Hikayat ✔

Chap. 21

Lahore
________________________________________

~Same Day

The weather was dry in Lahore, as opposed to the heavy rain of the previous two days. The sun shone bright and a soft breeze blew cooled the air.

February was beautiful, not as chill as January neither as hot as May. Just a little humid, but never as much August and just a little dry but never as much as October.

Weathers could change easily though, however the mark they left on people.. didn't.

Similarly, yesterday's basement incident was very fresh in the minds of both Harris and Vania.

They sat next to each other typing away, trying to look busy, ignoring each other's presence.

She was wearing a red kurta that made her skin look flushed.

He was wearing a black Henley that stuck to his chest like a second skin, his arms, (now much more muscular than before) bulged under the fitted sleeves.

His gaze shifted slightly to his left and he gulped looking away, blinking fast.

She pretended she didn't notice or didn't almost get caught staring, cracked her knuckles and breathed in deep.
...........

Yes, they were ignoring each other.

Apparently.

***

"Guyzz!" Farah stood up, announcing, "Ajj Anoushey apni shadi ki date fix honey ki khushi main hum sab ko lunch kara rhi hai!!" she clapped her hands at the end and everyone hooted joining in.

"Wah! Congratulations Anoushey!" Waqas smiled at her.

Vania looked up smiling as well.

Anoushey grinned, blushing softly, "Thank you."

"Bohat Mubarak ho Anoushey apko!" Fahad said.

"Hanjii! Dil ki muradein puri honey wali hain kisi ki!!" Qirat teased and Anoushey elbowed the girl.

"Thank you, yaar everyone!" She gave a shy smile and Vania walked up to her to embrace her in a warm hug. "Soo happy for you."

"Main wait kar rhi thi tum logon ko bataney kaa, keh jab final hoga toh treat ke sath hi bataoun gi." Anoushey revealed and they all smiled at her.

"Nhi yaar, iski kya zaroorat—" Vania began but the girl hushed her.

"Vania! Main apni khushi se tum sab ko lunch karana chahti hun! Tum kyaa har waqt 'nhi nhi' karti ho!" She said looking upset.

"App chaleyn gi naa Vania?" Waqas asked and Harris clenched his fist at the hopeful tinge of Waqas's tone.

"Haan! Of course chaley gi! No kaa option kis ne diyaa hai?!" Anoushey said.

"Nhi, Anoushey." Vania held her hand shaking her head, "Please yaar, tum jaanti ho main nhi jaa skti... I have a transport issue and--"

But Anoushey cut her off, "Toh? We'll car pool! Main khud aaj rikshaw per ayi thi! So what? One of us will drive us to the restaurant and we will come back here afterwards. Ek do ghantey ki baat, thora late chali jana ghar aaj yarr."

Vania shook her head, "Nhi yar." she pleaded, "Tumheyn pata toh hai phir.. bohat late ho jata hai. Or Khala jaan pareyshan ho jatin hain.... Mujhe drop—"

"Haan toh we'll drop you home, okay?" Anoushey added, "Restaurant se wapsi pe tumko ghar drop kar den ge or hum office wapis aa jayen ge?"

Harris frowned, acting disinterested but still very very tuned in to the argument.