Ayesha's PoV

We were sitting at the courtyard for our usual chit chat. I was watching my cousins playing with the little Hayaan. It's a bliss to see the little kid playing while making cute expressions. He suddenly got angry and threw away his toy. I laughed. He then pouted earning a few chuckles from us. That made him more angry. Before we could notice he started running towards the garden. That made my cousins follow him. I sighed. He is too naughty. This is not the first time. Sometimes he ran towards the road if the gate is not locked.

"Allah..."I jumped up from my seat seeing Ali uncle falling on the ground.

These girls...

Ali uncle was there at the garden from the time we came here. He didn't notice us since he was talking in phone. While running behind Hayaan to catch him, Sana accidentally collided with Ali uncle. She was the last one in the row and she didn't notice him. They all ran away and now very far from us.

I rushed towards him and helped him to get up from the ground. I slowly held his shoulders and he stood up. He looked for his mobile phone which also fall down along with him. I found it and handed over to him. He smiled at me with gratitude. I felt sad.

"Sorry uncle. Sana didn't see you falling down. Actually she was very tensed about Hayaan. So she was in a hurry and this happened without her knowledge."I talked on behalf of Sana.

His eyes travelled towards the gate where he saw my cousins trying to pacify a crying Hayaan.

"Dont feel offended. Its not their mistake. I apologize for them."I confessed.

He placed his hand on my head and caressed my hairs. It surprised me.

"Ayesha, You are just like your father."he said with a genuine smile which melt my heart. Mentioning about my father, I suddenly felt the urge to cry.

No I can't make a scene here.

It may worry him.

But tears were deceiving me.

What the hell?

First I cried infront of Zain which made him worry. He had to beg me finally to stop crying. Now I am gonna do the same with his father.

Ali uncle turned to leave. From his face I could understand that he somewhat realized what I am going through. May be he dont want to make me emotional.

"Uncle. How about you? Are you ok? Do you want any help? Did your legs injure?" The doctor in me spoke. I felt proud.

"No dear. I am fine. And remember. A doctor must be always strong. You can't cry infront of a patient. You are meant to wipe their tears and pain."he smiled widely and then left.

I stood there dumbfounded.

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Finally Sunday arrived. The day we were waiting for. We had already planned for a shopping which my cousins insisted. I was also excited because of the fact that I can go out along with them. I really enjoy journeys with them. Last time I couldn't go since I had my packing left. But this time I am really happy.

Bapuji asked Zain to drop us. He was least interested in a shopping session along with girls. Ofcourse men do hate it. But Asiya aunty made him agree to serve as our driver. Shahina and Hayaan occupied the seat beside him. Sana, Hiba and Zahra Aapa sat in the middle row. Hanah and me at the back seats.

I could see through the mirror Zain frowning. He is really frustrated on doing what he dont want. I chuckled. We reached the mall and the girls literally vanished into some textile shop. I silently accompanied them and Zain was walking behind us.

My cousins were trying different salwars on Zahra Aapa. I looked around to see Zain waiting outside the shop while scrolling down through his phone. He was leaning back on an handrail.

He may be bored.

Dont make him alone. My inner instinct told me.

Anyway I have no role in selecting dresses for Zahra Aapa. My poor choices may even haunt Fawad bhai. So I decided to give Zain a company.

He widened his eyes seeing me coming towards him.

"Ayesha, didn't you shop?"he asked in a surprised tone.

"Actually I didnt have anything to purchase. I am already done with my wedding shopping." I smiled faintly.

"Wow. I was getting bored without a company. Thank you for coming."he was excited.

"I am not sure about it. May be you will be more bored in my company. At the end you may decide to be alone."

"Hey come on Ayesha. I don't understand why you always speak like you are a burden to yourself. If you dont love you, then how can you expect somebody else to love you?"

He is absolutely right. But it is not like I dont love me. I like everything about me. But I also want people around me love me the way I am. That's all. I don't want to be someone else.

"Come with me."he held my hand and dragged me along with him.

I was shocked. I stopped him seeing people looking at us.

"Zain please. I will come. But dont... I mean everyone are looking at us."I said with an embarrassed face.

He looked around and then left my hand. I sighed in relief.

"I am sorry. I thought I am at London. But I was mistaken. People here are only interested in what others are doing."he spoke and I laughed.

He is right. I walked along with him.

"Can you please help me to select some T shirts ?"he asked stopping infront of a textile shop.

Oh Allah.

Somebody please hold me before I faint down.

I dont even purchase for me since I am well aware about how good I am when comes to selecting dresses.

"I know how girls are. Purchasing things, Zain is last." He confessed.

"Same to you. My selections will be worse than me."I smiled with a pale face.

"Hey please dont say no. I am asking you something for the first time. You can't reject me."he said while walking towards the men section. I have no option other than following him.

So stubborn cousin.

Can anyone hear my heart beating fast?

Sana, hiba, Shahina...somebody please come fast.

I stood beside him watching the salesman placing different types of T shirts infront of us.

I pretended to be searching and finally shown him a red colored one. For the sake of helping him. He looked at me amazed.

"How do you know that red is my favorite color?"

"Because I noticed you wearing red mostly."I replied.

He was always a red man.

He was surprised.

"I didn't know that you were noticing all this."he said naughtily making me embarrass.

Ayesha. Please keep your mouth shut.

He asked the salesman to pack that red colored T shirt which I selected for him.

"Wait."I stopped him.

"I think you should start wearing some other color. I don't know about you. But people around you are getting bored seeing you in the same color everyday"

He raised his eyebrows at me. Did I tell anything wrong? I raised my brows back at him.

"That means someone is getting bored seeing me always in red. But I don't know why this someone's eyes are always fixed on me."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

What the hell is he thinking?

"As a boy I am lucky. I have the privilege of getting noticed by a beautiful girl 24*7." He exclaimed.

What I am telling and what he is hearing?

I sighed.

"Hello, not only you. I used to observe almost everyone and everything around me carefully. Tongue do less work, but not my eyes and ears."I corrected him.

"It hurts me like no one ever did to me till now."he faked a hurt expression.

I chuckled.

We started searching again and selected some T shirts. I must say he is worse than me in selection. Purchasing for him means throwing away all the dresses here and there. The shop owner may anytime kick us out. I feel pity for him.

After our shopping, I walked out along with him.

"Ayesha, do you have a boy friend?"he suddenly asked making me stop on my tracks.

He looked at me confusingly. I gulped.

"Boy friend? I mean someone with whom you want to share your life."he said carefully stressing each word.

Ya Allah.

I regret coming with him.

Is he flirting?

Didn't he get anyone else?

I pity his choice.

Please help me out of this Allah.

"I don't have one."I replied awkwardly.

"Why? I didn't know that Bangalore lacks handsome boys like me. Or aren't they worth to be dated by a doctor?"he asked.

None of your business.

"I will only marry the man whom my mama and Bapu ji selects for me."I spoke and he stared at me.

"But are you sure that you can love him? He is neither your choice nor what you demands. How can somebody else know your heart's desire if it's not you?"he asked still wondering.

Now he is making it difficult for me.

Why did I choose to be with him?

"I trust them Zain. They will only give me the best. There is nothing significant in my life that I chose for me except my career. I have no complaints. In fact I am happy for their choices. It's not about demanding, it's all about finding happiness in what we get."

He held my hand and I started shivering.

"I don't care about anyone else or your cousins. Because I know they will find what they wants and fight till they get it. But you...you deserves the best Ayesha. Simply the best on this earth."he left his grip while smiling at me.

I don't know how to react. Because no one else said this words to me before. I am speechless.

"Thank you Zain" I muttered.

"Hello I was not praising you. I said what I felt." he said genuinely making me smile.

"I don't know how to describe you Ayesha. You are a diamond who dont want to shine. Little do you know that instead of every other, it's you each and everyone first notice. Eventhough you dont want to."he added.

I am in heaven.

"Let's go." He said while walking back towards our cousins.

I followed him. They had already finished their shopping. They gave me weird expressions seeing me along with Zain. I must say they are surprised.

It's not my mistake. You decided to be more involved in shopping.

We walked out of the mall and entered into the car. He dropped us back at home. But not before filling our hungry stomach. Unlike the first time, he is now energetic and funny. I was also happy for unknown reasons.
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