.

𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑

Shabnam held my hand tighter, her voice trembling slightly, not with fear, but with a delicate emotion she had been holding back.

Shabnam: “Woh mujhe bohot pasand hai, Noor... Itne arsay se us par nazar hai meri. Lekin Ayesha... har dafa us par dore daalti rehti hai.”

Me: “Usmein aisa kya khaas hai jo tum dono ko itna pasand hai?”

Shabnam smiled, dreamy-eyed, completely lost in her affection.

Shabnam: “Ayesha ka toh pata nahi... lekin mujhe lagta hai woh khoobsurat hai. Tum hi dekho na bhuri aankhein, bilkul safed jism, doodh jaisi rangat... aur jab muskurata hai toh lagta hai jaise uski aankhein bhi muskurah rahi ho. Uske bolne se lagta hai jaise phool gir rahe ho itne pyaar se baat krta hai. Aur uski height... Mashallah. Tum use pasand toh nahi karti, na?”

She asked, eyes innocent, heart open. I saw her cheeks turn pink as she thought of him. She was in love, undeniably.

And me?

Had I made a mistake allowing Zaid to "prove" himself?

Me: “Khair... nahi. Tumhe toh pata hi hai mera nikkah pehle se hi teh ho chuka hai kisi aur ke saath. Main toh bas... maze le rahi hoon.”

Shabnam: “Achi baat hai. Lekin uska dil mat todna, samjho Noor... woh waqai accha hai. Kabhi kisi ladki ke saath nahi dekha use, Ayesha aur tumhare siwa.”

Me: “Kisi girlfriend ka naam tak nahi?”

Shabnam: “Lagta toh nahi. Aur koi hoti bhi, toh aisa banda kaun chhodta?”

I didn’t answer.

Just then, another classmate came by and started chatting with Shabnam. I quietly slipped away. Wandering through the corridor, I found myself looking around, and then I saw him.

Zaid. Standing with his friends.

He looked just as Shabnam had described him. Perfectly put together, tall, composed, deep brown eyes hidden behind stillness.

Why didn’t I notice you earlier, Zaid? I stood far enough to not be seen, but close enough to examine him. Everything Shabnam said was true. Maybe... more.

—

𝙀𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑

—

Zaid’s POV

Omar nudged me with a grin.

Omar: “Gazab hai, bhaijaan. Aapne toh machhli fasa hi li.”

Me: “Haan... ab toh sirf pakne ka intezaar hai... phir maze se khaayenge.”

We both laughed as our group joined, drowning in meaningless banter. My eyes, however, were searching for someone.

And then, I found her.

Noor.

She was looking at me, eyes soft, but confused. The second she caught my gaze, she looked away. I smirked and gave a subtle wink. Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink before she walked off.

Abdullah: “Zaid, chalo. Class ka waqt ho raha hai.”

Me: “Chalo.”

—

Next Morning

I woke early, earlier than usual. My hands carefully fixed my hair, each strand aligned perfectly. I chose a crisp white shirt and black jeans, simple but clean.

As I walked downstairs, I saw Ammi serving breakfast. Abu and Salim were already seated.

Abu: “Zaid, aaj tum kuch zyada chamak rahe ho... date hai kya?”

Ammi: “Sharam kijiye! Beta Zaid, aise bekaar ki cheezon mein mat phasna, samjhe?”

Me: “Ji Ammi.”

I chuckled with Abu.

Me: “Waise Abu, aap galat nahi keh rahe...”

I reached for my bag, ready to head out.

Ammi: “Nashta toh kar jao!”

Me: “University mein kar loonga. Ja raha hoon. Assalamu Alaikum.”

Ammi: “Wa Alaikum Assalam, beta.”

—

As soon as I reached university, I didn’t stop. I ran straight to the cafeteria. She was already there, waiting.

I paused for a second at the glass door, fixing my expression. She saw me through the window, smiled. Sweet, subtle, and sincere.

Noor: “Bada intezaar karaya aapne. Mujhe woh ladke pasand nahi jo mujhe intezaar karvate hain.”

Me: “Aage se dhyan rakhunga...”

Noor: “Aapko lagta hai main aapko agle baar moka dungi?”

Me: “Haan, dengi... itna bhi bura nahi hoon main.”

She smiled again.

The game had begun.

But something about her eyes made me wonder

Was it still a game for me? Or had it already started becoming something else for me?

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