• her saviour •

᯽᯽᯽

᯽᯽᯽

The words escaped her mouth before she could process them in her mind. Her large eyes watched him with amusement, trying to ignore the object pressing under her chin, making it hard for her to breathe. Or was it his close proximity that made her mind foggy and heart jittery, making her struggle for gists of oxygen in the air.

Shaheer felt heat rush over his system listening to her diverting words and gaping directly into her cavernous eyes. Her lavender scent invaded his senses even from beneath the mask.

She was devastatingly beautiful. An enchantress. He needed to stay far, far away from her.

He pulled the gun away, moving backwards step by step. Her eyes. The way she was looking at him. It hit him that she had, in fact, recognized him.

Was it from his voice? Or his eyes? Or his movements? She had seen him in the same week, of course, it didn't take a genius to figure out. He underestimated her.

He tucked the gun in it's place and put his cap back on, brushing his hair backwards and swiftly turned around.

Change of plans. He looked down at the figure on the floor, knowing very well who the man was. Since he had already started rivalry by hitting his son, so it would be rude to leave without introducing himself to his working men.

With cautious strides, he started walking towards the door. Gule panicked, quickly stepping forward from the wall.

"Darwazy sy mat jao." She warned, her voice high. "He left his bodyguards outside."

She didn't want a fight to break out. He was all alone, and they were two big men with rifles. They'd take him down. She didn't want her saviour hurt. The thought was painful.

"And I'm here to deal with them." With his back still towards her, he responded in a low voice.

"Unky paas guns hein. Barri wali." She exclaimed, growing more anxious watching him close to the door. Thankfully, he stopped.

"Wo khaali hoti hein." He replied, tilting his head to the side, as if answering a kid. Then suddenly, it dawned upon him.

Why was he even bothering to stop and answer this girl's silliness anyways? This wasn't who he was. He never cared or felt it necessary to listen to or talk to strangers. She was one as well.

His hand reached out for the door knob.

"Aur agar na hui tou?" She sounded concerned.

"Tou mein unko chalany ky qabil nai chorun ga." He said flatly, jaw clenched. Shock and amazement covered her face.

The calmness in his stride. The relaxed shoulders. The confidence in his wondrous eyes. She knew that he wasn't lying or boasting.

He walked out the door and she silently stood in the same spot. She heard loud noises, something breaking, someone groaning, making her shut her eyes and shudder with each voice.

Should she call the police? No, they'd take him away to lock up. He's the intruder if considered from their view.

Is he a thief? He had a gun on himself too. Her thoughts rushed from one to another, as she bit her nails.

She gasped remembering the human body lying there on the ground. Should she call the ambulance for him? Did he hit him that hard?

He definitely was strong and built. If two blows from him had this bulky man passed out like this, he'd surely be fine. Gule breathed out, assuring herself.

There was silence on the other side of the door now. Gule collected her phone, things and bag. Giving a disgusted look to an unconscious Sameer, who had a bruised cheek due to the punch, bleeding nose, swollen or broken, she didn't care as she rushed out of the room feeling suffocated.

She'd rather have him waking up in pain in the same position, but the consequences of it and her love for her father didn't allow her to ignore him. Worst, when his father, Ruman, would find out, that would be great trouble for her. But then again, he was in the wrong. How was he planning to get away with his dirty intentions?

She called on the emergency number, not finding even a shadow of his guards outside the room. Her mind boggled with a billion thoughts and questions.

Did they run after him? Did he beat them up? Starting from these simple ones to intense scenarios of murder.

What if they shot him and the guns weren't empty? No, she hadn't heard gunshots.

What if he ended up beating them to death like he beat Sameer to pulp and dragged their bodies away to hide them?

Was her new crush a murderer? She slapped a hand over her mouth. She must be crazy. There was no way. He might have that tough exterior, but the man who brought her those khussas wasn't heartless enough to kill someone. Ever.

She needed to take a break from her chain of thoughts and get away from this place as soon as possible.

On the other hand, Shaheer had come across two guards standing with their back towards the door at a distance. One had his rifle to the front side in his hand, the other had it hanging on his shoulder at the back.

He went for the latter man, grabbing his rifle and pulling it with full force taking him by shock. The other guard tightened his hold on the rifle, bolting forward to attack Shaheer.

Before he could hit the target, Shaheer dodged it, twirling to the other side and giving him a high flying kick on the chest. The man staggered backwards, grunting, when his back crashed into the edge of the shelf, dropping the decoration pieces on display.

The second guard thrashed forward to strike him with a punch in the stomach and Shaheer was a second late to avoid it. The impact? It wasn't even hard enough to have him double over in pain. He had seen worse. He had experienced pain. His steeled body was now almost numb to physical aggression.

He whacked him hard on the head with his ripped off rifle and he grumbled in sheer pain holding his busted head, falling backwards near the stairs.

He turned to watch the other guard get into the elevator, fear visible on his face, holding his injured back. How was this coward a guard? He had a walkie talkie in his hand, and Shaheer knew he was trying to call for more security team members.

"Such useless guards." He kicked the unconscious body, as it rolled down the stairs, leaving stains of blood on the steps. He was about to throw the rifle, but paused and checked. It was, in fact, empty as he had said.

He imagined those wide coffee brown orbs with a proud look on his face for being right.

Quickly shaking his head to dump the crazy eyes, he rushed down the stairs, skipping three at a time. He could not get caught here.

He had to sneak out towards the front side to get Hunain. It was dangerous, but he couldn't let the dumb guy look suspicious standing by the ladder he had climbed up from.

"Oh shit." A distracted Hunain exclaimed when Shaheer grabbed a fistful of his fake mechanic's uniform jacket, tearing it off him while his eyes were in every direction prying for any signs of danger as he pushed Hunain backwards.

"Sherry yarr!" Hunain whined trying to free himself from the jacket and his violent hands.

"Mein ek shareef banda hun." He dusted off his clothes following Shaheer as they ducked next to the wall leading to the backside.

"Tumhara aur shareef ka door door tak koi taluq nai hai." Shaheer said as a matter of fact. They reached the backside, and took turns to jump off the wall.

As he had expected, the front side had a car of guards show up and they had successfully avoided them. "Kya kar ky aaye ho tum?" Hunain questioned as they ran away towards the empty ground a few feet away where they had parked the motorbike.

Shaheer winced in pain, his foot injury was bleeding and had turned sore with pain. Hunain noticed him limping, but his speed was still not slowing down with that wound.

"Agar tum mery chotty bhai hoty mein tumhy chapairein maarta." Hunain ran faster to catch up. He'd never tried to hit Shaheer because he knew he'd be dead the next minute, he was stronger, and knew how to fight damn well.

"Aur mein tumhy paida hoty hi maar deta." He replied quietly, breathing hard. They arrived at the spot where they left the motorbike.

"Tum mujhsy kabhi tameez sy baat nai kar sakty." He complained as Shaheer got on the bike ignoring him. The ride back to their place was silent.

Hunain got off the bike, staring at the pitiful man who stayed positioned on the ride ready to set off somewhere.

"Going after the GD killer again?" He questioned knowing the answer very well.

The real killer who had trapped Shaheer in the murder case for 4 whole years. Before that, their life was going quite well.

They worked for the ISI. They had both joined the military and outperformed their evaluation and criteria, leading to ISI choosing them for the job. Hunain worked as the Certified ethical hacker ( CEH ) while Shaheer's expertise was in shooting.

GD killer, the Ghost Dealer. He was a drug dealer importing a huge amount into the country with unknown means. It was ISI's responsibility to catch him and the case was handed to Shaheer as he got the assistant director promotion.

But that man tricked him each time. It was like he'd drop the drug orders at the given place magically. Leaving no trace behind. Never showing up himself.

Shaheer changed strategies, looked into finding anything related to his background, but to no avail. He spent two whole years trying to find that trickster.

Not knowing, the cunning man was setting him up in the meantime, by removing his own traces but making sure his traces were left in those suspicious areas.

He had started selling a new drug. A poisonous one. Which immensely damaged the organs of the person consuming it, leading to a painful death only after the third dose.

Shaheer reversed the strategy and went after the buyers, who were as difficult to find. Until one night, he got signals from the device he had left in one of the suspicious areas. Indeed, no man was perfect and even that trickster had made a mistake to use an old site. He had felt proud.

He raided the house of the man who received the drugs order. He had already consumed two packets and was high. Shaheer threatened him to hand the other packets, but the man grew hysteric and gobbled it up. He threw up blood while laughing and pointed at Shaheer, "you sold these to me," and his team gave him shocked looks.

"Isn't this yours?" His teeth bloody, eyes red and soggy, he threw a badge in his direction. A customized ISI badge with his name on it. The one he had lost when he went to leave the devices on the areas used for the deals.

He had bumped into someone on the way back, but he didn't think anything out of it until later when he found his badge missing. He was penalized for losing the possession before given a new one.

And right now, the dead man infront of him had it, who accused him of being the GD killer, with a potential proof against him.

He should've known. He should've realized a man who had never made one single mistake in leaving a trace before, wouldn't easily give away a buyer. Unless he was playing a dirty trick behind the action.

He wasn't trusted even after his honest and loyal services for the past years. The proof against him spoke more volumes. His footprints in all the suspicious areas. The traces of blood from when he was careless and punched the wall twice in anger on finding the drugs with no trace or hint of the real GD killer.

Him being the killer made more sense to everyone. The reason they had failed to find that man was because he was a part of them, working undercover.

Although, none of it made real sense. His locations were recorded in their system. He had no means of transporting the drugs.

He was tortured and beaten up to confess, but when he didn't, they came up with more imaginary stories. He had a hacker team up with him to fake his data and locations. Hunain becoming the only suspect of such an action. Since he was the only person supporting him and trying to fight the war of truth with him.

He was tired. He was shattered. He ended up confessing to the lie. Going to jail alone was much better. Hunain ended up quitting the job. Trying to look for ways to get him out. Four years of torment went by in sheer agony.

Until Zarar showed up. The method they had used to get Shaheer out of the jail was still a frightening memory for Shaheer. He hated Zarar for it. He'd known that man was beyond evil since then. Someone who would do anything to get what he wants.

He had many regrets in life. That was one of the biggest ones. The one he could never ask forgiveness for. The one he had no justification for. He had done it out of spite. Rage. Anger. Frustration. Hatred.

Ever since he got out of jail, he has been looking for the GD killer, but not as an officer anymore. But as a scoundrel who performed petty tricks on people by fooling them with fake identities.

The day he finds the man who ruined his life after he'd work so hard to fix it would be the day he'll finally find peace.

He was brought out of his torturous thoughts when Hunain let out his usual weird "Aah ooh" sounds.

"He's elusive. Just give up." He knew these words would fall on deaf ears, but he also knew Shaheer's reckless bravery would lead him to immense danger. He had lost him once and didn't want to lose this guy who was like a younger brother to him, once again.

"I will find him." He gritted his teeth, his voice sounded empty even to himself.

"Acha. Fine. Okay. Sahi hai." Hunain sighed in defeat. "Do get your wound treated. Aur jaldi wapis aana, I need full details on what happened back there."

"Tum meri biwi nai ho." Shaheer mocked and sped the bike towards the road.

"Besharam aadmi. Tumsy tou kuch kehna hi fazool hai." He screamed from behind watching him disappear into a distance.

Even though Shaheer never showed it or expressed it, but Hunain was not only a brother-like figure to him, but also a father-like figure. Who had always been there for him. Taken care of him. Lightened up his mood by simply being himself. Even if he was annoying most of the times, he never let him feel lonely.

He had lost his father when he was six. His mother had to sell their house and they shifted to a small apartment. His six year old innocent mind was not able to grasp the huge turn that his life was taking. He could sure feel his mother was surrounded by intense grief, silently shedding tears at night whenever he asked her about his father's return.

She would hold his little face in her hands and with shiny eyes tell him stories of hope. Those stories had painted a beautiful picture in his mind; he looked forward to peace, security, happiness and above all, a home where he would be able to live a carefree life with his mother.

Hope! He vividly remembered his delicate hope was brutally trampled upon; the day he lost his mother in that fire. The memory was imprinted on his mind haunting him to this day, and would forever.

The world was a cruel place for a boy like him alone but he had survived it all. His Allah had made him brave and strong enough to pull himself up from the pitch dark ditch of despair he had fallen into.

Things gradually started improving when he met Hunain. He was living again. With the memories of his mother imprinted on his heart like unforgettable footprints.

Everytime he heard the call of azan, he would recall his mother's face. The memory of them praying together. The memory of him placing his head on her lap while she recited the Quran. Taught him beautiful lessons about his religion. Told him to never miss his namaz. Lectured him on the values of respecting women when he'd become her big boy.

The things she taught him were a part of him. She wished that the young people, who either didn't go to the masjid or took namaz for granted, just knew that they were missing on the blessing of given the ability and honor of presenting themselves infront of their Lord. Thus, till this day he tried to never skip his prayers.

He didn't care if what he was doing was wrong, or that his mother would be disappointed in what he had become. He needed to know the real cause of her death, the reason she lost her life. He deserved to know this. He deserved to know who was the person she lost her life for. The answer to his questions were with that man, and he'd avenge the arsonist. Because it all begin from the fire after all.

Once again, he spent the time from 3 am in the mosque. Praying tahajjud and lying in a corner until fajr. The raw emotion of guilt eating him up on the inside wondering if he even deserved to be in the sacred place.

//❄︎❄︎❄︎//

Gule was captured. Imprisoned. By that amber eyed beast. Mind and soul. She could not stop thinking about him. She could not help but replay their whole encounter in her mind.

It even made her forget about what was about to happen if he wouldn't have showed up on time. He appeared like a fallen angel.

Gule was filled with so many curious questions about him, she thought she might go crazy. She had no idea who that man even was. She had named him 'Puma' in her mind now and she didn't know if she'd ever accept he actually has a real name which isn't PUMA.

She hadn't stopped talking about him to Radwa. A-fuming-with-violent-rage Radwa who was ready to break Sameer's bones and a-not-so-interested-in-puma Radwa since he pointed a freaking gun at her.

A week passed by, with Gule growing impatient and restless by each passing day. She was sure Sameer would have been questioned about his state, and Ruman had found out about him. Why was he quiet about it?

She could not talk to her baba about the incident. He was already ill, telling him something would only ruin his health and mental state.

Countless thoughts going on in her mind, she stood infront of the full length mirror, blinking at her form in the mirror. She was wearing a waist tight short black kurti, with a black loose shalwar. Her hair in a lose braid. The face mask on her face was drying.

"I don't care about my looks anymore. It doesn't matter. Mujhy koi farq nai parta." She was having another one of her usual self-talks. She was no more the insecure girl she had once become.

The girl obsessed with losing weight and becoming better looking. She had started following all health care tips. Developed a skin care routine. Exercised till she over-worked herself and till her body drained out of energy.

She shut her eyes and those amber eyes appeared looking like a perfect dream. Did he judge her too like all of them had?

No. He didn't even eye her. She knew what a judgemental look was. She knew it a little too well. Her insides twisted at the thought.

"Gul beta. Aapky baba bula rahy hein aapko." Neelofer baaji announced from behind the closed room door and Gule rocked out of the bitter thoughts.

"Jee, unki walk ka time hai, aati hun mein." She answered back, taking her face mask off. Grabbing her thin see-through dupatta, she draped it over her shoulders then rushed towards the front lawn.

"Baba jaan." Giving her best believable happy smile, she back-hugged her father who was sitting on the wheelchair. His hair had turned grey too early, his face had wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, his figure had bloated due to all the medicines intake over the years.

He used to be a famous motivational writer, and sometimes even wrote poetry, which was also compiled into a book. He was the person who inspired people. Now he was so dispirited himself, that one would wonder if he'd written those wise words himself. It ached her heart to look at him in this condition.

He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Whenever his delusions got worse, he'd react in extreme ways. Locked himself in his room, screamed, threw things, hid in the wardrobe corner.

Gule had witnessed it for the first time when she was eleven. It started happening often, and since she was home-schooled, she'd grown afraid of him. It started after his divorce from her mother, and so she blamed the selfish woman for his condition. For leaving her behind with him.

But now, she was grateful. Her mother had never cared about her, and she wouldn't have grown this well if not for her father. Even if he was over-protective and sick, he was a loving man. She had read all of his works, and somehow, his writings brought her closer to him.

"Mujhy kyun nai bataya?" He asked with his shaky voice and Gule retreated her arms from around him, growing anxious. "Baap boorha ho gaya hai tou kya apni beti ki hifazat nai kar sakta?" He sounded hurt. His words made her shake her head and crouch on his side, holding his arm.

"Nai," She gulped the lump down her throat, "Lekin wo Sameer..."

"Han ussi ny bataya hai." He spoke in between and Gule's eyebrows fell in confusion. He confessed, but what?

"Kya?" She questioned. As she had expected, he had made up a false story. A robber had sneaked into her room, he heard her scream and went to help, but he had beaten him up and managed to escape.

Jhoota. Motta bhensa! She shut her eyes to control her anger.

"Ruman is sending a bodyguard from his security team for you. Allah bhala kary." Her father said gently and she stood up.

"Mujhy bodyguard ki zaroorat nai hai." Her voice came out harsher than she expected. The same bodyguards who were going to silently guard the room while his son ruined her?

"Aap bass unsy bolein ainda mujhy night shoots ky liye mat bulayein." In fact, she wished he'd never call her again for any shoots.

"Meri bachi, acha ho ga kisi ka saath hona. Warna mujhy pareshani hoti rahy gi. Mein bechain ho jata hun jab tum jaati ho akeli." He reasoned with a worried face.

Gule was about to respond when the bell rang. Neelofer baaji opened the door as the mentioned guard arrived already. "Yeh pohanch bhi gaya hai?" She whispered out, annoyed and mad.

Ulty qadam wapis bhejti hun issy mein. She thought giving a side-glance as he entered through the main gate, before looking back at her father to stand with her stance this time.

Suddenly, she paused, the one second glance registering in her mind before settling in like a hysteric moment.

Her eyes darted towards the man in the black uniform again. She slapped a hand over her mouth, letting out a gasp. There was no way.

The man who had been living in her mind rent-free for the past week, was now standing inside her house's gate, a few feet away from her. Puma.

Black was definitely his colour. He was wearing combat boots, baggy pants, a tight polo shirt with jacket on top with a badge of 'security' attached to it. The uniform had never look this attractive to Gule before.

His long hair was cut short now. He was also wearing accessories unlike last time. Rings. Chain. He looked different, but it was a good different. She was in awe again.

"Isski zaroorat hai." Gule said distractedly. "Matlab mujhy zaroorat hai bodyguard ki." She corrected herself ashamedly.

"Acha?" Her father asked observing her changed behaviour.

"Bohut acha hai. Matlab acha hai kisi ka hona saath." She quickly elaborated. God, she was such a mess because of him. That further reminded her of the actual mess she was in. Casual clothes and messy braided hair.

It was too late to run because he was already walking in their direction. He greeted them with salam, his voice thick.

"Kya naam hai tumhara?" Her father asked and her whole being was jittery with anticipation.

"Daniyal Khan." He replied robotically.

Daniyal. Her mind chanted. The 'puma' had finally gotten a name.

"Aisa lag raha hai jesy meiny tumhy kahin dekha hua hai." Her father stared at him with attention, his face folded in great concentration trying to remember.

Those amber eyes are unforgettable, baba jaan. She thought biting onto her lower lip. She noticed her father looking slightly distressed, and it arose worry in her heart. She placed a hand over his shoulder, as he looked up at her.

"Mujhy andar bhejny ki kya zaroorat thi?" She stomped her way towards her room after her father told her to go inside. He was definitely going to interview the guy with a billion questions.

Tip-toeing towards the balcony, she peeked down at them in the lawn. He was seated on a chair now, and they looked like they were having a serious conversation. Though, mostly it was just her father talking and him nodding.

She couldn't even hear anything from the spot. Pursing her lips together, she looked up at the sky, filled with white clouds looking like cotton balls. It was a pretty day.

"Aaj barish nai ho rahi." She wondered out aloud, holding her hand out in the air. Both the times she had met him, it had been raining.

She noticed movements below, as Neelofer baaji dragged her father's wheelchair inside. She realized it was the time for his medicines.

Shaheer stood up, running a hand back and forth his hair. It wasn't hard for him to lie anymore. He'd just stated ten of them in the past five minutes. Including his identity. The feeling of guilt was slowly vanishing from within and he hated it.

The real Daniyal Khan sent by the team was probably on his flight to Singapore by now. It wasn't hard to deal with him. Most of Ruman's men were lowly goons who worked for money, not out of loyalty.

Hunain had a silly way of managing such matters. To Shaheer, threatening their life with violence was the easiest way, while Hunain preferred peace treaty. Act like their friends and get them to do the job in an eco-friendly manner.

They had stalked Daniyal Khan, and followed him while he was on his way here, abducted him, then presented him a new opportunity to go to Singapore, where his lover girl resided. It was definitely Hunain who had hacked into his accounts and read his chats. So much peace offering for the invasion of privacy to send him there.

He'd taken up the offer to remain silent and took the cash money they presented, the one they had taken from Zarar. Although, Shaheer didn't trust selfish people like him, but Hunain was keeping him under check. If he'd try contacting the team, they'd know since he had hacked into his phone.

He fished out his phone from the pocket while walking towards the porch, well aware of the gaze which had been observing him from the balcony.

Gule was almost hanging down the balcony watching his every move. He was such a pretty guy. God took His time crafting him. Gorgeous. Gorgeous man. She dreamily stared at him.

She could stare at him for hours, she thought until the realization hit her that she could even talk to him now. He was here as her bodyguard. Oh god.

Why was he working for Ruman's security team? The one he fought the last time they met? How did Sameer even let him get away with hitting him? What happened after he left the room?

Hastily, she straightened up and made her way outside carrying the bundle of her questions.

He was standing with his hands inside his jacket's pockets, back against the Range Rover parked in the porch. She stopped four steps away.

"Daniyal?" It felt weird to call him by that name.

His eyes slowly wondered towards his left, then right, before the realization hit him. He was pretending to be the said name right now.

Gule didn't seem to pay attention to his confused state, too busy admiring him and continued with asking her questions. "Wo tum thy na? Uss din hotel mein? Aur ussy pehly wahan bazaar mein tou tum hi thy."

"Pooch rahi hein ya bata rahi hein?" He raised a brow at her. Just like how he had done when they met for the first time in the rain.

Oh, those startling amber eyes.

"Dono?" She let out an awkward laugh. "Tum...wo..." She didn't know how to phrase her questions. What to ask first.

Shaheer definitely knew what the girl infront of him wanted to ask him. She wasn't dumb. He patiently waited for her to dump her curious questions at him. Because one thing was still a mystery to him as well. Why had she not put that man who had ill intentions against her in his place and stayed silent?

Gule Shah was the epitome of overthinking into madness. Letting her thoughts out had never been hard for her, until now. Standing infront of him, she felt like her mind had gone completely blank. She couldn't find words to form a sensible sentence.

There was wondering silence between both of them with unasked questions revolving around the air.

"You work for him?" She asked because she didn't like the idea of him working under that man as well. Even though, it became a reason for them meeting again.

"I mean, he sent you to be my bodyguard? After what happened," she hated how small her voice sounded, "last time...."

"That's why he hired me." His answer was cut short. "I worked under another security organization. I quit that place and got a job here." He wasn't a long explanation kind of person, and he could see her face growing more confused.

Did he tell them the reason he hit Sameer?

"Our last encounter, you didn't think I was a thief of some sort, did you?" He inquired back. Her eyes widened as she shook her head. "No. Of course not."

Deep down, her heart eased. He was not a bad person. He was someone who protected and fought against evil. A saviour. Her saviour, now.

She was about to ask another question when Neelofer baaji came jogging out with her ringing phone. "Kab sy bajj raha hai beta." She handed it to Gule who tensed upon seeing the caller's name.

Turning around, she picked it up after a few more rings. "Hello, Ruman uncle." Shaheer's ears perked up upon hearing the name.

Gule shut her eyes in frustration. New schedule for her was already prepared. Couldn't he let her be at peace for a while?

However, this time, something was different in his tone. He'd asked her to come over to his house to get it herself. This had never happened before. She doubted Sameer had told something to his father.

"Nai, mein ghar nai aaun gi." Her voice was stern as she spoke on the phone. "Aap Burning Giraffe cafe mein bhijwa dein, I'll wait there this time." If he could change the location, so could she. She had to let him know that he couldn't boss her around each time.

Why not? Go to his house, stupid, stupid girl. He had really gotten a chance to get his work done on the very first day. Enter the security room as a guard, and leave the chip. Rest was up to Hunain.

Gule nodded at him to excuse herself and rushed inside the house. Thanking him for the bodyguard, the only ever good thing he'd ever done to her, she shut the call.

It was time to get ready and go out. With him by her side. "Oh god oh my god. What should I wear?" Her downturn mood had again uplifted upon the thought.

She took out her plain white anarkali dress, wondering if it would look too extra. It reached just above her ankles, and she took out the khussay he had brought for her on their first encounter.

Brushing her entangled hair, she put half of them up in a clip. Doing a very light, everyday make-up look, she now stood infront of the full-length mirror in her room. Adding the folded dupatta around her neck, she completed the look.

Who cares if she was looking extra for a short meet-up in a cafe only to grab her schedule? She can get ready for herself.

Her father was already asleep after taking the meds, so she silently made her way out. She found the car keys hanging by the front door. Gule was very fond of cars. She loved to drive around. The range rover was her prized possession.

She nervously walked out to find him standing against the gate, typing something on his phone. She stepped near the car and cleared her throat.

He looked up. One short glance at her form, then back at her face. No hint of any emotion. Not an impressed look. Not a judging look.

"I have to go out." She spoke and her voice was squeaky with nervousness. "And of course, you'll come along. So we'll go together. I mean, that's your job."

Pocketing his phone, he nodded and walked towards the car. Gule was holding onto the keys as he reached near her.

"You can drive, right?" She asked, just in case.

"Yes ma'am." He answered with a straight face.

"Gule." She corrected extending her hand with the key forward. "Gule naam hai mera. Formalities ki zaroorat nai hai." She said flashing that irresistible smile at him again. He looked away, holding the keys.

Unlocking the car, he opened the backseat door for her. Gule almost threw a tantrum, she wouldn't mind sitting on the passenger seat beside him. It wasn't like he was her driver.

Pretending to be just fine with it, she flexed her khussay infront of him by picking her foot higher than she needed to get in, to find any shift in his eyes upon noticing them, but he just ignored the effort.

Lifting her dress, she settled in as he waited for her to collect her dress carefully. She thought she was done, until he took a step forward, reached down for the corner of her dupatta dangling near the tyre and rested it over the seat.

She let him know the location as they set off. The ride was silent as he was focused on driving and her sole focus was peering at him.

"Suno?" She called out.

Shaheer licked his lips. Why did she always have to start off by saying this word. It wasn't like he'd not hear what she's saying in any case.

"Sun raha hun." He spoke in a low voice.

"Why did you quit you previous job?" She was curious about many things, but she'd noticed he was not so comfortable in answering questions about himself.

He tilted his head, so she could get a view of his side profile. His jaw so slick - it could cut through flesh.

"Their pay wasn't as high as this one." He simply lied. Should look like the most believable thing, people with these jobs worked for the salary.

Gule stared out of the window, slightly disappointed. Right, well, he had to make a living. He was honest about it. Love to see honesty in a man. She smiled.

Will she seem way too desperate if she asked to be friends right now? Not that she wanted to be just friends. She wanted to ask so much, know so much, about this man.

They reached the location and he stopped the car near the entrance.

"Tum saath nai aao gy?" Gule asked quickly. For the first time after the whole ride, his amber eyes looked into the rear-view mirror, scanning her face.

"It's my job to follow you like your shadow. Aap chalein, mein aata hun." He answered. Relieved, Gule stepped out of the car.

The parking area was almost packed with cars, Shaheer found a spot at the end and made his way towards the cafe. He was going to refuse to tag along inside, since what kind of danger would she even face in a cafe full of people. But the expectant look on her face made him spew non-sense.

Gule found a table for two near the door and took it. Her eyes sticking to the door, waiting for him. Her brows furrowed noticing a man who had been sitting on the table across her, gawking at her intently.

After a few seconds, he was making his way to her table with a crooked grin on his twisted in mischief face.

"I was wondering should I hit you with a corny pick up line to grab your attention or do I have to be hot and famous? Or if we could skip everything?" He leaned against her table, as Gule retracted her hands and crouched backwards cringing at his words.

"I was wondering should I hit you with a punch on the face to shut you up or do I have to be John Cena to break it?" A hand on his shoulder pulled him away, pressing the spot harder as he winced in pain. "Or we could skip everything to your final breaths?"

"Sorry man. I didn't know she was with you." The guy shuddered.

"That makes matters worse," Shaheer pressed his hand harder on his shoulder, almost dislocating it, "What gives you the right to invade her privacy like this if she was alone?"

"Sorry." He cried out in pain. A few people nearby had taken notice of the situation. Gule sat there dumbstruck by his sudden appearance just in time, yet again.

"Apologize to her, not me." He let go of his shoulder with a jerk, and the man held onto his shoulder, letting out multiple apologies in Gule's direction before fleeing out. She silently gulped looking at him. Gosh, he was strenuous.

"Mein deal kar leti. You shouldn't have bothered." She said in a calm manner.

"It's my job to bother." He reminded.

"Han, tum aa gaye tou mein ruk gai." She rested her elbows on the table as Shaheer gave her a questioning look.

"Warna mery haathon ussny zaya ho jana tha." She shrugged as she further boasted proudly, "Meiny mookay maarny thy ussko!"

Shaheer's eyebrows shot up upon hearing her, his lips twitching. He pursed them in a straight line, craning his neck downwards. He hadn't found anything hilarious in a long time.

Gule glimpsed at him on the lack of response, peeking at his face. He was holding back a smile, she realized.

"What?" She whined, smiling brightly. Maybe, they could get along well if she'd managed to make him almost smile.

"You really surprise me." He replied looking back at her.

And for the first time, someone's gaze had not made her feel uncomfortable or judged. They were pure emotions of amusement and surprise, just as he had admitted.

"You think I wouldn't have punched him right in the face. Pishoom." She challenged, while punching the air with a weird noise.

"Why aren't you sitting?" She realized he hadn't taken the empty seat on the table.

"I'm fine. I'll wait right outside the door." He wasn't here to sit with her and have a chit chat. He couldn't grow fond of her. Or let her have her way with him.

"No, I insist." She almost pleaded and he was sat. This girl was really making him oppose all his rules and thoughts.

"I'm hungry and seeing that juicy chicken steak they carried off to some table is giving me food withdrawals." She eyed the food from afar, almost drooling at the sight of food. Not that she was a big foodie. She had great self-control, especially when it came to food. She was just feeling hungry today.

"What do you want to order? I'll go." He was already standing up from the chair, where he looked like he was forced to sit down at gun point. Thinking that he wasn't comfortable sitting there, she let him know her order as he made his way towards the counter.

Feeling gloomy, she let her eyes wonder out at the blue sky. The white clouds in different shapes made the view look extremely beautiful and almost unreal. She captured a snap in her phone, then slowly turned the angle towards him standing by the counter, capturing his back.

She felt like a creep. No, it was just a random snap of the cafe. With him facing backwards in it.

A figure walked in, and she casually looked up to see and found a very familiar person.

"Idrees?" Her mouth fell open in shock. The man in casual button up shirt with pants, a light stubble, neatly combed hair, paused in his tracks, giving her a confused look.

"It's me, Gule." She was astonished that he didn't recognize her.

"Oh?" His brows shot up, as he studied her coming closer to her table.

The same judgemental look. She squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze. Why did she have to blurt out everything in her loud voice?

"You look different." He commented after he was done analyzing her.

Of course, I do. Gule scoffed. She'd had her real glow up after university. After being judged and hurt. After she worked so hard on herself.

"It's great to see you here. May I?" His lips twisted into a strange smile as he gestured at the empty seat on her table. Gule nodded meekly.

"In fact, I ran into Mehek at the mall the other day." He told while settling on the chair.

"Oh, you mean the girl who always slept during commerce class?" The question popped in her mouth as an instantaneous reaction without thought.

"Yeah, her." He laughed and added, "Surprising coincidences." She forced herself to smile. She didn't want to be here anymore.

Her eyes shifted towards the counter, and made contact with those amber ones inspecting her face for signs of discomfort over the company seated with her now. Her heart melted, and her lips broke into a genuine smile.

"So, waiting for company?" Idrees inquired with interest. He'd never shown such interest in her back in those days though. She thought sourly.

"Yes. Just someone work-related. How about you?" Not that she was interested, she just asked out of politeness.

"A date with my girlfriend." He looked down at his wrist watch, shaking his head. "God, she always shows up late."

"Oh." Her eyes widened and once again, she couldn't stop her nosy mouth from speaking out her thoughts aloud. "I thought the rumors of you and Aroush getting married were true? I guess not."

"C'mon. We weren't even that serious. I don't even know who'd spread such sort of a rumor."

"You even skipped your basketball practice to help with her assignment and presentation, twice. If that isn't serious, I don't know what is."

"Well, I just did it out of courtesy. Doesn't mean I was hinting for marriage?"

"What can I say? The bar was on the floor, and you had the looks." Gule rambled out in the flow and instantly shut her mouth. "Sorry."

"Dumbo!" He rolled his eyes.

"OMG! Maths ke sir ki yaad dila di." Gule voiced out loudly. One thing about her, she could manage to get herself out of embarrassing situations by changing topics in a snap.

"Oh yeah, he used to say dumbo a lot." Idrees seemed to have remembered too.

"Mujhy kabhi nahi kaha." She said with a proud smile. "Wese larkiyon ko kehte thy." He would call the boys with all sorts of names, but use 'dumbo' specifically for girls.

"Tum larki thori thi." He casually remarked with a chuckle.

Gule stilled. He had no idea how his words affected her. Her stomach churned and memories came flooding through her mind.

A sudden lurch of nausea made her want to throw up.

Feeling uneasy, she turned her gaze away, towards the counter to look for him as if on reflex. He was receiving the tray of food, ready to make his way back. She reminded herself to pay him for the order.

"So what work do you do?" Idrees tapped the table with his fingers, passing that full-blown grinning look at her, the one young Gule was crazy over, but now? It was just pissing her off.

Her phone tinged right on time, and she distractedly looked at it. These SIM 'select your calling track' messages had always been so annoying until this moment.

"Oh no. The meeting got cancelled. I should leave, I had to get somewhere right after this." She got up in a hurry, stepping away and not listening to whatever he was saying. "Bye."

She pointed at Shaheer to get the food packed while exiting the cafe. She stomped her way towards the parking lot. Having no idea where the car was parked, she decided to wait by the board.

You were bigger than the whole sky. You were more than just a short time.

She could hear the song playing in another nearby cafe. She turned around and saw a familiar face wave his hand at her. The man who was supposed to deliver her schedule to her.

"I thought you weren't gonna show up." Gule complained as he came to hand her the file.

"I thought it was Buzzing Ghosts cafe." He replied and Gule sighed. This day couldn't get any more happening.

Shaheer arrived after a few more minutes with packed food and guided her to the car. She really was making him do it all. Driver. Waiter. Guard.

"Can we go to the lake view?" She asked and he quietly drove there, since it was nearby. He could feel the change in her mood. But chose to say nothing. He didn't care.

She walked barefoot on the ground near the lake, and he followed behind with slow steps. Out of nowhere, she turned towards the water and bolted towards the border. Just when Shaheer panicked that the crazy girl was going to jump in, she stopped.

"I hate you all!" She screamed out and then breathed. In and out. Fresh air. Peace. Calmness. "Good."

She turned around to find him watching her. A look of disbelief and surprise.

"Don't judge me." She mumbled, embarrassed.

"I'm no one to judge you." His voice was almost gentle. Soft. She smiled.

She sat down on the ground with her legs straightened out. This time, she didn't have to tell him to accompany her, as he sat down at a distance himself.

"Ek shair suno." She broke the silence like always.

"Sun raha hun." He said after a moment of silence.

"Irshad bolty hein."

"Irshad." He forcefully muttered.

"Humny jissy chaaha ussny chaaha kisi aur ko. Humny jissy chaaha ussny chaaha kisi aur ko." She let out a dramatic sigh before continuing. "Khuda kary, jissy wo chaahy wo bhi chaahy kisi aur ko."

"Yeh shair tha ya baddua thi?" He almost sounded annoyed and she snorted.

"The world is so small. You end up meeting someone you thought you'd never run into ever again." And sometimes you keep running into someone you can't stop thinking about. She wondered looking at him. There were good and bad days, today was a mixture of both for her.

"You mean the guy from earlier?" He blurted out.

"A university class fellow. Idress." She nodded.

"He used to be the basketball team's captain. Everytime he played, the ground used to be filled with girls and boys cheering for him. Chanting his name." She reminiscenced.

"I mean, of course. He never missed a goal. He'd dodge and jump and hop and throw the ball like a real player." She pretended to have a ball in her hand, moving her hands to act her words out.

"Impressive, right?" Folding her legs to her side, she twisted towards him.

"Acha impressive ho ga agar aap impress ho gai tou." He said flatly. Not impressed one bit.

"He was also good at studies. Once I got paired up with him for a project. We got the highest score." She continued.

"You like him?" He needed to sew this mouth of his when next to this chatterbox of a silly girl.

The question caught her off guard. Staring at the view with a faraway expression on her face. She looked like a daydream herself; glowing and ethereal. Her jet black hair dancing through the wind.

"I used to have a big fat crush on him." She admitted after a few moments.

How ironic, she was telling her present crush about her past crush.

"Whenever he called me by my name," she paused, "mery andar sy cheekhein nikalti thi."

"Tou ab kya nikalta hai?" The question slipped out of his mouth, unasked-for. This isn't what he is here for. He isn't supposed to take interest in her business.

"Gaaliyan." She uttered scrunching her nose and letting out a small chuckle. But he didn't miss the sadness behind the expression she wore.

"I'm guessing he did something to offend you?" The curiosity of the reason behind those saddened eyes didn't let him shut the hell up.

"Promise you won't judge." She said pointedly.

"Who am I to judge you?" He argued. Her dismal mood was not dispelled.

"I won't." He affirmed.

"I looked very different back in those days. Like, very. You can say I was a different person." She began trying to put it out in a lighter way.

/flashback/

Gule was a chubby girl, fat cheeks, so round they touched the glasses she wore for her slightly weak eyesight, her shoulder-length short hair added up to making her face look bigger.

She used to wear jumpsuits, and sometimes show up in random unmatched trouser shirts. Growing up without a mother who could guide her about clothes, she didn't know or take much interest in fitting in. At home, she'd worn casual clothes half her life. Neelofer baaji didn't know anything about fashion either.

All those years of home-schooling had taught her to be confident in her skin, in whatever she was, however she was, and stay assertive in her beliefs. Getting home-schooled was one of the most important part of her life, which had given her a great perspective and view. Without any judgemental eyes, two-faced people, spicy drama or bullying. She'd realized it's value too late though.

She thought she needed to have a more social life. Interact with more people. Go outside. Live freely. So going to a university with her best friend was a dream come true for her.

Radwa sometimes told Gule about fashion trends but she'd shrug saying, "I'm comfortable in what I wear." They were in different majors, so most of their classes were separate.

Since the start of her semester, Gule had noticed people staring at her in an unusual way. Some looking from head to toe, whispering things to each other, though she could clearly feel they were commenting and discussing about her with those side looks.

Idrees had been the 'famous' guy among all, especially the female population. He'd been the first ever guy to talk to her, sweetly asking her if he could sit beside her.

Then everyday, he'd started sitting with her, and she began sharing her book with him after he'd told her he let a friend borrow his. Her crush had developed around that time.

The day that still traumatized her and had left a huge impact on her was the april fools day. One of them had managed to get her father's contact number, she was pretty sure it was the girl who had never talked to her before, randomly requested to borrow her phone one day to make an emergency call.

They messaged him saying that his daughter was planning to run away with a guy she was dating at the university secretly.

All she remembered was her father dashing into her classroom filled with fifty students, all hysteric and paranoid. He was screaming for her, eyes wild, body petrified and shaking.

She panicked and rushed to him, the staff members took him to the nurse office but he just won't let go of her, panting and chanting, "don't leave me," over and over again. His mental condition wasn't at it's best, and receiving such a message had gotten a major reaction out of him than a normal person. Her mother had left him, and he'd thought she would too, which had triggered his emotions.

They had managed to relax her father, and she was walking out of the nursing room to go grab her stuff from the locker and go to the hospital with him upon being given the leave permit, when she saw a bunch of her class fellows surrounding the stairs. Three girls, four boys, one more person behind the pillar, hidden from her sight.

"Not gonna lie, she has the looks. Bass maintenance ki zaroorat hai." One of them remarked.

"Baba jaan, I'm right here," the guy copied her in a funny voice and the girls started to giggle.

"Who the hell calls that to their parent nowadays. Old-fashioned." The boy who was wearing black-rimmed glasses rolled his eyes.

"That was sick guys." One girl snickered, while the others passed comments agreeing. Gule was flabbergasted.

"Her father was sick for sure. Aisa lag raha tha pagal khany sy bhaag kar aaya hai," his sarcastic voice echoed in the corridor.

"He looked like a freak, for sure." Someone mocked.

"She looks like a complete freak herself," another girl added.

"Did you all look at her crying face? Laal tamatar lag rahi thi," the guy laughed. Scrunching up his nose, he started to copy her. They all erupted with laughter, and she stood there with tears brimming her eyes.

"I mean, it was all your genius idea, Idrees." One guy patted the hidden dude's back making him stumble forward, and her entire world paused for a second watching his laughing face.

"I really thought you had a thing going on with her, you know, sitting beside her in the class everyday."

"Ew. She's not even my type. I just do so to save myself from the burden of carrying the heavy books. She's a nerd who brings them everyday. It's fun to exploit such people. They're practically begging you to."

She was dumbfounded by his response. Tears stung her eyes thinking of how unfeeling people had become towards pain of any sort that their words and actions could leave on a person.

She jolted towards the other end, taking the emergency stairs to go and grab her things from the locker, take all those books back home with her. There was another surprise waiting for her over there.

Chewed gums. All over the locker. A note pasted in the middle. 'you're as disgusting as these.'

She had hoped to meet new people, make friends, look at the outside world in all the positive lights. But, her hope was again threatened as self-esteem started gradually being replaced by borrowed inferiorities.

/end of flashback/

"He laughed along with them while making fun of me." She cut the details out, just telling him a gist of the scenario. "The chewing gums were, well, I got a new locker."

She'd never told anyone about this, ever before. Including Radwa. She knew her best friend was a fighter, she'd have broken each one of their faces for saying that about her. But everytime Radwa mentioned Idrees's name in the list of guys she's liked, she had to pretend to be normal even if the memory she hated bubbled inside her.

"But it's all in the past now." She looked up at the sky closing her eyes, letting the wind blow her hair. "I forgive you, Idrees."

"More like Iblees!"

"Astaghfirullah!" Gule covered her mouth.

"Wait. I'll be right back." He got up and darted away before Gule could throw those 'where?' and 'why?' questions at him.

"Hey, egg-head. I got a your type silly job for you." He offered as soon as Hunain answered the call.

"I'm up for it! Location?" He exclaimed from the other side.

5 minutes. 10 minutes. 15 minutes. Gule started to nervously walk where they had parked the car, to find the place empty. 20 minutes and no sign of him. She didn't even have his phone number. The sun was setting and it was going to turn dark soon.

"Hey?" He parked the car at the side of the road, rolling down the window.

"Kahan gaye thy?" Gule who was anxiously pacing around gave him an offended look. He got off the car, while she stood there with folded arms, throwing a serious look his way. She hated waiting, or making someone wait.

"I'm not really a forgiving person." He claimed retrieving his phone out of his jacket's inside pocket. Clicking on the screen, he tapped it once, and turned it in her direction.

It was a video of Idrees. In the same cafe she'd seen him prior to coming here. However, his condition was a lot different. He was breakdancing?

"GET IT OFF ME." The volume of the video was loud as she heard him scream. He looked hysteric. Suddenly, she saw the very similar black boots move towards his leg, tripping him forwards as he fell face first over the table.

White sauce covered his face and hair, as she heard some laughter noises from the background. The girl on the table was giving him a disgusted look. "What a freak." A faraway voice commented.

"What-" She uttered, wide-eyed. Shock coloured her face.

"I didn't think he'd freak out so much over a folded gum wrapper falling into his shirt imagining it's a bug." Shaheer shrugged. "Meiny tou bss bataya tamboori thi."

Gule breathed, then chortled when understanding dawned upon her. He'd made a fool of the guy infront of a whole cafe and his girlfriend because of what she'd narrated from years ago. The video itself was so embarrassing to even look at.

Shaheer felt his insides weirdly relax and warm. There it was. The heart-warming grin.

He almost forgot about the second thing upon seeing her laugh freely like that. He'd made Hunain sneak out with his car keys, and chew about ten gums and stick them to the car after finding it.

"Oh, and I did not forget the chewing gum." He swiped to show a picture to her. It was a civic car which had chewed gums pasted over the front mirror. Gule covered her mouth, zooming into the photo. They were not going to come off easily.

"Wese apas ki baat hai." She was still smiling widely, her face glowing. "Bohat hi cheap ho tum."

They were on their way back, and she still had his phone in her hand, rewatching the video on loop. He looked just so hilarious. It will never not be funny to her.

She realized that deep down, that memory was instilled in her shadow self somewhere, and it had always wanted to let it out. To admit the hurt. To make them pay for what they'd done to her.

Years later, this man who had entered her life like a blessing in disguise out of nowhere, did something she could've never imagined, for her. But it brought her an inner peace. It was satisfying, and she wasn't going to deny it. A harmless prank, but he was going to carry the embarrassment over it for a long time, she hoped.

They reached home as she finished watching the video for the umpteenth time. The sky roared as a sign that it was going to begin pouring soon.

"It will be a good mood uplifter when you're down. Let me send it to you." Shaheer offered as she handed his phone back to him.

They exchanged numbers, and she felt her insides scream in joy. She was acting like a young teenage girl all over again because of this man.

In that moment, she realized one thing. It wasn't just something about his jaw dropping looks that attracted her towards him. It was just him, as a whole person.

The way he didn't look in her direction the wrong way, in the rain the first time they met, and in the room when he could've done anything he wanted, yet the way he handed her dupatta to her with those lowered amber eyes, protected her with respect did it for her.

He waited for her to get inside the house after parking her car, as the rain started falling in spitter-spatter gradually.

It was already dark outside, as she ran towards the balcony instead of going to her room. She switched on the flashlight, which was attached under the balcony pointing towards the door, to make it easier to check who was outside if the bell rang at night.

"Daniyal." She whisper-shouted. He craned his neck to look up, the flashlight directly falling on his face. He looked ethereal. The water droplets falling over his face shining like shabnam.

"Thank you." She mouthed with the brightest smile plastered on her face.

Unexpectedly, he returned the gesture this time, tilting his lips upwards ever so slightly, she almost missed it.

Her own smile dropped. That look just seemed so sad. Almost broken. Who hurt him? She kept standing there in the rain, watching him get on his bike and leave, yet his traces remained there.

This man had bewitched her. Mind and soul. She thought it was just another one of her crushes. She had thought she'd get over this one too.

It wasn't until she saw him in the flash, smiling sadly in the rain, that she knew she'd be gone forever.

//❄︎❄︎❄︎//

/Author's Note\

#meetcute3 🤭

CRYING & SCREAMING & DYING-

no bcz i ADORE these two so much pls my whole heart <33

i realized its j the second chapter & they're already TRIPPING-

( also i got so carried away while writing this chap is like 11k words long 😭 )

anyways guys jalny ki smell aa rahi hai ?

nah , not jealousy , actual FIRE which causes disaster-- 💀

there's still a lot to their past that has yet to be revealed & is still a mystery & i think i might be regretting making this a short story too lmao 😭

but yeah , ride's gonna get a lil dramatic , so have your paani ki buckets ready to set out the fire 🤺

*the author has been possessed by an evil jerry*

ps. OML DO Y'ALL KNOW WHAT DATE IT WAS 2 DAYS AGO ??

IT WAS TOD'S 2ND BIRTHDAY !!

YAS TOD TURNED 2 YEARS OLD !! ( can't say anniversary cuz it's still on going alive )

i started this book on 26 jan 2021 , and we've lived thru 26 jan 2023 now ?!?!?

it's alr been two years GOD time really flies 😫

( my dumb self thought it's only been a year & i had to recheck the date after rubbing my eyes, slapping myself, running a few laps, to realize it's actually been 2 WHOLE FREAKING YEARS ?! )

if it weren't for me vanishing into thin air & taking a long break of a whole year ( i didn't update for straight 7-8 months last year 😭 ) then im p sure TOD would've been done by now 😔

but we're done w 60% of the book & the remaining 3 short stories ( & this one so 4 ) will prolly be done by this year in sha Allah ( unless i dip again 😭 or die 💀 )

but yes im so very grateful to you beautiful people for all the love you've showered upon this book and its idiotic plots and its little beans 💓 i cannot express in words how much each & every appreciation means to me 🦋

it's good day for annoying people ( me ) to get emo and show some serious gratitude. honestly, i'd never have imagined this book coming this far and receiving this much love, thank you so very much to each one of you. esp the ones who comment. to those who vote. and to those silent eyes as well. i'm grateful to & for each one of you. 🥺♥️

even if i'm an idiot who randomly disappears & gives moody updates, thank you for hanging on patiently. thank you for appreciating my work. & thank you for existing.

y'all are magical. 💌

( breathe if you agree )

y'all are the true delight to my tales <33

( damn ,, realest ^ )

acha ok fine i'm done *wipes tears*

until next time,

take care & stay warm, you precious people 🤍

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