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❝Do not lose hope,

please believe that there are a thousand beautiful things waiting for you. Sunshine comes to all who feel rain!❞

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"Affan beta." Her mother interfered into their heated stare contest by calling him out sweetly. Nimra snapped her head towards her mother, confusion visible on her face.

"Assalam-u-alaikum Aunty." Affan quickly stepped her way as she hugged him and placed a peck on his bent head while ruffling his hair, replying to his greeting. By now, the grey eyed girl had her mouth hung open in utter shock.

"Mumma? You know this fl-" she paused licking her lips, that was a close slip, "...guy?" Affan looked her way, his brown eyes had a glint of hurt with a sort of passion hidden inside them. Her mother patted his back, with a weak smile, knowing how he must be feeling.

"Oh yes. I forgot to tell you earlier, he is a very close family friend's son. He's here for some very important business, so he'll stay with us for the while on my request." She smoothly made up a lie as Nimra eyed him again. Weird. Something's fishy.

"Ahan." She folded her arms, still staring at him with furrowed brows. Her mother, Zaqiya, walked her way nudging her arm to stop staring at him rudely. "When will this 'while' end mumma?" She whisper asked now turning away from his direction.

"Affan bache. You must be tired, you can go get some rest." Zaqiya ignored her question as Nimra's irritation further arose and her hatred towards the new guy too. Ab wo bacha ho gaya, aur mai?

"Jee aunty." He snapped out of his thoughts about her and went to grab his luggage, waiting for her to give him the directions to his room.

"Nimra, jao Affan ko wo vacant master bedroom tak chor ao." Her mother ordered as Nimra's eyes grew bigger in size. That was on the ground floor, as in their portion. It was just for their family, and the only vacant room was the master bedroom, right beside her room. She had always wished to move there but that was their grandparents' room so it was always kept empty and clean.

"KIA?" She shouted in disbelief. "Yeh larka wahan kyun rahe ga? Guest room mai kyun nahi? Yeh kia baat hui?" She questioned with creased forehead. Itna VIP treatment?

"Nimra." Her mother said in a warning tone, "Jao shabash." She pointed at her with her gaze as Nimra walked out of the reception desk, scowling. Affan stared at the floor, hiding away from her blank stare as she remarked a very unwelcoming, "Chalein!" And started walking ahead.

With a heavy heart, she led him inside her favourite room, cursing him on the inside. Not knowing how his heart was already feeling heavier as the thought of hugging her once, staring into her grey eyes for the same love and affection, to hear her laugh like the old days again, the most precious laugh it was for him, kept bugging his heart. How he had been holding back his urge ever since.

The next morning came faster than he thought as he had spent it on the balcony, not being able to sleep. He was greeted with a knock on his door by Nadir and Nazia in the morning, as they came to meet him cheerfully. They loved their eldest brother-in-law, considering their sister's choice was for once the best to have chosen him.

They took him to their private breakfast table in the kitchen which again irked Nimra a lot more.

Aisa kia hai iss mai jo itni khaatir tawazo ho rahi hai mautaram ki?

She thought, but chose to ignore him completely as she poured milk for Koya in her pot. As they all had settled on the table, the daily bickering of the siblings began as Nimra stole Nazia's personal custom mug and sipped her coffee in it.

"Mumma! Dekhein ise-" Nazia whined like a baby, frustrated at her elder sister's tactics to annoy her.

"Dekhti hi tou rehti hain wo mujhe." Nimra cupped her face, placing the mug in front of her. She was waiting for her mother to come feed her the breakfast as always. It had become a habit, an addictive one, which you can't undo if once gotten used to. And she had gotten used to being fed breakfast by her mother's hand.

Nadir was busy showing off his game's high scores to Affan, who had his attention diverting from his game to the two girls fighting over a mug. He saw her waiting, and he knew she was waiting to be babysit like the baby she was.

Her mother soon joined them with freshly made breakfast and they all started eating as Nazia begin complaining loudly, insulting Nimra and her everyday annoying tricks to annoy her. Nimra passed a side glance at Affan as she internally cursed at her for openly talking shït about her in front of a stranger guy!

"S.T.F.U Naz!" She spoke in a warning tone, hitting her leg under the table as Nazia hissed loudly. "Mumma, yeh mujhe gaaliyan de rahi hai!" She complained pointing at her while Affan was already coughing out the food sitting on his seat.

"Nimra beta." Her mother gave her a displeased look as she hurriedly got up to pass water to Affan. Nimra internally laughed at his reaction.

"Usske haath toote tou nahi hue, le leta khudi paani. Aap mujhe khilaein." She pulled back onto her mother from her arm.

"Uff. Kabhi khud bhi kha liya karo, yeh kia zid lagai hui hai tumne. Aur aise nahi kehte, mehmaan hai wo humara." Her mother lectured.

"Ab mujhe adat lagi hui hai apke haath se breakfast karne ki, can't help it." She shrugged her shoulders, pouting. Her mother never complained about feeding her before though. Affan poured himself some water from the jug with an assuring 'mai theek hun, aunty' as Nimra rolled her eyes. Khota!

"You're such a spoiled bachi." Her mother then again started feeding her, patting her cheek.

"I will always be." She smiled, as Affan paused hearing her.

The exact same words. She had said the exact same words to him when he was once feeding her the french toast while she was typing an important email because she forgot to do it on time, the procrastinator she always was. He had called her a "pampered baby" and she had replied with the same words because her mom always pampered her like this, and he had replied saying, "And I will always be ready to pamper you like this my whole life, Nim." How sweet were those moments and times. They looked like a dream now. Where had they come to now? Where had their lives taken them now..?

Koya had filled it's tummy as she started playing around Affan's feet, trying to grab his lost attention, still remembering his scent. Affan and Nimra had gotten the pet cat together after their marriage since she wanted one, but Nimra only knew that it was brought by her parents after the accident to fulfill her wish. Nimra looked around to find her baby cat, as she glanced under the table to see if she hid near her feet as usual, but this time she was on the other end of the table near the new guy's feet? She never even wandered around Naz or Nadir's feet, but him? Koya too? She felt her blood boil, why were all her favourites giving him so much attention?

//♥︎♥︎♥︎//

Nimra cursed loudly throwing her bag on the sofa in the open hall and dragged herself to the kitchen. They had the special charity event today at night as well arranged by her parents. She was already very tired getting off from her workplace late today and she had to meet Hameed uncle as soon as she entered the guest house. What a warm welcome it was. She tied her free hair into a messy bun and opened the fridge to warm herself some food for dinner before the event begins, still raging in anger.

"All I do is mind my own business and breathe but people still be mad!" She exclaimed shutting the fridge door with her foot.

"I know right." A male voice from the back made her flip her head there, of course, now it had to be him. She frowned.

Affan had also returned after confirming his job where it should be. Her workplace. Although, she didn't know it yet. Would her reaction be the same tomorrow seeing him there? He wondered looking at her scowling face, though she still looked pretty with that cute expression.

"Aiye. Tashreef rakhiye sahab." She sarcastically said faking a sweet tone after checking a message in her phone. "Order aa gaya hai aapko serve karne ka mujhe phir."

She placed her phone on the shelf, now heating some food for him as well. "Pata nahi kia jaadu kia hai meri mumma pe issne. Poora din isi ki pari rehti hai." She murmured while doing the task. Affan held back his smile, pressing his lips together. How can he resist her?

Setting the food on the table as he was already seated there, watching her, she sat on the first head seat ignoring him, except for throwing angry glares his way from time to time. They both sat there in silence, waiting for one another to began serving.

"AB SPECIAL INVITATION LAA KE DUN TUMHE?" She lost her cool after barely fifteen seconds as he jumped back in surprise. "Daalo!" She pointed at the food on the table.

"Y-You go first." He pushed the dish towards her in a calm motion.

"Lao jee. Ab 'ladies first' karke gentleman ban lein Mister." She rolled her eyes, grabbing onto the spoon and started filling her plate trying to scoop out only the rice.

"Leave the peas out. I'll have them, you don't like eati-" He paused realizing what he had just said. Sach mai khota hi hun!

"What?" She stopped. "How do you know I don't like peas?" She gave him a suspicious look. Is he a stalker too? What a creep he has been!

"Oye? Hello?" She snapped her fingers in front of his completely lost face, trying to grab his attention again. "Tell me?"

"Yeah, sorry." He got out of his thoughts, thinking of excuses to make. "You know, larkiyan and unke nakhre. Most girls don't like...uh eating peas so yeah, it was just...uh....a random guess....." He stammered. Damn, he really sucks at lying especially to her on her face. Never had he done that before.

"Jhoota!" Nimra rolled her eyes as Affan had sweat forming on his forehead in nervousness. "I know tumhe kese pata hai, warna you wouldn't have said I'll have them." She said now separating the peas from her plate into his plate. Just as she always used to do. Affan's eyes widened in anticipation to what she will say next. Does she, by any chance, remember...

"Mumma ne bataya hai na tumhe? Sachi sachi batao mujhe?" She narrowed her eyes at him as he internally smacked his head with a wall, his hopes always had his expectations go all high in any situation. He shook his head, letting out a low chuckle. What an idiot he is.

"Dekha! Pata tha mujhe!" She said now fully sure that her stance was right. What was wrong with her mother? Allah jee, kahin mumma ko mere liye yeh banda pasand tou nahi aa gaya? She thought in utter disturbance, glancing his way. Or else, why would her mother inform him about her likes and dislikes?

"You didn't wash your hands before eating? Ew, you're dirty." He looked at her wrist which had different shades of pink marks on it. She was testing a few lip balms shades, but they didn't come off.

"I'm not! I did wash them. It just didn't come off." She hissed irritated, and started rubbing it from her sleeve. He was just teasing her, but she took his accusation of being 'dirty' on her heart.

"Give it here." He calmly spoke, moving his hand up.

"What?" She gave him a narrowed look again.

"Your hand, sweetheart." He remarked with a small smirk as she looked flustered. Well, he's finally having some affect on her. Glancing at her wrist, she slowly moved her hand forward to see what he'll do. He held it from her sleeve not touching her, and started cleaning off the left out marks with a tissue. Her eyes didn't budge anywhere from his face, looking at his features closely. Why was it that it felt like she was aware of them since a long time. They seemed to be known, as if...as if--

"Acha lag raha hun kiya?" He playfully matched her gaze, moving his hands away as the marks had vanished now as if they were never there.

"Eh?" She got out of her trance, sharing a look with him. Oh. She had been fucking staring at him for so long . Khush fehmi tou hogi ab! Jahil.

"Aise dekh rahi-" He couldn't complete his sentence as she cut him off.

"Han dekh rahi thi, tumhari shakal pe kuch laga hua hai." She pointed at his face, with a serious look.

"Kia?" Confused, Affan's hand moved up to touch his forehead where she was pointing at.

"Ajeeb, jahil admi." She laughed out loud at his obliviousness. He literally trusted her words so easily. What a fool he was. Affan smiled looking at her laugh ignoring her comment. At least, he could made her laugh with his silliness.

"You should laugh more often, you know." He smiled, this was the first time she had gotten frank with him as a newbie. Even if it was making fun of him. Nimra now stopped, shifting uncomfortably. Her mind was filled with questions again. The way he looked at her was.....different.

"Why?" She stared back at him now, acting all serious again.

"Because....I love your.....daant." He spoke after taking a long pause, as the old memories again came rushing back to him. It was Nimra who always used to tell him to smile widely displaying his teeth while taking selcas saying, "Itne pyaare daant hain tumhare, mere paas hote tou mai tou chaubees ghante daant hi dikhaati rehti apne."

"You, what?" She asked in disbelief and again threw her head back laughing out loud, displaying her 'daant' to his blushing self.

"I gotta say, flirt karne ke bhi bohat innovative tareeke nikaale hain tumne. Ajeeb." After getting a control of herself, she shook her head, the smile still lingering on her lips as he chuckled. Why does she always think he's exceptionally flirting with her?

//♥︎♥︎♥︎//

The heavy and large pile of boxes which filled the garage had her sigh out loud while she threw her arms up in the air. Why did it have to be tonight? Now she had to carry all these boxes filled with charity stuff all the way to the front gate. Her parents were handing over the charity money to the people while her younger siblings were busy with the orphans. Now she had to supply these all alone.

"Let's fucking get it done with, Nimra!" She hooted herself as she plopped three boxes on top of each other and picked them up, gasping. "I-I can carry th-them! Ugh!" She hugged the first box closer hoping the other two don't slip off and started walking ahead.

Affan finally spotted her hidden behind three boxes as he had been searching for her to help her out hearing from Aunty about their charity event.

"Would you mind if I offer to help-" He was already stepping forward to help pick the boxes.

"Of course, I would. Now move aside." She pushed past him, carrying three boxes at a time going all the way above her head. She might be short and slim, but was indeed very strong. Affan laughed shaking his head, as he continued with picking up the boxes to help her out. Her denial meant the opposite right now, he knew.

Nimra was grateful for this hunk of a man's help since he made the work a lot easier by carrying six boxes at a time. But she wasn't going to admit it to him nor thank him. No way in hell. She was gonna 'mind' his help. Moreover, she was going to avoid him after the dinner, but why was she even debating on whether to go sit with him on the high cemented seat outside the guest house's garden where he was peacefully seated all alone. Probably because Koya was asleep and could not give her company too.

The event was going on in the garden, and he was sitting over here away from the crowd. The boxes were already distributed and Nimra left the place as she found her siblings, Naz and Nad, to be more annoying with the kids acting like elephant sized kids themselves. She didn't want to curse at them in front of the innocent beings, and she knew she would end up doing that by looking at their stupid behaviour. She'd also need to bleach her eyes cause she witnessed Naz trying to act like a "cute baby princess" there.

She found herself sitting beside him as she hugged her legs instead of hanging them down to the ground because his long legs which were touching the ground even though he was seated would make hers look really short and funny.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" She begin the talk this time. Calmly and casually, to his surprise.

"I..." he wondered whether to tell the truth. "I'm not sleepy. More like, I never am."

"What do you mean? Neend tou sab ko aati hai." She placed her chin on her knee.

"I can't sleep without taking sleeping pills." He looked at her, then again started gazing at the starry night.

"Uh, insomnia?" She hung her legs down, they were half the size of his, just as she had thought.

"No." He responded shortly.

"Then? Since when have you become a drug addict?" She asked jokingly. He smiles, so typical Nimra style to ask a serious question.

Ever since you left. Ever since that tragic accident which has become my nightmare. Ever since you forgot everything, including me.

"A year or two." He tried saying as casually as possible. Nimra stared at his side profile, was he a aashiq mehboob type banda? Maybe his mehbooba left him or something and that's why he's like this? She did feel slightly bad for him though, or else she wouldn't even question him any further. She wasn't the type to intervene in anyone's personal life or business unlike some people; such as Hameed uncle! Uff!

"What can change in a year?" She questioned looking up at the night sky as he was. Why was she so curious about him?

"Everything." His reply was a small whisper.

"Even the people you love?" She asked in a monotonous way, glancing at his side profile for an answer as he took a while to break the silence this time.

"Especially the people you love." He answered with a light smile playing on his lips. Unexpectedly, she was one of them.

"Jo baat hai." She let out fully agreeing with him. Although, her view of the statement was different. Her long-lost friends whom she always thought would be life-long ones captured her memory. She couldn't even stay in contact with any of them, or so was her memory limited to right now to her high-school friends, long gone. She sat there swaying her feet back and forth. Maybe, she could also understand him.

"Jo baat hoti hai, wohi baat karta hu mai." He grinned proudly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Lao jee! Aik tou chuss zaroor drop karni hoti hai iss bande ne, warna raat ko neend nahi ati na." And she was back to snapping at him with an annoyed look. Jumping back on the ground, she swivelled around as Affan panicked looking at her retreating figure. He didn't say anything offensive though.

"Arey. Kahan jaa rahi ho?" He quickly lifted his weight up from the not too comfortable cemented bench, following her with a confused face.

"Sone! Aur kahan? Ab poori raat yahan beth je aapki chussein tou bardaasht nahi kar sakti mai." She shrugged her shoulders upwards, glancing back at his handsome face covered in a cute confused frown making her stare longer as she almost bumped inside the wall instead of walking through the door. Shit. Almost embarrassed myself really bad there. She quickly stepped towards the door, and ran inside while Affan wished her retreating figure a "Good night" but she didn't turn back causing his heart to ache more at the thought of her ignoring and hating him now. He kept wondering what did he even do wrong since he arrived here for her to dislike him so much?

Nimra plopped herself on her soft bed, lying on her tummy as always. As she shut her eyes all tired, his face appeared there cutting off all her slumber which almost consumed her. She snapped her eyes open. Cursing, she dug her face inside the pillow hugging it tightly. However, that couldn't stop her mind from thinking about him. His words. His actions. His face-

To hell with that jahil admi and his pyaara chehra!

Wait, exclude the last part! She threw away the pillow, groaning and rolling on the bed before landing on the ground with a loud thud. Ow!

//♥︎♥︎♥︎//

/Author's Note\

O mai gawd turu lubb!

Awie, my heart🥺♥️

Since I'm done with writing the story, YES I WROTE IT IN A DAY KILLING MY LAZINESS🙂

(cuz I've been ghaib since so long🤧don't ask me why; *since y'all know im still gonna tell anyways*

I started reading this big fat novel and forgot what day and night is and even forgot im having my exams lmao! But yh, as soon as I finished reading it, i got my writing boost back and finished writing this story while still being high on the boost✌️ also cuz

I wanted to sUrPriSe y'all with a gRanD comeback by publishing it all at once🥺) So let's flip flop in the ride now~ ✨

Ps. I love Affan ke daant too.

They pretty cute~🙂

Nvm me, lets continue-💀

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