𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 40

Alia and Shreya walked inside the college and immediately noticed students gathered around the central notice board of the department making them walk towards it as well.

Dear students,
The teachers of the commerce department are attending a workshop because of which the following today is will be non-working.
Thank you.

"Wow," Shreya whistled. "They could write it on the notice board but could not give a message in our WhatsApp groups." She scoffed, "I got up and took a bath, got dressed out of my pyjamas into jeans and now they expect me to go back home and do nothing all day?"

Alia nodded. "I think so."

Shreya turned and walked to the parking lot and Alia followed behind.
"What are you going to do Alia? Are you going to go home too?"

She shrugged. "Honestly I haven't thought about it. Maybe since mum is not here I can go to the mall and shop."

"Yes!" Shreya clapped her hands. "That's exactly what we are going to do!"

Alia looked at her with mild irritation. "I was talking about me.." she pointed to herself but Shreya didn't care. She put on her helmet was ready to go.
"This is irritating," Alia muttered as she put hers on too. "I hate friends..or just People."

************

"Okay so, H&M or Zara or lifestyle or-"

Alia cut her off and immediately pushed her to lifestyle. Turning her around to face her Alia said, "Now, this is how it's going to be, you will shop and silently show me what you like then I will do the same." She looked into Shreya's eyes, "Get it? Silently?"

Shreya nodded. "Yes, I got it." She whispered.

"Good." Alia nodded. "Now go away." Shreya did as told.

Alia sighed in relief and started to silently browse through the clothes. she was doing it leisurely since there was no use of hurrying up and it was just 11 a.m., she had time till 3.

Nothing caught her attention. The yellow didn't suit her so no, orange; she hated that colour. Shoving it away she took another one. It was dark green and had beautiful written across in typewriter handwriting with spaces in between the letter.
It was just 599 rupees and Alia liked the top.

"..Are you going to buy that..?" A hesitant voice spoke next to her and the area looked over to find a girl young but around Shaan's age. "That one." She pointed to the one in Alia's hand.

"Do you like it?" Alia asked instead to which a girl nodded. "Here then, you can buy it." She smiled and handed it over.

"Just like that?" The girl asked a bit shocked. What is she expecting, a fight over a piece of cloth that I haven't even bought?

"Yes." Alia gave her an amused smile. "Just like that."

The girl took it from Alia and smiled at her. "I guess I know what my brother sees in you."

"Your brother?" Alia repeated. "Who is he?"

"He-"

"Hi, Alia." Zaigham came to them and greeted her as soon as he saw her. "I hope she didn't trouble you much."

Alia shook her head. "Is she your sister..?"

"Yeah, she is." He nodded and kissed her forehead. "The one and only girl I hate in the female population."

"Hey!" She hit him in the ribs with her elbow. "I am a very nice person, I swear to god. Please don't trust him!" She pleaded to Alia who smiled and agreed. "So what are you doing? If you are free, would you like to have something with us? Or if not food then definitely to the fun area? I love watching Zaigham fail to get me something."

"Zaigham shook his head instead and said, "That's okay if you don't want to. She's just.."

Alia watched the hope on Nadia's face diminish as she tried to agree with her brother by giving Alia the right to choose But that only made Alia feel bad.

"That's okay. I can come for a few minutes." She agreed with a slight smile.

Nadia jumped up and clapped her hands. She didn't even wait and grabbed Alia's hand, dragging her towards the escalators and taking her upstairs to the fun area as her brothers silently followed behind making apologetic faces towards Alia.

"Here," she stood in front of a gambling machine with teddies in it. "Get me and Alia one each!"

"Huh?" Alia looked at her, "I don't.."

"That's fine! He can't win it anyway." She waved her hand as Zaigham came forward to try.

"If you think that this is easy why don't you try." He threw back at his sister. They have a technique with which it does not let me-"

"Yeah, yeah.." Nadia looked around for something else, "oh there!" She hurried of somewhere.

Alia turned to look at Zaigham and said, "did I ruin your outing?"

He scoffed. "I'm pretty sure that my sister ruined yours."

To which Alia shook her head. "It's fine. I would be leaving soon though."

"She'll get over it." He waved it off, "She just gets excited for meeting new people. Anyway didn't you have college today?"

She shook her head. "Seminar for teachers."

"Ah," he looked around again and Alia had noticed it before but the time she decided to ask about it.

"Nadiya is standing right over there. Are you looking for someone else?"
He nodded. "If... here then...he should be.." He then pointed behind her making her turn around, "Look there he is." He muttered as she frowned.

What was he doing here? If anything Alia was going to kill him for coming here.