THREE

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Her gaze was fixed over the neat bandage Mustafa had tied when she heard him call her. Humming, she tilted her head, forgoing how she had to stretch her head upwards. Ignoring the voice of her head which was mocking her tiny form in front of him, she focused over him, finding him gazing at her with scrutiny.

“What happened ? Is everything alright ?” her heart sped up as if it was running a marathon when Mustafa passed her a nervous smile.

“It is, but I want to tell you something, more like inform you....” No word came out of her mouth and she simply nodded, confronting him to continue. She was sure whatever it was, was not in her favour.

“Badi dado is here.” there it was! The message of the doomsday....Colour drained from her face and she turned pale, groaning at the news.

Badi dado was the only sister of their grandfather... The eldest member of their family. Although she adored the Ahwaan's, but she was the woman who was too strict. Having seen her husband marrying another, the tenderness inside her took backseat, leaving the bitter woman rein the command of the broken heart.

She wasn't evil but she meddled too much into others'business, or say she loved to keep people in check. She was more like a brigadier general, turning Ahwaan villa into a military camp whenever she visited.

From Rubana begum, their grandmother... to the younger generation, everyone was kept in trauma. No one was spared. Osama, the troublemaker, was always on her radar, followed by Maria... Well, Maria because she was always accompanied by Osama.

Hassan was the one who preferred to stay low in her presence so she never bothered him, and his twin, had great skills to act innocent, exempting her as well. They were rarely questioned, and Mustafa! He was another story!

While everyone tried to maintain a good image in front of Sadia dadi but, Mustafa was the one who topped her list. He was adored! Or say he was worshipped by her. For her he was perfect, the apple of her eyes.

It was a big mystery which Osama tried cracking hard but never came up with any answer till date.

So, they both always hid behind Mustafa to shield themselves... And the same idea was revolving inside Maria's head right now.

“And....” she encouraged him to continue knowing there was more to the story. Mustafa Ahwaan won't scratch his nose for nothing.

Her question was followed by a big pause of his, making her gulp.

“Kuch to bolein you are scaring me with your silence.” she knew she was overeating but she wasn't able to control her lips which trembled. It was better for Mustafa to speak up, else she could end up with a mental breakdown.

“Say something...”

But he did not!

She did not let him.

The horses of her innocent mind had already run miles, before Mustafa could assure her.

“Is it what I think it is ?”

“Judging by your expressions, Yes! Unfortunately.” thinking they were sharing the same thoughts, Mustafa nodded confirming her doubts much to her dread.

But were they thinking the same ?!

Absolutely No!

Both of them were surrounded by the mist of their own foreboding; their own worry.

"Allah miya! How will I handle her without you ? Why do you have to leave us alone ? Breakfast tak to ruk jate! Aap waise bhi roz rukte hai, nashta kiye bina nahi jaate. Now there will be no one to distract her with his achievements and she would scold us for everything!” Maria narrowed her eyes at Mustafa in complaint. How could he leave them alone, knowing how important he was ?Now that he was leaving early for the hospital, Osama and her would be left defenceless.

Biting her nails, she tried to stop the rush of anxiety she felt inside her body, planning ideas to skip the torturous breakfast.

Chot ka bahana karke I'll tell taya jaan that I have taken painkillers and feeling sleepy--

“Wait!! You are talking about facing her all this time ?! And here I was thinking, that finally some sense knocked into your brain and you are disliking Azhar's presence like I do. You disappointed me so much birdie.” Mustafa's voice broke the spinning of the masterplan in the middle, and she frowned at him for disturbing her, but as soon as his words started making sense, she gasped at him in accusation.

So, she worked up for nothing ?

Shukar karo Maria! Now that Mustafa is here you are safe! You both are! Allah Tera shukar!!

But the question was, why did Mustafa have bad blood with Azhar ? He was such a good person, so jolly and so full of life ?!

Yeah! maybe his very friendly nature was what Mustafa disliked. After all, he was a serious and focused person.

But why was he disappointed in her ?

Azhar was good with her, never done anything to offend her, always trying to make her smile.

She tried to unsee Mustafa's disappointment, but her heart did not let her, it pinched her and she felt like a small nail pricked her. Giving him a good answer was the only thing she could do to satisfy herself conscience and she did. There was nothing wrong with having a different opinion. “Him coming along with her is actually good news.... And same pinch! Mujhe bhi apko sunkar bohat afsos hua. I don't know why you dislike him so much.”

“No! You tell me what good do you see in him that you are so happy with his arrival ? Aisa kaunsa Nobel peace prize jeetne wala kaam Kiya hai usne ?!” not only was she shocked with Mustafa's opinion, but she was also baffled by the way he strongly held her arms and pulled her out of the kitchen, into the gardens backside. Her back was now touching the tree which was providing them shade, as well as cutting them away from the world. Nobody would detect them now, and that was what he wanted.

Privacy!

He wanted to hear her thoughts about Azhar without getting interrupted.

Maria tried finding some humor in his eyes but to her astonishment there was none.

“Speak up!” the man was pretty annoyed and she knew it by the time her eyes raked upon his hardened jaw. God! He was angry again.

But did it scare her ?! No! If it was someone else they would have felt terrified but she wasn't.

Surely, Mustafa Ahwaan was a hot headed male, but never in his wildest dreams he would hurt her and she trusted him in that.

Oh how delusionary her belief was! Surely, she wasn't aware now but time was the greatest teacher. The best of all!

“H-he i-is pretty funny and makes me smile... But forget that and tell me why are you always after him ?! Itna acha insaan hai--” her voice faltered feeling intimidated by his closeness, but she took a deep breath and replied, her voice representing calm and strength like it always had been before him.

“Acha hi to nahi hai. Can't you see he always looks at you with starry eyes ?” Mustafa growled like he had never heard of anything ridiculous as her answer.

He so wanted to knock some sense into her, but judging by the big doe innocent eyes she was gazing at him with, she looked as if she was gobsmacked by the obvious fact he just said out loud.

“Like a crush?!”

“Yes. Like. A. Crush.” he gritted his teeth at her confirmation, but nonetheless answered as if talking to a little baby. Closing his eyes he sighed, trying to recollect his emotions for a second.

He knew she was innocent and he had to keep his emotions at bay, and focus on protecting his little birdie from that dofus.

Now that his mind was clear he again opened his eyes and watched her, his biggest mistake.

Her eyes, drew him in, Like fire enchanting the moth to come closer and submerge inside it.... He noticed how starry her eyes were.

Azhar wasn't wrong if he was drawn to her.

Her eyes were like the brightest star in the darkest night. The shine inside them could light up the entire universe and yet make space for more.

They were beautiful, just like her.

“Mustafa--” her voice broke the spell of the enchantment her eyes created and he forced himself to look away, cursing himself for losing his senses.

What was wrong with him ?

Was he losing him in the same spell her eyes  captured Azhar in ?!

“What did you say ?” He was embarrassed of his behaviour, his glitchy thoughts, but they did not last long, hearing her.

“But what is wrong with that Mustafa ?” she did not find anything wrong in liking someone. Should she dislike Azhar just because he liked her ? That man had never been disrespectful towards her, then why should she ?

Was liking someone a sin ?

If it was then she was the greatest sinner.

Blame her heart for harbouring feelings for Mustafa Ahwaan. Ones which were much stronger than the tiny crush Azhar had over her.

“WHAT. IS. WRONG. IN THAT ? Are you seriously asking me this question?” an alarmed gasp escaped her mouth as his hands slid down her mid arm squeezing them, jerking her softly for her risible thoughts.

She shook at the sight of his narrowed rageful orbs spitting fire. The ticking of his temple vein was also visible, and it was a sight which was rare. Well he surely did get angry, but never this fuelled up in her presence. Never!

Why was he getting so charged up ?

She had no clue.

“I mean... I can't stop him--” she tried to be as gentle as she could with her words. She wanted him to understand her. Him misunderstanding her, was proving to be the cause of the headache throbbing at the back of her head.

The pain of her heart was reaching her head like wildfire.

“AND WHY THE HELL CAN'T YOU ?!” Mustafa quickly questioned, tapping his foot impatiently over the grass.

How the hell could I stop him if I can't stop my own self ? Would it not be hypocritical of me ?

She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to tell him how she was forced by her heart to not destroy the other! But she could not. Telling him meant confessing heart which she had locked deep.

“Now speak up! Chup kyu ho gayi ?!” his statement boiled her blood, the frustration of her heart coming out in waves.

“Do you even let me complete ?! Sunte hai nahi aur daatne pehle lagte hai. You know what?! I think Osama sahi kehta hai, aap na drago--” thank God! She stopped at the right time otherwise she would have been slammed by Osama for breaking their bestie pact.

God! Now she could not even scream at him. Curse Osama Ahwaan and his not so innocent blackmailing.

“Why did you stop ? Ab bolne de raha hu to chup kyu ho gayi ?” Mustafa mocked her, hovering over her small frame as if she was caught doing some shady business. He knew she was being fishy, but did not ponder more over it, his brain focusing more on Azhar's topic.

“I don't want to deflect from the topic.”

“Of course.” he passed a mocking smile eyes trailing over her whole form, finding her passing a small grin to him.

“I can't stop Azhar, Mustafa!” she stated again.

“AND I AM ASKING THAT ONLY... WHY ?!” he was getting highly irritated, fire surging inside him so high that he feared it would burn everything on its way.

Why was she speaking like a broken record?!

His eyes widened in realisation, the thought of her harbouring feelings for Azhar creating roots deep inside his mind...

Dread grouped his insides.... but before the tree of the very thought could flourish and suffocate his breaths with its mighty vines.... she freed him!

Her voice pulled him out of the suffocating abyss into the fresh air where he could breathe properly.

At least now he knew she was not into Azhar.

“Because you can't control one's heart! Mere bas mein nahi hai ye. I can't stop him from liking me.” Agar hota to sabse pehle khud ko rok leti... Azaad kar leti apne dil ko aapke khayal se.  She did not have the heart to stop him when her heart was dwelling over the same path. Well her feelings were much stronger, but she would never dare speak out loud. Love had the tendency to ruin beautiful things and she feared losing him.

“--And crushes don't last forever. Either they are crushed or they fade with time. Aur waise bhi wo bechara ek do din mein chala jaega.”

“So, you won't do anything ?” just because he would be leaving soon she won't be taking any action against him. What if he comes back and does something strong ? Would she still be sitting idle, taking him lightly like she was right now ?

“Stop accusing me, Mustafa. Maine usse nahi kaha ke Azhar mujh par fida ho jao. It's his decision. His heart's choice .”

“I did not accuse you....And still your answer didn't give me my answer.”

“What can I do ? Tell me. I can't be rude to him just because he likes me, I can't hurt him like that.....”

“Do one thing sit quietly and watch that man bring his proposal for you. I am sure you will keep quiet as you don't want to break his heart.” mocking her harshly, she watched him turn his back, nostrils flaring in anger.

“Mustafa--”

“Save it.” he barked like a wounded man leaving her in splits.

What the hell did just happen ?!

Why was he behaving like a kid throwing tantrums on having lost his favourite toy ?

Wait!! Was. He. Jealous ?