"Ma Sha Allah, you got a very beautiful name," Aftab gladly praised Zayna as Noorie finally introduced them to each other. He recalled Noorie mentioning about her on their first meeting and he was quite taken to be able to meet an important person of Noorie's life.

Unlike Noorie, Zayna shook hands with him when they were introduced to each other. And she saw Aftab was hesitant doing so yet he did so because it is taken as being rude in the modern culture that Indians follow, if he had not shook hands when offered and Zayna had a very modern upbringing so she does not really mind shaking hands, as she has to do so quite a lot at work. Noorie could sense the reason behind his hesitancy. Maybe it was because in Islam, man and woman are not allowed to follow such gestures.

It's against Islamic principles to shake hands with a non-mehram. Noorie never shook hands with opposite gender either, not even with her teacher. She explained to them her reasons and they would appreciate her for being so grounded about her religion, even in this modern times and respect her decision. She was surprised Aftab follows the same. She gathered, it must be very challenging thing for him to follow these principles because being a man he has to work and meet all kinds of people of both genders and must feel forced to follow these civilities with opposite gender. She recalled that they never shook hand on their previous meet either and Aftab was giving lots of Islamic examples to make her understand. Those were the things that made her feel she didn't do anything wrong in trusting her. But today, she felt the mirror cracking, with him making a re-appearance, inspite of being aware of the fact that she had deliberately ignored him at the gift shop. Though, with what she witnessed of his character now, made her reason his action, wondering maybe he is not as bad as she has become to think of him. Maybe she is overthinking and he really has plans to meet his friend here. She was not convinced with this thought though.

"Thank you, I liked your name as well. It has a very nice meaning, something that suits your personality." Zayna said frankly.

"Thank you, but people are more than what they show and you hardly know me to make such conclusions," Aftab pointed out carefully not wanting to offend her, but being a little wary of her.

"I speak my mind and I am mostly sure of what I say because I observe before making my thoughts known." Zayna replied smartly, making Noorie feel proud of her. She remembered telling him about Zayna, now he gets to experience it himself.

Aftab was not stunned as he had met a lot of bold ladies at professional front and social circle, but Zayna's frankness and clarity of thought did amazed him as she added, "Please do not feel awkward for my complimenting you. I'm just so much into all these face reading and psychology that I just cannot refrain myself from talking whenever I have a thing on my mind to share. You can confirm it from, Noorie. I almost kill her with my talks and experiences," She said looking towards Noorie.

Aftab was about to ask who is Noorie when he caught the look on Noorie's face as Zayna looked at her with a grin and he felt as if his heart is dancing for finally getting to know her name. It had not gone unobserved by him that she still managed to keep her name a secret for him.

The smirk on his face was enough to let Noorie know that he was rejoicing over finding out her name - her well-guarded secret because of which he had been through much torture and hated himself for not convincing her enough to at least share her name, at their previous meeting, almost a year ago. Well to be precise, it had been 10months and 21 days since he last saw her and he had recently begun to give up on his hope of meeting her, taking their distance as a cue from Allah that they were not destined to be together. Though, the acceptance of it had been quite hard for him because he had already set his heart on her. She had been like that star he watches in the sky at night, whenever he used to go sleepless thinking of her. He knew it's there, and with its shine it comforts him, but he knew that he cannot ever own it. It belongs to the sky. And, she might belong to someone else. Maybe she had already found that person and is happy in her life.

These thoughts made him push himself to give up on his hope of meeting her again. And then, his prayers got answered today and he found what he had been looking for. He was overjoyed, but he didn't risk showing it off and making her annoyed, so he controlled his happiness and shifted his gaze back to Zayna and and replied, "Which man in his right mind will feel awkward when complimented? My reason behind my statement was duly because of the fact that we have just met to be sure about anything about each other, nothing else." He clarified.

That sentence made Noorie look up and she almost stopped herself from saying something related to the past experience when she had with him and he had won in convincing her and winning her trust, enough to make her share her pains with him. Aftab did noticed the way she looked at him, but then went quiet. She almost blessed herself for halting her thoughts and not voicing it out or she would have really regretted spilling her own secret in such a way, in front of Zayna.

"You are right to an extent, but I think sometimes one meeting is enough to know and understand someone, if you really has that ability in you to be able to see right through," Zayna's words should have confirmed her for what she had shared with Aftab, but she cannot place herself in such high esteem of bring able to understand someone, not when she had paid a great price for the same, in the form of Irfan.

Though, Aftab words made her feel better as he said, "I completely agree with you. Sometimes, a single conversation can help you know someone so well which you might never be able to achieve with someone you known your entire life. I feel it's more to do with vibes." Zayna nodded in agreement as Aftab continued, watching Noorie listening to what he is saying intently, " Also, luck and destiny comes handy with these too."

The last part was like an edge of sword to Noorie's thoughts. She likes nothing about the word destiny and luck. Those are just silly excuses one fools themshelves with whenever they get or does not get something.

"Oh My Allah, I cannot believe, someone can actually have a similar thought process as me. All these time, Whenever I spoke about such things, I was made to believe that I am being crazy. Welcome to the crazy camp," Zayna exclaimed happily at Aftab.

"What is crazy about believing in the concept of destiny and luck? Everything is part of Allah's will. Ignore such people's who makes you feel low about yourself," Aftab worded confidently.

Noorie grimaced, lowering her lashes as she took the drink that the waiter brought for her and Zayna.

Zayna laughed, narrowing her expression at Noorie as she said in-between her laugh, "I cannot do so, she is my bestie." Noorie's look told her that they will talk about this later. Zayna couldn't help but laugh more at that.

Aftab wished he could eat his words back. The only girl he aims to win, is the only girl he is ending up making annoyed at him with everything he does and say. What a dilemma!

Noorie bit back her awkwardness and uttered,"You know why I call you crazy. Don't mix things up."

"Okay, okay sunshine... My Bae.... I was only trying to put humor to pull you out of your quietness," Zayna said mischievously as she picked up her drink and then realized that Aftab has not ordered anything and keeping up to her polite nature, offered him, "Why don't you order something for yourself while you wait for your friend?"

Noorie too realized that he had not ordered anything while they were sipping their drinks. What is wrong with her? In her anger and fear, she forgot her manners. Not that he is their guest, but still he is sitting with them and by some chance or coincidence she knew him, so she should have asked him the same before. "Please, do order something for yourself," She said in a low voice to Aftab.

"I will, Thank you," He said and called for the waiter.

While he had been ordering, he heard Zayna whisper something in Noorie's ear and Noorie went pale, but forced a smile and said something back in her ear. He then settled back comfortably in his chair, listening to the chatter of the two friends.

Zayna had been whispering to Noorie asking her where she had met him and why she had never mentioned him to her and Noorie had been repeatedly staying, "I'll tell you later, but Zayna's curiosity was on rise. She turned her face to him and back to Noorie and asked again in confusion.

"So, he is your friend. You admit?," Aftab heard Zayna asking in a slightly sad tone. He was confirmed that Noorie had not discussed anything related to him even with her. This was indication enough that he must not spill the beans by talking to her about him. It seems, Allah wants him to stay patient.

Noorie was already feeling exhausted with Zayna's inquisitivity and blurted out in her ear,"Yes, now can we please talk about this later."

Zayna gave her a warning look. It was obvious she didn't liked the fact that Noorie had kept something hidden from her. Noorie sighed and softly said to her, "Don't make conclusions. Show some faith in me, please. I will tell everything later."

Zayna knew she would. She believed Noorie and so she smiled at her and said,"Okay, later."

Noorie was somewhat relieved and wanted to gets past this topic, so she began talking first so as to divert the topic from her friend's mind. "Will your friend take time to come?", she enquired from Aftab. Not knowing what else to say. "Don't mind my asking, I'm just wondering how long you have to wait before he shows up?", she quickly added as she sensed his discomfort at her question. He immediately began to fiddle with his mobile, she noticed. Somehow, she was sure that no friend is turning up. He was here to talk to her, but with Zayna here, he is not able to speak up whatever it is. And she was literally thankful for him for showing at least this much sense or she had no idea, who she would have handled Zayna's rage of hiding so much from her. Inside she was preparing herself for her attacks once they're out of here. She just knew the questions are already dancing in her friend's mind.

"He is stuck in a traffic, so it's time for him to come. He messaged me earlier."Aftab answered, quite intrigued by the way he caught her looking at him, with whatever that must be running in her mind. She looked troubled, yet so lovely. He was still not over the fact that she was looking incredibly beautiful than he had imagined since he last spoke to her. He wanted to stop thinking such things as its not a modest thing to do for a man who follows Islam, but his only reason for his lack of control was that there was nothing bad or sinful about his thoughts for her. He respected her and is genuinely interested in knowing her so that he can make a proposal of marriage to her.

"Oh," was all she said when the waiter made an appearance again with Aftab's Cappucino. The three of them quietly enjoyed their drinks as they watched a lady with a 2 year old kid trying to get up from her sit, while she lifted and nestled the little one in her arms and reached to pick her bag. The kid was laughing at her mother's helplessness as she was not able to bow down and pick her purse. His laugh caught everyone's eyes and Noorie couldn't help but smile at the way he made cute expressions. Finally, she managed to pick her purse and pulled her son's nose making him laugh harder as she said, "And this is for laughing at me, Sunny." Everyone in the cafe observed them and laughed at the way little toddler made an annoying face in the most cutest way possible and then laughed loudly.

After they left, Noorie was the first one to speak up and her voice was deliciously happy for Aftab's ears as she said,"What a charming kid!"

Noorie was still smiling at the thought of the little fellow that charmed her and Aftab was watching her with admiration. This is the first time he had seen her so happy and hopefully not the last, he prayed silently in his heart.

Zayna and Aftab nodded together with a smile son their faces to what Noorie exclaimed happily.
"A lovely name too, Sunny. Exactly of the same meaning as your name, Aftab," Zayna pointed out like an excited child. "Today is so full of coincidences, first with both of you meeting and then these common names...," her voice cracked into an 'Ouch' because Noorie kicked her on her foot.

Noorie had to stop her from talking too much because she was not getting a very good feeling of what her friend might say next. She already had revealed her name to him and no thanks to her for that.

Aftab was startled and looked at her with concern, wondering what happened. After giving a 'we-will-talk-about-this-later-too' look to Noorie, she ignored her friend and went on saying,"Nothing, Really.," She assured him and seeing him relaxed said,"You see, the meaning of Aftab's name suits him just as much, as far as my instincts says," Zayna said first looking at Noorie and then shifting her gaze back to Aftab as she added,"because you seem to have that kind of aura about you and you just proven me right with your concern."

Aftab didn't knew what else to say, so he simply smiled at her and said,"I am honored for such a high opinion from someone I just met, JazakAllah Khair."  Zayna smiled back and then as if giving something a thought as she added with excitement,"Wow... Another coincidence! Both of you have your names based on a galaxy. One for night and the other for the day, but both has their own beauty and light."

No matter what Noorie's mind had alerted her with to stop her friend in that manner, but she had never given this thing a thought at all. Never, even though she knew his name all along. So, At first neither Noorie nor Aftab understood Zayna's sudden excitement and then when it sinked in, Noorie was embarrassed and wanted to hit her again, but instead she just rolled her eyes at her friend. Just hold on there, Zayna! Noorie wanted to say. Her friend really know how to make a compliment  sound so embarrassing.

On the other hand, Aftab admired Zayna's observant and presence of mind as she pointed things out. He might have found Zayna's name beautiful, but Noorie's name was more lovelier to him, he was almost half in love with her name and its meaning already.  He had thought her to be a star, but she turned out to be more lovelier - a moonlight that she had been named after. In his eyes, she is the moon whose light will brighten his world at the darkest hours. He couldn't help his thoughts from running miles, but he guarded on his expression well. He did not want to fear her away from him.

When Zayna didn't got any response and she didn't bothered to notice any embarrassment that she was causing to her friend , she went on saying, "Great things have happened. Just like both of your names. Isn't it just so amazing and too much for co-incidence?"

Zayna's words was hinting at something and just because Noorie admitted Aftab to be his friend, She knew that Zayna must be putting two and two together and trying to be Cupid. Without knowing anything, Zayna is jumping to conclusions just because she assumes that Noorie and Aftab know each other from some source, which she will definitely find out. Noorie realized that these embarrassing moments are the price one has to pay when they keep things hidden from their besties.

Noorie knew she had to say something before Zayna's assumptions make her want to die with shame and embarrassment. But stopping her from saying anything will only make her talk more on the topic. She was feeling so helpless and almost hating Aftab to show up again in her life like this and making everything so complicated for her.

                                                             ****************

Note : It needs a bit more editing, I believe. But, I will do so once I finish the book, so please be kind with your comments.