Chapter 4✔

Tera mujhse hai phele ka naata koi Yunhi nai dil lubhata koi ♥

(We probably knew each other before this life You don't just like a person for no reason)

3 DAYS BEFORE MEHNDI (3rd Encounter)

Matters of heart always led to complication. She knew that well. But Zoya couldn't help it. The kitten was stuck in those no-entry wire fences on the wall and being a cat lady herself she couldn't just walk away from there leaving the kitten caged in those horrid wires. Thinking how it could have been her own cat-Billu stuck in such calamity, making those helpless meows, Zoya's determination to rescue the cat got fiercer. And so, without thinking about the ungraceful, embarrassing circumstances that could arise due to her act of thoughtfulness, she took the folding chair that she assumed belonged to the guard, who she knew was off to smoking.

Any sane person would first of all not wander alone in the farmhouse at night. But Zoya was far from rationality. She was stressed. Two days had passed since Nikkah and she wasn't able to get some sleep thanks to someone to whom she had spilled her secrets too. Here, she was wandering alone at night, staring at the night sky as she listened to her favorite songs to calm her anxious heart down. And she had been doing that, until she saw something shine in the dark. That was how she had found that kitten.

The sane person on discovering a hysterical cat would have called for help or waited for the guard to return. And if they decided to help the kitten themselves, they definitely wouldn't have considered a folding chair for standing. Especially not when there was no one in sight to hold it in place. It was just like Zoya, to not overthink her bad decisions. So, without giving two cents, she had stood on the chair and climbed the wall.

Zoya glared down at her companion. "I want to throttle you. Did you have to hiss at me? I was here to help. Couldn't you tell?"

Her companion let out an unconcerned, ungrateful meow which made Zoya growl.

The cat assessed the noise and judged it to be beneath its own and began licking its paws. That instance, the cat reminded her of this person who was full of himself like the cat. Dignity and decorum had stopped her from scowling at that person, but she could scowl at the cat. There was no one who was going to notice her, plus the cat deserved that.

Glaring at cat made no difference, except making her feel slightly better.

With a weary groan she looked up at the sky, full of stars. The full moon and the clear sky with stars that glistened made her sigh. It was such a heavenly view. She estimated that it may had been fifteen mins since she had been stuck here. Didn't it take 5 minutes to smoke a cigarette? She thought as she looked down for the guard. How many cigarettes did the guard puff? She wondered.

God damn! What did it matter how many cigarettes he smoked? What mattered was that she was stuck. And there was no body who could help her. It was unlikely for Alizey, Fazeela or Kainat to come out looking for her, when they perfectly knew her habit for strolling at night.

"This is all your fault." she said to the cat, she was unconsciously stroking it while the cat in all her splendor ignored Zoya once again.

"What the hell were you doing up here?" She began her lecture.

"Anyone with a brain would have known that they would get caught ......"

Anyone! YEAH RIGHT! Her alter ego commented. Ironic how she was lecturing a cat, while she herself had climbed up and gotten stuck in those wires.

"Don't look at me like that." She continued.

"I don't hate you. I am just angry with myself for getting in this mess."

She was talking to a cat. But this wasn't something unusual to her considering she talked to Billu every night. She tried to twist her head to look in the cat's direction for better closure, but her hair was stuck and so was her sweater. Twisting her head tugged on her hair, which hurt like hell.

Letting out an un-lady like howl, she looked at the cat from the corner of her eyes. If only the cat had been as docile as she was now, they both would have been on the ground safely. But the cat had to hiss at her and flung her sharp clawed paws at her, scaring the life out of her.

In reflex action, she had mistakenly kicked the folding chair which now lied on the floor. Beside that chair lied her phone with the headphones, she herself had placed she had climbed up the chair. If only she hadn't, she could have at least called Alizey or Kaiant to rescue her. Stupid, Stupid Stupid !! She muttered.

Ya Allah.

Kisi ko bhi bhej day , bus barish na bhej.

(Send anyone , except for rain!)

She thought as she looked up at the thundering clouds.

God, she was in real mess.

She didn't even want to think about where she hurt, because if she started she knew there was going to be a lot of pain. Zoya was blaming her unlucky stars when she saw a flash of movement, off in the distance. Relief washed over her. Maybe the guard is finally returning. She thought as she sat there, making a human out of the silhouette.

"Heyyy!! Hellooooooo!" she called out, excited that she was finally going to be rescued.

"Help!" She yelled.

Was her eyesight deceiving her? It wasn't possible. Everyone, even Kaiant admitted to Zoya Hussain having the eagle's vision, thanks to the five almonds her mother stuffed in her mouth every day. The human in the distance was a male, a tall one. And what kind of male would ignore the chance of helping a damsel in distress?

"Help!" She shouted again, as the shadow drew closer. She couldn't see his face in the dark. But from his shadow, she could tell that he was athletic. She nearly cried with relief when the gentleman walked closer in her direction. Gentleman!

Soon her mind become anxious. The relief that she had felt at being found was short lived and the anxiety of that man not being as gallant as she wanted him to be continued growing exponentially in her mind.

Ya Allah, please let him be a gentleman. Please don't be a rapist/ mugger !

Ya Allah miyan tu janta hai , main naiki ki niyat say yahan par cherhi thee. Main teri maklooq ko bachana chahti tu. Ya Allah , meri madad kar.

( O Alah , you know my intention of getting up her. I wanted to save your creation. O Allah please help!

With her eyes closed, she chanted her prayer. Finally, content that her prayer was going to be answered, she opened her eyes and shouted once again. "Idharr uparrrr !!! (Over here)" She called out, instinctively trying to wave in the direction of the stranger which was such a wrong thing to do. Because she was stuck. And raising her hand to wave in his direction meant that she was going to get her sweater torn and her head pulled. And because it was dark the man whosoever he was , couldn't even see her waving.

Realizing her error, she took a deep breath. And then shouted her lungs out. "Mr !! Please help!!! Sunain(Listen)" There was no point of acting ladylike and dignified when she was stuck on wall with her dupatta, hair and sweater stuck in the god damn fence! Who the hell invited these fences, she wondered as she took few seconds to give her throat a relief from all the shouting.

"On the wall!" she hollered.

The gentleman— she was going to think of him as gentleman because according to Fazeela negative things happened to her because she thought negative. So now she was going to think positive- i.e., of that man as gentleman as her friends commanded her too.

The gentleman drew closer and even though it was dark, it wasn't too dark for Zoya's perfect eyes to see his face under the moonlight. She could recognize that scowl anywhere as she had been the recipient of it quite often.

"Please!!!!!!!!! Hel—" The words died down on her tongue as his face become perfectly clear.

No! No! NO! NO

Why him! Please not be him.

Kisi ko bhi bola tha, tu iska matlab yeh tu nai tha kay kisi ko bhi !

(Anyone, didn't really meant anyone !)

Ofcourse , it's not him. Uska yahan kya kaam. (What can he be doing here?)

She told herself.

It's not him. YES

I was thinking positive! Damn it! She cursed as she stared at the not so familiar face.

But no matter how much she cursed her bad luck, the vision in front of her wasn't going to change. Why in the hell, did she think it was going to be anyone else. With her sucker luck, it had to be him. Who else was supposed to stroll by when she was at her lowest, most awkward and embarrassing moment? Who else was going to be her hesitant rescuer except him?

Irtaza Haider Awan!

"Hello, Mr. Awan", she said as pleasantly as she could, as he drew close enough to hear her speak.

"Zoya Hussain" He replied as he raised his head to get a good look at her. She waited for him to add "Of course, it is you." He didn't, but she could read it pastured on his face.

Why was it, full moon today? She wondered.

So, that you could read his expression, silly! Dekho zara abhi usay . Woh soch raha hai.....

(Look at him, he is thinking.....)

STOP !!!

She was irritated more with him then herself. He was supposed to say what she had predicted his pompous self to say and then help her because a good human helps. Instead, he stood there and crossed his arms against his chest as if he was ready to have an evening conversation with her.

"How is the weather up there?" He asked.

"It's pretty cold up here! You know how it's on the high altitudes" She replied as she gave him one of her fake smiles.

"I don't want to say that I am enjoying this."

She saw a glimmer in his eyes and knew he was enjoying it a lot. Of course, he was enjoying it. What a way to prove that she wasn't a loser, he supposed she was after their 2nd meeting.

She opened her mouth to say something but closed it, the moment he added , "Only a little bit." She couldn't tell if he amended his statements because his remark was rude or because of the un-lady like retorts that were on her tongue. She wasn't going to have a verbal spat with him and call him names. At least not now. Not when she was stuck, and he was the only human in sight who could help her.

The squabble could wait. Until he rescued her, and her feet were back on ground. Not before that.

How difficult it is to contain this tongue? And hear his comments without uttering any mean word. Not difficult at all. Because I am the good girl who doesn't go around being a mean bitch to everyone! It will be easy peasy. Sabr Zoya Sabr!

The prep talk she was giving herself wasn't going to be fruitful. Because if it had been any other person, the urge of being ultra-rude wouldn't have been so overpowering as it was now.

"How did you end up here anyway?" he asked. His eye twitched with genuine curiosity as he waited for her reply.

"Kitten" she said in a livid hoarse voice, keeping a straight face.

"Ah!"

She didn't know why but hearing his "ah" she couldn't help it. She had to explain him that she wasn't as stupid as he thought she was. And he thought she was the stupidest creature on Earth. It was written all over his face.

"It was stuck in this fence." She explained although she knew he hadn't demanded an explanation. Another of her vice. She was always explaining herself to other people, even when she shouldn't.

"Umm hmm" He responded, encouraging her to continue the story. And she couldn't help but appreciate it. She didn't know why the girls hated on the guys who hmmed and k-ed.... It was better than the unresponsive looks. She loved the guys who hmmed.

"It was in great distress. Crying for help."

"Crying?" He asked.

"Well, being a cat owner, I could tell it was a cry." She ground out. Gone was the good girl façade she was trying to keep.

"Of course!" His voice was perfectly cordial, his face normal. But she was convinced that he was laughing at her inwardly.

"It wasn't a nice thing to leave it helpless in this cold." She explained. Just the mention of cold, and she felt the cold wind against her face. Her hands were freezing.

"How gallant of you to rescue the kitten in distress." He commented, cocking his head.

"Very gallant! Some of us are empathetic and caring human beings who love rescuing helpless animals." She saw his brow arch in the dreadful infuriating manner, and she prepared herself for his arrogant reply.

"Some of us rescue humans with an IQ below that of kitten, in distress!"

Zoya had to bite her tongue to stop herself from replying. Literally! And damn, it hurt. She might suck at life, but her IQ wasn't low. And she would have just told him that if she wasn't stuck.

Be nice! I know it is killing you, but please!

Should have thought all that before climbing up that chair.

Why do I overthink only good decisions and jump at making bad ones?

"Are you going to stand there all night? Looking at me as if I am some sort of caged animal in a zoo or are you going to help me get out of these fucking wires." She burst out.

"Such language!" He scolded as he smiled blandly at her. She wanted to wipe that smirk off his mouth!

"5 ruppes for the swear jar!" He asked as held his hand out for the coin.

Had she told him about the swear jar too? When? She couldn't remember telling him that. Seeing the look of confusion on her face he let out a boyish chuckle.

"You really do keep a swear jar. Don't you?" He asked.

"No!" She lied.

"Liar!" He said noticing the blush creeping on her cheeks.

"Can we have this conversation later, when I don't have to look down at you?"

Realizing that it was more of a command. She began to add "Please!" She was in no position to command him. He could walk away from there and leave her hanging.

But before she could get on with the request he began. "You prefer it otherwise?" He asked and she wanted to claw his face with her non-existent nails. WHAT A WAY TO CALL HER SHORT. Ignoring the insult, she added, "Please Irtaza."

She could hear a thousand emotions in her tone: pain, submission, desperation, petition! It's just been a few days since she had known him, but it felt like they shared a history. As if they had known each other since forever.

Bad blood! What you have with him is bad blood! The voice in her head answered as her heart began talking over her.

Zoya sat there stuck, waiting for him to climb up and rescue her.

Rapunzel let down your hair!!! The sassy voice inside her head called as Irtaza looked around for the means to get up and rescue her.

She couldn't help but smile at the voice inside her head. The man standing down was nowhere close to a prince! A prince was supposed to be kind, charming and amiable.

Really Zoya? Prince usually are charming, pompous and handsome! Looking down on everyone as if they were worthless. Which is so like Irtaza Haider.

Deciding that he definitely was a prince material she looked at his sharp jaw, which was pulled- indicating that he was irritated.

Prince or not, he was the only person available at the moment. It didn't matter that they didn't like each other. What mattered was that he was there, and he was going to help her. So, it was better to be civil, no matter how low his blow was!

"How did you get up there?" He called as he looked around.

"The chair!" She said smiling down. It wasn't a smile, she had just stretched her lips, a failed attempt of her being amiable.

"Right! So, like you to climb up the wall using a folding chair." He said as he sighed looking at the chair.

Zoya didn't miss the insult, nor did she miss the disapproval in his voice. She wanted to shout that he was judging her as if he knew her from past lives. But she decided to keep her silence.

"I'll see I can find anything in the watchman's room. I'll be back soon." He added the last part seeing her anxious face.

"Thank you" she whispered. But she wasn't sure if he heard her. He had disappeared around the corner before she could thank him properly. Then again, it was so like him to say his piece and call it quits!

Takhliaaa ! As if we are some sort of peasants and he is a Shehshah.

Few minutes later, he came back into view, his arm flung over a ladder that seem to be from the times of Firaun, (if there was a ladder in Firaun's time) Setting it against the wall, he checked if it was steady enough to be climbed.

"Tell me about it! I know you are dying to.", He asked.

It was true. She wanted to talk about the cat.

"The kitten was a pompous, ungrateful little creature. So, when I got her finally untangled, the kitten decided to hiss at me. The sudden change in momentum caused me to kick the chair. Otherwise, I would have been down by now."

"Yes, if you weren't stuck in the fence." He remarked as he climbed up.

"Will that ladder be able to hold our weight?" She asked as she heard the creaking noises every time, he took a step.

"This is better than the folding chair you chose. I don't have to climb till the top of ladder to be at your height. Few steps and it would be enough to entangle you." He added and she swallowed. He was right, being tall as he was, he just needed a head start.

"So where is the cat?" He asked.

One thing she was grateful for -right now, were the small talks that he was having with her. They were keeping her mind off how close he was to her. She could feel his peppermint breath as he tried to free her clothes and dupatta from the fence.

"It disappeared the moment she saw you. Jumped down from the wall, can't blame her though. Not everyone has the patience to get through your lectures. I would have done the same, if there wasn't the possibility of breaking my ankle."

"Yes," He said dryly, "you are too sensible". No matter how much she tried, she couldn't ignore his sarcasm and found herself pouting in response.

She knew he was helping her, not because he wanted to. But because he was the only choice she had. He felt obligated to help her no matter how aggravating he found her. She knew it because he never did make any effort to conceal it. And to be fair, she neither had been her nice self with him. (Scratch that , she was nice to him initially.) But called quits because he had always been mean to her.

Always?

You barely know the guy woman!

I mean, since I know him.

Zoya waited as he took his sweet time tugging her hair free from the fence. He was so freaking close that she could see the mole that was hidden in the black of his stubble. His dark eye narrowed as he concentrated on the task. His masculine scent like a cloud of mist was beginning to be overpower her sense. She never had let any man invade her personal space like this. But then she never had gotten stuck in the fence before.

Instead of pulling on her hair with irritation, he was being gentle. She couldn't help but stare at him as he released her hair. He would furrow his brows every now and then, when he wouldn't succeed. She found that cute! Cute? Oh no! The cold was messing with her sense. She needed to get inside. Ergo, she needed to be inside.

"Can you please stop staring at me?" He asked as he moved to the other side.

"It's not that I am enjoying. You are in my face!" Liar!

"Pardon! Why don't you close your eyes to prevent yourself from looking at something so monstrous that is going to haunt your dreams."

He was right. He was going to haunt her dreams. Was? He was already haunting her dreams. Without a word, she closed her eyes. A bad move on her part. With her eyes closed, the feel of him around her was multiplied. She could feel his breath fanning her face. She could feel him just inches apart.

Now she understood, what people meant when they said that blind people had enhanced senses. With her eyes closed, she was relying on her nose and her ears. Every creaking sound that the wooden ladder made, alerted her.

She didn't want to jerk her head up because there was slight possibility of her crashing into him! What if their lips crashed? NO! NO! NO!

Peeking at him through her lashes, she licked her lips in anticipation. When was she going to get free? It didn't take this much time when she was helping the kitten.

"How much long is it going to take?"

"Done!" He said and she opened her eyes. Fluttering them at him, she waited for him to climb down.

"Well, let's get you down." He said but didn't move.

"I am not getting on your back!" She said looking horrified that he would suggest something so improper. This is PAKISTAN ! Duhhhh! Na mahram ! Hawwww !

"I wasn't asking you too" He muttered.

"Then what are you waiting for. Climb down. I will follow you." She said looking sharply at him.

"Right!" He said as he descended the ladder in swift motion.

Irtaza was back on the ground, holding the ladder in place as he waited for her to get down the wall while Zoya sat there calculating her options.

Is this the right time to tell him that I am afraid of heights? She wondered.

Obviously, it wasn't. She should have taken his offer when he was saying he was going to help her down. Maybe it meant that he was going to hold her hand and help her down. Or whatever miraculous way he had. Staring down at the ground, Zoya felt dizzy with fear.

It wasn't fair how she had so many phobias while some people went around having none.

"Waiting for red carpet?" He asked gingerly.

God, she wanted to kill him. Strangle him to death.

"Sure! If you may..." She tried to sound cheery but couldn't keep worry from her voice.

"I won't let the ladder fall, if that is what you are worried about." He reassured. And she nodded hesitantly. Why had she climbed when she was afraid of heights? It was beyond her. Now she couldn't let him think that she was chicken.

Nodding thrice at him, she took a hesitant step on the ladder which creaked under her weight, alarming her already racing heart.

"You aren't worried that I might knock you down with the ladder?"

"No!" he replied as he firmly held the ladder.

Moments like these she really wanted to strangle him. She hated how he was replying with a single word. Khali(Just) no ! Without an explanation as if he was some elite being and every word of his was wisdom worth diamonds and gold.

Looking sharply down at him, she noticed how solid and strong he looked. His strong arms by his side, would catch her with ease. Won't they? Dependable! The thought hit her like the freezing cold gush of wind, and she shivered. He may have been an absolute jerk, who irritated the goodness out of her, but he really was dependable. And she didn't know why, but she trusted herself with him.

Three steps, she had descended down three steps only, when she messed up and before she knew it, she fell down on the ground with a thud. Letting out a choked cry of pain, she shot her draggers at him. She was angry at him for being there, witnessing all that. She hated showing weakness in front of this man.

Only this man because he saw her an ultimate loser, a weakling. She was a loser alright, accepted the fact with grace but not the ultimate one!

He was by her side in a second, kneeling down on his knees, "You, stupid fool", he muttered but she could feel a concern in his voice. Or maybe she had lost her mind and was imagining it.

"Show me!" He commanded the next instant.

She wasn't going to show him her ankle. Firstly because ,it would mean that she had to remove her shoes, which was going to hurt a lot. Secondly because she knew it was twisted and didn't want him to consider it as another feather in a "Zoya is a stupid idiot" hat.

Grudgingly patting her right foot, Zoya decided to stand up. She didn't want his charity followed by his unsavory remarks. So, talking a deep breath, she tried to stand up. She stumbled as the pain shot through her ankle but kept quiet.

Irtaza gritted his teeth, said something quite nasty under his breath -she didn't hear it but knew it in her heart that it was nasty, as he watched her limp her way towards the phone which she had placed on the stone, beside the wall.

Raising his hand, he stopped her and got her phone and headphones for her. Placing them in her hands he studied her pained expression. Irtaza had a feeling that Zoya was in more pain than she'd let on, but he didn't realize the intensity of it until he saw her limp her way towards the farmhouse.

He briefly considered lifting her in his arms, but it seemed inappropriate in so many ways. He didn't give a damn about what others were going to think if they saw her in his arms as he carried her inside. But he knew she was going to have a hell of a time fretting about what aunties thought (even if aunties ignored it.) God, why did he feel like her knew her? As if he could tell everything about her?

BECAUSE SHE TOLD YOU ALL HER SECRETS, SOME OF WHICH YOU HAVE WRITTEN IN YOUR DIARY, ESQUIRE Haider!

He was getting late, but he couldn't well leave her alone in the dark, so he followed her. God, he was just supposed to deliver Alizey's Mehndi's dress like an errand boy and leave. JUST his luck that he was stuck with her.

Her breathing was followed by an agonized hiss when she placed her injured foot on the ground. He noticed how she would hold her breath before taking a step. He didn't blame her. She really looked like she had been going through hell.

He waited for her to compose herself.

" I might have injured myself!" she said tightly.

"Why did you jump though?" He asked.

"I was eager to land on the ground." She said tightly. He recognized that tone. It was the tone of the person who had conceded that they were wrong and didn't want any further explication on that matter. It was one he used quite rarely. Because he rarely did concede.

"We are just a few steps away from the farmhouse." He said encouragingly.

"It hurts." She admitted.

"I know it does." He said smiling. He wasn't sure why he had this sudden urge to smile. He was glad for the dark. She couldn't see his face, otherwise she would have taken it as an offence to herself. He wasn't smiling at her misery.

"No, you don't know!" She protested and again he found himself smiling.

Irtaza followed her as she limped her way to the farmhouse. Her jaw was clenched, and it was clear she was trying her damned best not to cry. Reaching the foot of the farmhouse, she let out a breath of relief.

Turning her head towards him, she whispered. "Thank you."

Had she just thanked him? He couldn't help with the look of disbelief that was reflected on his face. She had uttered the words 'thank' and 'you' in the same sentence! She did that with everyone, except him.

But you haven't given her a reason to thank you. You were jerk to her during the flight.

It might have something to do with skipping the morning coffee. But after the airport, I was nice to her. Was I not?

He was debating with himself when her voice pulled him out of his mental courtroom.

"It was dark, and I would have been stuck there—", she said as she sniffed.

" If you hadn't rescued me." She cleared her throat once again as she looked at him and offered him a smile.

He knew she was in great pain and appreciated her attempt at a smile. He acknowledged this with a brief nod.

"Thank you for walking me back too." She added.

"Zoya! Yaar kidhar gayab ho gaen then?(Where were you ?)" Kaiant asked as she opened the main door.

"We have been calling you since forever!" Kaiant added and then she noticed Irtaza standing there.

"Ohhh ! Irtaza." Kaiant's mouth hung open as she finally noticed Irtaza . Her gaze travelling towards Irtaza and then back to Zoya's disheveled state.

"I thought you left. Jaldi nai the app ko. Kisi say milnay jana tha?

( Were you not in haste? Did you have an appointment with someone?)" She asked as she raised her eyebrows in a "fishy! I see what important business you had" gesture and he shook his head in disagreement. Before he could throw light on that matter, Zoya limped her way towards Kainat and took her outstretched hand.

"Kya hua?" (What happened)

"I fell..... !" She replied

"Jumped from the ladder." He corrected.

"What were you doing on the ladder? Aren't you afraid of heights?"

Irtaza turned to her with an expression that suggested that he was beyond exasperated.

"You are afraid of heights?"

"No." She replied quickly, and his eyes narrowed. She knew there was no way he believed her. Her bland smile wasn't a placation either. And just like that, the moment of comfort and respect was gone. Pufff! Into the air. GONE! The look in his eyes, suggested that he wanted to ripe someone's head. And it was very likely that he was imaging hers.

Whispering "Khuda Hafiz" to Kaiant he ignored her and turned his back on them, leaving them on the foyer.

"Let's go inside please, Kainat. It's so cold!" She whispered and Kainat nodded not before giving her a-you-need-to-explain-all-this-missy look!

Why every encounter with him is so embarrassing?

Meri kya galti hai. (What is my mistake?)

Ufff Allah miyan !

Lessons learned today>>>>>

1st: NEVER CLIMB SOMETHING ON A FOLDING CHAIR. NEVERRR!!!

2nd: NEVER CLOSE your eyes with the other person is in your face. Especially if its someone you have a slight crush on. Wait what? Where did that come from?

2nd: Never put your phone aside when you on a rescue mission. Because you find yourself in need of rescue i.e. always have backup!

فی امان اللہ

Idk who to imagine as Irtaza.(Agr thori help ho jati tu....👉🏻👈🏻)

Love Noor-e-Jehan ✨