Malik mansion

Zain and Hamdan entered the mansion and instantly paused when their eyes fell on their sister standing at a distance with her crossed hands. Hamdan let out a sigh while Zain shook his head. They walked further until they reached her.

Hamdan- assalamualaikum. He greeted with a sheepish smile.

Zaima- walaikumusalam bhaijaan, assalamualaikum Bhaiyya. She replied and greeted to Zain.

Zain walaikumusalam, tum phir se jaag rahi ho. He stated making zaima frown.

Zaima- aur meri jaagne ki wajah kya hai? She questioned back.

Hamdan- wo hum jaldi hi aa rahe teh par Phir kuch aur Kaam agaya.

Zaima- kab nahi aata hai? Kabhi zyada Kaam ajata hai, kabhi aaplog time dhekna bhool jate ho ya phir kabhi aap dono ko ye hi Yaad nahi rehta ki rest naam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai.

She listed out their daily replies making Zain roll his eyes and Hamdan avoid her gaze.

Zaima- kabhi toh aap dono jaldi aane ki koshish kar lijiye. She said with a tired sigh.

Hamdan- hum karte hai try bacha, lekin kaam hi khatam nahi hota. He said softly.

This isn't new, daily they come late from their office and Daily they find zaima waiting for them, to eat dinner with them. Because she can't eat until she makes sure her brothers have eaten.

Zain- ek toh hum dono thak kar aayen hai aur tum hamara dimaag kha rahi ho, kabhi kuch accha bhi bol liya karo taki hame bhi thora sukoon mile.

He said being a little irritated by her constant nagging as he thinks his sister is being over dramatic. While hamdan gave him a glare and zaima shook her head, though only she knew what was going on in her mind hearing his words.

Zaima- khair, aap dono fresh hokar aaiye mai tab tak khana lagati hun. She said about to walk towards the kitchen but zain's words stopped her.

Zain- mujhe bhook nahi hai. He said making Hamdan shook his head. Zaima turned towards him and gave him a look.

Zaima- kyu bhook nahi hai aapko?

Zain-  I am not answerable to you. He said and silence filled the hall for a second before zaima spoke again.

Zaima- ok. She said quietly Making Zain sigh in relief as zaima let the matter off quickly, but his relief was short lifted when he heard her next words. Toh phir mai bhi nahi khaungi.

Zain- kyu? He asked with a frown on his face.

Zaima doesn't have dinner with the family and wait's for the brothers to come, just to give them company while they eat. First she stays awake for them and second she doesn't eat anything hence Zain doesn't like her doing that at all.

Zain- kyu? He asked with a frown on his face.

Zaima- mujhe bhook nahi hai. She said with a shrugg and then before he could say anything, she walked away to the kitchen leaving Zain blinking.

Hamdan- Zain, tujhe pata hai na wo nahi khaegi agar tu nahi khaega toh, isliye khana khale. He said gently keeping his hand on zain's shoulder.

Zain- ye kaisi bachon jaisi zid hai Hamdan. He said in frustration.

Hamdan- ye zid nahi hai zain, she is just concerned for us, isliye chal kar khale warna wo sach Mey nahi khaegi. And if not for her, atleast mumma ke liye hi khale, unhe bhi nahi pasand hai ye, aur agar tu ajj nahi khaega toh zaima kal mumma ko bata degi.

He said firmly trying to make his brother understand. And it actually worked as Zain huffed and nodded his head. Probably because he imagined his choti mama's lecture if he doesn't eat now. And also because he didn't like what Hamdan said about zaima. But will he accept that? No.

After a while both of them walked into the kitchen expecting only one plate for Hamdan. But surprised flickerd on their faces when they saw three plates and zaima already placing food on them.

" So she knew I would come..." Zain thought amusingly.

They took their seats and zaima passed them their plates. She too sat down and they started eating. Hamdan chuckled mentally on the duo, because he knew zaima acted smart. She knew zain wouldn't let her sleep empty stomach.

Yes he didn't care, but that was what HE thought, the other family members knew he did, even if he didn't show it much. But they didn't know that he cares unknowingly,  only zaima... knew it.

Next day

Zain- haris, agar tum ab niche nahi aaye toh hum nahi ja rahe hai! He shouted from downstairs and haris came running down. Because can't trust zain in this, he could actually cancle the plan.

Haris- sorry sorry, chaliye. He said standing infront of zain with a sheepish smile on his face. Zain shook his head and adjusted haris's collar properly.

Zaima- bhai ruken zara. She exclaimed loudly coming out of the kitchen. She gave a piece of paper to haris making zain frown.

Zain- ye kya hai?

Zaima- Kuch cheezen hai jo mujhe chahiye, ab aap mujhe leke toh ja nahi rahe hai, isliye maine bhai ko kahan hai lane ko. Aur waise bhi I know aap mujhe miss karenge wahan, isliye take this as a small reminder of me. She said as a matter of fact making haris chuckle and zain frown at her. This girl knew exactly how to get back at him.

Zain- pagal ladki. He said shaking his head and walked away to the main door while haris patted zaima's head with a soft laugh.

Haris- bilkul bhi mauka nahi chodti ho tum. He said making zaima smile. She bid bye to him, and again walked inside the kitchen.

Shaziya- hmm, chale gaye tumhara bhai aur zaini bhaiyya? She asked putting vegetables in a bowl.

Zaima- haan chale gaye hai. She said with a chuckle and continued helping her choti mama. Zaima usually called zain as zaini bhaiyya just to tease him, he scolded her alot for that, but did zaima ever listen? Nope.

After awhile

It was nearly lunch time, hamdan and haroon were out for some work earlier so they had just returned. Zain and haris would probably return in the evening, so only four of them would have lunch today.

There was still fifteen minutes left for lunch, so zaima came in her room and picked up her phone. She sat down on the edge of the bed and rested her back. She then dialled a number and moved her phone a little away from her face as it was a video call.

She waited patiently for the call to get received but her hopes were going down by each ring. Just when she thought to end the call, the call got recieved and her face brightened and she smiled widely.

Zaima- assalamualaikum bhai! She exclaimed loudly making the person wince.

Zahid- walaikumassalam, zara araam se bhi toh bol sakti ho tum! He chided softly on his over excited sister.

Zaima- mai aise hi baat karti hun jab koi insaan mujhse bohut Kam baat karta hai. She said sounding casual while zahid shook his head.

Zahid- mujhe bohut kaam hote hai, har time tumse baat nahi kar sakta mai. Agar aisa kiya toh baba mujhe company se baher phek denge. He said making zaima smile. She loved this version of her brother, savage yet calm and sweet.

Zaima- don't worry, mai sambhaal lungi baba ko. Lekin aap baat toh karliya karen. She said.

Zahid- karta toh hun. He said as if he did a huge favor.

Zaima- baat karte hai kyuki mai call karti hun. Warna aap toh president hai na, aap kaise call kar sakte hai apni behen ko. She said with sarcasm.

Zahid- zyada bakwaas mat Karo tum, isliye tumse baat nahi karta hun mai kyuki tumhare taunts khatam hi nahi hote hai. He said feeling deeply offended by her words.

Zaima- aap thora time nikaal kar baat karliya karen, mere taunts band hojaenge.  She said with a shrugg making zahid annoyed.

Zahid- aur mai nahi karunga baat toh?

Zaima- toh phir taunts khatam nahi honge, simple.

Zahid- aur wo taunts sunne ke liye bhi agar mai bilkul baat na karun toh? He asked and zaima's face instantly changed. His words were maybe normal to him, but for her, it was not.

Zaima- toh phir wo aapki marzi hogi... Accha lunch time ho raha hai baad mey baat karte hai, Alhafiz. She said softly and ended the call before he could reply.

She took a deep breath and stared at the photo frame kept on the bedside table. She lifted it in her hands and a tear slipped from her eye. It was her and zahid's childhood photo, the one in which they were laughing together freely.

Zaima- why do you find reasons to avoide me bhai? Maine kya Kiya hai? Mujhe pata hai ki aap shayad bhaiyya ki sun rahe ho, lekin kya aapko sirf unke feelings matter karte hai, mere nahi? Kya karun mai jisse mere phele wale bhai wapas ajaen?

She sighed deeply asking the questions looking at the frame as if it would answer her, end her longing and inner loneliness. But it can't and no one can, except for her brothers and her baba being with her.

Her thoughts were broken when a knock came on her door and it opened making zaima startled. She quickly wiped her tears and kept the photo frame back on its place, and just as she did hamdan reached her.

He raised his eyebrows seeing her frustrated expression with a nervous smile on her face. He had noticed her keeping the frame back in a hurry when he reached her and he instantly assumed what she was thinking.

Hamdan- zahid ko Miss kar rahi ho? He asked softly sitting infront of her. Zaima looked at the frame once and back at him, well looks like he saw her keeping it back.

Zaima- roz hi toh karti hun. She said softly. Isliye abhi baat Kari hai unse.

Hamdan- hmm sahi kiya. Mai bhi baat karta hun usse lunch ke baad, janaab itne busy hote hai ki teen din mey ek baar baat hoti hai usse. He said shaking his head with a sigh. While zaima chuckled at his words, zahid really gets on everyone's nerves because of his this habit.

Zaima- chode bhaijaan, ab wo busy rehte hai toh hum kya kar sakte hai.

Hamdan- busy toh hum bhi rehte hai na bacha, lekin we make time to call him and bade baba.

Zaima- aapko pata toh hai na wo london Jane ke baad se kitne introvert hogaye hai. She said sadly with a pout on her face, she didn't want to show how hurt she was by this thing. It will only worry her brothers so it's better to act normal than to cry on it.

Hamdan- hmm wo bhi hai. He agreed on her words even though he knew it was not the truth. But it's better to not say that infront of zaima. Little did he know that zaima knew more than he assumed she did...

Zaima- accha chaliye ab niche lunch karne, agar der hogayi toh chote baba hum dono ko ek bade lecture ke bagair khane nahi denge. She said standing up making hamdan chuckle, it was true though. Haroon was very strict when it came to meals and time management.

So they walked downstairs talking about random things.

Evening

Zaima put a pin on the side of her head securing her hijab properly. She looked at herself in the mirror for the last time and picked up her dior sling bag. She looked at the time and then existed her room.

Walking downstairs she saw her family sitting on the main hall. Zain and haris were back so they were probably showing the things they bought to everyone. She reached them and greeted both of them while they replied back.

Haris- ye lo princess tumhara samaan. He said about to hand her the packet, But zaima refused making him look at her in confusion.

Zaima- shukriya bhai, lekin please aap ye sab mere room mey rakh dijiyega, mai abhi baher ja rahi hun, wapas aa kar dhek lungi. She said making them frown.

Zain- kahan ja rahi ho? He asked with a questioning gaze.

Zaima- friend se milne. She replied gently while zain looked at her keenly.

Haris- chalo theek hai mai rakh dunga tumhare room mey. He said and she gave him a smile.

Hamdan- mai chod aaun tumhe? He asked not wanting her to go alone.

Zaima- nahi bhaijaan mai khud chali jaungi. She said and then turned to haroon. Umm chote baba, please security na bheje saath mey. Mujhe ajeeb lagta hai jab log ghoorte hai.

Haroon- beta aapki safety ke liye security rakhi hai maine. He said softly.

Zaima- phir bhi chote baba maan jaiye na, pleaseeee. She looked at him innocently making him sigh. He can't resist when his niece asks something from him.

Haroon- theek hai lekin apna khayaal rakhna. He said making her smile widely and she quickly hugged him making him chuckle. But someone was definitely not happy with what Haroon said.

Zain- lekin chote baba-

Haroon- what? He asked cutting him off while gaving him a stern look. Zain huffed and leaned back on the sofa while crossing his hands.

Zain- aur bigaden use. He muttered but they could properly hear him which made them shake their heads. This man has serious issues with normal things related to zaima!

Shaziya- kab tak wapas aaogi bacha? She asked and zaima replied while standing up to leave.

After that she bid them bye and moved out of the mansion. She looked behind once feeling really bad. She hated lying to her family, but she has been doing it from two years now. so anyway it has become a habit now unknowingly.

After sometime

Zaima parked her car in the parking lot and stepped out of the car. She walked inside the hospital and the strong smell of antiseptic hit her like always. She walked further and took the lift to go on the second floor.

She stepped out of the lift once she reached the floor and started walking. As she reached that specific door, she took a deep sigh and whispered prayers to herself.

Zaima- ya allah bas ajj bacha lijiye, agli baar se pakka nahi bhulungi. She said and looked at the familiar name plate on the door which made her scared for herself.

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