Later that day...

I woke up to the sound of the ringtone blaring in my room. Lazily lifting myself on my arms and pushing my body ahead as I got my iPhone from the table. Janet.

"What is it Janet?" I asked her, my voice hoarse as I sat up on my bed.

"Sir you have your meeting tomorrow at morning 10 a.m. So, I called you to inform you." She told me.

"Okay anything else?" I asked checking my table clock, woah!3 hours have passed seriously time is running on wheels now-a-days.

"Nothing else. have a good day Sir” she wished.

"Same to you Janet." I returned, as I fall again on my bed, my head hitting the pillow.

*****

After 4 hours.

I woke up something at 8 p.m. Well I slept a lot today. I got up from my bed, and headed towards my bathroom. Quickly freshening up I came out, my stomach churning, telling me to consider it. I was hungry. I went in the kitchen to find a note on the refrigerator stating 'Champ I will be back I forgot to bring broccoli from the supermarket. I will back in an hour. food is in the micro-wave.' Seriously Nancy still considers me as a champ. Smiling I opened the fridge and took a blubbery juice and opened the microwave only to see my favorite white cheese pasta. WOW!

Quickly heating the food, I grabbed the bottle of chilled water and sat on the island devouring it.

After I was done, I prayed my Isha salah, then sat on the armchair surfing through my iPhone.

I was going through the news when my iPhone's screen changed showing 'Rafa calling'

I pick up the call, only to be greeted with ...yelling?

"Assalamualaikum Rafa. Are you alright?" I asked, smiling coyly.

"Walaikumasalam. How dare you Asad? How can you? you bloody didn’t inform me that you are coming to California and on the top of it you are staying at your flat. I mean why didn't you came to our house? You know we all are upset because of you, dad too felt bad when he came to know about your where about's from Zayn Chachu. " He complained.

" Calm down Rafa...Calm down." I said, smiling at my friend but then again you won't go barging in to someone's house like that, even if it’s your best friend’s house. I was supposed to tell him about my visit tomorrow but then again it is not necessary that everything goes according to you, right? I never meant to upset anyone.

"what calm down? Asad you are only elder by a mere year but-" I cut his ranting scolding off

"I was going to inform tomorrow Rafa, I can't barge in to your house like that. It doesn't look good" I tried to reason him.

"OHHO! that means if I come to India, I am not supposed to visit your house rather stay in a hotel is that what you mean?" he questioned me. Now again, who am I talking to, Mr. Rafa Rehan Mallick, he always has a way with his words.

"Okay Rafa. You won okay. I am sorry." I apologized.

"That’s good man. Anyways be ready as soon as I leave my office, I am coming to pick you up." he said as I heard him typing on his keypad.

"whoa pause Rafa pause! Look I am not ready yet and even Nancy has done the preparation for the dinner tonight so don't bother coming today. How about tomorrow? I have a meeting with Mr. Collins than I would come directly at your bungalow. What say?" I asked, but felt like I just reported to him.

"Hmm... sounds good. I will be home tomorrow. Okay, do come." he replied.

"Insha’Allah Rafa. Just make sure Uncle and aunty doesn't" beat me tomorrow. ha-ha" I joked, laughing.

"Well you should handle that on your own, I am out of it. You made the mistake, so deal with it now." he teased.

"Rude Rafa. Anyways concentrate on your work, will meet you tomorrow. And don't go bitching in my absence " I remarked wittily again.

"HaHaHaHaHaHaHa...Very funny. okay Khudahafiz then." he answered. I wished him the same and hung-up.

The clicking of door brings my attention to the it. Nancy stood there. She asked me if I want something for dinner to which I replied that she can make anything, I don't have any choices today.

After 2 hours...

Nancy had left for her house at 10 p.m. I on the other hand was busy in reading the prospectus of Lincoln & co. This company's stakes have hiked up in recent months. I did some research on this company on the net. Mr. Lincoln has passed his CEO post to his son Samuel, as he retired. Within three months of his joining he has managed to prospered.

I was so busy that I forgot that it was nearing to 11 p.m. I was hungry again. I went in to the kitchen and saw that Nancy had prepared steaks with spicy sauces and wheat bread. I opened the fridge grabbing the soda bottle when I saw the pancakes that I left in the afternoon. I took it out, putting it in the oven, as I remembered the earlier conversation with her.

Flashback...

"Asad don't you dare! NO Asad... It’s mine." she shouted, and ran with the plate of her pancake out of the kitchen.

"Please Firdaus give me some, I really want to have it. I am hungry. Look." I motioned to my stomach, taking a step towards her.

"What? Stomach? You already had yours and now you are eyeing mines. Do you have an appetite of king-Kong?" she said, frown forming on her forehead.

I took a step forward, motioning the pancake. "Please, only half" I spoke softly, slowly and steadily nearing her.

"Asad. NO" she squealed, as I jumped near her to which her body jerked and she gasped, that pancake flew out of the window and she lost her balance falling to the ground but before it can happen, I caught her hand and saved her from falling. I looked at her face as she had her eyes closed and her fingers clutching my shirt in a tight grip.

" Firdaus..." I whispered.

"Huh?" she opened her eyes slowly.

"That pancake flew away from us..." I spoke sincerely, as I watched her expression.

Her expression at first was that of confusion and later it changed in a frown than in to anger.

"what?" she snapped, releasing her grip and looking at the plate.

"It happened because of you." she quipped, blaming me.

"No, it happened because of you if you would have given me some than there must have been some for you to but look now you don't have that some part also.” I reasoned her, smirking.

She threw a sharp glare at me, and I swear if looks can kill I would have been dead by now. Without saying a word, she left to her room.

After 20 minutes...

I stood at the door of her bedroom knocking at it, to which she replied as 'come in'. I opened the door and stood silently. She glanced at me and returned to reading her novel. I stood there for another 5 minutes, then I cleared my throat to gain her attention to which she turned towards me.

"What is it Asad?" she asked.

"I am sorry." I apologized, as she looked at me suspiciously. Then after a few moments she smiled easing my tensed body.

"okay I forgive you." she smiled again.

" How about we try making a pancake?" I suggested her, she seemed to think about it then nodded her head.

We went in to the kitchen and started preparing the batter needed for pancake.

She took some all-purpose flour and added baking soda, salt, one egg, one cup of milk some oil and two spoons of sugar. She was whisking it while I stood there watching her intently. She doesn't know that the only reason I love pancake is because of her. The way her eyes lighten up on seeing the pancake, the way she fights it just enhances her beauty somewhere, if you see from my eyes.

She started to add the batter in a non-stick pan, while I walked cautiously near her and took a small amount of batter in my hand as I asked her " Firdaus what is that near your eyes?"

She looked at me perplexed than started to rub near her eyes. I again motioned her shaking my head negatively. "here." I said as I rubbed the batter on her left cheek.

"ASAD" she yelled, running after me.

We ran like that chasing each other as Elnaz and Rafa watched us amusingly, laughing at certain occasions, then something seemed to catch her attention and she ran towards the kitchen even I followed, only to see that the pancake has burnt in all.

Ding...

I was brought back out of my memory as I saw that my pancake has been heated but when I opened the microwave door only to see that my pancake was burnt to black.

*****