TRING...TRING...

Umaira sat up on the sofa alarmed. She looked around in the dark and realized she had slept whole evening. She switched on the lights of the hall and gasped seeing the time, its 10pm. She slept for so long.

She tied her hair in a quick bun and washed her face. She opened the door hoping to see Ibrahim on the other side. But instead, there a pizza delivery boy holding a pizza and a note. She frowned.

'I haven't ordered a pizza.' She said, she is about to shut the door when the delivery boy spoke 'Mr. Ibrahim Shah Alam has ordered this and asked to give this note to you.' he forwarded the pizza box towards her. Umaira glanced at the pizza and then back at the delivery boy who had a straight face. She nodded.

'I will get...'

'It is paid for, Maam.' The boy interrupted. Umaira nodded. Finally, the boy smiled but Umaira didn't.

Sorry love, I won't be able to come tonight. You remember the important client. Please don't be mad at me and have this Pizza, it is your favourite. I will home early in the morning.

I love you,

Your lover-boy Ibrahim

This is not the first time, Ibrahim is doing this. Always she had overlooked it but after the trip to India or more specifically the reunion night she has begun to get annoyed at everything of Ibrahim that before she brushed off thinking "everyone is flawed."

She crumpled the paper with agitation. She is now more annoyed at herself than at Ibrahim. She felt the conscious change in her and this irritated her. She didn't want to fall weak again. She didn't want to eat but this was Pizza that too her favourite one. Eventually, she took the box, sat on the sofa and folded her legs. She opened the box and switched on the TV. She watched some random stuff while munching her food.

After having dinner, she yawned and switched off the TV. She walked into the room. She looked sadly at Ibrahim's side and lay down on her side staring at his side. She ran her hand over his side and took his pillow. She hugged it tight and closed her eyes. She felt scared, alone and vulnerable.

Umaira was scared out of her skin. It's been 24 hours since Mehran went missing. Umaira at first thought it was nothing, just one of his childish anger. But it turned out to be serious. They had a small argument and now Umaira is cursing herself.

'Why did I fight with him? God! I hate myself.' she muttered climbing stairs to the commerce depart.

She kept bumming into people and frantically asking them if they had seen Mehran. With each negative answers her heart kept falling and at one point she thought she will have a heart attack. She dialled his number but no answer. She entered a classroom looking around for him, but there is no one. She leaned against the wall, crying.

'Where are you, Mehran? Please come back. I am sorry...I promise I will never fight with you.' She fell to the ground, bringing her knees to her chest and buried her head into her knees and continued to cry inconsolably. This was the time she felt the most scared, the loneliest and most vulnerable. Then she had thought she had lost Mehran, and the thought of living without him killed her.

'Mehran.' Umaira woke up with a jolt. She looked around and found the room dark except for a dimly lit night lamp. Umaira placed her palm over her beating heart and gulped. Why is this happening again? she had been passed this. Why is she again thinking of him? How can one night, and few minutes of closeness with Mehran get her back to from where she had started five years ago. She shook her head and poured water for herself. She is glad Ibrahim isn't here, hearing her call out another man's, that too her ex's, name would have hurt him. She leaned against the bed rest and stared into the darkness.

Nearly a month has passed since the reunion, yet it is fresh in her mind. After a while of staring into the darkness for some time, she lay down again. Taking out her mobile she texted Ibrahim. "Pizza was wonderful. Wish you were with me having it. I am missing you." She waited for a reply and eventually slept off.

****************************

Mehran couldn't feel his legs by the time Siham was done site seeing and shopping. Mehran hadn't shopped much. He just wanted to go back to his room, do some work and take a nap. Instead, after having breakfast Siham had dragged him out and they returned only after sun-set. 'It was so much fun; didn't I tell you Milan was awesome.' Siham gushed happily. Mehran dropped the shopping bags and slumped on the sofa. He didn't pay attention to Siham's chattering. He sighed in relieved removing his shoes. He leaned in the sofa, his head thrown back and his arms out.

Siham stopped talking when she heard slight snores, she turned around and found Mehran had fallen asleep while sitting. He is looking too cute with his mouth slightly open. She smiled.

Siham got a pillow and carefully placed it behind his head and adjusted his head properly. She looked around and found a small stool, cautiously she lifted his legs and placed it on the stool. Mehran shifted comfortably, burying further into the plush sofa. Siham then covered him with a duvet.

'You are so cute.' She said to Mehran's sleeping figure. She lay on her side admiring him. Whenever she looked at Mehran, she found him perfect. Good natured, caring, understanding, funny and loveable. Initially, she had found something bothering him but she is happy that now he has let go of any inhibitions that he had. Siham smiled closing her eyes.

In the middle of the night, Mehran woke-up. He looked around, it is pitch dark. He realized he slept off on the sofa. He rubbed his eyes, he is still sleepy. Slowly, he stood up and stretched out his arms searching his way towards the bed. He climbed on the bed. Strange, the bed felt very soft.

'Ahh...' Mehran panicked hearing a girl's squeal. The night lamp switched on and Mehran saw Siham. She looked as if the house is on fire.

'Sorry...' Mehran apologized

'Man, if you felt aroused in the middle of the night at least wake me up before pouncing on me.' Siham said massaging her arm.

'What?' Mehran looked confused. Siham smirked and held his collar, she pulled him over her switching off the night lamp.