Namood-e-Saher نمود سحر

Ilhaam and Hanzal

" Appi, you look so pretty!" an eleven years old Nawar appreciated Ilhaam.

" Appi you beautiful" four years old Za'nyah widened her eyes and nudged Shahrazaad beside her to look at their eldest sister.

" Illhu Appi bomb hai bomb!" Manaar clicked a picture of their Appi who was getting decked up in front of the mirror.

" You think so?" Ilhaam asked them uncertainly.

She knew they were hyping her up and she also knew that in their innocent hearts they believed that too. But she felt otherwise.

" Illhu, Nawar, Manu are you ready?" Qiraat came in rushing in her daughter's room and stood awestruck.

" Illhu you're looking so beautiful my love" Qiraat took her daughter's balayein and kissed her forehead.

" Hain na Ammi?" Nawar and Manaar had a proud look on their faces for being right.

" Bilkul my princesses" Qiraat kissed their heads too before adjusting her sixteen years old daughter's hair when she turned around abruptly as she saw a reflection in the mirror.

The youngest Hamdaani girls!

" Shaara Yahyah what are you doing here you naughty bunnies?" Qiraat picked up the giggling girls and cuddled them.

" Your mothers are searching for you in the whole house aur tum dono yaha chupe hue ho? Badmaash!" Qiraat tickled the little monkeys and the older girls joined in.

It was the twin's seventh birthday party and Za'nyah and Shahrazaad were hiding from their mothers who wanted to dress them up in frilly frocks. They would rather attend the party in their animal printed pajamas than look like cake toppers!

Ilhaam on the other hand had dressed up in a beautiful sea green coloured embroidered garara with her shoulder length curly hair left open. She looked in the mirror and saw an overweight teenager with a face full of acne and teeth set in braces.

To her there wasn't a girl uglier than herself but to her mother and sisters, there wasn't anyone prettier than their Ilhaam.

Ilhaam Bakhtiyaar Hamdaani is an extremely talented girl with excellent oratory skills that led her to being the team leader of their debate team for five years straight. She even led the school in the interstate quiz competition where they stood second in rank.

She is the Editor In Chief of their fortnightly school newspaper and also their annual edition magazine. She wanted to lead her Baba's business when she grows up and for that she has been sitting in on the daily discussions that they have every night.

The only thing that relegates her confidence is her looks. The picture that her mind has created is far different than the reality. It was just the teenages that she was facing but to her she looked hideous and that had always managed to reduce her morale.

Everytime anyone complimented her she felt they were being fake and just being polite to her face. Reason why Ilhaam never attended any party but since this one was for her baby brothers she would keep all her insecurities aside and chin up.

Besides, there was also another reason why she wanted to attend this party. A six foot tall, blue eyed brawny reason who was nine years older than her.

Her cousin Hanzal.

It seemed like a silly school girl crush on the outside but only she knew how deep her feelings ran which all started a year ago when he had told off some of her school boys when they were teasing her about well the things that she was insecure about.

She isn't one to need the gallant knight saviour stuff but that day it felt nice to have someone she had always looked upto and someone so wonderful standing up for her.