CHAPTER 25- UNKNOWN NUMBER?~ Ayesha💕

A Y E S H A : -

"Girls, Let's meet." Sakina's voice whined through the phone speaker and I chuckled.

"Sakina, we just met like a week ago." I reminded her while opening the pack of dark chocolate and placing it on the cutting board.

"You even call that incident in that ill fated mall a meet? Nah uh Sakina I am siding with you." Safa seethed. I could imagine her rolling her eyes.

"That's my girl." Sakina perked up.

"Guys I know that meeting was null, not counted. But do you guys think that now our families will allow us to go alone?" Sania reasoned out.

"Yeah, now that's my girl reasoning out." i mimicked Sakina's tone while chopping the dark chocolate bar to make a cup of hot chocolate. Nothing could beat a hot cup of chocolate on a winter night.

"And besides Sania is getting married in two weeks, I highly doubt her parents would even allow her step even at the porch and have you guys forget our Affan jiju, hmm? I highly doubt he will allow Sania." I chuckled, I could tell sania would be blushing now.

"Oh yeah, how could I forget those possessive husband and to be husband of you both." Sakina laughed.

"Hey! why am I getting in this?" I whined and stopped chopping the chocolate bar.

"Why not?" Safa says.

"Sania remember how Farhan jiju carried a Faint Ayesha in his arms, and was running like a frantic ordering doctors here and there." Safa continued and I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. Of course they will say about it now.

"Safa." I groaned palming my face.

"Wait Wait! Tell me about that, I don't remember any of that." Sakina came forward. "All I remember is waking up and heard a mad man asking about his wife. When was this Cinderella scene?"

"It was nothi-" I was cut off by sania,

"It was!"

"Oh my god that was so freaking adorable total couple goals." I almost dropped the bowl in my hand and winced as safa and sania screeched together. Conference call could always do that.

"Guys you need to calm down! And Sakina you couldn't remember any of that because you were passed out and...and don't you forget how you were also carried by your Romeo." I directed to Sakina now. And chuckled, I added the chopped chocolate to the milk mixed with cocoa powder and cornstarch which was heating in the saucepan on the stove, after adding the chocolate I started whisking the hot chocolate mixture.

"Don't you dare come on me now." Sakina warned.

"Oh ho Sakina you didn't tell us that you and dorok hmm?" Sania teased.

"Ew ew! Stop right there, it's nothing he helped me and I thanked him end of the day end of the week, End of the story." Sakina literally screamed in the phone which made me startle again and look around the kitchen, afraid someone might wake up at this late hour of night.

"You guys do realise that you are talking about my brother, which makes me cringe so bad." I heard safa's fake shuddering voice.

"And listening to your guys conversation I really am grateful that I am single pringle and chilling and relaxing my life." Safa sighs happily.

"Basically safa even I am single." Sakina prompted.

"Well nah, you are atleast being shipped to my brother of course, but I am a free bird." Safa chirped.

"Are you sure about the shipping part Safa?" I teased obviously I knew about her crush on my brother.

"Hmm Even I am not so sure Ayesha." Sania played along, "I mean it's just us...it's alright to admit Safa."

"I..its no..nothing" Safa stuttered.

"Am I missing something? Or am I really suffering from Amnesia?" Sakina asked confused and me and Sania burst out laughing.

"When did our conversation of us hanging out together changed to teasing sania, me and then Sakina and then sliding safa too?" I wondered still whisking the mixture, I sighed inhaling the cocoa aroma, Ah, it smells wonderful.

"Well, you started it!" Safa , Sakina and sania screeched at the same time startling me which made the whisk from my hands slip.

"Geez girls you didn't need to be so loud. You all are on speaker." I placed a hand on my chest, whisking the mixture again, it looks thick now, the way I like it.

"Sorry not sorry, anyways what you guys are doing on this fine winter night of Ankara?" Sakina mimicked a British accent. I poured the hot chocholate mixture in my cup and made my way to the living room and sat on the sofa, after grabbing my phone and putting it off speaker.

"Having a cup of hot chocolate." I replied pressing my phone to my ear and folded my legs up on the sofa and sat in a comfortable position, tightening my thick woollen shawl around me.

"Reading an amazing romance novel." Sania replied.

"Hmm and safa you?" Sakina asked.

"The usual, Netflix and chill." Safa replied

"So is it just me who is doing nothing except to rot in my bed since morning and having my seventh bag of chips?" Sakina groaned and a munching sound was heard, this carbs lover was definitely devouring her chips.

"Sakina basically we all are doing nothing." Sania deadpanted.

"Exactly." I chided, taking a sip of my thick of hot chocolate, the rich cocoa savoured my taste buds making me sigh in content.

"Ayesha give me your hot chocolate," Sakina whined.

"For you to rot on your bed more? No." I deadpanned.

"I didn't think I would ever say this but I miss college when will this holidays end?" Safa whined out of the blue. "I hate final year, there is nothing except this project work we got to do."

"Me too." Sania sighed,

"Yeah, even me." Sakina said,

I didn't knew what to say, even I missed going to college and meeting my friends, they all were having after exams holidays which lasted for a month or so, till the next semester starts. I didn't even wrote those exams. I missed an entire semester.

"College isn't same without you Ayesha." Sakina said after a while.

"Yeah and now when we will go back to college after these holidays, even sania will not be there, me and Sakina will be alone." Safa whined sadly.

"Hey, I will be there after few weeks safa but really Ayesha we miss you." sania says.

"Even I miss coming to college and meeting you guys." I whispered looking down at my cup. "But I couldn't join now, a whole semester is over, our principal asked me to come by till mids in October. It's December now. I'd have to join one semester back from you all."

"Then do, talk to your husband about it, your baba didn't allow you maybe he can and Farhan seems like a liberal person he shouldn't mind. Atleast ask him Ayesha." sania pleaded.

"Yes, Ayesha please do, never mind if we don't graduate together, but hey Atleast we could meet." Safa joins in,

"Yeah I mean if you have to come to college with two bulky guards also, don't miss the opportunity I repeat DON'T." Sakina exclaimed excitedly.

"Alright will do but why the guards Sakina?" I asked confused,

"You really think that your over protective husband will allow any harms to you now? I highly doubt. Either you will have a guard or worst your husband could be your guard. How fun right?" Sakina chuckles,

Yeah, he will be my guard. Not even in my dreams.

"Real fun," I replied dryly.

Mentioning Farhan I remembered he is still not home now, I glanced at the big wall clock at the living room to see it is quarter to twelve.

I frowned, he was never this late. Mama and baba jaan already retired to their room two hours ago, I decided to wait for Farhan like a good wife, but he still not here. To kill the time I opened my social media to chat to anyone who is online at this hour, as I expected they were online so instead of chatting I decided to call them as I know they are enjoying their holidays, they won't be asleep till three or four in morning. Well except for sania, as she is bride to be she has to get that 'beauty sleep' for healthy skin.

"Ayesha?"

"Huh?" I snapped from my thoughts hearing sania's voice,

"Yes sania you were saying something?"

"I was saying I will be keeping the call now, my sister is glaring at me from the past thirty minutes as I have passed my bed time, so I have to sleep, you know get the beauty sleep." sania replied,

"Yes yes sania go and sleep for a healthy skin on your wedding day, and do not forget to drink lots of water, your skin will glow, and are you applying the toner I suggested you?" Safa's beauty guru side has awakened now.

"And sania be careful don't apply too much products for glowing skin, otherwise poor affan will get blinded by your extra glowing skin." Sakina commented making me and sania laugh.

"Allahafiz guys," I could bet sania had a blushing face. She blushes by a mere mention of Affan's name. God they are cute.

"Okay guys even I will keeping now, it's too late now hm, Allahafiz." I bid my bye and hung up the call.

I went on my call log, and contemplated dialling Farhan's number and asking his whereabouts. My fingers lingered at the call option, what if he thinks I am being clingy or annoying? I traced my finger back and closed my phone. I was worried for him no doubt. But my list of 'what if' lingered in my mind.

Puffing out air from my mouth, I clutched my shawl around my shoulders more securely. The winter is at it's peak. I looked at the time at the wall clock, it was ten minutes to twelve. Fine, if he doesn't comes till twelve fifteen I will call him. Yes decided.

I nodded my head in determination and finished my remaining hot chocolate and kept on the coffee table beside me, as I was feeling too lazy and too cold to go keep the cup in kitchen, I blame my laziness on winter's.

Stretching my legs I reclined on the sofa and secured my shawl around me and kept my head on the handrest of the couch, this couch is so comfortable and warm, Better than the couch which I used to sleep in Farhan's room.

It's been a week since that mall incident, throughout this week, I felt like me and Farhan got that potential. Enough for let me stay and work on it. He is not an ideal husband but I think after the mall incident, he is Kind of conscious around me, caring even. Either he is trying to work on our relation or working on something, whatever it is I want to live with it.

After knowing about Fahad bhai's death, I am seeing Farhan in a different light, the coldness, the longing, the hollow look in his eyes is starting to make sense to me.

Every time I see him, I couldn't help but think about everything he had to go through after his brother's death. Allah knows what he has faced or is still facing. What I have analysed him in the past week that maybe he does not want to open up. Scared, he is scared. He wants to hide his feelings from the world from his family.

Imagining him so vulnerable, makes me want to protect him. I want to give him that sense of warmth which his hug gave me last week at the mall, I want to tell him that there is no need to hide emotions. But I am also scared of the consequences, what if he pushes me away, and become more distant than before. I couldn't risk doing that. I want to somehow assure him that I will always be for him.

I didn't realise when my eyes started feeling heavy and I was struggling to open up my dropping eyes.

I was about to slip in the comforting darkness of sleep, when I felt a faint touch on my forehead. My instinct kicked in and my eyes shot open at the contact. All the sleep vanished from my system after the touch. I was surprised to see Farhan hovering over me. Am I hallucinating? He seemed to come out of whatever trance he was in and stepped back to give me some space. When he moved back, I knew I wasn't hallucinating.

I sat properly on the sofa and ran a hand through the loose tendrils of my hair which slipped from my ponytail, and adjusted my shawl.

"What are you doing here, at this time?" he asked glancing at his wrist watch.

"You were late." I stated clearing my throat.

He raised his eyebrow and gave me a 'yeah so?' Look.

"I.. I thought to wait for you." why does it feel awkward for me to tell him.

"But why?" He asked skeptically,

'Cause' that's my hobby'. I wanted to sass out.

"I was worried for you." I said lowly, why was I even feeling awkward?

"You are never late, so that's why," I explained quickly, not to sound too concerned. I was worried after the stunt he pulled earlier, making me wait for him.

"But I told amma I would be late and told her not wait for me, and inform you." he frowned,

"But mama told me no.." wait I think mama informed me during dinner, but I didn't paid attention, cause my mind was wandered to somewhere or rather someone. Shit, now it's gonna be so awkward.

"Why did you worked extra late today?" I changed the question biting my bottom lip.

"Had some business to complete." I heard his monotonous voice. I looked at him to see he had a hard look on his face, I think he had a bad day at work. The dim night bulb of living room shone on his face, making his features appear sharp.

I took in his appearance, the top two buttons of his office shirt was open, revealing his tan chest, his dark blue tie which was neatly tied around his shirt collar in the morning was gone. The sleeves of his white button up was folded till his elbows, teasing about the veins popping on his muscular arm. And his royal blue suit jacket was draped on his arm carelessly.

My gaze travelled to his face and I froze on my spot. my face heated up as I saw the hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. I hope he didn't caught me checking him out.

I cleared my throat and got up from the sofa and picked the empty cup which was on the coffee table beside me,

"I think um.. we should head to bed now, you..you are tired anyways." I bit my tongue. Why do I become awkward so easily.

I tried his gaze and walked past him,

"Ayesha," my stomach flipped as I heard my name.

"Ji?" I asked looking over my shoulder.

"Can you make me a cup of tea? Like you did last time?" He asked and I turned around fully to him, surprised.

"Tea?" I questioned amused, and He nodded scratching back of his neck.

"I thought you didn't liked tea?" I teased.

"I didn't said I don't like tea, I just prefer coffee more, but now I really want to have that tea of yours on this freezing night? Am I asking too much?" He shrugged.

I suppressed the urge to laugh at him, instead I shook my head "You go upstairs, I will bring your tea there."

He nodded and went upstairs while I went to the kitchen and prepared my 'special tea'

I never thought I could make someone else a tea addict like me. It feels like an achievement.

Setting the cup of tea on a tray I went upstairs to our room, when I entered the room I saw Farhan was not present in there, I kept the tray on the nightstand, and turned around when I heard the sound of sliding doors, Farhan seemed a bit startled by my presence or so I assumed. But what was he doing in balcony in this chilly weather?

"What were you doing in balcony?" I couldn't refrain myself from asking,

"Um nothing serious," he shrugs, why did he seem startled?

A faint burning smell hung in the air making my nose itch,

"What's this burning smell?" I asked sniffling.

"What smell?" Is it just me or Farhan was startled by my question.

"This burning smell, Ah this smell gives me a headache." I hissed holding my temples.

"Oh, I think our neighbours are having a barbecue party." he said taking a seat on the bed.

"At this hour?" I asked perplexed. It was almost one in night.

"There is a thing called late night parties you know, anyways leave it, wheres my tea?" He asks impatiently, removing the coaster from the cup I gave him his tea. I watched him as he eagerly took a sip of it, his features relaxed, as if he really craved for it.

"Where is yours?" He asked noticing only one cup.

"I had a cup of hot chocolate before." I explained and he nodded grabbing his phone.

"Farhan can I ask you something?" I ask him hesitantly, sitting beside him on the bed maintaining an arm length distance between us.

"Yeah, ask." he asked still sipping his tea, while typing on his phone.

He is a phone addict.

"I was thinking to join my college again." I said biting my lip.

He glanced up from his phone and frowned "I thought you already would've joined?" He asked and I shook my head. "But why did you left the college at the first place?"

How can I say that baba told me to as I was getting married to you. And got humiliated in front of everyone there? Yolo?

"Because of our wedding." I stated.

"What?"

"I um.. I thought that. No actually baba..didn't allowed me." I bit out awkwardly. It is awkward to tell others that even at present liberal age, my father still thinks the same old.

"You thought what?" He asked raising an eyebrow,

Even I don't know what I thought? Baba just told me to leave the college and I left? Cause I was too numb those days to protest? To think of it now, I shouldn't have.

He sighs closing his phone,

"You thought that like every typical husband, I will not allow you to study after marriage and just make you cook and clean my clothes?" He asked. I raised my head and looked at him.

No?I didn't thought that, Farhan looked like a liberal educated man who will not restrict a woman from fulfilling her dreams. His assumption seemed valid, and more convincing than the excuse that I was thinking.

"Maybe.." I said awkwardly,

"Ayesha I would never do that, if you want to complete your studies you can I won't stop you. And why would I? It's your future. Your career. Your choice." he says and his words weigh heavy on me.

Your future. Your career. Your choice.

Choice. I get to choose?

"You..you don't have any objections?" I asked surprised.

"Why should I?" He frowns and I shook my head. A smile formed on my lips.

"So when are you joining?" He asked sipping last of his tea, and kept the empty cup on the tray placed on the nightstand.

"When next semester starts inshallah, most probably by February or first week of march." I said excitedly.

"But" I felt my heart stopped for a second hearing the dreaded but.

"You are going to have a guard and driver assigned for you. No questions." he said and I felt the déjà vu feeling, Sakina said the same thing.

"Guard but why? It's unnecessary." I sputter out in disbelief.

"For your safety. After the mall incident, do you expect me to send you alone? you are not going alone anywhere without any guards. And I am telling you because of safety reasons." again the déjà vu. Did Sakina somehow gave Farhan this idea?

"Because of that hideous cult member?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yeah," he nodded, "Nice pickup, by the way."

"Thank you but it's not like I am going to be attacked again, it could've been a coincidence too-" he cuts me off,

"You don't know," his tone turned hard making me surprise, He closed his eyes and continues, "You don't know, exactly so for precautionary measures, the guards will be assigned for you." he said again but in a composed voice.

"That's not-" he cut me off yet again,

"Your taking guards or otherwise you are not going anywhere." he said with a finality in his voice.

"That's cheating." I said restlessly.

"I am not a cheater." He scoffs.

"You are acting like one."

"Just except what I am saying. Please." He pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Fine. Thank you for allowing me." I agreed, just because he said please.

"I don't need your thank you." I raise an eyebrow, kind of startle from his statement.

"Instead I need this tea every night after I come from office, could you do that?" He asked with a hint of smile on his face. I sighed internally in relief, thanking he isn't mad. I nodded my head in confirmation, with a smile forming on my lips.

"Of course I could do that." I gave him a smile.

He was about to say something when my phone rang in my hand, frowning I looked at the screen to see who was calling, the frown on my forehead deepened as I saw an unknown number calling.

Might be those company phones, and besides I don't pick up unknown numbers, usually when I used to get call from unknown number I would give it murat, instead of answering. I cut the call.

"Who is calling you at this hour?" Farhan inquired looking at my phone.

"Some unknown number, might be those companies who calls for data packages?" I shrugged and then again my phone rang with the same unknown number.

Okay..? company number don't call twice.

"Atleast pick up and check. Someone might need your help." Farhan suggested.

I nodded and hesitantly slided the green icon And kept my phone on my ear.

"Hello?" I asked hesitantly.

There was some distant thump of music, with occasionally hooting of people. Seems like a party.

"Hello?" I asked again,

"Wh..why did you le....left m..me? I .. i w..will c...co...come f...oo..r y..ou i..do...nt li...like hi...m" I frowned as I heard a slurring of a man. I didn't understand anything he was saying.

"Excuse me? Who's this?" I asked agitated.

My phone was snatched from my ear I turned to my right to see Farhan with my phone on his ear, A frown morphing his face.

"Who?" He asked in a cold tone, making me gulp in unknown fear.

The next few seconds passed in silence as Farhan listened to the caller.

He had a frown on his face, "Wrong number" He spat before hanging up.

"Wh..who was it?" I asked, I didn't did anything wrong but somehow I was still scared.

"Some drunken idiot." he muttered.

Drunk?

"If he tries to call again, block him." I nodded and got up from the bed. I picked up the tray from the nightstand and went downstairs to keep it back in the kitchen.

When I went back upstairs to our room, Farhan was now laying on his side of bed. Without a word I removed my shawl and kept on the couch and slipped my feet out of my slippers and climbed on the bed noiselessly and brought the blanket upto my chin, cocooning in it.

Unconsciously my eyes slid to farhan who was staring at me, our eyes locked together. I wanted to look away and think about the awkward eye contact, but I couldn't. His eyes drowned me like no depths of ocean could.

The look in his eyes made me shudder, he was gazing me with such a emotion I couldn't put my finger on.

Averting my gaze from him I snuggled in my warm blanket and closed my eyes,

"Good night." I muttered softly and slowly slipped into the comforting darkness of my sleep.

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A/N:-

Double update? Who dis?

This chapter is dedicated to my friend who has always supported and inspired me in many ways. You know who you are and I love you.

So who do you think is the unknown caller?

How are we liking A&F track going on?

Two years back when I wrote this chapter I remember seeing 6k reads on my story and I was so happy!

And today we completed 40k reads?! I am sorry what?!!😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️

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