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

Enjoy!

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"You were never mine, then what are these feelings when I imagine you with someone else?"- Ayaah Qureshi.

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Ayaah's POV:

My hand brushed the canvas with different colors, as the image played in my head. My mind began to come at ease as the colors began to pop. The extreme relaxation I feel when I paint is surreal. My thumb graced the canvas as I tried to form a particular shape, and it started to look like a person.

I smiled remembering the earlier bickering of us yesterday. With him, my every day is special, every hour holds importance.

"Hey Ayu, what are you doing?" Nikhar called me from the back. When did this girl come here?

"What are you painting?" She asked as I quickly hid my painting behind my back.

"What are you doing in my workshop? Don't you have your classes?" I asked intimidatingly.

"No, I don't have today.. but thought to give you a visit. Oi Ayu show me na, what were you painting?"

She tried to snatch it from my hand.

"Nick, stop it now. It's an important painting, don't ruin it... " I scolded her and hid that painting safely.

"Why do I feel that you were hiding something?"

This girl, Arghhh why can't she let something be?

"You are delusional!" I said as I hit her head lightly.

"No, I am not, I felt like I saw you drawing Ayan bhai (bro)!" Your eye power is too much Nick, I need to do something about it.

"Stop it now Nick, I told you nah it's nothing like that... Now come sit here, I have finished my work"

I somehow diverted her mind from that and took her away from there also washed my paint filled hand.

"Soooo, your fight with Ayan bro, it's settled isn't it?" She asked again bringing him.

"Why do you have to bring his topic whenever you are talking to me?" I asked irritated, she always seems to be on a mission to try to prove something.

"Cause you guys are Coup... sorry, goals!"

"Wait wait wait, what were you going to say? No, finish it!" I looked at her ready to murder her.

"It was nothing! I was just saying, you guys are cute, hehe! Now leave that na. Do you know what happened today?" She told excitedly.

"What?" I asked sighing. Here we go with her blabbering.

" I na, met a guy today.. he had a car and he hit my scooter with it, but I didn't leave him... I scolded him so much that the next time he will think 1000 times before hitting someone else's vehicle."

She had a smirk on her lips as she said that. This girl Allah!

"Oi! What did you do haan? And did you get hurt! Ya Allah, Nick, why didn't you tell me before."

I asked worriedly. She must be very mischievous but she is my life, the thought of something happening to her kills me.

"Oii.. api, don't get worried! I am fine. But the guy won't be fine." She said smirking.

"You and your troubles!" I said as I hit her arm.

She giggles. Then silence fell as she hugged my arm sighing...

"So, what do you say about a movie date tonight darling?" She asked wiggling her eyebrows.

"I will be more than honored my love!" I said flattering my eyelashes.

"Aww! My baby." She said trying to kiss me.

"Eww! go away from me!" I said pushing her.

"Okay, so what is this 'Eww' thing about? Is it the kiss or me?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"Both!" I hate the idea of kissing!

"You sure the kiss too? If you are then I will see after your marriage that how will you react when your husband kisses you and how you say 'Eww' then!"

She said as I felt butterflies inside my stomach.

Astagfirullah, Ayaah! Stop thinking.

Just then my phone rang, and it was my manager. I picked up the phone.

"Hello, Mr. Ahmed. Is there any problem?"

"Maam, one customer is here and she wants to buy a painting of yours which is not for sale.. and we had kept it hidden here, but the customer's attention got to the restricted room, when she came out of there, she wanted to buy that painting of yours. She isn't listening to us maam. Only you can handle it now!" They said as I registered what is happening.

Restricted room! Is that the painting? Oh no...

I can't let anyone have it.

"How did that person get in there? Why are you guys so irresponsible!" I yelled angrily at them.

"Don't let that person have that painting, I am coming!" I said as I cut the call.

"What happened Ayu?" Nick asked me

"Nothing, just some problem in my exhibition house. You go home okay. I will meet you at night"

I said as started to head out of there.

"I am sure this is also related to Ayan bro!" I looked at her shocked.

"It's nothing like that!" I can't help but flush...

"Ya, keep telling that to yourself!" She yelled as I left that place...

********

I entered the exhibition house as my manager greeted me. I saw some of the workers of mine there tensed and a woman sitting on a chair back facing me.

"Excuse me Ms. is there any problem?" I asked the woman. And I see her getting up from the chair and turning to me.

Wait! Did I see her somewhere?

She seems like a classy woman, an epitome of beauty. Fair skin, ocean blue eyes, dark plump lips, brown locks, perfect height, and business type attitude, she has it all, and top of that, the designer top and pencil skirt showing her figure beautifully. Her looks can kill any man!

"Mahira Iqbal." She said extending her hand for a handshake.

I thought so, I have seen her at my dad's business party.

"Hey, Ayaah Qureshi," I said shaking her hands.

"Ms. Mahira, I've known you for your dedication in the business field, why this sudden interest in paintings?" I asked her raising an eyebrow.

"Oh no dear, not paintings, but a Particular Painting!" She said highlighting the 'Particular' word.

"Mr. Ahmed please show me that PARTICULAR painting that got her attention!"

My manager got me a painting of mine.

As I guessed! It's the most favorite painting of mine. I have kept this here as I was changing my art house.

I looked at the colors of the painting. Blue with a tint of green. Whenever I look at the painting, I feel the whole world inside it. It's the painting of Ayan's eyes. The wrinkles at the side, explains his happy face and the dark, thick eyebrows gracing the canvas makes it look outstanding.

"You have done marvelous work here, I can't able to take my eyes away from it! I don't care how much it costs, just name the money..." She said looking at my art.

"I am sorry Ms. Mahira, it's not for sale... you can have a look at other paintings but I can't give you this one," I say to her making a straight face.

"50 lakhs! How about that?" She asked me.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Ms. Mahira. I am not gonna sell it no matter how much you pay me!" I said looking at her and giving her a tight smile. "Mr. Ahmed, show Ms.Mahira some other paintings. I am leaving now." I say as I started to leave.

"How about 1 crore?" She asked coming in front of me with a smirk. "I am sure you haven't earned that much for one painting!" She said confidently.

"I said IT'S. NOT. FOR. SALE." I said having a break between each.

"50 crores... it's pretty much worth your exhibition! Now stop arguing and hand it to me.."

"Are you deaf Ms. Haven't you heard what I told you earlier! Now leave my way..."

Ms. Bargainer is eating my head now.

"Oh. Come on now! 100 crores.. and if you want I can increase the amount! Just end this argument woman." She said irritated.

"If you give me the money of this entire world, then too, WLLAHI I won't hand you this painting.

What is mine, is mine." I say intimidatingly.

"Well, it seems like this painting is way too important for you! It does seem like a real person in it. Is that person that much close to you that you refuse to sell it even if I pay 100 crores to you?" She asked with a mysterious smile on her lips.

"Whatever this painting might be, it's my work and I refuse to tell anyone else about it," I said not looking at her.

"Well, it does look like someone I know Ayaah!" She said looking at the painting as I looked at her astonished.

"It's a painting of Ayan Siddique, isn't it?"

She asked as I didn't know what to say...

"Do you like him Ayaah?" She asked looking at me.

"Well, no! It's just that we are brought up together... it's nothing else..." I couldn't finish as she started, "Well that's good! Cause I like him Ayaah..."

"And you were one person who was bugging me! But now, however, I need your help regarding him!" She said and I could sense the seriousness in her voice...

*********

I felt someone stabbing my heart as I heard those words from her... why should I feel like this! I am sure, in Ayan's eyes I am just a little sister for her.. these feelings will ruin everything!

You were never mine Ayan Siddique, then what are these feelings when I imagine you with someone else...

She looks perfect for Ayan. She has everything a guy could wish for. A sudden sense of jealousy came into my heart. But it's not worth it Ayaah! If you don't want your relation with Ayan to be like it is, forgets these feelings, it's never gonna work between you two...

"Ayaah, is there something wrong?" She asked and I came out of my thoughts...

I gulped the lump formed in my throat as I controlled my emotions.

"No, it's completely fine... Tell me what kind of help do you need from me..."

********

It's weird how love makes us selfish and selfless at the same time...

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Wallahi: I swear by God.