Ayesha's PoV

What he is doing with me?

What was that for? The Hug.

How could he ?

I can still feel him near me and its sending me shivers down my body.

He will be my death for sure if he continues to confuse me.

I am still not out of that hug. The effect he have on me.

What I am even thinking?

What happened to you Ayesha?

This is not you.

I looked at the mirror and there I saw him again. He is smiling at me. He raised his eyebrows making me blush.

Stop this Ayesha. You are over reacting!!!

"Ayesha, didnt you get ready? The mehendi function is about to start. You should be there with Zahra." I heard mama shouting behind me.

It made me rethink why I am here.

Yes, to get ready.

Mama is right. I was supposed to be there with Zahra Aapa.

But what to do? This Zain is still behind me with his famous smirk.

"I am coming Mama. Now please stop shouting. What would he think about me hearing you shouting like this?"

"Who??"Mama asked while looking around.

I looked back at the mirror and didn't find him. My eyes travelled towards the locked door.

Allah....I was dreaming!!!

I face palmed realizing what stupidity I am assuming.

"No one mama."I closed my eyes.

For my luck, she didn't ask me further questions unlike she always do. May be busy. She left leaving behind me along with my cousins. They were all getting ready for the function.

What he is doing with me?

"Aapa, which dress are you gonna wear?"Sana asked while applying kajal on her eyes.

I thought for a while and took out a white color salwar from the wardrobe which is having golden designs at the border. I went to the washroom and quickly changed into it. I looked at the mirror where I saw him again smirking at me.

"Will you go out please?"I asked looking at the mirror and the girls looked at me in wonder.

"What did you say?"Hiba asked in shock.

I cursed myself for this stupidity.

"Nothing Hiba."I said hiding my face away from them.

"Is there anything that worries you?"Shahina asked.

"No... where is Hanah?"I asked to change the topic.

"She is there with Zahra Aapa. Helping her to get ready."Sana replied.

"Girls be fast. Zahra Aapa may be ready by now. Let's go."Shahina instructed.

"Aapa, why can't you apply some kajal on your eyes? Believe me you would be beautiful. Shall I?"Sana asked blocking my way when I was about to go out.

"Are you sure?"I asked and she nodded.

I thought for a while and then said yes to her. She became happy and started applying kajal on my eyes. Eventhough I wants to try all this,  I rarely get the courage to do it. Wow, what a girl I am? No the questions should be, Am I even a girl? Like mama asks me always.

Hiba and Shahina already went out and it's now Sana and me remaining in the room.

"Sana, shall I ask you something?"I asked after thinking for sometime. She nodded.

"What's the meaning if a boy hugs a girl?"I asked and she looked at me in wonder.

"What? Did anyone hug you?"she widened her eyes making me scare.

Why did I ask her that?

You should have Google instead of asking her.

"No. Actually I saw some kinda scene in a TV show last week. And that girl was completely confused after the hero hugs her. I couldn't follow up the latest episodes. That's why asking you."I tried to cover up before she doubts me more.

"Boys can hug girls out of friendship, out of gratitude, care or even because of love. It will depend upon the feelings of him. How can I say without knowing the whole story?"she said.

Love?
I gulped.

"One thing I am sure. Nobody will hug a girl without any reason. If someone hug you means, he surely treats you special. Special for some reason."she said and I smiled.

"Aapa, come let's go."she said.

"I will come soon. You go."I said and she left.

I sat on the bed thinking.

Did he hug me because of love?

Or may be care?

Or may be friendship?

Am I special for him?

What? Why I am thinking so?

Ayesha. You should stop this. Right now.

Why are you getting such thoughts in your mind?

You were unfamiliar with these feelings before.

I should stop now. Because it's getting on my nerves.

I smacked my head and rushed towards Zahra Aapa's room. Zahra Aapa was already ready in a beautiful frock designed for the mehendi function. Some of the guests are also there.

Then I saw Zain taking selfies along with the girls. He didn't see me and I too pretended to be unaware about his presence.

I went towards Zahra Aapa and hugged her.
"Masha Allah. You are looking so beautiful Aapa" I smiled.

"You too dear" she pinched my nose playfully.

"Ayesha Aapa, Zahra Aapa. Come here. Let's take a selfie before the function starts and the bride gets busy."Hiba said.

I was hesitant but Zahra Aapa dragged me towards the gang.

I saw Zain standing at the middle with Hayaan on his one hand and the other hand wrapped around Sana's shoulder.

May be I am over thinking. He is behaving the same with everyone. It's just that I am new to all these. I didnt have a male friend in my life except Shamz. I had some in my college but they were not so close like him.

A hug means nothing for him. He hugged me because of care only. And he is doing the same with all other girls.

I made up my mind to stop myself from feeling unwanted things.

"Ayesha dear. Can you please smile?"Shahina asked and I smiled reluctantly.

Click!!!
.
.
.

The mehendi function started and two girls started applying mehendi on Zahra Aapa's hand. It was so beautiful. I looked at it amazingly. Hiba and Sana were applying mehendi on their hands and Shahina was trying to calm down a crying Hayaan. Hanah and Zain were busy taking photos. Shamz was nowhere seen. It's his habit to escape from large crowds by making some weird excuses.

"Wow that was a beautiful click."Zain said and I turned my face to see him looking into his phone screen.

"Who told you to take my pic without asking me?"I faked anger.

"No one told. I am the official photographer for today's function. Your Bapuji asked me to take all pics to make the album."he grinned.

"It excludes me. Now delete that."I said placing my hands on my hip.

"Dont say that Ayesha. This one is amazing. See your smile. It's more beautiful than the forced smile of yours in that selfie."he argued.

"Oh really? Let me see that."I snatched the phone from his hand and looked at the pic he clicked. It was awesome. I didn't know that I had such a beautiful smile. I smiled at him.

"Ayesha, why are you not applying mehendi on your hands? Everyone else are doing."he asked looking at my hands.

"Its not my marriage. I don't want to skip my namaz (prayers) for that."I replied.

"Oh don't say that. Your hands will look beautiful with the mehendi. Believe me."

"No....."I yelled.

"Please Ayesha. Atleast for me."he pleaded.

And that's it. I nodded.

Soon one girl started applying mehendi on my hands. I was feeling sleepy. I leaned back towards the wall and rested my head there. Within half an hour, my hands got filled with beautiful mehendi design. I looked at it with wonder in my eyes. Wow. Super. I looked around to find Zain. He was nowhere found.

Where did he go? It was for him I did this. And where he is now?

I walked towards the living room and saw him enjoying with the boys. I coughed to gain his attention. He didn't mind me eventhough he heard me.

I felt sad seeing him ignoring me. I glared at him and then walked back.

"I am here." Suddenly he jumped infront of me with a smirk.

"What do you want?"I pouted.

"I thought you came here for me. And now asking what do I want?" He flashed his teeth.

I didn't speak. Because he didnt wait to see my mehendi. Instead I had to come in search for him to show him my hands.

"Ok ok I was just joking to see you angry. But I forgot that our doctor madam will only get angry if someone insults her Noisy."

I didn't look at him and lowered my face to the mehendi on my hands.

"Wow...it's awesome."he said trying to hold my hand. But I hid my hands behind me.

"Dont touch my hand. I agreed to apply mehendi only because you requested me. And now you are pretending to be unaware."

"What? Usually girls apply mehendi for their groom. Like Zahra Aapa doing for her would be husband. And here you applied for me?"he asked with a shocked expression.

That hurted me. I didn't look back and started walking away. He suddenly came infront of me blocking my way. I glared at him.

"Sorry sorry. Another bad joke from me."he said trying to pacify me.

But I continued walking without bothering about his existence.

"I am sorry Ayesha. I forgot the fact that you are so sensitive even to get hurted by jokes."he said.

"Everything is a joke for you"I complained.

"I repeat sorry thousand times. Now please forgive me."he said and it melted my anger. I smiled slightly.

"Thank you Allah. Finally you smiled."he sighed in relief.
"By the way whose name you have written on your hand?"

"What?"I raised my brows at him.

"Arey it's a ritual, writing husband's name on a girl's mehendi. Like Zahra Aapa wrote the letter F on her hand."

"Can you be serious atleast for once?"I asked getting irritated.

"Oh I forgot the fact that you are still waiting for your mama to find your man. What a girl?"

I pouted.

"But I saw Sana and Hiba secretly hiding some letter on their hands. I am currently on the mission to crack that. Do you wanna join?"he asked smirking.

"I am warning you. They are not like me. If you tries to irritate them with your stupid jokes, they will surely throw you out of this house."I said in a stern tone.

"Even if you want to throw me out, no problem."he said while taking his phone out.
"Come. Now let's take some beautiful snaps of your mehendi."

"No....."I ran away before he can take pics.

"Hey stop there... Ayesha...."he chased me.

I laughed.
"You can't beat me in running Zain"

"That I understood now. I am very lazy to run behind someone."he said sitting on the stairs tiredly.

I stopped and looked back.

"I am going to sleep here. When you finish your marathon, come to me."he said closing his eyes while leaning back.

I chuckled and walked towards him. I sat beside him and he immediately got hold of my hand. He started taking pics of my mehendi and I laughed. It was such a beautiful moment that I never experienced before. I looked around to check whether anyone see us. And all my happiness gone seeing Zain's mom standing at the kitchen entrance while watching us suspiciously. She was surprised seeing Zain holding my hand while leaning close towards me. It was a glare what I felt like from her. Slowly my fears overtook my emotions and my smile faded away automatically.

"Zain leave me"I tried to free my hand.

"Stay there girl"he didn't leave my hand.

Zain's mom walked away without waiting for more. I tried to study her face but I couldn't find any emotions. For me every happiness ends on a sad note. Always. Today it repeated.
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