The next day, Alina was sleeping peacefully in her room when her phone rang loudly, interrupting her dream. She groggily fumbled for her phone and answered it without checking the caller ID.

"Hello, kaun hai?" She mumbled, still half asleep.

"Alina ki bachhi , kaha ho tum ? Yaad nahi aj assignment submit karna hai hume aur yeh na kehna tum abhi tak so rahi ho.!!" a loud voice rang through the phone, waking up Alina in a jolt.

"Ya allah main to bhul gayi..thank you thank you main aati hoon College aadhe ghante mein" she replied in a panic.

She hurriedly ran to the washroom, splashing water on her face and brushing her teeth in record time. Within twenty minutes, she was dressed, her hair hastily tied back, and she was scrambling to gather her files.

Running downstairs, she scanned the lounge for someone who could drop her off at the college.

"Ammi baki sab kaha hai? " She asked her mother, Asma Begum, breathlessly.

"Tumhare mamu aur bhai office gaye hai aur baaki sab bachhe so rahe hai kyun ki unka aj college se off hai..par tumhari shakal aisi sadi hui kyun dikh rahi hai" asked Asma Begum, noticing her daughters' frantic state.

Ignoring her mother's sarcasm, she said, "Aj mujhe college mein assignment submit karna tha, aj last date hai aur uske uppr se mein late hogyi hoon "

Just then, they heard footsteps approaching. They turned to see Ehsal coming down the stairs, casually playing with his car keys and whistling a tune.

Asma begum called out ," Ehsal beta tum kahi bahar ja rahe ho?"

" Ji Chachi wo kuch saman lane ja raha hoon ", he replied.

Asma Begum thought for a moment and then said while slapping Alina's shoulder," Beta kya tum Alina ko college drop kardoge?? Ise aj kuch assignment submit karna hai aur ye bewakoof ladki ko abhi yaad ayi ye baat"

"Ji Chachi zaroor" he said, and then turned towards her ,"chalo"

After quickly bidding goodbye to Asma Begum, they headed out of the house. Alina clutched her files and followed Ehsal to his car.

_______

In the car, a comfortable silence enveloped them. Alina was deeply engrossed in her assignment, reviewing each page meticulously. Ehsal, respecting her need to focus, kept quiet and drove smoothly towards the university.

The car eventually stopped in front of the university entrance, but Alina was so absorbed in her work that she didn't notice they had arrived. After a couple of minutes of waiting, Ehsal gently tapped her shoulder.

" Alina, we have reached the university." Ehsal informed Alina.

She looked up startled, "Umm ..what..oh acchaa..!! Thank you.!!" She stammered, hurriedly gathering her things.
As she was about to step out of the car, Ehsal stopped her and said,
" I will pick you up from college...I guess my work will finish in half an hour, then I'll wait for you outside the university."

"No need..I can go back myself" she said but was interrupted when Ehsal said," No you will come with me, tumne roza rakha hua hai aur waise bhi aj gai bohat ..koi zaroorat nahi hai Super mam ki behan banne ki"

"Tum..!! Huh..thik hai " she conceded with a huff, stepping out and closing the door with a bit more force than necessary, causing Ehsal to wince and glare playfully at her retreating back.

-----------------

After finishing his work, Ehsal returned to the university to pick up Alina. He parked his car and stood there leaning on the car using his phone.

As he stood there, he overheard a group of boys talking nearby.
,
"Bhai aj tune dekha use..kya mast lag rahi thi"

" Haan yarr..kya maal hai na Alina..nahi??"

"Haan bhai ..main to kabse uske peeche hoon ..lekin usne kabhi dekha hi nahi meri taraf"

"Main soch raha hoon use propose karu..."

Ehsal's grip tightened around his phone as he listened to their disrespectful chatter. His jaw clenched with anger. Unable to contain himself, he strode over to the group and grabbed one of the boys by the collar

" Kya kaha tumne ..maal hai woh.
Duur rehna Alina se...agar uske pass bhi aaye na to mujhse bura koi nahi hoga" he growled.

"Kaun ho bhai tum..?" The boy stammered, trying to break free Ehsal's grip.

" Bhai yeh to Alina ka cousin hai.. humara senior hai" another boy pointed out.

"To..?? Cousin hi na ..kaunsa uska shohar hai jo use itni mirchi lagrahi hai" replied the other boy.

Ehsal got more enraged by their conversation and he hit one boy on his face and he clenched his collar and shouted ,"Fiance hai wo meri...aur yeh baat apne dimaag mein daallo ..agar aage se uske irdh girdh bhi nazar aye na to chalne kabil nahi rahoge. Khan se panga lena matlab apni maut ko gale lagana hai"

He shoved the boy away, and the group quickly scattered, terror written across their faces. As they fled, Ehsal stood there, breathing heavily, trying to calm himself. The words "fiance" echoed in his mind. Why had he said that? He shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought.

A few minutes later, he saw Alina approaching with her friends, laughing and chatting animatedly. She looked radiant, her worries from the morning seemingly forgotten

She came towards him after bidding farewell to her friends when she noticed Ehsal was standing near his car.

Watching her come , Ehsal smiled and opened the door for her.

"Waah kya baat hai ...aj bade gentlemen bann rahe ho" she teased, raising her eyebrows at him.

"Mujhe ilm tha sabko izzat hazam nahi aati " Ehsal retorted, rolling his eyes.

Ignoring his remarks, she said " areh yaar ab jaldi chalo bohat garam hai"

" Apki hukum sar ankhon par" he replied with a dramatic bow, making her laugh as she settled into the passenger seat.

Ehsal smiled at her reaction and got into the driver's seat. They drove off, leaving the university, behind, the tension from earlier fading away in the lighthearted banter between them.

___________

Assalam walaikum

  New Book Alert...!!!

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Love u, ZeNe 🌹

Allah Hafiz