The volleyball tryouts were about to start in half an hour, before that Anaisha wanted to ease her nerves. She took with her a packet of cigarettes and walked towards the secluded part of the University ground. As she was about to light her cigarette, she heard muffled sobbing. Anaisha frowned and strode towards the sound that came from behind a pillar in an abandoned block. Cautiously, she peeped and saw a young boy with his back facing her. She immediately recognized the skinny lad.

"Hasan!"

He stopped moving and a moment later he turned around, he was stunned to find Anaisha staring at him. Speedily, he wiped his tears and blew hard into the handkerchief. She blinked in complete shock, looking at his vulnerable state. She took a moment to register that was him. Hasan tried to stand up but struggled because of his broken arm in the sling. Anaisha instinctively held him. He shrugged her hands away.

"What happened? Has someone bullied you? Got into a fight?" She inquired looking at him with concern. She wouldn't be surprised if he had gotten into a fight. With an attitude like his, this was bound to happen. Some day.

"None of your business, your highness." His voice was hoarse. Anaisha clicked her tongue in agitation and grabbed his free arm. Then, she pulled him inside the abandoned block. She made him sit on the dusty ground and sat beside him. After they were settled, she slapped the back of his head.

"Ow!"

"Here, have a smoke and tell me, who hit you this bad?" Anaisha urged him, nudging him with her shoulder. Hasan uncomfortably shifted away from her and shook his head, raising a palm.

"I don't smoke. And I don't need your fake sympathy." He replied, wiping a remnant of tears from the corner of his eyes.

Anaisha shrugged, placing a cigarette in between her lips. Hasan frowned and before she could light it, he snatched it and threw it.

"Hey!"

"I hate you bullies. You guys think that—there is no difference between you and Zahir?" He blurted out.

"Zahir?"- Anaisha repeated recollecting if she knew someone by that name, - "Zahir Minhaj, our senior. Did he bully you?"

Hasan scoffed, - "Zahir my elder brother. Just like how you display your money power and bully people lesser than you, he flaunts his muscle power to subdue his wife."

Anaisha shifted, leaning closer but he moved away again, - "His wife, your Bhabhi? You are crying for her?"- She was amused knowing he was crying his eyes out for someone else.

"Yes. I am close to her, like a friend. But—", - he pointed a finger at her, - "I won't say brother-sister because I can befriend with her without being sibling-like or romantic." He angrily looked away. Anaisha realized, now he was opening up and so she poked him further.

"So? Why are crying for her?"

"Because I have basic human decency."- He puffed his chest, - "I don't take sadistic pleasure in beating my wife to a pulp, breaking her ribs and throwing her in hospital and, and—", his voice trailed off as more tears began to flow. The painful lump in his throat made it difficult for his speech to come out. Anaisha looked at him in awe as he ranted.

Hasan gulped hard and angrily wiped his tears, - "I am ashamed that he is my brother and moreover my parents are not interfering saying its matter of "husband and wife". I say NO, it is a matter of being human. Frustrated, I complained to police and this, this is what I got in return."- He pointed at his sling and huffed.

Anaisha smirked, - "Good! After a night at the Police Station and getting trashed there, he will come to his senses." She gave a heavy pat on his shoulder making him stumble forward.

After straightening in his place, Hasan scoffed.

"Yeah, not when he could bribe them, and you know the latest news?"- He shifted to look at her and she shook her head - "He is planning to get married again. This wife is in the hospital and he is planning to marry. Because of society, it is going to be a hush affair, else. I am frustrated that mom is over-excitedly looking for another alliance. Everyone is presuming that Sehrish will not survive. Seriously? And his child, Yakub, who by the way is just one, has been handed to his maternal grandparents." Hasan had given up hiding his angry tears or his vulnerability. Anaisha was speechless.

"Now, you tell me what am I supposed to do?"

"Woah!"- She shifted her legs closer to her chest, - "I guess you should—pray?" She shrugged.

Hasan clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes, - "Being an atheist you are suggesting me this? Of course, I am making duas for her. Anything else?"

Anaisha leaned closer, - "So, you were crying for your Bhabhi. This badly?" She admired him. The spotlight of the sun from the window shone over him and she took in his features. His face round with small brown eyes that brimmed with tears and beautiful cupid bow's lips. She licked her lips and looked up at her face. His face was radiant and complexion fair.

"Yes, is it hard to understand. Haven't you seen a boy crying before?"

"No! Not for someone else." Anaisha said, transfixed on him. Hasan shook his head, waving his hand, and struggled to stand up. She quickly helped him, and he muttered thanks.

"I will think of a solution for you. Till then, come, watch me participate in volleyball tryouts." She tugged his arm. Hasan jerked his hand from her.

"What will I do in girl's try out?"

"Watch girls in shorts."- She winked at him.

"And why will I watch that? I am not interested."

"In a woman?"

"Please, your highness." He scowled, shaking his head. Anaisha burst out laughing. After her laughter died out, she nudged his hip,

- "There is someone you will be interested in. Trust me." She grabbed his arm again and despite his protests, she rushed out the block with him.

Hasan had expected the stadium to be empty and that he will be the only stupid one. But he was shocked to find a few boys present. He sat next to a group of seniors and noticed Anaisha's girlfriends sitting in the next row. They had sports drink in their hands and were chatting excitedly.

Soon, there was a sound of a whistle and few girls gathered on the ground. There were cheers from the boys as Anaisha walked to the ground. Hasan was flabbergasted to see her in a pink half-sleeve top and black shorts, shorts that exposed her long wheatish legs. Some boys even whistled at her. He frowned at them.

"Man! Anaisha is so hot."

"Whether seniors or junior everyone wants their hands on her."

Hasan cringed and stood up. Then, he occupied a lonely seat. He wondered why he was staying here. Then, he saw someone that made him root on spot.

Sanam!

Sanam was among the girls trying out for volleyball. She was dressed in a loose full sleeve T-shirt with baggy black pants and black hijab. Hasan relaxed in his seat, admiring her. She was a modern girl yet grounded to her roots. He was already drawn towards her because of her modesty and now he was even attracted to her. Contrasting to Anaisha, who was shamelessly showing off her legs. Hasan looked away from her. Now, that he has Sanam to admire.

The Referee divided the girls into two groups. Sanam and Anaisha were on the same team. Before the game began, Anaisha loosened her arms and looked towards the audience. There were restless murmurs amongst the boys. She scanned her gaze through them all and paused as she looked at Hasan. There was a scowl on his face that made her smile. It seemed that was his forever expression. She looked away and accidentally hit someone; she muttered a sorry. Sanam and Anaisha exchanged a smile.

"All the best." She muttered.

"Same to you." Sanam smiled at her.

Then there was a whistle from the referee and the game began.

Many times, Hasan felt guilty for staring at girls wearing shorts and kept wandering his gaze from time to time. But he couldn't resist looking at Sanam. Every time, he began to admire her Anaisha would come in between, unintentionally of course. And that every time, his smile would turn into a frown.

The rival team slapped the ball, Sanam leaped to hit the ball back but Anaisha stepped in and the girls collided. Sanam lost her balance and fell to the ground. Anaisha gasped covering her mouth with both her hands. Sanam winced clenching her arm.

"Are you okay?" Anaisha tugged her hair behind her ears and kneeled beside her. Hasan stood up in his seat as well and looked on with concern.

"I am—fin—"

"No, you are not. Come I will take you to the doctor." Anaisha interrupted her. Coach and Referee didn't let her go with her friend and Sanam assured her that she will be okay. Before going she motivated her and hoped she gets selected. Anaisha smiled and the two girls hugged, Sanam hugged her with one arm. Coach Komal Sinha escorted her out of the ground.

Anaisha let out a heavy breath and looked ahead, - "Focus on your game, girls." Roared Referee Gopal Singh and everyone gathered for the game. Anaisha glanced at the stadium and noticed Hasan was missing. She felt a strange sinking feeling upon realizing he must have left for Sanam. She frowned, shaking her head, and forced herself to look away. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Hasan hesitated as he stood at the entrance, peeking, and watching the doctor attend Sanam. After they checked her arm and he wrote down something, passing her the prescription. Sanam nodded gratefully and turned towards the door. Hasan quickly turned, pressing himself against the wall. Sanam passed by him and gasped feeling someone stand at the door.

"Um, sorry."- Hasan apologized. Sanam looked relieved and smiled a little, then she frowned looking at his arm in the sling.

"How is your arm?" He asked. Sanam walked up to him.

"My arm is fine. Just a sprain. A doctor has given me an ointment."- She looked at his arm and then at him again, - "What happened to your arm? James had said you had gone to Delhi. Is everything alright?"

Hasan's heart fluttered at the thought that Sanam was thinking about him, - "Actually, it is a long story."

Sanam smiled, - "I have time. Let us sit outside in the campus ground." She urged him and Hasan felt as though he had begun to fly. Instantly he agreed.

Hasan and Sanam sat under a banyan tree. He narrated everything, and she was stunned. He noticed tears glistening in his eyes and he felt touched. She was so empathetic. Everything about her, screamed in his head that he was falling in love with her. Perhaps, he was already in love with her. That moment, Hasan wished the legal age for a boy's marriage were eighteen as well.

He sighed sadly.

"Don't be upset, Hasan. I will pray for Sehrish Bhabhijaan." She said with sincerity and Hasan felt her heartfelt condolences. And he liked how she referred to Sehrish in a very intimate way like she was her family as well.

"Do you have any solution?" Hasan blinked softly at her. Sanam looked clueless. She shrugged, moving her hand towards him but retracted. They passed an awkward smile.

"When nothing is in our hands, prayer is the only solution. I suggest you pray night prayer. That is the time duas are accepted." She encouraged him. Hasan nodded and muttered words of gratitude.

Someone is developing something for someone ;) and there is a love story brewing *smiles* What do you guys think?

How was the chapter, my lovelies? Drop your thoughts in the comments, please *smiles* and Stay Tuned for the next update *lots of love* *hugs and kisses*