"Hey" a soft touch on my arm and little shake makes me flinch back and snap my eyes open "were you asleep?" I quickly shake my head standing on my feet to check him and to make sure with my eyes, if he is not bruised or if they hit him because even though they didn't had muscle they looked dangerous.
"I am fine" he takes my trembling hands in his while answering my unquestioned answer. "Let's get out hmm?" I quickly shake my head before cornering myself near the table as I blink away my tears. I don't want to go out, what if they get angry and come again? No no I am not going out.
Ziyan takes a steps forward seeing my flinched and trembling figure, "Why are you scared Ziah? There is nothing to be scared off, you are safe, completely safe. You are my strongest girl right? And strong girls don't cry" I angrily wipe my tears looking down at his shoes not even able to look at him, if I was in another situation I would have laughed from the way he is consoling me as if I'm a small kid but every word he is saying is only calming me down now.
"Since they have scared you, do you want to go kick, slap or punch them like a superwoman you are" a chuckle leaves my lips when he gives my stomach a light punch, I shake my head not having the guts to go look at them "hmm okay as you wish, but now come give me a hug" he open his arm asking me to give him something which is the only thing a human needs when they have lot's of things going in their mindâA hug.
Without any hesitation I move forward to squeeze him in my arms "Thank you thank-you so much" I mumble against his chest but hear his breathe shuddering and when I look up I see his eyes glistening but he gives me a soft smile "you don't have to thank me, a smile is what I want to see on your face and not these stupid tears hmm?" He gives me a soft smile warming my heart with his words.
"Now let's go out and how does an ice cream sound at this hour?" He squints his eyes looking down at me "tasty" I mumble grinning when he chuckles nodding.
He smiled....he chuckled...I am not overreacting. I am not admiring his smile, it's not me.
He pulls me forward by my hand and holds my hand securely in his big rough yet protective ones, I follow him but with my eyes low, didn't want to see any faces of those ugly men.
We walk to were Ziyan is leading us and I squeeze his hand unknowingly when I hear many voice followed by groans and apologies of mens in which I can clearly recognise the voice of the early men who was talking all filthy things, the voices echos from the receptionist area where Ziyan must've taught them a good lesson.
But he leads me to the back side of the building and I feel so much revealed knowing I won't be passing by them and their eyes wont linger on me.
When we reach the back side which leads to the parking lot a man rushes towards us, quickly handling Ziyan his car keys and I move behind to be hidden behind his back cause for some reason I was feeling very uncomfortable to even come in view.
Ziyan mutters a small thankyou before he pulls me towards his parked car and opens the door so I could sit.
A very gentleman behaviour.
After saying something to the man that handed him his keys, he hops in and starts driving at a good relaxing speed. Which is above mine he crosses the 50 which I have never crossed.
And talking about speedâmy bike!
"Wait!" I pat Ziyan's thigh in a hurry so he stops the car in a dramatic way with a loud swift as the car goes sliding to the corner and wind blows at the high swift stop and soon takes a u-turn so my scooter is not abandoned by me even though he was the one who said 'I don't love you, let's break up, first' but nothing happens he normally drives in his calm speed and turns to look at me with a raised eyebrow as if I did not just yelled a dramatic loud 'wait'
"What is it?" Rolling my eyes at his boring full voice I speak "my scooter is left behind, take u-turn I can't abandon my scooty like that"...even though he broke up firâshutup Ziah.
"Where do you want to keep your scooty madam?" He takes a brief glance at me and again keeps his eyes on the road. "I don't know, in your car trunk? It was a gift from uncle! So you better take a u-turn now and take me to my scooter" he looks at me annoyed when he hears me yelling for no apparent reason that's what he thinks, but for me it is, I treasure gifts the most even if it was the one who first broke up withâZiah, That's enough.
"Ziah you should no I am not as dumb as you are and for your kind information I've already taken care about it so stop worrying andâ" his words were cut off by his phone ringing with a sigh that his speech was cut off he pulls his phone out. Every time he has to give me a speech. Or else his day wont go good, stupid human.
But takes a glance at me "your mom" he raises his eyebrow but forwards the phone "No I don't want to talk" I quickly shake my head, knowing I would break down even if there was nothing to cry about just by listening to her voice.
A hint of concern and worry flashes in Ziyan's eyes but I was to busy blinking my eyes and squeezing my lip in my teeth to even notice his soft expression which I always miss to see.
"Assalamu alaikum aunty" Ziyan parks the car in the corner of the road as he speaks after a long pause he again speaks but takes a peek at me and knowing how much of curios human I can be he presses the loud speaker so I could hear.
"âcall is not reaching, do you know where she is darling. We are worried its already past 9" I bite my lips to not cry when I hear her voice filled with worry.
"I am so sorry aunty but you don't have to worry, Ziah is completely fine she is with me. I should have informed you first that I was keeping back Ziah for work, It completely slipped out of my mind I am so sorry" a gasp of relief leaves her lips and she yells out that I am fine and that I am with Ziyan to obviously Abbu and Saif.
"It's not your fault darling, but where the hell did this girl keep her phone! I am calling her since decade and she is not picking it up" A chuckle leaves our lips hearing her voice changing so quickly.
"I am not sure where her phone is, but I'll tell her you called me and um aunty can she stay at our house today? Since it's already late and mamma was also asking about Ziah.." she quickly replies and I can already imagine her grinning "Ofcourse son of course take her, keep her she is all yours, I am happy you guys are getting along" she laughs which looked completely fake but I know it was not fake because I can tell she is happy and only god knows why she gets so hyped up seeing us together.
"Huh? Okay.." Ziyan peeks at me confused at my mums sudden enthusiastic behaviour.
After loud bye bye's they cut the call.
"Okay, why is aunty being so happy about you staying with us for a night, I didn't know you were so troublesome that they want you gone even if it was for a night" Ziyan shakes his head with a very tiny small smile and I roll my eyes resting my head on headset of the seat.
Only if he knew what is going inside mamma's head and why she is always enthusiastic about us, I which I was on the same track of being clueless on why she is all hyped up like he is but my evil curious ears has to eavesdrop on everything and that's how I came to know how she is planning my Nikkah in her mind with the one I am sitting beside.
Why do they always forget he is my cousin, for Godsake!
This guy should be grateful that I am not acting all shy shy towards him even after hearing my mamma's and some other elders dreadful plan which can never come true, I can bet one dollar over it!
Exactly 10 minutes later he stops the car near a peaceful place where there is also an ice cream truck selling ice cream late night.
"Here" he hands me the mint flavoured I asked for and tucks his hands in the pocket probably feeling cold standing near the beautiful ocean which is below us.
"You are not eating?" He shakes his head looking forward with a clam expression "Why?" My rubber mouth does not Shutup and I start a stupid conversation when I can tell he only wants peace "because I don't want to" the rude reply he gives me, Is all I die forâI hope it reached as sarcastic as it meant to be.
I hum licking my ice cream but a giggle leaves my lips when I accidentally bump the cone up to my nose, scrunching my nose at this odd feeling I was about to wipe it away with my Abaya sleeves but Ziyaan stops me "Stop that" he gives me a glare for acting childish maybe, I don't know, cause he is unreadable, I can't understand what he thinks just by looking into his eyes.
He pulls out his handkerchief and moves forward when he is inches apart he lifts my chin up with his long rough fingers which makes my gulp a big amount of air and saliva and I stop myself from choking and coughing on his face
He, with so much interest wipes the tip of my button nose and still holding my chin in his fingers, he wipes the corner of my lips and my cheek, did I really eat like a kid that it is smudged all of my face.
It's all the winds fault because of heavy winds I was trying to keep my hijaab in place and I am sure that's when I smudged it all over my face.
"Here you go" he runs his thumb across my cheek leaving me bewildered behind at his action and as if that was not enough my cheeks slowly started catching the pink tint color when I realised what just happened.
Ziyan backs away as if nothing happened and I force myself to lick the ice cream and not let my cheeks turn the exact same as tomato.
"What do you want to eat for dinner?" He breaks the silence between us which looked as though a tough awkward silence for me but I know it was peaceful one for him.
"Anything" I mumble still not getting out of the shy state he left and I hate myself for suddenly acting like a shy teen "What's that? I never had that before" he squints his eyes in interest which leads to me rolling my eyes for the hundred and one th time today "That was a very bad joke Ziyan" I tell him the truth and he hums in response like always giving a useless pointless reaction.
Who hums when I am insulting them.
"Lasagna..I want to eat Lasagna" he scrunches his nose up "unhealthy" he mutters only to earn a smack from me "Shutup Mr. Fit body" I grin looking at him but it drops in quick second when he winks after hearing me say fit body.
He winked god....he winked...I am not overreacting, I am not the one fangirling, It's not me.
I press my lips together trying my best to not look at this Ziyan who is taking my breathe away today because of his actions.
25 minutes later
"Assalamu alaikum!!" I yell while running in the house where people who love me are eagerly waiting for my presence "Oh myâ" a gasp leaves my cute little cousin brother, Naim's lips when his eyes drops on me.
He throws his controller away and jumps out of the couch on to again jumps and hug me "I missed you!" He screams right next to my ear as I do the same "I missed you too!!" We ignore the scoff that comes behind by none other than a jealou Ziyan that's what I want to label it as but I know that can never happen I am sure he must be thinking 'what a dramatic souls we have here' but he won't understand the love we have for each otherâso let's ignore him.
"How are you doing buddy" he asks me grinning widely "Doing great after seeing you" he giggles at my cheeky line as he moves away but holds my hand dragging me in.
"Ammi will be so happy seeing you after a month" I giggle like a mad women feeling shy after feeling so much important and loved.
"You stay here" Naim whispers and opens the door of aunties room and I take a peek to see Ziyan already seated on the bed as he cranes his head to look at Naim who entered but a halal curse leaves his lips when he sees Aunty already grinning probably upset that Ziyan already said her about my arrival without giving any dramatic introduction.
"Assalamu alaikum!" I jump inside, doing my dramatic entry myself, I run in to go hug my lovely aunty who always gives me 50$ when I meet herâhey that's not the only reason I love her, she is extra super duper truper sweet.
"Walaikum asalam my sweetheart" she cries hugging with a bright grin "Finally someone decided to go see her dying aunty?" A pout forms on my lips when I hear her "Don't say that!" She giggles nodding but quickly apologised in a cutest manner knowing how bad our bright mood will turn when reality hits us.
"How is my baby doing? I missed you so much" she tells me something I should be telling first because I missed her the most "I missed you more aunty" I hug her getting on my knees to lay down next to her so I can hug her properly, I kick Ziyan's leg away accidentally when he sits on the bed unmoved.
Can't he see I am trying to lay down.
"Move away big boy" I kick his leg again, ignoring the fact that it was so disrespectful of me "I am sorry but I can't" he doesn't point out about me kicking his leg that is something I am grateful about because if he points out in a serious way then I would have been so embarrassed and felt guilty but thank god he did not. A whine of irritation leaves my lips but I throw my legs on his lap while laying beside my aunty who giggles hugging me back, her hand runs through my hair as she leans down to press a kiss on the top of my head.
"Your staying right?" She asks me in a low voice and I nod with a grin "You have eaten you dinner right?" I shake my head at that but I feel Ziyan holding ankle and I squirm cursing under my breathe when he pulls my finger to hear the crack sound "don't you dare to that Ziyan" I pull my leg away sitting up but he raises his eyebrow in a challenging away before holding my ankle tightly so I am not able to pull away and he runs his finger tips on the sole of my footâfreaking hell.
I yell a No' before a grin and laughter brokes down on my lips at the feeling of his finger, Naim grins encouraging his brother to torture me more but I hear aunty laughing looking at me squirming like a fish.
"No! Ziyan stop that!" I yell laughing when he does not stop his torture "Darling I want you to first apologise for throwing your legs on an elder person so disrespectfully and for even kicking me like a brat, come on apologise like a good girl" he playfully tells and ever so slowly runs his finger on the sole of my leg literally taking my breathe away by his action and from the way I am laughing and squirming my body is already hanging from the bed but I know I wont fallâZiyan won't let me fall.
"I hate you" my loud laughter echo's through the room and when I thought he stopped my torture I sit up holding Ziyan's arm who was surprisingly smile but the thing I didn't know was the lion approaching me from behind and a loud gasp of surprise leaves my lips followed by tones of laughter when Naim digs his finger in my waist tickling me to death "Stop that!" I throw myself on Ziyan who is right infront of me.
They do not stop, they have teamed up against this poor soul, who did nothing!
"Apology is what I asked for sweetheart" he gives me a cocky grin and I punch his arm before yelling multiple sorries "Sorry my majesty now leave me you freaking nugget!" He laughs with amusement in his eyes and I finally breathe when Naim stops his torture "I thought of staying for a week and playing with my little Naim but see how I will be leaving tomorrow" I warn the brat whose eyes widens hearing me. He pulls my arm and drags my with a whine and I had to hold Ziyan to not fall and maybe die.
I shake my head at his apology acting like a witch with this little baby but peek at Ziyan on whom I am practically sitting as his hands are on my waist in a protective way with his eyes on Naim and I bites my lips only now noticing how inappropriate it looks, I quietly back away but see aunty looking at me with a smile.
God...that smile tells everything about what is going inside her head, the dreadful plan they are planning which can never come true.
But from the way your being so close to him tells another story Ziah.
Astaghfirullah! Who the hell spoke that just now! There is no other story.
I hope there is no other story...
*****
A/n: Sorry for making you all wait and for the late update :(
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.