9| random kid

Next chapter: complete the target given in the last chapter (pleaseeee)

Before diving into the chapter, Zeeshan has two cell phone numbers. One, for his school job and other for his office and personal use.

ZEESHAN'S POV:

"Grumpy pants," Ezzah called out to me just as I was lost in thought, examining her notebook.

I flipped through the pages, memories flooding back as I noticed the distinct similarities in our writing, particularly the letters 'E' and 'I.'

It was striking to see that. I paused for a moment, letting the nostalgia wash over me, and then looked up at her with a nod.

"My Mama doesn't like you," she said, with a gloomy expression settled on her face.  I didn't understand what she pointed out. It would be wrong if I would say that Ezzah ain't my favorite student.

I don't know why but I have a soft corner for her and don't get me begun on the way she talks, her non-stop banter reminds me of Waniya.

There are moments when I can't help but notice how much Ezzah resembles my Waniya, especially when she smiles. It's striking; their smiles have a similar warmth and charm that lights up their faces in the same way.

Ezzah is just as beautiful as Waniya. It's quite a remarkable coincidence that her mother shares the same name as her – Waniya.

"And why's that?" I raised my brows at her. It was break time so students were busy with their talks and some were having their lunches.

But Ezzah was here talking to me.

"I don't know that," she pouted.

"It's okay, we will make her like me," I don't why I said that but I did.

I haven't got the faintest idea why but I never questioned her about her Mom because I don't want anyone to think about it in another way.

I don't even know her full name.

"I want you to meet her," she said. I nodded. "Go, have your lunch and we will talk about this later," I said and she nodded. Ezzah is one of the smartest kids I have met, she is devilish but she picks up things quite easily.

Soon, the school was over. Our school had a strict policy that required teachers to remain on campus until every student in their class had safely departed.

I guided the students out of the classroom, the sound of their chatter and laughter barely audible over the heavy downpour outside.

Despite the relentless rain, I watched as one by one, students hurriedly made their way home, umbrellas in hand or darting through puddles.

In less than twenty minutes, every student had left the premises—except for Ezzah. I glanced back at her, noting the concern etched on her face as she peered out at the rain-soaked world beyond.

"Ezzah, why is no one coming to pick you up?" I questioned her.

"You are dumb. How could I know?" She got a point. I decided to call her mother. I dialed her number and it wasn't reachable. I decided to call the number from which I received the call last night.

"Hello, I'm Ezzah's teacher speaking. She's the only one left at the school. Kindly pick her up," I said the moment they picked up the call.

"Actually, I am stuck in the traffic and her mother is stuck in the office, just stay with her. We are trying to reach her," the girl— why have I asked her name—I gave them a green signal and cut the call.

"Ezzah why are you still here?" The Principal came out of her cabin.

"Her mother is stuck in her office and her Aunt is trying to get her." The principal nodded and moved out of the school campus.

"You can call Sha. He can come to pick me up," Ezzah said.

"Who's Sha?" I know I'm no one to ask but curiosity made me do it. "Uffo, he's Shayan, my mother's to-be-husband," I choked on the air I was breathing. She was way more mature than her age. Shayan Alyas? He is Shayan, as I saw him with her at the airport.

"So, your mother is getting married?" I asked her. She nodded, excitedly. I smiled at her. Maybe, if her father was alive she would have received all the love she deserves, I am sure her mother loves her a lot but still that father's love is everything a girl needs.

~

"Grumpy pants, I'm getting bored," she sighed. It's been an hour and there's no sign of mother or her Aunt.

"What should we do?" I asked her. "How many people are there in your family?" She asked me with a sense of curiosity lingering in her eyes.

"Umm... my Dad, my Mom, my elder brother, his wife and daughter. My younger brother and sister," I said.

And she blinked her eyes looking, excited. "Can you take me to meet everyone?" How should I deny her? "You can call my Mom and I will talk to her," she said.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but deep down, a part of me yearned for her to accompany me to my home. There was an undeniable pull, a feeling that lingered just below the surface of my consciousness.

I dialed her Mother's number, she picked it up before I could say anything, Ezzah grabbed the phone. "Mama, you are too late, so I'm going to Grumpy Pants's house," she waited for her reply.

"Mama, please. He's good. I promise I won't ask for ice cream," she pleaded and I couldn't help but smile.

"Okay, thank you so much. I love you so much," she cut the call.

I picked her up in my arms and ran towards the car as it was still raining. I made her sit in the passenger seat. And I got settled into the car. I brought the car's engine to life and moved it toward our Mansion.

"So, you like ice cream?" I raised my eyebrows. She nodded.

"And you gave up on it," I said.

"No worries, Irha Massi or Sha will convince Mama to give me some," she grinned and I shook my head at her antics.

~

"This is your house? This is so pretty. Soo big! I want to see all of it," Ezzah said the moment he entered the mansion with me.

"Zeeshan, tum office nahi gaye?" Maa asked the moment he heard us enter. (You didn't go to office?)

"Ye kon hai?" She looked at Ezzah. Ezzah got a bit nervous. (Who's she?)

I told her the whole scenario and Dad joined the hall too with Farhaan. "Who's she?" They asked in unison. I explained, again.

"Zeeshan, she looks like you. Look at her eyes and her nose, she's your dito copy," Maa said. I noticed a bit of resemblance but I dusted off the feeling.

"What's your name?" Farhaan moved towards her, I put her down and he bent down to reach his level. "Ezzah," she smiled. She gestured to me to bend down. "Grumpy pants, you won't introduce your family members," she said more than she ordered.

My family members could not help but chuckle. "She's my Mom, he's my Dad, and he's my younger brother. My sister is at a friend's place and my elder brother, his wife, and his daughter are not at home," I said.

"Ezzah, what do you like to eat?" Mom asked her. "Ice cream," a huge smile formed on her lips. She continued talking to Mom while I went to change my clothes.

I came after ten minutes. "Grumpy pants," she called me.

"I love your family and you know she told me that I can call her Dadi, him Dadu, and him Chachu as I'm the same as her granddaughter, Anaya," I could see a sparkle in her eyes. The way she was excited to get all the relations. She's just a five-year-old.

Then we heard someone entering the hall, and it was her aunt — Irha, according to her. "Ezzah," she called her.

And she ran towards her. She hugged her and Irha caressed her hair. "Irha," Farhaan said the moment he saw her. "Farhaan," she said.

"You guys know each other?" Maa asked. They nodded. She thanked us and took Ezzah with her.

"Ezzah is such a nice kid. Her mother has done a great job raising her," Maa said.

I nodded at her.

"She even played with your Dad. Can you imagine your Dad playing with a random kid?" She was shocked. She continued about how much she loved Ezzah— her loving nature had created a corner for her in her heart.

AUTHOR'S POV:

Mirha finally arrived at Baig's Mansion to pick up Ezzah. As she stepped out of the car, a mix of excitement and uncertainty washed over her.

She had never met Zeeshan before; in her mind, he was simply Ezzah's teacher, a figure she had only heard stories about.

However, one unexpected detail caught her off guard—Farhaan was also present. This piqued her curiosity. She had heard that Farhaan had two brothers and one sister, which led her to speculate that Zeeshan and Farhaan were likely siblings.

As Mirha and Ezzah settled into the car, the atmosphere was filled with an undercurrent of worry. They were en route to Waniya's office, and Mirha couldn't shake the concern that lingered in the back of her mind about Ezzah's well-being.

She remembered how much comfort Ezzah found in speaking with her teacher, which encouraged Waniya to grant permission for Ezzah to visit him, despite her initial hesitations.

Waniya had been wary, concerned about letting Ezzah go to her teacher's home, but hearing Mirha recount how Ezzah had stopped crying the moment she spoke of Zeeshan changed her stance.

Meanwhile, Waniya found herself trapped in her office due to the relentless rain that poured outside. Her car was with Mirha, and to add to her frustration, Shayan was not answering any of her calls.

She couldn't help but feel a wave of anger towards him for adding to her stress at such a chaotic moment.

Mirha glanced at Ezzah who was now asleep, she was headed toward Waniya's office to pick her up when her phone rang. It was Farhaan, she picked it up.

"Mirha, Are you married? Was Ezzah your daughter? Who's husband? I mean-," Mirha couldn't help but laugh at him.

"Why are you laughing?" He was worried, he thought that Mirha got married and had a daughter, and his chance to finally get her had gone, it felt a slight tug at his heart thinking about this.

"Ezzah is my best friend's daughter," she revealed, and could hear him sigh. "So you are single?" Farhaan asked her.

"Umm... yeah," Mirha couldn't help but blush. "Okay, I'll call you in a while," she said as she reached Waniya's office.

Waniya came down as she received a call from Mirha. She unfurled the car door and saw Ezzah sleeping. She smiled with her heart. She carefully picked her up placed her in her lap and settled on the seat.

Mirha told her about how Ezzah was playing with her teacher's Mom and Dad. Waniya was eager to meet her teacher now as she has been listening a lot about him lately.

But she has been busy — she's getting engaged after two days and she's still mentally preparing herself for this change in her life.

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Zaar.