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Hadi's POV

"Mom apne agar sab se milna hi tha, tou yunhi bulaleteen. Meri birthday ka kehnay ki kia zaroorat thi?" I said sitting on the sofa. "Apko pata tou hai ke mujhe logon se milna acha nahi lagta." I added.

"Tumhare liye hi bulaya hai." She replied and I looked at her, confused. "Taake tum logon se baat karo. Mujhe tumhari fikar hai. Nida ke jaanay ke baad tum depressed se lagne lagay ho mujhe." She said making me let out a humourless chuckle.

"Mom, I am fine." I assured her. "Bas kaam main bohat busy hojata hoon. Toh khud ke liye time nahi milta." I added.

"Beta time nikalnay se nikalta hai." Mom replied.

"Acha, meri pyaari mom, main milunga unse. Lekin sirf apke liye." I told her and she smiled.

"Mera acha beta." She said and affectionately placed her hand on my cheek.

-Later in the evening-

People had already started coming and I was already tired of thanking everyone for the wishes. I know I'm being kind of ungrateful since these are people who actually love and care about me, but I'm just not a very social person. I like to stay to myself with my literally 3 close friends. My phone rang in my pocket. Speak of the close friend and the close friend is here, I thought, looking at the mobile screen that showed Ali's name.

I excused myself and went to the terrace.

I received the call and talked to my best friend.

Ramsha's POV

We reached Hadi's house and met aunty and uncle but the birthday boy was nowhere to be seen. I had no idea why I was supposed to hand him over his gift, but when I was given this responsibility, I managed to do it right and wrote "To, Kharoos" on the card. I asked aunty,

"Aunty, Hadi kahan hain?" I asked her. "Unhay unka birthday gift dena tha." I added.

"Beta, I think woh terrace par hai." She replied. "Rasta yaad hai na terrace ka? She asked.

"Of course, aunty. How can I forget that place? Ghanton baith kar baatein ki hain wahan Kinza aur maine." I replied and she laughed, remembering the time when Kinza, Hadi's sister and I used to spend hours talking about different things. She's just a year older than me so we got along really well. She moved to the United Kingdom after marriage so it's been a while since I met her now.

"Aunty Kinza kay aanay ka koi plan hai?" I asked her.

"Kuch confirm toh nahi hai par in sha Allah jald." She replied with a smile.

"In sha Allah. Chalein main yeh Hadi ko de kar aati hoon." I said and went up to the terrace.

"Haan, humare family friends hain. Itni annoying ladki hai, I swear." I heard his voice. He was on the phone with someone.

Definitely not intending to eavesdrop, I listened to his conversation. Why do I have a feeling he's talking about me?

"Kuch din pehle office mein itni badtameezi ki aur dad ne ulta uski side li thi." He said and I narrowed my eyes. Acha jee?

I placed his gift on the table in front of me and went downstairs to his mother.

"De aayi tohfa?" She asked.

"Nahi, woh terrace kay baahar waale table par rakh dia." I replied.

"Kyun?" She asked. "Usay diya kyun nahi?" She questioned.

"Um.. woh kisi se kuch personal baatein kar rahe thay. Toh mujhe unhe interrupt karna munasib nahi laga." I replied, making my best innocent face.

"Kya baatein?" She asked, confused. 

"Ab woh toh aap unhi se pooch lein. Main kaise bataoon." I replied. "Acha mujhe ammi bula raheen hain." I excused myself and walked towards ammi. Sorry, aunty but aapke kharoos bete ko sabaq sikhana tha.

Hadi's POV

After ending my call with Ali, I walked inside. My eyes fell on a gift placed on the table there. I looked at the card on it and it read "To Kharoos" - and instantly I knew who had written it. I shook my head and went downstairs.

We had dinner and all this time I had no idea why mom was giving me suspicious looks. 

---

A couple hours later, all the guests were gone and mom was cleaning up the drawing room and the kitchen with our maid.

I was about to go to my room when mom called me.

Ramsha's POV

We had reached home so late last night. It was 10 am when I woke up. I got up from my bed went to freshen up.

When I came back, I picked up my phone and saw a missed call from Maira.

Quickly, I called back her.

"Mairaaa kesi ho yaar? Its been so long since we last spoke!" I said in excitement. Maira was in Lahore for two weeks for her cousin's marriage.

"Main bilkul theek. Tum batao?" She replied.

"Sab theek hai! Tum kab aarahi ho? Tumhare cousin ki shaadi khatam hi nahi hoti!" I complained and she laughed. "I miss you, yaar!" I added.

"Khala ko sukoon hi nahi aaraha, functions par functions kar rahi hain, qasam se." She spoke in an irritated tone before laughing. "Parson shaadi hai, uske do din baad Valima aur uske agle din, I'm coming back." She sighed, as if out of relief, making me laugh.

We talked for some time before I went for breakfast and Maira, for some shaadi-related work.

I went to the kitchen and saw ammi making breakfast.

"Assalam Aalaikum Ammi." I said by hugging her from back.

"Walikum Assalam, uth gayi meri jaan." Ammi replied.

"Uth toh pehle hi gayi thi, bas Maira ki call aagayi thi toh us hi se baat kar rahi thi." I replied. "Main kuch help karoon?" I asked.

"Nahi beta bas tayyaar hai. Tum yeh lejakar table par rakhdo." Ammi replied handing over the plate of fried eggs to me.

"Sure." I said and took to the table.

We all did breakfast and then Abbu and Ramiz went to work.

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