A Thing, Beyond Forever

17.

"So which subject are we diving in first?" Yazan said as he dropped the pile of big fat guide books on the table. 

"Here's how I scheduled this meeting. We are going to revise all the heavyweight chapters first. Each subject two hours and half an hour break in between we will be done by 4, hopefully" Talha added looking towards the other boys who had joined them for group study. 

"Yeah right as if we are actually gonna stick to that" scoffed Faisal and Nouman. 

"I mean we can try" Yazan shrugged. 

And they did. They started off with maths and were done with it for nearly one & half hour when the knock on the door interrupted them.

"Ma, I think I told you that we are taking a break after every two hours" Yazan said hitting pause on the timer they had set. 

"It's okay Yaz, I was really happy to see you boys study for real that's why I decided to interrupt with some tea and snacks" She smiled in response to the boys greeting her and kept the tray on the table. 

"Thank you so much Aunty! If it were to Yazan he won't even ask us to drink water" Faisal chortled.  

Yazan's mom laughed as well. "If you need anything else don't hesitate to ask beta" she said as she walked out of the door. 

"Guys can we keep it off for another half hour and then take a break? C'mon we are nearly done" Yazan asked, to which everyone just groaned. 

"Alright. Tea first" He responded with her hands in the air. 

"We have farewell party tomorrow and instead of deciding what suits to wear we here are studying" Nouman rolled his eyes. 

"If you don't want to then you are free to leave" Yazan smiled sarcastically.

"That's why I told you all that if we follow the routine I mentioned earlier, we would be done by 4 and we would have loads to time to spare and not prepare for pre-board exams" Talha emphasised. 

Yazan threw a high-five at Talha's, "Exactly my point"

"We can take this break for half an hour and the break we were supposed to take can compensate for the studying that's remaining" Faisal shrugged as he sipped onto his cup of tea. "By the way your mum makes  great tea" He added. 

Yazan nodded in response as he raised his cup, "Pleasure is all mine"

"So Yazan how are things with Huda?" Nouman winked at him

"The same as they are with you and Zukroof" Yazan replied, his lips curving into an evil smile as all the boys started cooing and whistling for Nouman.

Nouman laughed seeing their reaction. "What do you mean? We are just good friends nothing more" 

"That's exactly what I meant as well... me and Huda are good friends as well. Why is something more we should be knowing Nouman?" Yazan wiggled his eyebrows at him.

"Hold on, you are telling me there's something going on between Zuki and Nouman and I out of all people don't know?" Faisal said as he placed a hand on his heart indicating a fake heart attack. 

"Of Course you don't know because there isn't anything!" Nouman emphasised, he looked over at Yazan then, "I don't know from where you are cooking these conspiracy theories about us though" He scoffed. 

Yazan kept thinking back to the conversation he had in the morning with Zukroof. He had to do something to put them together in the same boat. 

"Okay...there maybe nothing  at the moment between you two but who knows if our sapphire house captain here has a little crush on her" Yazan smiled.

Talha understood that Yazan was simply teasing him. He had no clue Yazan was aware of Zukroof's feelings for Nouman and so he chimed in as well. 

"Ohhhh is that why he was going all "Oh my god, look at Zukroof!" during the picnic?" 

"I never said that!" Nouman was quick to deny. He turned towards Faisal for help. "Okay these two new birds know nothing but at least you can back me up here?"

Faisal was laughing seeing the whole exchange of conversation. "I don't know what to say bro. Do you really have a crush on her?"

Nouman shrugged, "Not a crush but yeah...she's cool. You can say I like her" and upon hearing that all the boys started cheering and clapping for him all over again.

"Alright. Alright. No big deal" He responded back. "Now can we get back to our study material sir?" He pointed the book to Yazan.

"No big deal? No big deal? You gotta tell her how you feel man! C'mon!" Faisal and Talha were now in full mood to target and tease Nouman. 

"No way" He scoffed. "Thank you"

"I will bet a thousand rupees, Nouman won't do it" claimed Yazan. 

"Do what?" Nouman laughed. "I don't understand why are you guys targeting me today!" 

"I will give you thousand rupees if you propose to Zukroof tomorrow the first thing you do as soon as she enters"  Yazan pressed his lips tight and gave a corny smile. 

His brain was too young to realize then the consequences of what he was doing. 

"And a hundred each from all of us" Talha and Faisal joined. 

Nouman thought for a second looking at their full of excitement faces. Anyway the year is coming to an end. There was no harm in proposing her. He would have a girlfriend to show off as well as he gets to keep the money. It was a win- win situation for him. 

"I will take it!" Nouman banged his hand on the table as if to assure he fully agrees with their plan. 

"But if you fail to do so then you will have to...."

"I will get no money. Let's keep it simple and not complicate more" Nouman interrupted. 

Everyone high-fived then and resumed their study session. Completely unaware of the disaster that was going to implode by their seemingly harmless act. 

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