CHAPTER 9: OBSESSION.

Everyone settled down in the backyard when Ayesha noticed Fardan sitting opposite her. He was smiling at her like he knew something she didn't. Ayesha stared a while, trying to recognize Fardan, and when she did, she leaped off from her seat and wrapped her arms around Fardan's neck.

Parvaiz chuckled at his sister's overdramatic reaction, while Zeeshan clenched his fingers in a fist. Ayesha stayed in a hug with Fardan for a certain few moments before pushing away. She then returned to the seat next to her brother and started weeping.

"Oh, come on Princess. Seriously? You're the first girl to cry in my presence." Fardan commented.

That got Ayesha to chuckle, while everyone around her was laughing. Everyone but Zeeshan. He seemed in a bad mood, which Parvaiz and Fardan noticed and shared a confused eye lock about. Ayesha leaned against her brother as Farah and Lubna offered to heat the lunch. Ayesha got up once they began setting the table and helped place the plates and cutlery around the table. They added some more chairs at the table and served the food in intricate ceramic bowls.

Once everyone had settled, Parvaiz and Fardan showed up. They each sat on Ayesha's side. Parvaiz on the right and Fardan on the left. If Parvaiz served Ayesha rice, Fardan slipped some gravy over it. If Parvaiz served her with a drink, Fardan added pickles on the side of her plate. All that was doing nothing more than pissing the hell out of Zeeshan. He hated the way Fardan asked her if she wanted more, persuaded her to eat dessert after dinner, shared words -multiple- with her.

Later, they were gathered around the living room, Parvaiz, and Ayesha at the feet of their aunt and uncle, the elders were settled on the rest of the seats, with the youngsters scattered on the floor. Fardan had retired to bed early, as he had a lot to do the next day. His uncle then asked Parvaiz what his plans were.

"Oh, about that... I want to apologize to you all for the short notice visits here. We have seriously invaded your privacy." He looked around before continuing, "My plan is short. Ayesha and I will begin house hunting as soon as tomorrow and move in as soon as next week."

"But what's the need of that?" His aunt asked, casting a worried glance towards Ayesha.

"Khala (Maternal Aunt), I love you, but how long until we overstay our welcome huh?" Parvaiz stated.

Zeeshan and Ayesha scrutinized each other. Zeeshan is in shock while Ayesha is in curiosity. Ayesha thought Zeeshan looked troubled, ever since he had returned from the airport. But the question here was why? Even now, he was weirdly looking at her.

"Surely, you don't need to leave right away. Stay for a while hon." Dadi tried to convince Parvaiz.

"I appreciate, but I'm pretty sure if mom and dad were here today, they would also have been extra uncomfortable about our stay here. I wouldn't want to upset them, would I?"

When everyone around him stared on with an annoyed expression, Parvaiz gave up.

"Ok, how about this, we'll talk about this tomorrow morning. What say?"

Silence filled the living room as Parvaiz raised his eyebrows in anticipation of an answer. The elders nodded and everyone retired to their rooms. Everyone but Ayesha and Parvaiz. It was high time for a talk.

"So, Chanda (Moon), how have you been?" Parvaiz enquired.

"I'm fine, Bhai (brother)," Ayesha mumbled.

Ayesha leaned against her brother's shoulder and sighed. She had never felt as safe as she does in her brother's arms. It had been so long since they even sat together. For a while, they sat in silence. Then Ayesha began telling her brother about everything since she arrived in India. The nightmares, the late-night staying up, the cooking for others, the kindness this family has bestowed to her, everything.

Parvaiz listened in with patience. Noticing every single emotion making its way on his sister's angelic face. He watched as her eyes sparkled when she talked about their aunt and the girls that helped her have fun. She talked on and on about Zeeshan's mother and how she was extremely sweet to her. She told him all about the cooking she had been doing since the morning. All the mishaps she'd been having with her wardrobe. Parvaiz was just grateful his sister wasn't wallowing in self-pity as she had been for the last few weeks.

They walked back to their rooms once Ayesha began yawning. First, Parvaiz tucked Ayesha in her bed like a little girl, kissed her forehead, and left the room. Parvaiz then made his way to his own room and tried to get some sleep before a busy day.

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Zeeshan woke up in the middle of the night, thirsty. He made his way to the kitchen when he realized the water bottle on his nightstand was empty. He rubbed his forehead as he filled the water bottle and an extra glass for him to drink from. He looked up to find Ayesha's brother, Parvaiz, and his friend, Fardan standing on the lawn. He thought for a while before deciding to join the both of them in the conversation.

He had just opened the door to the lawn when the voices filtered in.

"I know they're nice people Fardan," He heard the frustrated Parvaiz, " but I'm pretty sure my parents wouldn't appreciate Ayesha and I interfering in their lives."

"It's not a big deal, Parvaiz. Talk to them, or at least, talk to your aunt and uncle. And don't say you can't, because I know there's something else you're hiding from me." Fardan advised.

Parvaiz sighed. "Fine. Ayesha is getting too attached to them. Especially that Zeeshan."

Zeeshan's eyes widened at the harsh tone when Parvaiz mentioned him.

"Ayesha was talking on and on about him and his mother after dinner. It was like she couldn't shut up about it. How much he loves his mother, how he forces her to eat, blah blah blah. Ugh! It's like she's obsessed with him."

Zeeshan rubbed the back of his neck with a smile on his face, his heart filling with warmth.

"Would it be so bad?" Fardan asked, "For Ayesha to like someone like Zeeshan? Someone with a good rapport. Someone who would be able to protect her, financially and physically. Someone with such an amazing family?"

Parvaiz ignored his best friend and looked at the night sky, pondering over the tasks he is to do the next day.

For the next few minutes, all three of them stayed silent. Fardan knew his friend was thinking about the whole Zeeshan-Ayesha issue so he stayed mum. Zeeshan was waiting for Parvaiz to actually answer Fardan's questions.

"Tell you what? It's really late. So, let's go sleep. It's not like you have to decide right away. Ayesha's not running away." Fardan tried diffusing the tension.

"You know what, it isn't so bad. If Ayesha and Zeeshan were to like each other. But, as her brother, Zeeshan had better ask for her hand in marriage if he is to ever approach my sister." Parvaiz announced.

Fardan nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Zeeshan quietly shut the door to the lawn, picked his water bottle off the counter, and returned to his room. Once again, he had a sleepless night.