AR FF: TMLS [Chapter 13: Pg.76] 30/7/14 - Page 31

Asad drove to the house to pick Tanveer up and go to the mall when he bumped into Kumud at the door. Kumud, who was surprised to see Asad this early asked him, "Asad, what are you doing here so early? Don't you have work?" "I have loads of work but I've got to rush because Tannu is going to kill me if we get late. It's so tiring." Asad told her, frustrated. Kumud, not feeling happy at that said, "Why can't she go alone?" "I have no idea but I've really got to rush. Bye Kumud." Asad said and gave her a peck on the cheek out of instinct and then ran inside the house. Kumud touched her cheek and smiled to herself, walking towards the hall.

Tanveer and Asad left for shopping to the mall with Asad frowning all the way to the car ride there. As soon as they entered the mall, Tanveer ran into a clothing store and started blabbering to the saleswoman. Asad took a chair nearby and sat down when he received a message. Thanking god for saving him from Tanveer, he opened the cover of his phone to see whose message it was. He immediately brightened up seeing Kumud's name flashing on the screen.

(Kumud will be represented by K and Asad by As.)

K- Enjoying your trip to the mall?

As- Yeah! Its loads of fun. (Note the sarcasm)

K- Of course you'll enjoy, your darling Tannu is there with you.

As- Wait a minute, do I smell something burning?

K- The building is burning? Get out of there now Asad. I don't care if Tanveer is stuck. Someone will save her.

As- Aw, you care so much for me Kumud. Anyway, there's no fire nearby. I just meant you were jealous.

K- I know what you meant, genius. I am not jealous, especially not of Tanveer. She's only going to stay for 2 more days anyway. What problem will I have with her? When your Tannu leaves, you have to come back to me. Hehe.

As- Oh my god! You called me a genius? I'm so honored Kumud. The Kumud Sundari actually called me, Asad Ahmed Khan a genius. I feel like I've won the Nobel Peace Prize.

K- I forgot to type Note the Sarcasm. Sorry, my fault.

As- I forgot to type it too.

Just then, Tanveer came outside the changing room and called out to Asad. Asad went to her and looked at her and asked her, "Why did you call me, Tannu? I was having such an interesting conversation." Tanveer replied, "Yeah, I could see that. Who was it anyway? Anyone I should tell Kumud about? Anyway, I just wanted to ask you how I look in the dress. Do you think it's suitable for the party Ayaan's throwing?" Asad told, "Tannu, you're going to a club, not a mosque my dear friend. Please wear something more suited to that place. Otherwise, people are going to make fun of you all day along" when he saw that she had picked up a red silk sari from the shop. Tanveer just picked up more clothes again and went back into the clothing room.

K- Got scared Asad?

K- No reply? You there?

K- Are you busy with Tanveer?

Ay- Hey bhaijaan! Do you have any idea about who I should invite for the party?

K- Asad? You there?

As to K- I'm still here. I was busy with Tanveer. She was asking me how she looked so I had gone there. You're still jealous. Haha. What is with you and Ayaan anyway? Both of you never text usually and today, both of you are texting me at the same time.

As to Ay- Yes Ayaan. You can invite Humeira and some of your college friends, don't invite anyone else okay? And by the way, how come you texted me? You usually only call me. What is with everyone today?

Ay- Okay bhaijaan. No reason. Your phone was unreachable so I texted you. Thanks a ton.

K- I am not jealous. How many times do I have to tell you? I don't even want to waste my time on that useless topic. Since you're at the mall anyway, could you get me the Take Me Home album? Since its Nuzhat's birthday and she is obsessed with One Direction, I thought I might as well gift that. I don't know what's so special in that band anyway.

Ni- Bhaijaan, could you get me Inferno by Dan Brown when you're coming? I've been waiting to buy it for quite some time now but never got the time to go to the mall so since you're there, you might as well get it.

As to K- You are jealous. Since you oh so cleverly changed the topic, okay, I'll get the album. By the way, I'll let you know, One Direction write excellent songs and they write actual meaningful lyrics without using bad words too. Why does everyone want to buy everything today?

As to Ni- Yes, sure Nikhat. Why didn't you buy it the last time we came to the mall though? It had already been released by then I guess.

K- We want to buy everything today because we're just too cool. After Ganpati Chaturthi starts, all streets will be filled so we can't step out of the house without facing traffic. Might as well buy it today.

Nu- Bhaijaan, could you get me the House of Night series. I heard it's a really good series and now I really want to read it. Just get the first book in the series. Thank you.

Tanveer called him again and again he went to see her. This time, he agreed to her choice and was happy that she was done so quickly. He checked his watch and saw that 3 hours had already passed. "Shall we leave? It's getting late. I can't believe you didn't complain even once. I should bring you shopping more often." Tanveer told him. He chuckled and said, "After today, I don't mind either. We have to go to Landmark though. My sisters and Kumud have given me a list of things to buy." They both went to Landmark and bought the respective things and then left the mall. They reached the house just in time for dinner.

Asad opened the door with his own key and they went in. Asad saw everyone sitting on the couch with their heads in their mobiles. Tanveer went to her room to keep the dress while Asad sneaked closer to them. He heard them murmuring, "Why hasn't Asad replied yet? Did Tanveer bore him so much that he dozed off?" On hearing that, he couldn't stop himself and burst out laughing. "What is going on here? Were you guys trying to prank me?" Asad asked, controlling himself in a stern voice.

"Bhaijaan, it was Kumud's idea. We didn't do anything." Nikhat told Asad, getting scared hearing his voice. Asad, not able to control himself laughed again and said, "You thought you were pranking me? You actually helped me. For the first time, I enjoyed shopping and didn't get bored. Thanks Kumud, nice plan by the way. Never thought you had it in you."

Kumud picked up a cushion from the sofa and threw it on Asad. Asad glared at her and threw it back on her. Taking advantage of the situation, all the others ran away to the stairs, not wanting to get hurt but enjoying the fight at the same time. "How dare you Asad? You are gone now!" Kumud told angrily and then picked up two cushions and threw it. Only one hit him and other went past him. "Ha! You missed. Take that!" Asad said, sticking his tongue out and threw the other two pillows. Sadly for him, both the pillows missed Kumud and she stood there smirking. "I missed one of them, you missed both Asad." Kumud told him, and then bent down to get the pillow, falling over, because of the snacks the others had dropped while texting. She landed on the sofa and Asad ran to her to help her up.

Kumud stood up with her head bent and then jerked her head up only to hit it with Asad's head. "Ouch! That hurt. Maybe you have something inside your head after all." Asad told Kumud but Kumud was already tired of the texting and the fall had heightened it. She took a step forward and then screamed due to the pain in her leg. "Kumud, are you fine?" Asad asked her immediately. She stood up again since she sat down on the sofa due to the pain and told Asad, "Yup, I'm fine." She then started walking but her face crinkled so Asad noticing her discomfort and then immediately took her in his arms and walked towards the stairs.

The others who were watching from the stairs started whistling at them when Asad said, "Stop it guys. She's hurt okay. No need to whistle. I'm just helping her." "Sure bhaijaan, sure" said all the siblings to Asad while Kumud just blushed and closed her eyes. He went into her room and kept her on the bed and told her, "Don't come down for dinner. I'll come up and give it to you."

She closed her eyes when he closed the door and thought, "Well, maybe it wasn't a bad thing that I fell after all."