It' s been one month since Mahnoor confessed, one month since she had looked into Zarim's eyes.

She also stopped going to see Shahna who indeed noticed the changes in her. Mahnoor has always been quiet unlike Urooj who was a chatter box. But now she looked more distant.
She stays holed up in her room all the time, and barely spends time with Urooj.

Even during family dinners or gatherings, she now found reasons not to attend.

Zarim has pushed that night in the back of his mind. Life moved on for him like usual. He named that little scene as Mahnoor's childness and decided to forget about it.

Atleast he tried.

A knock on the door pulled Mahnoor's attention, who was staring at the open book before her.
She checked the time in the clock, 8:00 PM

"Mahnoor" her mother twist the knob open and step inside.

"Tum tyar kyu nhi ho?" she asked after looking at her.
She was wearing a thin top and a trouser, her hair in a big bun on top of her head. And her glasses on her nose.

"Kis chiz ke liye" Mahnoor said wihtout looking up.

"Aaj Reshma ke yha family dinner hai"

"Toh aap chli jaye na ammi."

"Mahnoor tum pichle mahine bhi nhi gyi thi. Acha thodi na lgta hai ki sb waha ho or tum yaha akeli rho. Tumhari nani tumhara zikar kr rhi thi"

Mahnoor sighed as she took off her glasses. She didn't want to go. But she have been avoiding him for a month now.

Is it finally time to face him?, she thought.

She can't spend rest of her life in this room. At some point of time, she would have to come in front of him.

But was she ready?

That thought lingered.
Every time she thought about facing him again, the humiliation of that night came rushing back.

Everything still replayed in her mind so vividly as if it had happened yesterday.

Sometimes she would sit with a book open before her for hours without reading a single line. Other times she would wake up in the middle of the night only to realise she had fallen asleep thinking about him again.

And she hated herself for it.

Mahnoor had spent the entire month trying to convince herself that whatever she felt for Zarim was nothing more than a foolish attachment. Something temporary. Something she would eventually grow out of.

But no matter how hard she tried, her heart refused to listen.

It was exhausting.
It was exhausting to pretend she was okay when she was a complete mess from inside.

It was exhausting.
It was exhausting to pretend she was okay when she was a complete mess from inside.

Sometimes she wished she had never said anything that night.

Mahnoor hated how weak it made her feel.

She had always considered herself sensible unlike Urooj who wore her emotions openly. Mahnoor was the type to bury things quietly within herself and move on.

But this time she couldn't.

No matter how much she tried distracting herself with studies, books or staying locked inside her room, the ache remained there stubbornly.

"Thik hai" Mahnoor said as she stood up to pick up a simple suit from her closet.

Fatima smiled as she asked her to be fast.

Mahnoor braided her hair and took her dupatta with her.

⋆‧°𓏲ּ𝄢

When she finally entered through the doors, Urooj was the first one who noticed her.

"Lo Mahnoor aagyi" she said and every eyes turned towards her.

"Assalamwalekum" she said as she stepped inside where everybody was sitting.

"Walekumaslam" they said collectively.

"Mahnoor aaj kl bhot busy ho gyi ho, Mami se milne he nhi aati ab" Shahna said with a sad smile.

Her heart sank at her word. If she was closer to someone apart form her mother it had to be Shahna, she was the one who used to adore her the most.

" Woh semester khatam hone wala hai na isliye bhot saare assignments mil rhe hai" she replied.

"Sahi keh rhi hai bhabi, humari Urooj toh nalayak hai...jb dekho shararat krti rehti hai. Humari Mahnoor mashallah se bhot zaheen hai" Reshma commented.

"Ammi mai aapki he beti hu" Urooj looked over at her mother.

"Agr ye shararat krni band kr dena toh puri ghar ki raunak chli jayegi" Fatima said as she kissed her cheeks lovingly.

"Sirf aap he hai phupho jo mujhe smjhti hai" Urooj clunged to her and everybody chuckled at them.

Mahnoor didn't even realised how much she missed these. Being with her family. And after so long a smile took over face.

But just then someone else entered. Her eyes instantly raised up to see him. He looked still the same. Face shaven, hair neatly combed back, shirt tucked in. Only his tie was missing.

"Assalamwalekum" he wished everybody and she quickly looked down.

Her heart beating erratically. She cursed herself in her thoughts. Only if she could stop feeling this way for him. She had convinced her mind but when will this stupid heart of hers would understand?

Soon everybody sat on the long dinning table for dinner.
Urooj sat beside Mahnoor as he filled her with new gossip of her department.
But she was only half listening and would reply with hm or a yes.

Zarim who was sitting few seat away couldn't help but glance at her. He haven't seen her properly after that night. But now that he notice, he could see hallow space under her eyes, the red colour on her cheeks were missing. She looked tired and exhausted.

Is it because of what I said that night?, he thought.

He fell into a deep thought until Darood sitting beside him nudged his shoulder lightly.

"Dadi bula rhi hai tumhe" he said
He looked over in the opposite direction and everybody was looking at him, except Mahnoor who was shifting her spoon on the plate.

"Ji" he answered

"Hum kal Tahir se baat kr rhe the. Or unhone Farha ke liye tumhara rishta manga hai" Halima begum said.

Tahir was the son of her sister who lives abroad with his wife and daughter Farha.

And even though Halima didn't knew Farha properly, she believed the upbringing of Tahir and she was quiet satisfied with the prospect of Zarim getting married. He was the eldest son of the house, and he was closer to Thirty now.

Zarim, didn't even knew why he looked up in Mahnoor's direction. Maybe he expected a reaction.

But Mahnoor's face remained lowered, her fingers tightening around the spoon in her hand.

Of course he would get married someday. What else had she expected? That the world would stop because she loved him silently?

"Farha achi larki hai," Reshma added happily. "Parhi likhi bhi hai."

"Or sabse bari baat, Tahir bhai ki beti hai," Shahna smiled.

Everyone seemed pleased with the idea.
Everyone except two people sitting on that table.

She swallowed against the ache rising in her throat.

"Toh beta tumhara kya khayal hai?" Halima Begum finally asked him directly.

The entire table looked at him expectantly.

For a moment, his eyes drifted again toward Mahnoor. But she didn't raised her head to meet his eyes.

"Jaisa aap log thik samjhe" he answered.