SaAz SS: Selfish and Selfless [Chap 6, Page 30] New! :) - Page 22

Originally posted by: MayurChan

SOrry for The Blooper...its Aarzoo not Zoya..

Originally posted by: Abhinaya08

Fariii!!! Its Abhi here! Abhinaya ? Remember moi ?😉 Aww you have started to write on Humsafars <3 Thats awesome!!! Loved the story till now :D Thanks for the PM hun 🤗

Originally posted by: SmileyStar

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<div>Hahaha I make the same bloopers and to be honest I didn't even notice your mistake🤣

And Mayur, you don't have to follow and read them on both couples. Select one and follow that😳It'll be easier for you!

I really appreciate your comments on both couples though :')

You know at that time it was 3 in the morning...and i did that mistake...😳
And I can't just stop reading here...because it was originally a SaAz story...so loyal fans will read it and iamm one of them...
And the other couple...Iam loyal to them because they are my reason to survive or say join on I.F...and beside there no such problems as such...if you can write it on two couples then why should i stop myself from reading them on both... 😉

Originally posted by: MayurChan

You know at that time it was 3 in the morning...and i did that mistake...😳
And I can't just stop reading here...because it was originally a SaAz story...so loyal fans will read it and iamm one of them...
And the other couple...Iam loyal to them because they are my reason to survive or say join on I.F...and beside there no such problems as such...if you can write it on two couples then why should i stop myself from reading them on both... 😉

Originally posted by: SmileyStar

</div>
<div>Hahaha that was quite an explanation you gave there😉And I'm writing this originally as a SaAz SS too😛Chalo you follow both if you don't find it problematic😃

No Problemooo😉 it is all Perfectooo 😆

Originally posted by: MayurChan

No Problemooo😉 it is all Perfectooo 😆

Hello people 🤗

I'm back even though the response on the last chapter was discouraging to say the least! 😕 I hope it will be better this time as the update is full of fun! 😃

Some things I need to clarify. First, no Sahir didn't actually know Ayesha. He just helped/saved her for humanity's sake 😳

Secondly, someone was having confusion about Sahir and Arzoo's age so thought I'd clarify it as well 😳 Actually I wanted to show their friendship throughout their teenage years but as I can't write that much so I showed one or two incidents from each year. I don't know where and how I came up with this ingenious idea from 😕😆 And those of you asking for Sahir's POV, you'll have to wait for a long time to get it 😉 😆

Happy Reading! 😛

Chapter 6

"Allah knows how you two expect to pass your exams when you're sitting here playing computer games." Arzoo complained as she threw a glance at her computer, currently occupied by Sahir and Zak who were busy playing 'Need for Speed.' It was the Sunday morning after Daadi's operation and their exams were from Wednesday.

Sahir had come yesterday too, early in the morning still they hadn't managed to study much. Maybe it was because of Daadi's operation a few days ago. They had remained subdued all that time Daadi was at the hospital and they seemed to be making up for it now; with the result that they spent the day doing everything but studying.

"We only have to pass them. We're not planning on topping them like some people we know, right Zak?" Arzoo knew Sahir's hint was towards her.

"Yep. For us, passing our exams equals topping them." Zak agreed with a laugh as his hands worked furiously on the keyboard controls.

Arzoo rolled her eyes and asked instead. "When will you two stop?"

"We're taking a break from studies, Zoo!" They both answered a little exasperatedly.

"You haven't even started studying properly yet; it's more like you took a 'study break' from computer games which only lasted for about 15 minutes and now you're back at it."

"It's quite sad and I don't why but... even after all these years, studies and I just don't get along. You'd think after all this time we'd develop some level of compatibility but no... none whatsoever!" Zak shook his head as he exclaimed in mock-sadness.

"I know man; same here. Maybe we should just break up."

"With studies, you mean?"

"Yep. No point in dragging this relationship along." Sahir played along, taking Zak's joke further.

"With the time you guys give it, no wonder the relationship is a failure." Arzoo commented as she bent over her work.

The boys laughed and Zak commented. "Now that we're having this conversation, I'm realizing that studies are... kind of like a nagging girlfriend who constantly wants your attention. Who wants you to sacrifice your happiness, enjoyment, sleep-time... basically everything you love for her."

"Yep," Sahir popped the 'p' at the end and nodding. "I see the resemblance."

"That's why when you're studying, you can't be in a relationship because you already have an unwanted girlfriend in the form of studies who constantly screams for your time but no matter how much time you give her; it's never enough." Zak continued formulating his theory further.

"And having an actual 'human' girlfriend is just asking for trouble because then it's like... you're juggling your time between two girlfriends." Sahir offered.

"Exactly. Makes total sense and explains a lot about the relationship failures our teens are facing these days." Zak let out, nodding thoughtfully. "It's definitely a plausible theory."

Arzoo was looking at the boys with amusement written on her face. "How about instead of using your brains on this theory, you apply it on studies and make your respective girlfriends happy?"

"Bad idea." Zak shook his head. "We don't want to give her too much time and spoil her. We like to keep her in place; keep reminding her every now and then that she is an unwanted girlfriend. There is no willingness from our side."

"That is quite clear I assure you. But you have got to keep her happy if you want a bright future... That's just say that your unwanted girlfriend is quite influential and if you don't keep her happy, she snatches your chance at happiness in the future."

"Oh my God! That witch!" Zak exclaimed as he threw Arzoo a look of horror making her burst into giggles at his dramatics.

"I don't get it. How?" Sahir threw her a confused glance. He was too busy playing to pay complete attention to what she was saying.

"Simple. You don't study, your future is bleak." Arzoo explained with a shrug.

"You really have a talent of getting your point across, Zoo." Sahir threw her a half-impressed, half-annoyed look.

"What's the point that she's trying to convey?" It was Zak's turn to look confused.

"She wants us to study!" Sahir answered in an accusing tone.

"Well I proved it through your theory." She smiled smugly while Zak let out a slow 'Oh'.

"I WON!" The companionable silence that had prevailed for a while was broken by Sahir's victorious exclamation as he leaned back in his chair and raised his arms in the air. "Meet Sahir Azeem Chaudhary who just won the Knockout Championship against the loser, Zakariyya Ali Abbasi!"

"We had a best of three and I won the last two games!" Zakariyya reminded him incredulously.

"So what? I won the last game which means I got the happily ever after! You cares what you did once upon a time." Sahir answered back with an arrogant smirk.

Zak forgot about his defeat as he burst out laughing. "You're talking fairy tales now?"

"I had Zoo for a best friend. I think that explains it all. Want to have another tournament?"

"NO, YOU ARE NOT HAVING ANOTHER TOURNAMENT!" Arzoo sprang from her place and running up to her computer, she forcefully shut it down.

"Come on Zoo! We were having fun!"

"Without me, I might add." She added just for the sake of it but the truth was that she didn't mind them playing. Their talking kept her entertained enough.

"You were busy studying." Sahir pointed out.

"Like I could with the ruckus you two were creating." She scoffed. "I was painting."

"Painting? Impressive. Whatcha making?" Zak inquired as he got up from the computer table and slumped on the sofa near her bed. Sahir joined Arzoo on the bed and looked at the half-completed painting that Arzoo was working on.

"I'm trying to make a painting of my room with the sunlight streaming in through the window and highlighting the objects in its path while the rest of the room is immersed in semi-darkness." Arzoo explained to Zak with an offhanded shrug. "Noted it this morning... There was something about it that was so hopeful; it motivated me to start on this one. Now I'm just hoping that it captures the essence of that inspiring image I have in mind."

Sahir nodded in answer before commenting admiringly. "Looks promising."

"It isn't even completed Sahir and you're already finding it promising, yeah right." Arzoo answered sarcastically, thinking that he was joking.

"No Zoo, I've told you before and I'm telling you this again; you're an excellent painter and the way you pay attention to details, very few can do that. I'm telling you as soon as you're done with college, apply in an arts university. I'm serious."

"You do keep stressing on that." She pointed out amusingly.

"Because I can see how good you are at it." Sahir answered exasperatedly as if it was the most obvious thing on earth. It was for this reason that he never made fun of her painting, instead he always appreciated her and deep down Arzoo knew that Sahir wouldn't have encouraged her if he didn't think she was good enough. He wasn't one of those people who shower you with false praise just to make you happy. If he was saying that she was good, then he meant it.

Sahir, meanwhile, got off the bed to show the painting to Zak. "Check this out and then tell that idiot over there, your honest views on this work of art."

Zak took the painting from his hand and gave it a long look before looking up. "My views are the same as yours."

"She's good, isn't she?"

"No, she's an idiot for not seeing how good she actually is." He corrected and Arzoo threw him a cushion from her bed, which he caught easily and questioned with a laugh. "Have you taken any drawing courses?"

"Nah, she's God-gifted." Sahir answered instead. "She paints for fun and doesn't even realize that she's better than most artists that are displayed at exhibitions."

"Sahir, do you even know for how much their paintings are sold?" Arzoo questioned him.

"You don't have to get impressed by that Zoo because their own relatives buy them. Trust me; I know how the upper class works." Zak answered instead with a scowl.

"Really?" Arzoo seemed surprised. "They do that?"

"All the time - to save each other's behind; protect their fake image in the society." He answered narrowing his eyes sullenly.

"But if I make paintings and have an exhibition, I don't even have wealthy relatives who'll buy it for my sake." Arzoo pointed out, laughing.

"You're good Zoo; you won't need any of that." Sahir answered; his expression serious as he sat on the bed beside her again. "People will want to buy your painting without even knowing you because your work will speak for itself."

"But just imagine for a minute, what if I'm not actually as good as you guys think I am and... I have my first exhibition and no one is willing to buy my paintings? What will I do then? I'll die of humiliation."

"I'll buy them then." Sahir offered straight away, his tone very much serious before impishness danced into his eyes, making him add, "Won't let you die of humiliation. There are so many better ways to die. I'd rather strangle you myself."

"You want to kill me?" Zoo gasped dramatically.

"Killing you is the last thing I'd want to do Zoo... but that doesn't mean it's not on my list." Sahir told her and Arzoo mouth hung open in surprise before letting out an indignant gasp she launched herself at him in mock-anger, her hands closing around his neck.

Sahir unfazed by her theatrics continued laughing. "Is this you trying to strangle me?" He chortled. "Not trying to belittle your spirit here but there are more chances of me dying of laughter at your pathetic attempt."

"Arghh!" Arzoo let out as she let go of his neck and sat back against the pillows again with her arms crossed on her chest, glowering at him. Sahir laughed as he rubbed his neck and commented. "Well, that tickled a little."

"I spared your life, be grateful." She snapped and Sahir and Zak started laughing even more.

"So where were we?" Zak continued conversationally as if the fake-strangling episode hadn't happened. "Yes, Sahir was going to buy your paintings, Zoo. It's a good thing you didn't kill him."

"Assuming of course, that I'll have a little money in my pocket by then." Sahir added morosely with a scowl.

"You'll have a job by then. Just make sure you don't spend the money and keep it aside for my paintings." Arzoo advised him. "You owe our friendship that much at least."

"I'll be there too." Zak volunteered happily. "Don't worry, Zoo. Sahir and I will be the ones who will be calling out the prices-"

"-Along with numerous others, I assure you-" Sahir chipped in pointedly with a smile in Arzoo's direction.

"-And you can count on that!" Zak completed and Arzoo smiled blessedly as she looked from one face to the other, her anger forgotten.

"Do you both promise?"

"Yes." Came the reply in a chorus.

"Okay... I'll think about it." She said mischievously to irk Sahir and as expected, he scowled.

"You're such a drama queen, you love painting yourself. Stop pretending like we're forcing you or something." He said and Arzoo burst out laughing. He was right of course and she was right in assuming that he would get annoyed.

"Hey Zoo, have you tried sketches?" He inquired suddenly.

"I have but I'm not that good at them yet. I find them difficult for some reason." She made a face before smiling slyly, she asked. "Why? Want me to draw yours?"

"Wouldn't complain if you do." He laughed.

"Stop, did you hear that? What was that? Thunder?" Zak intruded them and they both looked at him in confusion. He appeared to be listening intently to something before he waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, it was just my stomach rumbling."

Arzoo and Sahir burst out laughing and Arzoo looked at the watch. "It's almost one. What do you suggest we have for lunch? I'm not a cooking expert so please keep your expectations confined to somewhere between sandwiches and Magi noodles. It's the best I can do." She answered with a helpless shrug. Daadi was still confined to bed and she couldn't cook. As a result, she was managing the best she could, mostly living off sandwiches and noodles herself and was thus offering the duo the same.

"Oh I'm such an idiot, I should've asked the cook to pack lunch for us as well." Zak smacked a hand on this forehead in dismay. Daadi's lunch for today had already been arranged. Zak had arrived this morning like an angel in disguise, bearing a low-diet food for Daadi along with cartons of sugar-free juices of different flavors. Arzoo failed to understand where this rich boy had learned such perfect manners from, given the fact that his parents barely gave him time.

"I can make pasta, if you guys want." Sahir suggested and Arzoo's eyes lit up excitedly.

"Really?"

"Yeah I saw Chachi making it for guests once. It got finished before I could have any so the next time they were out, I made it for myself." He revealed simply. "That is the only time I can have something good you know, when they are out for dinners. Something I love eating... I have to make it myself but I don't mind."

"Where'd you get the recipe from?" Arzoo asked with interest.

"The same place Chachi got it from; her cookbook." He grinned. "And good for you, I remember it too."

"Okay. What are we having then, chef?" Zak asked with a smirk.

"Pasta with chicken and white sauce."

Sounds good to me."

"Are you kidding? It sounds delicious!" Arzoo rectified Zak instantly.

Sahir smiled at her enthusiasm. "But the chef will need some assistance so you two will help me with-"

"Cutting stuff. You hate that part; you've mentioned it before. Don't worry, I'll help you." Arzoo volunteered instantly standing up before she turned to Sahir with an innocent look etched on her face and mischief twinkling in her eyes. "Sahir, don't you think it's better we keep Zak away from all this dangerous stuff such as knives and oh," She gasped dramatically, "stove fire. The poor guy hasn't set a foot in the kitchen before. It probably looks like a death trap to him."

"I will pretend I did not hear that!" Zak let out crossly and they all started laughing as they made their way to the kitchen.

***

"That was the best meal I've had in the last few days!" Arzoo commented delightfully, as she scraped her plate clean. "Absolutely delicious, don't you agree, Zak?"

"Totally... except I thought delicious meant something tasty." He commented with a frown and Sahir whacked him on the head making him break his pretense and start laughing. "Kidding! Honestly man, that was... that was something. I agree with Zoo, one of the best pastas I've ever had." He commented sincerely.

Sahir smiled smugly as he imitated a bow on the table. "Thank you. Thank you!"

"Your wife is going to be one lucky woman. She wouldn't have to cook." Zak said before in an undertone, he mumbled loud enough for only Arzoo to hear, "Not that she knows how to."

Arzoo jabbed her elbow at him as inconspicuously as she could, taking care that Sahir didn't see her and tried to change the topic as she spoke loudly in a flustered tone. "I was thinking I haven't stepped outside this house in so long."

"Beta go, have fun outside with Sahir and Zak. I'll be fine." Daadi's warm voice floated from her adjacent room and Arzoo bit her tongue. She had said that without thinking only to change the topic, she wasn't complaining about it or anything as Daadi had mistaken her for. She stood up from the table and went to Daadi's room.

"Daadi, I said it just like that. I don't mind staying at home. Plus I have to study." She explained as she sat down next to her Daadi, hugging her sideways. Just then, she saw Sahir and Zak entering the room as well and jerked her neck in their direction. "Daadi, I'm never inviting these two again to my house together. They didn't study a word! And on top of that, didn't let me either." She complained playfully.

"Ahh I think this would be an appropriate moment to point out that you didn't invite us over, we self-invited ourselves to your house." Sahir told her amusingly.

"But I opened the door, right? I could have left you outside."

"Like Daadi would have let that happen. Daadi loves us too, you know. Maybe not the same as you..." Sahir trailed off and on seeing the gloating look on her face, he burst her bubble, "but definitely a lot more." He completed his sentence jokingly.

"She loves me the most! She's my Daadi, okay?"

"You can't hold that against her, Zoo. She didn't have a choice." He sniggered and before Arzoo could answer back, Zak took over.

"And what do you mean we didn't let you study?" He asked her in good humor before turning to her Daadi, he continued animatedly. "Daadi, Sahir and I left her alone for more than an hour and when we came to check how much preparation she had done, can you guess what we found her doing? Painting! The exams are hovering over this girl's head and she's busy making paintings of her messy room." It took all of Zak's strength to bit back the smile that was threatening to curve his lips upwards.

Arzoo gasped. "You're saying that? You spent the whole time, playing computer games."

"At least I'm not complaining about it now, am I?" He asked cheekily while Sahir nodded, suppressing his smile.

Arzoo narrowed her eyes at them both before addressing a nodding Sahir in annoyance. "Why don't you agree with me for a change?"

"Because then we'd both be wrong and I'd hate for that to happen." He answered with a straight face and the dam broke as both the boys started laughing.

"Daadi! Look at them!" Arzoo whined as she hid her face in her Daadi's shoulder.

"You both, stop teaming up against my granddaughter. She's one in a million." Daadi chided them good-humoredly as she kissed Arzoo on her forehead who smiled smugly at the boys.

"Yes Daadi, we know wonders like her don't happen every day." Sahir agreed nodding solemnly, his eyes glinting with humor.

"Wonder? I'd call her a phenomenon." Zak chipped in.

"Daadi! They're making fun of me again!" Arzoo whined like a child. She liked to do that in the company of her grandmother and the boys. Had Daadi not been there, she would've wittingly answered them herself but with her Daadi, she liked to complain as if she was an innocent child and then asked Daadi to scold them. Of course, Daadi knew her dramatics and took it all in good humor, playing along with her.

"Are we making fun of her Zak?" Sahir turned to Zak with an innocent expression.

"No of course not. We're ah... discussing her uniqueness."

"Exactly." Sahir agreed enthusiastically. "We're discussing that no one find Arzoo's kind of uniqueness anywhere these days."

"Yeah, I've heard science has progressed so much that this kind of special uniqueness can even be treated." Zak's manner was of someone who seemed in awe of scientific advancements. Sahir tried to turn his laughter into a coughing spell.

"Daadi!" Arzoo whined loudly. "They're making fun of me and you're sitting here shaking with laughter. You should scold them."

Daadi tried to rein her laughter in at the boy's leg pulling and turned to Arzoo, addressing her as one would address a child. "Okay tell me, what do you want your Daadi to do with them?"

"Pull their ears." Arzoo suggested instantly, a wicked smile lighting her face instantly.

"But that will require running after them to get a hold of them and I can't run right now." Daadi pointed out the setbacks of the suggested punishment.

"Daadi, you don't have to worry about that-" Sahir let out.

"-yeah, our ears are at your service." Zak completed the sentence and both the boys approached Daadi from either side of the bed, their heads titled for Daadi to grab a hold of their ears but Daadi was too busy laughing at their antics to actually do anything. Arzoo saw this as an opportunity and jumped at it, taking both the boys by the ears herself.

"Ouch!"

"Let go, Zoo!"

"Say you're sorry!"

"For speaking the truth? Never!"

Daadi took this moment to intervene and rescued the boy's ears from Arzoo's hold who wore a smile of complete satisfaction with the world at present. The boys glared at her as they rubbed her ears and she smiled wickedly at them before turning to her Daadi.

"See Daadi, this is how you pull ears. You pull them so lightly that they offer their ears to you themselves."

"You do realize that either one of us can sling you over his shoulder, carry you to the roof and throw you down, don't you?" Sahir grumbled making them all laugh.

"Daadi he's blackmailing me." Arzoo reverted to her role of an innocent child.

"Beta, looking at his red ear, I really can't ask him to stop." Daadi told her helplessly and they all started laughing again. Arzoo gave her Daadi a joyful side-hug.

"Now listen to your Daadi and go outside with your friends for a while. The change of air will do you some good and you'll even study better. Your spirits have been low." Daadi told her as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"No they're not." Arzoo replied slowly as she cuddled into her grandmother while Zak and Sahir shook their heads simultaneously, their expressions comical.

Daadi laughed as she clarified. "Not now with these two here; when you're alone."

"I'm not leaving you alone, Daadi."

"I'll be fine, Arzoo. Nothing has happened to be since the operation, right? That means I'm in perfect health." Daadi reasoned but Arzoo shook her head stubbornly.

"Sahir and Zak, make her understand." Daadi turned to the boys. "She has been so worried these last few days, I want her to step outside this house and enjoy. It'll do her good."

"Daadi, even I don't like the thought of leaving you alone." Sahir answered and Arzoo almost jumped with joy.

"Finally the boy agrees with me!" She let out dramatically.

Daadi sighed as she shook her head. "You children are worrying for no reason. I'm absolutely fine."

"We know that but the thought of leaving you alone is not settling well with us. If only we had someone to stay with you-"

"That can be arranged." Zak let out with sudden excitement. "I can ask my driver to bring Mrs. Mushtaq over."

"Who?" Arzoo inquired aloud while the other two looked at Zak with questioning eyes.

"My governess. She's such a sweet lady, Daadi. You'll love her company." Zak answered cheerfully. It always surprised Sahir and Arzoo that he spoke more warmly of his governess than of his parents. It was obvious that he was closer to her and held her in great esteem.

"But beta, I can't let you trouble her like that." Daadi let out slightly disapprovingly.

"Trouble Daadi? She would love to have someone to spend time with. I always feel bad that she has to stay at home all day... By having her over, you'll be doing her a favor, trust me... And you'll have a mature person to talk to, I'm sure you get tired of speaking to Zoo all day long." He added mischievously and Daadi's resigning nod of approval amidst Arzoo's indignant 'hey!' sealed the matter.

***

"Told you they'd hit off." Zak commented as they left the house together on the arrival of immaculately dressed Mrs. Mushtaq. The two older women had indulged themselves in a lively conversation in no time, granting the teenage trio the liberty to go outside without worrying.

"Hey Zoo, whose cycle is this?" Sahir asked as he spotted a bicycle in her garden.

"Our gardener's. He had to go on a holiday so he parked it here. Said its safer here than at his empty house." Arzoo explained with a shrug.

"Can I have a ride on it?" He asked.

"Sure. Just make sure you don't damage it or anything."

"Won't even think of it." He answered as he took it off its stand and stirred it out of the front gate. Just as he seated himself on it and was about to place his feet on the pedal, Zak leapt and sat behind him on the carrier.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Sahir questioned, his tone amused.

"You're giving me a ride." Zak informed him cheekily. "The last time I sat on a bicycle was probably 6, 7 years ago. Boy, that's long!"

"Oooh I want a ride too!" Arzoo ran up to the bicycle, clasping her hand in glee.

"Sorry for bursting your bubble Zoo but this cycle is not a truck in disguise. It cannot seat us all!" Sahir told them both exasperatedly.

"Leave that to us. You don't have to worry about that." Zak got off from his place, strode up to the front of the cycle, lifted Sahir's right of the handle and pointed at the small seat in front of him. "Here Zoo, sit here."

"This seat is for kids!" Sahir protested halfheartedly as Arzoo seated herself quite happily there.

"Exactly Uncle, me and Arzoo are kids. About you, we can't be sure." Zak made fun of him as he seated himself at the back again.

"Okay here we go, guys!" Sahir let out slightly nervously as he pushed the pedal and the cycle moved forwards accompanied by Arzoo's shriek and Zak's whoop of joy.

"Umm... are we trying to curve a serpentine trail on the road or something?" Zak asked a few seconds later seeing how Sahir seemed to have trouble moving the bike in a straight line with the result that the bike wobbled shakily left and right alternatively.

"Shut up, I'm concentrating."

"Who needs concentration to ride a bike?"

"I do." Sahir told him annoyingly. "Arzoo, can you move your legs a little out of the way?"

"I have a better idea. Let me chop them off and hand them to Zak at the back." She told him sarcastically while Zak roared with laughter. There was no place for her to put her legs and every time Sahir pedaled, his right leg brushed against both her knees, making her feel bashful and happy at the same time.

"You both weigh so much." Sahir complained as he pedaled with all his might.

"Not as much as you do." Arzoo told him annoyingly. "I think my head has started spinning. We're not moving forward at each pedal as much as we're moving sideways."

"At least we're moving!" Sahir retorted.

"I can walk faster than this."

"Hate to switch sides like this man, but she's right." Zak couldn't resist speaking.

"You want fast? Here comes a slope!" Sahir let out just as they reached an empty road stretching into a long slope downwards. "By the way guys, I have to make a confession here." The bike hit the decent and began gathering speed and Sahir chose this moment to make the revelation. "I HAVEN'T RIDDEN A BIKE IN 6 YEARS!"

"WHAT?" Arzoo and Zak screamed together as they moved down the slope, gaining acceleration rapidly.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US BEFORE?" Zak shouted in panic.

"OMG! WE SHOULD'VE NEVER SAT WITH YOU!" Arzoo cried out as if cursing that fateful moment she had decided to get on the bike with him.

"I NEVER ASKED YOU TO!" Sahir shouted the reply back at them.

"MAKE THIS CYCLE STOP! I'M DAADI'S ONLY GRANDDAUGHTER! I DON'T WANT TO DIE SO YOUNG!" Arzoo pleaded loudly, her voice shrill with panic.

"STOP!" Zak commanded the bike as if it could listen to him and on finding no decrease in speed; he placed both his joggers on the road, hoping to slow them down with friction.

"SOMEBODY SAVE US!" Arzoo let out desperately and letting go of the handle, she turned to wrap her arms around Sahir's waist, burying her head in his chest, not willing to face the inevitable fall.

"I'M JUMPING OFF!" Zak shouted his decision.

"STOP! DON'T DO THAT." Sahir warned him before he began applying the brakes and in no time, the bicycle came to a halt beside the road just as the slope ended. As soon as it did, Zak and Arzoo jumped off, backing away from the dangerous vehicle and stood there taking deep breaths to calm themselves down.

After a while, they realized something was wrong. Sahir was doubled over, still sitting on the bicycle... laughing his head off?

"YOU-you were playing a trick on us?" Arzoo gasped as realization dawned on her.

"You should've heard yourself!" Sahir let out with tears of mirth streaming down his eyes. "Somebody save us! I'm Daadi's only granddaughter! I don't want to die!" He imitated her shrieks before roaring with laughter again. Arzoo stood there, too dumbstruck to move.

Zak too, was staring at Sahir with his mouth hanging open. Then without saying a word, he ran up to him and landed a few punches on his back as revenge. Sahir shielded himself with one arm but his laughter refused to subside.

Zak shook his head as he backed away, his face now stretched into an awed smile. "That was wicked man! You totally had us."

"I know!" Sahir gloated.

"You were playing it the whole time?" Arzoo questioned him as she recovered from his prank.

"Of course I was. I wouldn't have taken a risk with you two had I not known how to ride a bicycle." Sahir told her, still sniggering at his prank.

"I hate you!" She told him making him burst into laughter again.

"I never loved you in the first place, man. No hard feelings." Zak told him jokingly and Sahir gave him a thumbs-up sign as he tried to rein his laughter in.

"Okay, get on you guys and tell me where you want to go." Sahir offered as he readied the cycle once again.

"I'm not getting on that thing with you again," Arzoo told him flatly, folding her arms over her chest.

"Come on Zoo. It was a prank!" Sahir laughed. "Okay, I promise I'll ride it slowly now."

Arzoo continued glaring at him while Zak perched himself on the carrier behind Sahir again and beckoned her to join them. "Come on, Zoo. If he goes fast, I'll knock him down."

"That's an ingenious plan. The bicycle can run by itself then." Arzoo told him sarcastically.

"No smarty pants, I meant you can take the control then." Zak clarified as giving in, Arzoo went to the bicycle and in the process of getting back on the seat, managed to successfully crush Sahir's toe with her sneakers as a payback for his prank. Sahir coughed out in pain before snickering slightly.

As they started moving again, Zak addressed Sahir. "You know this place? I haven't been here before."

"I've come here once so I know the way a little."

"Where do we go from here?" Arzoo asked as they approached a fork, dividing the road into two.

"We take the turn on the right." Sahir jerked his head in that direction.

"And if we take left then?"

"Then we get lost." He rolled his eyes. Just as they reached the fork and Sahir made to turn right, Arzoo grabbed the handle and turned left.

"What are you doing?"

"WE'RE GETTINGLOST!" She answered; her voice shrill with excitement. "That's what we're going to do today!"

***

"That was so totally Zoo!" Sahir let out as he dropped himself on the grass beside the other two.

"So totally Zoo? What does that mean?" Arzoo asked as she stretched her legs before her.

"I get what you mean. And I agree, completely Zoo." Zak agreed with a smirk as he lay down on the grass, looking at the sky.

"Will you two stop talking in code-language and tell me what are you going on about?"

"Code language?" Zak scoffed and Sahir looked at her with a crooked smile as he explained. "After your little adventure of deliberately getting lost today, we've come to realize that Zoo and Crazy are synonyms and we've simply started using it in our sentences now."

"Were you always this rude or is this a result of Zak's company?" Arzoo asked with interest.

"I like to blame Zak." Sahir smirked.

"And here I blamed you for my rudeness." Zak spoke up making Sahir laugh.

"But you guys can't deny it was fun." Arzoo told them smugly. They had wandered lost for about 45 minutes, bickering, laughing and talking before taking help from some of random strangers, they had strayed back to a road Zak knew and from their they had come to the lakeside. Now they were resting after their adventurous day, feeling alive in a way, they hadn't experienced for quite some time.

"I'm so tired, I could sleep here." Sahir let out, laying back with his arms folded under his head.

"Oldie!"

"Hey, I was the one who had to pedal. You two sat and enjoyed the ride." He retorted.

"Can't argue on that." Zak gave up.

"We should get back now. We've been outside for quite some time." Arzoo reminded them.

"We'll leave in a while. Let us take rest for some time." Sahir muttered with his eyes closed.

Arzoo nodded in answer before realizing that both of them had closed their eyes, she uttered an okay aloud and told them. "I'm going to sit beside the lake."

"Don't go too far." Sahir warned instantly and Arzoo smiled warmly at his concern before she made her way near the still water and chose a huge stone near it to sit on. She remembered the time Sahir had taught her to throw skipping stones and she randomly chose a stone to throw in the water. It drowned on the first bounce. She sat there for some time, tossing stones in the water, hoping that one would manage to skip.

"If someone asks please don't ever reveal I once tried teaching you how to throw skipping stones." She heard Sahir say in an imploring voice behind her and laughed out loud as she turned towards him. She was still so pathetic at that it he refused to be called her teacher.

"I think Zak has actually dozed off." He told her amusingly as he came to stand by her side.

"I don't blame him; this really is a peaceful place." She answered with a serene smile.

"Should we wake him up? We should go now." Sahir suggested.

"Sure." She got off the stone and was about to head in Zak's direction when Sahir caught her wrist and grinned mischievously. "Scoop some water in your hands; we'll empty it on Zak's face."

"You evil person!"

"Don't you want to do it?"

"Of course I do." She answered instantly with a laugh and together they scooped water in their hands and going up to Zak, splattered it right on his face making him wake up with a start and look around widely. "Wha-what's going on?"

"It's raining Zak! Come on! We have to go!" Sahir told him urgently, offering him a hand and Zak took it instantly, propelling himself to his feet. It was when he stood up and saw Arzoo laughing hysterically that he realized that they were joking. Yelling their names indignantly, he began chasing them and managed to catch Arzoo, before dragging her to the lake by her arm, he pretended that he was going to push her in the water.

"Sahir!" She called out for help amidst her giggles. "He'll throw me in the lake. I don't know how to swim!"

"Don't worry! I'll jump in after you!"

"You don't know to swim either!" She reminded him.

"So what? I know how to drown!" He answered cheekily without thinking.

"You'll drown for her? How sweet." Zak stopped towing Zoya along as he turned to look at Sahir with an impressed smile. He shook his head, mumbling to himself in an undertone, "If this is not a love story in making, I don't know what is."

"I meant that we'll both drown and leave you to spend your life as a loner." Sahir looked quite flustered as he tried to give an explanation.

"Yeah like I'm incapable of making any new friends, right?" Zak grumbled.

"You'll never find as awesome people as us and you know it."

"Okay, I'll leave you awesome people here to list out all your qualities. I'm taking the cycle and going home." He started sprinting in the direction of the bike and Arzoo and Sahir ran after him. If he took the bike, they'd have to walk home.

"I thought you forgot how to ride a bike over all these years!" Arzoo shouted at him in amusement.

"You can never forget how to ride bicycles once you learn them properly." Zak told her as he swung his leg over the bike and seated himself on it.

"Zak please! Don't go! You won't be a gentleman if you let a lady walk!"

"I don't see any lady here!" Zak teased her as he began cycling ahead of them.

"Wait Zak, if you let me on, you get a free ride back home in the backseat. No pedaling, no exercise!"Sahir pointed out the advantage and Zak slowed down finally and allowed them to get on with him in the same manner as before. The trio set for home just as the sun began its descent downwards, their bodies drained of energy but their hearts rich, cherishing a day's worth of happiness and memories.

***

PLEASE don't forget to leave your reviews behind! Only a page of comments is very discouraging after I give you 12, 13 pages long updates. This one was 15 pages! 😭 Don't make me feel like I'm an idiot for writing here 😭

Love,

Fari ❤️

Salaam Fari... 😊
Thanx alot for the P.M... 😛
This was an entertaining & well written part... 👏 ⭐️
You know it was funny that how they Zak & Sahir were Comparing & Making logics out of Studies & Girlfriend... 😆 well how do you come up with such ideas...they were so engrossed and so idoitically right about that but still it is weirdly funny... 😆
Daadi & Aarzoo's scene was heart warming...and it is somewhat right that however smart Aarzoo is she really needs that care and protection and pampering from Daadi in these times...i totally liked that part... 😃
The Cycle ride part was funny and even that scene where SaAz threw water on Zak's face and then told him its raining...😆 very funny part...
Zak pointing out to both of them about their unknown to them but visible to everyone kind of Bond...which is more than just friendship...
Hope they realise that soon..
Brilliant part...
Continue soon.. 😃

very beautiful update

Fari! I love this story! The relationships that you have created are just gorgeous! Please don't be discouraged. What you have written is amazing and I always look forward to reading your updates :)