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"Hello, Zarrar Hamidi speaking."

"Why is your phone busy from the past week?"

"Excuse me, who is this?"

"Haww Lala! How do you not have your only sister's number saved?!"

"Which sister are you talking about?"

"Lala, beghairati na karein! Ek behen ka to yaad nahi rehta aapko, khayalon mein kitni behenein paal rakhi hai aapne?"

(Don't be shameless, brother. You can't remember your only real sister and in your imagination you have more sisters?!)

"Kya chahiye, Layli?" Zarrar sighed, as he put the call on speaker, skipping through an important email.

(What is it?)

"Sunein, mujhe aapse baat nahi karni." Her voice boomed through the speaker.

(Listen, I don't want to talk to you.)

"Shahbash, mujhe bhi nahi karni. Khuda Hafiz!" Zarrar replied, ready to cut the call but, she screeched again.

(Good job! Neither do I. Bye)

"Lala, god give me patience. I pity your future wife. Not even a deranged bandariya will marry you with this attitude of yours.."

"Layli—"He sighed again, this time rubbing his forehead but, time his niece's equally screechy voice came through the speaker cutting him off.
"Mamuu! When are you visiting? Yasi Mamu said you'd buy us mango milkshakes."

"Warda Jaan, mango milkshakes aren't good for your health. Your Yasi Mamu is already a brain-dead leech. All his teeth are going to fall off because of cavities."

"No-way! Can I sell all his teeth to the tooth fairy for money?"

"You can sell him entirely if you want, Jaan."

"Lala, stop teaching my daughter creepy things!" Came his younger sister's voice again. "How is your phone busy from the past week."

"I am a very busy man unlike some people, Layli." Zarrar grumbled closely the email he was trying to read. It was almost impossible to go through it right now with his sister on her tail.

"How dare you—" She began once again but he hurriedly rebuffed her. "Aah I have a meeting now, unfortunately. I'll call you later, Byee!"

Taking a deep breath, Zarrar leaned back in his chair stretching as he mentally made a list of things to finish before going home. He was looking forward to going home and spending his time with Fidah. The past week they had been in continuous contact and everytime he replayed those conversations in his head his heart fluttered. Surprisingly after her nightmare-episode she had pretended that it never happened and he decided he wouldn't probe. They continued about their daily activities and he came to his office. He assumed she needed time and he was more than willing to give her that.

"What the hell, man! Why did you upset, my wife?" Came his best friend's voice barging into his office, causing him to break away from his thoughts almost in torment. He was enjoying his la la land time with Fidah.

"Just because you are my brother in law it doesn't give you the right to barge into my office."

"Shut up, you piece of shit! You know how Layla is all hormonal right now! Why would you do that to her?!" His brother in law-plus-best friend-plus-business partner, Ibrahim Khawar roared slamming a few files down on his desk.

"I didn't do anything!" Zarrar yelled, putting his hands in the air.

"Zarrar, I will literally break your neck if she cries." Ibrahim fumed, sitting down in the chair adjacent to  the table.

Zarrar had already foreseen this, his pregnant sister Layla would definitely call her moronic husband the very next second he would cut the call but he wanted to take his chances with that.

"And why the hell are you not picking up calls? Your phone was busy throughout the week and you have no friends. Who the hell were you yapping on with? Your non existent girlfriend or wife?"

"What if I was?" He replied seriously, but that only earned him a sort from Ibrahim.
"Ya and I want to have another kid."

"Gross, Man. You already have a third child on the way. My sister isn't a baby producing factory."

"Shut up! I thought we were stating impossible things that would never happen." Ibrahim blushed red, his whole face resembling a tomato.

"Why can't I have an existent girlfriend or wife?" He frowned, leaning on the table with his arms folded.

"Let's be real here, you aren't harami enough to have a girlfriend existent or nonexistent and who in their right mind would let you marry their daughter?"

"I let you marry my sister, shit face. Show some bloody respect." Zarrar seethed, he wasn't that bad of a man, was he? But Ibrahim waved him off unaffected.

"Naila is back, apparently. She's been trying to get in contact with you from the last week like everyone else." Ibrahim said grabbing onto the black paper weight on the table and twirling it around.

"Did you talk to her?" Zarrar questioned frowning at the new piece of information.

"I didn't, but Layla did and let me tell you something she wasn't happy at all. You know she never liked her."

"Hmm, Why is she back?" Zarrar questioned scratching his beard thoughtfully.

"You know why she is back, Zarrar. Don't act stupid." Ibrahim retorted almost annoyed at the lethargic attitude of his.

"Look Ibrahim, I seriously don't have the time or energy to deal with her right now. Do me a favour and keep her away." He sighed rubbing his temples in exhaustion, all he wanted to do was go home and sleep, and maybe just sneak in a conversation with his wife.

"Stop dangling her. She doesn't deserve this."

"I already have, Ibrahim! She just doesn't li—" Zarrar yelled out loud but somehow stopped midway composing himself. "You know what, I will deal with her properly this time. Done and dusted. Just give me a couple of days."

"Fine! But this is the last time I am doing you any favours related to Naila. She upsets Layla and quite frankly my kids hate her so never again, Hamidi." Ibrahim warned, pointing his finger at Zarrar.

"Yes, okay."

Naila Siddiqui was the third friend completing the trio that included Ibrahim and Zarrar back during their college days. Being the only girl, she was incredibly protected and adored by the other two. All the boys equivalent to mosquitoes swarmed around Naila and were beaten up blue and black. She was an incredibly attractive woman as it came and people often assumed she would end up marrying either Ibrahim or Zarrar. But alas, the former lost his heart to the Hamidi princess and Zarrar being the socially/emotionally incompetent man he was, stayed single.

Naila naturally adhered to the rumours and decided she wanted to marry Zarrar, belonging to an affluent family and being family friends with the Hamidi's made her the perfect candidate. However, the potential groom himself never encouraged the idea which more than many times resulted in Naila relentlessly persuading him. Atleast whenever she wasn't on modelling contracts halfway across the world.

Conclusion? Zarrar Hamdi was anything but happy to have Naila back especially now that he was married.

____

Fidah had spent the majority of the day slogging off in pre menstrual syndrome. Her periods were usually excruciatingly painful but fortunately short. Her moon swings however started a week before and lasted through the entire duration of her periods.

She would snap out of the ordinary, cry at the most mundane things, have brief bursts of happiness and anger, crave food at odd hours of the night and most importantly avoid human contact. She was incredibly hormonal and maybe that's what explained the unreasonably high attraction she felt towards Zarrar, when she found him in her bed this morning. She was snuggled to his warm chest, as she creepily stared down at him for a good half hour.

Although before he could wake up she had gotten up and rushed into making a fresh batch of brownies. Smiling like a fool she remembered, how he had calmed her down. She didn't remember the dream, but it left a bad taste in her mouth. She was glad he had come back, and she was more than glad that they had shared the night together. He calmed her crazy like no other and it made her giggle like a teenage girl. No! It was the hormones maybe?

Well, today she had decided to venture out into the outside world alone. She needed to buy pads anyways and she had a little money that she had earned all thanks to Basim who sold the pastries she baked at home to his college canteen. It wasn't a lot of money, but it didn't give her some semblance of independence and normalcy. Zarrar had also left his credit card with her before leaving on his business trip but she had decided to never use it.

Staring down at the GPS on her phone she exited the lavish apartment building. The nearest departmental store was a five minute walk. Now that she was walking along the dark roads, though there were people randomly scattered she realised it was a terrible time to come out. It was giving her abhorring deja vu flashbacks, to when she ran away from her wedding with Laiq

Wrapping the shawl tightly around her, the phone clutched into her palms she entered the departmental store that was buzzing with people. Grabbing a few items that she needed, she immediately billed them and made her way out only to hear the sound of a meowing not far. It sounded vulnerable, almost like the cat was in pain.
Before she knew her feet were taking her in the direction of the noise. It was a shadowy alleyway near the back end of departmental store.

"Hey there.." Fidah muttered to herself as she sat down on her toes, the bag of things she had just bought pressed against her chest.

It was a light amber gingerbread coloured cat, bright grey eyes that reminded her of Zarrar, the cat looked malnourished, its bones peaking out through the skin. Sitting in a cardboard box, rubbing itself griddled in dirt.

"Who left you here, darling?" She whispered forwarding her fingers and running it through its soft fur. The cat only mewed into the warmth of her palm.

"I'm sorry, they left you all alone." Fidah sighed, still petting the cat with affection. For as long as she remembered she had always wanted a cat. She loved those furry creatures to bits but never did get around to having them.

"Hey, look at that..she's all alone." Suddenly a creepy voice called out from behind her, causing her fingers to freeze over the fur, her eyes clashing with the cat's in panic.

"Nuwair, you are getting married tomorrow, man. Don't do this." Another voice boomed, and without much thought, Fidah picked up the cat and wrapped it up inside her shawl.

"It's just harmless fun. Chill, no one will know." And that was it, before footsteps started resonating.

Fidah jumped up in action, her heart speeding up with tension and adrenaline as she hurriedly got up sprinting towards the opposite direction.

"Arey ruk ja, haseena. Apna ek deedar to karwa."

This only caused her to run as fast as her feet could. God forbid what would happen if they caught her. Her face was drenched with sweat and fatigue began to take over her legs but she didn't stop, didn't once look back. Only when she entered the apartment complex did she stop.

Her face red from running, the shawl ready to slip from her body. Her head spinning with the horrendous things that could've existed.

"Fidah?" The familiar voice that belonged to her husband brought her back to prudence as she turned in lightening speed towards him.

There he stood in his formals, the blazer hanging off his hand and keys in the other. His face scrunched in confusion as he took brisk urgent steps towards her.

"What happened?" He questioned, his eyes scanned her frightened appearance.

She reminded impassive, mute. Looking at him with misery. The cat in her arms remained quiet as well as if understanding the condition of its saviour.

"Are you okay? What has happened?" Zarrar questioned this time urgently as he scanned her eyes for any signs of injury.

She once again didn't reply.

"God dammit, Just tell me if you are okay. I am going to lose my mind." Zarrar muttered harshly, his forehead bunching in tension as he clutched her elbow pulling her towards him.

"I.. was be-ing fo-llowed." She managed to answer back, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill.

"Did they hurt you? Are you okay?" He whispered almost just as harshly as before, just the thought of her being chased made him furious.

"N-no...I..am sorry." She whispered, her head bowed down, her chin touching her chest.

"Hey.."He lifted her chin softly and made her look at him. "You have nothing to apologise for. Just tell me if you are injured, jaanum? That's all that really matters right now."

She shook her head negatively, a tear unconsciously spilled down from her eye and sliding down her cheek.

"Come here.."Zarrar sighed stiffly, pulling her to his chest. The cat smushed between them as her face buried under his neck and just then she broke out sobbing. Her body ricocheting in oppressive breaths, drenching him once again in her tears.

"Shh..I am going to find those bastards and break their legs. Nothing else is going to happen." He mumbled into her hair caressing it softly in reassurance.

"D-on't do t-hat." She hiccupped pressing herself against his chest more.

"Alright, I won't. Stop crying now."

"I-I am sorry." She hicupped once again, still not leaving him.

"Fidah, stop apologising." Zarrar frowned, still patiently consoling her like a kid.

"N-no" She shook her head profusely, moving back from him.

"Alright, darling keep apologising as long as you want, but do that on our way to dinner." Zarrar sighed, grabbing her hand in his and walking towards the parking lot.

"Zarrar.. let's just go home please." Fidah begged wiping her tears harshly as she gazed at their joined hands.

"Do you feel uncomfortable with me, Fidah?" He questioned, turning around his face extremely serious now.

"No.."She gulped, finding his eyes intimidating.

"Do you feel unsafe with me then?" Came his next question, causing her eyes to widen further, this time she understood where this conversation was heading and she felt the need to shut it down immediately.

"No! God no. I feel very safe and comfortable with you, more than I have ever felt before." You feel like the home i've never had.

"Then would you do the honour of accompanying me to dinner? I had a terrible day at work and quite frankly I want nothing more than to share a delicious meal with you." He said in a no-nonsense tone, tugging at her hand and this time she complied without protests as they walked to his car.

Zarrar honestly didn't want to go back home with her in this condition, he was afraid she would lock herself up and not talk with him again. He didn't want that. He wanted her to talk to him, about her worries, her problems. And he wanted to make her happy, yea, that's all he wanted. And, he was most definitely going to find those sons of bitches and snap their necks.

"We can also get food for that, since I believe you'd want to keep it." He added, closing the door on Fidah's side of the car and proceeded to sit on his side.

"You are okay with keeping the cat?" Fidah questioned, her eyes widening in shock, as she pulled the cat in her lap.

"Of course, if my wife wants to keep the cat, I am no one to stop her." He smiled charmingly, those dimples graciously stealing her heart again.

"Zarrar..you overwhelm me with your words." She replied, bowing her head as a blush coated her cheeks.

"I could tone it down, if you don't like it." He frowned exiting the apartment and going into the streets.

Fidah simply shook her head, her mood already improving as she continued petting the creature in her arms.

"Mexican or Chinese?"

"Mexican, please." She replied knowing well enough that he was trying to keep her involved, trying to take her mind off things and she quite honestly appreciated it a lot.

"Won't you ask me why I was out so late in the evening?" She questioned a few beats later, her gaze fixed on the passing cars.

"I won't, because you are entitled to do what you want without my knowledge, although i would appreciate you not wandering out in the nights alone."

"I went to the departmental store because I needed sanitary pads."

"Ohh.." Zarrar's eyes started turning pink as he cleared his throat nervously, this caused Fidah to let out a small laugh looking at him.
"Yeah ohh and that's where I found her."

Yes, the cat was a her, Fidah had checked since sitting in the car.

"What have you decided to name her?" Zarrar questioned, looking at the cat who was already peering at him with round eyes.

Well, Fidah hadn't given it much thought but, the cat reminded her of Zarrar and his favourite food was Nihari. Should she name her Nihari? Wasn't that absurd?

"No—I will decide on a name soon." She blushed thinking of even the possibility of it.

"Look what you have done to your face. It's full of bruising red marks." Zarrar muttered under his breath a few seconds later, but she heard him anyways.

"I keep troubling you all the time. You have just returned and I have caused nothing but problems since then, sorry." She mumbled apologetically this time looking at him straight.

"A few days away from you and I completely lost my mind. Every second spent away, my subconscious was riddled with nothing but your thoughts. I hate that you speak of yourself so poorly because to me you are nothing short of a blessing." Zarrar replied wholeheartedly, stopping at a signal.

"Why are you so kind to me, Zarrar? Why do you feel like the best thing that has ever happened to me?" Fidah mumbled, her voice thick with emotions, eyes glazing.

"Do you know something?" He smiled hearing her words for him. It felt like his heart was blooming at her words. It felt unburdened.

"Aapke pehle toh mai itna koi mazhabi toh nahi tha, par jab bhi aapko mein dekhta hoon na? Lagta hai ki khuda ne mujhe bas aapke liye banaya hai."

___

guyss this is a big one for #Firrar!

Nihari is a new character added in the mix along with Layla + Ibrahim who weren't there before.

Naila is someone the old readers are familiar with, thoughts on her?

Yaseen and Dina will also make an entry soon so stay tuned!

if you liked the chapter do comment and vote!
(also also, i have an Instagram page where i post epic edits and sneak peaks to the story along with the updating schedule so do check it out! Link in my bio!)

Byeee

-flawfully