Chapter 1 - Missing You
She sits in the living room of a stranger. Actually, they are new family friends. As her mom and dad continue to engage in a conversation with Mr and Mrs Usmaan Abdullah, she is left to die of boredom. Nafisa appi still hasn't returned from university. She has been out with the older son of the house, Fahad Usmaan Abdullah, who is showing her around the city and her new university. She looks around the lavishly set up living room and sees the photos on the wall. She recognises Fahad, and she takes a guess that the other one is the younger son. They are photos from their childhood. He used to make a cute little boy.
"Aaliya beta, paani?" Surraiya aunty asks her and she politely refuses. She really isn't in a good mood. Mumbai isn't giving her a reason to be happy. "Zain!" Aunty calls out. "Neeche aao beta, ghar pe mehmaan aaye hai." She hears footsteps the next minute and looks up to see him descending the stairs. Jet black hair, chocolate brown eyes and tall with a fair complexion; but he is extremely skinny. "Kuch khata nahi hai kya?" She thinks to herself.
"Assalamu alaykum!" He greets us all, and we greet him back. He then makes his way to go upstairs again.
"Zain beta, Aaliya ko apne saath le jao. Wo humare beech bore ho rahi hai!" Usmaan uncle chuckles and he smiles at her. He raises his eyebrow and tilts his head towards the staircase, indicating her to join him, and she does.
She is horrified. The room is a mess. There is no place to put her feet down. She turns back to look at him smiling at her sheepishly. "Sorry, mujhse safai nahi hoti. Fahad Bhai ke room mein chale? It's much cleaner."
"Um, sure." She replies and follows him into another room down the corridor. The room is indeed much cleaner.
"So, let me introduce myself. I am Zain Usmaan Abdullah. And you are?"
"Aaliya Ghulam Haider!" She shakes his hand and smiles. "What a dazzling smile!" He thinks.
"Well Aaliya Ghulam Haider, can I just call you Aaliya?" he jokes.
She giggles. "Of course you can!"
They sit down and start talking. He is two years older than her and is in his final year of schooling. They talk about everything - technology being the most talked about. They are geeks. An hour later, they join the others for dinner, and their conversation does not stop. They bid goodbye and hope to see each other soon.
oOo
She quickly ties her hair in a ponytail and rushes out of her room, only to bump into him. "Oh hi!" Aaliya smiles at him.
"Hey, tumse hi milne aa raha tha. Kahan gayab thi itni der se?" He questions her. He has been sitting in the lounge area for the last 10 minutes.
"Sorry, bas homework finish kar rahi thi. Tum baitho, main sabse milke aati hoon." She sprints downstairs, greets everyone with a salaam and is back upstairs in the next 5 minutes. She walks in to see him reading something on her laptop and her eyes widen in fear. "Zain!" She screeches.
He looks up with a cheesy smile on his face. "Tum likhti ho? Wo bhi romance? Wah yaar, for a 16 year old, you are quite talented." He watches the colour creep up her cheeks and is all smiles. She is very sweet.
Their chitchat begins again for the night. They argue over a number of things, friendly arguments that it. His family takes their leave at midnight. "Bye kit-kit!" He winks at her, as she looks at him, furious.
"Bye maachis ki teeli!" She pokes her tongue out at him as everyone around them bursts into laughter. She thinks he still makes a cute boy.
oOo
It's been two years since she has moved to Mumbai with her family. Zain and her lost contact after he had finished school. She has seen him around a few times, but he doesn't attend any family gatherings anymore. Fahad bhai always worries about him.
Two years from the day she first met him, today she sits in the same lounge room, except he isn't there. He hasn't come down to greet anyone. He isn't spoken of. Shabana asks them about him and the atmosphere changes. Surraiya aunty looks upset and tensed, Usmaan uncle looks angry. Ghulam quickly changes the topic. The rest of the night goes by in a jiffy. She is bored, and she has no company. She realises... she misses him.
oOo
So that's chapter one. Please do leave your feedback and let me know how it is :) Edited by Jyo. - 10 years ago
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