The very first time he had seen her was when he was six. His mum had promised him noodles in the evening but now she was getting ready to go to see someone. He didn't understand anything besides there's a baby and mummy will make him noodles tomorrow. Not used to being denied anything he threw tantrums as much as he could but Mummy really didn't have time and after he was tired of throwing tantrums he agreed to accompany her to hospital to see this evil baby who didn't let his mum make him noodles.

She is such a tiny lil thing.

That was the very first thought that had come in his mind when he first looked at the pink bundle in mahnaz aunty's hospital room. It was literally a pink bundle. Wrapped in many layers of pink blankets and dressed in a pink dress the girl herself was pink too. With chubby rosey cheeks and pink bow shaped lips she was sound asleep. After looking at her for sometime he decided he wasn't really angry on her for making his mummy busy. After all little pink babies aren't that bad.

After a couple weeks his mummy brought a much alike tiny little baby to their home too and told him this was his own little sister. He was ecstatic to have a tiny pink baby of his own. She was as beautiful as the previous baby, he had decided.

Time went by as it always does. Minutes turning in to hours and days turning in to months. With two elder sisters and two younger ones he was the only guy and sometimes in their girly things he would wish he had a brother to play with too.

At school he was a shy kid who had a lot of trouble approaching other kids himself and befriending them. Though if someone would initiate he would become a good friend. The problem was nobody really ever approached the shy kid at the back and so he always stayed in shadows. Though he was liked by the teachers for his good grades in class.

The first time he became interested in her was when he was 10. He was in 5th grade and there was this new kid, Arham, in his class who within weeks became every teacher's favourite because of his best behavior, updated homework and good marks in class tests. Other kids started admiring him too when he took first position in first term's exams and they got to know he's even a hafidh and a couple years elder than the rest of them. All was set before he started bullying the kids secretly. He was a rich spoilt kid and making his place so quick in class had made him more arrogant. He would throw girls' lunch or push someone from the stairs just for his laugh.

Few kids tried complaining about him to the class teacher but she brushed it off thinking it was children's animosity among themselves. It was alright till then too because Zuhaib usually kept to himself and nobody really bothered him before but when in second term results Zuhaib took his position that Arham noticed the shy kid at the back and considered him a threat.

It was that one of the few sunny days of November. Zuhaib was sitting on stairs of their school's basketball court eating his favorite chicken sandwich when out of nowhere Arham turned up. First he just looked at him menacingly but when Zuhaib paid him no heed he said,

"Hey Zaiby baby! Seems like you got no friends around here. You are you eating all alone with no friends to share with and laugh." He mocked.

For Zuhaib, being the only boy at home and having no actual friends anywhere else this was a sore topic but he ignored him again and kept eating his sandwich as he was never a violent kid.

Next what happened was a blur of anger and blood for Zuhaib. Not being able to get the desired reaction out of Zuhaib, Arham had picked up a rock from near and threw it at Zuhaib's lunch box in a way that his remaining half sandwich flew away and landed in the main court. On instinct Zuhaib picked up the same rock and threw it at Arham with full force which caught him by surprise and hit him square on the nose.

Within seconds there was a stream of blood coming from his nose and he ran towards the main office with his hand over his nose. Zuhaib was so stunned on what had happened that he just sat there looking dumbly at where Arham was standing a few minutes ago and where now were blood droplets making a pathway to the office.

He came out of his shock when their class teacher, Miss Arooba came and dragged him towards the main office by his ear. Whole way she kept scolding him disappointedly and he couldn't find the words to tell her what actually had happened.

Much to his horror his mum and dad were already sitting in principal's office when he entered followed by Miss Arooba. He didn't realize he sat back there for that long for the principal to call up his parents and for them to reach already despite his home being near.

He was always a very good kid in both his academics and behavior that his parents never had any complain regarding him and the disappointed furrow on his dad's forehead and shocked face of his mum was too much for a ten year old kid.

"Sit down kid and tell me what happened back there?" The principal Mr. Jaleel was a kind 60 year old soul who was loved and respected by whole school and staff equally. Seeing him standing he beckoned him towards the empty seat in front of him and inquired.

"Um.. Arham eh.. he was.. er.." his hands were perspiring under the steady gaze of the principal and no words came out of his mouth.

"Calm down Zuhaib! I know you are a good kid but Arham complained that you always bullied him and given his state today I'll have to suspend you for a month from school if you will stutter here and prove him right." Mr. Jaleel said kindly but the stern warning was clear behind his words.

The thought of being suspended made Zuhaib open his mouth and recount what had happened including Arham's bullying nature from before too. When he was done he looked up to glance at his parents and the principal and saw the latter deep in thought. After a moment he sighed and said,

"Okay child! You can go home with your parents now. Let me meet with Arham's parents." Seeing the harassed expression on Zuhaib's face he added "no I'm not suspending you now. It's only half hour to go for the school to end so there's no point of you staying. But next time be careful! I won't be lenient again. If there's a problem you report to your class teacher immediately not respond yourself. Understand?"

He nodded silently and followed his parents out and into the car. Besides a disapproving glance in his direction the ride home was uneventful and none of his parents commented or inquired about anything which was eating him. He wished they would say something consoling or a smile atleast so he won't feel like he committed a crime actually but sadly they didn't which made him shrink inside himself a little more.

When he entered his home the first thing he saw was that pink baby sitting contently in their living room with Bilquis and her blocks scattered around them and teaching her how to make a robot with them. She wasn't a baby anymore but he used to call her pink baby in his mind still. It had stuck with her and today she was even wearing a pink frock again.

When they entered none of them looked up as he silently went to his room to change and take a shower. What was unexpected was when he saw the pink baby sitting on his study table when he came out.

"What happen Zuhaib Bhai?? Did someone beated you?" She asked in her baby voice and Zuhaib looked at her bewildered.

He had never really talked to her or even paid attention to her before but seeing her now it only took him a couple seconds hesitation before he was recounting all what had happened. He was just a kid after all who never felt close to his sisters' or anyone his age to share anything with. From the beginning as how he doesn't have any friends or brother to play with and he feels so lonely to how no one at school befriend him too. How Arham taunted him about it today and what happened next. How neither mum or dad said anything in his defense and how his principal gave him warning even though he doesn't fight with anyone he told her everything. He didn't even realize he started crying somewhere in the middle till his tears dropped on his hand and he wiped them hastily. After he was done he looked up to see her baby face all red and fuming.

"He is a bad boy Zuhaib Bhai. And I know you are a good boy. Mama says bad boys loose their positions. That's why he didn't come first again and bothered you with wrong things. Don't worry about him! From now onwards I'm your best friend and we'll play together. Okay?" She offered him her hand bossily and he took it gladly mumbling okay. He already felt loads better.

Despite being just a four year kid she heard and consoled him. He liked it and that was the very first time he became interested in her unknowingly. From then onwards they really did become best friends. He would wait every evening for her to come over at their home so that he could tell her how his day was spent and she would do the same.

There was a subtle change in Zuhaib's behavior after that incident. He still didn't have many friends at school but following months saw him as a very active student of his class in both academics as well as extra curricular activities. He was no longer a shy kid at the back but someone who knew how to stand up for himself as well as against anything wrong he witnessed.

Pages of calenders turned and his teenage found him as the same child who was very fond of his neighbor cum best friend, an active student of his class and an obedient kid at home. Sadly it brought the usual aggression too which became Zuhaib's worst nightmare and following years saw his transformation from bad to worse.

It was the first day of 9th grade. The previous day was his 14th birthday and as promised his dad had gifted him his favorite wrist watch which he was wearing today in school. In the free period before lunch Danial, head of the most popular group of their class, saw his watch and inquired,

"Hey dude! Where did you get this watch from?" He asked with interest.

"Oh it was my birthday present! Dad gifted me yesterday." He replied feigning nonchalance while his heart swelled with pride.

"Wow that's cool! It's a pretty expensive watch you have." He added and Zuhaib replied with a nod.

"Hey Zuhaib! Wanna join us for lunch today?" During the lunch break Danial approached him thumping his back in a friendly gesture.

"Sure! Why not! Today's lunch is on me then as a belated birthday treat!" He agreed wholeheartedly and offered in the same breath without a thought. Danial made a whooping noice and he followed him to their table.

He thought it was his lucky day. Suddenly he was invited to a very cool group he may even become part of without trying and he was delighted.
His fate thought otherwise!

It was a new phase of Zuhaib's teenage life. Besides Haya he never had any friends and suddenly being in a group of six boys who would not only stay together in school but most often would plan to meet up after school too for a game was amazing. He had easily made his place in their group and the credit mostly went to the boys who gladly accepted him.

He still used to tell everything to Haya and he still adored her but at 14 she used to seem like a kid sometimes and although his fondness never wavered they gradually distanced apart unknowingly.

The last two years were the best years of Zuhaib's school life. He excelled in studies but the highlight was he had now people he felt belonging with and it was a refreshing change.

Danial was the self proclaimed head of their group. He was from an upper middle class family and his tall figure usually stood out in their group. Then there was Hashim who was the friendliest and the most humble of the lot and even had an innocent baby face. He was the kind of guy who took them out of trouble with his baby face countless times. Next was Zain who although had a nice personality but belonged to an insanely rich family. That and his handsome features had made him pretty arrogant. The fourth member was ShahJahan, the most generous of them all. He belonged to a pretty decent family and was ever ready to throw parties or give treats which neither of them turned down ever. Fifth was Jahanzaib who was the artist of their group. His long slender fingers would indicate he's a painter and he was insanely talented in what he did and they were proud of him. And lastly there was Zuhaib, the nerd of the group. He was usually found helping either one of them or passing his notes to them and he gladly did his job. It was like an ideal group of friends which was completed with Zuhaib's entry.

Everything was wonderful till 11th grade when two twin cousins of Zain joined their group. They were born and brought up back in US and were sent to Pakistan to complete higher secondary studies and university. Everyone wondered why they were sent back when they had better study opportunities in US but no one dared asking and welcomed them with open arms.

Zuhaib realized the reason in coming months but till then the game had already begun!

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu!!
*Peeking from behind the curtain* 🙈🙈🙈 I'm so so so sorry for such a long wait sweethearts. I know I'm such a bad author huh! I was supposed to post this on eid and I know it was long over due so please excuse me.
In order to make up for it I was planning to make this one super long but I honestly don't know how to write long chapters so I'm breaking it in to two! It still is the longest chapter  and  I hope you people enjoy it. Please drop me your precious votes as they never cease to brighten my day! Pretty please!

Feedback is always more than appreciated!

Lots and lots of love! 😘😘😘😘
Take care darlings!