They had reached the park and their ice creams had finished. There was a normal rush in the park. Some children were playing badminton on one side, some were running after each other. Some girls and boys were walking and talking. There were swings also. Aania and Hadiqa sat on a bench.
"Have you ever been here before?" Hadiqa came to this park for the first time, so she asked.
"Hmmm ... in the evening I used to come with Mama and in the morning with Dad," Aania said looking at the children playing in front of her. Her eyes were filled with moisture.
"A girl is talking about her affairs. listen." Hadiqa wanted to turn her attention to the girls sitting next to her but Aania stared at her.
"What? she's talking loudly. Her voice is coming to me automatically." Hadiqa made a face.
"Okay, let's go there," said Aania, pointing to the other bench.
"I am not going? Her love story is interesting. I want to hear it" hadiqa pouted.
"Hearing someone without their permission is spying. get the permission first, then listen carefully." Aania advised.
"You're saying as if she's ready to give me permission," said Hadiqa with disappointment. Some moments passed in silence.
"Look at that girl ... standing next to this tree." Hadiqa pointed to one side and said.
"who?" Aania looked at the tree. There were three girls.
" the one in the red dress," Hadiqa said and she shook her head.
"Now, what's about her?"
"She's talking to someone," she said secretly.
"But there is no one else, who will she talk to?" Aania said in surprise.
"The one she is talking to is behind the tree. I think he is her boyfriend" Hadiqa guessed.
" It's bad hadiqa!" Aania scolded her.
"I want to hear a romantic emotional conversation, you sit here. I will be back in a few minutes" Hadiqa got up, saying, and walked towards the girl without listening to Aania.
She stood near the tree in a place where she was not seen by the couple and started listening to their conversation. The girl was taking promises from the boy while the boy was telling his difficulties. She thought that there would be a different story, but it was the same one. She wrinkled her nose. Someone patted her shoulder from behind.
"Hush aani. I haven't heard anything special yet." She said without looking behind.
"What are you doing here?" It was the heavy voice of a man. Hadiqa's heart skipped a beat with fear. She turned with a jolt. He was a handsome man, looking at her with deep black eyes. Hadiqa became still for some moments to see his charming face. He had a short boxed beard and soldier cut hair, wearing a white collar shirt and black jeans.
"Huh… I was... what are you doing here?" She stammered first then questioned.
"Spying on you Now tell me what you were doing here." The man smiled. his gleaming eyes were fixed at Hadiqa's beautiful face. She got so nervous by his gaze.
"Why would I tell you? Mind your own business." She looked around.
" My business is spying on you." He said putting his arms on his chest.
" Look, mister!" She pointed her finger at him.
"I am looking." He got amused.
"Shut up " she emitted and ran towards Aania. She had seen that man and was about to go there but hadiqa came to her.
"Ani! Let's go home now" Hadiqa hurriedly grabbed her hand.
"What happened? What was that man saying to you?"
"I don't know. He was talking nonsense. Look, he is coming here. Let's go." Hadiqa said in fear, as she looked behind.
"Why are you so scared?" Aania asked.
Meanwhile, he approached them. Hadiqa hid behind her.
"It's a bad thing to interfere in anyone's privacy, Miss Hadiqa," he said, looking at Hadiqa. Aania looked at Hadiqa in surprise. Hadiqa was shocked. He knew her name and that she was interfering in someone's privacy. Her eyes widened at first then she closed her eyes tightly. She looked so cute.
"Do you know him?" Aania asked Hadiqa, who nodded with closed eyes
"How do you know her?" Aania turned to him.
" I saw her just now. A couple was talking and she was secretly listening to them. By the way, if you are so fond of romantic dialogues let me speak to you it. "said the man, with a slight smile.
"Be in your limits." She shouted angrily.
"Oh, you get angry." He raised his eyebrows. Aania was observing him with silence. She felt she had seen him before.
"Ani, let's get off here, otherwise my temper will be loose and I will smash his head." She took Aania's hand and walked away. She wanted to escape from his eyesight. She couldn't understand what was in his eyes and his words made her head spin. She was not scared of any man before that.
"My Repentance. I will not do it again. How did he know that I was secretly listening to someone? He was also spying on me but giving me the lecture about it. And if he did find out, then what was the need to tell it so loudly in front of people." Hadiqa was venting her anger now
"And what was the need to go there and spy on someone. He must have seen it," said Aania.
"Don't scold me. My heart is already trembling. "
" Why?" Aania amazed
" I got scared of his eyes. " She said innocently.
" Why are you so coward. Be Brave. He couldn't do anything." Aania comforted her. It was getting dark and they were near the house. The watchman was nowhere. there were very few people around. Two boys stared at them, passing by there.
"sweet girls! Why are you wandering around here at night? " One boy said.
Aania stopped and turned to him.
The boys looked at each other in astonishment because they thought that Aania should have started trembling with fear. But here the situation was reversed. Aania was not scared But Hadiqa was a little scared.
"Come on Ani. The house is near. Let's run away." She grabbed her arm and spoke.
"Looks like the girls are scared," said the other boy, laughing.
"Why would we be afraid of you? You are not a cockroach" Aania smirked. They both got angry.
"Wow, I liked it." A boy controlled his anger and got close to her.
"Aania!" Hadiqa tried to pull her but she did not move.
"Wait a minute. I think he wants to show his power. And I want to see it." Aania said looking at his face.
"Why not. I will show you my power" He shook his head and wanted to grab her wrist, but Aania moved her arm back and grabbed his wrist. In the next moment, she twisted his arm. The boy turned around automatically and sat on his knees. She put her foot on his foot. He screamed aloud. His companion and hadiqa mouths opened with amazement.
"L… leave me….. My foot…. My arm…
Ah," he pleaded and cried. Aania left him and stepped back. His companion bent to help him.
"Be a man, bro. Men don't cry." Aania made him furious again.
"You jerk, she beat me but you did not stop her. what are you seeing my face now, take my revenge" he exploded at his companion.
"What are you saying to him? Do you want him to be beaten by me?" She raised her eyebrows.
"You don't know who I am. I'll take revenge on you." He shouted.
" Sure. But first, you should get treatment for your broken foot bone." She said casually and turned. Hadiqa was still in astonishment. Aania grabbed her hand and moved towards her house.
" Where did you learn this?" hadiqa asked with interest.
"From Dad," she said in a low voice. A flashback came to her mind.
"Dad, why do I need to learn to fight? You're a policeman. I'll tell you who tried to hurt me." Aania was saying innocently.
"My dear daughter, the situation will not remain the same for whole life. A time will come when I will not be with you. " He said, touching her head with love.
"But Dad, why would you go away from me? " She asked sadly.
"Every human has to go one day or another. And I want you to be able to protect yourself without me."
"you are making me sad by saying such things," she said angrily
"Ok, I won't do it, let's start training. today's training will be a little tough." He smiled.
"It is already tough. My academy trainer doesn't train me as hard as you do." She made a face
"But you learn more from me than from them." They asserted.
"Yes, it's right." She smiled.
She did not know tears were flowing down from her eyes
"You're crying, Aania," Hadiqa's voice carried her out of her memory.
Aania rubbed her eyes like a child.
"Oh, I remembered something. Let's go home." She moved ahead quickly so that hadiqa couldn't ask her anything.
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