The lost and the find

Chapter 3: Unexpected fortune.

She had been waiting for Shehroz to pick her up but he didn't arrive. It was getting too late. It was particularly afternoon and the sun was about to set in two hours or so. The sky was purple and blue, the birds were flying back to their nests. The clouds were dark as it would just rain and the wind was blooming which was fleeing away Tayyaba's here. She was continuously setting them off.

It was getting too late now. Standing on the street, she could not see her brother. She would gaze upon the people passing by but was hesitant to ask for help from them. Unfortunately, her mobile phone's battery died just before she thought to call his brother.

She would think: should I go alone by rickshaw?' and two minutes later she would flip her thoughts by: No, what if I get kidnapped. Who knows. Being the youngest of all, she has been always the scared one. She was even afraid of sleeping alone in her room. GOING BACK HOME ALONE WAS A BIG DEAL.

It was too late now. While she was gathering up her strength to ask someone for help, she saw one of Humayun's friend over there. Fortunately, he saw her too and stopped his car nearby.

'Hey! What are you doing here, are you waiting for someone?' He asked.

'Assalam o alaikum, Hamza. Actually, I have been waiting for Shehroz bhai but he has not arrived yet.'(Doesn't he know how to do salaam?) She thought.

'If you don't mind, I can drop you home.' Said Hamza.

Tayyaba, all of a sudden, went into the ocean of the thoughts: Well it is not a bad idea to take lift from him, atleast he is Humayun's friend. I have seen him since my childhood. He never did something wrong to me. I should definitely accept his offer. How can I even wait anymore here?

'huh? I am talking to you.' Hamza interrupted her thoughts.
Tayyaba had no other option other than saying yes. She had to.

'Sure, thank you.'

...

Hamza unlocked his car and Tayyaba sat in it, picking up her bag from the bench on the street and taking great care of her hair which were continuously waving here and there.

Upon sitting, Hamza asked, 'Why were you standing at the street and not at the college?' He smirked.

'My college gate is usually closed at 2:00 pm. It is 4:00 now. Do you think college would allow me to just STAND over there?'

'No, I just thought you were waiting for somebody else, other than Shahroz.' He said while uplifting his one of the eye brow.

'What do you mean?'

'Somebody. It can be anyone. Whatever you assume.'

'How weird!' Tayyaba started looking outside from the window. The bluish sky with the shades of purple falling onto it. The flowers plotted at the streets. She started observing them.

Five minutes of silence in between them...

'ahm ahm' Hamza coughed and Tayyaba gave her weird expressions as if she was about to kill him.
As if she could not bear him anymore.

'Can you please drive a bit faster? I am already tensed right now.' Tayyaba said with strictness in her voice.

'Sure, ma'am!'

'How uncanny he is dressed up.' Tayyaba thought to herself. 'Who the hell likes chain and bracelets these days? I should definitely tell Humayun to stay away from him. Why is he even his friend? Gangster.' she thought and once again, she glanced at Hamza with the ear lobes wearing tops, his neck a golden chain, his wrists, covered by bracelets and the buttons of his shirt almost half opened. 'Cheapster!' She said in her mind.

She had seen Hamza before, in her house. He used to visit her house in a week or so. But this. This was the first time she was noticing what he wears and what he does not. What he does and what he does not. How he talks and how his facial expressions work.

'Okay, your destination ma'am!' said Hamza but Tayyaba paid no attention to it. She was still indulged in her own thoughts.

'Hello! your destination! Hamza said with a slight louder tone this time.

'Oh, thank you.'

'No problem, ma'am. Can you please call Humayun from inside?' said Hamza.

'Sure,Khuda Hafiz.'

'Bye'
...
As she entered her backyard, she saw Humayun standing there. Humayun was one year older than her. 'Where have Shehroz bhai been?' Tayyaba asked.

'He is busy in a meeting. He just called me, I was coming to pick you up.' Said Humayun.

'Okay, now go and meet Hamza. He is standing outside.'
...
In the lawn, she saw her mother sitting.

'Assalam o alaikum mama.' She said while opening her arms to hug her.

'Walaikumassalam. I was agitated about you. Did you have meal? Why were you not picking your phone? Were you alright? How did you come home?' She uttered out all these questions in literally one breath.

'Relax, mama. I am alright. Yes I had lunch in the college. Hamza dropped me home.'

'Hamza, Humayun's friend?'

'Yes, he was passing by the street when I was waiting for Shahroz bhai so he offered me lift.'

'I found him preternaturally weird, though. Because of his looks, I guess. I don't like him and Humayun being friends. Ask Humayun to cut off from him. ' Tayyaba continued.

'Tayyaba, we can't judge someone on the basis of how they look. See he dropped you home. If he was not there, how'd you come home?'

'As you wish, mama. Where is abba?'

'There is an official meeting today. All the respectful and prestigious businessmen of the country are invited.'

'Oh. Okay. I didn't even meet him. I miss him already.'

Continuing, she added, 'I need to be fresh mama. Kindly ask Nusrat aunty to prepare some orange juice for me. I am really exhausted.'
...
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Author's note: Thank you so much all of you who are supporting me in this. I would whole heartedly accept any improvement which you guys will tell me to do. If you find any mistake, kindly drop it in the comments section, it would really mean alot.
This is just the start to story, there is so much more .  Allah Hafiz and take care!