Next Morning
Ayesha's PoV

It was already 10:15 am and I quickly got ready. I am nervous because I dont know where Zain is bringing me. He managed to convince mama with some lies to get permission to go out. But still I don't know where we are going and tomorrow is Zahra Aapa's marriage. Everyone will enquire me. I was tensed for every reason. Above all, I don't know how to face Zain.

Yesterday we had our dinner silently. The person who tried to motivate me till then didn't try to make a conversation with me after that. I am sure that he heard Shamz's words. But he didn't ask me about that. May be because he is angry at me for not telling him. And his silence was literally killing me each moment. I wish he yelled at me. Or atleast ask me what had exactly happened? But he is giving me silent treatment clearly indicates that he is mad at me.

What would I do?

How would I convince him?

I cant reveal the truth now. Because if mama comes to know about that, it will hurt her for sure and I have no idea about how she is gonna react. May be she wont trust me ever after.

Just then my phone beeped and I opened the message inbox.

"I am waiting for you at downstairs. Come fast"

It was Zain's message. Instead of coming to call me like he used to do, he sent me message. He is surely angry.

I quickly wrapped the hijab (shawl that is used to cover head) around my head and went out taking my phone. I reached downstairs and there he is waiting at the couch. Seeing me he stood up with an ignorant face. I moved towards him and looked at his face.

"Shall we go?" He asked.

I wanted to ask him a lot but all I could do is nodding my head. I walked following him and entered into the car. He started driving the car.

Throughout the journey he was silent. It affected me. His silence. I wanted to initiate some conversation but it seems like he is ignorant of my presence behind him.

"Zain, are you angry with me?"I asked with remorse and guilt.

He looked at me.
"No, Ayesha. I am not at all angry. I am just hurted." He turned his head back to concentrate on driving.

I was about to say something but he cut me off.

"And I know it doesn't matter for you. Because I am an outsider with whom you cant share your personal matters."he added clinching my heart.

"No, it's not like that."I tried to say but he gave me a stern look.

"Let me drive Ayesha."he said making me silent. And the rest of the journey continued with both of us didn't talk or looked at each other.

It hurts me too Zain.

You are hurted because of me.

He stopped the car infront of a big flat. He gestured me to come out. I got out of the car and followed him to the lift. He pressed the button for the 3rd floor.

"Zain, will you talk to me please?"I pleaded.

"Why? You are happy in your lonely world. Isn't it? I dont want to intrude into your personal space."

"Zain please."
I couldn't continue since the lift door already opened. He walked out followed by me. We stopped infront of a door and he pressed the calling bell.

I was busy staring at his face trying to find any emotions, when a familiar voice brought me back to this world.

"Ayesha....."I turned to see Darshana inside.

Zain brought me here to see his Darshu? I mean Darshana.

She was excited which I could read from her expressions and body language. I smiled at her. But she came forward and engulfed me into a warm embrace. It relaxed me a lot, I should admit. I looked at Zain who is now standing with a smile.

Darshana pulled back and removed my hair that was hanging down on my face.
"You look so angelic."she said making me surprised.

"Won't you invite us inside?"Zain asked.

"Are you some guest to wait for an invitation? Then you stand here. Ayesha, you come inside."she dragged me inside holding my hand and Zain followed us.

"Sit here."she made me sit on a sofa.

"Didn't you go to school today?"I asked.

"It's Saturday and an holiday for us."she replied.

I smiled.

"You both wait here. I will bring you some refreshments."She went inside.

I was so confused because I don't know why did he bring me here. I looked at him and his face told me that he is not at all interested in telling me the purpose of this visit. I was disappointed.

"Ayesha, Stop being nervous everytime."he said calmly but I felt like it's a command. May be the circumstances.

I looked around waiting for Darshana to come back. Suddenly he stood up from the sofa turning towards me.

"Ayesha, I will be back after an hour. You please stay here with Darshu."

I was shocked and surprised.

"But where are you going?" I asked him.

"You don't need to know everything. Especially when it's my personal matter."he said in a stern tone not looking at my face.

I felt a sudden urge to cry. Wow. He is the one who brought me here and now he is leaving. And I don't need to know the reason behind anything that he is doing to me. I gulped and looked at him leaving the flat. I wanted to cry aloud but something inside me asked me to be strong. I tightly entwined my fingers and concentrated on it rather than thinking anything else. But it didn't work out.

Zain, why are you doing this to me?

Is this the way you are hurting me back?

I dont know what I am gonna do here.

Dont I have the right to know why did you bring me here?

Where did you go?

I turned back feeling someone tapping my shoulder. There standing Darshana with a smile. I tried to smile back but all efforts failed.

"Dont worry. I am the one who asked him to behave like this."she said shocking me to hell.

"What?"I stood up anxiously.

"Now you feel relaxed. Isn't it? Come with me."

She didnt wait for any response instead held my hand and dragged me inside the kitchen. It's a beautiful yet different kitchen. There is a shelf which holds many utensils. Behind that there is a shelf meant only for books. Actually not one. Many. I was wondered.

Who will keep a library inside the kitchen?

"Want to read books? Never mind. Go ahead. You dont need to ask permission."she said while pouring tea into a cup.

I looked at her amusingly.

"Believe me I am also a human. Just loves to read while cooking. That's all."she chuckled.

For a minute I was distracted from my previous thoughts. Then again thoughts about Zain reoccupied my mind.

"Did you really ask him to behave rude with me?"I asked doubtful.

"Yes. Actually I didn't ask him to be rude. Because he is always rude. It's just that you didn't see that side of his. But I asked him to pretend to be angry at you."she said as if she is telling some joke.

"Why?"

"To measure how fragile you are."she said making me wonder.

I lowered my head while thinking.

"Dont be confused. First of all have this tea."she gave me a cup of tea.

I was slowly sipping the tea when she made me sit on a chair beside the dining table. She took my hand and caressed it.

"You are absolutely nervous."she declared.

As if I need someone to inform me this great piece of information.

I know what I am.

I frowned.

"Do you want to slap me? Hit me? Atleast want to show your anger in any means?"she was so calm.

I was surprised at her question.

"Dont give me this look. You are perfectly alright as much as me. Have the tea first."she instructed.

I drunk the remaining tea as if I am participating in some competition. She laughed.

When was the last time I felt a person as annoying as her?

Surprising me she forwarded her hand for an handshake.
"Can we be good friends?"she asked and I could see the hope in her eyes.

"I think you deserve better. I can't be a good friend for anyone."

She was disappointed while pulling her hand back. But she quickly regained her posture.
"Or is it the other way around?"she asked.

I didn't respond.

"Anyway come let's have a stroll around this big yet small world of mine."

She said and I immediately stood up finally finding the best way to escape from her further tortures.

We went towards her bedroom which was neatly arranged with some paintings along the wall.

"This is the place where I spent most of my time. Because sleeping is the best medicine for majority of our problems. Both mentally and physically."she said jumping over to the bed.

I smiled slightly and she pulled me into the bed. I managed to sat properly on it.

"Tell me Ayesha. What are your hobbies?"she asked.

I thought for a while.
"I love to read and watch movies."

"Wow...that's so good. With whom you are talking majority in a day?"

"With my Maaji. But she is not in her conscious state."I said without any doubt.

"What all things you will talk to her?"

I gave her a disbelief look.
"Are you counselling me?"

"You felt so because you still didn't befriend me."

I looked away.

"Do you know how did I meet my boy friend Varun; Zain's best friend for the first time?"she asked and I shook my head.

"It's a long story. I was doing my psychology course at London and one day we visited a mental asylum along with our professor to gain some information from the doctors there. Unfortunately Varun who is a professional photographer for a leading magazine, also happened to visit there the same day. That was the time a patient escaped from the asylum. At our first meet, Varun felt like I am that patient who tried to escape. With all pride he caught me and submitted me infront of the doctor with a winning smile of an investigator."

"Then?" I laughed.

"Later he apologized me when he realized the truth. Initially I was angry at him, then one day he invited me for a coffee. Slowly we became good friends and then we decided to marry each other. Parents' pressures were there, but we managed to convince them with our true love."

I smiled.
"You are lucky."

"Everyone are."she said.

I was surprised at her calm and composed behavior.

"Now tell me what's your plan after studies?"she asked and this time I was not hesitant to speak with her. We talked a lot about my career, friends, Bangalore life and about my family.

"Are you missing Bangalore?"

"A little. Because it was the city where I taught a lot. How to stand alone without anyone's support. How to be an independent girl. Like that."

"Who said that you are an introvert? You talks a lot Ayesha. Most importantly talking sensitively. Not everyone can do that."she appreciated me and I felt so happy.

Slowly we moved out of her room and started roaming around the entire flat. Within a few minutes I felt a special bond with her and this place of hers.

"You are a gem dear. Not many people will value their passion over money. But you do. Great." She said while we sat down after a long stroll. She switched on the TV.

"Why did you ask Zain to behave like that?"I asked this time confident.

"To understand you more. The time when he left, you were so sad. But you didn't cry. Instead held back your emotions for me to not suspect you. You are so strong dear. When I said that I am behind his rude behavior, you instantly became relieved. I guess he is so special for you. Probably one of the rare people who could enter into your shell. Am I right?"

"I was not sure before. But now I am."I said confidently.

"And the best part is you are telling all this to me. May be I too became a good friend for you like him."she said and I giggled eventhough I know she is right.

"I dont have much friends here. My family is staying back at London. And Varun have no plans to return back. Zain is a great relief for me."she spoke.

"Can we be good friends?"I asked forwarding my hand towards her. Without a second thought she held my hand and hugged me.

"Thank you for coming. Dont think that Zain brought you here for getting you counselled. Actually I wanted a friend here. He told me that you too want some good friends with whom you can interact pretty easily. So I asked him to bring you here since I thought that it's us who should be together. Dont misunderstand him."

"Not at all. Within a few minutes I could share a lot with you eventhough I was initially annoyed." I stopped realizing how openly I told her it. I didn't remember the last time when I directly spoke someone's negatives at their face. I bit my lips.

"Dont be embarrassed. You are doing right. This shows that how much you meant your words that I could already become a good companion for you. I am so happy for that."she smiled giving me confidence. I smiled back.

How can she be so nice to me?

"So what are the plans for the marriage?"she asked.

"Nothing specific. Usually it's my cousins who will enjoy a lot. Not me."

"This time it won't be like that."she assured.

I didn't understand what she meant. But I am happy anyway.

"I am back."
We turned to see Zain standing near the door with his signature smirk. I wanted to punch his face and threw that smirk away from his face. He tensed me a lot and somewhat I deserve it.

"Oh you are here. But why?"Darshana teased him.

"Ayesha, I dont want to speak with this nuisance girl. Already I dont know how my friend fell in love with her. Tell her to stay away from me."he whined.

"Who invited you to my residence?"she snapped back.

I giggled seeing the two friends making fun of each other.

"Shall we go?"he asked coming near me.

"But she is not willing to come with you. She wants to stay back since she understood that I am better friend than you."Darshana said crossing her arms across her chest.

He raised his eyebrows and I nodded my head with a chuckle. He pouted.

"Ok time to go. Bapuji needs me there."I said and hugged her. She hugged me back. Zain smiled at us.

"See you again. I will call you."she pecked my cheek and it made me feel special.

"Let's go."I said to him and walked at front. He followed me.

We entered into the lift.

"Thank you Zain."I said more like a whisper and he smiled at me.

"Didn't I tell you that you always deserve the best?"he winked at me. I burst into a laugh.

This is awesome. Having people around us who cares for us despite of all our flaws. I sighed in relief and smiled.
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~ No one is you & That's your Super Power.

One more friend added to Ayesha's small circle; After Shamz & Zain, now its Darshana.

How is the chapter? Looking forward to hear from you.