Mulazim-E-Al-Wadood (On hold)

Chapter 33

Third Person's POV

Fatigue weighed heavily on Muskan as she collapsed onto the bed, her eyelids drooping shut almost instantly. The room was enveloped in a comfortable silence until Mahenoor’s voice sliced through.

“Where’s Sarah?” she inquired, breaking the quiet.

Muskan, eyes still closed, replied, “She mentioned having some hospital work, so she couldn’t make it.”

Aaliyah, who had been scrolling through her phone with a frown, suddenly grumbled and tossed it onto the bed. “Why are they flaunting?”

Mahenoor caught Aaliyah's gaze, curiosity piqued. “Who?”

“Zamir and Aaiza,” Aaliyah replied, her voice laced with annoyance. “I’m pretty sure Aaiza is the mastermind behind this haram pose for the picture. Muskan, do you follow her?”

Muskan nodded, opening her eyes to look at Aaliyah.

“And you’re still calm?” Jiya chimed in, her surprise evident as she sat up straighter on the edge of the bed.

Muskan sighed, propping herself up on one elbow. "Yeah, because I've lost every feeling I had for him since he proposed to Aaiza and badmouthed me, And there's nothing new. Aaiza is always looking for attention." Muskan confessed, her words punctuated by a heavy sigh as she remained sprawled on the bed.

"Let them be. What about Mr. Handsome?" Jiya teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Muskan feigned ignorance, raising an eyebrow in response. "Who?"

"Your rumored boyfriend, the dashing investor," Jiya clarified with a playful smirk, earning only a straight-faced reaction from Muskan.

"I want to tell you all a secret," Muskan declared solemnly. Her friends leaned in eagerly, their eyes wide with curiosity, ready to receive whatever revelation she had in store.

"I have a crush on him," Muskan admitted, her voice tinged with a mixture of nervousness and excitement as she revealed her secret.

"On who?" Aaliyah exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

"Who else? It's Mr. Handsome," Jiya interjected, a playful smirk playing on her lips as she prompted their gazes to shift towards Muskan for confirmation, which she provided with a subtle nod.

"Wow, have you told him? Please say you did," Aaliyah urged eagerly, leaning in closer.

"I...I didn't," Muskan confessed, her words hesitant. Sensing Aaliyah's impending protest, she hurriedly added, "But he knows."

"He knows? How?" Mahenoor inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"He said it's too obvious. Anyone can tell. But I still denied it," Muskan explained, a hint of sheepishness coloring her tone as she recounted the interaction.

"At least he's better than Zamir. He knew your feelings but blabbered about it to look cool." Jiya remarked, her tone tinged with disdain as their phones simultaneously buzzed with a message from their college group, sent by none other than Zamir.

"Such a troublemaker. Invokes the name of the devil, and here he is," Aaliyah quipped, a hint of frustration evident in her voice.

"Aaliyah," Mahenoor reprimanded her friend with a stern glare, her disapproval.

"But—" Aaliyah attempted to defend herself, but Muskan intervened, seeking to redirect the conversation. "Reunion?" she read aloud, her voice filled with curiosity as she informed them of the upcoming class reunion mentioned in the message.

"It's only been a month, and he wants to meet everyone already?" Jiya expressed her disbelief, her brows furrowing in confusion.

"Don't you guys know?" Aaliyah's tone turned serious, drawing the attention of the group.

"What?" Mahenoor inquired, leaning in closer, intrigued by Aaliyah's implication.

"He bought a ring and is definitely planning to propose to Aaiza in front of everyone. That's the gossip," Aaliyah disclosed, her words hanging heavy in the air as the gravity of the situation sunk in.

"In that case, we definitely have to attend," Mahenoor insisted, determining lacing her voice as she considered the significance of the event.

"But if we know he's going to do this, Muskan shouldn't go," Jiya voiced her concern, her eyes flickering with worry as she glanced at Muskan, her friend's emotions palpable in the tense silence that followed.

"No, she has to go and show them she's moved on," Mahenoor asserted, her tone resolute as she voiced her opinion.

"I don't want to," Muskan protested, her reluctance evident in her voice.

"Don't tell me you still love him," Aaliyah probed, her gaze searching Muskan's face for any sign of lingering affection.

"Why would I still have feelings for him?" Muskan affirmed, her words carrying a sense of conviction as she recounted her efforts to move on.

"Only I know how I managed to get over him. I've spent hours in prayer, pleading with Allah to rid me of those feelings. I don't want them back," She said in her mind.

"And that's precisely why you need to come. You're coming, and that's final," Mahenoor declared firmly before turning to leave. As Mahenoor departed, Jiya and Muskan went their separate ways. Jiya headed to her home, while Muskan also made her way home, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions and apprehensions about the impending reunion.

As Muskan sifted through her wardrobe, contemplating what to wear for the reunion, she couldn't shake off the reluctance gnawing at her. "I don't want to go there," she murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper as she collapsed onto the bed, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her.

With a heavy sigh, her phone suddenly buzzed, signaling a message from Aaliyah. "Wear black or red. Colour of REVENGE," Aaliyah wrote, emphasizing the word 'revenge' in all caps. Muskan couldn't help but smile at her friend's eccentricity, finding a glimmer of determination in Aaliyah's words. Maybe she's onto something, Muskan thought. Zamir may not have insulted her to her face, but he still betrayed her trust by spreading her feelings to everyone. "Let's take revenge," Muskan resolved silently, a newfound determination settling within her.

Scanning her wardrobe, Muskan found no red attire, but a striking black outfit caught her eye. As she pulled it out, she couldn't help but feel a sense of empowerment wash over her. Today, she would not only show Zamir that she had moved on, but she would also reclaim her confidence and stand tall in the face of betrayal. With a newfound resolve, Muskan began to prepare herself for the reunion, determined to face whatever challenges awaited her with grace and strength.

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