Assalam-o-Alaikum and hello my dear sisters and readers!!

I know it is really a very late upload but please accept my apologies. Consider this as a late Eid present, Capiche!! :)

EID MUBARAK TO ALL THE MUSLIMS OUT THERE!!!

Read, vote, comment and enjoy!

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◇Chapter#2◇

      It was a pleasant evening, an evening pleasant enough to calm down the furious and unpleasant moods of the people. He paid for the commodities he had just bought and exited the shop. Warm air greeted his face as he opened the door of the shop. There was hustle and bustle on the street. He had a look around before proceeding further. Just then something caught his eye. He dropped the bags that he held clutched in his hands before and hurried towards a six to seven years old looking boy.

      "Zeeshan!!!" There was a loud shout filled with horror.

      He bolted and scooped up the boy in his arms before anything could happen within a fraction of a second.

      "Here, take your boy." He handed the boy to the man standing on the footpath who was probably his father, obvious by his worried and frowned expression.

      "Zeeshan!!!" The father hugged the boy tightly to his chest as the boy cried.

      "No problem, I will get you another balloon. Now, don't cry. Come on. Be a good boy." The father; who seemed to be opulent by his dressing; tried to console the child a bit in which he succeeded. He then turned to the saviour.

      "Thank you so much for saving my boy. I really don't have any words to thank you. I don't know what would have happened if he would have been hit by the car. I shouldn't have let go hold of him after the balloon. I am really thankful to you for this. I am really nothing without my son. He is my life. Thank you so much. Thank you for what you just did."

      The man patted his back, "Oh no no. No problem. It was my duty to save him. Thank Allah that he is safe now. Just don't let go of him ever again. It might prove dangerous again." He then glanced at his watch. "Oh, I think I should leave. Allah Hafiz."

      He turned on his heels when he was stopped by the father.

      "Please, have my card. I owe you really big. It would be an honour for me if I could be of any use to you, ever." He slipped out a card from his purse and handed it to the man.

      The man had a look, from the card to the father and again to the card. "I-I don't think I would be needing it." He looked at the father and tried to return the card, being the self-dependent man he was.

      "Oh, please. Keep it. You may need anything in future that I can help for." When the father persuaded him, he agreed.

      Slipping the card in his pocket and bidding farewell to the father, he parted his way towards the small grocery that he owned.

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      "So, you won huh?" She looked up to see Asia standing before her. She had just found a quiet corner to get some air and gulp down some water, alongwith some peace. Now it seemed as if there were going to be no peace, having Asia around.

      That time she wished if Natasha were there.

      "Umm yes. You did saw, didn't you?" She said, stating the obvious.

      "Yeah I saw you winning it. Just confirming whether it was really you or someone else." She spoke in an irksome tone. That was enough for Sumaira. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath but the constant flashes of memories regarding Asia's behaviour disturbed her. She fluttered her eyes open.

      "Why are you so bothered about my actions? Or specifically achievements? Why do you always keep an eye on me? Most of all, why do you always feel obliged to deliberately annoy me?!!" She stood up, face-to-face with Asia.

      Before she knew it, it was all out. All the pent-up anger collected for the past several years was out within few seconds. She had been burying it since grade two but now she had had enough of it, it needed to be out.

      "Why? Oh, P-uh-lease don't ask me why? Whatever it is, you are responsible. Whatever stiff atmosphere has ever been built up between you and me, you are responsible for it. Don't let me tell you that there are least chances of returning to strangers after being friends, besides, enmity is the most probable situation after a broken friendship. We are the example. Don't ever forget that. Just ask yourself before questioning me. You have all the answers within you."

      With that, she turned around and left as quietly as she had approached, leaving Sumaira in a whirl of thoughts, thoughts of the past. She sat down on the slab that she was previously seated on, feeling exhausted all of a sudden.

      She knew it all, but she couldn't ever find any mistake of hers anywhere. Maybe, there could be, but she didn't know. Somewhere inside her, she always had this urge to ask Asia why. Why all this? Even though she knew that she would get the same answer.

      If Natasha were here, I wouldn't have to experience this again. She thought sadly.

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      "This is how you add 1 and 1. Open your hands wide children!" The voice of the Mathematics teacher boomed in the class as she demonstrated to the primary schoolers of grade one how to sum up numbers. All the children raised their hands, opened wide.

      "Ma'am. Here, a new child." The aunt responsible for taking care of the children appeared at the door of the class, a tiny hand clasped in her hand. She brought a fearful little girl in front of the teacher and provided the teacher with a slip, giving the details of the little girl.

      "Assalam-o-Alaikum Sumaira. How are you?" The teacher tried to shake hands with the little girl after the aunt left, but her fright wasn't easily giving in. She failed to shake hands with her teacher.

      "Umm, ok. You go and sit beside Asia, that girl with brown hair." The teacher pointed towards a jolly-looking girl having a seat empty beside her.

      The little girl took mini steps, full of fear of the unknown things lying ahead, before reaching her seat. The girl named Asia greeted her with a cheerful and welcoming smile, which gave her confidence. She noticed that the new girl had shining brown eyes and pitch black wavy hair. Her fair complexion was a beautiful contrast to all these features. Her wavy hair was tied into a high but cute ponytail.

      Cute, as thought by a mind as little as that of Asia's.

      "You are Sumaira right?" Asia prompted once she had taken her seat.

      The girl's head shot up in Asia's direction, her face carrying an amazed and shocked expression. Asia got it.

      "Ho-How do you know?" The girl stuttered a bit, speaking for the first time. She was utterly confused about someone previously unknown to her being aware of her name.

      I think I had heard the teacher say your name. That was the thought circling in Asia's mind but she spoke otherwise.

      "Magic!" She smiled a big one, which made Sumaira smile as well, for the first time.

      That day they spoke a lot, as if they had been best friends since ever. Sumair's shyness slowly backed away, while she was talking to Asia.

      The same day, they were taking a slide in the playground when Asia stopped Sumaira by holding her hand.

      "Will you always sit with me from now on?" Asia asked her, with her eyes requesting a yes. Sumaira knew that she had no friend other than Asia.

      "Yes.....Of course." She shrugged and continued to play. Little did she know, that that yes could mean a lot to the girl playing with her.

      The flow of time strengthened their friendship until the next grade only. It was in grade two when Natasha Amir stepped in the school. Her newly made friendship with Sumaira was enough to create a rift in the existing friendship that Sumaira and Asia shared.

      "You don't ever dare talk to me." Asia sort of whispered in Sumaira's ear and stormed out of the classroom during the lunch break.

      Sumaira looked at Natasha and ran out of the classroom after Asia. She found her sitting alone on a wooden bench, her expressions tough and sad at the same time.

      "Asia!!!!" She called her aloud and came towards her. Acknowledging her presence, Asia stood up and began to walk away. Sumaira was lucky enough to grasp her arm at the right time.

      "Asia, why are you doing like this? We are friends, right?"

      "No, we were friends Sumaira. Now we are not." Asia spoke angrily.

      "But why? See, we three can be friends. Together. We will have a lot of fun. Natasha is nice." She pleaded.

      "I know that she is nice but you are not nice. I was wrong to befriend you. You were my only friend and now you are also gone. You are not nice at all. I don't want to talk with you."

      "No Asia, it is not like that. Please, we three can be good friends, together. Please, come let's enjoy. Come." She held Asia's arm to pull her along but Asia yanked her arm away. Sumaira looked at her nervously.

      "No, I am not coming." She said bluntly.

      Sumaira thought for a while. Finally, she spoke,

      "Ok, I won't be friends with Natasha if you say. I will not talk to her. Only me and you. Fine?" She clasped both of their hands together.

      "No." Asia freed her hand. "Now I won't ever talk to you. I just don't want to be friends with you anymore Sumaira. Just finish it. Don't try again. Just go to Natasha and enjoy. I hate you! And I will never ever talk with you like a friend!"  She almost yelled the last part in frustration. Sumaira felt as if someone had hit her hard on her heart.

      She was hurt, but she spoke nothing. Just a desperate look and she returned to her class.

      After that, she never tried to establish another friendly relation with Asia. She was heart-broken at Asia's behaviour and reaction.

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      Was it all that you had?

      A year full of fun,

      Laughters, jokes and games,

      The growth of an enmity sprout had then begun.

      Our friendship like a salt,

      That had strengthened in a deceiving veil,

      Got dissolved in the water of a new friendship,

      Was it all that you had?

      "Uhh." She had visited her memory lane once again. She rubbed her face with her hands, massaging her temples.

     It is all over Sumaira. All over. Nothing is left. Don't look back. Nothing is there. She consoled herself.

      She stood up from the bench and walked over to the area where the competitions were held; with a smile on her face, doing a failing attempt to seem afresh.

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      "Assalam-o-Alaikum Papa!" She came running with her backpack and hugged her father who was in a crouched position.

      "Wa alaikum us salaam Gurya. How was school?"

      "Good!!!" She replied cheerily.

      After hugging and kissing her on the cheek, he got up, ready to hold her hand. He looked down again when he felt no physical contact with his hand. Gurya looked up at him expectantly.

      "No Gurya. Not again. At home okay, but not now." He had apprehended her request.

      "Please Papa. Please, please, please, please. Otherwise I won't go home." She folded her arms.

      Just another act. He thought.

      "Okay. But make sure that you don't get too excited." He instructed her and received the shake of a tiny head in return, meaning yes.

      He crouched again and she climbed on his back. He then stood up.

      "Aaaaaaaa...yaaayyyy!!!!!" Gurya squealed.

      "Gurya!!" He had already warned her about that. He could feel some glances of the parents around but he could not dare to say no to her wish. He had to do it.

      "I am so happy today!" She exclaimed while he was walking on the pavement towards his motorcycle.

      "Why so?"

      "Because you are carrying me!" She yelled.

      "Oh well." He shook his head and continued his walk towards the ride.

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      "Assalam-o-Alaikum Zeeshan." She greeted the driver and slumped against the backseat of the car while she heard a reply from him.

      He was a young driver, around seventeen years of age, but very humble and honest. He had been working on this job for three years and was trusted by everyone. He respected Sumaira a great deal.

      Once the car started running on the road, she took out her earphones, plugged them into her mp4 already lying in the car and inserted them in her ear, listening to some calm songs while having a look outside the window. She often used to do it after school time.

      There should be something as calm as sea after something as tough as a hurricane. It is enough to lighten your mood and distract you from the hectic routine and realities of this world. She usually thought about her own thought.

      As the car passed by another school, a scene caught her eye. A father was carrying his daughter on his back, walking towards his transport. The little girl was laughing really hard, sometimes giggling, playing a bit with her father's hair while talking to him.

      A wave of peace and happiness rushed through her as she watched the father-daughter moment. Though she couldn't remember much of her childhood but she was sure that her childhood was as happy and beautiful as anything.

      She laid her head back on the headrest once they were out of view. Now she felt calm and much better than before. Sometimes trivial things are just sufficient to lighten your mood.

      Or maybe always. She thought and smiled.

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      It was his first day over there. No familiar face, no familiar toy, his father, his mother, he found no one. All of a sudden, he felt like crying.

      "Assalam-o-Alaikum Umair." A bulky woman of an average height appeared before him and stretched her hand out for him to shake.

      He first had a bit of a look around him but when she continued looking at him, he became aware of the fact that she was talking to him.

      Her bulkiness was enough to make him feel in a haunted place. He was struck by something at once.

     "Oh, nothing is going to happen. This is all false. You see that man with blood dripping from his face, yes that one. He is not scary at all, he doesn't eat anyone or kill anyone. You will see, how he becomes a joker at the end! Haha. Don't be scared. Come on, come sit with me here."

      That consolation, that reassurance, that encouragement would give him the somewhat of courage to watch the show then. But now, the mere sentence wasn't enough to support him. He couldn't believe the woman before him to turn into a joker at the end, now that she was standing right before him and he was alone.

      That made to cry him even more.

      "Aww, you are crying! Little boy, why?" She came forward and carried him, patting his back as he continued to cry and his tears soaked in her shirt every second.

      "Cute little boys don't cry, right?!" She assured him which calmed him down. At last, he had got some consolation by someone instead of something.

      "Good boy!" She continued patting on his back and then put him down.

      He had gained some confidence by the time she had put him down due to her motherly instinct. He was ready to regard her a good person.

      "You are Umair Sikandar. Do you know that?" She smiled at him.

      In reply, she saw a confused expression on his face.

      "Ok, you are Umair Sikandar all right? It is your name. I am Aunty Ameena. If you want anything, you can ask me or any other aunty. Come on, it is your chance to mix up with others." She persuaded him to play and enjoy with the children in the room.

      Wasn't it a name other than Umair? His little mind couldn't think properly but he felt unsure of the name 'Umair'. He was used to be called by another name maybe. He wasn't sure. But he had to accept it.

     Umair Sikandar.

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      After aunty Ameena left, he looked at his surroundings. It was a spacious room with racks of different items. There were many toys spread all around. On focussing much, he realized at last that there were many other children in the same room. Maybe he couldn't nptice them in his fear and distress. There were children of different ages, some as old as himself, few a but younger and some older ones too.

      He saw a little girl playing with blocks at the other end of the room. She seemed to be a bit younger than him. He tried to gather some courage and went up to her.

      "What are you doing?" He asked nervously.

      She, who was humming before he arrived, stopped abruptly and turned around to look at him.

      "I am trying to build a house with these blocks." She pointed towards the colourful blocks that lay around her and continued her play.

      "Could you make any yet?" He asked with concern.

      "No. It always falls when I make." She spoke sadly.

      "Can I make it with you?" He asked her, hoping for a yes.

      "Sure." This time she smiled and gave him some place beside her.

      The time passed on, with both of them placing bricks after bricks. Sometimes a brick would be removed with an "Oh, not a good colour" comment and sometimes one would be removed due to a "Don't put that. My previous house fell due to that brick" comment.

      At last, it was done. The house was there, all safe and sound, and strong as well.

      "Here. Done!" Umair partially exclaimed.

      "Tantanaaaaan!!!!" Hira, as she had told Umair about her name, exclaimed.

      "You know, I think we should become house builders when we grow up. What do you say?" The three years old girl clasped her hands in excitement.

      "Yes!!! We will be the best house builders in the world!!" He also joined her in the eagerness for future.

      "Aunty look!!!!!" Just then Hira stopped Aunty Ameena who was passing by. "We just built a house. Now me and Umair will become house builders when we grow up!!!"

      "Ah!! Nice! I see you two little ones are getting along." Aunty Ameena smiled and moved ahead, leaving them behind smiling.

      "Why are you smiling like fools Umair?" Hira turned towards him.

      "Me? So why are you also smiling like idiots?" He shot back.

      "Me? You said that to me? Wait and watch." She got up and anticipating her action, Umair got up from his place.

      He started running around in the room trying to escape her catch, while she exerted all her efforts she could to catch while shouting,

      "I am near you, almost there!!!"

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      "Assalam-o-Alaikum Mom!" Sumaira exclaimed once she got home and peered in her mother's room. Seeing her mother, she entered the room and hugged her mother.

      "Wa alaikum us salaam baita! How was school?" Her mother, who was reading a book, kissed her forehead.

      "Alhamdulillah nice mom! You know what?! I stood first in the race!! Look at this!" She exclaimed with glee and brought her other hand forward that she had been hiding back all along and showed her mother the certificate and gold medal.

      "Masha Allah! Keep it up Maira. I am so proud of you! I will now call your father. He must be doing nothing in office rather than sitting free. Let's inform him." Her mother was equally excited as her.

      Sumaira brought her mother's mobile phone from the kitchen in excitement, almost falling from the stairs, but finally reached the room.

      "Here." She handed the mobile phone to her mother but then suddenly took it back. "By the way! Let me do it myself!"

      She gave a big smile to her mother while her mother shook her head. After dialling the number, she waited anxiously for her father to pick up the phone, listening to the ring tone.

      "Hello." Someone had picked it up.

      "Assalam-o-Alaikum dad!!" Sumaira screamed through the phone.

      "Wa alaikum us salaam baita. Oh, oh! Be careful otherwise my ear drums will burst. What's so good today?"

      "Hehe...sorry for that dad. You know what! Today I won the race in school!!!"

      "Really! Masha Allah! I knew you could do it. That's why I didn't feel the need to ask you, you know." His voice boomed through the mobile phone.

      "Today we will have something special for dinner. Ok dad?" She asked eagerly.

      "Yes yes. As you wish."

      "Tonight?"

      "Yes, tonight. Ok baita, let your father do some work too."

      "Oh , yes." She slapped her head. "Sorry for that dad. Talk to you later. Assalam-o-Alaikum."

      "Wa alaikum us salaam." He dropped the phone while Sumaira handed the phone to her mother, hopping out of the room to reach her room.

      Her mother smiled looking at her excitement and jollity.

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      "Hello Shahnawaz. Jahangir speaking."

      "Hello sir. Shahnawaz here." The man on the other side spoke.

      "Shahnawaz, what is the progress regarding the school? It's been a week."

      "S-sir, I haven't started it yet. I have to do it." He spoke, fear laced in his voice.

      "Why not yet Shahnawaz?!" Jahangir poured his anger on him. "I have been waiting for the piece since long and you haven't even started?"

      "S-sorry, sorry sir. Actually, my wife was sick so I couldn't get to work on it. I-Is it only one piece sir?" He was truly petrified by his boss's reaction.

      "I don't care what happens at your end. I have no link with your personal affairs. I just want my work to be done fast and accurately. And yes, I want one piece. I can't manage much threat." The boss demanded venomously.

      "O-ok o-ok s-sir. I will start working on it. I will soon inform you about my prop-prog-progress sir."

      "Ok, fine. I will be waiting for the news."

      "Ok sir."

      The next moment, the line was disconnected already. Shahnawaz looked at the screen for sometime, thinking about something. Then he placed the mobile phone aside and sat on his seat.

      He knew it already. He already had an idea that it would be a difficult job. Now the real difficulty lay ahead when he was to act upon it.

      He had to think of a plan.

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      There is the second chapter before you readers. I am soooooo sorry for the much delay, though I know there are not many of you who were waiting. Hehe, now I am not a great writer all right. I hope you liked the chapter, or at least something about it. And and and, I hope that all of you had a WONDERFUL EID!!

      Don't forget to vote and comment for this chapter if you liked it!!

      This chapter is dedicated to @Rahmabil sis for her lovely support on this Great *note the sarcasm* work of mine!  Thank you so much sis for your sweet support on this story. I hope that you liked this chapter as well and continue reading this book. At least, I can hope to have a good reader like you sis. May Allah keep you happy and smiling always! ^_^

      Any queries other than those facts which are needed to be exposed later are welcomed! :)

Till next,

Take care,

Love,

Noty ♥