Chapter : 26 - Sweet khane ki farmaish

"Okay, which sweet do you want to have, Nader?" I asked him, unable to control my laughter as I watched him act like a stubborn child.

"You!" he said very innocently.

"I don't know about sweets, but you're definitely going to get a punch from me, Nader," I told him.

Seriously Aziz, first there was his gentlemanly act of holding my heels, then having me wear normal sandals from the orphanage. His gentleness wasn't enough; he called me sweetheart.

I'm really not the kind of person to blush over this—until he came into my life. His every word has so much power to affect me in such a way that my cheeks literally turn red, proving him right.

And as if all this wasn't enough, now his flirtiness is reaching a new level. I would have punched him if we weren't in public.

He started laughing at my threat, and here I am, losing myself in front of him.

His ocean-blue eyes close when he laughs so freely, and that beautiful smile of his is enough to increase my crazy heartbeat. Aziz, you'll surely make me insane one day.

"You're really bhegairat, Nader," I said, noticing his continuous laughter. "You're absolutely crazy," I added.

"Ah, my stomach hurts Uns," Aziz said, clutching his stomach to control his laughter.

"Are you done?" I asked.

"Yes, yes," he said, still laughing.

"Now tell me which sweet you want to order," I asked, taking the menu card.

"Do they have Gulab Jamun?" he asked, straightening his posture.

"And Gajar Ka Halwa?" he continued.

But before I could say anything else, Aziz asked again, "Do they have Sheer Khurma? Check that too," he said, peeping at the menu card.

"Nader, is this a home where you’re making all these requests?" I asked, placing the menu card on the table and looking at him.

Aziz didn't say anything but ruffled his hair, giving an awkward smile.

Unknowingly, I smiled seeing him act all shy in front of me.

"So, sir, really like sweets uhh?" I softly asked him with a genuine smile, because it was the first time I was about to learn about his likes.

"Very much," Aziz said, smiling and giggling while still ruffling his black hair.

"Tell me which sweets you like," I asked him, now curious to know about his likes and dislikes, eager to know everything about him.

"It's not that important, Uns. You tell me which sweets you like," he replied, deflecting my question back to me.

"Nader, give me a chance to listen to you, to know your preferences," I said, then realization hit me, what had I just said to him. I could see Aziz was shocked to hear me, and I felt strange too, speaking so softly to him—it isn't my thing, nor is he used to hearing it. So I just smiled after saying it.

"It's the first time that someone is interested in knowing my preferences," Aziz said, lowering his gaze and a small smile appearing on his beautiful face.

I leaned my head on my hands and just looked at his lowered gaze. His hair was literally flowing because of the fresh air; I wanted to ruffle it, but I restrained myself, waiting for him to answer. But it seemed like Shahjahan was lost in other thoughts, not even looking up at me.

"Are you going to tell me or not, Nader?" I asked sternly.

Finally, he looked up and locked his ocean eyes with mine.

"Do you really want to know about my likes, Uns?" he asked, doubtfully.

"Yes, Nader," I replied calmly, maintaining eye contact with him.

"No one has ever asked about my likes, before?" he said, smiling at his own remark.

"But now there's someone who wants to know you, Nader," I said, giving him a warm smile.

"So which sweet do you like the most?" I started the conversation again, not getting any response from Aziz initially.

"I like all kinds of sweets, Uns, but the one I can't live without is Badam Ka Halwa. I'm literally addicted to it," he replied.

Wow, that's exactly what I needed to hear—Badam Ka Halwa. I don't understand why our tastes are so different.

"Really, Badam Ka Halwa?" I said, listening to him.

"I like that sweet so much that I took cooking classes from Ammi to learn it," He said, which made him burst into even more laughter.

"So, you know how to cook?" I asked, shocked to learn this.

"Yes, of course, madam. What do you think, your Aziz doesn’t know how to cook?" he said, giving me his mischievous smile.

"Well, no worries then, you can do the cooking," I said, taking a relieved breath.

"What?" he asked, not believing my words.

"Why, can't you cook for me?" I asked back sternly.

"For you, Aziz Nader could even become a chef," he said proudly, flipping his hair.

"Okay then, what will be the first dish you cook for me?" I asked him.

"The same one I love—Badam Ka Halwa," Aziz replied instantly.

"If I eat that, I’ll faint, Nader," I said, lowering my gaze from him.

"Why? My cooking isn’t that bad, Uns," he said, trying to defend his cooking skills.

I laughed at his response and then said, "It’s not like that, Nader. I'm allergic to almonds," I said, now looking at him.

"You're allergic to almonds too—"

"What do you mean by 'almonds too', Nader?" I cut him off.

"I... I mean, how can someone whose eyes resemble almonds be allergic to them?" he said, trying to control his stuttering.

Why does he stutter in front of me? He's absolutely crazy, but a cute kind of crazy.

"Okay, okay, relax why are you stuttering, Nader? I just asked a normal question," I said, now holding back my laughter, seeing Aziz Nader stutter for me is something cute.

"Your Badam Ka Halwa isn't on the menu, so what should I order now?" I asked Aziz, searching for his favorite halwa.

He made a cute pout upon hearing this, and here I am, controlling my crazy heartbeat, begging for it not to explode in front of his cuteness.

"Na—Nader, tell me. What should I order?" I asked, but now I regretted why I was stuttering.

"Is there Gulab Jamun?" he asked.

"Umm, yes, it's there," I said, seeing the sweet name written on the menu.

"Let's order that then," Aziz said.

The waiter came with our order, and after finishing it, Shahjahan dropped me home.

___❤___

I woke up to the sound of my alarm, and through sleepy eyes, I checked the time: 4:00 AM. I threw off the sheets and got up, heading to the washroom to make wudu.

Just as I was about to open the door, I heard some sound. I looked around, but no one was there. My room door was locked, my front window was locked with the curtains drawn.

I turned on the lights, yet still, I heard the same sound. Listening carefully, I determined it was coming from the direction of my window. I took slow steps towards it to see who on earth was outside at this hour.

I opened the curtains only to see a few stones had fallen on the floor. "What's this now?" I thought.

I won't let the person who threw these stones at my precious window get away with it. I unlocked the glass and stepped outside. I looked around, but still, no one was there.

Just as I was about to turn back, a small stone hit the glass door. I turned instantly, fear rising within me, but I couldn’t let anyone scare me, especially not when I was this sleepy.

I went to the grill and looked down, only to be utterly shocked.

"Astaqfirulla, Insaan ho toh, bhuton ki tarah kyun batak rahe hoon, aur choro ki tarah kya kar rahe hoon bhegairat insaan"? I shouted at Aziz, not expecting him to be here, especially not like this.

(Astagfirullah, if you're a human, why are you acting like a ghost, and why are you coming like a thief, Bhegairat Insaan)

I had no idea what he was doing here at 4 in the morning, and how did he even climb up.

"Chor nahi hoon, Aashiq hoon, joh apni Mehbooba ko dekhne aaya hai," he said, balancing himself precariously.

(I’m not a thief, I’m a lover who came to see his beloved)

"Oh really? This is the time you chose to see your beloved? Have you seen the time, Bhegairat?" I asked Aziz, completely done with his stupid act.

"Are you just going to scold me now, or will you let me in, Uns? Otherwise, in tomorrow’s newspaper you'll see the headline that a lover lost his life just trying to see his beloved," he said,

He is absolutely crazy, still joking even in this dangerous position.

"If you don’t stop this nonsense, Nader, then tomorrow’s paper will have another story: annoyed by her lover's nonsense, the beloved pushed him, making the front page news. How about that?" I retorted.

"First let me in, then scold me all you want, Uns," Aziz said.

I helped him come in; this shameless man was literally balancing himself on a pipe.

"Balance your hands, Nader," I told him.

"Don’t shout, Uns, I might fall," he said.

Finally, he came in, taking deep breaths.

"I hope the pipe didn’t get any cracks," I murmured, looking at the pipe Aziz had climbed.

"Seriously, Uns? You’re worried about that mere pipe?" I heard him say from behind, his tone being sarcastic.

"Did I tell you to come here, especially at this hour and like this?" I asked, pointing to the grill.

"Can't I come to see you?" Aziz asked back.

"I must be crazy, or I will definitely become crazy if I stay with you.

You. Are. Absolutely. Crazy. Nader," I told him, emphasizing each word.

And this bhegairat insaan, doesn't have any shame, he does nothing but laugh, even now smiling at my scoldings.

I just looked at him with a 'so done with you, Aziz look' and waited for him to explain why? Why? on earth he came like a thief at this hour.

But, Ignoring me, he just walked into my room and sat on one of the couches, brushing the dust off his black formal shirt and rolling down his sleeves, which made it hard for me to keep my cool in front of him.

If all this wasn't enough, he's also wearing black formal trousers? And please, not that messy black hair, Aziz. My eyes are pure, but right now all my senses are blank seeing him look this handsome in all black. The lights were on, making him the highlight of the whole room.

"Let me get you some water, Nader. Sit here," I said, seeing him look for the empty glass on the front table.

"Can I get a cup of tea too, Uns?" Aziz asked, looking at me now.

"Tea?" I asked him, in shock, surprised, and utterly done with him at this point.

"Have you seen the time, Nader? At what hour are you asking for tea, and what time did you sneak into my room, sitting so casually? I mean, do you even have a watch?" I asked, unsure of what to make of this.

But Mr. Aziz just showed me his left wrist, pointing to the watch he was wearing.

"Seriously, Nader!" That's all I could say.

"So, can I get tea too?" he asked again, completely ignoring my scoldings and just flashing that dangerous smile, which leaves my heart racing.

"Shahjahan wants tea, too?" I said sarcastically.

"No, no, first bring me water, then let me look at you a little longer, then make me tea, Uns," Aziz said very calmly, placing one arm on the couch and crossing his legs.

"Uhh? I must be dreaming right now," I said.

"You're not, sweetheart. Your bhegairat is really here," Aziz said with an innocent smile.

I was literally frozen. That word—it shouldn't affect me, but why did I feel something in my stomach? Maybe I was hungry, which is why my stomach is grumbling. There's no way I would feel anything because he called me sweetheart. I reassured myself.

"Until I bring you water, you're not moving an inch from here, Nader," I ordered him, more like threatening him, and walked out to bring water for the unwanted guest—oh, my bad, unwanted thief.

I poured the water and placed some fruits for him. I have no idea why I'm doing all this at this hour.

I turned around only to see Ammi standing right in front of me, giving me a puzzled look, seeing me with a tray.

"Ammi? You? Here? At this hour?" I asked repeatedly.

"Never mind me. What are you doing here at this hour, Uns? And what's all this?" Ammi asked, looking at the tray, which had fruits and a glass of water for Aziz.

"Me? ...I...uh... I just had a craving for some fruit, Ammi. I came to get some," I covered up.

"Oh, okay," Ammi said.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" I asked Ammi.

"I got up to offer Tahajjud, and when I took a glass to drink water, it was empty. Maybe your Abbu drank it, so I came here to get some more water," Ammi said, and then I remembered I also got up to offer Tahajjud, but before I could even make Wudu, Aziz arrived.

Ammi was taking the water bottle from the fridge, and I thought of making him tea too, then I would offer my prayer.

I put the tray on the counter and took the milk, pouring it into a container.

"What are you making now?" Ammi asked after finishing her drink.

"Ah... I thought of making coffee, Ammi," I said.

"Oh, let me do it then. I'll bring it to your room, Uns," Ammi said, coming towards me.

"No, Ammi," I shouted a little too loudly.

"What happened, Uns?" Ammi asked, surprised by my sudden outburst.

"It's getting late for your Tahajjud. I'll do it. You go and offer your prayer, Ammi," I said softly, not wanting her to suspect anything.

"Okay, tell me if you need anything," Ammi said, leaving.

I just nodded and gave her a warm smile.

After Ammi left, I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Oh Allah, why am I doing all this?" I said while placing the cup on the tray.

I entered the room to see Aziz standing near my bookshelf. He was at the corner shelf with his hands touching the books, as if he was about to pick one. Oh no, my diary is right there, I can't let him read it.

"Nader!" I called out loudly.

He turned around instantly, walked straight to the couch, and stood there.

I went over to him and placed the tray on the table, crossing my arms as I stood in front of him.

"Sit," I said.

Aziz sat down.

I turned away, not wanting him to see me smile at his behavior. Is he acting like an obedient kid now?

"Are you blushing, Uns?" Aziz asked while picking up the water.

"No," I replied, now facing him, keeping a stern expression.

"You brought tea too? I thought you wouldn't make it," Aziz said.

"I also thought of not making it, but I have to offer my Tahajjud. While I pray, you'll finish the tea and just sit here, not moving an inch from this spot, Nader," I said, walking toward the washroom without waiting for his response.

Even as I was walking away, I could hear his giggles.

"Bhegairat," I muttered.

I came out of the washroom to see him still holding the tea cup in his hand. Did he even take a sip? I wondered.

I took the prayer rug and spread it facing the qibla direction.

Aziz was sitting on the couch to my right, and he could see my right profile.

After offering my salah, I stood up and turned toward Aziz, only to find him still holding the tea cup.

"Did you make this tea?" he asked.

...................................❤ ................................

Thank you for your patience.

Please, share your thoughts on this chapter❤

Chapter Aesthetics :

Restaurant.

Lets order gulaab Jaamun.

Aziz dropping Uns to her Mansion.

Uns bedroom.

Sweetheart making tea for her bhegairat.

Uns Offering her salah.

Shahjahan sitting comfortably on her couch,

Aziz sneaking into her window, wearing this Outfit.