Shayba's P.O.V.

"Wake up Shayba!! It's 7:30 already!! We need to go down to have breakfast! Now!!!"

I opened my eyes in horror and sat on the bed in one jump. Oh Allah I need to get ready!

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I cried.

"You looked so cute while sleeping in messy hair that I just couldn't heehee." she chuckled.

"I can't believe this! Are you crazy???" yelling I thrust into the washroom to get ready and in fifteen minutes we were downstairs waiting for the other two of our team.

"Have they waken up??"I asked with concern.

"Sure. Zawad bhai called me at sharp 7 and asked to come down for breakfast."

"Then where is he now?" before I could finish my sentence, both the guys approached us gasping, "Assalamu Alaikum ladies. What's up?"

"Walaikumus Salam. Where did you two go?" Medha apu asked being surprised.

"We just had a morning walk by the Seine and now are hungry like crazy. Let's eat now, what say?"

"Haaah!!" I cried in jealousy,"WHY DIDN'T YOU GUYS BOTHER TO TAKE ME ALONG WITH YOU????"

"Why would we?"Rafsan bhai replied, "You would have walked for five minutes and then start complaining that your legs are sore and you can't walk anymore because you are your daddy's little princess who never travels without her car! And then nag like crazy to come back to the hotel immediately and bla bla bla. Huh, not happening kid!"

Hearing him Medha apu and Zawad bhai started laughing hysterically and said, "Exactly!! She always does this! Hahhahahaa!" I sulked as my jaw dropped, "When did I ever say so???"

"Haven't said yet, but how long will it take?"Rafsan bhai huffed.

"You are cruel! I never act like this!" I tried to defend myself.

They all laughed sarcastically at me and being the youngest one, I had nothing else to protest but pout. Okay, maybe for once, I acted like because my legs hurt. But that didn't happen everytime, did it?

At sharp 10, it was the quarter final round. We all took our seats in the certain table and got our question. There are 50 theoretical questions that have to be answered in one hour. The team that answers most of them correctly will go to the semi final. I looked at the question nervously starting to think what I could do for my team where Zawad bhai already started to answer one.

"I'm doing no. 50. Medha, you try to write the previous one. And you two discuss what you can do."Zawad bhai ordered while still writing in his copy. But no. 50? Why 50 at the beginning? I looked at the question astonishingly and then the mark beside it. 100 marks?!?! Are you crazy!?! How can be a single question worth this many marks? Anyway, I don't have time to ponder over that. I have to focus on what I can do now.

"Yes, Bhaiya." we all agreed.

I thanked Allah again and again when I saw some horrible theoretical problems from my syllabus. Yes these are tough but I have to do it. Anyhow! Quickly dividing the problems among all of us, we focused on writing.

After an hour, the answer copies were snatched away from our hands. As I couldn't complete the last one, I felt like crying in an instant. Coming out of the hall, Medha apu tapped my shoulder,"It's alright. We have done enough. Let's see how much we answered." She took out the question paper. I and Rafsan bhai wrote 5 questions per person where she solved 3. And the truth is Zawad bhai completed only one question in this freaking hour. The most bloodcurdling tough one that none of us had ever heard of. Only Allah knows if he did it right or wrong. If he could, then it's a jackpot! It worth so much after all!

Then we came out and roamed around some magnificent cultural places and the Louvre the whole day. Finally when we came back to the hotel at 8 at night, the most surprising thing we found on our bed was a packet. Who left this?

I hurriedly ran to it and tore up the ribbon as my mind indicated something special. Can it be?

Opening it up, there I found two purple T-shirts printed "ARCHIDROITS" on the front. In the back it was printed "From BANGLADESH". Oh dear God! I searched the packet like a lunatic and then found a letter in the inside. A LETTER?!?!

"Oh let me see!"Medha apu seized it from my hand and read out loud, "Archidroits...5th place....promoted to.. the semi FINAL!!!!"

"AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!"I jumped over the bed and began to shake Medha apu terribly before she could finish her sentence. "We are going to the semi final apu!!!!!"

"Woooohooooo!!!!!!" Rafsan bhai and Zawad bhai barged into our room already having their T-shirts put on and yelled along, "Did you guys see the letter!?!?"

"YESSSSS!!!"

Tears came to the peak of my eyes. Tears of happiness...
Alhumdulillah.....

Zawad's P.O.V.

The letter from yesterday has increased our inspiration and motivation to the pinnacle. I don't know how we stood 5th among the selected 10 teams. Now I just need to focus on the future preparation. It's a huge responsibility on my shoulder now. Not only my team, I'm representing Bangladesh here.

At breakfast with everyone in the table chattering loud, I got a video call in IMO. Mom's picture floated on the screen.

"Hi mom."

"Assalamu Alaikum Zawad."

Wait what? Did she just call me Zawad???? Something's fishy!

"Walaikumus Salam mom."I awkwardly replied.

"How are you doing my love?"she asked extra sweetly bringing a broad smile on her face making me suspect her behaviour. I looked at her with a frown. What happened to you?

"Yeah doing great. We got selected."

"Really? To the semi final? Alhumdulillah! Mommy is so proud of you baba!"

O...kay! What's going on???

Before asking her anything, she enquired quenching my thirst, "Are you having breakfast now? Oh let me meet your team!!"

So that's it... You wanna meet the girl I talked about,huh???

"Mom we are eating now. You can't..." before I could finish my sentence, Medha exclaimed,"No, no, it's fine!!! We are free!" she snatched the phone from me. "Hello aunty! How are you? I'm Medha. Zawad bhai's junior."

"MEDHAAA..! I've heard about you! You are now in your fourth year, right?" Mom replied making Medha grin from ear to ear.

This woman.... is CRAZY! She knows how to convince people horribly well.

They both chattered nonsensically for about a minute while I rummaged my cereal in the bowl trying to gulp one spoonful in my mouth. I know mom is dying inside to see Shayba trying to keep her cool and so I literally burst into laughter in the inside when Medha passed the phone to Rafsan after she was finished. Haha mom! Have some patience!

"Oh god! Your mom looks so young!! As if she was your elder sister Zawad bhai!"Medha exclaimed to me.

I smiled awkwardly putting another spoonful of cereal in my mouth and restlessly eavesdropping to their chat. My mom is a complete drama queen! Pretending as though she has innocently called me to meet my team, not to talk to any particular girl to see as her son's future bride.

Then the phone was finally passed to Shayba. I don't know why but my heart beat quickened. I tried heart and soul to concentrate on my food but in the inside I was literally praying that Shayba behaves soberly with my mother. Though there is no doubt that she wouldn't as she is the perfect girl whom every society wants, but I automatically hearkened my ears to listen to their chat.

"Assalamu Alaikum, aunty."she gave a genuine smile. I swear mom has already been impressed with this gesture. Medha didn't even bother to give Salam to her.

"Walaikumus Salam, dear. What is your name? Shayba,I presume?"

"Yes aunty."she smiled shyly again not bothering to ask that crazy lady any questions.

"Oh I have heard a lot about you!! Zawad always keeps blabbering about you!!"

WHAAAAATTT?!??!!? I abruptly choked up as I raised my head up towards her. Is this woman crazy???!???!! What is she talking about??? Shayba awkwardly stole a glance at me making me completely nervous as my heart stopped beating instantly. Saying nothing, she turned to mom still wearing that smile on her face,"That's.. good to hear aunty."

Mom continued,"You made him agree to pray Salah, didn't you? Oh I can't tell you how much grateful I'm to you for this Shayba! You taught this boy something that I never could!"

"No no aunty! Trust me I did nothing! It was completely his decision!..."she quickly began to give excuses but before her finishing the line, mom again kept blabbering, "I know it's you dear. Zawad is really thankful to you for this, I know. By the way, how are you all doing there? Did any shopping?"

"Yes aunty. Doing great Alhumdulillah."

"Have you..."I snatched the phone before mom could interrogate her more and chewed my words as sweetly as possible, "Mom we are having breakfast! Let me talk to you later,ok???"

"Oh okay. Allah Hafez. Take care Zawad." she grinned ear to ear as if she just yielded over me. Argh!!!!

After the breakfast it was again announcement time. Most of the teams are checking out today who couldn't make it to the semi final. Thank Goodness we are not one of them. But the most nerve wrecking thing is, the Semi final is tonight at 7! Really really fast but there is nothing to do. We must attend timely here without doing meaningless jobs like roaming around and shopping.

"No going out today,guys! As the semi final is tonight we will study for the whole day. But for now you can have a break for an hour."

"Nooooo!!!!! How can you give us only an hour??" Rafsan began to protest but without paying heed to him,I came out while the other two followed me.

"Shayba look! That river looks so beautiful!"
"Aww Medha apu look at the view! So mesmerizing SubhanAllah!"
"Oh the air is so soothing! Can you feel it?"
"See! The Tower looks so great from here!"

My ears started to rot hearing their continuously being impressed kinda dialogues. I mean, how can everything seem so mind blowing to them? I walked by myself being annoyed while these two kept talking behind me. God knows where Rafsan went leaving me alone with these horrible creatures. Now I can't even leave them alone here to save myself, because it's my responsibility to ensure that they don't get lost in this big city. Shayba's mother will kill me if anything happens to her.

"Oh look at those jewelries Shai! Let's have a look inside."Medha shouted with amazement staring through the glass of a shop.

"Yeah sure. Zawad bhai!"

I gazed back when she called me. Oh gosh she is looking soooo pretty! Why didn't I notice that before?
"What?"I asked sounding as grave as possible.

"We wanna go there." she pointed at the shop.

"Why do you have to shop now? You have bought enough things already! How much more do you want to buy? And remember I just gave you an hour!"I cried out impatiently.

They all stared at me as if I was the only crazy one here. "WHAAAT??"I yelled again.

"Can we please go there? Please??" Medha pleaded this time with her hands joined.

"Fine. Go! Take as less time as possible."

"You aren't coming?"

"What will I do going there?!?!"now I was beyond my irritation.

"Okay! Forget it ! Let's go Shayba!" They quickly entered the shop to save themselves from my snubbing.

"Just ten minutes time! You better come back before it, otherwise I'll be going back leaving you two here."

"Fifteen please! Fifteen is a really short time!"she shouted from inside.

Unbearable. What do girls find so interesting about shopping? Roaming around for hours and hours only to buy a single piece of nosepin which people won't even notice at all! I mean if you need to buy something, then go buy it! Why do you have to visit a hundred shops to make your decision??? Crazy creatures!

I lit a cigarette in the street and by adding some black smoke to Shayba and Medha's so called gentle breeze, found a devilish pleasure. They are the reasons for my spoilt mood in the morning. Actually another woman started it. My loving mom.

After 10 minutes of wandering around,I returned to the shop and suddenly remembered an important thing. I gotta pay back Shayba's money! She forcefully gifted a handbag to my mom.

"Hey Shayba!"I called her out of the window glass.

"Oh Zawad bhai you came? Wait just a minute! We are coming!"

"Come here."I asked staring at one neck piece.

She confusingly looked at me and stepped out. "What?"

"What do you think about this?" I showed her the necklace hanging on a mannequin.

She stared at me in a startled look. "You are buying pendants! For whom? Your mom? It's for young people though."

"What's pendant? Whatever, I don't care. Just answer my question. You don't need to know for whom. How is it?"

This time her jaw dropped and she yelled like crazy,"Oh my gosh! You are buying things for your girlfriend!?!? Awww that's so cute!!! Medh..."she turned to go inside to show Medha this DAMN INTERESTING scene.

"Oh stop it, you crazy girl!!"I bounced two steps forward banging one hand on the glass door to block her way. I was almost up to shut her mouth off with my palm but at the last moment arduously refrained myself from touching her. She isn't someone who you can touch so easily. Towering over the little figure, I warned, "Don't you dare shout again. I just wanted your opinion because I have no idea about girls' jewelries. Just help me out with this, ok??"

Being terribly afraid, she couldn't reply anything. "Okay????"I asked again. Finally she spoke in a trembling voice, "Move aside Zawad bhai. You are scaring meee!!!"

I moved further but the next moment got closer again,"AAAAND FOR YOUR KIND INFORMATION..! I.don't.have. any.girlfriend! You get that?!?" Then I stepped back.

"Gosh! What's there to be so angry at? Is it my fault to assume that it's for your girlfriend? What's wrong in buying gifts for one's girlfriend?"she shouted after finally getting the courage to talk normally.

"Whh..att?? Did you really think I was booked by someone?" I asked in a hurt tone. You just hurt me with your misconception young lady.

"Yeaaah. Why wouldn't I?!?"

I can't believe she really thought that! Here I am for no reason checking her every activity out and praising her in front of my mom, and she thinks I have a girlfriend? How could she?

I couldn't say any of this that I had in my mind except letting out a long sigh and ignore the fact. "Tell me. How is it?"

"Beautiful. You have a good sense of choice in girls' jewelries."

Hey are you smirking at me???!!

Angrily looking at her,I ordered, "Now haggle again for me."

"It's a fixed price shop, Zawad bhai."

"Hmm? Oh! Good then."I entered into the shop and bought the pen... whatever, something like that, ignoring Medha's "What am I seeing with my own eyes?" look. The salesman packed it im a pink girlish bag and then handed it over to me. It sucks! Do I have to carry that to hotel?

Suddenly Shayba laughed out from my back seeing my expression and suggested, "Give it to me Zawad bhai. I'll carry it for your sake."

"Oh thank you Shayba! You just saved me."I quickly handed it to her.

"My pleasure!"she smiled.

After a ten minutes walk, we reached the hotel. As I was entering into my room, Shayba called me loud,"Zawad bhai it's your bag!"

"Keep it."

"What?!?"

"I said keep it."

She couldn't believe what I just said. Hence stared at me with disbelief. Medha was already inside her room leaving us alone in the lobby. "What do you mean by keep it?"she asked in a cool and chill voice.

This time I couldn't suppress my laughter. Nearing her,I made it clear for her, "Don't flatter yourself miss. It's not for you. It's for Annaba. Tell her it's a gift from me."sneering at her, I started for my room.

"WHAT?!?! Why will you give a gift to her? And that too this much expensive!! Are you mad Zawad bhai?? And how on earth did you know my sister's name??" she yelled.

Not caring about the least bit of her refusal, I walked to my room simpering even more. You will have to accept it no matter what girl.

"Zawad bhai!!! Take it back! Now!!!" She kept shouting.

"You are ruining Bangladeshis' reputation Shayba. Be a good girl and don't shout in the lobby. By the way..." I stopped,"Don't you dare wear this. It's not for you." saying this I locked up my door and chuckled. I'll love to see Annaba's reaction when she gets it. The more suspicious she gets about us, the more fun it will be, khekhe!

Shayba's P.O.V.

I hesitantly entered into my room with the bag. Thank Goodness Medha apu didn't ask me anything about it, neither did she doubt about our conversation in the lobby.

But the thing is.. I know that he is just trying to return the gift that I gave to his mom. Only trying to recompend his trifle loan by a doubleX costly pendant. But my mind is not satisfied with the answer. He only met my sister for once in the airport but didn't talk to her at all. Then how could he remember her name so vividly? Oh Allah Annaba would definitely find a second meaning to this gift! Argh!!

"Ready?"

"Huh? For what?" Medha apu's sudden inquiry startled me.

She squeezed her eyes," What do you mean for what? We were supposed to study now, remember?"

"Oh yes! You go to their room. I'm coming with my books in 2 minutes."

"Okay. Make it quick."saying this, she went out.

We studied for the whole day like crazy whilst I completely forgot about the previous incident. It's good to see that everyone is as motivated as me. We all want to make it to the final round and win the championship. May it turn to be just a dream, but it's always important to have hopes, isn't it? The bigger your dream is, the closer you will be to touch the sky.

In the evening we got ready for the next step and accordingly arrived at the hall at 6:30. Everyone of us are wearing our t-shirts. I put it on over my long white dress and then over it, my hijab. The colour of our team is purple. Beside us I can see other ten colours tincturing up the hall.

As usual I am so nervous that I think I am going to faint. Medha apu held my palm into hers, "My God Shayba! You are cold! Are you scared?"

I hesitantly nod my head in the negative but my expression couldn't convince any of my group members. "What's there to be so scared about? It's only the semi final!"Rafsan bhai commented.

"I know but..."

"Hey Shayba.... Look at me.." Zawad bhai endearingly called me making me even more nervous.

I looked at him and immediately gazed down. Oh Allah! Everyone's concern for me is making me all the more tensed. "Please don't stare at me guys! I'm alright!" I tried to excuse myself but again the same voice, "Shayba."

"WHAT???"I looked upwards at our leader.

"We got up to this stage because of you, remember that? You are the one whose idea got selected at the first place. And you are the one who gained ours tickets to France from Bangladesh! Why are you being afraid now? You can do this, okayyy??? WE can do this!"

He gazed deep into my eyes trying to cheer me up but the butterflies of fear started flying in my stomach. I gazed down and gulping hard, mumbled, "Okay."

"Remember the verse? Whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. So just keep faith in Allah and try to give your best, okay?"

This time I couldn't help myself but smile. Zawad bhai is consoling me with Quran's verse? Since when? In fact he really has been able to clear up the dark clouds from my mind.

"JazakAllahu Khair Bhaiya. I will." I smiled.

"Yeah whatever. Wish you the same. I will never be able to learn that big thing."

I chuckled. He is changed. The guy who memorized nothing but song lyrics before, is now motivating others with quotes taken from Quran! The guy who cared the least about his own religion is now praying Salah regularly. Alhumdulillah! Maybe the death of his father was a trial for him that shattered his heart into thousands of pieces and moulded it again in a different shape with different views.

Indeed we plan and Allah plans....

But Allah is the best of all planners.....