LOVE TRIALS

ix

They are both too stubborn and it's complicated.

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"Tell me again, why I am sitting here with you?" Hamza pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation, watching Jabeer from under his eyelashes while he narrated the tales of one girl after another ditching him because he had returned to the country to be with only his mother.

Hamza didn't believe a word that had come out of Jabeer's mouth in the past hour and he didn't know what had compelled him to accompany Jabeer for coffee in the evening when he could've been at home suffering through Sophia's silent treatment and he would have enjoyed it, too.

A corner of his lips turned, upwards.

Jabeer didn't particularly like Hamza Hassan Omer but he liked his sister plenty. Munizeh Hassan Omer married his good friend, Bilal Raza and bore him three children which is why when they had asked him to bear Hamza's high nose and prickly attitude he couldn't deny them. It was no reason, at all. He had no reason to do it other than the goodness of his heart. He reminded himself for the umpteenth time sitting opposite Hamza, casually sipping on his tea as if they were the best of friends.

"I needed a friend," Jabeer shrugged, he made a terrible sight his mouth turned down.

Hamza scoffed that was a white lie. Jabeer Akhund was friends with everyone, he was a walking people magnet, luring humans. Very much like how ants are attracted to sugar.

Hamza groaned, "I am not your friend."

"I don't care for your opinion in that regard," Jabeer said and leaned forward in his seat. "Let's go!"

Hamza watched Jabeer stand and dust his dark pants, "No, Thankyou."

"Come on!"Jabeer urged."I'll take you. Then, you can take your wife."

"Definitely, not going," Hamza shook his head.

"You cannot miss the sunset, Hamza," Jabeer said.

"I plan to."

Hamza chuckled when Jabeer rolled his eyes.

"Okay," Jabeer concurred. He sat down and set his elbows on his knees. He bounced a leg, silent as a tomb.

What's wrong?

"What's the matter?" Hamza asked, nonchalantly.

"I think you should leave," Jabeer's eyes flitted to him, he had been looking at something past Hamza's broad shoulders.

Hamza clenched his teeth and gathered the keys of his car from the table.

Jabeer explained, "I didn't mean it that way."

"Okay. Let's not do this, again."

"Hamza."

He heard her chuckle, it resonated deep within his bones. He hadn't realised he had nearly forgotten it. The realization nearly destroyed him.

Hamza sucked in a sharp breath, the knife twisted deeper into his chest. His gaze dropped to Jabeer's.

"You should leave," Jabeer told him, again.

Watching the woman who had made a wreck out of a good man as she sat a few tables away from them. He had seen her come, she had bought an ice cream cone for her daughter before she pulled out a chair of the nearest table and helped her daughter in it. She sat beside her.

Sabeeha Ansari chuckled, dabbing her daughter's nose with a napkin as her little girl licked the icecream with a sweet smile on her lips, unaware of the dreams her mother had shattered.