Curfew was dismissed and the world was back on track. The rebels were caught and put in jail yet my parents were against me joining the office and I was against Faizal walking out of the house.

"What so difficult to understand?" I scolded as I wrapped my arms around my chest as I was glaring at my best friend.

"I have a work to attend," he reasoned out.

"You are injuried and you should ask for a leave," my orbs were glaring at him.

"Yes, Faizal, your wounds hadn't healed. If you're going to sit there for seven hours, the injury is going to worsen up." Mumtaz Aunty was trying to convince her stubborn son.

"Ammi," Faizal sighed, his orbs glancing at me in disbelief. "You called her just so I listen to you," he shook his head.

"She had given me the task of taking care of her annoying son," I shrugged my shoulder. "I was doing the need full," he raised his brow in questioning manner, amusing smile playing on his lips.

"Annoying son?" His orbs were sparkling in amusement as he took a step towards me.

"Yep," I nodded attempting hard to hold my posture. Things were different between us and I could feel it! His behaviour towards me had changed after the incident. I could see his struggle as if he was attempting hard to hold himself back. "Do you have any problem with it?"

"I do," he was getting closer and it was accelerating my heart. He grabbed the cell from my hand. "Ammi, don't worry, I will try to rest and not load myself but I have to attend the office."

"You aren't!" I glared at him not bothering that his mother could hear our exchange. "You're aware things hadn't changed outside! People are having hard feelings against each other, I am not allowing you to walk out," I folded my arms around my chest.

"You can't decide for me," he imitated my determined look. I groaned in frustration.

"Why you have to be stubborn? I am just asking you to take care," I pouted as he was determined to argue.

"I am going to be fine," his voice soften as if he was on the verge of giving-up. "Do you think, I would be arguing if I had an option to back off? I had already taken few days leave, the boss had warned me to arrive, today." He sighed in exhaustion, "not everyone are as fortunate as you." He groaned, "being allowed to work from home."

"Are you getting jealous?" I giggled as I pulled his cheek.

His orbs sparkling in admiration as his arms wrapped around my waist. "Yes! I am..." The intimacy between us was making my heart to beat loudly in anticipation.

Why was he behaving different! Attempting to be touchy, his hands had hard time keeping to himself. He wasn't like that before! We did had friendly flirting but things were changing between us and it was making me nervous.

"Faizal," Aunt Mumtaz voice made me almost jump on my place as I attempted to put some distance between us but Faizal seemed least bothered as if he had made his mind.

"Leave me..." I mumbled softly.

"Why?" He groaned, disappointment visible in his orbs as he attempted to read my face. "Ammi, I am getting late for the work. I will..."

"Wait a second, Aahana wanted to talk to you." Her words did something to my heart, as if God sent me a reality check. I was struggling hard to get out of his grip but he was stubborn.

"Ammi, I said..." He paused for a second, his concerned orbs fixed on me while I was attempting hard to hide my face from his burning gaze.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Aahana seemed upset, "you haven't seen my messages yet you're online."

"I am busy in my work, Aahana." Faizal hissed in annoyance. "I had told you earlier, stop wasting your time in me. You should be concentrating on your career. You wanted to become IPS officer, you should be thinking about..."

"You wanted me to become an IPS officer," Aahana mumbled. "Have you forgotten? It was your wish, you wanted me to be so powerful that none could ever harm me. Why have you stopped caring? Why have you changed?" I could feel the sadness in her voice.

"I haven't changed!" Faizal yelled, I widen my orbs at his outburst. He lossen his grip as he looked away, "it was you who always took my action in a wrong manner." He was fuming in rage.

"Faiz..." I touched his wrist, gesturing him to take it easy. Even if he cared or wasn't interested, he needed to voice it in a manner that it would harm her less.

"It's about her, right?" Her voice broke. "Why did I opted to convince myself that you won't change?"

"Aahana..." Faizal breathed, his orbs locked on me. "I haven't changed! None had asked me about my choice before connecting my name with yours. Had I ever acted in a manner that convinced you that I did share a feeling towards you?"

"Aahana..." I wasn't able to hold my tongue back. "I get you..." I mumbled, "I had felt the same heartbreaking feeling. It's not your fault trust me, it's not! You carved for love just as I did. I also had took someone action in a wrong manner. That love, care, support are so rare that when one offers it we are convinced that they are in love with us, but that not necessary. That is a human trait to offer it to another individual without having it to be romantic, and the minute I realised it, life had turned less hectic." My orbs glanced at Faizal, his orbs conveyed he wasn't pleased with my statement but I wanted him to hear it.

•••

My statement had affected Faizal in a harsh manner. I was gifted with a skill to read body language. I could understand people without them expressing a word.

And his sulky face was an indicator that he was upset, he was attempting hard to concentrate on the conversation happening on the dining table. His orbs rooted on the half finished plate, his orbs had lost the spark it contained from past few days while his lips was turned into a thin line.

"Would you like Idli?" Shruti inquired as she placed an Idli on his plate.

"Let him have it first," mom objected.

Things in our house has changed after the devastating night. I had never seen such an event in my entire life, the damage was real! People had started viewing each other as criminal but situation in our family was different and I was amazed with the scenario.

"I will have to go back to my room." Faizal informed while I was glaring at his direction. We had a conversation of him going back to office but nothing about walking back to room was mentioned!

"But, why?" Mom stared at him in confusion, "Jay had told you not to leave until, you're fully recovered."

"I am going back to office, it will be better if I go back. I have stayed for more than a week and situation is turning back to normal, so..." He was going to reason-out but I interrupted.

"Nothing had gone back to normal," I hissed in annoyance. "People are hidden in their neighbours house so they could survive," I groaned at Faizal's foolish decision. "These reporters are hiding the news, so the government won't be blamed. Just for few numbers of votes, they had build such a hate that it would take decade to disappear." I shook my head, "why are you so against your well-being?"

"Try to understand, Nivi." Faizal sighed seeing my upset face. "I had to, or I would never be deciding..."

"They can't force you to joint the office when things are turning worse," dad jumped in the conversation. "As much as I don't want to agree with Nivi yet it's true, people have turn monsters. Muslims are minority in these area and after those burning and damaging of property by some rebels, people are dying to harm Muslim. More than Nivi, you're not safe outside. It would be better if you stay behind."

Faizal passed a smile while I stared at dad with admiration. I was glad that dad wasn't allowing his orthodox mentality to have a troll over him rather listening to the small whispers of humanity.

"It will be better if he goes back," Chechi mumbled. "Our neighbours will soon start getting offended with his stay," she grumbled.

"What do they have to do with..." I was going to argue but Shruti grabbed my wrist, forcing me to shut-up.

"What's wrong with you, Nivi?" Mom scolded, "have you lost your manners?"

"That is the reason one could choose friend wisely," Chechi orbs glanced at Faizal's direction.

"He had nothing to do with my behaviour with you," I groaned. "He is far beyond your way of thinking," I shook my head. "Don't you feel an ouch of guilt or sympathy for the person who clearly risked his life so Jiju could take you to a safer place."

"We had shown our sympathy," she mumbled. "We have kept him in our house for more than a week. What more do you except from us, to allow you to get married to him?" Her orbs were fuming in rage. "Do you think, I am a fool? I haven't seen you spending nights in the same room has his. What are you trying to do with keeping him in the house?"

"Chechi..." Dad voice turned furious, "it will be better if you don't speak such words."

"Why won't I?" She glared at my father. "I had voiced it many times, to keep her in track. Don't appreciate her stupid stunts! You can see the result of the freedom you offered her. Now, she want to marry a Muslim guy."

"What's wrong if she wants to marry a Muslim or Christian or anyone on the world?" Shruti stood from the chair, holding my hands in hers. "I respect you alot but I won't ever allow you to degrade my sister's character. There isn't  anything wrong with them but surely wrong with your mentality. The cheap thinking you process, two individuals can be under same roof and not be involved in things your mind make up," disgust was visible in Shruti's voice.

"If you have forgotten, Faizal was wounded and he had hard-time moving his muscles. Nivi used to be by his side because she was genuinely concerned about his well-being. You might not appreciate it but due to him, none of my family members was injured, he risked himself and I would always be grateful for it. Nivi was just attempting to be of any help for him."

"By staying alone in the room with him? Haven't I witnessed their closeness? Stop trying to defend her sinful activities. You will just drag her further into the pit."

"If you have hard feelings towards me, I am more than happy to leave." Faizal pressed, "you don't need to drag Nivi into this."

"I am not dragging her into this," she muttered. "She is into this..." She paused for a second, I wasn't able to hold back the tears, it was mostly frustration showering me. How could someone have such cheap views about me? And that someone was a family member. It was shattering my heart! How could she have such a view about me. Was that a reason Shruti constantly warned me to keep distance from Faizal? Was she aware of their mentality!

"Subhash would you appreciate your daughter spending a night alone with a stranger? If the news spread out are you even aware what the consequences will be?"

"You're exaggerating it!" I heard a frustrated groan, "why are you doing this? Just to prove the point that I am bad company for Nivi?" My orbs raised as I glanced at Faizal. His orbs lack emotions, his face pulled into a stern expression. "Fine! I accept it, stop troubling her with your such cruel words."

"The fact that a stranger cares about her more than her family members," Shruti mumbled, disappointed visible in her voice.

"It's isn't like that!" Mom mumbled but my orbs were locked on Faizal. "Chechi is speaking the truth. Our society don't think twice before spreading a rumors, words spread faster than air."

"Yet it won't be spread without a source," Dad uttered. "And I think none have any personal gain in spreading the news," his orbs averted from Chechi towards me. "And I do trust my daughter she won't commit a thing that would put me into a shame." His words did calm my anxious-upset feeling yet it registered the underlying meaning behind it. I won't put him in shame, indirectly claiming that I won't connect myself with Faizal.