Chapter-10

The Apologies

Adnaan's Pov

I have been staring at Aalia's house for the past half an hour. The question in my mind was getting on my nerve.

'What if she is alright without me? What if she is happier without me? What if she was me to stay away from her?'

I looked at the steering wheel.

' Should I go back? '

"Uuurgghh!"

I punched the steering wheel. I took my phone and looked at the photos of Aalia that I took without her noticing me. I took a deep breath.

I opened the car's door and walked towards her house. I rang the bell, thrice. But no one opened the door.

'Why is everything getting on my nerves? '

I could feel the rush of adrenaline.

I tried to control my bunch of emotions. I entered the car and looked at Aalia's house.

"Where are you, Aalia?" I felt something that I couldn't explain.

My phone started ringing.

"Yusuf"

It was one of my staff. I picked up the call. He was busy talking about the purchase report. And I was busy thinking about how to convince Aalia. I thought about ways to visit her and that's when her name popped in my mind.

_____________________

Aalia was at Hana's house with her parents. Hana's parents were busy talking with Aalia's parents. Aalia was sitting in between them watching them talk. Hana's mom walked towards the kitchen and Aalia's mom followed her. It was obvious that they were going to talk about something more personal. And maybe some gossips too. Aalia sighed in defeat.

'I'm no beauty queen

I'm just beautiful me

Na na na

Na na na

You've got every right

To a beautiful life

C'mon'

Aalia was busy singing 'who says' by Selena Gomez in her mind. She was entertaining herself with that song. And she thought of leaving the sight but her dad was holding her hand. Aalia sat there silently not listening to their boring talks.

'Who says

Who says you're not star potential

Who says you're not presidential

Who says you can't be in movies

Listen to me, listen to me

Who says you don't pass the test

Who says you -'

'Ooh. What were the lyrics? '

She was trying to figure out what the lyrics were. She saw her dad slowly releasing her hand. He took his phone and walked out of the room.

"How are you feeling? " Hana's dad asked with a heavenly smile.

'I think Hassan got his Dad's Smile.'

Aalia thought.

"I am doing well, uncle." Aalia gave him a cheeky smile.

"Where is Hana?" Aalia asked.

"She went out with Hassan. Actually Hana wanted to sort something out at college. She went to clarify it. And Hassan is out to take the clothes from the dry cleaner." He explained calmly.

"Ooh.. I see. Will they take time?" Aalia asked, showing her puppy face.

"Hassan will be back soon. I will ask Hana to finish her work as soon as possible. Okay?" he said.

"No. It's okey. Let her finish it." Aalia smiled sheepishly.

"Can I go upstairs? I will wait for them." (Aalia)

"Are you feeling bored? " He asked.

"No, uncle." Aalia said.

"It's been a long time since I visited your terrace and gardening . So thought of-" Aalia was explaining when he cut her and said -

"It's OK. You don't have to explain. You can take a look at it. I will inform them that you are out there. " He again gave her an Angelic smile.

"Okie dokie" Aalia jumped up and walked towards the stairs.

"Aalia, can you wait till they prepare the tea, so that you can finish your tea. " He asked, walking towards her.

"No, I actually don't drink tea. " Aalia explained.

"So do you prefer coffee?" He asked.

"Nah-nah. I don't drink both. " Aalia gave him a small smile.

"And Aalia make sure that you eat well and remember to keep your body healthy." He said, patting on her head.

"YES BOSS." Aalia said, giving him a salute.

He chuckled at her Action.

Aalia was standing at the terrace taking photographs of the sky. She didn't notice that her scarf was out of her head and her hair was visible. She took her phone and called Aleesha but her line was busy. She sat on the chair and stared at the sky.

''Why is the sky too pretty?" Aalia asked herself.

"I wish I could touch the sky. " Aalia stated.

Hassan came back home after taking the clothes from the dry cleaner. It was then his dad informed that Aalia was alone upstairs. He walked to the terrace and saw Aalia looking at the sky. She was talking to herself. Her expressions were adorable. The locks of her hair were loosened.

'She is beautiful' Hassan thought.

He smiled and walked towards her.

"Assalamualikum" Hassan greeted Aalia.

As soon as she heard Hassan's voice Aalia put her scarf perfectly covering her hair.

"Waalaikkum assalam " Aalia said.

"Got bored? " He asked, sitting on the chair next to her.

"Nah. I was just looking at the sky." Aalia explained

"Hmmm....Are you doing good right now? I meant your health." Hassan asked.

"Loookk, I am perfectly fine. " Aalia stood up and gave him her 360 degree view of herself.

"Yah. I can see. " Hassan laughed.

"Thank you for bringing Hana back. She is my support mechanism. Without her presence It's kinda hard." Aalia explained.

"She was begging me to pick her up. She was really concerned about you. " Hassan said s supporting his little sister.

"Hmm.. That's true. #real friends and #truelove" Aalia said dramatically.

"We will be having the program at the institution this week." (Hassan)

"What? This week?! " Aalia exclaimed.

"Yah. Don't worry. We were already done with our practice and what we need to do is just a little more practice, like 2-3 times. It will be perfect. I am sure about that. " Hassan explained.

"Ooh..Can we do the practice today?" Aalia asked out of excitement.

"NO. " Hassan replied negatively .

"Why? " Aalia asked, showing her puppy face.

"Don't give me that look. You were not well yesterday. So I am gonna give you a free day. Tomorrow we will practice." (Hassan)

Aalia opened her mouth to say something but hassan cut her saying -

"No need to argue. I am not gonna let you practice today no matter what. "

"Fine. " (Aalia)

"Oh. I forgot to ask you something. Was Adnaan at your house a moment before? " Hassan asked.

Aalia sighed and said- "No. Why did you ask? "

"I saw him in front of your house when I came in. I thought that you were there with him. " Hassan explained.

"He is not there. Maybe you are exaggerating. Why would he visit me? " Aalia said, rolling her eyes.

"Are you sure? " Hassan asked.

"Yah. Maybe he came to visit his friends." Aalia made up a lie.

'Aalia he didn't see Adnaan. He won't visit you. Be cool. Take a deep breath. That's it.' Aalia thought in her mind.

"Your actions are quite predictable." Hassan suggested.

"Is it? " aalia smiled.

"Yah.. Like what you are thinking will be on your face. " Hassan said.

"OMG. That's not good. " Aalia said.

Hassan patted on her head.

"It's OK. " Hassan comforted her.

They looked at each other. His hand was on her head. The way he looked at her, made her blush. She smiled at him and looked away. He took his hand back. She tried her best not to show him that she was blushing but when she looked at him she found him looking at her with an angelic smile. Aalia looked at the sky and was adoring the vast sky.

"You are in love with the sky. " Hassan said.

"Is it a statement or a question? I can't figure it out." Aalia said.

A call interrupted their talk.

"Alesshzz sista"

"Oh. Aleesha is calling. Can I pick up the call?" Aalia asked.

"Yah. Feel free. I will call Hana and ask her whether she is done with her business." Hassan said and took out his phone. Aalia walked towards the end of the terrace.

"Hello. Are you free Mrs. Aleesha. "Aalia asked sarcastically.

"oh. come on. I was attending an urgent call." Aleesha explained.

"Is it more important than me?" (Aalia)

"Come on. Aali... I need your help" Aleesha said.

"Did you call me for your benefit? " Aalia asked, walking towards the end.

"Aalia, don't walk towards the edge. I am kinda scared." Hassan said.

Aalia mouthed- "Scaredy cat" to Hassan.

He gave her a glare in return.

"Aali... Listen...I want help." (Aleesha)

"What can I do for you, madam?" Aalia asked.

"Actually I wanted a file. It's in my room. Can you please take a picture of it and send it to me?" (Alessha)

"Where? " (Aalia )

"In the side table. " (Alessha)

"Do you want it now? " (Aalia)

"Yah... Sorry" (Aleesha)

"No need to say sorry. Instead of that just bring some Doritos the next time you visit me." (Aalia)

"yah" (Aleesha)

"Is it a deal? " (Aalia)

"Deal. " (Alessha)

"Stay online. I will send it." (Aalia)

Aalia turned towards Hassan.

"Hey. I want to leave now. Aleesha wants help with some files. I want to send the pictures to her." (Aalia)

"Yah. I am also leaving. I want to pick Hana from college." (Hassan)

"Will see you. " Aalia walked downstairs to inform her parents that she was leaving.

_______________________

Aalia unlocked the door and entered the house locking it from behind, as she was afraid of being alone.

Aalia took her phone and played the music "who says. " she sang in a high voice as she was alone at home.

She walked to Alessha's room and clicked the pictures of the file that was kept on the side table. She sent them to Aleesha.

'Who says

Who says you're not perfect

Who says you're not worth it

Who says you're the only one that's hurting

Trust me

That's the price of beauty

Who says you're not pretty

Who says you're not beautiful

Who says

Who says

Who says you're not perfect

Who says you're not worth it

Who says you're the only one that's hurting

Trust me

That's the price of beauty

Who says you're not pretty

Who says you're not beautiful

Who says'

Walking down the stairs she continued her fake concert. As soon as the song ended Aalia opened the front door and stood there frozen seeing the face she was waiting to see all these days.

______________________

Adnaan's pov

I was in front of Aalia's house AGAIN. I could hear her voice from inside. She was singing. I could imagine what her expressions would be like. The song came to an end. Even before I could prepare myself, Aalia was standing in front of me. She looked as if she had seen some kind of a ghost. Her face went pale.

She looks exactly the same. But her face was a bit pale. As soon as she saw me her expression changed. I could feel the pain in her eyes.

'Was it because of me? '

I thought for a while. I hope she will give me a chance to clarify my point of view.

___________________________

"What are you doing here? " Aalia mustered up her courage and asked.

"I want to talk to you." (Adnaan)

Aalia stayed silent looking at his eyes.

"About what? " she asked.

"US? " (Adnaan)

Aalia was about to move forward when Adnaan walked towards her. She slowly walked backwards. Adnaan locked the door from behind.

"I want to go. " Aalia tried to sound serious and rude.

"Hey, please hear me out." Adnaan pleadead.

Aalia turned around to walk towards her room but Adnaan held her arm.

"Please. " Adnaan said loosening the grip.

Aalia stood there with her hands folded. Adnaan walked towards her and looked at her eyes.

"I don't know how to explain things. But I want to share it with you. I don't want my mistake to create a wall between us."

'So he cares?' Aalia thought

He stopped for a while and continued, taking a deep breath.

"What I have been going through for the past few weeks is something I never experienced. It was really difficult. I really wished that 'what If you were there with me?' But it never happened. It remained as a wish. My mom and dad have been forcing me to marry a girl whom I don't even know. I was mad at Afna as she was the root cause of the problem. And I even kept a distance from my parents. Everything seemed like a burden."

At this point, his eyes were teary.

"Why is everyone ignoring my hard work? Am I worthless? Should I just die?"

He looked at Aalia and looked back towards the wall.

Aalia felt herself drowning in the pool of regret.

"I am sorry. " Aalia said.

Adnaan looked at Aalia.

"I am really sorry that I couldn't be there with you in your hard time." Aalia said, holding back her tears.

What happened next was the least expected. Adnaan came forward and hugged her tight. She patted his shoulder.

"I am sorry that I didn't visit you when you were sick. " Adnaan apologized.

"Sh….its OK. " Aalia comforted him.

He felt relaxed and more comfortable around her. Aalia closed her eyes. She was angry at herself. Adnaan was not in a state to meet her but she didn't understand his worry. Tears flooded in her eyes. Adnaan loosened her from the hug as he could hear her silent cries. He wiped her tears.

"Why are you crying?" Adnaan asked.

A call interrupted. Aalia took her phone, it was Hassan.

"Hello. Where are you? " Hassan asked out of concern.

"Actually Adnaan is here. I will make him tea and will come back. Please inform mom and dad too." (Aalia)

"Yah. I just called to check whether you were alright or not." (Hassan)

"It's OK. I can understand" Aalia kept her phone aside and looked at Adnaan.

Aalia sat on the couch and asked him to sit next to her.

He sat next to her silently.

"It's been weeks since we last talked. Don't you want to talk about something? " Adnaan asked.

Aalia responded negatively.

"I am sorry, Aalia. " Adnaan repeated.

"It's OK. It's true that I was mad at you but now, I was wrong. I was the one who didn't understand your situation. " Aalia explained.

Adnaan gave her a slight smile.

"Wait, I will be back. " Aalia stood up but Adnaan held her arm.

"what happened? " Aalia asked.

"Are you still mad at me? " Adnaan asked.

"If you wouldn't have showed up today, I would have been mad at you for sure." (Aalia)

Aalia smiled and walked into the kitchen. As soon as she entered the kitchen she took a deep breath. She was feeling bad for him but what about what she felt all these days?

'It's OK Aalia give him time' Aalia thought.

She came out with a cup of tea.

"Here you go. It will help you." Aalia gave it to him.

"I am really sorry." Adnaan repeated and took the cup.

"It's OK. " Aalia said with a slight smile.

"Will you talk to me?" Adnaan asked.

Aalia nodded. Adnaan was busy explaining the situation and Aalia listened to it with a smile. But she was having a lot of questions for him.

'Was he really cared about me? What about him visiting my neighbours but not me? Am I just a cousin to him? Is he just pretending not to see how I am attached to him?' Aalia thought.

"By the way did Alessha help you with this just now? " Aalia asked.

"umm… she did. I asked her for help. That's why she called you. " Adnaan said.

Aalia faked a smile. Her anger was rising.

'why in the hell, Aleesha? Urgh! Is anyone by my side? Or am I alone? This is really getting worse.' She thought.

As soon as Adnaan left Aalia went to her room. She messaged Hassan and Hana that she was not well and she wanted to sleep. And as a reason she couldn't stay with them for tea.

She took her diary and scribbled on it.

'Stop this. Make it stop. I am not liking it. Why am I becoming the villian? I hate this. What about what I went through all these days, when he left me? It wasn't easy for me. I hate everything. Is anyone by my side? Uuurrrggggggggghhhhh…I can't control my anger and frustration. I can't pretend to be not affected by his deeds. But why can't I just react to his deeds? Why am I becoming more like a coward who is being fooled by everyone? Please send me an angel..."

Aalia closed the book and laid on the bed staring out through the window.

"Aalia. Leave it. Be strong. You are doing great." She motivated herself.

Someone rang the doorbell. Aalia was irritated.

"Ugh. Who was to talk to me now? No matter who it is, Am gonna kick their a**" Aalia stomped out her room with rage and opened the front door.

There was a big box on the ground with her name on it. She looked around and saw no one. She was puzzled.

"What now? " she asked with a deep sigh.

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