Assalamualaikum.

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"Aara.. What are you saying!?" Neha was baffled.

"Yes Nib! I saw him today" Aara confessed.

"Where!? How!" Neha had too many questions to ask. At the same time she was worried too. Because only she knows how Aara has cried for him..

"Today in the garden!!"

If you are doubting "Is she talking about Armaan!!??"
Yes!! Indeed she is!

How did she know him!?

           ***********

▶▶Flashback▶▶

Aara & Neha were joined in the Ooty boarding school  by their parents. While Adaa and Nabeel studied in Navodaya, entering through passing an examination.

Mr.Nauman Syed and Mr.Ibrahim(Neha's father) started  business  in a partnership with other partners as their wives.

Ooty boarding school was an unusual schooling campus. Being in a  hostel  is an amazing experience you will ever have. Aara and Neha were 14, when they were a newbie there.

The system of teaching was different from other Indian schools. All classes were a mere practicals for them, concentrating more on their individual talents.
Neha and Aara took literature as their main stream with Psychology and Home Science as the other supporting ones.

So needless to say, they had nothing much to worry about in studies. Half of the day would be spent roaming around the school. Sometimes in the library or on  the play ground.

They had made a new friend named Haniya , who is always filled with positive vibes.

On a day when they were exhausted by roaming and walking all around, they thought to settle down on their school canteen as they were starving too.

That is when Aara met her so called P'shone for the first time.

A tall quiet guy sitting with his hands on his chin, eye casting downward, deep in thought.  
Aara wondered why he was so sad!
Meanwhile Neha came with  some snacks in her hand.
Throwing back her thoughts, Aara started eating.

A week passed by. There was a competition going on in the school named Jamboree. An arts fest.

As Aara was good in singing Naaths, she added her name in the singing list while Neha added her name for drawing.
They both were preparing themselves, while Haniya was titled as the host for the entire event.

The competition went pretty well. Aara banged the second prize, when Neha got first. Celebrating their victories, they both thought of sharing sweets with their other close friends along with Haniya.

Carrying the sweets from the canteen, they were heading towards their dorm when Aara noticed the same guy sitting on the stairs. The guy was looking towards the play ground, where some boys were playing football in the rain.

"Arrey..!! It's raining. How do we go now?" Haniya chirped in annoyance.

"I have an idea. Can we play in the rain!??"  Aara suggested happily when Neha snapped back "Are you ready to listen to the scoldings of Mrs.Hitler!?"

"Huh!! Just for some minutes. Please!" Aara pleaded looking at Neha and eyeing at Haniya for some help.

"Aara, you will catch cold. We can't take the risk. Beside we have our exams nearing! So it's better you take care of your health and start studying." Neha plainly stated.

"Please.. Please..please...!!" Aara pleaded hard, but that was of no use. Neha was constantly shaking her head in negativity. When Haniya stared at the poor Aara.

"Hey Ms.Neha Ibrahim!"  Taha shouted from behind.

Taha, the so called spoilt brat, who flirts with all the girls.
Since he is the senior, no students have voice against him.

His look clearly  defined that he was with the other guys playing football on the ground in the rain. Because his jersey was sticking to his body, his sneakers filled with mud and his hair, all shabby! He looked horrible altogether.

Clenching her teeth, Neha turned to see the disgusting face ever!
"What!?" Neha roared.

"Ohh!! Seems like you are hot!" Taha said with a weird smile.

Neha was quite happy with her victory. But here he is.. to destroy everything.

"Cool down sweetheart! Your BP will go up!" He stated with a smirk.

Actually Neha's first encounter with Taha was at the library.
Taha was purposefully disturbing the students who were immersed in reading. When he made weird noises towards Neha, she got furious and shouted "keep shut! Or else your head will be rolling on the floor"
Neha can tolerate anything. But not when she is reading a book.
Then their came a Librarian who commanded him to step out of the library. From then on, Taha purposefully piss her off everytime he see her.

"Aara, Hany.. let's go" Neha said and walked towards their dorm when Taha took hold of her hand.
This time it was Aara who was puffing in annoyance.
Aara pushed the life out of Taha and shouted "stay away!"

Taha took threatening steps towards Aara and said "hey kiddo! Stay out of this"

Yes! Aara indeed looks like a small kid even if she was 15 years old. It is all because of her height. She was too short for her age!

"Shut up"  Aara shouted loud purposefully to grab everyone's attention. But to his luck, there were no one around them, only few students here and there. That's when her so-called P'Shone threw a massive entry with an eye brow arching towards Taha.

"Here comes Mr.Hero!" Taha stated with a lop-sided weird smile.
Armaan did nothing but slipped the punch and countered with three lefts that snapped Taha's head back, sending a mild shock coursing through him. Taha shook his head like a crazy bull. Not knowing what to do, He screamed and pushed Armaan to the mud. A furious Armaan gracefully stood up and smashed two blows again. And there you go! Cat fight has been started between them. It was too late for the three girls to react.
Armaan didnot start the fight just because he was misbehaving with his juniors. But because they both have their old encounters too!

Fully covered with mud, the fight gave no sign of ending. Three girl looked between each other not knowing what to do. If they interupt them, it was obvious that they would receive two smashes!!  So it was good for them to stay shut.

Soon before anyone could react, someone shouted "Head master is coming!"
Every student who stood their circling the fight ran as if they saw some ghost. The three girls stood there. As if their feets were glued on the floor.

Shooting a death glare, Taha stood up and ran to the football court with a wild roar. A muddy Armaan headed towards the girls and said "Go to your dorm"

The three girls walked away silently without speaking a word.
Aara turned back to see him and noticed his bleeding hand. He stood their examining his hand. Aara felt bad. Somehow she is the reason behind his wound. She was so desperate to help him, but then Aara knows how dangerous he is! She was scared of his hard punches. Making up her mind she walked quickly along with her friends.

At dorm, every girls were busy with one work or the other. While Neha went to take a shower, Aara sat on her bed staring at the blank spaces. Haniya being herself jumped here and there to talk to everyone in the dorm.

"Huh!? What happened to you!?" Neha asked to Aara wiping her hair with a towel.

"Hmm...nothing!"  She simply stated.

"Why are you sitting as if you witnessed some ghost here!?"

"Nah! Nothing!"

"Aara...."

"Nehaa..." Aara echoed with a smile.

"Do whatever you want!" Neha muttered and walked away.

Next day after finishing their classes, Aara and Neha were walking towards library when they noticed Taha with plasters and bruises all around his face and hand. Aara couldn't control herself. She smirked at him, who in return gritted his teeth in anger.
"Aara.." Neha called and eyed her not to smirk.
"He deserves that!" Aara said scratching her nose.

Taking the book 'Princess' 
penned by Jean Sasson, Aara walked towards an empty chair and took a seat. Meanwhile someone sat on her opposite side. She took her eyes slowly from the book and  looked at that person.
To say she was shocked would be an understatement!

Her P'Shone!!

She was sad that she didnot knew his real name.!!

Falling deep in her thought, she failed to notice that he was also looking at her.!

He snapped his finger in front of her and questioned raising his brow. Throwing an imaginary face palm at herself, she went inside her book.

After a short while, she again looked at him. She opened her mouth to say something than stopped herself from saying so. But as they say 'Curiosity kills a cat' she was debating with herself whether or not to ask him. Mustering up some courage she started
"Hmm.. Are you okay!?" 
But to her dismay he was too engrossed in his book to hear her. Sighing with a tight lip, she went back into her book.

"Yah.. just a small wound on my hand" He said looking at her.

She was more than surprised. She thought he didn't hear her. But here he is saying 'He is good'
Aara smiled and nodded. With a void reaction, he went back to his book.

Aara too got engrossed in her book as it was a true tale of a Saudi Arabia's princess who was subjected to harassment by her own big brother, who was a victim of child marriage and she  was a girl  who never experienced 'fatherly love'.

"Armaaaaan" Someone screamed which echoed the whole library. Aara turned around to see who it was and noticed a guy standing on the entrance and waving at her direction. She looked around and noticed that Her P'Shone was collecting his books and walking out.
'Oh! Armaan!! Nice name!'  She thought.

Aara didn't know why but the butterflies in her stomach were partying hard doing all kind of somersaultings.

She was happy the rest of the day. Neha questioned why she was so happy but Aara being herself brushed it off saying "I don't want any reason to stay happy"

Later on, Aara started stealing glancing at Armaan, whenever he was around. She didn't realize when she started falling for him. It became one of her daily rituals. She was often found sitting engrossed in her own cocoon of  his thought. Neha smelled something was cooking up in her mind. But Aara always brushed it off. Until one day when she herself realized that she had fallen for him.!

On the day of farewell when the whole school was bustling with enthusiasm, Aara sat on her dorm. Her eyes were puffy. Hugging her legs together, she hiccuped between her tears. Neha found it hard to control, as she was unknown of the reason for why she was crying!
Neha constantly asked her 'What happened!?'  But Aara never replied.
After sometimes when Neha was at the verge of impatience.. she stood on her feet to leave her alone for sometimes when
Aara stated plainly "I can't see him anymore right!?"
"What!? Who!?" Neha asked sitting down.

"Neha, I dont know why I have started feeling these kind of weird things. I don't know if it is right or not!! I dont know why.. why my ugly heart just search for him. Even though I hardly know him! I don't understand why I have turned like this!! Going crazy for a guy!! This is so not me Neha! But I dont want him to go!!" 

"Why are you blabbering like this!?  What happened to you Aara!? Who is the 'he' you are talking about!?" Neha asked placing a hand on her shoulder.

That is when Aara explained how she was head over heels for Armaan, even though she knew it won't work out!
She explained how she always finds a small reason to get a glimpse of his blessed face!  And she quoted how confused she was; of all the person she knew.. why did she fell for him!? Even though she has never talked to him, why is she scared to lose him!? Why she acting weird!? Why is she... just why!?

"Aara! What on the earth are you saying? We are too small for this things, I swear. Do you know we are just 14, not 24. What's all this? See, once and for all, just stop this nonsense of what you are saying. Forget everything and start concentrating on your studies, for this is the age to study, not for these things" Neha Shouted.

"You are of no help, Neha" Aara said standing up.

Neha took hold of Aara's hand and told "Aara, see, these are just infactuation. You get it? It's quite normal for everyone. But don't let those thoughts destroy your peace of mind. Think about our family back there. How would they react to what you are telling right now? Think about them."

"I know that Neha. It's just that.. I just don't know. What is happening to me ?" Aara said crying.

"Its ok. No problem. For now, just don't do anything. Let go of everything from your mind and sleep. I am here with you. Let's not go the function." Neha said and made Aara sleep.

"I dont want to sleep. I want to go to the function. Atleast I would be able to see him for the last time." Aara cried.

" Aaraa!" Neha shaked her head negatively.

Without saying anything, Aara fell on the bed and slept.

___________________________

Till then
Take Care
Stay Blessed
& Don't Forget To Sm;)e

Cutiepie_NaMRa (: