𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟎𝟏

ARZO

In almost every household, there is something that happens at end time when there is an event near.

For example, my sister forgot to buy her hijab that matches her dress for the wedding. Which brings us why we are at the mall one day before her rukhsati.

Yes, her rukhsati.

"End time par sab kuch yaad aata hai tumhe bhi." you always remember things at end time. Ammi scolds Hafsah api as soon as we enter a shop.

"Sorry, Ammi." my sister mutters.

"Don't sorry me and pick what you want."

I press my lips together to suppress my laugh. Catching my act, my sister pinches my arm making me wince before she walks away with a smile. I follow her, rubbing my arm.

Ammi continues to scold api every now and then but we know she's only doing this to mask her sadness because after tomorrow, api won't be around much as she used to.

It saddens us all. Api is the first child of our parents and my best friend. The only friend actually. She helped me go through so much when I lost my voice. She was the first one to learn sign language and teach me. She has kept me by her side through every chapter. But now she's starting a kind of chapter where she can't keep me by her side.

The longer Ammi and api take to pick the perfect hijab, the harder it becomes for me to suppress my yawn. If shopping doesn't include me having to focus and choose something then I immediately get bored.

I can go buy my painting utensils.

I tap my sister's shoulder and she turns to face me.

"I can't stop myself from yawning. I'm going to go and buy some painting stuff." I sign to her.

She chuckles, "Okay. keep your phone close and be safe."

I show her a thumbs up before she goes back to listening to Ammi and I leave the shop.

I walk around the floor before I spot a shop which contains the necessities I need. I enter the shop and go towards the painting section.

Since I love painting, I decided to give my sister and her husband a meaningful painting as their wedding gift. Api said I don't need to give her anything but I still will because why am I a younger sister if I don't ignore what my sister says. Sometimes.

I need few paints to finish the painting and some other things, such as small canvases for my new paintings.

After gathering all my necessities, I walk towards the checkout counter.

I pay for my stuff and exit the shop while checking if I have everything.

I frown.

Something is missing-

"You dropped this."

I halt on my steps at the masculine voice. My shoulders suddenly locking in place. Slowly turning around, I notice the person holding out the packet of paint brushes that was missing from the bag.

How did that fall out?

I take the packet from his hand and pull out my phone to type out a 'thank you'

As I turn the phone to show him the text, I catch his features.

The first thing I notice are his eyes.

His dark brown eyes. So dark that they almost look black. But they're so so beautiful.

He's beautiful.

His features look sculpted from a defined nose to a sharp jawline and an overall perfect face.

The light mustache and beard giving his face a more handsome look.

He looks intimidating from the way his expression is cold, as well as emotionless.

He-

"You're welcome."

I blink, coming out of my thoughts of how perfect he was created and our eyes lock.

Suddenly, my cheeks turn warm. His face stays expressionless. I quickly break eye contact and start shoving the packet and my phone back in my bag.

Why do I feel so embarrassed all of a sudden?

Probably because you were mentally writing a research paper about his features.

Shhhh!

"Arzo?"

My head snaps up at the familiar voice. The man from earlier hasn't moved from his place either. Even his head turns towards the source of voice as my brother-in-law, Zahid bhai walks towards us.

I pull out my phone again to type out the greeting.

Assalamu Alaikum.

"Wale Kum Assalam. What are you doing here?"

I came here with api and Ammi. They're in a different shop right now. I type.

A small smile takes over Zahid bhai's lips as he reads my sister's name- that I call her- before he asks, "Are they near?"

I shrug then type, Are you stalking her?

As soon as the smile came, the same smile vanishes being replaced by a nervous chuckle, the man from earlier raises an eyebrow after reading my question.

"Of course, I'm not." he says, unsure.

I smile and type, it's okay. Your secret is safe with me.

Zahib bhai releases a sigh of relief and my smile widens. He gives me a small smile but the man beside him barely showed any emotion- except raising his eyebrow in question.

I glance awkwardly between the two men before Zahid finally realizes there's someone standing beside him.

"Oh, right." Zahid bhai puts his arm around the man as he grins and says, "Arzo, meet my brother-"

"Cousin," he corrects.

"Brother," he says, tightening his arm grip around his cousin- brother- I don't know- but he doesn't show any sign of discomfort. "This is Faizan."

I nod and type, nice to meet you.

"Likewise," he says.

I'm about to excuse myself to go find Ammi and api but then I hear Ammi call my name.

Zahid bhai's face breaks into a huge smile as his eyes spot his wife. Faizan takes the time to remove his brother's- cousin's- arm from his shoulder.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Sadia Aunty." Zahid bhai greets Ammi and api as they reach us- so does Faizan.

"Wale Kum Assalam, beta" Ammi greets back with a smile, "how are you?"

"We're good, Alhumdulillah. How are you and Uncle? And Hafsah, of course." he smiles at my sister.

My sister blushes as she locks eyes with her fiance.

I try to suppress making a face but fail miserably. As I look away making a face, I catch Faizan glance at me before he diverts his attention.

I press my lips together.

"This is Faizan." Zahid bhai says, bringing the attention to the other man, "my cousin or brother," Faizan greets Ammi as well with a small smile.

I frown and type, is he your cousin or brother?

"Well, he likes to always remind me that he's my cousin but we grew up together like brothers so I always call and see him as a brother." Zahid bhai says.

"That's adorable. Masha'Allah." Ammi says.

Ammi and Zahid bhai continue their small talk for a while and I take quick glances at Faizan.

His facial expression doesn't change at all. The smile he gave earlier looked so real but I know it was fake. He was forcing that smile to come out respectful.

"Well, we must get going." Ammi says for the hundredth time but finally looks like she means it.

"Of course." Zahid bhai gives us a small smile- we all know at whom the smile is directed.

We say our goodbyes to the men and start to walk away.

A feeling tugs at my chest and I look over my shoulder at Faizan. He's scrolling through his phone while Zahid bhai makes a call.

As if knowing I'm looking at him, his thumb stops scrolling and he lifts his head, locking his gaze with mine.

Our gaze stay locked for a moment before I break the contact.

Something changed in his eyes.

They softened.