What feels like end is often the new beginning.

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The next day came and Ayman woke up. She had decided that she would not let her guard down and act strong in front of everyone. She was a little hurt by what zain had done and she also felt bad for another person. She knew that person would be hurt.

She was glad that she had Mu'izza to distract her a little bit. She liked pampering her and taking care of her.

She put those thoughts aside and went to take a long relaxing shower. After what felt like an hour she came back and wore a dark blue peplum top with matching balloon dhoti pant. She wore a beige colour hijab. She had adorned her right hand with metallic bangles and a Micheal Kors watch rested on her left wrist. She applied light makeup which consisted of a nude lipstick, eye liner and kohl.

She went to college and met her friends. They enquired if she was fine and she answered them in affirmative. They departed to their classes.

After attending class they went to have lunch in the canteen. All of them were present and no one spoke a word. Their was awkward silence. Maybe this was the first time the loudest group and chitchatting group of college was silent. Ayman had avoided even meeting her gaze with Zain. The situation had turned awkward for her.

"I'm sorry Ayman. I apologise. I shouldn't have done what I did yesterday but all of it was truly from my heart. I never knew that you considered me as a brother. I thought we could be more than friends but I was wrong" Zain broke the silence.

"I don't know why I had to be stupid and confess Ayman. I dint mean to hurt you in any way. Please forgive me. I can't handle your ignorance. I know I did spoil our friendship but please forgive me." he continued. Ayman saw that he was being sincere but she couldn't ignore the softness in his eyes. She couldn't fathom that he loved her.

She always saw him as a friend and she didn't know when he started to have feeling for her. This was not what she had expected.

"It's alright zain. It's just that it was totally unexpected and I've always been against this love and all stuff. I've always told that it causes pain and it's not meant for me"

"I didn't mean to hurt you in anyway Ayman. I hope I'm forgiven" she nods at him. He couldn't just end his feelings for her just like that. He would need time but he did respect her privacy and decision. He couldn't force her to have feelings for him.

"Zain you're a great guy and I know you deserve someone better than me. Someone pure, and not tainted like me" she mumbles the last part to herself. Someone was sitting in the corner and witnessing the scene.

She was heartbroken since yesterday. Her mind kept replaying the scene which happened in front of her eyes.

"Don't worry, In shaa Allah you will fall in love and truly at the time when you will meet your true partner with Ruhaniyat (soulfullness)" she smiles at him. A genuine smile this time.

They were back to their normal self. Well at least they tried to get back.

"Guys we only have 2 days left for graduation" Nabiya said sadly. She would be the one missing everyone the most as she would be going back to her native place after the results and the rest were not happy about it. All of them had grown pretty close to each other. They were like a second family to her.

"Okay guys so since after 2 days is our graduation ceremony I have planned something. I thought we could go out for lunch" Jawaad said changing the gloomy atmosphere.

"Oh, on that I was just about to inform you that we will have a small party at home after graduation and Nihaal bhai insisted that we invite all of you and your parents as well. So we want all of you to come home after the graduation ceremony" Sadiya beamed with happiness. She was excited for graduation party.

"He said he has a surprise planned for all of us. He gave us permission to party since we will get busy with exams next week" Junaid also joined in.

"Oh wow that's a great idea" Bushra chirped.

"But don't you think it's too much and we wouldn't want to burden him. We could go out for lunch instead of the trouble" Ayman stated.

"Everything will be taken care of you don't need to worry about the arrangements, bhai has already planned everything" sadiya added.

"Ayman plz Chalo na yaar. Mere vaste at least" Nabiya said sadly. Ayman couldn't deny her and agreed on her demand. (Come na Yaar. At least for my sake)

∴━━━✿━━━∴

Two days passed by quickly and today was the graduation ceremony.

The graduation ceremony was going on in full swing. The boys were supposed to wear a black tux and girls were supposed to wear white and gold sarees. They were asked to assemble in the auditorium.

The teachers had put up a show for the students. They had danced their hearts out. It didn't look like the teachers were performing. All kinds of organisations had performed by the end of the day. Different styles of dance and music was performed. The principal gave a speech at the end.

After the program was over they headed out to click pictures with the class. Then they clicked group pictures. Some with the graduation gowns and caps. They flue their caps away to click a picture.

Everyone got back home to get ready for the graduation party At Nihaal's place.

But while going back home Anam's car stopped abruptly making her jerk in her seat. Her driver Rahim uncle said that he would check what's wrong. He got out of the car and opened the bonnet and saw that their was some problem in the engine.

"Anam bete engine kharab hogayi hai. Repair ke liye leke jaana parega. (Anam I think the engine has some problem and it needs to be taken for repair) I will look for a cab for you. Just wait for sometime" her Rahim chacha informed her.

"Nai Rahim Chacha. Mai Chal kar chali jaungi. Sirf 10 mins lagenge ghar jaane ke liye. Aap fikar na karein" saying this she got out of the car and started walking.
(No Rahim chacha, I'll walk back home and it's only 10 mins away and you don't worry about it)

He was not satisfied with her and told her that he would book a cab but she denies him and starts walking after taking her clutch and phone from the seat.

She almost forgot that she was wearing a Saree and to top it all she was wearing heels too. She kept walking slowly.

Zeeshan was passing by and he saw her in this state and immediately took his car towards her.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? Don't you have any idea how unsafe this area can be" he asked fuming in anger.

"It's none of your business Zeeshan" she chided.

"It is my business. Now just keep quiet and get inside the car Anam" he was literally fuming in anger.

"Like hell no. I will not. I can walk by myself and reach home"

"Why the hell are you walking first of all? Where is your car?" he enquired.

"It broke down and I told Rahim Chacha I'll go by myself. I don't want your help" she said sighing loudly.

"I don't care if you don't want my help, I'll do it anyways. Now will you please get inside. I don't like the idea of you walking down the streets all alone" he said.

She saw him and observed him. He had a look of....concern? in his eyes. But she wondered why would he be concerned about her.

"You're not leaving, are you?" she knew he wouldn't leave.

"Not until you sit down in the car" he said crossing his arms over his chest.

She just ignores him and decides to sit in the back seat.

"Oh hello madam. I'm not your driver. Sharafat se aakar samne baitho (innocently come and sit in the front) " he said glaring at her through the rear view mirror. She felt like smashing her bead to the nearest wall.

"Shakal de toh driver he lagte ho (from your face you definitely look like a driver" she giggled.

After she notices he's not going to drive unless she goes and sit in the front, she just gives up and goes and sit next to him.

He drops her home and also informs her that he will be picking her up for the party. She declines but one hardened glare from him and she just shuts up and agrees while nodding.

She didn't know why he was behaving different. Why did he care about her. They were never on good terms and would always end up bickering.

∴━━━✿━━━∴

Nihaal had looked after the decorations for the party. He had made all the necessary arrangements.
All of the arrangements were made in the party hall of their mansion.

A wall was decorated with black and golden backdrop hangings. Congratulations class of 2021 was written on it. The whole hall was filled with black and golden balloons. A photo booth was made at a corner to click pictures. He had kept in mind that they loved clicking pictures remembering the tree incident and slightly chuckling to himself.

The table was arranged with different kinds of food items.  A cake which resembled a graduation cap was placed in the centre and it was surrounded with other food items like cupcakes, doughnuts, soft drinks, tarts, chocolates and candies. He had also placed small gifts for everyone.

The girls decided to wear long floral gowns. Bushra was wearing a black and peach gown. Anam and Amina were wearing similar gown but in different colour. Amina was wearing a navy blue gown and Anam was wearing a sea green colour gown. It suited their complexion well. Ayesha was wearing a soft pink colour gown.

As usual Ayman wore her favourite wine colour gown. It had a golden belt in the middle. She had worn round golden hoop earrings which were visible by the way she had worn her hijab. She wasn't a hijabi before she had joined college. But initially in the first year she had started covering her head. She felt safe and secured.

They greeted each other. Everyone's parents were present except for Ayman's. She had informed her younger brother and had invited him. He would be arriving in sometime. So in the meantime she thought to go meet everyone's parents.

Sadiya pulled her first and introduced to her mother. "Mumma this is Ayman. The one I keep talking about. She is a really good friend Mumma and in shaa Allah she will be topping the class again this time. You know she's just as studious as bhai" she beamed at her mother.

"Assalamu alaikum Auntie" Ayman greeted her gently. She returned her greeting and pulled her into a hug.

"Walaikum assalam bete. Masha Allah you're so pretty and All the best for the exams. Don't strain yourself. I remember Nihaal staying up late and straining himself before exams. You need to enjoy life a little" she patted her head lovingly. She was mesmerised by her beauty and the dark wine colour was enhancing her beauty even more.

Ayman nods her head and remembers her mother and her love and affection. Her mother was always by her side. Her mother was her best friend and she truly missed the love and affection but she had to stay away for a while for her own good.

She came out of her thoughts when she saw that Anam was calling her. She excused herself and went to Anam. Anam also introduced Ayman to her parents and just in time her brother Faazil came.

She ran to him and hugged him tight. She was seeing him after a long time. They would facetime but it did no justice to meeting him face to face.

He broke out of the hug and pulled her cheeks. She swatted his hands away.

"Assalamu alaikum, how have you been kiddo?" Faazil asked her.

"Walaikum assalam, I'm good Alhamdulillah bhai, how have you been and how's everyone at home?" She asked him.

"I'm doing good to and so are the rest. All of them miss you kiddo, especially Shaamil bhaiyu" he told her truthfully. It was not like they lived in some other city, they lived in the same city but she just avoids meeting them.

Ayesha was passing by and Ayman pulled her hand and introduced her to her brother.

"Ayesha this is my Faazil bhai I keep talking about" she introduced pointing out her finger at her brother. Ayesha had only seen him in pictures and was happy meeting him in real. She had a cute blush on her cheeks. She greets him and goes away hiding her blushed face.

Ayman sees her blush and get to the point that she likes her brother and she silently knew that Ayesha had a crush on him. She decides to play cupid for them.

"So bhai since Shaamil bhaiyu is engaged and will be married in a month, I think we should fix up your marriage also. I have someone in mind who will be the best partner for you" she initiated the conversation.

"Pagal wagal toh nai hogai ho tum Ayman. I'm still 23 and I'm just 2 years elder to you. Don't you think it's too soon for me to get married?" He denies her. (are you mad or what?)

"Arre it's not. You know the boring rule of our khandaan ( family) na? Girls should be married as soon as they turn 18 and  Boys should be married before they're 25, and it's just 2 years for you to turn 25" Ayman emphasised.

"You know that rule doesn't exist anymore in our khandaan. And also did you forget that bhaiyu is 28 and he's getting married now. I just want to focus a little bit on my career and then plan my marriage"

"Bhaiyu had his ways which I'm Alhamdulillah glad for. But I want you to marry someone I choose for you and I already have someone in my mind" she said slightly feeling dejected. He saw her face was covered with sadness and he decided to fix it up.

"Okay fine I will let you fulfil this wish of yours and I will marry the bride you choose for me" he saw that her face immediately lit up and she hugged her brother once again. He would do anything for her.

Someone was observing the duo in a corner and he had a peaceful smile on his face. But he didn't know that someone else was also observing his acts and was planning on doing something.

Suddenly the lights were switched off and a projector screen was pulled down and connected.

The screen lit up with pictures of everyone from college time and their childhood time. All the pictures played with the background music of a friendship song.

Meri zindagi sawaari
Mujhko gale lagake
Baitha diya falak pe
Mujhe khaak se uthaake
Yaara teri yaari ko
Maine toh khuda maana
Yaad karegi duniya
Tera mera afsaana.

It displayed a lot of their moments spent together. The group canteen pictures, Zeeshan and Anam fighting over a plate which had pastries, all of them going out for lunch, field trips, Bushra was seen in a pic which had her mouth open, a lot of selfies, funny pictures and the secretly taken embarrassing pictures were also displayed on the screen. They had made a lot of memories in these 3 years of college life.

Mere dil ki ye duaa hai
Kabhi door tu na jaaye
Tere bina ho jeena
Woh din kabhi na aaye
Tere sang jeena yahan
Tere sung mar jaana
Yaad karegi duniya
Tera mera afsaana
Tere jaisa yaar kahan
Kahan Aisa Yarana...

Everyone had tears in their eyes as they lived all those moments together all at once. This surprise was planned by Nihaal. He wanted them to cherish all the memories they had spent.

Amina was Soo emotional that she pulled all the girls into a group hug. All of them had tears in their eyes. They would miss each other and their support.

"Arre yaar Rona band Karo (stop crying) . It's time for us to enjoy" Zeeshan cheered loudly to stop them from crying more. He couldn't handle all the emotional drama. They finally broke the hug and turned to him. They started clicking pictures near the photo booth with all types of props present.

Ayman wondered how did he find her childhood pictures. She had not shared it with anyone of her friends. She thought of asking Junaid or Sadiya later on. The party continued. They gathered together to have dinner.

After dinner was finished Ayman went back to hostel with her brother and Ayesha. Ayman and Ayesha sat in the back seat while Faazil was driving. Ayman observed how Ayesha would steel some glances at him. Ayman smirked at that. She had a chance to irritate her best friend now.

∴━━━✿━━━∴

Days passed and they gave their exams and were now waiting for their results.

It was an ending of a chapter and a beginning of a new chapter in life.

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Assalamu alaikum everyone.

Hey guys, how are y'all?

I want to finish this story asap and I think I will take a break in shaa Allah after I finish this story and before starting a new one.

Thank you for 1.1k votes🥺🤧

So coming back to the story tell me how was it.

Today's part reminds me of my college days. I really wish this ends soon and we get to meet our friends.

Stay safe and keep smiling.
Keep supporting❤💜❤💜

~Zoe Zoe (as someone loves calling me that😂)