aurore - an unusual love story √

part hundred one

Dressed in a dark blue top and a long yellow skirt, Humaira stepped into the house she loved the most after her own. Maya and Farhan's huge duplex flat.

Maya welcomed her with open arms, kissing her forehead. Humaira smiled back, however, pale.

Farhan stood a distance behind. Humaira walked upto him, and handing over a large wrapped box, mumbled,
" Happy Birthday FoFo!
May you live upto hundred and ten. "

Farhan laughed out loud.

She was guided by them to the living room. The serenity of the ocean themed walls always calmed her soul.

" Farhan said he doesn't want a party. Nor a celebration. But I was desperate. Why would our kids suffer? Hence this lunch. " , Maya settled crossing her legs on the settee before Humaira.

" Haww! How rude of you FoFo! You wished to deprive this tiny soul from food! How could you even? "

Farhan settled just beside her and pulled her hair.
" I know I know. Humaira has a jumbo tummy and she's always looking for food. I was a fool to forget that. "

A feat of laughter hit the hall.

Humaira had received a message last night, from Maya, inviting her for lunch on the occasion of Farhan's birthday the next afternoon. Following which she had asked Dadda if he too was coming, he said with a smirk that he wasn't invited.

Humaira hardly knew what the equations were supposed to be now, in the house, when there were two more members.

She knew not if Maya and Farhan were trying to accommodate them as well, or just letting Dadda be with them. Her insides hurt suddenly.

" Where's Rehan? " , she asked.

" In his room. I'll just call him after sometime. Basically we're waiting for another invitee. " , Maya smiled.

Humaira tilted her head. Another invitee? 

Just then, the door bell rang.

Farhan and Maya, both got up, a bit of an alarmed. And disappeared behind the wall to the foyer.

Humaira sat, distracted.

Ayaan stood very uncomfortably before the door, that opened, with Maya standing alongside Farhan.

She pulled him in. While he knew beads of perspiration grew on his forehead.

Ayaan was vehemently pushed into this awkward invitation by Maa. She convinced him that they were his closest blood relations. He could not and should not ignore them, for the sake of humanity, out of respect for them, even if he was still not ready to accept his father.

He was dropped here by one of his father's cars.

He had returned early after his flying sessions, had dressed up according to Sonara's wish, and quite unwillingly now, stood amidst two almost strangers, who didn't look very strange though.

He wondered, what he was... when he had arrived from Kolkata, and what he had become in just a few days.

" Don't overthink. It's your house. Humaira's here already. We're all hungry. " , Farhan smiled.

Ayaan almost forgot to hand him over a gift, Sonara had bought for Farhan.
Suddenly recollecting, he murmured,
" Happy....Birthday... "

Farhan took the gift with a smile.

They both almost pushed him into the living space.

Humaira immediately shot up from her seat, seeing Ayaan.
She was beyond surprised.