Editor- iimanmaeen

"Why do you pray?" Zeenat asked as soon as Jahan folded her prayer mat.

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you pray? Is that difficult to understand?"

"It's difficult to understand why you are always asking this question."

"Because I want to know."

"Ok. For inner peace. Because Allah commanded us to pray. Because I don't want shaytan to win. You want more reasons?"

"You still believe in Allah?" Zeenat asked frowning.

Jahan raised her eyebrows and gave a nod to her head,"Yes."

"Why? If Allah was really there then he would have protected you. Why were you on road for five days!?"

"But Then slowly things changed and now Alhumdulillah we are happy."

"Happy? Seriously? After losing your parents and living on the road for five days you still say you are happy now? How can you forget what happened to you!?"

"It's difficult to forget. But one should love themselves enough to forget everything and live a peaceful life."

"Miss.Jahan Aara you are weird."

Jahan smiled before sitting on her bed,"We can discuss this later. Now let's sleep."

"Weird weird girl." Zeenat said walking towards the bed.

"Allah will give you strength to forget everything."

"Stop it! Switch off the lights!"

Jahan laughed before switching off the lights.

***

"Why don't you start studying?" Jahan asked.

"What?" Zeenat asked in confusion.

"You wanted to study further,right?"

"Yes I wanted to but that was years ago."

"You can still start studying. See you are a nursery school teacher. So you only have to invest four hours of your day. You are free for the rest of the day so why don't you invest it in something you like."

"Really?"

"Yes. See give your twelfth this year and then you can join the college or do a course or whatever you want!"

"She is right." Izaan said coming in the room.

"Is it really possible?" Zeenat asked Jahan.

"Yeah!"

Izaan sat next to Jahan on the floor and started filling his plate with food.

"Bhaijaan that's possible right?"

"Why will it be impossible? But you need all your documents."

"I have all of them!" Zeenat said in excitement.

"Good then Select a field and then start studying." Izaan said.

"If you select commerce then I can help you and if you select science then Bhaijaan can help you. But If you want to take arts then Allah Malik."

"I always wanted to..."

"To?" Jahan asked frowning.

"I won't tell now! Last time i told everyone and my father stopped me from studying. So you will either never come to know what it is or in next five years you will see me doing that."

"What's your age?" Jahan asked.

Zeenat finally smiled,"You don't even know my age. We are roomies from past two months!"

"You never talk about yourself​!"

"Jahan Ma will come down all the way from Jannah to slap you for talking while eating. Eat quietly."

"Yeah please!" Zeenat said.

"Rules applies to you too." Izaan said to Zeenat.

She looked at Jahan and they both smiled immediately. They were quiet for the rest of the time. After they were done Jahan and Zeenat picked up everything and went to the kitchen. Soon they started cleaning the kitchen.

"We will get the books tomorrow!"Jahan said.

"You are really excited." Zeenat said smiling.

"My best friend is going back to school! That's exciting."Jahan said.

Zeenat looked up at her and Jahan started keeping the left over in the fridge.

"You know my mom completed her education after she had Bhaijaan! My father always gave importance to education. That's why we both made sure to complete our education!"

"You are in last year,right?"

"Yes. InshaAllah I have finals next month and then I will be done!"

"Then You will be a laywer. But I have one question, Why are you working as a primary school teacher?"

"I needed job and that school actually belongs to my dad's best friend. So he gave me a job there. I attend college in the moring and then I work after that."

"But your brother works! He can pay your fees."

"Yes he can. But unfortunetly 80% of his salary goes in the loan repayment. Our father took a loan to strat his business but soon after that he passed away. Now bhaijaan has to pay it back."

"Oh."

"His salary is really good but it's of no use."

"How long will this laon last?"

"I don't know exactly but it's almost done. Last year we found out our father had bought a plot so we sold it and payed the loan. So InshaAllah we will be free from it soon."

"oh."

"Alhumduillah done! I hate doing kitchen work! My mom always use to say your mother in-law will send you back for not working. And see now I have to work here daily!"

"Get married to a rich man and enjoy."

Jahan laughed,"I love fantacy but I know my limits."

"Ok. Now let's sleep. I'm going on a picnic with my class tomorrow."

"All the best! It is going to be difficult as kids love to run. So be careful."

"I hate kids!"Zeenat said leaving the room.

"Who hates kids?"Jahan whispered to herself.

***

"So what are we having for dinner?"Kamran asked.

"I don't know."Izaan said.

"You know we are having dinner at your place right?"

"Yes."

"Ouch. How do you travel in this bus!"

"Like all the other 90% indians."

"Alhumdulillah I brought my car with me when left the house."

Izaan shook his head and Kamran smiled,"So you really have to pay for the ticket?"

"Of couse! This bus does not belong to my father!"

"But it's public transport provided by government. They say they provide service to the people then why do they charge for it?"

"Because even Government needs money!"

"We pay tax!Plus it's public service by Government. That should be free."

"Never run a government!"

"India is not so lucky!"

"I will arrange your meeting with Mr. Modi. You have have this discussion with him."

"One day I will be his personal advisor."

"I hope I'm dead by then."

"Can I then have your dad's watch?It's so classy!"

Izaan rolled his eyes and stood up.

"What?"Kamran asked in cinfusion.

"It's our stop. Do you want to stay in this bus forever?"

"Oh! No. I want to eat Jahan Aara's tasty food."

They both went to towards the door and came out of the bus.

"You know I can do anything for home made food. My mom never made it. She was always busy. But now I realise how tasty home made food is!"

"My sister hate cooking food. She is waiting for me to get married so that she won't have to cook. She says she will do everything but won't cook food."

"But what if your future wife does not like cooking and is planning the same?"

"Then I'm dead bro."

Kamran laughed and Izaan smiled. Soon they reached their destination. They took the lift and after few seconds the lift opened on the eight floor. Izaan walked towards the door and ringed the bell.

"Dude was I supposed to bring something?"Kamran asked.

"What something?"

"Yesterday Mr. Bhoir was saying that he was going to his best friend's house so he had to buy something because he couldn't go empty hand."

"That's when you visit your best friend once ina year."

"But I always come here when your sister is not at home. So I don't need to bring anything,right?"

"Saying when your sister is not at home was not neccessary."

"Well it was. because I'm not allowed here when she is here!I don't understand it."

"Zeenat opened the door and they both looked at her. She smiled at Izaan and went inside.Boys came in and sat down on the sofa.

"I have never stopped you from coming here when my sister is at home."

"Yeah but you always invite me here only when she is not here. I fail to understand that."

"It would be uncomfortable for her and she will be locked in her room then. It would be fine for you but I also have to think about my sister."

"weird. Why did you allow me to come here today then?"

"Because it's your birthday and you love her food that's why."

"Oh. Thank you so much. No wait! what do you say? Jazaku khair."

"JazakAllahu khairan.Ïzaan corrected him.

"Yeah that same thing!"

Izaan went to the kitchen and took one water bottle and headed towards the living room. He handed the bottle to kamran before sitting next to him.

"Thanks bro.By the way the girl who opened the door is the girl you adopted right?"

Izaan narrowed his eyes at him,"Adopted?"

"Yeah! You are feeding her and educating her. And also she looks young.So she is your adopted daughter."Kamran joked.

Izaan rolled his eyes making Kamran laughed.

"At times I really think why am I friends with you"

"Because you are one luckly man!"

Jahan giggled and Zeenat raised her eyebrows,"What's funny?"

"What he just said."Jahan said.

"Who?"Zeenat asked in confusion.

"Kamran! You didn't listen to what he just said?"

"No. I was too busy cutting this cucumber. How to cut it?"

Jahan smiled,"You rich spoil brat.Wait I will cut it for you."

"Thank you."

"You know how to cook and work but what's up with cucumbers?"

"Once I was cutting it but I was not careful and ended up cutting my palm. It was bleeding the whole night and after that also for few hours daily!"

"Ya Allah!"

"Then Ammi banned me from cutting cucumers. It's not like I dont know how to do that but I'm scared. Now Ammi is not here to take care of me."

"Mothers protect us so much!"

"But they should not do that. Afer them this world crushes us."

"Alhumdulillah we at least had someone who was protecting us. There are people who never met people who love them or protect them."

"You always have something to say Alhumdulillah about, right?"

"We all always have something to be Alhumdulillah for."

"No that's not true."

"Yes it is."

"There is not point arguing with you.You are a stubbon girl."

"Jazaki Allahu Khairan."

"Jahan!"

"Love you Zeenat."