A week later*

Zayna was back from her trip and the first thing she did was paid Noorie a visit because she knew that Noorie had been acting strange recently. She had observed it on the calls and messages they exchanged and talking to her parents only confirmed her suspicion.

On the way from the airport, she asked her father to drop her to Noorie's place and she will join them later. Her father argued and asked her to first freshen up and rest a while, but she wouldn't listen. Hence, he agreed because talking Zayna out of something she really intends to do is a time-wasting task. His daughter, he knew is just as determined and stubborn as him and since it's all for good reasons, he never used to mind.

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Half an hour Later*

"What's up with you, lazy bones?," Zayna's voice made Noorie jump up on the bed, on which she was lying and watching a Rom-Com. It was an unexpected surprise for her because Zayna didn't told her about her arrival when they last had a talk on phone a day ago.

She beamed at her friend who was standing at the door-way looking at her suspiciously.

"Hey, you....," Noorie said in a happy tone. "Don't just pose there giving me such looks, step inside."

"Something's never changes, like your meanness," Zayna said with mock curtness.

"You can bait upon it," Noorie stated as she reached out to hug her.

"Tell me how's things going with you" Zayna asked skeptically as she suspected there is something behind Noorie's weirdness. She was surprised to see Noorie watching a romantic flick on television with a popcorn tub in her hand. And her acting so cheerful as if nothing ever happened is making her more suspicious than she felt on phone the last day they talked. Noorie seemed more positive and bright for someone who just was not on her track a few days ago. It made her feel worried as if she is losing her mind or perhaps is on denial.

"You're back from a trip. It should be you who should be doing the talking, isn't it?," Noorie responded excitedly.

Only, there was no fooling Zayna. She ignored her over the top cheerfulness and inquired about what she is upto.

"With me?," Noorie asked offering her popcorn and pretending as if she didn't quite understood her friend. Noorie ahd yet not told her about the talk she had with Aftab – a stranger. Zayna would make the roof of the house fall with her screams – not with anger, but with the over-excitement of trying to find some romance in it for her friend. Zayna – the cupid monster won't let her in peace until she tells everything and this was what was making her feel panicky. Hence, she was trying to avoit it as much as she can.

Picking up the remote from the bed, Zayna switched off the TV and putting her hands on her waist looked at her for a moment. Noorie grimaced and kept the popcorn tub away, brushing away her bedsheet with her hands and then sat down. Zayna still stands and watching her.

"Is there anyone else in this room?," Zayna said, lifting her brow mockingly and then smiled as Noorie made a face and teased her, "Mean girl" and instructed her to sit.

Zayna sat down beside her with a smirk at her friend's usual remark for her. It was their way of teasing the other and also showing how they adore each other.

Zayna's smirked was ignored as Noorie continued,"Well, there is nothing new to tell you. Same old me and same boring life, like you left me with two weeks ago."

"Hmm..." Zayna reclined at the bed post and said thoughtfully. "I have this strong feeling that maybe there was something you are not telling on the phone. You had been acting weird, you know."

Ofcourse, she knows, Noorie thought. Is that not what everyone had been telling her. Everyone had been eyeing her suspiciously since she returned home that day, after meeting Aftab. She had not changed of course, nor her pain faded completely, but she did learn one thing that acceptance was the key to move on in life, for herself and for those who loved her. And she had made up her mind that she would do just that. It had been hard, very hard. Especially with those curious glares, but she couldn't afford to tell the reason for her change, so she just bear them and kept trying. She actually found everything funny. Didn't they wanted her to try and move on and now when she is doing so, they are suspecting she is up to something.

But she remembered Aftab's words,'Let people have their opinion.' She does not understand how else everyone expects her to behave after what happened, for she certainly does not know how to handle it so she is just trying to accept it all completely and move on, her way.

"Look, you are lost in your thoughts again..." Zayna pointed out as she watched over her friend's face. She seemed far away.

Noorie knew she had to open up with someone or she would never understand any of what is happening to her, and who better than her best friend. She looked at Zayna with a smile and realized how she had missed not having her past two weeks, when she needed her the most. She understood Zayna had to go for some important work or she would not have left her side with all that happening to her, but she had wished her to be with her. It was totally bad timing, she reasoned. But, now she is here and she can share everything with her and she will, but when the time is right. She looked at her friend's curiousity strucked face and said softly,"I have no idea how everyone expects me to behave, you too."

"Just be normal," Zayna suggested.

"I am normal, I don't understand what version of normal you expect me to be." Noorie said arguably.

"I'm Sorry...," She said, meaning it sincerely from her heart as she holds her friend's hand, expecting her to understand.

Zayna patted her with other hand and said, "See, this is what we're talking about. You might be thinking that just because you are not wailing and crying over what had happened, everyone must be convinced you are fine and must not worry for you, but my lovely, this newly acquired "I-Am-Fine" attitude is speaking volume about the change in you."

" It's nothing. I just... I just..." Noorie couldn't find a good excuse for her reaction.

"Trust me, Noorie. You're not normal. You're in denial and it's not helping you at all. It's never going to help ever... Not in the long run at least." Zayna told her in a very understanding manner. She knows that people can go to extreme lengths to not face what is hurting them, but being in denial never solved anyone's problem. It only made it worse for the future and she will not let that happen to her only best friend.

Noorie felt guilty and hurt at the same time. With Zayna talking about her past, it felt like the wounds she was trying to ignore came back to life again, making her realize how she missed not having her by her side back then. Her eyes felt as if they were about to be melting soon. Tears were not something she allowed to visit her when she was having company. So, it may be denial as per Zayna, but it was at least helping her keeping away from "wailing and crying' as Zayna pointed out. Everything seemed perfectly normal in denial mode, she considered the thought quite closely.

"... Just come back. Don't push people away and for god sake don't give up on your social life. You are worrying us all sick with this new you." She heard Zayna speak. Gosh! Has she missed something?

"I'm not pushing anyone away or giving up on anything, Zayna. I'm only being selective about what I like and do not like to do."

"Do what makes you happy, but don't cut away those people who care for you. Let them in and be yourself with them," Zayna advised.

Noorie couldn't help with her tears anymore and she cried, feeling sad and guilty that everyone had suffered because of her. Zayna was stating the same thing as Aftab. She could bring herself to follow just half of his advice, about accepting and moving on, but she still isn't ready to face her parents. Still, holding herself responsible for their worries. Each time she is with them the expression on their faces and concerns towards her makes her want to hide. So, she preferred solitude over company and just met her parents at the dining table. She knew Zayna must have heard all the details from her parents and that is why she is so keen to pull her out of her solitude. She is causing her worry too and that makes her feel more guilty because she knows Zayna already has her share of troubles to deal with too.

Noorie knew she needed to assure her or Zayna would not give up on it and will trouble herself thinking too hard about how to achieve in this mission, she has gladly accepted the charge, after her parents have poured out their daughter's sordid change in manner and attitude. "I'll try, Zayna," she assured as Zayna reached out to her to wipe away her tears and comfort her. "Now, that you're here, I know everything will be fine with me. I'll be fine," She added emotionally.

Zayna did realize that Noorie must have missed her, she had missed her too. Not a day, of the past two weeks went by, without her not thinking of her. She felt helpless that she couldn't postpone her trip as it was important and urgent, But she had regretted not being with her friend in her hard time. "I'm sorry. I should have been here, but..."

"Ssshhh... I know. Don't be sorry. I understand, it's just that I missed you," Noorie said truthfully.

"I did too, every day and though we talked on phone and exchanged messages, and you pretended fine, I knew you were not." Noorie quietly heard her friend saying what she already had known and understood. "But, I am here now and I won't let you hide away from life. You won't... Promise?," She asked tearfully.

"I promise I'll try," Noorie said fighting back her tears and smiling at her friend. She was so glad to have her back. She is not the emotional outburst kind of person and doesn't always shows what she feels through words, but she was sure that she was as valuable to her friend as she is to her.

The two friends then began talking about other things, mostly related to Zayna's trip. Zayna thought it to be better to drop probing on the topic for now. She wanted to divert Noorie's mind from things and show her what she is missing out on life by shying away from everything she once enjoyed doing. A broken engagement is not an end of the world. She thought it to be wise to rather not talk on that subject. So, instead she shared her experience she had while she was on her trip and told her about the most haughty man she ever met when Noorie's mind wandered to the man she met almost accidentally. Her face suddenly changed color as she remembered Aftab Ali Khan – who was far from being haughty. He was a gentleman in the true sense of the word, Noorie almost smiled thinking about him.

That smile didn't went un-noticed by Zayna and she praised, "Alhumdulillah."

Noorie looked at her friend wearing a surprise expression on her face as she asked, "What was that for?"

"You say, Whats the reason behind that beautiful smile?"

"You are imagining things. I didn't smiled," Noorie replied. She really was unaware of her own smile. Did she really smiled, she thought as her brows creased at Zayna's narrow gaze as she confronted her by asking, "Why do I get a feeling that you're hiding something from me?"

Her words came out as a warning to Noorie. She was taken aback, by her sudden question. "Zayna... I am not...," Noorie stuttered as she lied and apologized to Allah for it. Ya Allah, please forgive me for this. Feeling helpless, she just changed the topic by asking more questions about her trip and that haughty guy, which Zayna answered, but she figured somethings amiss, though decided to not probe much and give Noorie her space and time to share when she is ready.

Noorie, on the other hand, was wary wondering how she will ever tell Zayna what she had done. She has no idea how Zayna might react knowing about Aftab Ali Khan.

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