Sabr : the gift for patience

chapter 8

Zafar's Pov:

The door of my office opened and Arsh entered. "Have lunch with me," he said casually sitting on the sofa taking his phone out of his pocket.

"Okay, let's go" I said closing my laptop and putting the files away. I looked at Arsh only to see a shocked expression visible on his face,
He came towards me and place a hand on my forehead to check the temperature. " What are you doing?," I asked with a done expression removing his hand.

"You will have lunch with ME? Who are you?? Where's Zafar? My Zaf would've said 'No I'm busy' or 'Not today arsh I have work' He wouldn't agree until I beg him." He said in a dramatic and shocked tone,

" You're so annoying" I replied getting up from my chair. "Hmm someone's in a good mood today I see," Arsh said with a mysterious smile following me. " You're just too dramatic, as always" I rolled my eyes at him.

"So, how was your date with my soon to be bhabi (sister-in-law)? Arsh asked as we walked towards the elevator. " It was a mulakat" I gave him a death stare, " Yeah Yeah Whatever, you're in a good mood aren't you?" He said as the memories of yesterday flashed in my mind, a automatic smile appeared on my face.

"You're already in love man, it's okay you don't have to tell me anything," arsh said with a sad dramatic expression after noticing my smile, " You seriously need to stop being so dramatic. She's nice , beautiful ,kind, polite and modest. There's nothing to not like about her." I said as the image of niyamat float in my visions.

"Ugh, you're already making me feel so lonely. Bhabi stole my best friend" I chuckled hearing him sigh. "Don't worry you'll find someone just like you,","Took that as a compliment" He said with an ear to ear smile.

"When will you introduce me to Bhabi, does she even know she has such a handsome brother-in-law?" Arsh asked fixing his collar. "Soon," I replied with a soft chuckle as we got out of the elevator and walked towards the cafeteria.

Past
10years ago

Niyamat's pov:

I was in the washroom washing my hand. Our school's girls washroom was divided into two sides with a wall in the middle. When I heard some girls on the other side talking, "Have you seen Abhi hanging out with that weird girl for a few weeks?" a girl said. "Yea, what's up with them. There's no way Abhi likes her." Replied another girl.

"I think he's just being sympathetic towards her because she has no friends." They all laughed. I was about to leave and ignore them as always when a familiar voice spoke again, "Abhi only looks better with me, he's mine for sure.". I knew this voice and this person better than anyone.

Maria, my childhood best friend. School's one of the popular girls, boys drool over her. Her beauty was her biggest weapon. All the boys were crazy over her. She was the closest and only friend I had once upon a time. But as we grew up she started to become jealous of me as I was better in studies than her. Her parents always compared her with me in that matter. And eventually this jealousy turned to hatred. She started spreading rumors about me which left me with no friends. And the company of wrong people made her a completely pick me girl eventually.

I left the washroom silently. After school was over I didn't wait for Abhi. Abhi became my good and only friend in a few weeks. I liked his company, his little jokes , flirts and the fact he didn't judge me hearing all those rumours. But the words of those girls hit me somehow.

I was sitting on my favorite spot looking at the lake. The words of maria and those girls kept ringing on my ears. "Why didn't you wait for me?" Abhi said and sat beside me. I stayed quiet not facing him. "Everything's alright pumpkin?" He asked concerned, "Why did you want to be my friend?", "what?" He asked confused. "Are you accompanying me because you feel bad for me cause I have no friends?' I asked again tears filling my eyes.