Ayesha's PoV

"Girl.... Finally you are here. I was searching for you."

I was playing with Noisy at our court yard when suddenly Zain appeared infront of me. It was unexpected. I didnt want this now. Facing him, talking with him...Nothing. I looked around trying to find an excuse to escape from him. After all this is what I was doing for an entire day now; after hearing his parents' conversation about me. Leaving each time he appears infront of me; before he starts a conversation with me.

I didn't want to do that actually.

But I am so helpless now.

May be I am a coward too.

I dont want to be hurted again only because I got attached to him.

I stood up staring at him after releasing noisy from my lap.

"Why did you search for me?" I asked with a stern voice which he left unnoticed.

"Why didnt you come with us for the movie? Even our aunties joined us, but you."he asked serious yet concerned.

"Zain I was having a bad headache. I couldn't afford to watch a movie." I answered only for the sake of answering.

I tried to leave but he suddenly blocked my way with his hands.

"What happened to you? You are suddenly behaving different."he remarked.

"What?"

"What happened to that smile which would be always on your face?"he asked making me difficult to do it.

Doing what?

Avoiding him.

"You are hallucinating. I am the same Ayesha."I said more to myself.

Yes, the same Ayesha before he comes.

The same one who didn't want to talk more.

Who was always afraid of people.

Everything was easy that time.

I should return back to that Ayesha.

This is the need of the hour.

"I may hallucinate. But won't lie like you."he stated sternly and started walking away.

"Excuse me. What do you mean by that?" I asked much to my disbelief.

Eventhough I wanted to stay away from him, I couldn't stop myself from asking that.

He stopped on his track and turned his head to face me as if he was waiting for me to ask it.

"I am not good at observing people. Unlike you. But coming to people who are close to me, I can realize the change in their behavior."his statement shocked me.

"Its ok Ayesha. If you dont want me near you, I wont trouble you even with a word. But remember, if you want to avoid me do it in a good way. Sometimes it hurts me."His face has lost all the colors.

He was nomore the same Zain who was pleasant always. His face showed hurt.

Did I actually do this with him?

I felt shame. But more than that I am surprised. It's been only a day I started avoiding him. And he found it already.

"Listen Zain. Its not like that. Dont misunderstand me."I tried to say.

"Misunderstand what?"

"I thought to stay away from you because you want people who are helpful in killing your time. Not someone like me who helps you only get bored." I finally said it.

He smirked.

"What do you think about yourself? If you were boring, Zain Ali Ahamed would have kept himself stay away from you. Do you really think that I am coming to you only because I dont have anyone else to spend time with?"he was serious making me terrified.

I didnt have an answer. Because literally he shut my mouth.

He pointed towards Noisy who is now sleeping on the ground.

"Look at your pet. Atleast that creature owns a brain unlike you. Its not me, it's you who hallucinates. Not hallucinate, actually over thinks."

He took a step towards me and held my shoulders tightly.

"Do you know what is your actual problem?"he asked almost shouting.

"You thinks over the same issue again and again. And make it even more bigger. You enjoys hurting yourself."he stopped making me dumbfounded.

"The person Ayesha is perfect for me. There is nothing she lacks. A normal girl. But about your mind, there is something surely lacks."he said pitying me.

"Now take this as your new topic for over thinking. And avoid the entire world who comes for your help. I am going. Bye." He left leaving me confused.

I felt my head spinning and sat on the ground.

May be he is right.

But he dont know anything. What I am going through.

Why can't people allow me to live in peace?
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"Ayesha......"I saw Zain coming towards me with a glass of water in his hand. He remains unaffected. I dont know how he can remain calm even after what happened few hours ago.

It was a horrible late evening for me. I didnt feel to do anything else other than sleep. But then the aunties gang targeted me for sleeping at this time. Then I came towards the terrace and sat on a corner. At least people will let me be in peace here. I thought so. But I was wrong. I understood it when I saw Zain here. He sat beside me. I looked at the glass in his hand.

"I didn't ask you water."

"I know. But I needed a reason to meet you."he smiled at me. It sent peace to my heart. A great relief for me.

"I thought you are angry at me."

"I am not mad. Unlike you. To get angry for unexisting reasons and to avoid people whoever it is."he said while gulping down the entire water in the glass in a single sip.

"I am sorry."

"Shut up and give some rest to your non existing brain."he said.

I stared at him in disbelief. I looked away when he turned his face to smile at me.

"I didn't know you were very fragile to get hurted for each and everything occurring around you."he commented.

"Zain...that...."

"Shhhh... Dont talk. Just listen to me."

I shut my mouth.

"I don't know what made you hurt. But I am sure that's the reason why you suddenly started avoiding me. Whatever it is, I am not asking you that. I dont even want to know"he declared.

I felt relaxed.

"But Ayesha. Just tell me. Are you responsible for making everyone around you happy the way they wants? Do they own you?"

He asked and I had no answer.

"Sometimes people will be disappointed with you. May be your actions. Or anything else. But remember you are not here to satisfy everyone around you. You are born to live your life."

I smiled unknowingly.

"And you should start giving such people a dont care attitude."

"Zain it's not easy like you think. Especially when I loves them."

"You loves them. What about them? If they loves you back, they shouldn't be a reason why you cry. And if they don't, why should you waste your time for them?"he asked.

I didn't tell anything.

"Ayesha. You are sad thinking about someone who didn't understand you. What about me? I always wished good for you. Then why did you do this with me?" His face showed hurt.

"Do you know what I was going through when you suddenly stopped talking with me? When you started avoiding me? When you started finding excuses to escape from my existence?"

I was dumbstruck.

I was too cruel to hurt him.

Suddenly the soft hearted Ayesha became cruel.

That too with Zain.

I felt regret.

"I was thinking and thinking about the non existing reason when I hurted you. But...I dont know when it happened. To be frank I was disappointed with your behavior."he stated.

My heart stopped for a moment. My eyes felt wet. Before the first tear drop falls down, he caught it with his hand. I looked at him totally wondered.

"Ayesha, tell me what made you hurt? I know you are hurted more than me. But why?"he asked.

I didn't know what to tell.

"Nothing" I replied.

"But your tears telling me another story."

I closed my eyes feeling his gaze over me.

"Listen. I am not asking to the cousin whom I met after many years, but to the friend I made within a few days. Actually just few hours."

I smiled slightly.

His words have that power.

It was enough to break the storm inside me.

"I am not smart, I am not talkative, I am reserved, I am not at all good as a girl. Actually as a woman." I sobbed again.

He looked at me for a moment and then bursted into laugh. I was wondered.

"Who told you all this rubbish?"he asked still laughing.

I didn't tell him about the person who told this. That I can never do with him.

"You know what. My mama used to shout me Zain sweetheart, my boy, please shut your mouth for a while. My ears will soon blast hearing your talks. Hahaha..."he continued laughing but I didnt find a joke in it.

"She sometimes even tell me to bring some cotton to save her ears." He chuckled again.

He came closer to me.

"You can't be the over talkative Zain. Same way I can never be the silent yet cute and smart Ayesha."he said making me wonder.

I gave him a disbelief expression.

"What did you say?"I asked blinking my eyes.

"You are beautiful and smart in your own way. Do you really think that you are such a waste of time?"He paused.

"Fine. I can talk a lot. Not like you. But I can never reach the heights what you have gained with your talent. You achieved a lot dear. Till I got a job, it was my Baba who paid for all my needs including studies. But you didnt have to ask for a single penny from your family. You became a doctor with your own money that you earned though your skill. If you did all this, do you really think that you are not smart? Get that thought out of your brain first."he said in a scolding tone.

"Zain..I... actually I don't know what's happening with me. I am..just...."

"Hey dont think so much. If anyone ask about Ayesha, no one will tell anything bad. But if they ask about me, no one will hesitate to tell how much nuisance I am causing to their ears. That's the difference"

I giggled. He smiled.

"You are a fighter Ayesha. You are fighting against the whole world alone. You have no idea how much respect I am having for you."he touched my nose cutely.

"Dont lie."I said.

"I am not. It's the truth."he interfered.

I felt so happy. Because he is genuine. I felt bad for hurting him. He cares for me.

"Sorry for avoiding you. Please forgive me."I spoke from heart holding my ears.

"Only if you give me a chance to punch the face of the person who spoke bad about you."

"Oh no......"I screamed loudly.

"That means definitely someone had bad-mouthed you. Tell me who did hurt you?"he asked angrily this time.

"Whoever it is I don't care now."I stated making him relax and smile.

"That's my boy"he slapped my arm playfully.

I chuckled.

"How did you feel when I didn't talk with you?"I asked after relieving from the stress.

"I wanted to punch you that time. If it was not the poor fragile Ayesha, I would have done it. Seriously how dare you think about avoiding me? I tried to enquire you for the reason. But you ignored me badly."

I felt sad hearing him.

"Once I thought about kidnapping you also and tie you somewhere so that you can't run away from me. But I can't hurt you Ayesha"he said.

"Don't know what bond I feels with you, but one thing sure. I don't falls into that category of people whom you should give that don't care attitude."

I smiled from my heart.

"Zain you are so nice."I said.

"Congrats. You are the first person ever existing on this earth who had the audacity to tell that Zain is nice. This calls for a celebration."he clapped.

I laughed aloud.

"I don't know why you are so innocent. But you should start standing for you. It's time for that Ayesha. You should start thinking about you, what your heart wants. I know the only time when you protested against your mama is when she insisted you to do some other course. You were not ready to give up on your dream career. That spirit. You should show it again. You have a big dream madam. You can."

"Wait. How do you know about my dream?"I asked in wonder.

"It's not me. Its you who told me about the big things that you wants to do. But I don't know what it is exactly. I didnt ask you also since you are always reluctant in opening your heart."

"It's not like that Zain."

"It's just like that Ayesha."

I kept quiet for a while. His gaze was not leaving me. I felt really bad for treating him always as a stranger. On the other side, he didn't complain me regarding that. He still cares for me and always being a good friend of mine.

"Zain. I will tell you about my dreams." I decided to open my heart finally. He deserves to know.

"Seriously?"

"I loved my baba a lot. He was my biggest support. I lost him the time when I didn't expect it. His sudden death shattered me. It was because of an heart attack we lost him. We were able to bring him to the hospital at town. But it was too late. Doctor told us that if we could have bring him half an hour earlier, we wouldn't have lost him."

I wiped the tears from my face.

"That made me think a lot. Doctor's words. And then I decided to become a doctor. I wanted to save many lives and thereby many families. Like I lost my baba, noone should lost their loved ones anymore. In this village. Only because they couldn't bring them to hospital at right time."I saw him with a bright smile.

"My dream is to start a hospital here in this village so that no more families will lose their loved ones because of the reason that they are late."I said proudly. It gives me immense pleasure each time I am saying it loud.

He looked at me admiringly.

"I know it's not easy. But I am sure that I can make it work one day. I may have to work in some other hospital initially to gain money. After having enough fund, I will start my way towards my dream."

I looked at him who is still staring at me. I raised my brows at him. Surprising me he came more close towards me.

"I don't know what to say Ayesha. My respect for you has increased thousand folds more."he said and I smiled.

Suddenly he looked at me as if he remembered something. He hesitated to ask me.

"What's that?"

"I heard that you were brilliant in sports. Why did you then give it up?"

My face fell down.

"Hey come on. Tell me. I want to know."

"I loved sports a lot. But I didn't want to continue anything that can deviate me from my dreams. So I quit every extra curricular activity. I don't regret for that. But each time someone mention about that, I feel something missing inside me. So I threw away all my certificates and trophies that I got for sports inside the store room."

"It's ok Ayesha. You can achieve anything if you have this spirit. Nothing is gone."

I smiled faintly.

"If anyone tell you those words again which hurted you, just reply them get lost. Because you are more than what they can imagine."he said making me happy.

"Smile always. Your smile is not something that should be faded away with other's judgement about you. You are not born to make others happy. You are here to inspire others to live their life. I am so lucky to meet you and have you in my life."

I smiled hearing his words. And it was enough for all the worries to vanish away from my mind. He grinned at me seeing my smile. And for the first time I felt that he is more mature and sensible than I thought. He is a surprise that happened in my life.
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