Author's PoV

Clearly a boring day for Zain. He didnt have anything to do. Because of the reason how active he used to, he can't remain idle for a single moment. It irks him more than anything, loneliness. He felt captivated inside the large mansion. He was not at all interested in talking with the girls anymore. They behave strange always. His cousins. They are always talking about films, modern dresses, trends, their make up needs etc. And sometimes about handsome boys too. It makes him bored. Some other times they eat his ears which he cant afford. For him Ayesha is different. Not boring unlike others. But she is busy most of the times. Either with some books or sometimes at kitchen hearing long lectures from the aunty's gang. And her mother always call her for each single thing that is happening in that house.

For his luck, his Bapuji understood his dilemma and assigned him a job. To help him escape from the boring day. And the job is very complicated and important. He had been instructed to be in the house looking after everything is fine since someone from groom's side are visiting today. He wondered what kinda job is this. Bapuji and other males in the house left for the masjid (mosque).

Now he need to make sure everything is going right before the guests arrive. His mom handed him a list of things to be bought and he quickly did it. He then instructed Zahra Aapa to be ready. After finishing some more rounds of inspection, he felt tired. A day that would have been gone waste without having any fun now turned into a busy day.

He laid down on the bed to take some rest. This is the first time someone is assigning such an important task to him. As the brother of the bride, he cant be irresponsible. More over he took it as a chance to prove how responsible and mature he is to his always taunting parents. May be in future his parents will assign him the complete responsibility of Hanah's marriage. He smiled at that thought.

On the other hand this job doesn't make him entertain, not productive according to what he feels. No fun, only tension.

He heard a cough and looked up to see Ayesha standing at the door with a grin.

"Why do you look tensed? Dont tell me that it's because Bapuji assigned you this job."she laughed.

He got up from the bed and took steps towards her.

"Why should I? It's just that I am doing something important. So I should be more careful. And it's my Zahra Aapa's marriage."

She giggled.

"Arey don't make fun of me. You should have seen your own face yesterday. Like a chimpanzee who have been scolded by an idiot."he grinned this time making her scowl.

"Please dont start again. I am trying to get over all this. And I dont care about it now."she reminded.

"That's good"he said with a smile.

"Ok do continue what you were. Let me check whether Zahra Aapa is ready." She was about to go when he stopped her.

"Now what?"she asked.

"Nothing. You are perfectly alright now. Isn't it?"he wanted to confirm.

She didn't reply. Instead smiled at him. A smile that touched his heart.

"I am going" she left.

He looked at the direction where she disappeared. He sat down on the bed while thinking. Earlier it was about the work that he had been assigned. But now it's about her. The girl who just left the room. A calm composed yet beautiful girl with a golden heart. She doesn't want to hurt anyone knowingly or unknowingly. What she thinks, only she knows it. She dont let anyone else know her mind. She is a beautiful secret. He is glad that she is his friend.

He suddenly remembered about something. He thought for a moment and looked around to find his phone. He walked towards the table and disconnected his phone from the charger. He dialled a number and waited for the response.

"Darshu...."he said hearing an hello from the other side.

"Hai Zain. What made you suddenly remember me? It was me who used to call you every time. Not the other way around."Darshana asked with a little bit of surprise in her voice.

"I suddenly remember that you are a counsellor and I think you can help me."he said taking a deep breathe.

"Help? But I am not an expert with complicated human minds like you. I can only deal with small kids. And their problems would be also childish."

"She is also a small kid. Trust me. She won't give you a tough time."he spoke without thinking enough. And then bit his lips realizing what he spit out. He should have avoided taking her name.

"She? Who?"came questions one by one from the other end making him confused.

He didn't speak for a long minute.

"Zain. I am asking you. You can't hide anything from me. Remember I am your best friend."

"Actually..I want...to talk about Ayesha."he spoke finally.

"Ayesha? The girl whom I met that day. Your cousin. Right?"she asked.

"Yes. I will explain. But before that, promise me that whatever we are gonna talk it will remain between us. Even she won't know about."he demanded.

"You know me well. Then why this promises and all. Tell Zain." Darshana assured.

"She have some serious problems. But I don't think she will be willing to share it with me. Infact I am not sure whether she will be ready to speak about it with anyone on this earth. But you are a counsellor and you may know ways to understand the issues she is facing."

"I am neither a magician nor a psychiatrist. Just a counsellor that too works with school students."

"But you are a woman na? You can be a good friend to her. That way she may open her heart for you."he said hopefully.

"Eventhough you are a man you can also do that part for her. Just ask her what's her problem. What kinda cousin you are?"she encouraged him.

"Darshu she is not that type. I mean. She won't open her heart infront of me. I am sure. I think she have some fears. She was not in a good mood yesterday. You know what. She suddenly stopped talking with me. I was really tensed. I couldn't just leave her like that. So I forcely made her talk with me. Seems like she is ok after that. But she didn't tell me the reason why she has been hurted."

"Wait wait. Why are you suddenly tensing for your cousin? Even I stopped talking with you many times. But you pretended to be unaffected and didn't take an initiative to talk with me. It was always me who ran behind you. But now you are doing all this for your cousin whom you met just few days ago."

"She is a good girl. Probably more good than you. That may be the reason."he replied with a smirk.

"That hurted me. But believe me. Something have happened to you for sure. You were not like this earlier."She said

Zain thought for a while. Silence....

"Hello...Zain.. are you there?"Darshana shouted.

"Yes."he replied.

"Dont take me wrong. I was just asking. I also know that she is a good girl."she said.

"Hm...I want her to be always happy."Zain said.

"Tell me more about her. Only then I can understand her problems. If I can help you in anyway, I will surely do that."She assured him.

A ray of relief for him. He told everything that he knows about her. From their childhood to the day they separated. From the day they again met to the last minute they shared together.

They spoke for a long time about Ayesha. With the little bit of assurance that he got from his best friend, he ended the call with a smile.

A huge noise from downstairs. The phone fell down on the floor slipping from his hand even before properly placing it back on the table. He rushed to downstairs, skipping two steps at a time. And then stood there stunningly. A shocked atmosphere around him.

He eyed to the corner to spot Ayesha with noisy on her hand. Her hands are protectively wrapped up around the scared cat. She was tensed too. An angry Shahina with Hayaan on her hand standing beside her mother. On the other side Ayesha's mama glaring at her.

"Dont know what's special with this creature. I will surely through this out one day. Such a nuisance." Ayesha's mama spoke glaring at her daughter.

"Can anyone explain what did he do now? Why did you beat him Shahina? Its such an harmful cat. Won't do anything." Ayesha shouted at the top of her voice shocking everyone.

No one could respond for a moment while witnessing the most unexpected scene infront of them. Ayesha had such a red angry face matching with the others. No one had seen her like this before. Zain was also shocked. He had no idea about what makes her angry like this.

"Do you want to know what did your cat do? He was about to attack my son. What if he have harmed him?" Shahina asked moving towards the centre.

"Please talk sensibly. We all saw what was he doing there. Your son was about to pull his tail and noisy was scared. He didn't do anything instead ran towards me while crying. Where did he harm your son? And why did you try to attack this poor cat for that?" Ayesha said boldly making Shahina speechless.

Zain have a small smile on his lips now.

"Enough Ayesha. How many times should I tell you to keep this cat away from you? Are you a kid to play with pets? And what if he had really attacked Hayaan?" Ayesha's mom asked.

"He won't. I can give cent percent guarantee on this. Even if someone tries to trouble him, he won't react. He is here for so many years now. Tell me the list of people whom he attacked"Ayesha snapped back.

"From where did you get this courage now? That too for an animal."Shahina's mom asked in a taunting tone.

"Aunty, dont try to trouble me as long as I won't do any harm for you. If it's not me then noone will stand for this poor cat. They too have the right to live on this earth as Allah granted." Ayesha said looking straight. This time she was not nervous, not shivering, didn't think for a second to speak what she wanted. She looked straight into their eyes. She was not less than an angry cheetah.

Zain was surprised and happy inwardly. He looked at his mother who is standing with an opened mouth with a disbelief look. He chuckled.

"One thing I am saying. Dont try to harm my noisy. He is like a family member for me. I will make sure that he won't come into your sight hereafter. Please spare us."she walked inside with noisy.

Everyone was stunned with the sudden change in her behavior. They started discussing with each other regarding the same when Zain slowly left the scene.
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"Is it? Did she really react that way?" Darshana asked from the other end of the phone in a surprised tone.

"Even I can't believe now."Zain said in an excited tone.

"You should have here while all these taking place. Believe me. Everyone was standing speechless infront of the great Ayesha Rani. She was rocking."

"Now you can relax Zain. She dont have any problem like you are assuming. Even if she have, she is able to deal it alone."Darshana said making him confuse.

"But..."

"Zain. If you really want to help your cousin, just be with her always. Try to understand her. That's enough. What my conclusion is, she is really brave and capable of handling everything alone. More courageous and bold than you and me. It's just that she is little sensitive and less talking. Thats not even an issue."

"But Darshu, I am scared. What if she stops talking to me again?"

"Is that really matters to you when you have a lot of other people around you to talk with?"Darshana teased.

"Shut up."he shouted.

"What I wanted to say is, she is a normal girl. Selective in talking. That's all. Dont want to blabber around, hates shouting for every single thing, confines to a shell. An introvert. But she knows how to handle things and survive. She did it man. Today she stood up for a cat which she loves a lot. That's enough to prove her mental strength. Not good, she is better than me in every aspect. Now you can relax."

Zain smiled.
"Ok I may want your help in future. Dont dishearten me that time."he said.

"Sure only if my would be your bestie allows me to treat you for free."

Both bursted into a laugh.
"Okay good night dear."

"Good night"
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