People were recording videos and taking pictures and I was standing there numb. Hot tears started ruining my makeup, somehow I gathered the courage to move my body, I rubbed my face and eyes harshly, wiped off my tears, put the last glance at them, and ran outside.

It was completely dark outside and my feet were tired of running, my legs started shaking and the next second I bumped into something, my legs staggered and I was about to fall on the ground but my body stopped in the mid-air as two strong arms wrapped themselves around my body.

I lifted my head to see the person, he was none other than my savior, he was again here for me, I didn't know what was the connection between us that he always knew that I was in trouble, I needed someone. How??

"What happens?" He held me by my shoulders and looked directly into my eyes, I was looking vulnerable from crying, I didn't want him to see me in that state but he had seen me in a worse state than this, right??

"I dressed up like this.... to...to make a clown of myself," I broke into tears.

" But you're looking cute," he smiled at me and looked straight into my eyes.

"They... I'm such a dumb Azlaan, I thought I'll be like them but I don't match their standards, I can't mix among them" I said between my hiccups.

" Zaynah," he called my name, and his orbs bored into mine, his beautiful brown eyes were fixed on my face,

"You're the most beautiful and amazing girl, you're different from them, you don't need to be like them," his lips curled into a smile and my heart fluttered a little.

"Wanna go for the coffee, ma'am?" He smiled nervously. " Right now" he let out a deep breath.

"Like this?? Bro, I'm looking like a clown, no I'm clown actually," I laughed.

" I don't care, you look cute,"

"You're weird"

"Why?"

"How could you find me cute," we started walking, now I was feeling a thousand times better. This guy knew some magic, I peeked at him from the corner of my eyes and smiled.

"Anyone can find you cute, not only cute you're an amazing girl Zaynah, " his words were doing a different effect on me. Never in my life, I got any compliments from anyone, it felt all new.

Compliments?? Bruhh you didn't even talk to any guy!

I was silently walking with him but suddenly I started feeling differently around me. A different kind of fear, anxiety was flowing through my body. I just wanted to go back to my room.

"Azlan," I called him

"Yeah," he snapped his head at me.

"I wanna go to my room, it's just I'm not feeling better, I promise I'll make it up for this, I'll join you next time," I said nervously with guilt. I didn't wanna make him upset.

"Ohh," he sighed, "No worries, I'll catch you up later," he was really a nice guy.

*******

It was around 6:50 and the party was about to start at 7:00 pm but she was nowhere. The whole house was filled with those popular IISC kids but her absence was creating a weird silence in this hall or my heart???

I sighed and started tapping my feet anxiously on the ground, everything seemed so dull without her.

"Hammad, did you tell her exact time?" I finally gathered the courage to ask him.

"Umm...arghh...I mean I was busy with preparation, so I asked Farwa to message her from my phone," he said remembering something.

" Heyy cut the cake, Zara," one of our cousins shouted from the crowd.

I looked at the clock, it showed 7 pm.

"But Zaynah," Zara glanced at the clock and her gaze was fixed on the door, so did mine.

Suddenly the door open, revealing her but... She was dressed in a clown costume. I didn't understand why she decided to wear this, she probably wanted to add more fun to her best friend's birthday but she should know that she's not that confident girl who could do this in front of these IISC kids.

She stopped at the door and her expressions started changing, the people started smiling and gradually their smiles turned into loud laughter. I looked at Zara, she was laughing too and I laughed with them too. She did a lot of effort to make her BFF's birthday more special.

I was waiting for her to come inside but she was standing numb on the door. People started clicking her pictures and recording her videos. Wtf are they doing?? I'll kick them out.

She rubbed her face and eyes harshly and started wiping her tears. Was she crying?? Bruhh...

But who told her to dress like this? Stupid Zaynah!

She put the last glance at us and ran outside.

"What the fvck" Zara almost cried, she realized it too.

"That stupid nerd, hahaha"

"Bruh, she was a real clown,"

Their voices started reverberating everywhere.

"Shut the fuck up," I yelled with full force, and all the voices were muffled in the crowd.

I didn't rethink anything and walked outside. I knew it was Farwa who did this to her. Why Farwa why? You have no idea what you did?

I mentally facepalmed myself and started looking for her, soon my eyes traveled to a strange figure running continuously, I knew I'll find her eventually like always, I ran after her.

She was running and running until she bumped into someone, it was a guy, I didn't see his face but his strong arms were wrapped around her body which made my heart flinch.

He started saying something to her, he was still holding her, looking into her eyes and her expressions were changing. She was smiling, a real beautiful smile...

It felt like someone has stabbed my heart, they were looking so happy so perfect together. They started walking and I moved my steps away. My cheeks were wet from hot water... Am I crying?? For her???

Like it's the first time you're crying for her.

I didn't wanna go back there, I moved my steps to my favorite place. This place had a different peace, I sat on the grass and started staring beautiful white moon.

It never started all of a sudden, I always felt different around her, the first time I saw her in the cafeteria.

I remembered I was arguing with Farwa over little things and everyone was watching us, but I least cared about them. Suddenly, my eyes landed on a confused face who was looking at us too. She reminded me of her. She must be fresher as she was looking new and young.

I stared at her face for a few minutes and my heart skipped a beat. My heart gotta be kidding like how could I feel this in seconds which I had never felt in my twenty years of life?

I saw her again in the corridor and I said those mean words to her just cuz I wanted to shrug her from my head.

I thought it will fade gradually but it didn't stop, I kept thinking about her in all the classes, I didn't want this...

The next day when I was driving to the college she signaled to stop me. What was her problem bruh? She was the normal IISC kid, right? Then why I was seeing her again and again. I didn't wanna think about her, I know its consequences then why she's here again.

"Umm can you give me a ride to IISC?" her voice matched her personality, soft and beautiful.

Wth Wajahat Shah! It's not you!

"I mean you could be any serial killer or any drug dealer, who knows, do we know each other?" I decided to play with her and she looked shocked. Anyone could be shocked by this, I internally cursed myself.

"I don't want your ride either but didn't you see me in IISC, how could you call me killer,?" She huffed in annoyance. Her face was red like a tomato and I enjoyed it.

" Sorry I don't notice girls, Can you please let me go, I'm being late also I hope you'll find your ride, best of luck," I knew I was being mean but I couldn't do this to me. I couldn't take the risk. I just wanted to ignore her and all those weird feelings she was giving me.

But also I wasn't that heartless that I would leave her alone on the road. I made a call to Zara and told her to make sure she gives her a ride. I thought it would be just one ride but little did I know that I was doing my biggest mistake of life by introducing her to my sister.