She asked confused.

________________________________________