Author's POV,
The man is sitting in his office playing with the paperweight, waiting for someone. His secretary came outside his cabin and knocked. He called him in. Putting the file on his desk, he politely asked,
"Sir, the chairman has checked the file himself. What do you want to find?? Maybe I can help you with that??"
But he gestured him to go. Saying no other word, he went away. The man started reading the file with full concentration. He stopped at the project manager's name and smirked. 'HIBA KHAN'. He caresses her name again and again. He didn't read further. His mind was full of her thoughts. The way she presented everything. Confidence was spoken by her every action. Her handshake. Thinking of her handshake, he looked at his palm and smiled.
"Ms. HIBA KHAN, I like your confidence. How professional!! How did you control your emotions so much that you let nothing on your face??" He muttered to himself, again caresses her name. While he called his father and asked,
"Heyy, dad. What's up?? How's aunt?? Is she fine now??"
"Heyy, my boy. I am good. And your phupo(aunt) as well. She's much better than before. She wanted to you come to meet her as well. But, I explained to her on your behalf. Don't forget to return my favor." His dad replied happily.
"Sure, dad. Deal"
"So, what is it, Imo??" His dad asked in a serious tone. As he is well-aware of his son's nature. He didn't call just to ask about his well-being. His sudden question took his son off guard. But soon he recovered and whimper,
"Dad, first stop calling me, Imo. My name is Imran. And yes, I want you to give the project of Shah's company to me. I want to handle it." With determination in his voice.
"Any specific reasons??" His dad asked.
"Nope, let you know after it's done." He said, smiling ear to ear.
"OKK!! Fine."
"Thanks, dad. Talk to you later." He said and ended the call.
"Eagerly waiting for our next meet up, Ms. Hiba." He said to himself while smirking.
Tabish's POV,
As I arrived at his given address, I saw him fighting with a boy. I heard their conversation As I approached him; I heard boy hit his bullet. I thought, OH MY, he hit Rayan's precious bullet. He loves it very much after his mother. I went to him and asked what happened?? He started with his tantrums that how did his bike got hurt?? He was talking like that boy hurt his girlfriend. As I saw how much damage has got?? I was shocked. It got some scratches and its front light got broken. And besides it, all was perfectly fine. I asked him out of curiosity.
"How come you are perfectly fine and the bike got damaged??" He looked at me as if I was some weird creature.
"I was talking on the phone. When this stupid creature came and hit my bullet." He retorted, pointing at that boy. After he finished boy hurriedly said in a pleading tone.
"Something got in my eye and I lost the balance. I am sorry. I called my aapi. She will pay you the damage. Just don't call the police." As I looked at his face, it looked quite familiar. I tried to recall where I saw him before?? But, was interrupted by Rayan's scolding,
"What do you think of yourself, huh?? That I'll let you go so easily. You just wait and watch. I'll make you pay for this. I am calling the police right now."
I realized he was just overreacting about this. When he said he will pay for the damage, that should be fine. As I was about to make him understand. A voice interrupted me.
"Hamdan." A girl called from the main entrance of the restaurant. As the boy had a back towards her, he turned and was rewarded with a tight slap on his right cheek. She was standing facing us and her face was shining in dim light. Her olive colour skin was looking more flawless in it. She was hardly till his shoulder.
Having a closer look at her, I remembered this was the same bomb blasting brother-sister duo from the petrol pump. What a stroke of luck!! I met the same girl twice a day. I thought Rayan messed with the wrong girl and mentally face palmed myself. I came back to reality when I saw that boy removing his hand from the cheek and pleading with his sister. We were a little away from them. So, I couldn't hear any of their talks.
As his hand was going again and again to his cheeks. I was pretty sure he'll have fingerprints on it. Poor boy!! Knowing her sister's temper, how can he do something like this?? If I had a sister like her, I would try to keep myself away from problems as much as possible. Thankfully, my sister is nothing like her.
Just when I again saw her from top to bottom. I realized she looked like she was trying her best not to smash her brother's head against the wall. I looked beside me to Rayan he was also looking at them in curiosity. When he saw me looking at him.
"Dude, you saw how she slapped him?? I was also shocked for a minute. I feel pity towards him. He just told her he hit someone's bike, and she rewarded him with a slap. What she will do if I tell her I want to call the police for that." He said all this without removing the eye from them. He looked at me for a glance.
"Beat him to death." We both said in unison.
"So you drop the idea of it??" I asked him in disbelief. And he nodded and said,
"Looking at her, I feel sorrow for him. I don't want to be the reason behind his death." He joked.
After completing their talk, she came to us. As she approached, her expressions were completely changed. If we haven't seen by our own eyes how angry she was at her brother a minute ago, we won't believe that. I looked at Rayan. He was also shocked as much as I was.
"I am sorry for my brother's mistake. I am ready to pay the damage cost." She said politely. It took us a minute to recover and reply. Rayan laughed dryly and said,
"It's ok. As long as you pay for the damage. Nothing to worry about. It happens sometimes." That boy looked at Rayan and gave a thank-you-to-save-me look, and he nodded at him.
After they did the settlement. We all went inside. Another girl came out of the restaurant. She looked at them and came. As we were behind them, we could hear them.
"What causes both of you so much delay?? And aapi what happened?? Why you came out hurriedly??" she asked.
"Your brother hit someone's bike and I have to settle it." She replied angrily, staring at her brother.
"What!! Is it settled now??" She got shocked by the new information.
"Yup!! Let's go inside. I am starving, as he burned my half-blood."
I was so got up in hearing their conversation that I forgot about my best friend. When three of the sibling went inside, I looked at him. He was standing like a sculpture. I shook him and asked,
"What happened to you?? Saw some ghost??"
"Dude, she's the one. The girl I told you. She was my cousin's project partner. After their project was done. I couldn't see her. And after that mamu(uncle) send me to Goa for that work. I am so happy. Finally, I saw her again." He said happily and hugged me. And continued, "Should I talk to her??"
"No way. Do it, when you both are alone. I don't want to get beaten up by her sister. Didn't you see her??" I protested.
"You are right. Even, I didn't want to get a handicap." He said, thinking about the consequences.
"Let's go. We came here to eat." I said dragged him inside.
Luckily they're table was just beside us. Three of them were chit-chat and laughing. Technically, both younger ones were talking, and that girl was just smiling sometimes and talk in 3-4 words. They were enjoying their dinner. And here we both were, staring at each sister. I didn't like her. But there was something that I wanted to keep staring at her, to want to know more about her. Even being with her siblings, why isn't she happy?? I mean, people normally talk and laugh more around their family. She was reserved with them as well. Thinking about her, we finished our dinner. They left before us.
We leave the restaurant and went for a long drive. As we had a lot to catch up on. No matter how much I deny it, I can't live without sharing things with him. He always helped me with my problems. He can get serious when required. He was always there for me and so was I. No matter how much we fight, we can't live without each other.
We went to our favorite spot, where we used to go when we have a lot to talk about. We parked the car a little away and walked on the sand barefooted. After walking for a while, we sat down. And listened to the sounds of waves. It's the best place for us to clear our thoughts to one another. We never brought or told anyone about this place. It's only ours. After a while, I was the one to speak first.
"Since when did you like her?? That girl. She was quite cheerful, unlike you, who doesn't talk much other than his known people." I asked, looking at him. Thinking of her, he was smiling, looking at his feet. His ears turned red in embarrassment after he realized I was staring at him. He composure himself.
"I told you she was my cousin's project partner. When my cousin came to take care of Ammi for few days. That's when I first saw her. She used to stay late to complete their project. Her name is Kashish. She's in her last year of interior design. That's all I know about her. Every time she uses to look at me and smile. I couldn't gather courage and talk to her. And after their project was completed, she stopped coming and my cousin also went back. So, the tiny chance of meeting/ seeing her has vanished away. After that, I went to her college to talk to her. But, I couldn't. And you know the rest. And today, I saw her again. That's all." He said sighing heavily, thinking what to do?? He didn't look at me for once while talking.
"You should at least try once. Maybe she would agree. After all, who can reject my brother??" I said, trying to give him some hope.
"Yeah, you are right. I should give it a shot." He said with a determination in his tone.
We talked about different things for a while. Throughout our conversation, he never looked at me for once. And when he does that, it means he wants to say something and isn't able to.
"What is it, huh??" I asked him. My sudden question took him off guard. The speed at which he turned his head could beat the light's speed. He was dumbfounded to speak at first. When he regained his consciousness, he asked,
"How do you know??"
"Do you remember how many years I am with you?? Is it hard for me to guess that you want to say something?? Now, spill the beans, my stupid friend?" I replied with a plastic smile on my face.
"I saw Bushra there." He looked at me to read my expression. Just by her name, I felt many emotions at once. But, I decided not to speak anything and nodded to let him continue.
"She was there with her husband and daughter for vacations."
"She has a daughter??" I asked, raising my eyebrows. Trying my best to keep my emotions in check.
"Yes, maybe 3-4 years old."
"Did you talk to her??" I asked, looking down.
"Yup!! She said she misses our old days, our group. She is still angry with you for not attending her wedding."
"Hmm...." I replied, not knowing what to say.
"Dude, move on from her. I told you to confess your feeling. But, when you did, it was already late. Just forget about it. It's been 5 years now." He said with frustration to make me understand, keeping a hand on my shoulder. Desperately waiting for an answer.
I have move on. It's just that whenever someone talks about her, I still feel something. After getting ahold of myself. I said,
"Leave it. I want to ask you something. Can you feel something for someone just in two meets?? I mean, not like/love. But, I feel attracted towards her. It's like I want to know more about her. Her reasons behind the strange behaviour. Are you getting my point??" I asked him, raising my eyebrows, and he gave me a confused look.
"Am I who knows who is she??"
"The sister of your girl. You know, I met her at the petrol pump this morning. She beat up a guy who tried to flirt with her. She has this mysterious aura around her. When I looked at her, it felt like she was angry with the entire world. And, at the dinner, she hardly spoke with her siblings as well. It felt like she doesn't trust anyone." I told him everything I saw and felt about her.
"I think you are drawn to her. Maybe you like her. Woah!! I'm so happy, you like the elder one and I liked the younger one." He excitedly hugged me. Thinking his serious mode got turn off, I pushed him away.
"Heyy, I said I don't like her. It's something else that I feel. OKK!!" I replied, irritated by his fantasy.
"Okk!! If you don't like her. Can you please say what it is called then?? That feeling you feel for her."
"Ohh....Hmm.....Mm....." I tried to explain and failed. Then, I blame it on my English teacher who didn't teach me enough words.
"See, you can't explain. You like her, my boy. Accept it." He said, keeping his hand on my shoulder giving me a teasing smile.
"Ugh... shut up. Let's go. It's late. I have to go." I said, cleaning the sand from my pants. I walked away from him.
"Heyy, wait for me. First, drop me at my hotel, our would-be brother-in-law broke my bullet. I can't use it. Please!!" He kept shouting, as I was ignoring his bull shit.
We drove off after that. The entire way, I was busy thinking about her and Rayan's talk. Did I really like her?? But, I can't like someone just in two meets. My heart and brain were at war about it all the way.