Loud bangs on the door again.

Shaahid hated the fact that each and every morning someone or the other had to come after him routinely.

The fact that he couldn't get up early was the reason he even asked Adnan Sami to keep his classes later in the day. The huge man wasn't at all ready, though gave in eventually. But look at the weird inmates of this house!

Rubbing his eyes, he opened the door only to find the enormous 'cooker', and a cry faced gardener stare at him in dismay.

Good lord. The cook had come to murder him as promised. Because the gardener's wife had eloped without a doubt.

" As you tell, his wife run yesterday night. We want answer how you know. " , surprisingly she sounded composed.

" Shaahid bhai, I have recently heard so much about you from my neighbours. My bad that I did not know you, hence did not believe you that strictly. If I did, my wife would not be able to leave me this way..... " , Murshid began wailing tremendously.

" Wait wait, don't break down Murshid! Hey! " , Shaahid caught a falling Murshid. The poor man staggered like a mad drunkard.
" Listen, love has the power to set everything right. Your wife too will return if you pray for her.

Though only praying won't do. Inform the police. Try searching for them. "

" You tell, when she come back. You talk tomorrow news correctly. So tell this. " , the cook looked serious.

" I'm not a future teller. I just sometimes find a guess regarding the person in front, gurgling in my brain.
They turn out correct mostly by chance. "
Shaahid shrugged.

" Bhaaaai I want my Suraiyaa back " , Murshid was lying on the floor. Shaahid did not even know when he had fallen.

" Maybe you will.. soon. Just don't lose hope. Try to get her back. Maybe that'll impress her. Maybe she'll return on will.

But if she doesn't, let her go. You cannot own them by force when they don't choose you.

The problem about love is, you can love anyone. But so can they. "

___

Azaad did not make it to school today as well.

Shaahid was a bit gloomy. He knew that the boy would be the best one to ask about Salman. Enquiring from the other teachers would only raise their curiousity. Shaahid hated answering questions.

Also, to be honest he hardly sat in the staffroom. He spent his day in the music room, playing and teaching instruments, at the same time thinking of ways to get Sakina back on track.

As he walked out of the school gate, his phone began ringing.

Ummid Miya.

The man mostly received the money, and the phone would soon blast with the joy he was about to display to Shaahid.

Hence, he answered the call carefully.

" Say Ummid Bhai!
I am on my way to your dhaba, if you don't mind. "

Shaahid's guess turned down to be very wrong, mostly for the first time in life.
Ummid was whispering.

" Shaahid bhai....
Sakina ma'am is in my dhaba now.

Not alone.

But with whom, only Allah knows.
Please come soon. Don't miss this. You'll be spellbound. "

Shaahid dropped the call.

He pressed his lips, and squeezed his brows.

Time to face the ghost.
But in style.

___

" I'm asking for the last time Salman!
Will I order a coffee for you? Or tea, or anything? " , Sakina made a puppy face.

But Salman sat frowning, scratching the table.

Almost after a month and a half, Sakina returned along with Salman to Ummid's Dhaba. One of the best raw streetside cafe she had been to. The food was so delicious here, even AC restaurants would be ashamed.

But one thing Sakina did not like was how the waiters stared at her. She knew she was extremely beautiful, but how could people have the gut to look at her like that with her fiance beside?

When she told this to Salman the last time, he asked her to ignore. And she did too. Forgot the world around and concentrated only on him. It worked.

But today, Salman was not even talking to her. She had almost grabbed his hand and feet to bring him here. He was such a kid.

" Salman, I'm telling you thousand times over that he's just a sleepwalking tenant. A dumb. He doesn't even know how to behave. And I didn't find him significant enough to let you know about his presence in our house! " , Sakina almost whispered.

" Really?
You didn't find it significant that a man almost your age stays next to your room, gets into your bedroom whenever he wishes!
What if he doesn't even sleepwalk, only acts that way to get close to you in the night? " , Salman hissed.

" Ophho Salman! Don't sound so possessive! Why do you behave over the top, specially regarding me?  "

" Over the top?
Wow! Now I look over the top to you? "

" Calm down Salman! Please! I don't like it when you get unnecessarily angry, shout on me, ignore me, make me wait, misunderstand me. I only love you. Don't you get that? " , Sakina's eyes sparkled.

" Better remember that. Only I have got the rights on you.
Neither do you have the right to love someone else. " , Salman looked away.

" How did you even utter... that I might love someone else in this life?
How even are you insecure with just a tenant?

By the way, he too has recently joined Allah Meherban Public School. He said so. Did you see him ever? " , Sakina exclaimed.

Salman threw a weird glance at her.

But.... it couldn't last for long enough.

Because, Shaahid Hussain crashed on the bench right in front of them.
Grinning wide at Sakina.

Sakina gritted her teeth immediately. And looked at Salman.
He was glaring at the intruder in front.

Shaahid ran fingers through his hair.
" Nay Sakina Ji! He did not see me at school because I never sit in the staffroom, nor was I introduced to everyone by Mr Adnan.

Hence, even I did not see him ever. "

He kept his eyes fixed on Sakina. Because, he could not afford giving her wrong signals by staring in the wrong directions. Only if by some device he could exactly see how Sakina was imagining Salman to be, how great that would have been!

Sakina saw Salman wasn't at all interested in conversing with Shaahid. He was frowning and staring at the table.

She felt irritated.

" What are you doing here? " , she asked Shaahid.

" Goodness! What do people do in cafes? Have snacks, chit chat, sit and idle. " , he chuckled.

" Okay fine. But the entire dhaba is empty. You could sit anywhere than right in front of us. You are disturbing our privacy. " , Sakina cleared her throat.

" Sakina? You need privacy in a public place?
That too, from me?

Are you serious?
Aren't we close enough, that I could sit with you and have tea?
Why are you acting so weird?
Just because, he is with you?
Can't he even handle our growing friendship?

I don't have a problem in accepting him as your boyfriend! Then why does he have so, in accepting me as your friend? "

Shaahid placed his hands on the table, and moved closer to an jaw-dropped Sakina. He batted his eyes.

Sakina was so dumbstruck, that she could not even hold herself together.

She slowly turned her head to Salman, whose white skin had gone completely red.

He jumped up, and ran out of the dhaba.

" Salman!!! Salman!! He's lying!! We are far from friends!!

He.... You... Salman!!!  "

Sakina ran behind, and just while stepping out of the dhaba, threw a killer glance at Shaahid,

" You bloody......

Just wait and watch what I do to you!! "

Shaahid sat chuckling on the bench, while Ummid Miya sat on his chair at a distance, staring at this weird creation of Allah.