Check the end of this chapter to find the meaning of foreign words used here.

Enjoy!

-------

"Loving someone isn't a sign that you should be ashamed of. However, if you mix that with lust and selfishness, it doesn't remain pure!"- Firoz Siddique...

-------

Flashback:

Ayan's POV:

The sound of laughter, echoed in the room, as we friends laughed at the lame joke of Muhsin.

Whatever the situation might be, friends are always there to lift your mood. The precious time of school life is something that will be treasured in my heart forever.

"Hey Ayaah, what do you think, you will wear to the farewell party?"

I heard Rida asking Ayaah.

I know she will wear the same plain clothes. She likes to keep things simple. Which makes her, unlike everyone.

"I don't know buddy! Something from my usual wear I guess."

Ayaah replied.

"Nooo... Ayaah! How can you? This day won't come again. You have to wear something special." Rida requested her.

"Leave it, Rida, you know Ayaah! She won't wear anything like that. And by the way, special clothes suits a special personality. Do you see anything special in her?" I said looking at Ayaah who was fuming with anger.

God! How I love that red nose when she is angry. Well, it's not like she isn't special, she is the most special person I have ever met.

"Oii, Ayn. What do you mean that I don't have anything special in me haan? What do you have that is special?" She said fuming.

"Well, I am not so plain like you! Girls die for me! And what wrong did I say? Won't you wear the same plainclothes?" I asked mockingly.

"Well, that doesn't mean that I won't look good in something colorful!" She replied offended.

Oh ya! My words are working.

"I know you won't!" I said controlling my chuckle.

"Are you challenging me?" She asked intimidatingly.

"Ya, I am!" I say looking into her eyes.

I guess Muhsin sensed the tension between us. That's why he interrupted.

"Oi Ayh, leave that! Now come to the main point. Ayh, we are passing from school, at least now you can give me a chance! Let's date now what say?"

He asked her with his irritating smirk, Arghh!

This guy Muhsin! I really want to slaughter him. You HARAM PIECE OF SWARMA. Don't you have any other work other than proposing to her every other day?

I don't know why I can't seem to stand Muhsin with Ayaah! Well, I can't stand any guy with Ayaah,

She grew up with me, hang out with me. And it seems that I have built a possessive side for her. It's something irritating, but I don't wanna get rid of it.

However, Ayaah laughed at Muhsin's proposal.

As we were coming out of the school I cornered Muhsin.

"Muhsin, you better behave yourself around Ayaah! Remember that I am always in front of her."

I said intimidatingly.

"Why? Are you her bodyguard or something? Or is it that you like her? Or better say LOVE her!"

I was taken aback by Muhsin's words.

"What the hell are you saying! Are you out of your mind?" I said not knowing what to say...

"Oh come on Ayan! Till when will you fool yourself? You can't see any guy near Ayh, can't get your eyes off of her, can't be yourself whenever she misses school. Can't you understand your feelings? It's not something like brotherly love for a sister. It's something way more intense than you think!"

I didn't know what to say.

This can't happen, it's wrong. I saw her as a sister from my childhood, and she sees me as her brother from then. These sudden feelings inside me will end everything that we have.

I left from there, still feeling my heart racing inside my chest.

The whole day I couldn't do anything properly. The words that Muhsin said, are not false. Every word that he said was the truth. And I can't seem to ignore it.

I know that my feelings are not innocent anymore. She thinks that I am like her brother! Ya Allah! Please help me, I don't wanna ruin anything.

*********

The next morning was the farewell party. So I got dressed up in my black tuxedo but I was still in a daze with my thoughts.

I went to school and saw everyone there but not Ayaah, PHEWW! I don't wanna see her now.

"It seems like you thought a lot about the things that I said, don't run from it."

I heard Muhsin whisper to me.

I ignored it. I don't want to think about it.

Just then every head of the boys there moved to one direction...

I turned to see and my breath stuck!

Ayaah entered there wearing a Dark Magenta colored gown with full sleeves, black floral works on the waist. Black chiffon hijab covering her hairs securely. The gown moving with its volume as she walks in tapping her black heels. Her hand is adorned with a silver-colored bracelet and her face has light touch-ups. Her rosy cheeks glowing with the effect of the color of the gown. Pink lips slightly up with a smile adorned...

She looks breathtaking!

For some moments, I couldn't think anything else. And top of that, my newly found feelings for her aren't helping either. I removed my eyes from her.

But she still came to me.

"Now say Ayn, how do I look in colors?" She asked with a smirk.

"You look good, Mashahallah!" I said not looking at her. "Excuse me now," I muttered to her and left from there. I didn't miss the confused expression on her face.

In the whole function, I didn't dare to look at her. I know my feelings will explode if I look at her. But Ayaah had confusion on her face.

The most irritating thing was, boys, drooling over Ayaah!

At the end of the function, Ayaah stopped me.

"Is there any problem Ayn? Why are you avoiding me?"

"I am not avoiding you Ayaah, you should go home now," I said moving out

She came in front of me.

"Leave me alone Ayaah!" Saying this I passed her.

"I don't understand, did I do something wrong?"

She asked me with her quivering voice.

Oh no, my Sona Pie (golden pie), the wrong is with me...

As I was leaving, some boys started to pass comments on Ayaah

"My my, what a beauty!"

"Hey, baby... don't run behind him, there are plenty of people here who can love you" They laughed.

I ignored them though my blood was boiling they started again I turned raged to see one of the boys trying to touch Ayaah.

And I lost it!

Oh no, you don't!

********

Mom came running to me and checked if I was hurt or not. Ayaah was sent home and I am right now in my bedroom. I am still not over my anger.

The boys were hospitalized! And their parents threw a case on me.

But thanks to my father, I am safe at home.

"Oh, my baby! I can't imagine if something happened to you!" Mom said tensed.

"Honey, our boy is a tough guy now. You don't need to worry!" Dad said to my mom...

Dad asked mom to leave the room and get some rest cause she had been tensed all this time.

"I guess we need to talk." My dad said seriously.

"Dad I have told you that they were misbehaving with Ayaah!" I gave my explanation.

"I am not talking about that, I am talking about the condition you have done to them. For god sake Ayan! If Ayaah didn't stop you then you could've killed them! This much violence? For what? Just cause they TRIED to touch Ayaah?" He stated but I couldn't answer.

"Answer me something! These emotions are something intense Ayan. I know you were brought up with her but tell me the truth now,

Are you developing feelings for Ayaah?"

He asked me with a serious expression on his face.

"I don't know dad! I know it's not right but I can't stop what is developing inside me. And I am scared of it. She sees me as her brother dad! My feelings will ruin everything. She is everything that I have!"

I said burying my face between my hands.

"My love for her isn't innocent anymore dad! I love her as a man loves a woman!

I am so ashamed of it!" I said with my heart pounding inside my chest like a drum.

"Loving someone isn't a sin that you should be ashamed of. However, if you mix that with lust and selfishness, it doesn't remain pure!"

He said as I looked at him astonished.

"I know you can't stop your feelings for her. It might be like she never had any feelings for you too, but the best you can do now is to leave everything in Allah's hands. Don't push anything too much, if she is made for you, she won't go to anyone else's hand." I looked at him as he smiled at me.

"Now get up man! If you love someone, don't be ashamed. Just keep things halaal." He winked at me as I smiled and hugged him...

Flashback ends...

----------

My eyes flew open as I stared at the ceiling.

Why did I dream of that day?

I dreamed of the day when I found out that I love Ayaah. I was just 17 and Ayaah 16. And now 10 years have passed but those feelings, that anxiety, that intensity, my passion for her still exists in me. But I have learned to control it.

I have left everything in Allah (SWT.)'s hands. But haven't stopped loving her.

I don't know if she still thinks of me as her brother or not. But I choose to not think of it. I haven't loved her excepting something in return.

But sometimes, the thought of her leaving me for someone else kills me.

Just then the Azan of fajr was given. I got up from my bed and headed for the Masjid.

********

I came back home to see my mom waiting for me.

"Salam mom!" I greeted her.

"Wa Alaikum Assalam!" She replied as she kissed my cheeks.

"Dear! You have to go to the party today, am I right?"

"Ya, I am. Why?" I replied.

"Oh, that's why Ayaah asked me to give you the wine-colored coat. My daughter is a sweetheart I tell you." She ranted about her. That she came yesterday, and what they did togather.. blah blah...

My mom is a huge fan of Ayaah I tell you.

I went inside my room and opened my cupboard to see the wine-colored coat there with a note on it

*For your today's party,

Now don't dare to disturb me -_-

Grow up now Mr. Siddique!*

I chuckled... she very well knows that I was gonna knock her to ask what should I wear for the party.

Huh! This is us. Ayaah is someone without whom I don't exist. She is inside my life, inside my mind, and inside my heart!

Ayh!

My love for you,

Scares me sometimes...

----------

Though, he is unaware of the storm

That is coming their way...

-----------

Halaal: things that are permitted in Islam

Mashahallah: what God has willed.

Swarma: A Pakistani dish.