Business - Euphoria

He knows the effect

I found myself in my room at home, next to Nuha, she looked like a Koala. The conversation from yesterday hit my mind again.

My weekend is always spent here but this time was different.

Flashback

As usual everyone returned home in the evening. I was watching a movie with Nuha. After freshening up, we all sat in the living room, I was showing Nuha my recent pictures, when we came across the picture of Mr. Danish, one from the party. I looked at it for a while, before swiping to the next.
Later I joined my family in the conversation. It was about the decorations of the party. "Mrs. Emraan really liked the decorations" said Mother."She seemed to be a friendly lady" said Di. Mother continues "She also seemed to like you. And kept asking me of you". I looked at her confused. Mrs. Emraan asking about me?
"What do you mean?" I asked. "What we mean is that the Emraans have sent a proposal asking your hand for Danish" said Father in a serious tone. I didn't say anything and my Mother continued "the boy is well behaved and successful not to forget his looks". "I give him hundred points" Nuha exclaims excitedly. "It is not that you have to reply immediately just think of it, if you find it comfortable we can proceed with it" Bhai said softly. "Only if you are comfortable" Di assures me by patting my shoulder. I nod to them. "Can I also get married?" asks, the not so innocent Nuha. "You want to get married? Do you have someone on your mind, Nuha?" Mother being quite curious about this signaled her to sit on her lap. "You know, that handsome guy who looked more handsome than an actor" replied Nuha acting all shy. Bhai connects the dots and informs that she was talking about Farhan Emraan and narrates that incident. Everyone laughs at her dream and then, father said "Nuha you are too young to marry him, why don't you marry me instead?" Nuha makes the face of a thinking person and replies "Grandpa you already have Grandma with you". Everyone laughed and later went to sleep but I kept thinking of that incident.
When Nuha said that.
The thought made me feel not awkward but something new and different. Not going to lie, I am reminded of him more often than anyone else. His eyes, which show unmasked emotions and unshared words. He did hide his emotions very well, but I accidentally noticed it once, and unknowingly did it every time I looked at him.
The moment when I secretly stole a glace of his proud expression during the presentation, the happy moment when the project was declared a success, that cheeky smile after seeing Nuha. Everything about him was special.
I held his picture from the party, he looked perfect, and ignited my soul with ineffable emotions. Focusing on his eyes for minutes this was all I could say "your eyes say the words you don't, Danish Emraan" before drifting into sleep.

At present

We are at the mall. Wandering around. Nuha said that she wanted me to buy her something. Not sure what it was.
Later, I found out that she wanted to buy a diary and a few more things, (sticky notes, stickers, etc). My girl is all grown up, she has secrets she wants to pen down. I am sure Farhan is the reason for this.
Oh god!

We are eating ice cream and looking around. Nuha looks cute in her outfit and that yellow duck bag.
Bhai and Di are out on a date. Parents had a pre-planned drive, which left me with her. After breakfast she pulled me here.
"Look who's here" we heard Farhan's voice. Nuha was so stunned that she kept staring at him with wide eyes and ice cream spread all over her face.
I turned to him and was way too stunned to even hide the shocked expression on my face. In front of me was Danish Emraan in his casuals. In casuals!
He looked so ethereal.
It was too late before I collected myself and greeted them with a smile. He noticed it. And I noticed him
Heavens of all coincidences, this is what was happening.

💙

In front of me stood Ata Kashif along with the little girl, Nuha, in her carefree outfit. She was stunned to see me and was caught off-guard. The smile she gave was so new. Pure and simple. And the scarf which she had on, to cover her hair and shoulders looked beautiful on her. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She broke the eye contact when Nuha shyly said "Hi" it was basically addressed to Farhan. He bent to her height and ruffled her hair saying "hello sweetheart". She was now super shy and held on to Ms. Ata. "What a coincidence" Afreen spoke breaking the silence. "Yes it is" Ms. Ata said politely. "Why don't you join us? We are going to have something" Farhan says showing his evil smile. "No please, we won't disturb you" said the very polite Ms. Ata. But Nuha had some different plans, she pulled her hand and said "Come on Ata, don't be rude, they want us to join them". She gives it a thought and says with a smile "well if you don't mind, we would be glad to join you." So polite. "You are the best" Nuha said and held Farhan's hand with an evil grin.  She looked at Nuha in disbelief and joined Afreen. She surely was manipulated by her.
I recalled her expression after seeing me. She looked cute and shocked.

Afreen forced us to join her at the mall. She is always like this. Being the only sister, she surely knows how to manage us all and being a lawyer adds to her advantages. I was full of regrets until I saw her. Now, this was worth my schedule being ruined.

Afreen introduced her to Shayan and Nadim.
I am sitting in front of her. 'Is she aware of the proposal? Did she agree to it?' was what I had on my mind.
"I was honestly curious about the one who handles finance among the Emraans. Glad to meet you" she said addressing Shayan. Nadim introduces himself as a wandering soul and her reaction was full of curiosity. He explains to her about his work. "Wow! that's so interesting, it must be so hard to select your favourite place when you like everywhere." She actively replied to the other's words and nodded in agreement, while all I did was simply nod and observe her.
Nuha on the other hand was busy starting at Farhan all the time.
"No, the decoration was-" she was cut by an incoming call. The ring tone was low, not a song or regular music but seems like a person humming a tune. She stared at the phone for a few seconds and excused herself. I kept looking at her until she disappeared. Afreen softly hit my shoulder pulling me back to reality. I cleared my throat and looked around, only to find everyone already looking at me that too with an evil smile. "What?" I questioned in a bored tone l. "Yes, what is it sweetheart?" Farhan teasingly asked Nuha (more like teasing him). "I feel sad" says Nuha. "And why is it?" "I told Dad, Mom, Grandma and Grandpa about you and they said that I am too young to marry you" she says. We started laughing. "Farhan you are no different from this little girl" mocks Nadim. "You really told that to your family?" Farhan asks, being, not so surprised. "Yeah, yesterday when they talked about marrying Ata to Mr. Handsome" Nuha says addressing me as 'Mr handsome'. "Is it? You don't have to worry sweetheart" Farhan says teasing me. Before I could reply him Ms. Ata joined us and questioned after noticing the eyes."It's nothing much, Bhabhi" said the cheeky Afreen. She started coughing and was offered some water.
"That was so sudden" she said with bright eyes.
Our eyes met and she quickly looked away. Trying to change the topic she offered Afreen a bag and "they looked good and I thought of buying it". "Who is it for?" Nadim asks to tease her. "If you don't mind sharing, it is for you all" she replied. "Oh I thought, you wanted to give it to Bhaiya" Nadim again teases her. All this time Nuha looked at her with cute puppy eyes. She noticed it and just gave her another bag she had. Nuha started smiling, kissed her cheek and said "Ata, don't marry Mr. Handsome and I will also not marry Mr. Farhan. Then you can buy me things and I will kiss your cheek every time". "You want me, only to buy you things and not because I am beautiful?" She teases with her doe eyes, not knowing of its effect on me.