Assalamualaikum!

CHAPTER 17 - THE REGRETFUL VOCATION...

MINAL'S POV :

The ride back to hotel was fun. Four of us was singing along the radio.

The song 'Socha hai' was the most fun. The girl version was me and fatty. The boy version was Tauqeer and shehryaar. Soon we reached the hotel.

We entered the hotel. And went to our respective rooms.

He unlock the door and we both went inside. Both of us fell on the bed as we are very tired. He looked at me in sideways.

"What?" I asked him. "You can use the washroom first." He said and got up from the bed and slipped inside the blanket.

"Why? Weren't you the one who uses it first?" I asked him raising my eyebrow. He faked a smile. I rolled my eyes and took my night suit and went inside the washroom.

Freshening up myself and I did my ablution and I came out of the washroom and saw him asleep.

Ah! He didn't even prayed the namaz.

"Shehryaar!" I called out his name.

He didn't respond. I walked up to him and tried to shook him but he didn't bulge. So I put all my forced when he suddenly moved and I fell beside him.

I was about to slap his arm when he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me over him and hold me tight.

I got stiffened under his arms. And breathe got caught on my throat. My eyes widened and he was simply sleeping there with a smile creeping on his lips.

I tried to escape from his grip. When he chuckled.

"You think you're strong enough." I ignored his words and kept on trying. He finally loosened his grip and I got up from the bed.

"Now wake up. You didn't even attend the prayer." I told him.

"Alright. Alright." He got up and he went inside the washroom.

I prayed namaz - e - esha with the rest of the namaz. And he came and stood Infront of me and he prayed. We both finished our prayers.

It's 11:20 already.

He went to bed. I walked towards bed when he tapped at my side of the bed as in asking me to come and sleep.

I raised my eyebrow at him and then I sat on the bed. I undone my dupatta then keeping aside on the bed besides my pillow and I was about to lay down beside him when he stretched his arm keeping on my pillow.

I unknowingly layed and when I realised his hand was below me I got up when he grabbed my hand tight and held me near him.

"Sheh..."

"Sshhh!" He hushed me up. He pulled the blanket over us and keepin his hand on my back. He closed his eyes. I looked at him. I can't bare this much closeness and it's getting very difficult for me to breath so I waited for him to sleep then silently turned over still on his arm.

_ _ _ _ _

"Let's go na shehryaar please." I pleaded him to join Tauqeer in the swimming pool.

The bunch of college girls who were already on the pool was drooling over tauqeer who was without t-shirt and fatty was getting all jealous. And it seemed Tauqeer was enjoying it. And he made fun of fatty 'cause she won't be able to join him. So he have to play with those girls.

And here Shehryaar was not allowing both me and fatty. Fatty asked me to convince him anyhow.

After a lot of pleading he agreed but with conditions applied.
1. Maintain distance from Tauqeer.
2. Should wear covered clothes with hijab.
3. Should be outside the pool before lunch.

We both agreed to him. We changed into our fully covered clothes with hijab we slowly let us in the pool.

He watched us then he suddenly removed his t-shirt. We all woah-ed as we thought he was going to join us too. But he handed his t-shirt to Tauqeer and asked him to wear this as he was not wearing his t-shirt.

The smile on Tauqeer's face vanished as he handed him the t-shirt. Fatty laughed out loud. I too bit my lips to control my laughter watching Tauqeer's face changed.

He narrowed his eyes at fatty. Then smirked at her wearing the t-shirt. Fatty stopped laughing at once then gave a shy smile.

I saw those college girls attention got diverted to shehryaar. Obviously because he has better abs. But I didn't like it.

Then Tauqeer and fatty got busy playing games with distance maintained.

Shehryaar was busy with his laptop while also keeping an eye on us.

I splashed some water on him.

"What the hell...minal! Are you crazy? You don't splash water on laptop remember?" He asked all getting red. Then turned.

"But I can splash water on you remember?" I smirked as splash some water on him.

He turned to me then got up from his seat he took a jug of water kept there and walked towards me while saying, "You are going to pay for this."

I widened my eyes on shock and till when I realised he splashed the whole jug on my head which caught my breath. That was so cold.

I saw him laughing at me. I grabbed both of his leg and shaked.

"No. No minal." He warned me.

"Why? Are you afraid of water?" I asked him. He went back to his seat.

"Ofcourse not." He simply said.

I left the pool and walked towards him which he didn't noticed. I shut his laptop with my wet hand.

"Godddd'! You're hands are wet." He stood up while saying that. I grabbed his arm and pulled him but he didn't move a bit. I turned to him to glare.

"Really?" He asked with that obvious expression on his face.

I left his hand in anger and was about to walk away when he grabbed my hand to turn but that's when my wet foot slipped and I grabbed him saving myself from slipping and but unfortunately he too lost his balance and we both slipped into the pool with me over him.

"Bhabiiii " is what I heard before drowning into the pool.

He held me tight as we drown then he pulled me outside. But I still lost my balance and was about to drown again when shehryaar grabbed me by my waist and he trapped my legs between his. Then holding my face with both his palms. He asked, " Minal! Minal! You're okay??"

When I got the clear view what I first saw was his worried face.

"Yeah! Am o.." I didn't even finished my sentence when I felt a little dizzy. My eyes got half closed and all I could see was his lips mummering something as I wasn't able to hear anything.

I got tapped on my cheeks then I get a full view of his face but not clear. I suddenly felt I got lifted.

SHEHRYAAR'S POV :

She was not getting completely conscious and it was scaring the shit out of me. I tapped her cheek. She opened her eyes then she lost her body control and she almost fell on me. I quickly carried her out of the pool.

Fatty and Tauqeer also came out. I made her sit on the bench and undone her scarf so that she can get some air.
I tapped her cheek again while fatty rubbed her hand.

Tauqeer quickly handed me a glass of water. I sprinkled some on her face she slightly squeezed her eyes then opened her eyes.

"Are you okay minal? You're fine now?" She nodded. I made her drink some water.

"You're feeling okay now?" I asked her.

"Am fine shehryaar. Just got dizzy because of sunlight." She was explaining me but I couldn't control myself and I hugged her tight and apologized, "Am so sorry minal. It's all because of me. I shouldn't have let you inside the pool. Am so sorry." I felt so guilty.

"Shehryaar everyone's watching us." She whispered into my ears. I quickly left her and got up realising what I just did.

"Aren't they cute?" I heard those college girls comments. I felt so flushed. I looked at her she got all red.

I looked here and there in awkwardness.

"Umm...i've some work to do. I'll go to my room." With that I picked my laptop but then I remembered.

I walked to her. "Don't you dare enter the pool in my absence." I warned her.

"Soak yourself and come to the room. Change yourself."

Then I turned to fatty, "You've got only Half an hour. Then go to your room." I warned her too. She nodded her head.

*Half an hour later*

MINAL'S POV:

We trio went to our respective rooms. I walked inside our room and saw no one.

'where is he?'

I checked the washroom and he isn't there too?

I was so happy today that I want to dance like crazy.

Thank god he isn't here.

I started singing a song then started to dance. I did all the steps that appeared on my head.

I don't look at myself while dancing because if I did I won't be able to dance anymore.

Then I insert earpods and then my playlists was on.

The music was making me happier.

I walked up to the door and locked. Then continued my joy.

I closed my eyes to enjoy every beats.

My Nightcore playlist blocked my ears.

Then I accidentally opened my eyes and what I saw was too shocking. I saw him standing showing his all 32. And to gimme a heart attack what I saw in his hand was his phone.

Is he capturing a video?.

My eyes widened in shock.

I quickly remove my earpods and threw it on the bed and speed up to him to snatch his phone. But he raised his hand up and when I was about to bout kept his phone on his jeans back pocket.

"Shehryaar! Give me your phone." I asked him.

"Why don't you ask me while singing?" He made fun of me.

"Give it to me.", I spatted angrily.

"Or you can ask me while dancing?" He laughed hard.

"Delete that damn video right now." I ordered him while mentally killing him in my mind.

"Nah! Didn't you do that for me. Then why should I?" He said while smirking.

"Where the hell were you? I checked the whole room."

"Oh! Well I was in the balcony working then I heard a squeezy voice which made me so irritated so I came to check who is that damn good singer." He said laughing.

"Seriously don't ever sing. But yeah! You may dance... even though it's not good but it's fun to watch." He said still laughing.

I felt like crying over my stupidity. I should have checked the balcony. Why didn't I?

Ground swallow me please.

I turned around in embarrassment and face-palmed myself.

I should somehow make him delete the video. But how can you delete the video that's inside his head?!

Oh godddddd!!!

I turned to ask him to delete the video.

When he stepped forward towards me leaving no space between us.

I gulped. He smirked.

"Sh-sh-sheh-shehryaar! Delete the video for god's sake." I stammered while moving back.

"Okay. You can take my phone and delete it." He simply said and I was about to grab it when he kept inside his jeans backside pocket.

And he sat on bed. He was blinking his eyes at me while I ignored him.

What.a.jerk.!

I calmed myself and took my towel and dress and stepped inside the washroom.

*After half an hour*

SHEHRYAAR'S POV :

"Ahem ahem!" I cleared my throat as I walked towards her who was combing her hair.

She glanced at me then continued.

"So what else you are hiding from me? I didn't know you can dance. Even though your dance wasn't good. Atleast now I know you do." I made fun of her.

"Does it even matter!" She spatted angrily.

"Yeah! To me atleast." I said. She rolled her eyes.

"And if you want..." I stood behind her. My stomach touching her back.
She blinked her eyes at me.

I bend over and whispered in her ear, "I'll teach you...in my way."

Looking at eachother in the mirror, I slowly took her comb and kept aside.

I took her and hand in mine. She turned over. I pulled her to me and she stood up.

I kept her both hand on my shoulder. And I moved my hands on her waist.

She looked down at my hands over her waist.

"Look at me...look into my eyes." I whispered softly. And she did what I asked her to. Her eyes boring into mine.

We slowly moved a little. Even though there wasn't any music playing on the back we were going on the same track. We were so into eachother but...

Knock! Knock! Some one's at the door.

We got startled. And now it is an awkward moment. I mentally punched the person knocking at the door.

She was looking here and there then she sat on the chair and continued with her hair.

I went to open the door and it was none other than Tauqeer. Always meddling in our romance. This idiot.

He walked in.

Am sorry! May I ask you who allowed you to come inside?!

I wish I can ask him such questions.

"Umm... sorry to disturb you but I came to inform you that...I've got a call from my friend. I'll visit him and will join you guys after an hour." He told us.

"Okay. No problem." I said faking a smile at him. He turned to minal and waving her a good bye he left.

I chuckled sarcastically at the view of him waving only at her. And closing the door behind him. I turned to her.

I walked towards her, "Ask fatty to keep distance from him. And same goes to you." I said and sat on the bed.

MINAL'S POV :

"Hah! What is wrong with you? I mean. I understand your possessiveness towards your sister but...what about me? Am married and am his sister in law. Why would you ask me to stay away from him?" I wanted to know so badly.

"Well, I just get some not so good vibes from him when he's near you." He said looking down feeling a little uneasy.

"Are you serious? I mean why do you dislike him so much? Okay then if you dislike him that much why did you even agreed his proposal for fatty?" I asked on a serious note.

"Well I told you already...I dislike him when he's around you...not every time." Jealousy was totally obvious on his face.

I bit my inner lip to stop myself from smiling but couldn't control myself and I did.

"What are you smiling at?" He asked seriously looking damn cute.

"Umm..it's just...umm... nothing." I denied to tell him how cute I find him right now.

"No. Tell me. You think am joking. Am not. Am pretty damn serious. Now tell me why...." I cut him off and because I got this sudden urge to tell him, "You're cute.". He was standing dumbstruck.

"I smiled because I found you cute. Now would you please stop getting all jealous." After some brief seconds, he walked towards me and spun the chair and now we are face eachother.

His palms resting on handles of the chair and his eyes gazing into mine.

"And what would you do if I don't stop getting jealous?" He was smirking. I was blushing like an idiot.

I mentally said to myself, I'd kiss you.

"You'd kiss me?" He asked as if reading my mind...or...

"Did I said that out lo..." My lips stopped moving when his lips touched mine, he was quick.

A small peck on my lips made me speechless. And my breathe was caught up on my throat. My eyes can't stop widening and unknowingly my fingers went up to my lips in shock.

This was my first kiss, first kiss ever and it was so unplanned and sudden...but with the right person. It felt great.

He spun the chair back to the position and whispered into my ear, "Will be waiting for you downstairs, don't be late."

He walked towards the door and my eyes followed him, "Now stop getting all excited, it was not even a kiss. Will let you know what an actual kiss is... very soon." He winked and left the room leaving me there all dumbstruck.

I blushed so hard. I looked around the room found no one and now I can show how I felt. I smiled wide showing my 32 in the mirror.

I can't believe my eyes and my ears.
His words ringing in my ears like the tenth time yet I can't stop blushing.

"Oh godddddd! Minal. Stop thinking too much. You've to get ready. He's waiting downstairs for you." I warned myself.

I patted my cheeks to bring down the heat and took a deep breath.

Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.

A knock on the door widened my eyes. He's back? I've got to act normal now. Be you. Be normal. Okay? Okay.

Clearing my throat, " Come in."

I heard the door opened then closed then he locked. My heart skipped a beat.

I didn't dare to look at him even in the mirror. My head was hung. I made up my mind and turning around I told him, "This is the first time you're knocking the doo..." My words lost in my mouth when I saw Tauqeer standing there.

What the hell? Why is he here?

"What are you doing here?" I asked him as I was getting all scared as hell. Suddenly shehryaar's words came to my mind, "Stay away from him".

I stood up and asked, "Why did you locked the door behind? Open it." My tone was quite harsh but to my surprise he didn't get scared.

"What if I Don't?" He smirked.

Ya Allah! What is wrong with him? Shehryaar? Where is he?

SHEHRYAAR'S POV :

I saw fatty already sitting there waiting for us.

"Hey! Where is Bhabi?" She asked as soon as she saw me.

I sat beside her and told her, "She's getting ready...will be here in a minute or two."

"Okay. Umm.. Bhai?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you saw Tauqeer somewhere? He is not picking his calls.."

"Yeah! He told me that he was going to meet his friend. He asked us not to wait for him... he'll be late."

"Oh!"

"It seems like he didn't tell you about it." I teased her. She rolled her eyes.

"Awe...you felt bad.. didn't you?" I winked at her. She narrowed her eyes at me. Then faked a smile. Then turned to her side.

"Hmm...it looks like she's still thinking about it!" I said as I laughed thinking of minal.

Why the hell she's not here yet?

I took my phone out of my pocket and dailed her number.

She didn't picked my call.

Why is she not attending my call?

I dailed and failed again.

May be she's in the washroom.

*5 minutes later*

How long is she taking?

I dailed her number again, it said switched off.

I got a little scared.

May be I should go and check on her.

"Fatty?" I called her who was busy in her phone.

"Wait here I'll go check on your Bhabi." I told her. She nodded.

I left her there. I walked up to the elevator and walked in. I pressed 7 as we are on the seventh floor.

I reached there and walked up to my room. I knock on the door and called out her name. There was no reply.

"Minal? Are you okay?" I asked again.

"Minal? Are you in..." She cut me off and replied, "Shehryaar... help me." Her voice sounded scared.

"Are you okay? Open the door." As I banged the door.

" I can't." She almost cried and it pained my heart. Is she okay?

I banged the door hard. I tried to break the door with my arm and leg but failed. I was getting more scared and scared as I didn't her voice anymore.

I called up the manager and asked him to get the spare key of our room.

"Minal?"

"Minal? Will you please reply? You're getting me worried."

"Minal?" All I heard was her sniffles and that got me scared as hell.

The manager arrived as I told her it's an emergency.

I unlocked the door and hurried in. I found her. She was hugging her knees and crying the heck out of her on the corner of the bed.

I ran up to her.

"What happened?, Are you okay? Why are crying?" I asked worriedly.

She kept on crying. And her hands were shaking.

"God! You're shivering minal. Will you please tell me what happened? You're scarring me?" I grabbed her arms and asked her and suddenly she put her arms around around me and hugged.

She cried for a while. I tried to console her. I rubbed her back and caress her cheeks after wiping the tears away.

"I w-was sc-scared." She was stammering.

"Why? I left you like 15 minutes ago and you were totally fine. What happened? Is Everything okay?" I asked cupping her face.

After a brief minute of silence. She told me, "There was a big lizard there and he came as soon as you left. He scared me and when I called you for help...he..he left from that balcony."

It was unbelievable to my eyes and for my ears.

"A lizard?" I asked her and she nodded.

It almost felt like a lie. The girl I know is not scared of anything but now she's crying over a lizard?

"Do you have phobia of lizard?" I asked her. She nodded. Strange.

I turned to the manager who was standing there.

"How irresponsible of you? You people don't clean the rooms well." I scolded the manager.

"We are sorry sir. We will take care of it properly next time." The manager apologized.

"Forget it. Leave now." The manager left.

"Are you okay now?" I asked her. She nodded.

"Take me home." She said with teary eyes.

MINAL'S POV :

"Are you okay now?" He asked worriedly. I wanted to tell him every thing but I can't.

"Take me home." I pleaded him. I don't wanna stay here. I want to relax. I want to feel normal.

"Okay. First you should rest. We will leave today." He said and handed me a glass of water.

I drank it. He looked at me and I looked at him.

Our eyes met. His eyes questioning me the truth which I don't want him too. I felt like if I stare into them a little bit more he'd definitely know something is wrong what I told him wasn't true. I looked away quickly wiping my tears away.

He took a deep breath. He stood up and slowly carried me in his arms. I looked at him. And wrapped my hands around his neck.

He landed me on his side of the bed. He removed my dupatta and kept aside. He switched on the A/C and pulled a blanket over me. He adjusted my pillow. And all the time I was staring at him and mentally thanking God for making him my soulmate.

He kissed my forehead and asked me to rest and was about to leave when I grabbed his hand. I don't want him to leave. I felt secured and peaceful when he's beside me.

"Where are you going?" I asked him.

"No where. I'll just give a call to fatty. And I'll come back." He said. I left his hand. He walked away.

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep when...

"Don't you dare to spit out a word to your husband. Or you'll regret your whole life and you'll be blaming yourself for his death." His words hurted me so bad that I couldn't resist but to cry.

Why god? Why it has to be me? Why the one I love has to get in danger because of me? Why?

Ramadan Mubarak!

Hope you are all doing fine!

How was the chapter? Hope you like it.

Any guesses about what happened between minal and Tauqeer?

Keep commenting!

Allah Hafiz.

- Mrs.Shehryaar -