The essence of falling in love is to see the inner beauty!

~Queen

__________

SHUMAYLL

I wanted to tell them it was her

she was the one i was mad and crazy for

but i kept shut

the look on her face when abba asked me about who 'MY' girl was. well made me decide to not tell anyone

lets just leave it

"Uh........ no one, maybe I am willing to find her but not now, I guess i am waiting for the right one" I said smiling slightly at Abba and ammi

they stared at me for a moment before breaking into laughter

all of them

every one of them except Iqra

she gave me a small smile and i winked back

pitches of pink spread on her cheek and i chuckled turning towards bhabhi only to see her staring at me with a smirk

am i in trouble?

I looked away and stood up

"I will be back" I said and began walking towards the kitchen

halfway, the whole house went black

what the hell!?!

I turned around and my feet hit the table corners and i winced in pain

Aiiissshhh!!!!!!!

"The power went off- something with the breaker?" called out abba and Shaheer bhai disagreed and i saw his phones light go on

oh yeah

phone light

I took out my phone and switched on the light

with it, i made my way upstairs, to the terrace to check the meter box, Bhai following me close behind

"Whats wrong with it?" asked bhai and i shook my head

"I think its the whole city without power or something" i muttered and he nodded

"Shall we fire up the generator or we stay with the candles and all?" asked bhai and i smirked

"Tell them the generator is out of order ATM" i winked and he chuckled

We walked downstairs and i took two candles from the hallway that mom kept for display

"Guys, good news, its not the breaker, bad news, generator out of order" said Shaheer bhai and everyone groaned

"So candles it is" said Fatima aunt and i nodded

not like anyone can see it anyway

then it hit me, the kids!

"Bhabhi where is Sohayll?" i asked bhabhi as i walked towards her

I tumbled on something and fell to the floor, the soft rug digging into my elbows

great

i set up and rubbed my elbows

i turned and took a lighter from my pocket and lighted the candle infront of bhabhi

hazel eyes stared back at me

oh shii- sharks!

I stared at her and she stared back

within seconds, something flicked and bam the damned power was back

i staggered backwards and set back on the floor as everyone cheered

Bhabhi snickered behind me and i stood up

"You knew" i stated in a low tone and she smirked

"Duh" she replied and then walked away as daadi mah called her

I shook my head and stood up dusting my jeans

"Since we are back with power, shall we get back to the game?" asked Ibrahim uncle and everyone nodded

Iqra, i noticed, resumed her original place with the book in her hand and both my bhabhi's beside her

"I have to get somewhere" i said turning to mom and she smiled at me

"be back by 12- don't stay out all night and don't-" she said and i completed the sentence for her

"-eat outside, dinner is home" i said and she laughed

i bent down and she kissed my forehead

"Asta la Vista!" i yelled as i walked out of the house

only to realize i had forgotten my phone inside

I turned around and the phone was stuffed to my face

I took it and smiled at bhabhi

"Thanks" i grinned and she crossed her arms

"What was all that?" she asked me and i stared at her

Oh hell

"What?" i acted innocent but i knew what she was asking for

"You know what i am talking about Shumayll, they can be oblivious of it, but i am not" she said sternly and i sighed

these are the moments when i realize she is literally a mother to me, ever since she met bhai, she always treated me as her younger brother, more like her son-

"That.............." i muttered running my hand through my hair

"You two shared converses, cool, you winked at her, cool, you fought with her, cool but the way you flirted with her, if she falls for you and you hurt her, dude do you even-" she blabbered and i sighed

"She already fell for me, i think and i am hella lot crazy for her and thats one thing i am damned sure about" i said interrupting her and she sighed

"wait- what?" she asked and i smirked

"Laters" with that i ran towards my car

As i got in, an idea struck me

"Bhabhi!!" i yelled and saw her standing right beside me with a poker face

was she some kinda 'bhoot'?

"Where are Sohayll and Zahi and Zaik?" i asked her and she replied with a smirk

'Asleep, why?" she asked me

"Nah nothing" i muttered and drove out of the driveway

Taking the familiar lanes, I parked my car in the drive thru of MD and grinned at Macey, the usual salesgirl there

'hello, Mr Edris, nice to see you again" she said and i chuckled

"You too Mace, Uhh.............. (I did a mental count of how many of us were there), 20 Iced Sundae's and............... two strawberry smoothies please" i ordered and she nodded

i took out my card and handed it to her

taking my orders, i placed them on the coffee tray in my car and bid goodbyes to her

i drove home and parked the car at the driveway

i got off and balanced so many things in two hands hoping they don't fall

I walked inside and everyone was in a all happy mood

"As salamu alaikum!" i said as i placed the things on the counter

Bhabhi grinned at me

The movie of Ruqayyah and Iqraam's wedding is out!!!!!!!!!" she squealed

i stared at her

what?

"We watched it live people!" i said and Iqraam nodded

"Give it here bro, thats what i said!" he said holding his hand up for a fist pump

"Oh i brought iced Sundaes" i said and soon everyone attacked

I took three and placed them in the fridge for the kids and the shakes too

Iqra glared at me when she got chocolate sundae and not oreo

I traded mine with her and she grinned

"Now lets watch the movie- aka- wedding of Iqraam and Ruqayyah Ibrahim!!" yelled mom and everyone cheered

I took the furthest couch from the TV and Iqra set infront of me, on the floor mattress, cross legged

The movie began with the usual sights of Ibrahim mansion

Then came Iqraams usual races and some amazing things

The best part was when the wedding possession took place, from their house to the hotel, the line of cars, dammmm

proud to say, i was driving the one with Iqraam

like hell bro!!

the movie began and i smiled at how much fun we had

the way we danced at his reception

it was hella lot fun

Once the movie was done, everyone crashed the different rooms in the house

I stayed outside my room knowing that Iqra might want to crash it

"Can we have your room?" asked Nabaahat and i stared at her

"We?" i asked her and Nafaasat and Iqra turned out form behind her

I sighed

"Fine" i muttered and took my shorts and tees before walking out

"Keep away from my gadgets, my things and my closet, my movie and gaming collection- Iqra you know the drill" i almost winked at her

almost

but i remembered her sisters were also there so i didn't

"Allah Hafiz" she replied in a small voice before slumping on the bed and burying her face in the book she was reading

i sighed and walked out to the living room that had huge mattresses

Lying on my back, I played the TV on the wall

some game was going on so i just stared at it

too bored, i switched channels until i found this comedy show, Kapil Show

I was watching it when my phone rang

without checking the ID i answered, only to find out Waarith was calling

"As salaam, sup bro?" he said and i smiled inwardly

"Was salaam, NM, you?" I replied

"Was bored, in college, training seasons back" he said and i let out a small laugh

he loved Rugby with his life, which was peculiar since not much Indians, or muslims play rugby-

he had developed his love for rugby and cars before he could properly walk or even speak

so yeah

we let that topic drop a long time ago

"I heard you will be playing with the chiefs this season?" i asked him and he laughed

"Maybe, i am not sure- I mean i do love that team but at times it gets frustrating" he replied and i knew exactly what he was talking about

the super rugby reason was back, so definitely he will be in but exams were also here

"I get you bro, Work is hectic, adding onto the fact that my meetings are at the peaks since its nearing the launch of the latest gadget of ours-" i said and he chuckled

"Gadget, what is that suppose to be?" he asked and i groaned

"Just when i did not want to talk about work" I replied and i heard fufi calling him from somewhere, her voice distinct

"Moms calling, gotta go- Allah hafiz, and my love and regards to dearest Iqra" he said and before i could argue with him, he hung up

I heaved a deep sigh and stared at the ceiling that was illuminated with wall light lamp

"Ya Allah, what am i into?" i muttered

i whined and set up on the mattress when i heard footsteps

"Cannot sleep?" asked Iqraam as he took a seat beside me

"Yeah, you?" i asked and he smiled mildly at me

"I wanted to talk to you, it seemed ages since i last had a decent conversation with you" he replied and i laughed

I pulled my knees up and put my head on the left knee

"So what is it thats bothering you" i asked him, on point

He looked at me and then chuckled

"You know me damn well" he replied and I nodded, proudly

"So what is it?" i asked him and he sighed, putting his head in his hands, his long fingers hiding his whole face

"I don't know............." he replied and i stared at him

silence

one second

two seconds

three seconds

four seconds

I could not take it so i broke it

"What do you mean you don't know?" i asked him, sitting up straight

He worried me sometimes, like he worried about me, i did the same for him, I bet he has not told Ruqayyah about it, unless it is about her.......

"Is it about Ruqayyah Bhabhi?" I asked him and he shook his head

"No, Its just that I can't seem to be connecting with my own sister, She is distant and hardly speaks" he said

Iqra

"Why don't you just talk to her? Like really talk to her" I said and he sighed

"Thats where the problem lies, I don't know how- She seems to be fine with you- I mean although you two fight, You always understand her better-" he said, almost bitterly and i wanted to laugh

"Why so bitter about that?" i asked him innocently, biting back a smile

"Because!-" he said and then went silent

"Hey, I thought we were best mates, bro, you can tell me whatever sh** you go through" I said and he glared at me for the language

"Sorry" i said sheepishly

"Its just because......... I feel like you are more of a brother to her than me-" he said and I stared at him

what?

me?

her brother?

NO!

I wanted to scream out loud but I did the most logical thing, kept shut

"No, you are her brother, she worries about you, and me and her? well we fight and get along just fine, so chill, i am not taking your place" i explained

If only he knew!

"Then............................. do you like her?" he asked me, in a serious note

My eyes went wide and my mind went blank

Oh hell!