I waved my hands as he stood on the entrance of the train, waving his hand back. A wide smile playing on his lips while I was attempting hard not to end into tears.

“I am going to miss you,” he screamed in the loud noises surrounding us.

“Me too,” I muttered in a small whisper as soon he started disappearing from my view. I was going to miss him! I was missing him at the moment. I sighed as I clenched the phone towards my heart as I made my way outside the railway station. He confessed that he held feelings for me. I had dreamt of this day. I had visualize it in every particular manner but when it happened, I wasn’t overjoyed with the revelation rather I was scared, afraid of upcoming scenario. Things were different when I thought it was one-sided, there wasn’t any expectation.

I walked into the building with a heavy heart. I ignored Ashwariya’s curious gaze as I concentrated on the work pending. Boss was in a very workaholic mood so I spent the entire day fully dedicated to work. As we were walking down, Ashwariya inquired if I was fine?

“I am,” I shrugged my shoulder. “What if I say that he confessed his feelings before leaving?” I mumbled staring at her with confusion showering me.

Her brain took a minute to register before she jumped in excitement. “Oh my god!” She exclaimed as she stared at me in horror. “Did I heard it correct?” She inquired, sounding doubtful. “He really confessed?” She was finding it difficult to believe. I gave a slight nod in affirmation.

“Shouldn’t you be dancing in happiness? Why are you so depressed?”

“Because I never expected it to happen!” I shook my head as I considered it. “What if he has mistaken? Or what if he confessed it because he was feeling guilty for rejecting me or he feared that he will lose our friendship if he didn’t reciprocate the feeling?”

“What’s wrong with you, Nivi? Isn’t this what you wanted from years?” She was staring at me in disbelief. “Why is it that difficult for you to accept that he can like you?”

“You have idea what the result will be?” I stared at her in frustration. Why couldn’t she understand the pain hidden behind my actions. “Neither of our family is going to agree about it. His parents are planning to marry him with his cousins and my parents are never going to approve of him.”

“But they don’t hate him or dislike him,” Aishwarya attempted to encourage me. “From being just a random stranger, you met online, he had ended up being a friend that they trust, why it can’t change into a guy that they trust of you spending a life with?”

“It isn’t that simple, Aishu.” I groaned as she was planting a seed of hope that would end up in destroying me. “Dad had made it clear that if we end up together it will lead to destruction.”

“So, its your duty to prove them wrong.” She mumbled, “for everything in life we have to work hard. You have worked hard to get to live a career you loved; you will have to work hard if you want to spent your rest of life with Faizal. Things aren’t going to be easy. You both are two different worlds; you will have to work harder to make it possible. This will be journey to test your power of love if it could survive the distance and difference between the two family.”

•••

“So, that was the reason he rudely ended up the call.” Siddhi groaned as I narrated the incident to her. “I was mad at him for behaving so arrogant but I forgive him for giving you, your greatest joy.” She grinned. I could claim, she was the happiest on receiving the news.

She had always been excited about my love story. She wanted me to have the best one! As she was aware about my craze for soulmate. “Yet I wanted to witness those beautiful moments of your life.”

“Aww… I know, that you love me the most.” I smiled at her.

“Does anyone from your…” I shook my head in denial.

“They aren’t still able to accept it. I mean with the Hindu-Muslim,” I shrugged my shoulder keeping it incomplete.

“It’s going to be tough but you would make it. Your love has the power to move mountains, Nivi. Never do give up,” she passed a reassuring smile. “Now, you have your biggest strength by your side. Bhai, he won’t leave you. Just grab on to him tight, trust him.”

“I won’t be able to fight with my parents,” I mumbled. “I can’t break their trust on me, Siddhi.”

“Do you think bhai isn’t aware about it? Why do you think that he opted to work so far away from his state? He just wanted to make a place in your world and he had succeeded in certain extent.” I nodded at her conclusion. “Your parents like him as human. They will also accept him as your life partner. Your parents love you, Nivi. They would see that he makes you happy, they will see that he really cares for you and can respect and protect you from the world around. The love he holds for you wouldn’t had been unnoticed by them but they are choosing to ignore.”

“I don’t want to raise my hope,” I muttered as I moved the conversation to the different topic.

 •••

As anticipated, Faizal had walked back into his life, he had turned busy. We would exchange messages, once or twice in the day but it was different from spending hours-minutes in each other presence. I missed him while going to office and coming back home. I missed his presence as I walked out of the building. His presence would lift my mood after a chaotic day at office.

I sighed as I pulled my ringing phone. It was Zain! Why was he calling me at such early hour?

“Good morning,” he greeted. “Assalamu Alaikum,” he greeted a huge smile playing on his lips.

“Wa-Alaikum-Salaam,” I mumbled with a smile.

“Wah ji, you’re learning,” there was an impressive grin playing on his face.

“Why did you call me at such an hour?” I frowned, the worries budging in. He never called me.

“Why am I not allowed to call? You keep repeating you dislike calls but you have no problem having an video call with Azia.”

“Stop being jealous of Azia, bhai.” Aahana groaned in the background, “and stop wasting time and come to the topic.”

“Okay,” Zain groaned. “Azia wanted to talk to you,” he lowered the phone so Azia could come into view. Azia was sitting in his lap while licking from the orange candy in his hand. “Calm down, girl its all yours!” He was attempting to slow down the furious girl who was on the verge of crying as instead of candy, phone was placed before her face.

“Hi, princess!” I waved a hand at her while a smile spread on my face. I glanced at the building before me, maybe few minutes of conversation with Azia won’t cause any harm.

“Candu…” her toothy-smile could lift my mood any single day.

“How are you baby?”

“I had asked you not to trouble her so early in the morning.” I heard an annoyed-sleepy groan of Faizal.

“She has no problem with talking with Azia,” Zain countered back but the phone was jerked from his hand as a messy-black hairs came into view. His hand was rubbing his face as he was attempting hard to push back his yawn. He might had just woke-up. Their loud voice hadn’t allowed him to grab few hours of sleep and that annoyed me. His dark-black orbs were staring at me in exhaustion.

“Why are you up so early?” I glared at him. Why couldn’t he take care of himself? “You had slept last night after 2 am,” I wasn’t going to take any of his excuse.

“You’re getting late for the office,” he mumbled. “We can talk about it later.”

“No! We aren’t! Have you seen those dark-circles around your eyes. You need sleep, Faiz.” I was pleading with him. “Who had asked you to opt for night-shift. You hardly get to sleep.”

“I do sleep,” he mumbled. “It just I woke-up early today,” he shrugged his shoulder, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.

“Why?” I almost pouted while he chuckled as he shook his head. 

“You already know the answer,” he grumbled as he glanced at the people surrounding him. “Your favorites are the reason behind it. And now they are planning to disturb you as well,” he groaned. “Get to work, you’re already late.” He informed as he waited for my response.

“I don’t want to go in that boring building,” I grumbled. He passed that adorable smile which had the power to melt my heart.

“I don’t have to attend work, today.” He informed, “so we can have a video-call after your working hours.”

“Really?” I was excited. “Azia will be there?” He gave a nod while I grinned at him. “You’re the best!” I giggled in excitement.

“Bye,” he chuckled.

“Bye…” with those words I ended the call.

 •••

Rather than Faizal, it was Zain who called me while I was sitting in the living area.

“Did I disturb?” Zain inquired while I shook my head. “You had promised a video-call to Azia.”

“Yes, I did!” Dad peeped into the cell at the unfamiliar voice. “He is Faizal’s cousin, Zain.” I introduced while Zain provided dad with a nervous smile.

“How are you, uncle?”

“I am fine,” dad mumbled concentrating back on the match telecasted on the television. I excused myself from the living-area towards my room.

“Is uncle annoyed by my behavior?” Zain sounded concerned. “Faizal bhai had warned me not to disturb.”

“Are you so scared of him?” I chuckled at the thought of it. Zain had always behaved as his younger brother who was afraid of his elder-strict brother.

“I am not scared of him. I was just foolish to unfold one of my deepest secrets to Aahana who in-return confessed it to him. He keeps on blackmailing me with it.” He pouted and I felt bad for him.

“This is about the Sara thing?” I inquired, he widens his orbs in horror as he scanned his surroundings.

He moved towards the corner as he whispered softly, “don’t take her name like that! It’s risky!” His orbs were filled with fear. “People in our family are against love marriage. I need to have a proper plan before they get a hint about it.” I nodded at his serious face. He surely was invested in her or I had never seen Zain so serious.

“Don’t worry from now on, he won’t trouble you with this topic.” I assured him.

“Really? No wonder, you’re my favorite.”

“Who is your favorite?” I heard a familiar masculine voice which had a little softness to it. Ahmed peeped into the screen as he passed me a smile. “I thought she was someone else favorite. What’s your view on it, Faizal?” Ahmed had a teasing smile as he glanced at right direction. Maybe Faizal was standing at his right.

“I don’t care…” his voice lacked interest.

“How are you, Nivi?” Ahmed mumbled grabbing the phone from Zain.

“Wait! We are having some important discussion,” Zain attempted to protest against his cell-phone being grabbed from him.

“I had asked you not to disturb her,” Faizal groaned in the background. Yet I wasn't rewarded with his face. Hadn’t he promised a video-call? I pouted! How could he forget it?

“He isn’t disturbing me.” I felt the need to correct him. “We were enjoying ourself until you decided to disturb us.”

“OH! My!” I heard Ahmed chuckled.

Zain grabbed the phone from Ahmed. “Don’t you both have something else to do than disturbing us?” Zain sounded confident as he questioned them.

“Fine, I won’t disturb you from now on…” With that as finale statement Faizal walked out.