Yaari - (friendship)

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Ayat Sukhera

Nuha Idreesi

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Leaves rustled, owls hooted and the night darkened. The moon was on a leave leaving the craving more desperate of its sight. Clouds swarmed the smooth sky and loud music rattled the base of the building.

Blinding neon lights shined brightly in that club, music blasted from the speaker and the smell of sweat and alcohol stung the senses of the people who danced to the desire of their hearts.

Admist the crowd she swayed to the beat of her heart. Black hair swinging on her back, over her shoulders as adrenaline rushed through her veins. Hooting on the top of her lungs the girl threw her head back laughing at something the male with her had said.

"Oh god" she coughed as a bile suddenly rose up her throat. Without a warning her stomach emptied itself on the man in front of her.

"So..." She giggled "sorry" she laughed stumbling back.

"What the fuck?!" The man growled seeing his clothes ruined.

"Apologies" the girl grinned.

On one side the night was still young while on the other, the woman slept soundly in her bed. Right when the clock hit three her phone rang. A whimper of annoyance left her lips as she turned to the other side ignoring the call but it kept ringing.

She turned over and removed her sleep mask. She groaned looking at the caller I'd.

Queen Julian.

"You're literally two room-"

"Please come and pick your friend up"  a manly voice spoke through the speaker making her pull back her phone from her ear.

"What in the world of flying Pegasus?" She said sitting up, the powder pink comforter pooling around her waist.

"Who's this?" she asked rubbing her eyes, she got up from her bed and made her way to the room two doors away. Her posture eased and annoyance registered on her face at the sight of a messy and empty room.

Again...

"It's mike speaking" the man said steadying a giggling girl against the wall.

"I'm on my way. Just please don't let her go anywhere" she said sighing as she changed into her sweats and a hoodie. Shrugging her coat on she was put of the door making her way down to the parking lot.

"She does this every weekend" Ayat gritted to herself as she zoomed on the empty streets.

"The fuck man" the man cursed as he fanned his wet shirt walking out of the club.

"Who told you to get with that chick?" His friend snickered at him.

"I didn't know she'd throw up, that too on me" the angry man exclaimed.

"Look there she is. Wanna have another round" his friend mocked making him narrow his eyes in the direction he pointed.

"I don't even wanna look at her right now" he gritted.

The other man laughed at his friend turning to look at the girl who was now supported by another. The girl in baby pink sweats had her back to him as she steadied the girl in the black dress. He gave her a quick glance before following his friend to their car.

"Hi" Ayat greeted the bouncer who gave her a nod. Her eyes swept to her friend who was sound asleep on the pavement, her back against the wall.

"Thanks for standing by her." Ayat said gathering her friend giving that bouncer an apologetic smile.

"It's okay" Mike said acknowledging the two friends who he knew on first name bases. One being the regular the other being her ride home.

"Babes" Nuha yelled on that top of her lungs, hugging her friend tightly.

"You're reeking of alcohol and vomit. Ew" Ayat gagged.

"Its called happiness you old soul" Nuha cheered making her friend shake her head at her antics. 

"Come on my happy teletubby let's get you home" Ayat said steadying her friend who could barely hold herself up but still insisted she could dance some more.

"There was this handsome man and we were dancing and then...." Nuha recited the whole tale of her vomiting on this man she met making her friend laugh at the story and her exaggeration.

The night witnessed the two girls walking back inside their apartment complex. The one in a short black dress stumbling on her stilettos while the other dragging her sneakers against the tiled floor to the elevator.

"I love you ayah" Nuha mumbled as Ayat lowered her on the bed of her brown accented room.

"I know I'm very lovable" Ayat said  before cleaning and changing her friend up for bed. Nuha curled up in a ball under her coffee colored comforter.

She was about to leave when her friend pulled her down with her hugging her, one leg swinging over her and arms holding her waist. Ayat rolled her eyes but cuddled close to her, closing her eyes and sleeping with a smile on her lips.

"You're the child I never asked for you know" Ayat remarked seeing her hungover friend strutter in the kitchen.

"Shut up" Nuha growled.

"I mean. I asked mother nature for a cat and she have me you. How ironic" she remarked making her friend chuck a spoon at her. She dodged it and emptied her glass of water on her face.

"I hate you" Nuha yelled stomping her foot. 

"I thought you loved me?" Ayat smirked making her friend flip her off. A chuckle ripped the chestnut haired girl's throat.

"I'm going grocery shopping you wanna come with me?" Ayat asked making her friend nod with held dead limbs.

"Freshen up and we'll leave once you're sober" she said.

Loading Nuha in the shopping cart she rolled down the isles looking out for things they needed. During the shopping spree Nuha picked up a ball from one of the isles and aimed it at the cart far away from them. While Ayat looked for the sauce she needed she heard someone curse loudly. She turned to her friend who was staring at the woman who stood with her hand cradling her head.

"Nuha" Ayat growled lowly.

"Oopsies" Nuha shrugged looking around to avoid the woman's gaze.

"Did you see who threw this?" The woman asked making Ayat squeeze Nuha's arm and shake her head.

"No ma'am" they replied in sync.

"It must be some kid" Nuha said pointing at the toddler a few feet away from them.

"Could be" The woman muttered before her face turned red "excuse ma'am" the lady went up to the mother of the toddler.

"Your son threw this ball at me" the woman complained. Soon the two ladies were indulged in an argument with the manager on the way and the toddler confused.

"That ball doesn't even belong to my son" the woman yelled.

"Those girls saw your child throwing it at me" the two woman turned towards where the girls were but found them gone.

Before the lady turned to the two girls they were out of sight, hurriedly paying for their stuffy were out of the store laughing their heads off. Running in the parking lot they stumbled back as they almost got ran over by a car.

A wheezy air left their lips as they doubled over in laughter walking to the side.

"Are you two blind? Can't you fucking see?" The man growled getting down from the car.

"Those are the same sentences, just rephrased" Ayat commented trying to stop laughing but Nuha's snorty laugh was making it hard for her.

"You think it's funny. You could've died" the man raged making them look at him finally. Two pair of brown eyes meeting another.

"Well we're not...." Ayat was one who said, eyes widening for effects

"Dead" Nuha added moving her hand in a circling motion.

"Sorry." Ayat said getting her friend out of the man's way. He glared at Nuha who was still a laughing mess.

"Better be careful next time" he warned making them nod and sober up.

"Where are we going?" Ayat stopped mid way.

"What?" Nuha asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Isn't..." Ayat turned around and then looked at the way they were walking. "Our car there" she said turning her head around to make sense of the situation.

"The hell" Nuha exclaimed.

"It's all because of you" her friend accused turning the cart around.

"Me?" Nuha exasperated "how am I the culprit? You wanted to get run over" she remarked.

"Wait... Ayah" Nuha yelled running after her friend who was riding on the cart swishing her way to the car.

"Made it" her friend grinned happily at her friend who was panting heavily.

"You've grown fat" Ayat said loading the groceries in the trunk.

"And you've lost some brain cells"

"Living with you. I'm not surprised" the honey eyed girl shrugged.

"Don't you have a job interview or something tomorrow?" Ayat asked Nuha shutting the trunk.

"Oh... Yeah..." Nuha sighed.

"I don't wanna work" her friend complained for a gazillionth time.

"Either leave my apartment or pay the rent" Ayat said making her friend bark a laugh.

"Bab-by you cannot live me-e" Nuha said pulling her cheeks.

"Fuck me"

"I'm straight"

"Who said you my type?"

"Fuck off"

"I see you got burned"

"I will end you up in a car crash"

"Road trip to hell" Ayat exclaimed.

"How you still have a job with the intelligence of a five year old?"

"Well...." Ayat drawled "even I don't know" she said shaking her head.

"Shit... I forgot to tell you the latest tea" Ayat said hitting the steering wheel excitedly.

"Shweta check your Mike first" Nuha said making her laugh at her comment.

"Ohh.... So you know my boss's assistant that  he was having an affair with fell pregnant" she said making Nuha nod for her to continue.

"His wife found out" Nuha spat out the drink she had in her mouth.

"What in the world" she exclaimed.

"I know right. The whole office was a mess. The two ladies were fighting like cats bro"

"And that's the thing about illicit affairs
And clandestine meetings
And stolen stares
They show their truth one single time
But they lie, and they lie, and they lie
A billion little times" Nuha quoted.

"And you wanna scream
Don't call me kid
Don't call me baby
Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me
You showed me colors you know
I can't see with anyone else" Ayat followed and soon the two girls started jamming to their favourite songs.

They drove on the open road and the sun shined brightly over their car and flooded in through the window. Smiles and careless laughter for life they cherished.

▬▬▬▬▬

Several specks of gold filtered in room, fighting against the hold of her thick curtains. Carmel colored accent wall came in contact with the familiar warmth of the sun. The creaks in the messily drawn curtains made the mess of black hair move on that silk white pillows.

Sound of an alarm blared in the room followed by a series of groans.

"Dear lord" the girl yelled feeling her self get drenched in cold water. Her silk night suit sticking to her body.

"Good. Now you're awake" a voice sung in a cheery tone.

"What the fuck Ayat" she yelled getting out of her wet bed.

"Aww... Seems like little Nuha wet the bed again"

"I will murder I swear on your life"

"You can do as you please after the interview that's in about an hour"

"What?!" The girl in question yelled slipping her way to her bathroom.

Ayat sighed before taking her sheet off and flipped the mattress off the bed. She wet, now she take it out to dry it.

"You don't have to do that. I'll just hijack your room" Nuha said coming out dressed in a black pencil skirt and teal dress shirt.

"That's exactly the reason why I'm doing this" Ayat said pushing the mattress out in the balcony.

She laid it down under that covered balcony with a net cover covering it. The sun was bright enough to dry it just fine.

"Bring me your pillows I'll put them here" she said making Nuha throw the pillows at her instead of giving them to her.

"What is wrong with you?" She yelled trying to stop her from attacking her.

"You woke me up two hours earlier its the least I could do in return" the girl rolled her eyes.

"I know your lazy. Beside your alarms have been blaring since the past hour"

"Why do you put the pillows put in the sun too often?" Nuha asked once her friend can back inside.

"It kills the bugs and germs" Ayat replied shrugging her shoulder and pushing her friends breakfast in front of her.

"That's some old school shit"

"Mom used to do that. I just subconsciously do it now" she replied.

"Mom's know that best"

"Yeah they do"

A silence fell between them as they ate their breakfast quietly.

Family.

Something they never had, death and a one night stand led them to the orphanage. Ayat and Nuha met there.

At four years old Ayat was brought to the orphanage by people she called her uncle and aunty, who after her parents death had to look after her. They left her there and never looked back, she didn't know why she couldn't live in her house where she used to live with her parents. The only she had left from them was her mother and fathers wedding rings wrapped around her neck in her mother's chain. Too bad her relatives had sold the property and had flown away to another state, to escape any chances of confrontation.

A year later five year old Nuha was dropped outside with a teddy bear hanging from her arm and tears in her eyes. Her mother couldn't afford to look after a child whose father didn't bother to turn back around to look for after a one night stand.

Seemed like neither of them was wanted, one by her mother the other by her relatives. At fifteen the two were inseparable.

At eighteen the two were working part-time jobs to save enough money so they could move out. Tutoring, waitering tables and working at the library helped them save some money to study till they found real jobs with their degrees.

Moving out at twenty five, finding jobs and struggling to make ends meet they worked hard to achieve the roof they had over their heads.

Now they lived in a rented apartment, happily. Sadly Nuha lost her job last month because of Ayat's health. She took days off and that led to her boss firing her.

"I'm going now, but All the best." Ayat said getting up from her place and putting her plate away. She hastily kissed her friends forehead and hurried to put her heels on.

"Wait drop me off" Nuha yelled making her friend yell a "hurry then" back.

"Okay baby. Give them your best. Alright, call me once your done"

"Stop being my mom" Nuha groaned at Ayat who laughed.

"Alright sweety bye, call me" Ayat yelled purposely making a - call me - gesture to which Nuha hide her face in her file.

"You're so annoying" Nuha gritted hurrying inside.

"Good morning sir" Ayat greeted the manager who nodded at her.

"Hey Ayat" she stopped hearing her name being yelled. She turned around with raised eyebrows to see her officemate Rochelle running upto her.

"Yeah what's up?" She asked once the girl stopped.

"Did you hear the new gossip?" The girl exclaimed.

"No what's going on?" She asked with a straight face.

"The boss's wife took away his attorney." The girl said.

"What?"

"The company." The girl gestured to tht building "it belonged to her. Richard was just handling it for her. Now that she's about to divorce him. Baby we will have a new boss. The company is sold to someone else"

"What in the world?" Ayat exclaimed "over the course of the weekend?"

"I know right" her friend exasperated.

"No he's probably with-"

"God" Ayat groaned, a stifled breath hitched in her throat as she went directly jamming into someone.

"Watch where you're going" she said pulling back holding her head that hit hard on the person's chest. She looked up with a frown on her face.

"That's something you should've done" the man in question said rudely. She narrowed her eyes at the man who stared back at her with sheer boredom.

"Why don't you be a little nice? And apologies" she said tilting her head, holding the man's gaze with the same boredom and intensity.

"I'm not the one who bumped into someone and stepped on their foot" the man stated, his gaze moving over her features and a silent scoff leaving his lips.

"Well I'll apologise for that if you do for your unwanted remarks" she said making him stare hard at her. A heart shaped face, framed by chestnut shades of silk. Honey eyes glaring into his molten chocolate ones. Perfectly arched eyebrows raised in question. Lips pulled down in a frown, and button nose scrunched up in distaste.

"You really have some serious doubts about yourself" he husked leaning down a little to come nose to nose with her.

Rochelle stared at them with wide eyes and piqued interest.

"You know what." she said stepping closer, eyes narrowed "screw you and your apology" she walking away, leaving Rochelle and the man standing behind.

His brown eyes stayed rooted on her retreating figure, a beige bow keeping her hair clipped back, shining like the finest silk it was made of. With roll of his eyes he followed the assistant to the private elevator on the other side of the lobby.

There eyes clashed from far away before the elevator doors closed between them.

"... New boss" Rochelle muttered staring at the back of the nonchalant man.

The day had only started and she was exhausted. She was worried and curious to know how Nuha's interview was going but life didn't want to give her time to contact her friend.

"Miss Ayat, the boss has arranged a meeting for all the staff" a peon said poking his head in her cubicle. She sighed and put her head down on her hands.

"You go ahead I'm coming" she mumbled hearing the man mutter an 'okay' and leave.

"Nuha is right work life is hard" she said under her breath walking to tht elevator. The meeting being held on the 15th floor gave her the time to breathe during the time.

"Maybe I should resign and stay home so she can pay the bills and take up tht responsibility and take care of me like I did for her, and maybe then I would be able to live. I should probably do that. I can also take a leave and not resign but then again I don't know the new boss, how he must be. If he's some serious old dude I would resign. You know but like, why would I do that......" Ayat was so lost in her thoughts and out spoken words that she didn't realize she was standing in the doorway with multiple pair of unique eyes staring at her. Her teeth bit down on her lip as she chuckled nervously, hurrying to blend in with the crowd.

"Sorry guys" she said smiling apologetically.

"Back to the meeting" a dominating voice had heads turning back to the front. Her eyes widened at the sight of the rude man who stared right back at her. With indifference in her gaze she gulped her burning anxiety down. She took her seat beside Marshall who smiled back at her.

"So guys. As you all know. I'm retiring" Richard said at which multiple throats were cleared. Reaching for the glass of water on the table Ayat held the rim between her teeth to hold her giggle in. She straightened herself meeting a pair of burning brown eyes set on her.

She looked away back to her boss who was visibly flushed. Chewing on her lip she resisted the urge to look over and confirm that the man - with a stubbled jaw, dark eyes, ebony hair, tall gait and an arrogant persona - was still staring or was it her imagination. She could see his head turning in her direction but it could also be that he's looking at someone else.

".... So my dear staff welcome Zaviyar Qureshi. He's going to be your new boss, he'll take over from now. Goodbye everyone." Richard introduced and left. Her breath hitched as the man gracefully walked to where her boss stood and nodded in appreciation.

"Well hello everyone" he greeted, his lips tilting up in a sly smirk, long fingers drummed the table as his gaze swept over all the faces around him settling on a starstrucked one.

Not liking the mirth in his eyes her eyebrow rose on habit. A stoic expression taking over her slightly flushed face. Her eyes swept over his figure from top to bottom and an unimpressed expression took over her face.

"Why don't we begin with introductions?" He said easing the button of his blazer and sitting down on the head of the table.

Starting from his right everyone introduced themselves with their designation. As the number of people before her decreased her hands started shaking under the table. Her eyes settled on her phone which showed that Nuha was calling her.

"And you Miss...?"

She looked up from her phone and met his gaze, the sudden surprise left her eyes as soon as it came.

"Ayat" she declared "Ayat Sukhera, from the marketing department" she said getting up to shake his hand like every else had.

"It would be fun working with you" he said holding her hand tightly, his thumb moving on the back of her hand "all" he added moving his gaze away from her and taking his hand back. Her hand and face blushed like a red rose. Her stomach fluttered at the sheer contact and brain yelled at her for being a fool.

"You all know my name already. I'm Zaviyar. Something that is like you all know about me is that, I don't like laziness, I don't appreciate my employees preforming lousily. I'm someone who demands respect in exchange of it. So keep in mind any sort of idiotic behavior will not be appreciated" he declared. The room started emptying out with Ayat following the crowd.

"Miss Ayat" she stopped hearing her name being called. She resisted the urge to fully turn around and looked over her shoulders.

"Yes sir?" She asked.

"I would appreciate if my employees use their senses correctly" he said approaching her, warmth took over her face and annoyance laced her honey orbs.

"Adding to that, wouldn't we all appreciate if people start utilizing the space around them and not knowingly bump into people?" She said now giving him a main focus of her face.

"We would if people could leave their gossip sessions out of office premises"

His held her captive with senses high alert. No one stares at someone that intently. Do they?

"Please excuse me now. I have to leave. Office hours are over" she said smiling politely giving him one last look.

"Sure" he said gesturing her to walk out before him.

Walking in front of him she felt conscious of herself. Fastening her steps she tried to not break out in a sprint and run to her cubicle.

Once at her desk she breathed in deeply, her phone vibrated in her hand and she pulled it up to look at Nuha calling her again.

"Hel-"

"Why were you not picking up my phone? Have you lost your mind? Did you not know I had an interview? Did you not realize how hard it was for me...."

"Oh God" she sighed as she heard Nuha yelling at the top of her lungs.

Rolling her eyes she put her phone on the table, Nuha being loud enough for her to not use the speaker.

".... That son of a Bitch"

"What?" Ayar asked as she finally pulled the phone to her ear.

"Were you not listening?" Nuha asked calmly this time.

"Sorry I was packing up" Ayat said pulling at her lower lip as she exited the office. She walked out of the building and stalked to her car on the other side of the parking lot.

"You just don't care about me" her friend scoffed.

"Just tell me who came across you now"

"As I was barking a few moments ago..." Nuha declared dramatically "this stupid barista at Starbucks spilled my coffee all over me...."

"Okay...." Ayat drawled hearing her friend rant about the barista.

"Why are you so out of senses?" Nuha finally asked not getting much response from her friend.

"Why is everyone after my senses?" She shrieked clawing at air in frustration.

"What's wrong with you?" Nuha asked getting in the car as they both disconnected the call and stared at each other.

"I have a new boss" she said plainly clasping her hands together, not driving at that moment.

"Ohh she kicked his old ass out. Damn boss lady bro" Nuha exclaimed.

"Yeah. As I was saying. I have a new boss and I don't like him" she said staring ahead at the road while moving the car through traffic.

"Oo.. why though?" She asked.

"He's fucking annoying" Ayat groaned making Nuha let out a laugh.

"He must be something to have you like this one the first day" she snickered seeing her pale friend turn red.

"I bumped into him, okay. I get it, it's my fault, but why couldn't he be nicer. I was about to apologise" she yelled leaving the steering wheel and clutching her hair.

"Hold the steering wheel bitch" Nuha yelled.

"Ohh wait..." Ayat said looking up at her friend "how was your interview?"

"You remember now" Nuha criticized. Ayat rolled her eyes stopping at the red light.

"You gonna reply or what?" She asked raising a bored eyebrow.

"So..." Nuha said flipping her hair. Ayat blinked at her with a straight face.

"Well.. they said they'll call me" she said making Ayat turn her head around completely to give her a stare.

"That's all?"

"Yeah, what were you expecting?"

"By the suspense you were throwing I misunderstood that they might've hired you" she said scoffing you

"Oh... That's not what happened"

"I really hope you get hired. You've been at home for too long" Ayat said getting walking inside the apartment complex.

"Yeah no one wants to stay with you either" Nuha said showing her hand.

Shaking their heads in sync they unlocked their apartment and walked inside. Nuha went into her room and was about to throw herself on her bed when she found the mattress gone.

"Ayat" she yelled stomping out in the living room.

"I know" Ayat said dragging her mattress inside her room.

"We'll put mine in" Nuha exclaimed.

"What do I look like? Your servant?" Ayat yelled from her room. Huffing Nuha stomped her way to the balcony. Staring at the mattress she just kept staring at it.

Tying her hair back and tried to pick it up. She had pulled it up but she dropped it back hearing footsteps approaching.

"I can't-"

"I saw you. Pick it up" Ayat said crossing her arms over her chest.

Nuha looked in between the mattress and the woman who stood with her eyebrows raised expectantly.

"Come on" Ayat challenged with narrowed eyes.

Narrowing her eyes at her fried Nuha picked it up again. She felt her support half way through the lifting process and looked up to see Ayat helping her.

"How do you do this alone?" Nuha panted.

"I'm used to it now" Ayat shrugged.

"But how? This shit is heavy as fuck" Nuha huffed keeping her hands on her waist.

"Mom used to ask me to help her out. We both used to do this all the time"

"Where was I then?"

"Busy dreaming about Kaden" Ayat remarked making her friend scowl. Kaden, was Nuha's first crush, a guy from middle school. Now she hated her type from back then but it was funny seeing Nuha react to him now.

"Well. I'm planning to pass out now. So I'll see you later" Nuha yawned falling back on her bed and loosing her senses.

"I'll leave the leftover in the fridge" Ayat said smiling at her "as always" she added making her friend share a smile with her.

Ayat sighed and laid back on her bed - changed into her night clothes - she yawned as her mind drifted off to her new boss. She shook her head violently and turned to her side.

"Nope. Not worth my time" she said shaking her head. Her phone pinged and she picked it up.

"... Your post has been changed. You'll be accompanying Mr Zaviyar as his assistant since Ashley has been fired already, till he hires someone for the post you'll be filling the vacancy"

The email said and she sat up straight.

"The fuck" she scowled.

"Nuha...." she screeched throwing the covers off of her and marching to her room...........

Assalamualikum guys how are you all?

So here an update.

I wasn't looking forward to start a new story for this book but I thought I should.

It's tht begining and as always I'm still working my way through the story.... Bare with it 🙂.

hope you like it.

Comment and tell me how it is.

Enjoy.

Allah Hafiz.

Love
Hafsa_tahir