"This couldn't be happening," Noorie told herself as she hurriedly crossed the road and prayed to Allah that she never meet him again. For month's, she had feared that she might cross paths with him again and the truth might get exposed that she had shared important details of her life with a perfect stranger. It might be her personal choice, but belonging to an Islamic culture, it went against her protocol and the rules with which her mother had brought her up. She knows that this limitation and rules are for personal safety. She couldn't yet get herself to share this with Zayna. Not that she would have ridiculed her, but then she didn't require everyone to remember that her sorrow had brought over her psyche, making her lose her reasoning. This would just make her look more ridiculous.

Though she was certain that Zayna more than suspected she was hiding something, but thanks to the situation she had been, she was saved from many confrontations. Only, now the hope she had come to believe in that her truth will never be let out, feels threatened by the way her fate tricked her by getting her meet Aftab again.

Noorie entered the café where Zayna had been sitting and waiting for her, dressed in a baby pink kurti paired with a blue denims. Zayna, like Noorie followed Islam but, had never worn Hijaab or Niqaab. Her semi-straight hair pushed up in a high ponytail and few fringes in the front gave her heart shaped creamy face, a cute outlook. Her eyes sparkling brown as she saw Noorie enter the café as she sipped on her favorite lemonade with her soft pink lips that had been touched by a similar tone gloss. She looked elegant and cute, Noorie thought as she smiled and made way towards her.

"Hey Gorgeous," Zayna said, looking at her happily, as she added,"Where did you get delayed?"

Noorie smiled for her and tried to blot out the stress over what happened a few minutes ago, behind the mask she usually wore whenever something bothers her. Clothed in a black Salwar suit with little embroidery in white at the neckline of the dress, paired with a dupatta, in black and white shades. Noorie looked beautiful. Black compliments her fair skin tone and she too had semi-straight jet black hair, but longer than compared to Zayna's shoulder length hair, woven into a fishtail braid. Her lips tinted with pink gloss and she was wearing a black kohl in the lower lids of her eye. She did look Gorgeous, even with simple makeup.

"I'm bad, forgive me. Something grabbed my attention on the way and I stopped to buy it," Noorie replied truthfully as she embraced her friend and sitting in one of the chairs, opposite Zayna. The café was quite crowded with most of the tables involved.

Zayna looked at the only item Noorie was carrying - her bag. "What is it that you bought?" She asked inquisitively.

"Nothing. Someone else took it by the time I could get it,"Noorie said ruefully , sighing inside. How she had wished to buy it and how it landed her into meeting the only person, she never intended to meet.

"Aww, that's terrible," Zayna said, feeling sorry for her friend as she handed her the menu to order something and continued, "What was it though?"

"Nothing to feel sorry about," Noorie said with a positive smile, trying to avoid the topic as she was aware Zayna would add two and two and come out of something if she tells her that it was a Windchime. Not just any wind chime, but a starry wind chime. That would create a lot of questions in Zayna's mind, one's she has no desire and will to answer. She was sensible enough to realize that to avoid thinking about the past, one must first stop talking about it.

"Hmm...,"Zayna said thoughtfully and looking at her friend's expressions understood that there is more to it than meets the eye and added, "No worries though, If it's meant for you, you will be having it someday."

Noorie quietly listened to her with a smile and hoped she shared Zayna's positivity in everything, but then she rather be realistic than be wishful. Wishes never come true and Hopes always deserts her. They only explore the areas of your heart, arousing desire inside it, making your mind think about them and all of it just leads to Pain. She had enough on her plate for one life and she does not want to lay her hopes on anything again.

They ordered pizza and fruit punch as they gossiped about things, awaiting for their order to be handed over. All the time, Zayna was aware of Noorie's uncomfortable gestures. She knew, that Noorie always behaves oddly if she has something to share, but she doesn't, for some strange reasons.

"I do not mean to sound critical, but it's not good to hide things you rather speak and feel better," Zayna said as she touched Noorie's hand. "We have come a long way Noor, We have shared everything and has always been there for each other. Then what makes you now think that I'm not suitable to lend you a listening ear and a lifting arm, when you need your best friend the most."

Noorie's eyes almost watered. She didn't want to make Zayna feel bad. She knew Zayna cannot be obviated, but she was waiting for the proper time. Though, in some way she recognized her friend would bring up the issue once they're done feeding.

"I was not... " Noorie's words were cut down when she discovered a man appear on their table and smiling at her, very charmingly as he said, "Hello, again". Much to Zayna's surprise, who lifted one of her eyebrow, first at the man and then following it gaze, at Noorie.

Noorie lifted her head and looked at the man with surprised eyes, as if she seen him for the first time.

It was him again.

Him smiling at her.
Him looking at her.
Him admiring her.

He actually managed to find her out even though she rushed past the roads so that she cannot see where she was going. She was sure she didn't saw him following her. It's been almost 20 minutes,  since she last saw him at that shop. He had not followed him then it means he had been searching for her all over the place. This didn't made her feel comfortable. Why had he been searching for her? To give the windchime? Somehow her mind did not settled with that thought and she felt unsettled under Zayna's questioning glares.

Now any moment her so well guarded truth will be out. She knew she was running out of luck the moment she laid eyes on this creature at the gift shop. She had been so right. No man is to be trusted to keep the promise they made. No man is man enough to value their words these days, she felt bitter inside at the realization that she had been wrong in hoping and trusting he would be different.

Aftab was still awaiting for her answer, her blurry mind gathered. Yes, her response. Oh God, she thought as she looked at Zayna's wide eyes, clouded with curiosity as she stared at the man and at Noorie's expression. Noorie is sure she saw a glint in Zayna's eyes but she was not stupid enough to react to it because she knew that her friend will pull out her hidden bow and arrow to strike at the potential target for her friend. Zayna and her Mom had been after her to think of marriage as they are not getting any younger, but Noorie never paid any heed to it.

Noorie looked at Zayna as she thought, Oh My Little Cupid, this is a non-trespassing area. The man might be married, she chuckled inside with the thought of how Zayna will react once she knows the truth about the two of them. She can easily picture Zayna, up with her matchmaking skills. Only if she knows the truth. Noorie fought back her smile and said, "You?... Here?," to Aftab.

Noorie was purposely avoiding Zayna's inquisitive gaze as Aftab replied her back. "Well, I am suppose to meet a friend here, but he has not showed up yet and...." He lied, pretending to look around before adding, "......all the other tables are occupied." He paused as he noticed the look in Noorie's eye that she already know what he intends to say next, he obliged her by proving her right as he put her thoughts into words,"Do you mind if I sit here and wait till one of the tables get cleared?"

Zayna cleared her throat that moment almost trying to hide her smirk as she saw Noorie's eyes widened with Aftab's request. And she had figured out that they seem to know each other so before Noorie could give any excuse, she jumped in saying, "Since, you both seem to know each other, I don't think Noorie will mind. Right Noorie?." She looked at Noorie's face who was literally not up for it, but gave her approval with a nod. A certain fear was rising up inside her and she felt like hiding herself.

Aftab looked at Zayna's direction with a smile of gratitude as he occupied the chair just opposite of Noorie, hoping for Noorie to introduce him to his friend and vice versa. He knew from her expression that she is not pleased to see him again and by finding her out in this cafe and coming over to talk to her he had only lowered himself in her eyes. He could see it all in her eyes. But, what he is aiming for is too worthy to give up for this mediocre one-sided judgements.

Zayna too wondered why Noorie is not introducing them. She nudged her elbows from under the table to make it known that it's awkward to not not introduce friends. She might be open and frank, but she still is a girl and she cannot just go about introducing herself to a person she had not known. She looked at Noorie again hoping for her to speak up and end this over-dramatic silence between them.

Noorie knew as per manners,she should introduce them. Zayna's nudging was a clear indication that she was feeling uncomfortable and so was Aftab's hesitancy as he looked awkwardly at the table and then at her, not knowing what to say. He should t have come her in the first place, she thought angrily. She does not want to introduce him to Zayna.mShe does not care what Aftab will think about it, but Noorie knew with Zayna it will only makes matters worse as she will begin to smell something fishy and will not rest until she finds out.

It took her a complete month to pretend to be normal to make Zayna believe that she was not hiding anything from her and now the very thought of the truth coming out was enough to to give her an attack. She wondered what will happen if he tells Zayna how she met Aftab. If she wanted she could have made up any story and end all the trauma. But not able to share with her was bad enough, making up and lying was a sin. She cannot cheat her friend by lying to her. She deserves to know the truth and Noorie wanted to tell her everything, on her own, but she just didn't found the appropriate time to do so. And then as time passed, she thought maybe she will just get away with it by being silent about it and will not be regarded as a fool. But nothing works the way she wants. Now it seems her bad days aren't over yet. The thing she feared has come true.

                                                                                       ☆☆☆☆☆☆