Mannat

9| First clue.

QULSUM

"Which one?" Shiza asked holding two dresses in her hand.

"Are you going somewhere? The blue one." I answer munching the chips.

"I am not going. Zayaan is coming over for lunch."

"Again?" the word slipped out of my mouth before I could control.

Shiza batted her eyelids staring at me with her mouth hung open. Placing the dresses onto the table she walked towards bed and stood in front of me with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"You know Qulsum I have been wanting to ask you this. Do you hate Zayaan? You never really talked about him or asked me anything about him. In fact you seem to have some urgent works every time he visits our home; no matter how important day it is for me." Shiza questioned with her eyes narrowed.

I know my act of having some work whenever he visits will not last longer. But I had to do it, for Shiza and for myself. It's harder than I thought it would be to let go of my feelings.

"It's nothing Shiza. You are thinking too much." I press my lips whist shrugging one shoulder.

"Qulsum what are you hiding from me. And I am not thinking too much, you were absent the day Zayaan family was here to ask my hand for marriage. That was important day of my life and I wanted my sister with me."

When my ears perceived her words, my soul shuddered while a chill coursed down my spine. Yes, Zayaan and Shiza were getting engaged next week and after one month they were getting married.

I have been telling myself this everyday but still my heart crumbles everytime I hear it.

I peer at Shiza controlling all my pumped up emotions. I would do anything for her. I have heard mom saying how happy Shiza looked with Zayaan and how caring Zayaan was when it comes to Shiza. I would never let my unrequited love come in between them.

"Shiza I am sorry about that but -" Shiza cut me off by saying, "If you don't like Zayaan. I don't want to be with him, Qulsum. You must know your involvement in my life matters way more than any guy."

And this was exactly what I was dreading. Shiza would do anything for me. Just one hint about my feelings, she will break every connections she has with him so that I can be happy.

"What nonsense Shiza, stop over reacting. I won't miss any of your important days from now on. I will be here when he comes home today." I mutter gulping all my agony, I have to learn to move on. It's only going to get harder after this and I have to keep myself in check.

❖❖

I was placing plates on the dinner table when the Zayaan and Shiza strolled inside.

"Dad is stuck in some meeting so he won't be joining us for lunch..." I state with an even voice. I had my eyes lowered as I was placing the vessels on table. I was very well aware of the fact that a pair of eyes were peering at me closely.

"Oh Zayaan you are here. Let's start lunch then." Mom walked out with dessert making me sigh in relief.

The lunch was kind of awkward albeit I never really made eye contact with Zayaan which was actually good, I was edgy throughout the lunch.

"Shiza mom wants to take you out for shopping. She asked me to bring you home." Zayaan whispered, his voice came out velvety making my stomach churn.

I cautiously raised my eyelids to take a look at him and at that exact moment he moved his gaze in my direction. I felt myself getting lost in those deep eyes. My heart hammering against my ribcage.