chapter 2

Everything was going smoothly as it always did. The weekend passed by and now it was yet another day for university.

Zoya was in her second year of university studying media sciences. At twenty years old Zoya had an excellent life planned for herself. She had a well paying job as the assistant of a professional photographer, she had a good social reputation and curiosity for discovering more on this planet Earth.

Zoya Alam Khan was a name everyone knew, whether in university or in the neighborhood in general. The girl was sunshine for whoever came across her, a helping hand for anyone in need. She was known because of her active nature in almost the whole town, for her kind and sweet gestures like helping the elderly or the poor people without any reason.

"I'm happy I'm the one to give not to take" was what she would say after every act of welfare she did. She liked giving away to people. Her family didn't do much about it since Yasir never stopped her.

He had taught her that charity doesn't decreases it only increases and that inorder to thank Allah for what he has given us we should at least give a small portion to his creation for their aid and that's exactly what she did.

Running down the stairs she skipped steps and jumped down making a loud thud sound. Multiple heads turned towards her with disapproving looks meanwhile she just shrugged and grinned sheepishly.

"Ok baba I'm leaving. I.... Might be late today since Zulqarnain has a shoot and I need to be there. I'll confirm it later in the day after asking him" she said hugging her father and kissing his cheek. Yasir was about to protest but she was already out of the door.

Zulqarnain was the photographer she worked with, he had seen her talent and had appointed her as his assistant. She earned more than enough for herself and her baba was very proud of her.

The family was left staring at the door she just almost flew out of. She had stayed up last night to edit a few pictures for Zulqarnain and complete her few assignments and now she was running late. She ran outside and jumped in the car. The driver was instructed to drive faster than normal so she could reach her university on time.

"Shukriya maula bakhsh" she yelled behind her as she ran inside trying not to get slaughtered by her bestfriend who stood by the gate waiting for her.

(Thankyou maula bakhsh)

"What's was need of coming here this your father's house right?" the teacher taunted after both the girls were ten minutes late for class. It wasn't their fault. Zoya reached on time but they were stopped in the hall by the dean of their department.

"Sorry to say ma'am but my father's house is better than your class" Zoya wanted to say but kept her thoughts to herself. She was literally pissed, firstly by not being able to sleep for more than three hours, then she a long day full of work awaited her, then the dean handed more projects to her and now this teacher.

Ms. Feroza and Zoya shared the unbreakable bond of pure hatered towards eachother. While Ms. Feroza hated Zoya for being outgoing and undisciplined. Zoya hated her for always downgrading her, after sometime she stopped trying to impress her and stopped paying attention to her.

"Won't happen again ma'am" she said with an expressionless face. She looked straight at her seat waiting to be dismissed.

She went to her seat after listening to her teachers lecture. Her day passed by with shit load of work and helping Zulqarnain with his shoot. This time Sha had informed at home that she would be late since the shoot was an evening engagement shoot and the bride wasn't being cooperative either. Zoya tried clicking her pictures while Nain was answering a call but she ended up insulting her.

"Ma'am if only you'll bend a little the pose would be just the way you want it to be" Zoya told her softly but she wasn't having it.

"I know what I'm doing you don't tell me what to do" she yelled turning back to adjusting her lehenga, Zoya mimicked her getting back to find the perfect angle inorder to not argue over the pose with her.

"It's not how I want it to be" the bride whined again. In that moment Zoya really pitied the groom who sat on the chair waiting for his fiance to get done with this one picture. She took a long breath to calm herself down but she failed and exploded finally.

"Listen here lady. You're not he one behind the lens what I see you can't, it'd be better if you listen to me instead of being 'miss I know it all'. Bend a little or think of another pose. Understood" she said sternly. The bride was left staring dumbfounded but she followed Zoya's instructions afterwards. The shoot was done and now Zoya awaited her driver to come pick her up. Maula bakhsh had gone back home since he had an emergency and now she waited for the other driver to arrive. The other staff greeted her goodbye as she stood at the exist of the hall. Tapping her phone continuously on her palm she waited, the driver came after long miserable minutes and she then was on her way home.

It was almost 10pm when she returned home, she skipped dinner, exhausted from all the bickering she had done with her teachers and the bride.

She went to her room and changed out of her jeans. She wore a pair of silk shorts and the pastel pink sweatshirt the coolness of the air told autumn tales of the upcoming winter.  Slipping under the cover she dozed off feeling her back muscles relax and finally let go of any nerve restraints.

It was late in the night when she woke up startled by falling in her dream, drool dripped down the side of her face, the right half of her face was red because of it being pressed against the pillow. Sweat covered her face making her messy hair stick to her face. She wiped her face on the pillow and tried going back to sleep flipping the pillow to the colder side but her stomach protested against the idea.

Realizing she had skipped dinner she sat up with closed eyes. Her mind needed time to process reality. With half opened eyes she sat idly on the bed staring into nothingness.

She stretched her limbs with a satisfied groan escaping her lips. Pulling her sleeves up and scratching her head she dragged herself to the bathroom to do her business. Her eyes burned as she splashed water on her face, rubbing the sleep away she walked into her closet pulling a pair of cotton plazo pants on top of her shorts she headed downstairs.

Her green eyes scanned the dark haveli as silence lingered in every nook and corner of it's grand structure. The hallways were empty with the large windows letting the flood of moonlight in. Some of the curtains flew with the breeze of air that came in from the opened windows. White Walls were hued silver with the moonlight, walking through the grand empty hallway she felt like a princess roaming in an abandoned castle all was left was a flowy gown and pretty hairstyle. She looked far from what a princess would look like but feeling like one was an exception.

She twirled and danced her way to the end of the hallway and then down the stairs kitchen as she listened to songs on her phone. She did whatever dance moves she could think of, mostly shuffling her feet and randomly moving her hands in the air. She didn't feel the need to turn on the lights since the moonlight coming from the big window was enough, providing enough light to walk her way to the fridge. Taking the big plate of biryani from the fridge she placed it in the microwave to heat up, while dancing around like a mad woman without noticing the figure walking towards the kitchen.

"Main Karoon Toh Saala Character Dheela Hai

Ho ! Main Karoon Toh Saala Character Dheela Hai-AAAAAA" the ending word turned into a scream as she noticed a large black figure standing in the doorway. Her eyes widened and heart beat increased and she felt her self shaking from the close proximity.

"WHAT THE FU- omphhh" she was screaming in top of her lungs when the figure moved towards her with long strides making her curse out loud but it was muffled by a large hand on her mouth. The person held her her nape making her voice as muffled as possible.

"Stop screaming like a banshee" the figure hissed. She hurriedly turned the flashlight of her phone and flashed the light on the person's face.

The man let her face go as he now covered his eyes to save it from the scorthing rays of the flashlight. Her shoulders relaxed as she sighed in relief.

"Einstein.."

Zahan entered the house and was going in the kitchen to eat something when he heard shuffling in there. He placed his laptop bag and blazer on the sofa in the main room and quietly made his way to the kitchen. His ears caught the sound of horrible singing coming from there. His senses on high alert as he hesitantly leaned over the doorframe to see a tall figure with black hair dancing around in the Kitchen with weird steps.

His eyebrows furrowed as he took in the dressing of this supposed churail, she was dressed in a pair of plazo pants and a sweatshirt. She turned around and started screaming upon seeing him. At once he knew this was no churail, only person had a voice this horrible in tht family and that was Zoya.

He doubted if her horrible voice had scared the actual jinns away or not. He rolled his eyes but when her screams turned into full blown curses, he took hurried steps to shut her mouth with his hand before she could wake everyone up.

He removed his hand from her face and at once let her go feeling his eyes burn by the sudden light being flashed right into his golden grey eyes.

"Move it" he groaned pushing her hand away. She narrowed her eyes at him. Scrunching her nose she pushed him away and turned the flashlight off.

"May I know why were you singing like a banshee in the dead of night?" he whisper yelled moving away from her. She glared at him removing her other airpod as well.

"And may I know why you were roaming around in the house like a jinn, in the dead of night?" She asked in the same way not replying to his question. He groaned annoyed by her and was about to leave, his starvation long forgotten.

"Einstein" he stopped hearing her call him with that stupid nickname she has given him. He never understood why and for what purposes she was always after his life but no matter how much he scolded her she would never leave him alone.

"What?" He asked sighing. He was exhausted and was in no mood to deal with her.

"Did you just come home from office?" She asked peeking over his shoulder. He turned around slightly to meet her curious gaze. He contemplated whether to answer her or just leave like every other time.

"Yes. What do you want?" He asked rudely. Zoya huffed at his response crossing her arms. Her eyes fell on the microwave that was about to beep but she was quick to stop it before it made any further noises. She took out the heated food and emptied it into two separate plates. She turned around to give one to Zahan but he was already out of the kitchen.

"Aye" she called behind him who stopped and turned around and glared at her.

"Tameez se baat Kia Karo mujhse" he hissed glaring at her. All the members of the family respected him except for one. Zoya obviously.

(Talk to me with respect)

"Yeah yeah whatever. Here" she said passing the plate to him. He eyed the plate skeptically and then looked at her.

"What's this?" He asked looking in her eyes. He picked up his laptop bag and blazer as he now faced her properly.

"Well Mr genius if you don't know already this is briyani. For further information your dinner" she said with a toothy grin annoying the already annoyed Zahan even more.

"Why do you care if I have eaten or not?" He asked raising an eyebrow. The sight of delicious biryani appeared really tempting but he had to control his urge to dive in like a mad man or precisely like Zoya.

"Well... This was more than one person's serving so it's only logical that Tayi Ammi kept yours in that dish too. I was just heating it up for myself but then you came along and I thought you must be hungry" she shrugged eating a spoon out of his plate. He snatched it away from her and took the spoon from her plate which she hadn't used already. She glared at him but indulged in her biryani leaving him behind to stare at her back.

Rolling his eyes he walked upto his room and placed his things on their respective places. Keeping the plate of biryani on the side table he went to freshen up.

After changing into a pair of sweats he sat down on his bed and comfortably ate his dinner and truth to be told he was starving since he couldn't have lunch because of an important meeting. He didn't know why but he was thankful she had decided to share without him asking because he'd be damned before he let's her get more proud of what she already is.

For him her nature was that of a spoiled child's. To him she was just an irresponsible teenager who had no clue of what life is. She would always find a way or two to irritate him to the point he just wanted to strangle her to death but he can't, his hands are tied she's his cousin what could he possibly do?

Finishing his plate he scrolled through his social media for a little while since sleeping right after eating dinner is not advisable meanwhile on the other end of the hallway Zoya was on the verge of passing out on her bed after finishing her overdose of biryani. She patted her bloated stomach and burped unladylikely.

The night grew deeper and darker as both of them slept peacefully as their sleep awaited the ending call of the dawn till then the night sky blanketed the magnificent white haveli in it's cold yet cozy embrace........