"To be or not to be that is the question whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of trouble" - William Shakespeare.

Sanam's POV

There came a day when I felt it was the right opportunity for me to make a good impression on my professor.Dr.Ahmer was going to conduct a test for us. He was even going to give us an assignment for which he had paired everyone. He said he would be announcing our partners after the test.

I decided to try my best to fair well in this test because they say- You never get a second chance to make the first impression!

After reaching university ...I walked into the whitewashed classrom only to find that my seat was taken away.Someone else had occupied the place where I sat everyday.When I moved closer I saw that Shiraz was sitting on it comfortable much.I walked myself away from that seat,irritation itching me.

How can a day go without him annoying me ?When will he get rid of his jerky ways? Arghhh!!!
This time I was not going to let him away without a revenge.It was time I applied the famous Newton's law-'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction'.

I blantly ignored him and scanned the room for another seat.My brilliant mind was trying to hatch an evil plan.I sat behind him like I haven't noticed him on my seat.

Dr.Ahmer walked in few minutes later.I was a little late but I managed to get in just on time. All the students settled down in their places once they noticed his presence.Shiraz was still on my seat chatting with his circle of friends.I was resisting the urge to yank him off my seat.

"Good morning class! As I have already informed you people, there's going to be a test in general anatomy today..I have got high hopes from few students so you need to show me what you have in there ," he said pointing towards his brain . He continued by giving some instructions about the time limit and marks. When students got up to keep their bags outside the room I took the chance to borrow sticking gum from Naila.She always had it in her bag.I evilly poured the gum on his seat and sat back on mine smiling cheekily all through.

Naila was surprised at my behaviour but she gave me a thumbs up when she understood what I was doing. I know it was nasty but he deserved every bit of it.I wanted to make him pay for every single act of his which irks me.Iam not any weak woman that people can get away after provoking me.I don't leave any one who has gotten on my nerves without teaching them a lesson.

I couldn't help bursting out with laughter but I pursed my lips tightly and gained control as I had to start the test.

The essay questions appeared quite easy to me as I had prepared really hard yesterday. I stayed up till late night to study. Mom was there beside me all the time encouraging me and praying for me.Her words of wisdom from Quran always came out at the right time.

Quote from the Holy Qur'an: Al-An'aam (6:160)

مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

Man jaa bialhasanati falahu AAashru amthaliha waman jaa bialssayyiati fala yujza illa mithlaha wahum la yuthlamoona

He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: He that doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil: no wrong shall be done unto (any of) them.

Had it not been for her I would have easily given up on studying for long hours. Oh Allah!! I just can't describe how much I love her.Iam never gonna leave her.

After the test, sir Ahmer walked out of the anatomy class room with our answer papers.Everyone started leaving the class.That was the moment I was waiting for.

Shiraz was trying to get up from his chair but was a little awkward. I tried to stifle my laughter.Poor guy he must be wondering what was stopping him from standing erect.After a little shuffling he managed to get up unaware of the dirty gum on his trousers. He was leaving the class with Yumna when some guy started laughing at Shiraz.Soon every single person in the class burst out laughing including me.That was the moment when he turned around and gaped at me like an eagle on it's pray, his face burning with anger.I had managed to tarnish his cool dude image.It was definitely a blow to his machismo.

I got my revenge !!!

After the break Dr.Ahmer announced our project partners. I noticed that Shiraz was missing.I got paired with Shehriyaar.He seemed like a decent guy unlike his friend,the arrogant and sassy jerk.I mentally thanked God I wasn't paired with Shiraz.We would have killed each other had it been otherwise. I can't even tolerate him for a minute.

Sir gave us a week's deadline to submit the assignment. I agreed to meet Shehriyaar in the library for working on the assignment. I want my grades to be good even if it means working with my arch rival's best friend.

******

When I reached home I was met with a strange silence. I walked into the living room to see a tensed mom sitting with my uncle.

He was the reason why I hated men so much .After my dad's death he was the only man who could have helped us but he took away my dad's home and all the wealth that he inherited from his parents.That greedy person refused to help us .His reason being that my mom was responsible for my dad's death.

According to him if dad hadn't gone out for my mum's medicine he would have been alive.He just played the blame game so that he could get our big house and he left my mom with three little kids to fend for themselves. I really wanted to kick him out of my house that minute but I knew mom won't be pleased with my behaviour so I just ignored him and left the living room angrily.Only my mom had so much patience to talk to that man even after he accused her of such a heinous crime!

After a while the voices from living room died down and I went out of my room to check upon her.Mom was sitting with her hands rubbing her temples and in deep thoughts I could never figure out.I ran up to upto her and hugged her.Her eyes were so sad and her face was expressionless.She hugged me back with a fake smile, the one she usually gave to hide her worries but I could easily make out what was real.

After lot of persuasion mom agreed to tell me the reason why my uncle had returned after so many years .

"He wants Shaila to marry his son Mikael.And he wants to take away your dad's last posession from us,"mom revealed,sqeezing my hand.I immediately lost my cool and started breathing heavily.

"For God sake mom tell me it's some bad joke. Shaila is going to turn eighteen soon but she is yet to start her higher education.She has a lot more to achieve in life.She wants to become an engineer.I can't see her dreams being shattered by my treacherous uncle who wants to marry off his spoilt son.And he can't take away dad's hold in the ancestral land.This is not gonna happen!Never in your life uncle!" I spat, my voice shaking with anger.Mom was surprised at my outburst but she recited some dua which calmed me a little.

Mom agreed with me and decided to call uncle and decline his proposal. We don't need any favours from him . Shaila is very much capable of earning good proposals by herself.Marrying her at this age would be irrevocably robbing her ambitions.

After this short drama we had dinner together. Shaila was a little upset upon learning about uncle's proposal.Even she disliked uncle and his family.We all tried to cheer her up and Urwa cracked some silly jokes in precisely the same voice that one would tell an infant he was adorable.She managed to bring a beautiful smile on her face.

****

Post dinner I layed flat on my bed to sleep but even after many desperate attempts sleep wasn't embracing me.My eyes were paining because of forceful shutting. So I was left with no option but to give my mind a little work.I started reading a mystery novel.I never read romance.Iam not much into cheesy stuff.

When I was trying to busy myself in the book I started getting flash back of today's events.I was quite contented in the beginning as I had taken my revenge on that jerk Shiraz.I didn't tell anyone about my prank.Mom would definitely not be proud of my act.She would have given me a long lecture on etiquettes and morals.

The other half of my day was quite depressing- my uncle's return brought back all the bad memories .His proposal made my blood boil but mom calmed me down .I hope he would never come back again.I don't want to see my mom being hurt gain..not until I am alive!

Life is so dynamic and unexpected.The crazy beginning to my day turned into an ugly night.And my heart fell again into the traps of grief and hatred.I sometimes think I am a little bipolar.Two extremes of emotions existed in me.

I have built a wall around myself just to prevent myself from getting hurt.Naive people are taken advantage of and I don't want to spend my life regretting things I shouldn't have done.I don't wish to be rude but I don't want to be very soft either.Maybe there was something in between.Something which described how I treated humans.

My eyelids were starting to become heavy so I closed my book and tucked in my duvet falling asleep within minutes.

********

Shiraz POV

"Not again! "I yelped in horror for I woke up late yet again. I had developed a bad habit of night time procrastination which made my mornings late.

I took a quick shower and ran to my closet to wear something comfortable for medschool.I chose a white shirt and brown chinos and paired them with my brown converse.I always needed time for getting dressed.

Looking at myself in the mirror,i smirked at my image.I could easily pass out as some model.Standing six feet tall, fair skinned with brown hair and hazel eyes.Those orbs which made girls go weak in their knees.Wish looks could get me a fairy princess.

I grabbed my car keys, wallet and my sunglasses and sprung my backpack on my shoulders. I entered the dining room to find it empty.When I asked the housekeeper he informed that Dad has left for office a bit early today , mom had an appointment with someone and Masarrath left early for her tutions. Life was getting monotonous.I was left with no one to share breakfast.I wished to skip it. I decided to have some coffee in the cafeteria instead.

I was hurrying towards my car when I noticed someone behind. It was my personal chef,Rashid.He was coming with a breakfast tray .

"Your breakfast, Master Shiraz," he said bringing the tray forwards.Sometimes I felt he was the only guy who cared about my breakfast.Not in the mood to eat I ignored him and started the ignition waving him good bye.

*******

That day I had a test in general anatomy and I wanted to score good and impress Dr.Ahmer.

When I entered the class I noticed that Sanam's seat was empty which implied she didnt arrived yet.I took her seat wanting to irritate her.I was in the mood to have some fun.

Sanam arrived five minutes later but instead of coming to me she took another seat.I was surprised that she didn't confront me.She must be worried about the test or maybe she must have accepted defeat-' No one can win over Shiraz haroon 'I thought,grinning at myself.

The test was little tough but quite intriguing.I answered almost all the questions.I was confident that I would be the highest scorer. I'm a great believer of luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.

Shehriyaar waved his hands and motioned me too meet him outside. After completing my test when I tried to get off my seat I felt something pulling me back.On further attempts I freed myself from the sticky thing. I turned around to see a guy laughing at me...What the hen!!!!! I looked back at my seat to find some filthy liquid which even got stuck under my trousers.

Soon the entire class burst into laughter.That wierdo Sanam also had an evil smirk plastered to her face.Then it dawned on me that she must have played some cheap trick of hers.

I stormed out of the class angrily.Yumna came trailing behind mumbling some curses but I didn't pay attention .I walked towards the parking lot where my car was parked and headed towards home.

I was definitely gonna make her pay for this.You better watch out Miss Sanam Akram!

I reach home to hear loud music coming out from the living room. What I witnessed next shocked me to the core- Masarrath was partying with her friends.There were a bunch of teenagers singing and dancing like there was no tomorrow! She was partying at home when she was supposed to be in school.

There was no one to stop her from any wrong because mom and dad are busy in their own world.Iam not gonna let this happen!

I pulled Masarrath out from the crowd to a corner.
"Stop this party right now!" I yelled at her .

She flinched at my harsh tone and was scared seeing me as I looked no less than a hungry lion!

She apologized to all her friends and the next moment the living room was empty. .

Masarrath ran away in tears and locks herself in her room.Oh Allah!How should I explain her that she's so young and naive she shouldn't be hanging around with guys.

Mom and dad were back home for dinner.But I knew we wouldn't be eating together again for masarrath wouldn't come out of her room and I was angry after the argument I had with mom.I couldn't believe what she said.She was supporting masarrath in her folly.

"Don't interfere in her life Shiraz!"Mom said in a sharp tone.

"For God sake, mom!Masarrath's my sister and I am not an inconsiderate brother".

But she put her palm forward stopping me from any more discussion.I didn't argue further because I know I can't win over her. Women are a wonderful creation, they may not be physically strong but you can never win over them when it comes to arguments.

I layed on my bed trying to catch some sleep but I couldn't because.My tummy was growling with hunger as I skipped dinner today and above all I had the worst day of my life! Thanks to all the women in my life!Sarcasm was dripped in my voice and my thoughts.

I needed someone to speak to calm my frustrated mind so I called up Shehriyaar.

"Hey man, whatcha doing?"I asked Shehriyaar.

"Nothing great dude ! I was thinking about my assignement.I got paired with Sanam.Can you imagine how scary is that?"Shehriyaar replied.

"Wow! good luck dude you are really gonna have a tough time,"I scared him ,chuckling at his bad luck. In between our conversation I managed to get her number from Shehriyaar.My mind was planning a revenge.

It was almost midnight and as soon as the clock struck twelve, I started executing my plan. I dialled Sanam's number and just after few rings when she would have been about to answer it I hung up.I carried out this activity till dawn.I had sacrificed my sleep for a revenge.

The next day I would find out the awful result of my blank calls!

Smiling smugly I got under the covers for a short nap.

******

A / N

Oh my Allah!!! This is the longest chapter I have ever written!

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