-----++++!!(Chapter 32)!!++++-------

A few girls hovered over her and threw her to the ground, tossing filthy garbage on her. She didn't have enough courage to set herself free from them.
"Oh, please stop it, girls. She is so innocent. Her parents sent her here only to study," one of them mocked, and the rest started laughing and hooting.

Her lips were trembling, sending shivers of fear through her body. Tears started rolling down her face. Today marked her first day in this college, and she was caught by this gang of bullies.
"Oh, didn't this innocent girl's parents give her money to help her new friends? Won't you give it to your new friends so they can eat something? They are hungry," one of them squatted near her and asked sneeringly.

With shaking hands, she took out a few red notes and laid them in the girl's hand. But suddenly, someone snatched the notes from the girl's hand, and the next moment, with the sound of a thud, that girl was on the ground beside her.

"Yasmeen."

She heard the name all of them called in unison. She gazed upwards at a tall, strong-built girl with a dark complexion who grabbed one of them by the collar.

"How many times have I warned you to stop bothering innocent students? But I think you only understand the other language," Yasmeen said, still holding the girl by the collar and giving her jolts.

"Please, Yasmeen, let us go. We promise we will not do it again," the girl pleaded, joining her hands.

"This time I am letting you go. But next time, if such an incident happens, you will be out of this college. I hope you understand this time." Yasmeen let her out of her grip with a jerk. The next moment, the girls were out of their sight.

Yasmeen helped her stand, picked up her bag from the ground, and gave it to her. She rubbed off the dust from her clothes and took her bag.
"Thank you," she exclaimed calmly, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

"Never mind. What is your name?" Yasmeen asked, gazing at this young, innocent girl.

"My name is Shameen," she said shyly.

"Oh, a first-year student," Yasmeen assumed, looking at the color of her sash because every batch wore different colors of sashes.
"I am Yasmeen, a third-year student and chief proctor of this college. If you have any problem, or they bother you again come to me," Yasmeen introduced herself and offer her help. Shameen nodded, and both of them parted ways. That was their first encounter.

Shameen was anthropophobic from childhood. She had a heart like a bird. Most of the time, people took advantage of her because of this habit.

Yasmeen was totally the opposite of her. She had a demanding personality and knew how to keep people in their places. She also liked helping the weak, which was why she was selected as chief proctor. Finding Shameen in trouble, she took it as her duty to safeguard her.

The relationship, which started with sympathy, turned into a strong friendship, and one day they disclosed their hidden love stories to each other.

Yasmeen had loved a guy who was her brother's friend. That boy had persuaded her into this relationship. Initially, she was reluctant, but with time, her heart also started beating for him.

Wahab was Shameen's childhood love and fiancé. His love strengthened its roots inside her heart and grew with her age. Without even confessing to him, she couldn't imagine life without him.
Shameen knew that her love was not one-sided. She always noticed Wahab's naughty eyes around her and his signals through gestures whenever they encountered each other in family gatherings.
Wahab sent her many letters asking to meet her in private, but she always rejected them, fearing her family members would catch them.

One day, Wahab threatened her in a letter that if she didn't meet him, he would end his life. Shameen felt like her heart would stop. She thought of no way other than Yasmeen.

"Yasmeen, help me, please save him," Shameen said in such a desperate way that Yasmeen couldn't help but laugh. Shameen, flabbergasted, gazed at her face.

"Oh, Shameen, you are such a dumbo. Look at your faded face. You look so frightened as if you've been given a death sentence," Yasmeen said amidst chuckles.

"Yasmeen, tell me what I should do to save him," Shameen said innocently and pouted.

"Meet him. If you want to save him, meet him," Yasmeen said casually but brought blushes all over Shameen's face.

"What??" she screamed, face-palming. "No, no, I can't. What if someone finds out? I'll die of embarrassment." She denied it vehemently. Even thinking about being with him alone made her whole body shiver with embarrassment.

"Look, Shameen, if you really love him, then don't be a coward. Be brave, my friend, or he will find someone brave enough to meet him alone," Yasmeen gave her elder-sisterly advice.

"Don't scare me," Shameen said, clearly uncomfortable with Yasmeen's words.

"I'm not scaring you. This is harsh reality. Men hate women who keep them waiting," Yasmeen said cautiously.

"Okay, but on one condition, you'll have to go with me," Shameen said insistently.

"Are you out of your mind? What will I do on your date?" Yasmeen was astonished by her invitation.

"Please, Yasmeen, only this time. At least give me some time to be bold," Shameen said persistently.

"Okay, but only this time," Yasmeen approved for the sake of her cowardly friend, whom she loved very much.

The next day, they reached the address mentioned in the letter. Yasmeen held the letter to search for the location. They easily reached the place as it was one of the famous lovers' spots.

He was standing in one of the hidden corners. Shameen recognized him from his back and turned towards Yasmeen.
"Yasmeen, let's go back. I don't have the courage to face him alone."

Shameen hesitated again.

"I will punch you if you don't leave this cowardice of yours," Yasmeen warned her through gestures.

"Okay, okay, but promise me that you will stay here until I come back," Shameen said pleadingly.

"I promise. Now go," Yasmeen reassured her.

Shameen headed towards the guy, who still had his back to them.

"Wahab," she called, and as he turned around, he let out a smile toward Shameen. Yasmeen, hidden behind the trees to watch over Shameen, froze at the sight of that guy. Her eyes couldn't betray her, it was Wahab, the love of her life.

She gazed at the letter in her hand, the one she had taken from Shameen to locate the address. She had refrained from reading it earlier to respect her friend's privacy. But now, with trembling hands, she unfolded the letter and began reading.

It was a love letter expressing deep emotions. With every line, tears started rolling down Yasmeen's cheeks. It was painfully clear that Wahab's words, once meant for her, were now directed at her best friend.

"So, his love for me was merely a flirt, a scam. He used me, cheating on my best friend," Yasmeen thought, despising herself for falling for his lies. She walked away, her heart shattered into pieces.

The next day, Yasmeen took the day off from college. She couldn't face Shameen. The betrayal and guilt weighed heavily on her. On one side, she was heartbroken, and on the other, she blamed herself for betraying her friend unintentionally.

Unaware of Yasmeen's inner turmoil, Shameen came to her house and flung open her room door.
"How could you do this to me?" Shameen snapped, glaring at her.

For a moment, Yasmeen's heart stopped. Was this the moment of revelation? How would she face it? Her soul felt like it was leaving her body.

"Shameen, listen to me," Yasmeen stammered, swallowing her fear.

"No, I will not! How could you leave me alone with him? You know I nearly died when I didn't find you there. Is that what you call friendship?" Shameen complained, squatting beside her.

Yasmeen sighed in relief.
"Oh, that... I thought it would be better for you to spend some time alone with him," she said, forcing a smile.

"Oh, Yasmeen! Let me tell you, he is head over heels in love with me! He kept telling me how much he missed me and how he always wanted to be with me," Shameen gushed.

Yasmeen's heart ached at her words. The same lines Wahab once said to her were now being repeated to Shameen.

After a while her brother peeked through the door.
"Yasmeen, my friend has come. Can you make some tea for us?" he asked casually.

Fear gripped Yasmeen as her eyes darted to the bathroom door where Shameen had gone moments earlier. What if Wahab and Shameen encountered each other in front of her brother? What if their secret was exposed?

The bathroom door creaked open.
"Yasmeen, I'm leaving. I came straight here after college, so my mom will be worried," Shameen said casually, adjusting her chaddar.

Yasmeen silently thanked God for the escape. But as they approached the drawing room, Yasmeen's relief turned to dread when her brother and Wahab emerged from drawing room.