#NotEdited

"Hey?" I raised my hand timidly for a little wave.

"Get her out my sight! Out!" His voice echoed in the living room. A few veins were visible on his wrinkled forehead and neck. Across the room the same actions were copied by Nayal except for the wrinkled part. I watched his Adam's apple blobbing up and down with every breathe and his face turned crimson.

"Father..." His cold tone sent chills down my spine.

"You think I will tolerate this skank of yours? F**k you!"

"Enough!" The man didn't seem years older than Nayal the way he got quite at his demand.

But what came next petrified me even further. Nayal galloped in my direction like literally galloped, yanked me by hand and dragged me behind the wall.

"I.Told.You.To.Stay.There!" He hissed.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know that..."

"You didn't know what? That I have a shi...." His fingers found their way in the tangled mess, grasping them from the root. "Why don't you go and just wait in the car?"

Vigorously nodding my head—that wasn't wrapping anything happening right now, I turned towards the door. What came next blew my mind a thousand miles away.

"Who are you?"

My eyes turned into saucers at his words. I was beyond shocked. More shocked than the time 1D broke up.

What? I thought they were going to last longer than Taylor Swift's boyfriends.

Don't judge! I live in this world, I have a vague idea what's going on.

But not what was happening right now. My gaze shifted from Nayal to his father whose words clearly affected me but not the other two people.

What in the name of Nutella marshmallows is happening here?

~*~

"You said you were an orphan."

Under the dim porch light, his stress lines were far visible. He was looking around the quite street not able to meet my gaze. I wrapped my arms under my knees adjusting my face on it.

"Don't believe everything people tell you." The wooden stairs squeaked under his pressure. A foot length space between our shoulders.

"He has Alzheimer's. Stage 6. And he's slightly demential." Due to my face turned left, I couldn't decipher his expressions. All I could hear was the irritating sound of his nails scratching the wood.

"You never said anything."

"You never asked." Guilty crawled my insides. I hated my socializing skills, they needed some serious polishing.

"Sorry?" Biting my lips, I turned to face him. Him taking out a cigarette didn't bother me the least. I've had enough friends who barbecued their lungs gladly.

"Sorry to disappoint you but it's not a metaphor. " He chuckled nonchalantly making me laugh.

The cigarette was dangling from his lips when I popped the next question.

"I've met Jess's father...." As usual he interrupted me.

"We shared the same womb."

"Oh."

"Don't blame me. She wasn't worth being called a mother." Hatred dripped from his words.

"She left on my first day of school; 4th September 1996. I remember I had those what were they call...um...Teletubbies? Yeah that! I had their backpack." His hazel eyes shimmered in the dark night. "The day went perfect. But by afternoon, I sat at the bench near the playground waiting for her to pick me up. Guess who didn't show up?"

An blanket of silence enveloped us. And silently I thanked Allah for the amazing pair of parents—parent now.

"What?" I heard him saying something I didn't get.

"My mother was Brazilian. They met at the police station where my father worked. She got busted to shoplifting and he arrested her. Fell in love and shit. I came along a year after and it turned out that she was having an affair with Jess's father. She eloped with him. Leaving my father wrecked and shattered into a billion pieces. Pieces he couldn't put together till this day."

"Did he ever.... I mean did he...?" I took in a deep breathe. "Abuse you?"

"It's all in the past. Which means it can't be undone, so what's the point reminiscing it." He shrugged taking a drag after another as the odor penetrated my olfactory senses.

"She supposedly fell in love with my father speaking Urdu. As stupid as it sounds. So after she left, he kinda banned the language. I guess that explains my slight obliviousness for the language." He let out a throaty laugh.

That definitely explains a lot. The fact that my sarcastic Urdu statements went unanswered.

"So this is where you are when you're not at the apartment?"

"He needs me."

Once again there was quietness.

"You hungry?" He took the final drag, extinguishing the small piece on the rock.

"Yeah." Smiling, we stood up.

~*~

"I'm not doing this. Period."

"Chicken much?"

"Stupid much?"

"Afraid of losing?" I smirked mischievously.

"Think whatever you want." He said rolling his eyes.

"We'll have two servings." I smiled at the girl behind the counter and she handed me a slip.

Six minutes later, we were sitting at small table in middle of the Pakistani restaurant which two sets of gol gappas.

"Three." I rolled up my sleeves.

"Two." Moving my grey hijab a little bit back on the chin.

"One!" I announced and placed the first of the twelfth gol gappa in my mouth.

A little while ago, I got us a table in the cramped desi place which has the best street food in the city. And guess what happens to me when I spot gop gappas?  My competitive side jumps on the opportunity.

"I win!" I shrieked as I gulped down the last one. Nayal whose mouth was full with three, stared at me with wide opened eyes before ran for the door.

What?

Following him out, I looked left and right for him then I spotted him. Bent over, he was puking his guts out.

Grossed out, I didn't wait for him to finish and ran inside. Slamming ten pounds on the table, I grabbed a handful of napkins and rushed out for his aid. By then he was finished with his business, leaving a disgustingly pungent smell.

"I'm chickpea intolerant."

"Excuse me?" Please, this is a joke.

"Yes. It's rare, one person in every ten thousand have this allergy." While wiping his mouth he explained.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" I punched his arm with all the force.

"You would've laughed."

"Of course I would!" And I laughed. Hard enough that people in the street turned their heads.

"You're rare." I said once my laughter settled down.

"Took you so long!" He threw his hands up in a dramatic manner. Just then his phone rang, second time.

"Yes Taylor?"

"I'll do it tomorrow."

"I'm out."

"I'm busyyyy."

"I'm not on a date, Tay."

"Just up."

"I'm hanging up." And he just did.

"She's so getting fired." He mumbled to himself.

"We should call it a night." Stuffing my hands in the pocket we walked towards the car.

"We already call it a night." He made a lame joke but I chuckled anyways. "I'll drop you home. Come on."

He opened the door for me but I was too tired to object.

"I had a great night."

"I'm glad I can reciprocate."

~*~

"Call me anything but don't call me this early in the morning." Grumbling I turned to the other side.

"Zeeniya....he...." Within a millisecond I shot straight up.

"Jess why are you crying?" The sobs didn't stop.

"Jessica what happened?" I demanded loudly but she just cried in return.

"He will kill him."

"Who will?"

"Nayal."

Then it all made sense. I ran out of the door as quickly as possible.

When I reached Jess's flat, I took in a deep breathe and barged in.

"Jessica stay the f*ck away!" Nayal roared, landing a kick in Sean's gut who looked like he was gonna pass the next moment.

Jessica stood in a corner crying helplessly as her brother smashed her boyfriend.

I acted on autopilot and threw myself between them. Pushing Sean away I took hold of Nayal's hands. Sean landed on the floor with a busted lip and smashed face.

"F*ck off Zeeniya!" His eyes were on fire. The hazel orbs burned like charcoal and he did everything to release his hands,  his skin burned me.

"Take him to my house. Zayd'll patch him up." I managed as the man twice my size, fought me. I couldn't stop him as he got out of my grip so I did the only that could save Sean's life.

I let my hands touch his jaw. I traced my fingers on his stubble and muttered Ayat al Kursi. I wasn't sure what I was doing but that was the only thing that simmered him down. Every cell in my body opposed my action but it was my least care. I was inches close to him. Close enough so I could hear his haphazard heartbeat. It was wrong. So wrong that it almost felt right. He was taken by surprise for sure and stared deep in my eyes. Blue to hazel.

"Hurry!" From the corner of my eyes, I saw Jessica supporting a her beat up boyfriend to the elevator.

"Step away!" The same beast strikes again.

"You'll kill him."

"The hell I will!" I ran and locked the door.

"Stay right here Nayal!" I screamed on the equal level.

"He was having an affair with my sister! That son of a b**ch!" His breathing was shallow.

He yelled and cursed and punched the wall. I needed it.

"You knew, didn't you?" He gave me an accusing glare.

"You fu*king knew! How can miss it! Of course you knew!"

"Yes I knew!"

"You should have told me!"

"It wasn't my secret to tell!" Our scream hit us back with same force.

"After everything happened last night, I though...I thought we were going somewhere." His voice held something that scared me.

"After everything happened last night?" I parroted his words."Last was nothing! It was just two friends having a good time! Wait.... Shit! You thought that I was leading you on? You're pathetic!" I placed my hands on my head, crouching down on my knees.

This can't be happening.

"I'm pathetic! Don't turn this on me! You betrayed my trust!"

"I never signed a commitment! God! Is this what you think of me? That after some dinner and coffee and deep talk I led you on? You are nothing more than a friend to me! Now I think it's time to reconsider it!" I spat at him. I couldn't take the heat in the room.

"I thought you were different." He voiced in defeat.

"Me too." I said softly. "But guess what? You're just like every other guy down the hall! Some sweet talk and you think any girl will be swept off her feet! What you need to do is focus on you job description rather than flirting around and waiting for some fun!" I poked a finger in his hard chest.

"Don't you dare... Zeeniya! Don't you fu*king dare go there." He got hold of my hands and brought me close to him.

I saw my hands trembling. We stayed there. Rooted to the ground. Hearts beating. Air in and out. Chests heaving. Eyes locked. Blue to hazel.

"We're done!" I composed myself and rushed out of the door.

~*~

"This is what I sacrificed my sleep for? I don't even like football." At this, I picked up the ball and threw at him. It hit him right in his gut where he deserved it.

The only two classes we had today were hours apart. The first one ended half an hour ago and there were a good four hours till the next one. I kicked the ball towards the goal but missed it.

"Zeeniya Tahan just missed a goal! This is going to be a hell of a Snap story!" Sid smiled greedily posting the 10 seconds video which they were rub in my face till the day I die.

Drenched in sweat, I made my way to the bleachers where Garrett was busy on a call.

"Love you too. Bye."

Ending the call he looked up, giving me a kind smile. There was silence except for the jocks rapping Eminem a few seats above us.

"You missed a goal."

"Hmm."

"I've known you for four years and never ever missed a goal."

I missed a heartbeat too.

"You don't look fine. Something happened today?"

"No."Yes.

"Look if it's about Nayal then maybe I can talk to him something." His offered raged me.

"There is nothing going on between me and....him." I couldn't say his name. "Keep your suggestions to yourself!" I snapped at my friend who always had my back.

Before guilt could eat me alive, I exited the field, my chest tightened.

For a few minutes, I ignored my phone ringing but when it rang for the third time, I lost it.

"What the f*ck?" I groaned into the phone.

"Zee?"

Adam?

"Where the hell are you? Dead?" I crossed the cafeteria and headed towards the parking.

"Can you meet me at the garage?" He sounded desperate.

"I'll be there in a few."

The best part of riding a bike was the speed. It helped venting out my anger as I sped through the streets of London. The power and wind blowing through my face gave me an unknown superiority.

This is going to cost so much more than one ticket.

Without knocking, I pulled up the shutter of the garage. What I saw next was nothing compared to this morning.

Can my life get any worse?

Votes and comments will get you guys a faster update!

My birthday month is here by the way!!!