#FewWords
Mend your broken ties with your family and loved ones. Don't wait any longer. It's so much easier to call and speak to them over the phone than it is to cry out to them while staring at a gravestone

Recap
"Work?...hmm... yeahh" she stuttered shyly

"Come on bro, let's go to the...hmm... to"

"Let's hug" Jackson helped him and this time the three of them laughed out loud because what he said was totally off.

"Have a good time" he walked to his room and left them in the parlor

Chapter Thirty Four
Third Person's POV
The students had their last paper and the screams they made immediately they stepped out of the hall were scary.

"I'm so happy, at least I'll sleep peacefully today"

"I'm gonna sleep for 3 days non stop"

"I'm done with everything!"

Comments like these just filed in the air.

Nasir and Jackson were walking looking for Hammad.

"You know what bro" Jackson started a conversation

"What's up" Nasir said

"You and Salma?" Jackson smiled at him

"Yeahh, what about us?" He asked as if he didn't even get what Jackson was talking about

"You like her?" Jackson raised his eyebrow

"Yeah, he does" Hammad chipped and fist bumped the two of them

"How do you guys want to assume that I do?" He asked them

"You once said..." Jackson started listing a few things

"You once told us that everything about her is perfect and blah blah blah" Hammad snapped his fingers

"And you are still asking me if I like her or not? I fucking do!" He raised his voice

"Calm down lover boy" they all laughed at his reaction

"I like her, I don't know why and how I like, the thing getting me scared is falling for her" he complained as they still walked

"Let's go to my car" Jackson said

"It depends on the meaning of falling in love..." Hammad weirdly said when Nasir kept mute for some seconds

"Hm, listen, don't talk, allow the experienced fellow to talk" Jackson dusted his shoulder

"The fuck!" Nasir raised his eyebrow playfully

"Listen, the last time this guy had a relationship was plenty years ago" Jackson said

"Yeahh, it's true"  Hammad clarified

"Hmm, same here" Nasir said

"And I think Salma has never gotten into one so everything will be odd and new for her" Jackson thought

"How's your leg?" Hammad, by this time they were in the car already

"It's healing already" he bent down to look at it, his leg was getting better as he wasn't even using crutches, but he limps

"That's okay"

"I'm not really sure, sometimes I just want to be around her, just completely enjoy her company. I like how she talks, walks, I like how shy she is...I like everything about her..."

"... sometimes you just feel like hugging her but it's Haram" Jackson completed Nasir's sentence

"Haha, how did you know?" Hammad chuckled

"Being in a such a situation but mine wasn't real, it was just an obsession..." Jackson said

"Exactly! That's what's getting  me fucked up!" He looked out of the window

"I get, you are scared if it's just an obsession, right? Hammad asked and Nasir nodded

"Guys, change of topic, my brother Hamid is in town" Hammad said when they kept quiet for a while

Hamid, Hammad's elder brother was back in town. He deliberately wanted to attend his brother's graduation. Jackson was very happy and Nasir was also eager to meet him because he has heard a lot from Jackson

"He's in his final year, right?" Nasir asked

"Yes, he'll do his residency here" Hammad said

"Ohh, that's really amazing!" Jackson said

"We aren't going to come back till after a few days for the Prom Day, right?" Jackson said

"Yeahh" Hammad nodded his head

They all came out of the car after they decided to bid s farewell to Salma till Prom Day, Graduation day and the remaining events.

"We've completed one phase of our lives, Alhamdulillah. I pray the results are as bright as rainbows" Salma said

"Hmm, Ameen" they all said

The cafe looked a little too packed up than usual.

"Guys, have a good time at home, I have something to do at home" Salma said

"Hm, we are also going home, let's drop you at home"

Salma agreed, on getting home, she knocked the door but no response came so she waited for a while and knocked again. A random boy opened the door and she just looked at him strangely because she clearly didn't know him.

"Who are you? She asked him but he just flashed a smile at her, few seconds later, he asked the same question she asked him.

Salma rolled her eyes and looked down.

"Babyyyy..." Maryam's whiny voice came, immediately she got to the gate, her eyes had a slight tint of fear when she saw Salma but she immediately pushed that away and kept quiet.

"Hmm, this is my sister, let's go!" Maryam immediately said without, Salma found her way in to the house and straight to her room.

Few minutes later, Maryam and her friend both left the house leaving Maryam all alone at home. She had a light lunch and decided to call her aunt.

"Aunt, so you seriously can't make it to my graduation?" Salma asked Zainab when she made it clear that her schedule won't allow her to be present for the graduation.

"Yes my dear, Initially planned to attend but I couldn't, have you gotten a prom gown, your prom is next week, right?"

"Nahh, I'll go to that..."

"It's okay, I've arranged everything!" Zainab said with her voice laced with happiness through the phone.

"Aunttt... thank you so much, words can't exp..."

"I don't need you to thank me, you are a daughter to me" Zainab said

Salma crawled into her plump bed after the call.

"Thank God, I'm going to sleep with a peace of mind today, no school, no exams" she covered her body and slept.

The next day, the family all sat down for breakfast.

"Hm, Umm Kulthum, can you help me check if the cookies aunt made haven't finished yet?" Salma asked her

"Ok dear"

"Hmm, Salma, do you have something for your prom?" Her dad asked her

"No, Abba, aunt's designer will bring it In Sha Allah" She shipped from her cup of tea.

"Ohh, Maryam?" He turned to Maryam

"Yes dad" she smiled

"Mom bought everything" immediately she said that, Salma's expression changed and lines were drawn on her forehead.

"Eeehhimm!" Their mum coughed while she acted she wasn't even listening to them.

Mr Ahmad noticed how his daughter's expression changed but he didn't say anything, he just kept quiet and quietly took his breakfast.

"I transferred some money to your accounts girls, anything you need!" Ahmad said

"Really dad?" Maryam smiled

"Thank you so much, it's a lil celebration for taking your final exams in high school" he smiled

"Thank you so much Abba" Salma said

Ruqayyah continued to narrow her eyes and look around her with disgust clearly written on her face.

After few minutes, they finished taking their breakfast and Ahmad immediately left for work. Before he left, Salma took permission to hang out with Nasir because they had plans that day.

"You shouldn't stay out long" he instructed her.

"Listen, I'm paying my sister a visit today" Ruqayyah said

"Ohh, Okay, that's alright, my regards to them" Ahmad said

"Maryam will also join me and we are going to spend a week there" she added

"A week?...why a week?" Ahmad turned and looked at her

"We have some urgent designs to go through"

"Designs for what, you are leaving the state for a week? With Maryam? And do you expect Salma to stay at home all alone?" He dropped his office bag and questioned

"I told you it's urgent work, right?"

"And as for Salma, she came to this world alone" Ruqayyah flatly said

"Wow, you can go" Ahmad said as he stormed out of the house.

"Well...well..." Ruqayyah mumbled and cackled

Salma didn't say anything, infact she acted like she heard nothing.

In the afternoon, Salma got ready and her friends called her.

"Where are we going to?" Salma asked

"We are going to chill" Nasir said

"Chill? Mr one leg" Salma laughed

"Hahaha, funny but I forgot to laugh" Nasir rolled his eyes

"Listen, the prom is next week, right?" Hammad asked

"Yes, it is, hope you've gotten a killer suit to make girls speechless that day" Salma smiled

"Hmm, woah! Woah! Are you tryna say he's the handsome one?" Jackson winked at her

"Ohh come on, aren't we friends? Can't I just make a compliment" immediately she said that, Nasir just glanced at her and looked away. She understood what was going

Salma just kept quiet after that little scene.

"Guys, hmm...so are you guys gonna get matching suits orrrr..." Salma asked

"Matching suits will be really interesting" Jackson supported Salma

"Hmmm, what's our dress code please"  Hammad asked

"I think it's royal blue, they had a theme, can't remember" Nasir said

"Forever Frozen Night" Salma said

"Are you serious?" Jackson laughed

"The theme is a bit okay, they'd freeze Salma to death, hahaha" Nasir chuckled

"Oh please...OMG I didn't tell aunt the theme" Salma remembered, Nasir laughed and told her that other girls have been preparing for months for the Prom while she hasn't even started preparing yet.

Salma laughed and said she doesn't bother about it.

"Call her now before you forget to do that later" Hammad said

"Ok..."

"Don't bother, she knows the theme, she's too smart, unlike you" Nasir looked at her

"Whatt!" Salma said

"Hammad, do you have a destination or you are just driving?" Salma asked when she noticed they were driving for an above normal time.

"I don't even know these places"

"How will you know these places when your life is a triangle" Jackson said

"I support you bro" Nasir said

"Alright... alright" Hammad

"Hmm, there is a place Nasir's dad recommended we get our suits from, that's where we are going to" Jackson made it clear to Salma

"Nas, Jack and Ham..." Salma got their attention

"...I have a quick question"

"We are listening"

"Ok, go on"

"Alright"

"Hmm, what am I doing here?" Salma asked

"What do you mean by the question...oohhh..." Jackson chuckled when he understood what she meant by the question

"Nasir was the one who suggested you tag along" Hammad smiled

"Nasir?"

"Well, I couldn't just allow you enjoy the cosiness of your room" Nasir said

"Ohh God, I've been blessed with such amazing and thoughtful friends!"

The three of them laughed at her sarcasm

"Wait...waitttt..."

"Hmm, Hammad and Jackson, is she our friend?" He asked them, for a second, they all got lost but they got the hint immediately they looked at his face.

"Nahhh, she isn't... can't be...she can't be...can she?" Jackson blabbered

"But... don't you think she can be our friend, well she can't... she's just too slim and tall for us" Hammad said

"You are the worst" Salma laughed out loud at his comment

"Let's get ice cream pleaaaasssee" Salma whined when they came across an ice cream parlor

"...treats on me" Salma said

"How can a woman do that when there are three grown up men in the house" Jackson started playing with his words.

"What do you mean a woman? A woman can do..."

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, her highness...but are you a feminist?" Hammad asked

"Before I answer that question, I'd love to ask you a question too, who is a feminist?" Salma asked, in a few seconds, the entire changed to a serious discussion

"Answering a question with a question, too smart" Nasir said

"I'm serious, like...a lot of people misunderstand what the meaning of feminism is... infact, a lot of people don't know what feminism is, they just think feminism is the madness portrayed by egoistic women on the internet" Salma said in one breath

"Hmm, I think you are right because I've personally not bothered to even make research on it, just know from how the media portrays it"

"Exactly..."

"We've drove past the ice cream parlor guys" Jackson informed them

"Hmm, there's another one not far from here, continue driving"

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End of Chapter 34, thank you so much for your reads and don't forget to vote, comment and share.

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