Save Me.

The Sikandar House

Time passed by so quickly that we didn't even realized when the mid exam week started. Right now I am waiting for Inaya outside the examination building where she is taking her sweet time revising her paper for probably the 4th time while I have been out here for past 15 minutes.

"Zareen zareen zareeennnnnnnn how are you girl?"

I hear Inaya calling for me while running out of the building towards me. I smile at her and then play fully tease her.

"I am fine girllll. So is the nerd topping in all of her mids this time?"

"Oh shut up Z! I just recheck them for making sure I havent missed something out"

Inaya punch me while defending herself at which I start laughing loud while she stand there glaring at me.

"What is happening here? Zareen dont you know that a lady shouldnt be laughing this loud?"

I stopped laughing and straightened my back composing myself at hearing Zaroons playful comment from behind me. Which caused him getting hit by Inaya for making such sexist comment.

Asad and Salar stand behind them holding books in their hands. At this sight I blurted out without thinking

"Why do you guys have books in your hands? when did you guys started taking your education so seriously and when..."

I slapped a hand on my mouth when I saw zaroon and Inaya laughing , Asad's amused smile and Salar's narrowed eyes on me realizing my slipup.

"You are right Inaya but to graduate on time even the coolest guys in the campus have to study 3 hours before the exam to clear the course"

At Asads comment I roll my eyes and am saved by Inaya shouting loud for even the whole campus to hear her

"Ok ok Salar I am going home with Inaya. She will be staying for dinner tonight so dont worry when you dont see me around."

"Ok just text me when you reach home"

At which we nodded and said our good byes to the boys.

We reached Inaya house after 30 minutes where we were greeted by a 5 year old kid at the door who turned out to be Inaya's youngest brother Shiham.

The kid was so cute that instead of jumping into Inayas arm he jumped on me while I tried to hold him in my arms and balancing at the same time so that I dont fall on my butt.

"What is this commotion? how many times do I have to tell you Shiham that do not open the front door by yourself what if... oh Inaya bacha you are here and who might this be? let me guess zareen? right?"

A beautiful 5 foot something bubbly in end forties women came into our sight and stopped scolding Shiham who was now in my arms hugging me tight while she smiled at me.

"Yes ammi this is zareen. Zareen meet my ammi, ammi meet zareen"

Inaya gesture to us while introducing us. I try to push my right hand forward while using my left hand to support shiham on my hip. I wasnt ready for the next thing which happened but I found my self being hugged by Inayas ammi in the next second while she was telling me with all her excitement.

"Oh beta I wanted to meet you so much. Inaya never bring any friends at home I am so glad she brought you today."

She then let me go and ushered us inside the house inside the kitchen directy. Once reaching the kitchen Shiham gestures me to let him down and he then runs out I dont know to where.

"So zareen beta I am so sorry but I really need to go right now to Inayas eldest sister Roshanay house. She is 5 months pregnant and is not feeling well. Alina Inayas younger sister is already over there but she is only 15 so I really need to go there rigjt now."

At her appology I smile at her and tell her that its fine and I was atleast happy that I was able to meet her and that Inaya had already told me about Roshanay Apa so I can understand. She smiled at me wearing her chadar and now faced inaya who was busy looking inside the fridge.

"Inaya I am going now. I might be late. Make something for Zareen and others while you are in the kitchen. I leave my house under your super vision"

she gave her the orders at which Inaya nodded then auntie hugged me again before going out of the house.

"Sooooo what do you want to eat miss Zareeeennn?"

Inaya asked me in bored tone. Plopping down on the seat next to me. I smiled at her knowing she had stayed up all night for the paper and is probably tired right now. So I thought may be I'll cook for the rest while she takes rest.

"Inaya comeone just lay down the ingredients on the counter top and tell me what to make and you go take rest while I cook"

I tell her while getting up and folding the sleaves of my Kameez and tying my duppatta in knot at my back. She looks ready to fight back when I speak up again

"Please dont say no. I dont want the house to burn while you pass out somewhere in the kitchen while you put the flame on high"

She glares at me but nevertheless starts putting the ingredients on the counter slab. After telling me where the rest of the things were and to make channa pulao with shaami kebab as the shaami were already there frozen in the freezer and the channa's were boiled she went to her room telling me to wake her up if I needed her at which I just smiled.

Once she was out I put on air pods and started listening to my song list while I started with the channa pulao knowing that its 6 pm in the evening already and it will take me almost 2 hours to make it.

I had just put the rice in the water to boil when someone tapped at my leg. I looked down at shiham holding a bear in one hand and his other showing his other hand to me. I take my air pods out and bent down to look at his hand which was now all blue

"What happened Shiham? how did you got your hands dirty bacha?" I said while holding his hand.

"paints. I was painting so my hands got dirty" he answered me innocently.

I smiled at him and picked him up and moved towards the sink to clean his hand. After I had cleaned his hand and kissed his cheek while putting him down his stomach growled at which I laughed and went looking in my bag to give him the biscuit I had in there.

While I gave him the biscuit he smiled and hugged my neck kissing me on my cheek taking the biscuits. My heart was overflowing with love and emotions when someone cleared there voice from behind.

"Salarrrrr you are home" I heard Shiham screaming running towards Salar who picked him up and hugged him tight. After 2 seconds he looked at me in a weird yet an unknown emotion which stilled me on the spot I was standing.