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After a tiring journey, all the family members decided to rest on the first day of their arrival.

The view from Azara's window was bewitching. She couldn't help but sneak out. Sneakily, she walked out of the haveli, and she strolled carelessly without realizing that she had reached the main road.

At midnight, the road was empty, and not a single living being could be spotted. Rather than being scared, she felt peaceful. She stood in the middle of the road and tilted her head up, admiring the moon and twinkling stars.

She was so engrossed in admiring Allah's creation that she didn't notice the black SUV that was coming her way.

"Are you insane?" Her trance broke when she heard a husky voice. She then saw a man, clad in a black kurta, walking towards her. His aura seemed eerie and captivating.

Aryan eyed her from top to bottom. "Yeh yahan ki toh nahi lagti," he thought. "Are you a guest here?" He asked. Azara was busy studying his facial features,

"khuda ny kya khoob banaya hai iss admi ko," she thought inwardly.

"Hello? Aap sun bhi rahi hein??" He snapped his finger at her face.

"Jee bolein? " She asked innocently.

Aryan sighed, having to repeat himself, "nayi ho yahan? Ghum gayi ho?" He asked. Azara shook her head in denial. "Phir itni raat ko yahan, beech sarak mein kya kar rahi hoo?" He inquired.

"Chaand sitarey dekhny aye thi." She replied with a sheepish smile. "Yahan?" He indicated towards the road.

"Toh? Tumhy koi masla hai, tum apny rasty jao aur mujhsy itny sawal jawab na karo. Pata bhi hai mein kon hoon?" Her tone shifted abruptly,

He narrowed his eyes and then asked, "Kon ho?"

"Malik ki beti hoon aur yahan ky nawab hamary janny waly hein. Agar unhy pata chala na ky tum mujhy aisi tang kr rhy, toh bs tumhari khair nai," Aryan tried suppressing his laugh.

"Toh yeh hamari mehmaan hain," he mumbled.

"Chalein mein apko haveli chor deta hoon" he offered.

"Haye kahi tum mujhy kidnap krny ka toh nai soch rahy?" She blurted.

"Han abhi toh bataya Malik ki beti hoon shayad iski niyat kharab hogayi hogi," she pondered.

"Han aaj kal kidnappers SUV mein aty hein," he mumbled. The next moment, she began running towards the haveli, reciting all the duas her mother had taught her.

"Arey, suno toh!" Aryan yelled, at which she quickened her pace. "Kya cheez hai," Aryan mumbled and walked back to his car.

"Thank god, I saved myself from that kidnapper," Azara mumbled. She huffed for a while and then walked towards the side table and grabbed a glass of water.

"Wesy kidnappers itny achy kabsy dikhny lage? " She thought.

_

The next morning,  everyone gathered around the dining table. The helpers served breakfast to the family.  "Where's Azara?" Asad inquired.

"Mein yahan hoon," she replied dramatically, descending the stairs. She greeted her elders and sat in between her favourite cousins, Emara and Rohaan.

"I'll be leaving after an hour. Rohaan and Samar, you need to take care of them. If anything goes wrong, you'll be responsible." Asad put out strictly.

The ladies stayed at home with Asma as her health began deteriorating. Asad had to go back to handle their family business.

"Shukar hai," Azara sighed. She could finally enjoy herself like a free bird. Under Asad's supervision, she always felt like a caged bird.

"Ziyada khush na ho, Samar bhai yahin hain," Emara whispered. "Rohaan bhai bhi hain." Azara smiled. She knew Rohaan wouldn't interfere in her business.

Once she was back in her room, her mind went back to the stranger she met yesterday. She didn't know why her heart held a slight hope that she'd see him again.

_

"Dada jaan, jis tour guide ko bulwaya tha woh toh aya nahi aur ab dosra dhoondna thora mushkil hoga." Aryaan spoke to his grandfather on the phone.

"Haan toh tum ho na, tum banjao tour guide kuch dino ky liye,

Why fret over such petty matters." Nourez replied.

"Ab yeh bhi banoon mein apky khatir," he murmured.

"Uss larki ny kidnapper bana diya, dada jaan ny tour guide bana diya aur kuch baaki toh nahi reh gaya?" He muttered while putting out his outfit for the day.

Aryan owned a little modern cottage that was fifteen minutes away from the haveli. He got dressed and drove to the haveli.

He walked in gracefully while Azara stood dumbfounded near the stairs.

"Yeh yahan kaisey pohonch gaya?" She freaked out. He was shaking hands with her brothers as if they knew each other.

"Suno, yeh kaun hai?" She asked Emara. "Tour guide hoga," she shrugged. Azara mouthed an o.

"The heck, yeh 24/7 hamary sath ghoomta phirega aur mein isy kidnapper samajh rahi thi.

Yeh lagta toh hai nai kidnapper, mein bhi sochoon, bhala koi kidnapper itna acha kesa dikhega" Azara zoned out, talking to her herself.

"Kya hogaya hai?" Emara asked, "kuch nai, " she mumbled and went to her room to get ready.

She changed into a white chikankari kurti and wrapped the white dupatta around her neck. She hastily ran down the stairs and eventually tripped, falling into the arms of the supposed kidnapper.

"Azara, be careful!" Azar yelled at his sister's careless behaviour. "Kya hogaya bhai, jaan kar thori giri hun inky upar." She reprimanded.

She pulled away from Aryan and fixed her kurti.

"Yeh kya cheez hai," Aryan thought to himself.

Throughout the day Aryan had taken them to places that mostly outsiders would love to visit. The cousins enjoyed their day and returned in the evening.

"He's gonna stay over?" Azara asked her cousin, and she hummed in response. They ate dinner in silence and departed to their respective rooms.

Just as the previous day, Azara couldn't sleep. So she decided to go for a leisurely walk in the garden. She walked around, playing with the end of her dupatta.

"Aaj bhi beech sarak mein chaand tarey dekhny jaany ka irada hai apka?" Azara was flabbergasted at his sudden appearance.

"Nahi toh, I couldn't sleep, so I came here." She replied, looking away from him.

"Aur tum yahan kisy ghoornay aye ho?" She asked.

"Tumhy."

"Jee?" She turned to him.

"Matlab tumhy yahan dekh kar aya tha, ky kahi dobara akeli bahir na chali jao" he was tongue-tied for a moment.

"Acha, aik din mein itni fikar honi lagi?" She jeered, "mehmaan hain hamari, fikar karna toh banta hai, " he replied, walking alongside.

"Wesy, kal wali baat ka zikr mery bhai ky samny maat karna, warna unhoney toh mujhy maar hi dena hai." He nodded at her request.

"Ah," Azara shrieked and once again bumped into Aryan. He held her protectively. As their eyes met, time seemed to stand still. A fleeting moment passed, filled with unspoken emotions, before they reluctantly released each other from their tender embrace.

Azara's face had turned red, "Uh, that cat scared me," she said, looking away. "I should probably go get some sleep.  Good night, kidnapper, " she blurted

Aryan smiled at her before calling out her name.

"Azara!" She glanced over her shoulder, drawn in by his words.

"You have a beautiful name." His voice, soft as a gentle breeze, stirred her heart. Without a second thought, she hurried inside, not daring to look back. Aryan let out a soft chuckle as he watched her walk away.

_

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