Zindagi ka Raaz

11

As we entered the living room, everyone greeted me with a warm smile.

"Ah, Uswa, beta, how are you? You look a bit tired." Her aunty asked

Uswa forced a smile, but I could tell it was fake. "I'm fine, Aunty. Just stayed up late doing assignments."

I raised an eyebrow, knowing that was a lie. I had sent her an assignment yesterday when she forgot her phone, and I knew she didn't have any other work to do.

Uswa's eyes darted to me, and for a moment. But then she quickly looked away, trying to compose herself.

Just then, my parents and siblings arrived, and Uswa's eyes widened in shock. She looked like she had seen a ghost.

I smiled mischievously and mouthed "Surprise" to her.

She goes upstairs but when she didn't came after a while.

Her mother asked her cousin, I guess, to go check on her.

Then after a while they both came downstairs. 

After we all did iftari, but I was gazing to her time to time. She had swallow eyes.

Then we all go to masjid to pray. But my mind was fixed back at Uswa.

After praying we all go back to home.

We sat in living room. Then she goes back in kitchen to make tea, for everyone.

Then when she gone, every elder, present there, start talking about the rhuksati but they didn't decided the date.

I saw Fatima got up and goes to the kitchen.

I thought that if I could go like Fatima. How nice would that be? But sad, I can't go.

After some time, with a grin Fatima came back to her seat. Which is besides me.

She looked at me and start grinning.

"What?" I whispered

"Nothing" she whispered back and started looking here and there.

When she came out of the kitchen with a try in her hands.

I couldn't help but notice Uswa avoiding eye contact with me. She was serving tea to everyone, but seemed to be deliberately skipping me.

I wondered if she was still upset with me, or if she was just trying to avoid me altogether. Either way, I knew I had to talk to her eventually.

Just as I was thinking this, Uswa's aunt spoke up, "Uswa, serve him a cup of tea too."

Uswa hesitated, looking like she would rather do anything else. But eventually, she got up and walked over to me, tea in hand.

"Ye ley," she said curtly, handing me the cup.

I looked up at her, trying to catch her eye, but she quickly turned away. I sensed a mix of emotions in her - anger, frustration, and maybe even a hint of sadness.

As she sat down beside her cousins and Fatima, I couldn't help but steal glances at her. I knew I had to find a way to break the ice between us, but for now, I just observed her from afar, trying to read her mood.

As we finished our tea and conversation, Uswa's grandmother , Dado, spoke up, "All kids, go upstairs. We need to finalize the preparations for Uswa and Saad's rukhsati."

I felt a surge of excitement at the mention of our names together. I got up, trying to appear nonchalant, and followed the others upstairs.

As we reached the top of the stairs, I slowed down, letting the others go ahead. Uswa was behind me, and I could sense her hesitation.

"Hey, wait up," I said, turning to face her.

Uswa stopped, looking around nervously to make sure no one was watching.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I smiled, trying to reassure her. "I just wanted to talk to you. We're finally alone."

Uswa raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical, but she didn't walk away. I took that as a good sign. Maybe this was my chance to clear the air and asked her how she really felt.

I walked ahead, expecting Uswa to follow me to a quiet spot where we could talk. But instead, she trailed behind me as we entered the living room, where all the other kids were gathered.

I was confused - why had she brought me here, surrounded by our cousins and siblings? I thought we were going to have a private conversation.

As we entered the room, everyone looked up at us, curious about what was going on.

I started to feel frustrated - what was the point of bringing me here if we weren't going to talk?

But then she whispered something in her cousin year, who goes to check up on her before, Marwa.

A then with a mischief smile, she got up.

And came to me.

"Bhai, let's go" she said more like whispering.

Then I followed her. She brought me to the balcony which was next to the living room.

Then she go again in. And fix the curtain from inside.

After some time Uswa came there. I got happy to see her.

"Hmm??" She hummed as she enter.

"What happened?" I asked

"Nothing!" She said

"Then why sis you cry?" I asked

She looked at me with shocked expression. Like I told her a big thing that I wasn't supposed to say.

"I.... Why.... Would I cry?" She said and start looking here and there.

"Then why are you shuttering by saying that?" I again asked

"What's your problem, did you want to talk about this stupid thing?" She said in a loud tone and turned to go inside when I hold her hand.

"Please," I said to Uswa, still holding her hand.

Just then, her cousin called out to her, "Bajiiiii?"

Uswa quickly withdrew her hand from mine and went to see what her cousin wanted.

"H.... Hannn" she replied, using the same affectionate term.

Her cousin, Mouaz, asked, "What are you both doing here?"

Uswa replied, "Nothing, Mouaz. What happened?" and walked closer to him.

Mouaz started to say something, "Baji, I..." but then his eyes landed on me, and he stopped mid-sentence.

Feeling awkward, I spoke up, "I think I'll leave you both alone."

I turned and walked back inside, wondering why I was feeling jealous. Mouaz was just a kid, after all. Why was I reacting this way?

After a few minutes, Uswa and Mouaz came back inside. Uswa glanced at me, and for a moment, our eyes locked. Then, she quickly turned and went into her room. My eyes followed her, lingering on the closed door.

A few moments later, she emerged from her room, and called out to Mouaz , "Mouaz..."

Assalamualaikum!

I hope you like this chapter of my second story!!

Everyone! I want to share an important reminder with you all. Please do not repost or try to copy my work without permission. Remember, even if you think no one is watching, Allah sees everything. Keep that in mind and respect the creativity and hard work of others.

This entire story is a product of my imagination, a fictional tale that I have created. I want to emphasize that it is not based on real events.

Allah hafiz, may God protect and guide us all. Let us always strive to be honest and respectful in our actions and interactions.