Insane

one; his return

"Finally, Ahil and Asfandyar are coming home from London. It's been six months since we have seen those rascals."

Mr Ali laughed, as he spoke to his wife and his daughter, Azra Ali.

They were all enjoying their dinner, when Ahil Ali facetimed the family to inform them that he and his best friend will be back from London.

Ahil had spent a few months there with his best friend and his business partner, Asfandyar Khan to work on a huge project that their fathers had entrusted them with.

By god's grace, both of them managed to take their respective companies to new heights.

Making the Khan family and Ali family very proud of their achievements.

The Khans and the Alis had a special bond and relationship for almost a decade now. Mr Khan and Mr Ali were best friends, as were their wives. And now their children, Asfandyar Khan and Ahil Ali, Azra Ali and Noor Khan.

Azra couldn't contain her excitement upon hearing that her brother, and brother's best friend is coming back.

26-year-old Azra Ali is the only daughter and the apple of the eye of the Ali family. Everyone including the Khan family was fond of her.

She was well on her way to become a doctor, and wasn't the typical snob that one would expect from a rich family. A hard worker and humble - traits that she learnt from her parents. 

But she's been hiding this secret in her heart for close to a decade.

She was irrevocably in love with her brother's best friend, Asfandyar, ever since she was 16-year-old.

Both of them had an age gap of five years, but Azra didn't really mind.

Many thought Asfandyar Khan was serious and very intense as a person, but Azra knew how kind and respectful he was of everyone, especially his parents. The way he took care of her parents like he was theirs, and the way he supported her brother every step of the way. How he worked hard to bring his father's company to new heights. She respected everything about him, and how that respect turned to love, she didn't know.

But could she ever admit her feelings to him? She was in deep thoughts, unaware of what's coming next or rather how her own mother is going to deliver the most heartbreaking news in the next few seconds.

"I heard the Khans have decided to get Asfandyar engaged to Faridah's daughter, Seher next month." Mrs Khan said.

Upon hearing the news, Azra felt that her heart had stopped. She was stunned.

The man that she was in love with since 16 years old was going to be with someone else.

She quickly excused herself and ran to her room.

Azra sat down on her bed, as a great sob escaped her and she covered her face with shaking hands.

Azra slowly calmed herself down.

Was it right for her to feel disappointed? It wasn't Asfandyar's fault.

He didn't even know about how she felt about him,

and even if he did know, he probably didn't even see her that way.

Azra Ali was only his best friend's sister, nothing more.

"Azra, you need to stop these feelings. He wasn't yours to begin with."

She whispered, as she cried herself to sleep.