21st Jan, 2022

"MAMMA," Saim yelled loudly entering the living area before plopping himself onto the couch glancing around to find someone but when he heard no noise, he stood up to look for his mother. He walked to her room, knocking onto it while tapping his feet waiting for any of his parent to open the door but when even after a few second the door remained closed, he pushed open the door to find it empty.

Confused he looked around the room before making it into the kitchen to find his mother. With a frown, he dialed her number taking a bite of the apple that was kept on the kitchen counter.

"Assalamualaikum where are you?" He questioned his mouth full making his mother to chuckle, "Walaikumassalam, I am at the market with your chachi." She replied before the phone was snatched away from her.

"Assalamualaikum Saim! How are you beta? You are coming right, Maira will be there in an hour or two." She started talking while Saim all the while nodded his head hearing no single thing while heading towards his room.

"Uh, Chachi.." He trailed off trying to form some sentence but before he could speak she bet him up, "You are not coming are you?" Her voice held sadness and he could only sigh remembering Maira's face.

"I'm sorry," He apologized with a drained voice and he was glad when his aunt understood his situation, before handing the phone to his mother.

"Mamma I'll be leaving in half an hour and I'll be back by midnight probably, I just got back home to inform you." He said while listening to her instructions.

"Drive safe and keep a pair of your clothes in your car since you'll be going afar." She said while agreeing he ended the call not before she repeated all her words making him chuckle.

He messaged his brother and father about his departure before throwing his phone away on the bed and laying on his back, his hands crossed under his head.

He heard a notification on his phone, but he ignored it already not in the mood. He couldn't believe that they had grown up so much to not even be able to have family gatherings without something or the other popping up. He had already made up his mind that as soon as the conference was over he would join his family. Maira was visiting her place for the second time after her marriage yet he was unable to meet her, both the times.

He closed his eyes trying to let go off the things before sitting up straight. He looked at the time and stood up, wanting to freshen up before taking a sweatshirt and a jacket in case of emergency. He threw them in the backseat of his car, reciting the Dua before starting his car and pulling it onto the road when he heard the adhan for the Asr salah, immediately making him turn to the local masjid.

He parked his car in a secured place to avoid any hustle or block after the prayer before heading to make his wudu, greeting the men on his way. He met his friend from the neighbour at the entrance, the two talking their way inside. He prayed the Sunaah prayer along with his friend before they sat for a while to let the Imam start the prayer, and when they noticed everyone gathering, Saim walked in the middle with his friend. He kept his concentration onto the Salah, forgetting about everything.

As he finished his Salah, he raised his hands in the air to make Dua. Ofcource it included himself, his family and loved ones before he prayed for the ummah. And he was done with his Dua, he completed it with one last Dua that he needed the most at the moment,

"Let this conference happen without any hurdles."

He whispered Ameen and completed his Dua, getting up to see his friend almost standing. He smiled at him and stood up, asking his leave before rushing towards his car. He settled himself into the car whispering, "Let's get this done with."

If only he knew what the place had in store for him.

***

Yusra cleaned off the last table, glancing around one last time for any mess before walking towards Fariha who was engrossed sorting out the cash. The day had been pretty hectic for the both of them, due to the absence of Fariha's father but she was glad that the two of them had pulled it off.

With a soft smile she walked inside the kitchen, waving a goodbye to the chef who was leaving before looking around for the ingredients to make Fariha's favourite pasta. As she was busy working, she heard the tinkle of the bell alerting her of someone entering the café. Even though she was cooking, her attention paved outside, hearing hush voices making her heartbeat to accelerate, in fear. Turning the stove off, she covered the pot with the lid turning around to walk out when she was startled noticing Fariha rushing inside making a panic rise within her.

"We have a customer," Fariha heaved putting her hands on her knees while Yusra heaved deeply, "A handsome customer." She completed grinning widely making Yusra to chuckle at her behaviour.

"We are closed Fariha," She reminded her friend looking above her shoulder to find a man sitting in a suit while furiously messing with his hair, "I informed him that but he said to get him whatever is left, plus he'll pay double." Fariha said looking upwards with her eyes holding adoration while Yusra raised her brows at the information.

"Okay how about some pasta and," She trailed off looking behind her for beverage that could go hand in hand, "Lemonade?" She questioned nervously raising her brow while Fariha nodded her head walking out to confirm it.

Yusra waited, her eyes onto Fariha who was conversing with the guy before she walked to her giving her a thumb up.

Yusra plated the pasta before making the lemonade and arranging it onto the plate, all the while Fariha standing besides her watching her moves.

"Here," Yusra said handing it to her and the two walked out; Yusra walking towards the counter and Fariha to the guy who was now busy on the phone.

"This is all Saad's fault. Couldn't he inform me that the meeting was canceled and on top of that he isn't willing to come help me back home!" He exclaimed gaining Yusra's attention. She looked at his side view to find him giving a smile to Fariha, moving his hand away to let her keep his order.

"My car broke down," Yusra heard him her eyes flickering to Fariha who walked towards her doing weird gestures, "No, I just found a café and I am having my food." Her eyes diverted back to his voice before she moved back to her work.

After that she could hear him, talk casually about random stuffs, munching on his food while she cleaned the counter, once in a while glancing at Fariha who was ogling at him making her shake her head at her insanity.

Yusra nudged her friend trying to gain her attention but failing.

"I'll miss you." He spoke sincerely before ending the call and her eyes instantly caught hold of Fariha's fallen face making her shake her head.

With a small smile, she sat down Indian style continuing her work when she noticed Fariha almost stumbling out of the chair but before she could stand to help her, she had managed to steady herself.

"JazakAllahu Khairan for the food," Yusra heard him making her to glance up. She noticed him handing over the card to Fariha who was busy staring at him while taking the card, "Wa iyyaki." She heard Fariha mumble softly, an unusual side of Fariha.

"Do you need any help? I apologize for the inconvenienced I caused." He spoke and Yusra couldn't help but smile at his words before hearing Fariha, "No no, it's completely fine and please don't apologize it's our duty to serve our customers." Yusra almost giggled at her friend's saccharine words, knowing her running mind. She couldn't believe that she was still buttering him up after hearing his talk with his wife. She sat there with her hand on her chin, waiting for the passerby to leave, when she heard Fariha introducing herself.

"I am Fariha and please do visit us again," She said bowing a little and the man nodded, turning around to leave when Fariha coughed again gaining both the occupants attention, "Could you please tell me your name?" Yusra's hand slipped from her knee that held her chin making her look at her friend in astonishment at her boldness.

"Um," He faked a cough looking around in embarrassment before mumbling, "Saim."

"Huh, don't take me wrong it's just for the billing." He heard her say with a polite smile making him look around once again at the empty café while nodding.

Suddenly he was struck with the thought of being alone with a lady in such a place. He glanced at her to find her already looking at him so giving her a small smile he walked out hearing her request to visit again. Sighing deeply, he gazed at the empty dark road, eyeing the houses that probably had people sleeping in them.

Thinking about the seclusion, he turned around thinking about the girl to help her for she was late probably because of him. But as soon as he opened the door, he noticed another girl with her back to him while Fariha acknowledged him.

He stood there not knowing what to say, looking at Fariha who wouldn't remove her eyes from him.

"I'll check the backdoor," He heard the girl and noticed her walking away while he gazed at her retreating back, "I think I forgot my car keys." He quickly made an excuse noticing the owl eyes on him immediately making him rush to the table he was seated on. He pretended to look around the table, a gush of awkwardness flowing through him when he felt a presence.

"We have already cleaned the area but we didn't find your keys," He heard Fariha say making him stand straight but before he could even utter a word they heard a loud thud alerting the two.

Yusra groaned in pain touching her leg slightly. She heard footsteps but before she could look up, Fariha was already in front of her checking her leg.

"Yusra! How did you fall and why were you on a stool?" She questioned making her stand up and sit on the stool that she stood a few seconds ago.

"The latch was up so I climbed the stool to unlatch it but slipped off," She mumbled moving her leg in an attempt to reduce the pain but hissing, "Hold on, let me get the pain relief spray." Fariha rushed out while Yusra nodded her head when suddenly she realized another presence.

She noticed the shoes moving towards the door, the noise of unlatching before she glanced up to find the same customer who had returned, closing the door.

As he turned around, the two, for the first time got a glimpse of each other. As their eyes collided, Yusra was quick enough to avert her eyes pressing her leg to ease the pain while Saim took this as a chance to study her and there was no doubt that he found her extremely fragile.

Just then he noticed Fariha rushing inside making him avert his eyes and without any second thoughts he walked away, out of the café. He stood a little far away from the café, waiting for any mean of vehicle that could take him back to his hotel, his eyes flickering to the entrance once in a while.

Pulling out his phone, he randomly surfed through his phone when he heard noises making him turn to the girls. He looked in their direction, to find both of them walking out, closing the café with each other's help. He moved his eyes back to his phone, the silence around letting him know about the girls ushing to each other before he heard the scooty.

He glanced up, to find Fariha riding past him while the other girl, who's name he remembered Yusra walked the other way. He could see her limping a little trying to walk as fast as she could. He glanced around the area, and the thought of helping her passed through but he stopped himself. Knowing it wouldn't be appropriate to approach her to help her, he let the thought slip that hardly lasted a minute, so without wasting time he started walking behind her noticing her troubled with her leg.

Yusra groaned, feeling the pain in her leg but noticing the pack of dogs ahead, stopped her from taking any action. Breathing deeply, she took a step when she felt a presence and as she glanced to her right she noticed the same customer, walking with her, almost on the other side of the road with his head stuck in his phone. Glad for having someone, she moved faster matching his steps crossing the street dogs, that could be dangerous at time.

A few steps and she took a left turn, the way to the house she lived, thankful for the known stranger for helping her unknowingly. Slowly as she walked, she looked at him through her shoulder to find him walking away making her smile at him before making to the gate.

Saim glanced her way, sighing deeply, when he realised that she had almost entered a gate that he assumed to be her home. Satisfied he walked away, recalling the events of the day but one particular face appeared in front of him that made him turn around before he walked away, wanting nothing but to leave the place and be home.