•IF ONLY ONLINE
SHOPPING BURNED CALORIES•

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"He's here!"

Her hijab flew behind her as she pace down on the curve stairs dashing with more then average speed, her hand trailed on the banister as the smile was no where near to leave her lips, Dramatically.

The glint in her eyes sparks like the brightest star in a dark night, the footsteps against the stairs with clap sounds made it evident that her steps are taking to the point of life she wished for.

It felt surreal and ever so slow, just how it appears in movies.

Until.

She slipped the last stair that made her kiss the hard floor marbled floor, winching as she rubbed her knee and elbow soothing it, she looked side ways and saw her brother rush to her resulting her to make a annoyed face.

"Zawal! I LITERALLY FELT THE EARTH SHAKEN, EVERY THING IN THE KITCHEN WAS SHAKING! OMG I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EARTH QUAK- Oh is it because you just fell? I-"

"Dafa Ho Yaar, Zaviyaar!"
(Get Lost, Zaviyaar!)

On the cue, the door bell rang again breaking the trance of Zaviyar laughter and Zawal's incoherent words.

"I'm sure, it must the neighbours from a floor below." Zaviyaar said fetching out his hand for his sister in helping to stand up, which she did and rolled her amber eyes.

"The floor below is vacant these days, Loser brother."

"Yeah whateva, I'll be in washroom."

"Told you not to stuff too much ju-" The doorbell again interrupted Zawal's sentence, who looked at the door with heart eyes as if her only 'Love' was on the other side of the door.

Zaviyaar made a face and walked upstairs leaving her to meet the moment she was waiting for.

She held the door handle after unlocking it, taking a deep breath to compose her excitement and giddy self.

Zawal grinned widely to herself when she thought how long she waited for this.

The door flew open that made him glanced up from the phone held in his left hand and a medium size package in other hand.

Her amber orbs with glint of green specks always shone a different bright glint that can make up to any gloomy weather in few seconds.

Those amber eyes met his smokey grey ashes that lit up hues of fire flame which holds the power to warm any stormy nights.

Their eyes clashed against each other freezing every moment around them, the air gushed at the floor spreading the wind that flew within the hold of different people, emotions, stories, feelings, a moment like never before, Unknowingly.

She openly gawked The Delivery Guy wearing a jet black knitted warm sweater with grey trackpants beneath, paired with Nike flipflops and a black band stylish wrapped in his right wrist.

Flip-flops? Seriously
Neend me se uth ke delivery dene toh nai agaya yeh!?
Itne kya paise ki zarurat hai!?
Lekin!
HAYE! Itna pyaara-!

(Is he out for delivery right after he awoke from his sleep? Is he's really in need of money!?
But, So Charm-)

Ahem..Shush you Heart!

"$100 Ma'am."

"What! I already did the payment!"

❛I'll be going to charge you extra ,if you gawk me like that.❜

❛Only if you want to get a hit on your head with my brand new shoe.❜

His smirk dropped at at her words as he stared her smirking face in amusement and surprise, before he could vocalise his words another voice jumped in.

"Zamar, What are doing here!?" Zamar along with Zawal looked over his shoulder to see.

His best friend was standing by his side confusion written all over his face.

"Umm.. Zaryaab, I-uh-"

"There's a bathroom available on the 1st floor parking, you may use if you want." Zawal dryly said when she noticed Zamar's weird force smile while now he stood confused.

"Sorry but your expression said that, Constipation problem or something." Zawal said that left Zaryaab in uncontrollable fits.

Zamar pursued his lips tightly against each other and gave a 'lame' look to Zawal, getting a casual shrug in return.

"Anyways, hand me my package." Zawal said scrunching her face a little not being friendly to the familiar strangers.

"I'm sure we never met before but you seem familiar." Zawal examined the guy Zaryaab, who said narrowing his eyes as if recollecting something.

Black sweatpants paired with white full sleeve plain tee and same nike flipflops and messy hair as Zamar.

Zaryaab stood with the Starbucks order held in his hand which he quickly hid behind him when Zawal was kinda peeking to see the order.

"Aye, don't look at my Starbucks like that, it's for my lovely wife and answer me did we meet before?" Zaryaab's frown made Zawal chuckle lightly and shook her head at him.

Whereas Zamar stood staring at her breathtaking face with that black hijab.

Perfectly wrapped around her head which she paired with grey shirt dress and black jeans, he realised they were coincidentally twinning.

"I don't remember meeting you once or this delivery guy over here." He looked away clearing his throat when he noticed himself doing something she was, a while before.
Shamelessly Gawking.

"Huh! Delivery Guy? You mean Zam-"

"Whose at the door Zawal?"

Zaryaab was interrupted when the trio heard a voice coming from Zawal's side that made guys look at each other.

"The Delivery Guy Zavy."

Zaryaab threw a explanation look to Zamar, when Zamar passed a secret eye message under his affirmative blink of his explanation.

"Oohkay Sunset."

Zaviyaar's shouting voice from inside fell upon their ears making the best friend have a eye contact with they eyes narrowed as the frown deepen.

"What? You want me to give you a live feedback or something. Wait, He's The Delivery Guy but who are you, with him?"

Zawal said when she saw the two, still standing at front of the door in the silent hallway of the luxury apartment.

Instead of answering her questions, Zamar examined the silver black rectangular elegantly craved name plate.

Iyad's.

Zaviyaar Iyad
&
Zawal Iyad.

His beautiful grey eyes spread wide as the name ringed the loud bells in his mind, hitting a sense called realisation.

"I think you misunderstood him, Zama-"

"Yes! I'm The Delivery Guy and he's my driver I mean he drives me to places I need to ship amd deliver the package als-"

"Zamar." Zaryaab said as he saw how Zamar was hastily explaining her something which actually made no sense.

Along with Zawal who was also seeing Zamar with wide confused eyes and a weird look.

"Yeah Zamar, that would be me! Anyways we'll take a leave, enjoy your aa-order Za-Imean Ma'am!"

With those hastily spoken words, Zamar rushed off the corridor of the luxury apartment with Zaryaab tug along.

As Zawal saw them getting in the elevator and hastily pressing any button they found or she that's what she thought.

Weirdo.

Closing the door with a soft thud and a confuse state of mind, her eyes fell on the package in her hands bringing back all the excitement and happiness she was waiting for.

"Why are you grinning at the package like a strewpid." Glancing up at Zaviyaar's voice, her wide grin fell for a second as she again pulled up a grin reaching her eyes.

Plopping in the couch beside him with the same stupid grin and the delivered package close to chest.

The bright glint in her amber-green eyes that made Zaviyaar looked at her in weird and suspicious way.

"What are thoooooose?" Zaviyaar said getting the package from Zawal who was still grinning widely as ever.

Raising an eyebrow in suspicion, he started to unpack it followed by unboxing the box underneath the package.

"Heels, MANOLO BLAHNIK HEELS!"

"Toh? Hai kitne ka yeh?"
(So, For how much are this?)
He said turning around the box searching for a way to unbox it meanwhile she shoved his black card in front of him that made Zaviyaar raise his eyebrows.

"$1,500 only!"

"$1,500 ONLY!? DUDE, THAT'S A LOT FOR A PAIR OF SHOE, Return it." He said as he tore the seals away and eyeing the heels.

Beautiful blushy red satin pumps glistening within the box as bright as the spark in Zawal's eyes, who was currently busy aweing the heels.

"Aye! No, These are the first ever heels I took seriously and I wanted it to be special!"

"Fine! But I'm saying you these are too much for a legit pair of shitty heels, isse accha kuch khane ke liye bahar chale jatte,huh."
(Would have gone out to eat something better than this, huh.)

Shoving the heels box in her lap and snatching his card, again mumbling about wasting money on footwear rather then food.

Zaviyaar strolled to the kitchen to feed himself with something better.

"Let's get one for your girl, what say?" Zawal yelled behind from the living room couch at Zaviyaar who answered back from the kitchen.

"No, Zaira would rather waste that money with me on food, something worth you know!"

❖❖❖

"How can he cheat on Zaira!?"

"You must have misunderstood, maybe that was some other Zaviyaar!" Zaryaab reasoned with half suspicion to Zamar.

Zamar was hundred percent sure that it was the same Zaviyaar, they knew.

"Zaviyaar? The university guy? The one who was with you guys?"

"Yeah Zaarnish Bhabs, the same Zaviyaar Iyad, Our university best friend."

Zamar, Zaryaab and Zaryaab's wife Zaarnish were currently sitting on the dining table of tge couple's penthouse.

In the same building as the Iyad's.

"I don't think Zaviyaar can cheat on Zaira, he said he loved her dearly, remember?" Zaryaab said sipping his coffee whilst Zaarnish nodded in agreement.

"No Bro! Didn't you see the girl! Who took the order? What's her nam-! SHE MUST BE HIS WIFE."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Umm.. I've a feeling?"

"Stating that or Doubting that? Whateva it is, I don't think she must be her wife, also remember he has a sister."

Zaarnish said fixing her already fixed hijab as she stood up and took the used plates walking in kitchen.

"He has a sister?"

"Yeah, he rarely use to mention her." Zaryaab said and nodded doubtfully making Zamar confuse too.

"Wait! Wasn't she married? Yeah she was!..... I guess." Zamar said trying to solve the puzzle in his mind.

"His sister is married!?" Zaarnish said as she walked out of the kitchen and stood beside Zaryaab's chair leaning on her hand.

"I didn't know she was married? What's her name though?"

"I hardly remember Zaviyaar mentioning her, Zaryaab. Naam kaha se yaad karru?"
(Where do you remember the name?)

"The girl, Zawal, jiski tumlog baat karahe ho, woh hosakti haina uski behan, Nai?"
(The one you are talking about could be his sister, right?)

"We have no idea Zaarnish, they're chances you are right and so is Zamar's doubtful points."

"I'VE A PLAN!" Zamar loudly said which made the couple raise their eyebrows at him as if asking what it is.

"You guys shifted here 2 days back, and I did today morning. Zaarnish bhabs don't you want to meet your neighbours and make friends in this new city, ahan?"

Zaarnish thought for a second while Zaryaab was looking up to his beautiful spouse as he have no idea what Zamar's trying to implement.

"You want me to go meet her as I'm new here and have a friendship with her and indirectly find out who she is?"

"Yup, You and your beloved idiotic Zawj!"

Zaryaab frowned at Zamar, who was grinning with hope in his eyes, his adorned frown disappeared as another doubtful thought hit his mind.

"Why are you so desperate to know who she is, huh Mars?" Zaryaab said rising from his seat and eyed Zamar with a hidden mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Um..aa.. Z-Zaviyaar's my best friend a-and I need to know how's he doing, with wh-whom."

"Ahaan? I doubt that."

"I very well know what's cooking your harami mind, You Kuttey." Zamar said rolling his smokey grey orbs at Zaryaab who returned a evil mischievous grin.

"C'mon let's go."

"Abhi? It's early after'noon?"

"Yeah, let's do it quickly." Zamar said nodding his head at Zaarnish, who casually shrugged in agreement.

"He's saying that because he wants to see her again! Bwahahah.." Zaryaab said and ran upstairs to his room as if saving himself from Zamar.

Zamar muttered a incoherent word at Zaryaab and slouched on the couch waiting for the couple so that they leave together.

He was already dressed, he changed before coming at Zaryaab's huge penthouse.

The sleeves of his black shirt perfectly rolled up matching with his black wrist watch along with the bracelet in his right wrist.

Impatiently drumming his fingers on his denim cladded thighs as his black boots tapped tapped the floor.

"Chal bhai, besabr insaan."
(Come on Bro, impatient soul.)

Zamar rolled his eyes and stood up and left the pent house with the couple.

"Zamar, why don't you get something sweet for them. We're going for the first time, khali hath jainge?"
(Will we go empty handed?)

Zamar first gave a poker face to Zaarnish as he was already impatient nonetheless nodded with a crying face.

"You guys leave, I'll get it right there." He said and rolled his eyes at Zaryaab wiggling his eyebrows.

"You probably want to see her again."

"Nah, I just wish to make her day with my alluring sight."

❖❖❖

"I didn't order anything to eat, But glad you're here, We've unwelcomed guest."

Zawal had guest come over few minutes ago but here was another door bell with a guy with a package at her door step.

"I understand you're The Delivery Guy, but do you also deliver food? Noice."

"I'm not The Delivery Guy but a guest at your doorstep right now."

"Guest?" Zawal rose her eyebrow at Zamar, The Delivery Guy, who nodded with a shrug.

"Yes, Zamar Alyan. I shifted on the flat under yours, Floor One."

Her mouth formed in an 'O' and she nodded looking at the box of delightful Rasmalai.

Zamar followed her eyes while a small smile crept up his lips for no reason, which he was quick to wipe away.

"I might hand the Rasmalai to you once you invite me in, will you?"

"Nah, I'm not thaaat fond of Rasmalai, so Yallah byee."

"Sure? There's Gulab Jamun too......Its okay if you don't want, I gueeess the lift is thaaat waa-"

"Arre! Bahar kyu ruka hai aapne, ander ayye, mehmaan hai! Aaye Aaye."
(Hey! Why are you still outside, come in already, you are a guest! Come on in.)

Zawal held the door wide open for Zamar to enter, who deeply chuckled behind her and followed.

Zamar pulled out his black solid parka jacket and hung it on the stand beside the door, the jacket Zawal was swooning over.

She was thankful that there was a girl as her guest too.

"Yo Mars, you're here finally, took you quite long." Zaryaab, the guest, said when he saw a nervous Zamar entering with Zawal.

Giving the sweet box to Zaarnish as she ordered, Zamar sat on the lush single sofa beside Zaryaab's love seat while Zawal set herself on the arm chair beside Zaarnish.

"This is for you." Zaarnish said with a smile and passed the sweets to Zawal, who took it as if she didn't notice the package for all this time.

"Oh! Thank you so much! I was really craving for this, I'll get you something." Zawal beamed and left the kitchen not before giving a grateful grin to Zaarnish.

"Shhs, did you hear? She said she's having cravings, if you know what I mean." Zaarnish dramatically whispered as she leanes towards Zaryaab, who rolled his eyes at his spouse.

Zamar took a second and understood what his law sister said and dramatically nodded in agreement.

"You guys are going crazy, just ask her right away when she's back."

Zaarnish and Zamar made a face at Zaryaab and sat up straight when Zawal entered the living room.

She set the tray of juice and few other snacks and sat back on her seat not before serving them.

"So you guys know each other?" Zawal asked Zaarnish eyeing Zaryaab and Zamar, who was having a eye talk.

"Yeah, Zaryaab and Zamar were university mates and best friends ever since, they had another best friend too, but he left the university without any notice."

"Left the university? Without any notice? Didn't you try to find him? Social media? Contact?"

"Nope, he deleted his every social media account and we didn't have any contact details of his family or any source from England, the country he left for." Zamar said taking a sip of his juice after munching a cookie.

"Oh'Kay, he must be having an explanation, I've a feeling."

The trio guest glanced at each other and then back to Zawal with an awkward silence between them.

"How did you meet him, your spouse!?" Zawal excitedly asked Zaarnish, who was quite amused back at sudden question.

Zamar saw the glint of excitement in her beautiful amber eyes as she leaned with her face cupped in her hands and elbows resting on her knees.

"Umm.. He was university mate too, I was his junior and he eventually made out falling for me with a proposal to my parents, it's been 6 months to our wedding, Allahumdullilah."

The hues of red twinkle upon Zaarnish cheeks as she narrated their story shortly which also made Zaryaab proudly smile and Zamar pulled up a gagging expression.

"That's cute, You didn't find anyone there? Which university by the way?" Zawal strode her question to Zamar, who casually shrugged in return.

"University of Toronto, and no I didn't find the one, I'm looking for."

"Ahaaaan, you thought she must be in England and shifted here?"

"Nah, or Maybe."

Zawal rolled her eyes and turned towards Zaarnish with a small smile on her perfect lips.

"What did you pursue? Do you live here alone? How old are you?If you don't mind me asking that-"

Zaryaab squeezed Zaarnish's hand to stop her non-stop question to which she guilty muttered something under her breath.

"Gosh! Looks like you guys brought a proposal for me....Anyways, no I don't mind.

I'm 23, was an Computers and Art student but I was more interested in blogging amd stuff, so yeah I'm a lifestyle blogger now with all his love and support, he never really restricted anything to me. Allaahumdullilah."

"Blogger? Do you even get paid?" Zamar enquired leaning forward in curiosity.

"Yup I do, every click gets me paid."

"Wow! How does it work?"

"Google it Zamar Alyan." Zawal playfully rolled her eyes at him, who masked a poker face and sat straight ignoring the skipping series of his heart beats at his name.

"I love reading blogs! What's your blogs about? Also what's your blog name?" Zaarnish excitedly asked which made Zawal and Zaryaab give her a amused look.

"It's Sunset's Secrets."

"Su--OMG! I READ THOSE EVERY WEEEKK! I CANT BELIEVE ITS YOU! I'M GLAD I MET YOU IN A PERSON."

"Is she going crazy?" Zamar asked Zaryaab who was taken back at his wife sudden excitement, his wife who was hugging the life out of Zawal.

"I don't know, I guess her blogs are something Zaarnish's always reading and scrolling, God! I'm jealous already!"

Zamar snickered at his best friend's jealousy and took his eyes to Zawal who was talking to an excited Zaarnish.

She didn't feel unknown to him instead he felt that he knew her yet Zamar have no idea about her.

His heart was going frenzy everytime their eyes meet, everytime she speaks directly to him, which wasn't much.

His heart drived wild whenever she laughed and he have no clue why was his own heart also mind is betraying him.

She was stuck in his thoughts as it drove his mind round the bend and all way back.

"You live here all alone?" Zaarnish's voice fell upon his ears bringing him back to the world.

The most awaited question was finally here and the answer was something they were here for.

"Ah No, I don't live alone, In fact he'll be here in few minutes."

"He, who?" Zamar asked with a raised eyebrow with all his attention on Zawal, who furrowed her eyebrows but nonetheless answered.

"He. My one and onl-"

"Assalamualikum Sunset! I'm hoomeeeee!" Zaviyaar's booming voice from the main door reached them that made Zawal smile gracefully.

The trio guest looked each other, their beautiful eyes wide at the voice, which was way familiar to them.

"He's here."

♣︎♣︎♣︎

AYYEEEE HAPPPPIEIEIEIEEEEEEE BUDDUUU CHILDHOOD BUDDIEEEEE
ApseyMatlab

YO MANH YO MAH BRUH!

KASKCKDKXDKDK
SHAWARMA, MEHREEN, HAAFIEE DAFFIEE, TASTELESS CHOCOLATE!--
KITTI JALDI BADI HOGAI TU, DEKHTE DEKHTE! 😭♥️
.. Ahem Ahem..
THODE DIN ME CHALE JATI APNE GHAR!
Not At All Bichara Jeejs!
*beep beep*

MAI NAHI HOTTA TOH PATA NAI KAISA BORING BACHPAN JATTA THA TERA!--
Bass abb bohat hogaya.

Back to the istory!

Fun Fact : Every name in this book will be starting with the alphabet Z, cause why not.

Also the author loves that alphabet and No, I don't have a specific reason behind it.

-MaLiha Mirza.