Wild Rides | ✔

thirty-four

❝Shukar hai call receive karni aa gai tumhy!❞

Rabeel found Shazain leaning against the hood of her sport's car when she walked up to him after saying goodbye to her Huskies and her grandfather. A frown was etched on her soft features as she came to a pause right in front of him and he blinked a couple of times as if trying to process the fact that he wasn't alone anymore, staring into space like a statue. 

“Why did you come out so early?” she asked. “I thought you'd have a lot to talk about with nanu.” 

Shazain didn't meet her eyes when he answered and this gesture instantly told the redhead that something was off. 

“Oh, we did talk. A lot.” he chuckled which sounded a bit forced while raising his shoulders in a lazy shrug. “I just got a call from Miranda and… it's urgent so, yeah. I have to go.”

Rabeel's frown deepened as she regarded him with an eagle-like stare, trying to read through his expression but it was a hard task considering how Shazain Sikandar was a professional at masking his emotions. 

“You don't sound like you're in a hurry to get to that urgent task.” she pointed out with a straight face and watched his frame tense under her suspicious gaze. 

Shazain finally found her eyes and replied with, “Believe me, I am.” 

The redhead felt an uneasy feeling settle in her chest at his words and the way he'd said them but she couldn't find it in herself to question him about it. Somehow she knew that he wasn't going to give her an honest response. So with a wordless nod, she made her way towards the driver's seat, making him walk over to the passenger's side and pull open the door before getting in. 

The drive back to the city was silent and very shockingly uncomfortable. It was the first time since they'd become friends that Rabeel was finding a car ride with Shazain almost agonizing. They had travelled in silence many times before but it hadn't been as biting as it was feeling now. 

Did her grandfather say something to him? 

She shook her head just as the thought crossed her mind. It couldn't be that. Both were equally fond of each other so there was a slim chance of Shazain getting upset over his role model's words even if he did say something to him. The guy was like a hyper puppy high on sugar whenever Zawar's name was brought up for crying out loud! So no, Zawar wasn't the reason for Shazain's sudden gloomy demeanor. 

Maybe it was the urgent thing he had mentioned earlier.  

Rabeel stole a glance at his profile before slowly nodding to herself. Yep. That seemed more likely. 

“Shazy?” 

Shazain jumped as if her voice had taken him by surprise and quickly gathered himself before throwing her a questioning look. “Yes?”