Yawar just finished jogging when he received Moosa's call to reach base two.
He rushed towards his room, took a quick shower and got ready to leave the house. While making his way to the exit he didn't forget to peek into the kitchen to take a glimpse of Shahina and she was there as usual busy with Amma-bi.
It was a strange habit he developed recently that after coming into the house or before leaving, he wanted to know about Shahina's whereabouts. For some reason he felt obliged to know everything related to her. As if he owns her. However, this sense of ownership always comes with a bitter reminder of his few remaining holidays.
With a dejected sigh Yawar left the house but on reaching into the garage and looking at his beloved Hilux his eyes widened in horror. His precious car was bathed in glitter.
What the hell????
In the state of utter shock Yawar circled around his car not knowing what to do. It took him a few minutes to come back to his senses and when he did a frown formed on his forehead as the realization hit him. There was only one person in the house who could possess glitters.
"You're gonna regret this Chipkali (lizard)"
~*~
Yawar stood at the door and looked at the figure sitting in the middle of the room. He accidentally found out a few days ago about this hobby of Shahina's and since then he often found himself listening to her piano. However, today while looking at her, Yawar recalled the girl he met five years ago. When his MB brought a fragile little girl, who used to get scared on hearing a loud sound, with the eyes so empty and lost that one could die finding his way back from it.
In the beginning, he kept watching this girl from a distance and for some reason, he remembered every little thing related to Shahina. Her first spoken words, her first Eid with them, her first school result, and her first cooking. He remembered all of them.
Why?
He thought he detested her, for stealing his Moosa Bhai and Nats Api from him. This thought is always angered him and at some point he started to tease her, annoy her and sometimes he literally bullied her, to
convince himself that the emotion he felt towards that girl was nothing else than hatred.
But it was really the case?
He wasn't sure of it. But when, Yawar left Shareefabad for his studies, he confronted something new. Something strange and foreign, the feeling of missing someone, the urge to see someone, hearing someone, wanting to be with someone and when he returned home on his holidays for the first time, Yawar found his source of restlessness after meeting that girl again.
The same girl who used to hide in the corner of the house, if she saw a male species except for Moosa and Owais. Now she comes in front of everyone, tries to talk to everyone and smile a little. He stares at her in awe whenever that smile plays on her face.
However, that girl never pays any heed towards him or towards the meaning of his gaze.
He wanted to talk to her, listen to her, smile with her, be with her, but don't know how to do it. Yawar, who used to irritate and made her cry many times, only wanted to be noticed by her.
But...
Yawar shrugged while pushing the glass door and entered the room, Shahina who was still playing the piano, didn't notice his approach. He stopped just behind her and said in a hushed voice, "Someone has become very bold in my absence."
Shahina’s head snapped toward Yawar and she abruptly stood up. She looked at him and then at the door, perhaps thinking of running away but Yawar was quick to notice it.
“I don’t think you can run faster than me.” Yawar slightly tilted his head while keeping his gaze fixed on her. Shahina didn’t respond, she just stared at the floor.
“So, … Do you know what happened to my car?” He asked putting in hands in the jeans pocket. “I am sure you weren’t stupid enough to think that you wouldn’t get caught.”
He waited for her to react, but unlike before there wasn’t any reaction at all. She was just standing there with her head lowered and eyes were on the floor.
Yawar was slightly surprised, it was something new. She wasn't trembling like before nor did she start crying or apologize.
“Should I take it as a declaration of war?” He stepped closer to her, on which she instantly stepped back and shook her head.
“Then should I wait for an apology?” On this, Shahina remained silent.
“Alright chipkali (lizard), if this is what you want. Get prepared.” With that he left her, with a deep frown on his face.
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