Dedicated to everyone of you, who patiently for the updates. I love you. ❤❤❤

Most of you requested a chapter with Aayan's POV ...especially SapphireCrystal_28   :* so Here it is...!

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'Do you like her?' He is asking me suddenly.

'I don't know." I reply immediately.

'Theeeeen, do you love her?'

I mentally scowl at my brother and picture the joy of killing him. 'I don't know.'

'What do you know?' He snatches the ball from my hand, annoyed.

'That I need to protect her. Yes. I only know this.'

-Aayan Aslam, SD.

Chapter Thirty One

~~Aayan Aslam~~

Bounce. Grip. Air. Loop.

Bounce. Grip. Air. Loop.

Bounce. Grip. Air. Loop.

Bounce. Grip. Air. Loop.

I chant in my head as I bounce the ball twice, get a grip on it, then toss it in the air, aiming it for the basket loop.

This is what I have been doing for the past thirty minutes. Focusing only on the ball and the basket. Nothing else. Not thinking about Mum. Training. Danger. Chores. Inayah. Maahirah.

Yes. Maahirah. Her. She. Has. Been. In. My. Head. Ever. Since. She. Walked. In. My. Life.

Where do I start or where do I end? I have no idea.....

"Hey little bro." The ball is snatched from my hands.

I close my eyes and concentrate on breathing, in slowing down the lethal anger burning in my veins, arteries, capillaries -- in my blood.

The rage subsides with me scowling at Fakhir.

"Why are you here?"

He takes his sweet time in replying me by showing off his basket-ball skills. He gracefully shots the ball in the loop and turns to look at me with a satisfactory grin, the ball locked between his arm.

"Just saw you playing freaking badly so I decided to train you by showing you how to play." He winks. "Here, get it." He aims the ball at me, I grab it.

"I'm just killin' time." I bounce the ball and throw it above his head, earning a score.

"Impressive," Fakhir compliments.

I roll my eyes. "What do you want?"

He remains silent. I watch his face holding a grim, serious expression.

"Do you like her?"

My heart picks up the pace. "Who?" Even though I know who.

"Maahirah, you dummy."

"I don't know." I stare at the ball.

"Theeen do you love her?"

I mentally scowl at my brother and imagine the joy of killing him. "I don't know."

"What do you know?" Annoyed, he kicks the ball out of my hand. It bounces ringing around the field, as it repeatedly hits the ground. For a second, I focus only on the bouncy, energetic ball until all its ATPs are absorbed by the ground and it stops few feets away from us -- drained out of energy, almost dead. Right now, I felt like a dead ball.

I look away from the ball and glance at my patient brother.

"I want to protect her. That's all I know." I say quietly, afraid that my own words will betray me.

Northern wind blows, carrying my words away with it.

"Aayan," Fakhir says. "I've seen you two. And I have no idea, where you two are gonna go with this...unstable relationship. Bro, I need you to give this a try. Stay by her side. Impress her with tiniest possible words or things. Words, no matter, how big or small will always hold a meaning for anyone. And Subhan'Allah,  believe me, this is gonna be the most beautiful journey."

I make a sour face as my eyes tear open, or I rather force myself to bring an end to the connection of the world of past. My brain had pulled up the convo I earlier had with Fakhir this morning.

I stare at the ceiling. I'm lying on my back, my arm resting behind my head as I recall today morning.

Try? I have been trying but she keeps pushing me away. She won't talk to me and draw conclusions herself. I hide stuffs to protect her and to let her know them when the time is right but she doesn't get this point.

Maahirah....

There is a soft knock on the door. I'm confused. Who will be at the door at mid-evening?

"C'mon." I stay glued to my bed.

The door opens and in walks her. I quickly sit up straight, completely shocked on her arrival. She lifts her head and her eyes bulge out. Blushing scarlet, seconds later, she looks away.

Again, it takes seconds, for my brain to register the reason for her flushing face.

"Sorry," I say as
I jump off the bed, looking for my shirt.

"Um, ah, I can...come back later..."

"No. It's fine." I sweep my gaze wildly around my neat and tidy room in hope that I threw my shirt somewhere on the couch, corner of the bed, anywhere.

"I'm sorry. I should have had let you change."

To my dismay, I don't find it anywhere. I tilt my head, slightly as the door knob twists and her words seep in my head.

"Wait." I call out. She doesn't turn around.

I walk up to my closet, and pick out a white V-neck. Slipping it on, I shut the door and make her twirl so she is facing me.

"Have a seat." I gesture at the couch.

Almost hesitantly she steps forward, then, I don't know, what thought blooms in her mind, she recoils back, shaking her head.

I clench my fists. Gritting my teeth, I say. "How can I help you?"

Maahirah takes her time in answering me. Her eyes roam wildly around my room. I wait for her to say something.

When she doesn't, I speak up. "Why are you here? I'm sure you are not here to convince your message to the  walls. Because I do think you know this that they can't respond."

She snaps to look at me. Her eyes glowing with anger. And, I know, I just know, I have touched a soft spot.

"Yes. Aayan. I'm very well aware of the fact that walls don't talk. However, they do listen, unlike you."

"What?" Even though I feel angry at her but I don't raise my voice. "Excuse me? You build walls around yourself, not me."

"You told mum what I was upto!"

I shrug, nonchalantly. "Yes. I did. So she can increase the security and your stupid plan of saving Justin will be flopped."

She smirks. "It is not gonna be flop Aayan. It is still under-process."

A shiver runs down my spine. Fear lights up in me like the fireworks in the sky. She is capable of so many things and it terrifies me. Blinded. She gets blinded when it comes to save a life. She will go at any extent to save them. Shaking with fear, I turn away. A plan comes in my head.

"Do what you want to." I say.

"What?" She gusts the word out when I face her.
"Yes. Do whatever the  hell you wanna do."

"You gave in?"

"Yes." I know my strategy is working. I try my best to trap her.

"But...!"

I cut her off. "But, what, Maahirah? Isn't this what you wanted? To live on your own will, to allow you whatever you wanna do. And, now, when I finally give in, yoh question my decision."
She stares at me.

"You don't understand how hard it is to sleep at night when the guilt burns in your veins that someone is captivated because of you." Tears build up in her turquoise huge eyes.

My heart clenches at her sight. Forgetting my plan of trapping her, I say."I will make a promise to you if you make a promise to me.'

"What?"

"I will do all my best to set Justin free as long as you promise to stay out of it." I declare.

She thinks for a while. "I will promise to stay out of it. But, I won't promise to not help you. I will help you."

I nod. She won't have any idea about what I'm up to. Or maybe she will.

My phone rings as she opens her mouth to say something. I look at the caller's ID. Fakhir.

I frown at it. Swiping it, I bring my phone to my ear.

"Hello."

"Aayan. Mum." He wheezes.

***********

Salam. I'm back. Alhamdolillah. This chapter wasn't that great. Was it? But i tried my best.

BELATED EID MUBARAK. HOW WAS YOUR EID? My Eid was awesome :)

Leave your votes. Comments. And ugh i will get back to your messages in few days. Give me time fellas.