Dua-e-Khair - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

"Ya Allah aap toh meri sari pareshaniyan jantay hain, you surely know what's better for me and what's not." Mehru couldn't sleep so she performed wadu and offered tahajud prayer.
"I have never been careless about boys. I have always maintained my distance and have never been interested in one. Ya Allah I pray to you and only you to make things easy for me. I don't know what's right for me and what's not, please guide me like you always do." Mehru cried while praying.
Sheru (Mehru's persian cat) came meowing and sat in her lap. She hugged and kissed Sheru. That cat had seen all her highs and lows over the past 9 years. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She was no doubt strong but also sensitive. She had seen multiple women getting betrayed by boys and the vice versa. She had protected herself ever since childhood and had a firm belief in the Almighty's plan.
After crying her heart out, she slept like a baby.
Mehru had no classes today so she woke up around 12 in the morning. She somehow felt peaceful when she woke up. She got up, took a shower, got into her white t and sweats, ate breakfast and finished her assignments.
"You'll be fine. Stay calm. Don't get affected by him. He's no one." Mehru was talking to herself in the mirror as she pulled her hair into a messy bun. Looked one last time in the mirror, picked her belongings and left.
Mehro looked absolutely stunning in her black kurta shalwar. She always wore silver jhumkas and khussa with it. It was her comfy look.
(Mehru's look)
"Miss, today we have to study in my room, Salar Bhai's friends are over" Meenay informed Mehru as they moved towards their room.
Meenay's room was huge as expected. Mehru sat on the sofa that was close to the door. Meenay kept the door partially opened. The study session started. Mehru was explaining Meenay every topic in detail. Her way of explaining was quite understandable just like a pro.
Salar happened to pass by Meenay's room but instantly stopped as he heard her sweet voice. He angled himself such that he was looking at Mehru from the half opened door. He stood there for quite some while.
(Meenay's room, Mehru sitting on the white sofa, plus ik the room's unbelievably neat)
"Hamesha aisay he baat karay toh kitni achay lagay" Salar said to himself keeping his eyes on Mehru. He smiled as he walked away.
Mehru and Meenay came downstairs when they got free. Salar's friend Daniyal was just leaving when three of them crossed paths in the hallway. Daniyal was a presentable decent guy with good manners. He stopped as soon as his eyes laid on Mehru.
"Hello Bhai" Meenay said.
"Hellooo Meenay. Kaise hain aap" Daniyal asked.
"Mein theek. Meet my home tutor Miss Mehrunissa" Meenay instantly said as she thought it would be better to introduce the two first.
Daniyal shifted his gaze on Mehru who was nodded gently.
"Hi nice to meet you, I'm Daniyal, Salar's friend" Daniyal said smilingly.
"Hi Daniyal" Mehru said awkwardly because she was an introvert and wasn't good at socialising.
"Oye tu giya nahi ab tak" Salar interrupted by throwing his arm over Daniyal's shoulders as he scanned all three of them.
"Bas ja he raha tha" Daniyal replied but he kept staring Mehro.
Salar looked back and forth, first at Daniyal then at Mehru who stood still looking at Meenay. Salar didn't like the way Daniyal was watching Mehru.
"Meenay aap apni Miss ko chor aao, she must be getting late." Salar addressed Meeny, who nodded in response.
When Daniyal left, Affan's civic entered the porch. Mehru walked past Salar and sat in the car. Salar was watching the two of them laugh and then they eventually left. Salar was jealous, it could show all over his face. He rolled his eyes and went inside.
The next weeks went as per usual. Mehru and Salar didn't have many moments together as Salar tried not to interrupt their study session. Whenever they met, it was always greetings and few gazes here and there but nothing unusual. Later, Salar went on a trip to Hunza and Mehru and Meenay studied in full swing, there was no Mehru-Salar interaction at all and everything was good. Mehru felt more comfortable but she felt his void somehow.
One afternoon, Mehru and Meenay both were in the lawn because Islamabad's weather was crazy as hell. Meenay was about to start her quiz which Mehru gave her to solve when she requested a quick bathroom break.
Mehru was left alone. She looked at the sky as if she was watching it for the first time. She closed her eyes and took all the fresh air in.
"Aaj mausam wakai bohat acha hai"
She turned to see him. Salar was standing just a few inches behind her in black shalwar kameez and hands behind his back, he was looking hot as hell. She was startled to see him because she was unaware of his arrival. Surprisingly she didn't move away from him. She was in a good mood.
(Salar's Desi Boy Outfit)
"Hmmm..." Mehro said smilingly as she shifted her eyes back to the sky.
Salar came closer and stood right beside her, watching the most pure hearted girl he's ever seen.
"Aaj toh kuch logoun ka mood bhi bohat acha hai" Salar examined.
"Acha? kon hain woh log?" Mehru asked him, now facing him.
"Ummm...kon hain woh log?.....umm.... jaisay keh aap" Salar replied while facing her. Both were standing in front of each other.
"Oh acha? Thanks for telling warna mujhy pata he nahi chalta" Mehru responded mimicking his gestures that ended up in her laugh.
Salar couldn't help smiling as looked down at the ground between them.
"You have one hell of a smile. Did you know that?" Salar questioned after a few seconds, looking directly in her eyes.
Mehru turned red. She stopped smiling but her eyes still on him. Their eyes locked. Intense sparks. You name it and they had it. She looked away after a few seconds, breaking the spell she motioned herself towards the main door when he grabbed her hand.
"Did I offend you?" Salar pulled her close.
"Haath chor dein please" Mehro struggled.
"Mehrunissa... I asked you something... Did I offend you in any way?" Salar asked her seriously.
"No, you didn't" Mehru replied breaking the eye contact now. She wasn't lying because he had never hurt her. She was just afraid of what might happen if she didn't guard herself.
"Then why do you act like this with me?" Salar asked.
"Like what?" Mehru didn't know what else to say, though she knew what he was asking.
"Like the way you're doing just now and the way you always do. As if you hate me... So let me ask you this Mehrunissa.... Do you hate me?" Salar looked at her with serious puppy eyes.
Silence. Silence. And just silence.
No reply from her.
"Sach bolo, I won't mind at all.... Do you really hate me?" Salar asked once more looking deep in her eyes.
Mehru was too stunned to speak. She couldn't find the perfect words.
"I don't hate you. It's just that I am afraid of falling hard for you, because I have never felt like this before for anyone. Whenever you're with me, I lose myself. I see YOU, only YOU, exactly the way you see ME, only ME"
"How should I tell you all of this? I can't" Mehro fought with her own thoughts.
He was waiting for an answer.
"Please janay dein mujhe" Mehro begged as she struggled to get rid of his grip.
"Shayad mujhe mera jawab mil gia" Salar released his hand, looking away from her.
Mehro took a second to judge and ran away only to see Meenay standing in the doorway for God knows how long. She was embarrassed.
"I am sorry Zarminah.... I.... I have to go.... Your quiz is on the table, just complete it and whatsapp me the answers" Mehru panted.
"Ok no problem Miss. Please let the driver drive you home" Meenay said politely. She must have heard everything and was clearly embarrassed by his brother's straight forwardness.
"Thank-you so much.... I should probably go" Mehru didn't reject the offer this time because she really needed to get the hell out of that place.
She instantly sobbed as she entered the car. She was feeling helpless and hated herself for creating such circumstances. She had a trait to always blame herself whenever bad things happened to her.
"Bhai kiya zaroorat thi apko unko aisay uncomfortable karnay ki? Kal tak toh aap interested nahi thy unmein and today you're asking her such questions. She's my tutor. If she quits, then it's all on you. I won't spare you. I just don't get all of this. Why would you do that bhai?" Meenay spoke aggressively.
"Because I love her Meenay...."Salar said in a lower tone, he was sad, he really was.
Meenay came and sat beside her brother on his bed, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Bhai.... I think you should really tell her this.... She needs to know" Mehru consoled his brother because he looked disturbed.
"She doesn't like me Meenay" Salar replied.
"How do you know this? Did she say this herself?" Meenay asked impatiently.
"I have seen it in her eyes....She really doesn't like me" Salar sighed.
"Bhai I can't see you like this... You have never been like this." Meenay was feeling extremely sorry for his brother.
"I guess I had never been in love before.... Now we both know it" Salar patted Meenay's hand.
"I'll be fine Meenay, don't worry" Salar hugged her sister.
"I know you will be. Strong boy you are" Meenay replied.