Shayba's P.O.V.

We have already completed our first semester. With the blessings of Allah, my grade is now the highest in my class. For that I've been quite a familiar face to the teachers and my classmates at present. Despite being the most quiet person in the class, girls often come to me with questions to solve when I gladly help them. But the same thing becomes extremely awkward when boys come to me to make some topics clear. Though I always try my best to talk to them normally and make them understand the topic while keeping my gaze straight down to my lecture copy, this weird feeling as well as bashfulness of mine is never going to change.

Now we have surveying sessions in near future for which teachers decided to choose some representatives from my class. Mizan sir firstly told everyone,"I will elect three Class representatives from your class. You are going to vote for them but the criteria is the student must contain one of the highest CGPA in your class; secondly he or she has to know how to organize and manage everything with responsibility. Remember a CR is not mere a student but a dutiful one who will do his each duties carefully, besides take others' charge too. You can't just nominate one out of your sheer curiosity. You understand what I mean?"

"Yes sir!"we yelled.

"Fine then, I'm going to declare some names who did well in the previous semester and you have to choose your representatives among them. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir!"

I become totally overwhelmed when I heard Mizan sir calling,"Shayba Ahmed?" and I stood up.

"Can you take this position? You know it's a huge responsibility. You have to be liable for all your classmates."

Warning!

I try not to get too excited as I reply,"I will be honored sir and I promise you I will do my best."

"Okay then."he turns to the class and asked them "Class, will it be okay for you all if she is chosen the CR?"

"No problem, sir!"most of the class yell leaving me grinning teeth to teeth.

"Then it's final. Shayba Ahmed is one of your new CRs. Next!........."

My heart whirls with joy. Yayyyyy!!!
Everyone starts clapping after electing each CR. I can't explain how blissful I felt at this moment Alhumdulillah!

Now it is the break time. I come out of the class with my friends for lunch. "Hey!"I hear someone calling and so look back. It is that Zawad Abir Khan.

"Assalamu Alaikum Bhaiya."

"Walaikum Salam. How you doing?"

"Fine Alhumdulillah. What about you?"I ask for the sake of courtesy.

"Good."he smiles.

Well what else? I start to turn back but he says again smilingly,"You know what happened?"

I have no curiosity at the moment to know but still being bound to ask, I reply,"No..... What?"

"My mom called. To inform me that she had sent me some money. And you know what I said?"

Well I don't know why you're telling me this and where this is going but I become obliged to ask again in a completely dull tone, "What?"

He grins with all his teeth showing, "I replied what you taught me! JazakAllah Khair."

This time I understood what he was talking about all this time. Wow! Someone learnt something good from me about Islam. "Well that's great to hear."

"You know what? My mom replied correctly! She told exact the same big thing you said! She was so startled for some seconds that she couldn't speak!
Then she asked me, "Where did you learn that?" and I told her it was a friend. Hearing that she said, "I guess my son has some good influences too. Hahaha!" he explained excitedly grinning like a child.

I smiled, "I'm glad to know that Bhaiya. Now if you will excuse me, I gotta go." I begin walking to my friends as soon as possible. I am not used to talk to guys.

"Wait!" he exclaims again.

What now???? I turn back raising my brows.

"I sent you a request on FB. Did you see that?"

How can he ask me this question so directly???? He should know that I didn't accept that on purpose! Don't all girls do that?

"Ummm yes." Stupid fellow.. At least learn how to tell lies sometimes! I rebuke myself in my mind. I should have said no to drop it off instantly.

"Then why didn't you accept?"

"Ahhh I don't... accept requests from unknown people."

"WHAAAT??? I'm not unknown!"

"Yeah but..."I try hard to explain. "Look, you are a non mahram to me and I can't accept your request. I.. I... That's uncomfortable for me, okay?" I said in one breath. "I'm sorry. I hope you understand."

He is somehow amazed at my reply I guess because he said nothing for some seconds but staring at me with amusement. Suddenly he asks me surprisingly, "I'm a non what?"

Argh.... Why do I have to explain everything to him? "Mahram. Search for that on internet and you'll find out." Saying this I quickly escape from his sight. People will spread rumors about us if I stay with him any longer. And my Creator will be upset with me too for spending this much time alone with a non mahram. He says nothing but giving me a simper.

"What were you two talking about for so long, huh?" Biva asks throwing a wink at me.

I knew this would happen. Everyone in the canteen noticed that we were talking alone for a long time. Argh I hate this..!

"Nothing much."

Biva's eyes grew bigger. "What were you talking about so much that you can't even tell us? Oh no! Are you two dating?" she howls.

Farhana adds,"Is this why he ran after the thief to get back your phone?"

Nadia screams,"Is that TRUE?!?!"

"Guys, stop! What the heck are you even thinking about? No, there's no way I am dating someone. I have no interest in haram relationships. Will you guys cut it off now?"

"Oh really. Then tell us about your conversation."asks Biva.

I tell them the full story in short. Million thanks to Allah, they believed me. They at least know very well how I am.

"Does that mean you have no interest in him?"suddenly Tonima who was eating silently beside us all the time asks me.

"Yes..! Like I said already, I have no interest in haram relationships!"I almost cry.

"Oh!"she concentrates on her food again. Suddenly she glances up and asks,"Can I share something with you guys?"

"What???"I asked surprisingly.

"I like him."she whispers.

It is a pin drop silence for some moments as we whang our heads towards her. We all stare at Tonima with super astonishment. This girl is so blushing that she has been totally red like a tomato!

Farhana coughs first to break the silence,"Like him? Or love him?"

She focuses on her plate again throwing a shy smile to her. Woah woah woah!! This girl is completely love struck!!!

Farhana adds again,"I mean how much do you like him? Are you serious? Do you want to get married to him someday?"

Well that's so obvious!!! Just look at her!!

I then tell Tonima,"Look, I don't mind at all at your having a crush on Zawad bhai. I just want you not to get heartbroken later. As far as I know there are many girls who have fallen for him.You understand what I mean,right?"

She nods with gloom in her eyes. The reality is known to her.

To be honest I already noticed that all girls and boys are often talking about him. How cool he looked that day, how well he played in the football tournament, how awesome his grades are even though he studies so less etc etc. 'Zawad bhai' is always heard in everyone's assertion. Gosh what does that guy do to gain such fame????? Why do all girls fall for him knowing that it's useless???

I sigh heavily at the thought of Tonima's getting heart broken later. There is a mere chance he will love her back.

Zawad's P.O.V.

What was that word again??? I forgot already. I need to ask her that again. Why did she run away so suddenly? What was her so urgency that she escaped from me? Is she trying to avoid me? What the fuck! No girls ever do that! I gotta make it clear to her that she is totally not my type. Huh!

Suddenly my phone starts to ring with a loud music. I pick it up and......

Why has DAD called suddenly? He hardly calls me. Is everything alright?

"Hello?"I nervously receive the call.

"Hello. How are you doing Abir?" Asked dad not in his moody grumpy voice, but in a feeble one.

"I'm fine dad. What happened? Is everything alright?"

"Why? Can't I even call my only child to know his hereabouts?"

Well this reply from him is even more awkward. Now I'm tensed.

"No it's just...you never call me without any reason."

"Well yes, there is a reason."suddenly he changed the tone of his voice and asked,"When are you gonna graduate, son?"

It was getting on my nerves now. Why doesn't he tell me everything straight without buttering up the whole thing?

"In about ten months dad."

"Oh okay, what are you planning to do then?"

"Get a Master's degree of course."

He kept quiet for a while.

"Can I ask something from you Abir?"

"What is it,dad?"

"Can you come and handle my business? This year?"

My heart beat stopped at this sudden proposal of him. "WHAT?????" I shouted,"Dad you know very well that I have no interest in your drop shipping business. Why are you imposing that on me now? Besides mom is there to handle everything!"

He again kept quiet. "I know I've been asking for a lot. But you tell me, will it be too greedy for me if I want my business to be carried on for generations?"

I couldn't speak for a while. I totally lost my words. What am I gonna reply to this person,my own father, who has never asked for anything from me and suddenly wants me to change my own dream to fulfil his?

I heard his voice once again,"I'm now really sick Abir. I don't know if I'll be able to live the next day or not. I don't want to force you. But you know what? Nothing would make me happier than your taking on my business."

This news left me completely shocked as I tried not to oscillate my voice and say,"Why didn't you ever tell me about your health,dad? What happened to you????"

"I didn't want you to hamper your studies for this old man."

Are you insane? You are my FATHER! How can you even think about hiding your illness from me? I wanted to scream out all these but couldn't say a single thing.

Taking a long break to think,I said at last,"I'm coming dad.. Wait for me...."