Aftab was impressed with Zayna's innocence and purity of the soul. He felt Noorie was really lucky and blessed to have such a wonderful person as a best friend. At first, he had a bit of reservation knowing her because her dressing style was not like a Muslim girl. He is not an extremist. He does not mind jeans as far as its worn in a decent way. He has completely liberal views, but he prefers women to be dressed in traditional wear. He thanked himself that he had not judge her on account of her dress and extreme frankness. A wise men once said, 'Never judge a book by its cover.' It's really true. Talking to Zayna gave him quite an insight to this saying otherwise, he had seen girls who had discarded off their modesty and shyness and he feels quite sorry to see the way society had went flip flop.

Aftab's gaze then rested on Noorie as they quietly sipped their drinks. Her embarrassment over Zayna's chatter was clearly evident on her face. He wished he could be more expressive with her and tell her that it is really fine. He is not going to judge them, in fact he was more than happy to know about her name. He always had believed that she had forgotten about him. But, now he knows that she too has remembered him, even if it was a faint memory, but he was not completely out of her mind. That brought happiness and relief in his heart. Although, he knew that her rememberance of him has nothing to do with his rememberance of her and that he has quite a lot in his plate to deal with before making a proposal to her.

"It's time for rehersals to start Zayna, let's make a move now," Noorie spoke in an urgent manner as her eyes collided with the time on her wrist watch and in that very moment, the galaxy that was built in Aftab's imagination where Noorie and Aftab were together, as each got lost in time, fell apart as the thought bubbles got broken as Noorie's voice made way into his ears.

"Yeah, Right,"Zayna said as she waved to the waiter for the bill.

"Looks like, your friend was coming from a far place. He couldn't make it by now."Zayna commented looking at Aftab. But, before Aftab could reply her, the waiter came with the bill and handed it to Aftab.

"We are suppose to pay it,"Noorie said at once trying to pick the bill from the table but at once Aftab put his hand on it and said, "Please allow me," and he hand in his pocket to take out his wallet.

"Please no, it's suppose to be from me,"Noorie replied as she gave a look at the waiter for handing the bill to Aftab. The waiter stood dumbstruck, not knowing what he did wrong to deserve that look from her.

Aftab noticed and he came for his rescue saying,"It's really okay, it's not his fault when we are sharing the table."

Noorie did understood that but she just had to let out her frustrations that she had been holding for past half an hour and the waiter's action only heightened it and she couldn't stop herself. She was thanking her self control for not exploding over what's happening to her on this un-fateful day, as she thought it to be.

Aftab took out the bill amount and was pacing it with the bill to handover to the confused waiter, who was still not over the shock of Noorie's reaction when the subject of his thought looked pleadingly at her friend to come to a rescue.

Zayna shrugged her shoulder not knowing what to say but she tried anyway, "Please Aftab, it's our treat, let us pay today and you can treat us next time."

Whoa, so much for the help! Noorie thought in her boiling frustration.

"Why not I pay now and the two of you can pay the next time we meet?," Aftab said as he handed the bill amount to the waiter and he quickly made an escape from the scene.

Noorie just had it. Between the two of them, they are discussing it all as if her opinion does not matter or maybe she is not present there at all. She first looked at her friend with shock and then at Aftab with a haughty look which clearly indicated that there will be 'No Next Time'. He has done enough favors on her and now he is also paying the bill, she cannot imagine to be troubled with getting anything more from him. She had nothing to say. She lowered her lashes and quietly stared at the table in a visibly annoyed mood.

Zayna recoiled to herself at her friends behavior not knowing what else to say, not understanding the sudden change in her reaction. The ever so polite and well-mannered Noorie was behaving so unlike herself and even though she known her all her life and understands more than anyone, her mind cannot register the reasons behind Noorie's behavior. In fact, Her mind was reeling, not understanding what is wrong in it, if being a friend, Aftab chooses to pay for them. Friends do such things. It's not a big deal. They do such things all the time. Everything that was happening from the moment Aftab set his foot towards them was like a puzzle to her and she couldn't find the missing pieces. Being a straightforward person, She wanted to confront but she didn't risked asking Noorie about it and waited for her to keep the promise she had made to her a while ago for sharing with her the missing details of her life.

Knowing someone has to make a move first and say something to cool the tension, Aftab tried by placing an apology,"I am Sorry for ruining your mood. If it makes you feel so bad then you can pay me back, I won't mind."

The apologetic look on his face made Noorie's anger fly by in nanosecond, making her feel guilty for the way she behaved. Though she didn't really like him paying their bill, but as reasons prevailed, she realized that being the gentleman that she know he is, he did what was supposed to do. It was she who was responsible for this awkward situation the three of them are in. Only if, she had put on more faith in her friend and told her everything, things would not have been so complicated.

"C'mon, It's really okay. You do not need to apologize at all since you did nothing wrong,"Zayna said at once cutting down Noorie's thoughts and the words she was about to speak. Both friends stared at each other as Zayna added,"We do give treats each other all the time, so what's wrong if being your friend, he did it today."

Noorie let out a sigh of disappointment over the situation she was stuck in. She is already been feeling guilty to keep her friend in the dark and now Aftab's apology and her friend's comment on it wanted her to just turn back time and make things right and be free from this unpleasant moment. How on earth she is going to explain it all to Zayna and make her see that Aftab is not her friend. He is nothing to her. Her heart sighed at the thought of the difficult time she has to face when's he will be alone with her friend.

"Im sorry, I don't know whatelse to say," Noorie uttered looking at Aftab and he didn't liked the look of discomfort on her face, realizing to well that she is going to have a hard time explaining everything to Zayna. He knows that Noorie does not consider him as a friend, it was said to make Zayna shut out her questions while they are here.

"Please don't be...," Aftab replied immediately to her and then added more softly, "I understand," with a look of concern for her. He was now beginning to feel apologetic for being the cause of her troubles.

"It's really so nice of you, Aftab. I am so impressed with you,"Zayna added cheerfully with a happy smile on her face to make the moment light as she touched her friend's hand and looking at him said, "You must really not mind. My friend has some rules and principles she has set for herself and she completely lives by them." She turned to look at her friend and added,"And that's makes her what she is and we adore her," she said praising Noorie and giving her a quick smile.

Noorie felt emotional and smiled back at her for reverting the moment back to being normal as she said, "Thank you," to her and then to Aftab for understanding. She knew exactly what he meant by his 'I understand....'

"Your welcome," He replied acknowledging everything that has been said by Zayna.

Noorie smiled at him and hinted Zayna that they must make a move. Zayna nodded and they stood together from their chair as Zayna forwarded her hands to Aftab saying with pleased expression on her face, "It was so nice to get to meet you. If luck favors us and we meet second time, then it will be our turn to treat you."

Noorie stayed quiet, trying to fight back from giving any reaction that might again put her in an awkward situation.

Aftab gave a small smile and said,"In Sha Allah, one must keep hope. It was nice knowing you as well."

"I never knew Noorie had a friend like you, I don't know why we never got to know each other before, but I'm pleased I did today," she smiled as she said it to him, completely unaware that her friend has completely gone pale.

Noorie just couldn't move. Her feets were like frozen, her slipper stuck on the ground. She thought she had managed to avoid the confrontation in front of Aftab, but like always her fate didn't favor her.

Her discomfort was obvious to Aftab and he supplied on her behalf, hoping to make it easy for her, "We are not exactly friends, Zayna. By some chance of luck or destiny, we just happen to know each other and maybe there was nothing worth remembering so your friend must have forgotten to mention me to you."

He said it quite simply, but as his words sinked in, Noorie felt as if he had meant something behind those words. Her eyes lifted up to him to read his expression.

"Not really friends?," Zayna lifted her brow and looked at Noorie. Watching her hesitate, Zayna finally got the real picture of the things - the reasons behind her awkwardness and reactions. But it made her wonder why her friend didn't said the same before? Why she introduced him as a friend?
Zayna was completely disoriented in her mind now.

Noorie appreciated Aftab's gesture of making it easy for her to make her friend understand by speaking part of the truth and avoided Zayna's quizzical look. She told herself that she will deal with it later. And looked at Aftab as she said with a sobered expression,"I never forgotten you..." as her mind added 'It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember'

The words were meant to be said as a matter of fact way, but when Noorie read the expression on Aftab's face and the way his eyes glinted, she knew he took it in a different meaning and somehow something didn't allowed her to correct him. She just let the moment slip away as their eyes locked for a split second.

This shouldn't be happening, both knew. But, none of them could pull their eyes away from each other. It was like their eyes has found its rightful vision.

Aftab knew it will not be considered modest to look at a girl the way he looked at Noorie and then those feelings of connectivity to her. He was sure that there is nothing Haraam or Fitna in it. What he had felt was completely pure and genuine. Almost spiritual, as if Allah is putting it in his heart so that he realize that Noorie is the one for him. But, he just couldn't risk telling this to her in front of Zayna, when he knew that Noorie had not even told her about him. He would never let anyone raise any finger at Noorie because of what he feels for her.

Zayna's eyes widened with shock and surprise at what she just noticed. It was too much for her romantic mind to hold and be patient about. She eyed them suspiciously and tried to recall events in her mind to find out if ever Noorie discussed Aftab to him, but there were none that came to her mind. She broke the spell they were by giving out a small cough.

Both Noorie and Zayna turned away looking at her together and then back to each other, feeling all caught up. Noorie's face flushed as she heard Zayna say,"Guys, My head is reeling now. Will anyone of you actually tell me since how long both of you know each other. The way both of you are looking at each other, it seems there su more to it than I've been told.

Zayna said directly looking at Aftab and then turning to her friend. Her voice had an edge of emotion to it that alarmed Noorie. She felt like she will fall. Things are just turning from bad to worse. Zayna had spoken quite curtly and loud enough for others to overhear. People around them were beginning to look at them. Noorie cursed her fate for this day and making Aftab turn up in her life. She just couldn't take it anymore. If the ghost is out then it's better to deal with it and get rid of it forever, then delaying to do the needful and face its consequences,she told herself.

She looked at Zayna and said, "I told you I will tell you later. At least give me time enough to explain. Let's move out from her and then we can talk. Everyone is watching us."

Zayna looked around and almost at once felt conscious of few people watching them. Aftab too appeared to be feeling out of place. She felt sorry and was beginning to apologize, but Noorie stopped her from doing so by grabbing hold of her hand and saying, "No, don't. Let's go now."

Zayna obediently nodded and lifted her purse and headed out after giving a small smile and waving a little at Aftab.

Noorie walked past the table avoiding his scrutinized gaze. She knew he must be looking at her, feeling sorry for everything, but she couldn't take any more apologies from any of them when everything had been her fault - her bad luck - her secrets - her wrong choices and her misfortunes.

Aftab stood silently as he watched them walk away. His eyes fixed on Noorie, as inside he ached to stop her, but he couldn't.

Everything has been going so well and now there back to the same awkward situation. He held himself responsible for everything. He couldn't even succeed in his mission to make his feelings known to her, instead he gave her more reason to regret meeting him again. He prayed to Allah that Zayna take the truth in a peaceful and understanding manner.

Noorie, once turned to look at him before finally closing the cafe gate behind her. Her expression was that of anxiety and worry, over what she has to face with her friend. The look in Noorie's eyes gave a clear message that she does not want to see him again. And then they were out of his sight.

He sat back on his chair and stared at the chair where Noorie had been sitting. This was exactly how it had been the last time they met and parted. His heart scolded him for letting her go again, but the mind understood that he had no rights to stop her. He had sensed that she was not exactly happy on meeting him again. How can he possibly make someone his friend or dare to share what he feels when the person gives clear responses to stay away from their life?

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Note : Editing left. Any errors, please let me know.