Hello beautiful people! 💕

This is a sudden update I know. I kinda vanished I know. Blame the finals for  it. 😌😒

So Star Dazed: Fallen Stars has been updated and consider this as an early Eid gift for you guys. 😘😍 During the last of Ramadan, and the Eid is gonna be super busy for me. Because. Those who are Desis or Brown will understand this when I say that: my dad is the eldest in the family so as a tradition and cultural thing, my Aunts (Phupos) and my uncles (Chachas) with their families will be visiting us on the first day of Eid. Hectic, bruh. I know. 😎

But that doesn't mean you can't contact me  or you can't wish me ( like my birthday or Eid😜😎🙈) whatever you want to say in the comment section below or on my profile page.

You can also follow me on Instagram wardah_mk7

Or on Twitter wardah_mk7

Now read the chapter below❤❤

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Chapter Fifteen

Welcome Homies

(Aayan Aslam)

23rd January

It's funny for as long as I remember that the heavy rain has always been my constant company throughout every situation or even my every mood.

Once, when my O-levels result was about about to be announced and as soon as the page of the browser displaying my name: suddenly there was a thunder followed by downpour. And my result made my mother cry and Fakhir proud.

When Dad and years later when Mum died, that were the worst days of my life, it was raining even then.

Now after midnight, when I'm about to leave Maahirah's house, it started pouring cats and dogs. Her Dad insisted on me staying and without looking at Maahirah, I politely denied. I have already done enough damage to her life in one day and I'm sure she would have had killed me in my sleep if I stayed and didn't give her the privacy she needs.

I stare out the window  from my kitchen that overlooks a wood across the road. I bought a small house in the downtown of the city. It is away from the lub dub of the city, isolated and a bit far.

My mobile on the counter behind me vibrates. I place the cold coffee mug on the window will and turn around to pick it up.

It's a text message from Fakhir.

'Report today.😌'

I scowl at the screen. What is with him and emojis? Can't he end every text with just a punctuation and not some smiley face or the 'I'm-so-cool-emoji.'

I dial his number.

"Why do you use stupid fake faces?" I say when he answers on the first bell.

"What?" He, I assume, is scratching his head.

"Nothing. " I roll my eyes.

"So how did today go?"

"Lame and boring. I don't understand why Mr. Brackson always has to make me the one who has to sacrifice? You can do much better than I'm doing or will do. Make me the substitute. Make me go on a tour. Make me get married to Maahirah and now protect her. What the hell is this all? Why have you been picking me up always?"

My brother hisses. "Don't. Call her Diamond."

I laugh. "Diamond like Hirah?" I double-over. "You're crazy AF."

"Are you drunk or on cigarettes?"

"Shut up, Fakhir. I'm tired. Okay? Tired as shit. I didn't sleep. Because your Diamond is giving me hell of a time. Do me a favor why don't you marry her?"

"Aayan, dude, shut up." Fakhir says with gritted teeth. "What's gotten into you? Why are you seething with negativity? "

"Fine. I need to go." And I cancel the call.

Freaking fool of a brother. The clouds clack outside as if agreeing to what I said.

My phone rings again. I ignore it. It rings. And rings.

When it rings for the third time, I look down at caller ID. Jason Brackson.

Great. Now, I'm screwed.

I answer it. "Hello?"

"Where you been lad?"

"Washroom." I lie when I guess he doesn't sound angry.

"So, how was it today as substitute?"

"It was fine."

"And did you told her about the moving idea?"

"Yes!"

"And, I assume she took it bad."

"Yes." I say, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Oh, it doesn't surprise me." Mr. Brackson sighs. "It's natural for her to strike against it and an equally impulsive thing for you to get angry and hurt. Aseer was right you two are complimentary opposites. Not like Yin and Yang though."

I swallow hard.

"Son, you're the man. You know what is wrong and how things from parallel path can converge at some point. They have been quiet, too quiet and according to my calculations and suspicions the next attack is going to be either at her school or at her home."

I perk up. "Why do you say that?"

He pauses for a long period of time. "Because they left clues and if I solved it correctly the attack will be at her school."

I curse.

"Aayan, I'm sending those clues and some additional messages and certain things along with few of the people we trust. They have been on the journey and will be there at your place soon." He stops. "Meanwhile, find a way to bring Maahirah at your place and a way to send her parents and sister to some far place. Evacuate the house. Keep her away from her family. Also, continue as substitute at school."

"Okay Sir." I close my eyes and rub my temple.

"Son, you're very dear to me as well as to the entire Elton so don't ever degrade yourself in your eyes, for, only you can be your worst enemy. Make us proud." The line cuts off.

*******************

In the morning, I don't wake up to my phone ringing nor to my alarm but instead I'm shaken awake by a loud, pounding noise.

For a second, my groggy mind thinks it's an earthquake but the thought is immediately dismissed when I see nothing vibrating at all. I almost go back to sleep when the noise erupts again.

The door. The main door.

I pull open my bedroom door and race down the stairs wondering what kind of emergency it is.

I unbolt the chain, and draw the door towards me.

"Ages. That's what took you so long?" Destiny enters frowning at me. "Jeez God where is your shirt, pretty  boy?"

"Shirt? What the hell, Destiny? You went crazy ape knocking on my door. I was sleeping for God's sake. And, you cannot live here."

"Why?" She folds her hands. "Sleepyhead and shirtless guy?"

"Stop calling me that, dimwit. This is my house. And you need to leave because I'm not sure Maahirah will like the idea of me living with a girl."

"A very hot girl." She laughs as she circles around my house. Wiping the counter with her finger, she flashes it to my face. "Too much dust. Unwashed dishes. Leftovers in the fridge. Pizza crust on the floor. You need a girl to keep this place human livable." She shrugs.

I take a deep breath. "I'll hire a maid. Now leave. Stay in some hotel or something. But not here."

Just as she opens her mouth, another girl's voice sings in through the main door.

"Aayan." My sister-in-law calls out. "Stop throwing her out of your house."

"Great. Now I've to deal with two females when I couldn't even manage the Halaal one." I throw my hands in the air.

"What needs to be kept Halaal and pure is you wearing a shirt." And, my brother, Fakhir throws it at me. I catch it.

"How many of you are they?" I scowl putting on the shirt.

"Just three more." Destiny bumps her shoulders against me as she goes and stands next to Fadiya.

Second later, Jarred, Ian and Aaron enter all loaded with three, three cartons each.

"All done." Destiny chirps shutting the door.

"Is this some kind of party? Or getaway? Why are you crashing at my place?"

"Dearest brother, we're here to stay because it is the safest and the place we can call home." Fakhir.

"We're here to buck you up." Fadiya.

"To help you on your love life so Maahirah can move here." Destiny.

"Once she moves here we need to discuss our next move." Jarred.

"We've clues to share and stories to tell. A lot has changed since you left Elton." Ian.

"So, let's get started." Aaron.

"Do you want me to call agencies? Because you all are pretty good actors and I can help you all get the fame!" I roll my eyes.

"Also, to help you live like a normal person and not like a superstar." To my utter disbelief, Destiny bends down and grabs her court shoes and flicks it on my forehead.

I sidestep and it hits the wall behind me.

"Welcome," I say with a tight lipped smile, fearing and dreading the worst.

"Not just welcome but Welcome Homies," And Dearest Destiny throws her other shoe at me which strikes me on my torso, catching me by surprise.

*******************

OH EMMM GEEE! THANK YOU FOR  70K READS! <3 I WOULD NEVER EVER  IMAGINE TO REACH THIS FAR. I ALWAYS WANTED TO REACH 1 MILLION BUT HEHE YOU SHOULDN'T DREAM SO BIG BUT I LOVE YA ALL, NEW AND OLD READERS! YOU GUYS ARE MY OXYGEN!

I'll try to upload the next chapter within three four days or if I can't manage it then I'll do it after Eid with a very, very long upload. So, tell me, do you want me to continue with Aayan POV or Maahirah's?

Secondly, my birthday is on 23rd June, if ya all wondering! If you weren't then you can ignore this.

Thirdly, I was thinking of starting a new book after Star dazed, of course. Because within the next ten chapters it will end. How many of you will read though?

Have a blessed Eid in advance. <3

VOTE. COMMENT. LOVE YA ALL,

COMMENT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BECAUSE THEY CHEER ME UP.

-Wardaah <3

PS: THE STORY IS GETTING EXCITING. I CANNOT WAIT TO WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER. MAYBE, A NEW CHAPTER WILL BE UP SOONER THAN YOU EXPECT! <3