"Irsia aapi please do me a favor," Zahra said with pleading eyes. Irsia looked up from her laptop after keeping the movie at pause.

"What is it?"

"Can you please iron Sibtain Bhai's shirt? I've to help nanajaan with some stuff. Please?" She gave Irsia puppy dog eyes to which Irsia smiled.

"Fine but just one shirt."

"Actually two shirts."

"Fine get me the shirts," said Irsia, playfully rolling her eyes and earning a flying kiss from her cousin.

After few minutes Zahra returned with an armful of clothes. "I thought you said only two shirts." Irsia said raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah. About that..." Zahra took a small pause and placed the clothes on nearby table. She looked at Irsia, gave her an innocent smile and before Irsia could say anything, was out of the door.

"Zahra?" Irsia shrieked and went after her cousin who was already running down the stairs. Irsia stomped her foot and went back to her room huffing in annoyance. She went to examine the clothes which consisted of Sibtain's shirt and jeans along with Shahzain's pair of jeans and one shirt.

"Argh! I hate them." Irsia muttered while ironing the clothes.

"Who?" came the voice from behind. Irsia turned her head to look at the smirking figure of Shahzain.

"You." She said, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"And why is that?" he casually walked towards her bed and sat down facing her.

"Can't you iron your own clothes?" she asked with narrowed eyes.

"Actually I can."

"Then why am I ironing them?"

"Because you have nothing better to do." He answered with a cheeky grin and taking a bite of an apple he picked from her bedside table.

"Whatever. Here, take your clothes." She said handing him his clothes.

"Thanks."

"Now you owe me one."

"Are these Sibtain's clothes?"

"Yeah."

"Ah! I see." He said scratching his chin.

"What?" She looked confusedly at him.

"He is the other person you were talking about."

"What are you talking about?" She continued ironing Sibtain's shirt.

"When you said 'I hate them'."

"Oh!" was all she said.

"So you hate my brother?"

"No. I hate you."

"So you love my brother?" Irsia stopped her actions and looked at him with wide eyes. He was smirking at her and looked behind her. Irsia followed his gaze and her eyes met Sibtain's shocked face which held the same expression as her. They both looked at each other and quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed by Shahzain's question.

Shahzain cleared his throat. "You didn't answer my question." He said way too sweetly. Irsia's face looked like a tomato, a few shades darker even.

"I said I hate you, not your brother." Irsia said with gritted teeth after taking a deep breath.

"Well, it implies that-"

"Shahzain." Sibtain said before shahzain could complete his philosophical implications. "I think mom was looking for you."

"Was she?" he asked his brother with a smirk who in return pointed towards the door.

"Fine I'm leaving. But why is she calling me?"

"You are going with dadajaan today instead of me."

"But why?" he whined.

Sibtain walked to where Shahzain was sitting and gave him a smile and said, "Because I said so. Now go."

"Fine." Irsia breathed a sigh of relief.

"If you are tired, I'll iron the clothes." Sibtain said looking at her.

"No. It's okay." She gave a small smile and continued doing her work.

"You don't know how to iron the clothes."

"You are still here?" Sibtain said looking at the source of the voice a.k.a his brother.

"In my defense, I left my phone here. I came for it, not to eavesdrop on you two." He picked his phone from the bed and left with a wave.

"You really don't know how to iron the clothes?" Irsia asked with amusement in her eyes. Sibtain gave her an embarrassing tight lipped smile and shook his head. "Then why did you say you'll iron these clothes?" she asked with one-sided smile.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I thought you were tired and who knows, you might say you hate me as well." Now it was Sibtain's turn to smile.

"I... I was just joking." Irsia stammered a little which earned a small chuckle from Sibtain.

"I know."

"By the way when did you come back?"

"When you shouted Zahra's name."

"Oh! How was everyone there?"

"Good. Hameez is a good company to be with."

"Arooba's brother?" he nodded his head. "What about Arooba? Changed your views about her?"

"A little. I mean the last time I met her she was annoying but now, not so much. I don't hate her now. She seems nice."

"Good to hear that." She gave him a smile and resumed her work, which she had unconsciously stopped doing for a while.

"I think we are going to stay there for few days after returning from the wedding."

"Okay and your clothes are ready." She handed him his clothes.

"Your henna, it has given a dark color." He said eyeing her hands which held his clothes.

"Thanks. The right hand has slightly darker shade, don't you agree?" she asked showing him her henna decorated palms.

"I completely agree. After all I applied it." He said with a smile. She smiled back and looked down.

"She will be down in a minute. She is offering her prayer." Irsia told her aunt while placing the glasses on the tray.

"Who?" Safa asked while entering the kitchen.

"Zahra." Irsia replied.

"Okay. Let me take these inside." She said referring to the tray in Irsia's hands.

"It's okay aunty. I'll take them."

"Hey everyone." Zahra said entering the kitchen while Irsia was leaving it.

"Offered your namaz?" Safa asked and Zahra nodded her head. "Did you pray for us?"

"Yes I did."

"Masha Allah, every person of this household offers five daily prayers."

"So do you, five times every day. I've seen you doing so." Zahra answered.

"Yes alhamdulillah I do but it's my boys I'm worried about. Sibtain, he offers sometimes but Shahzain, he doesn't."

"But namaz is a must." Irsia added.

"We tell them this almost every day but when do these boys listen? Why don't you people try telling them sometimes? May be they will listen to you."

"In shaa Allah we will try." Zahra responded with a smile.

"Excuse me ladies." Shahzain said standing at the door and all of them turned towards him.

"Yes?" his mother replied.

"In case you haven't noticed, people are starving inside. Irsi left ages ago to get those tasty dishes." He said holding his stomach. "Besides, we have to leave for the wedding as well. So, be quick."

"Yeah, so sorry. Food will be served in a jiffy." Manahil answered. "You go and take your seat."

Soft wind was gently ruffling Irsia's hair who was sitting outside on a chair with her eyes closed.  Sibtain watched her for half a minute or so with a smile and cleared his throat. Irsia opened her eyes slowly and smiled looking at him. Sibtain smiled back and walked to where she was sitting.

"Can I join you?"

"Sure. Though you interrupted my sleep but join anyway." She said with a playful smile.

"All the more reason to stay then." He answered back and sat on a chair beside her. "Why do you sleep so much?"

"Don't go there. That's a very sensitive topic"

He laughed a bit and Irsia smiled and both looked ahead at the twinkling night sky.

"It's peaceful, isn't it?" Irsia said after a while.

"Yes," he said and looking at her added, "and beautiful too."

"Yes." She sighed. "This vastness is majestic. It has a certain pull. Keep looking and you feel as if you have landed in these stars and frankly speaking, sometimes, well most of the times, I get afraid. It frightens me. I feel as if I'll never return." She said never once averting her gaze from the night sky.

"Then why do you come out almost every night to stare at it when it frightens you so?"

"Because the peace and happiness I feel outweighs the fear. Some things are worth it, aren't they?" Since Sibtain sat beside her, this was the first time she looked at him. He looked back at her and nodded his head in agreement.

They again sat in a blissful silence for some time until Sibtain broke it. "Can I ask you something?"

She looked at him and answered, "Go ahead."

"It is kind of personal."

"What is it?"

"Umm... do you have a boyfriend?" Irsia felt heat rising up her face and ears.

"What?"

"I'm sorry if I've-" he began apologizing immediately, remorse written all over his face.

"No no, don't be sorry. It's just that I was taken aback."

"Oh, I thought otherwise."

"And no, I don't have one."

"What about crush?"

"Celebrity crushes? Yes. But in reality no one serious."

"Okay."

"Why suddenly these questions?" she looked curiously at him.

"Oh it's nothing." He brushed it away with a shrug.

"What about you? Any girlfriend?"

"No."

"Crush?"

"I don't know."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Irsia looked amused.

"It means that I don't know yet what I feel for her."

Irsia smiled. "Okay I won't ask further."

"Thanks."

"I..." Sibtain looked at her and she became quiet.

"What were you going to say?"

"It's nothing."

"C'mon just say it already."

"It's just that I never thought I'll ever talk this freely with you. I mean the last time you were here, we hardly talked."

"Yes, it's strange. Even I never imagined us to be talking freely and about last time, I was kind of rude. Wasn't I?"

Irsia gave a small laugh. "Yes, you most definitely were. I thought you to be arrogant, self-centered, rude and sort of haughty."

"Wow that is a lot but no complaints. I accept them all." They both chuckled. "I... I don't talk much as you might have noticed, especially to female folk."

"Really?" he nodded. "I'm a little surprised."

"Why?"

"I don't know. May be because I had a slightly different perception about you."

"Like what?"

"Let's leave it for some other time."

"Though I'm curious to know but this time, as you say ma'am."

Irsia chuckled. She was enjoying herself. "Can I say something?"

"Yeah sure."

"I've seen you offer namaz but only sometimes, even your mother said so."

"Yes, whenever I get time I do pray."

"Okay. Tell me Sibtain, do you love your parents?"

"Of course."

"Will you do anything they ask you to?"

"Yes." He was getting confused by such questions.

"Do you love Allah?" she asked looking at him.

"Yes."

"And do you obey His every command?" Sibtain couldn't answer this question so he stayed silent. "I'm not saying I'm perfect and that I obey His every command or that I've never committed any sin but we call ourselves Muslims. Don't we?"

"Yes."

"And who are Muslims?"

"Those who believe in Allah, his Messenger and accept Islam as their religion."

"Right and what are the five pillars of Islam?"

"Faith, prayer, charity, fasting and hajj," replied Sibtain.

"Exactly. Prayer is one of them. It comes right after faith. Prayer is one of the five things that Islam has been founded and established on then how can you neglect it and claim to be a Muslim?"

"I... I try my best to offer the prayers five times every day. But you know work, it's... it's very hectic. I don't get much time." He answered.

"Sibtain, in prayer there is success and success comes from your Lord alone. Success calls you five times a day and yet you ignore it. You give priority to this world over the hereafter when it is just an illusion. Offer namaz five times a day and see for yourself how happy you will be. Your life will be easy. Your work will be easy, blessed and most importantly your soul; it will be at peace." When Sibtain didn't reply she continued. "I know you think I'm lecturing you and I've no right to do-"

"No," Sibtain said cutting Irsia off. "No whatever you said is correct. I'll try to offer my prayers regularly in shaa Allah." That earned him a smile from Irsia.

"I should go inside now." Irsia said getting up.

"Thanks." Sibtain said when Irsia had walked a few steps ahead of where he was sitting.

"Thank you for listening to me and not getting irritated or angry because of my lecture." He smiled at her. Irsia stopped when she reached near the door frame. "Aren't you coming inside?"

"In a while." She smiled and walked inside.