Aankahi. ✔ (1)

The night had become her solace after the death of her parents.

In the darkness, when the sleep would be miles away from her, she used to stare at the opaque ceiling of her room, remembering all the glorious moments which she spent with her parents.

Her pillows used to sock up with her tears, after heavy crying, when her bloodshot eyes used to get heavy, eventually then she drifts off in a dreamless slumber.

For Zara, it had become a routine, hiding her suffering had become a norm for her. Her muffled sobs only existed in her room, her whimpering was only heard by the lifeless elements in her space.

She was ten when her parents died in a car crash, and for that ten-year-old, it was a massive hit, it felt like a huge tornado that gulped away every precious thing she ever had.

Her father's elder brother took her in immediately, her Bari Ammi tried to mend her shattered little heart by bestowing unconditional love, everyone in that house tried their best to provide her comfort and love, but nothing in this world can fill the void which your dead parents left in your heart and it was the same for Zara.

She accepted all the devotion which she was getting, but her heart never for a second forgot about those humans which she used to call her world.

She groaned loudly after hearing the loud sound of her alarm, turning it off, she pulled the comforter over her face and again dozed off.

She was so deep in her sleep that she couldn't even hear the knocking on her door.

"Zara jaan, it's seven in the morning, get up you have a class at nine." Fariya tried to push the comforter away from her face but the stubborn girl held it tightly.

"Bari Ammi, five more minutes." Under the comforter, her muffled voice was heard.

Fariya shook her head and sat beside her.

Right then, Affan entered her room with a bucket of water in his hand, he signaled his mother to keep quiet by placing a finger over his mouth.

His mother's eyes bulged out and as she she opened her mouth to say, "Affan no," he emptied the entire bucket over his sleepy cousin.

Pushing the duvet away, she gasped loudly and wildly yelled Affan's name.

She picked up the bucket and ran outside in the direction where Affan was running while laughing hysterically.

Her half body was completely drenched, they were running in circles when the loud voice stopped them.

"What's happening here?" Affan's father looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Taya Abba, Affan emptied this bucket which was full of water on me when I was sleeping." In one go, she complained about her cousin's actions to her uncle.

Affan's eyes grew large and he gulped loudly, he looked at his father who was harshly glaring at him while waiting for his response.

"She painted my nails when I was asleep, I just took my revenge." Affan blinked and justified himself.

"I painted your toes because you put salt in my water the other day."

"I did that because you stole my car's keys that day." He argued back.

"I stole them because you-."

"Enough!" His father's voice boomed in the living room.

"You both are in your twenties but both act like the third graders, try to act maturely, Zara go to your room, and Affan you are coming with me." Saying this he pivoted on his toes.

Zara wiggled her eyebrows at him who was cursing silently, tugging the strand of her sticky hair, he went towards the direction of his father's study.

Yelping, she rubbed her scalp and turned around.

Zarrar was leaning against the staircase, holding his three-month-old baby girl in his arm.

"Mirha!" she shrieked after seeing the little girl.

Zarrar tightened his hold on the baby.

"Go and change first Zaru, I'm not letting you pick my daughter while you're still clammy, Mirha can catch a fever."

Both Inhal and Zara rolled their eyes at the overprotective Dad.

Snorting, Zara left the trio and went towards her room.

"Chill out Zarrar, don't get sensitive all the time." She caressed her daughter's head who was sleeping soundly on her father's shoulder.

"I'm not taking any risks on my daughter's health, and haven't you heard that precaution is better than cure."

They both perched themselves in the living room's sofa, Zarrar cradles the little girl in his lap, he pulled out her Pacifier from his shirt's pocket and placed it on his daughter's mouth."

It had been two years since their marriage, two years of utter bliss and consolation, Inhal had never been that joyous in her life, the past two years made her believe that everybody in this world deserve love.

Then Mirha Sikander entered their world, doubling the happiness of both her father and mother.

Zarrar's hand shook badly and happy tears socked his face when he first held his daughter, he cradled her against his chest and Thanked his Lord over and over again for this blessing.

"Give her to me now, she was with you whole yesterday," Inhal complained.

Zarrar shook his head and looked at her sheepishly.

"She will be with you today, I have a flight today remember?" He grinned at her who huffed in response.

********

They all were seated for breakfast when Zara broke the silence.

"Nano called me today, she wants me to come to Islamabad." Hesitantly, she spoke.

All the people sitting there stopped eating and glanced at her.

"You will not go there Zara, we'll ask the driver to bring her here."

Her uncle was the one to respond.

"I also told her this, but she said the doctor refrained her from traveling."

Silence fell over the dining table.

Fariya held her hand and caressed it softly.

"It's just two days, Taya Aba."

She faintly spoke.

"I don't have any problem with your grandmother, but you know your uncle Zaru."

She bit her cheek and looked down.

"Don't be sad now, Zara, if you want to meet her then Affan will take you to her and will also bring you back, this way I won't have any uncertainty."

Listening to this, Affan choked on his water and coughed loudly.

"Dad, I told you I have plans with my friends this weekend." Wiping his face with a napkin he uttered.

Zarrar hid his smile after seeing the helpless look on his brother's face.

"Cancel them, you're going with Zara and that's final."

Affan gritted his teeth while looking at her.

"But Dad, if he tried to do anything," Zarrar asked his father as concern marred his face for his little cousin who was very dear to him.

"He won't, that's why I'm sending Affan with her."

Zarrar nodded at him.

Completing their breakfast everyone went to their respective areas.

Zara and Affan were both in the same university, and both of them used to go and come back together.

They both left the house and Affan handled the steering wheel.

Black glasses hide his eyes as he drove the car in speed, messy hair decorated his forehead which he pushes back from time to time.

She didn't bother with his driving, she knew he won't listen to her if she asked him to drive slowly.

Shaking her head, she clenched her hands in a fist.

He stopped the car at the parking of the University and turned around to speak to her.

He Pinched her nose with his finger and thumb and pulled her closer to him, gazing at her eyes he spoke with a raised eyebrow,

"If you didn't come on time this time, and tried to get me late again then you know better what will I do."

Slapping his hand away she left the car in a sour mood.

This will be a little dramatic story!

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Until next time.

Take care.

Allah Hafiz.