Today was Sunday, which means I was free for the day. I prayed Fajr—it’s so peaceful at that time, and I love the stillness in the air. There was no plan for the day. I got up from the floor and went to my balcony, where I sat for a while. I love sitting there after praying. It holds a peacefulness I crave, a comfort I find in my prayers.
I freshened up and put on a brown T-shirt and beige pants, paired with a silver watch. I went downstairs for breakfast and saw Mom and the cook in the kitchen preparing food.
“As-salamu alaykum, Ammi,” I greeted.
“Wa alaykum as-salam, beta,” Ammi replied.
“Where are Baba and Nadia?”
“Your Baba is freshening up, and as for Nadia, I don’t know,” Ammi said.
“I’ll check on her,” I replied.
I knocked on Nadia’s bedroom door. I heard her say, “Come in,” so I opened the door and saw her lying on her bed, chatting with someone on her phone.
“Nadia, come downstairs and have breakfast.”
“Coming, Bhai,” she said.
“Who are you talking to?”
“I’m talking to Dua, Bhai,” Nadia replied.
I froze when she said Dua’s name. I don’t know why, but my heart skipped a beat. “Jaldi aana,” I said before leaving.
She was talking to Dua. I realized I was smiling—smiling so hard. I rarely smile like that. I don’t know what’s happening to me—whenever I’m with Dua, or even when I hear her name, something changes in me. Am I falling for her? No, I can’t. She’s my sister’s best friend. I can’t like her… or can I? She’s messing with my heart and mind.
“Your Baba and I are going out. We’ll be back before dinner,” Ammi said as we were having breakfast.
“Kahan ja rahe ho aap log?” I asked.
“We’re going to Pupho’s place,” Baba replied.
“Achha,” Nadia said.
I continued eating in silence. My family usually doesn’t talk much during meals. We’re not the warm, affectionate kind of family people assume we are. I don’t share my problems with them, and they don’t share theirs with me. That’s why I never really learned how to express my emotions—or how to love—because to learn love, you need to be loved first.
My parents do love me, and I love them too, but they’ve never understood the kind of love I needed, or the kind of family I wished for.
“Ammi, Baba, I forgot to tell you something,” Nadia said, breaking the silence.
“What is it?” Ammi asked.
“Actually, Dua is coming over today,” Nadia said.
I snapped my head toward her, barely believing what I had just heard.
“Thik hai na, let her come,” Ammi said casually to Nadia.
I was still processing the fact that Dua was coming over. My God—Dua is coming.
Nadia burst into my room while I was talking to a friend. We had just decided to meet for lunch.
“I’ll call you later,” I said, ending the call. “What happened, Nadia?”
“Bhai, we need to go. Please, just don’t ask anything right now,” she said urgently.
“Okay, but where? And why are you panicking?”
“It’s Dua. We need to pick her up—something happened to her,” Nadia replied, shocking me.
What on earth had happened to her?
I was getting scared and nervous now.
Ya Allah, please keep her safe. Please don’t let anything happen to her.
As I was driving, I was getting more and more worried about her. When we arrived, I saw her standing there—relief washed over me. Nadia hurried over to her and hugged her tightly. They came and sat in the back seat.
I glanced at her through the rearview mirror. I was relieved, but at the same time, a sense of guilt crept in—for not being there for her. I wanted to protect her. I didn’t know what had happened near the café, but I wanted to find out.
She’s making me go crazy for her.
We reached my house, and they got out of the car and went straight inside. While I was parking, I got a call from my friend—the one I was talking to earlier.
“Hello, Salar, where are you? Are you coming or not?” Zayyan asked.
“Hey Zayyan, sorry bro, I actually can’t come today.”
“It’s fine. Let’s meet next week then—don’t forget! And if you do, you’re dead. Also, if you ever want to talk about anything, I’m here,” Zayyan replied.
“I won’t forget, you know me. And I’ll talk to you if I need to, don’t worry,” I said.
We ended the call, and I went inside. I was lucky to have Zayyan as my friend—actually, my best friend. We’ve been friends since school. He’s a politician now—a very powerful one. Everyone fears him. He has that kind of aura—just one look from him, and you’ll understand why people are afraid of him.
I was heading to my room, but the urge to eavesdrop took over me. I slowly stepped toward Nadia’s room to listen. Dua was speaking—her voice was clear, sweet, and soothing, like rain. She was explaining everything that had happened. My hand curled into a fist. Then she broke down in tears. I could hear her, and the urge to comfort her was overwhelming.
But I didn’t listen to my heart—because when you listen to your heart, there’s always a risk of loss. And I’m a businessman. I prefer profit.
After lunch, Nadia asked me to drop Dua home since it was getting late. I usually don’t do things for anyone except my family and close friends—but with her, I keep making exceptions. Nadia said to pick Dua up—I did. Nadia said to drop her off—here I am, doing it.
While driving, I made eye contact with her through the mirror. It was intense. My heart skipped a beat and started racing. This always happens when I’m around her. She broke the eye contact and looked down. Her hazel eyes—they’re captivating. Eyes I could drown in. What the hell am I thinking?
I shifted my focus back to the road, but I felt someone’s gaze. I looked into the mirror—and there were Dua’s eyes, staring at me intently. This time, she didn’t look away. Those hazel eyes… I would do anything to make sure they never fill with tears. And when I say anything, I mean it.
We arrived at her house. Nadia and Dua both got out of the car and started talking. Dua glanced at me from the side and smiled. It was a small smile—but it left me breathless.
Ya Allah, what is happening to me? She actually smiled at me. I was still processing it when Nadia came toward me.
“Bhai, ek favor hai—please gussa mat hona,” Nadia said.
“Haan, bolo, kya hai?”
“Woh… actually, Bhai, can you pick up Dua’s car tomorrow and give it to her? Please don’t say no—she asked for you specifically,” Nadia said.
I was stunned for a moment. Dua asked me to pick up her car? Whoa.
“Achha, main pick kar loonga. Boldo Dua ko,” I replied.
Nadia nodded and went to tell Dua. My God, I keep surprising myself. These new sides of me—I didn’t even know they existed.
As Nadia was about to get back in the car, Dua called her and handed her the car keys. They said goodbye, and Dua went inside. Nadia sat in the car.
“Yeh lo, Bhai—Dua ki car keys,” Nadia said, handing them to me.
I started the car and drove home.
As I was driving, my mind was full of thoughts about Dua. Nadia said something that brought my attention back to her.
“Bhai, sorry, aapko itna sab kuch karna pad raha hai,” Nadia said.
I gave her an “are you serious?” look.
“Oh God, Nadia, if I didn’t want to do it, I would’ve said no. Mujhe tumhari friend ki madad karni thi. Koi badi baat nahi hai, so don’t be sorry,” I replied.
“Sachi mein, Bhai, thank you!” Nadia said.
“Ice cream?” I asked, knowing she wouldn’t refuse.
“Of course, Bhai!” Nadia replied.
We stopped at an ice cream shop.
“Which flavor?”
“Hmmm, chocolate,” Nadia replied.
“Okay, I’ll have coffee flavor.”
While we were eating our ice cream, I got the urge to ask about Dua—like her hobbies and what she likes to do. Should I ask or not?
“Nadia, tell me more about your friend Dua,” I said.
Nadia just looked at me, shocked.
“Kyu, Bhai? Aapko achi lagti hai kya Dua?” she replied, smirking.
I almost choked on my ice cream.
“Nai toh, I was just asking.”
“Achha,” Nadia said, though she didn’t seem convinced.
“Mujhe kyu achi lagegi vo? I was just curious, that’s it.”
“Acha, I will tell you,” Nadia replied. I didn’t know why she was smiling now.
“Not now, Nadia. Ghar jaake, thik hai? Let’s go, we’re getting late.”
We arrived home. Nadia went inside the house while I was packing the car.
“As-salamu alaykum.”
“Wa alaykum as-salam,” someone replied.
I got startled by the voice. I walked deeper into the hall and saw my parents.
“Kab aaye aap log?”
“Thodi der pehle,” Ammi replied.
“Achha, I’m going to freshen up.”
“Kaha gaye the tum dono?” Ammi asked.
“Woh, Dua ko drop karne gaye the.”
“Achha,” Ammi replied.
“Nadia kaha hai?”
“Woh toh room mein chali gayi fresh hone,” Ammi said.
“Ok,” I replied.
After taking a cold shower, I put on some PJs, and just as I was finishing, Ammi called for dinner. I went downstairs and sat beside Nadia.
“What’s for dinner, Ammi?” I asked.
“Guess what it is,” Ammi replied.
I just smiled at her. “Chicken?”
“Yess!” Ammi said.
“Aaj ka din kaise tha tum dono ka?” Baba asked.
“It was complicated,” I said.
“Yeah, it was eventful,” Nadia added.
“Kyu, kya hua?” Baba asked.
Nadia explained everything that had happened today.
“Ya Allah,” Ammi said.
“I hope Dua is doing better,” Nadia said.
I was feeling weird now—I didn’t know why. Maybe because I wasn’t there with her to protect her from those bastards.
“Kal jao, Nadia, Dua ke ghar,” Ammi said to Nadia.
Nadia just hummed in reply.
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