HKKMJNM: Part 24a, Pg 145 - Page 73

Hammad - Nikhat friendship is brewing but what about Najma yaar??😕

Thankyou so much everyone for your kind feedback. This is what keeps me going.

urvisaini: I tried to fulfill your wish. Hope you like it.

The rest of you, don't forget to comment. I'll proofread after my exams are over. Just had this urge to write today so, without further ado, here is the next update.

Part 23

"Najmaaa" Zoya called her about the fifth time in less than a minute.

"Here I am. What's the hurry though? It's not like you are missing a train and the marketplace is not going anywhere."

Najma spoke as she sat down on the passenger seat beside her.

Instead of saying anything to her, Zoya turned on the music and started singing along loudly.

Najma kept looking at her, confused, for some time and then asked.

"What exactly is the happy occasion? Care to share."

Keeping her eyes on the road, Zoya replied.

"Can't a girl be happy just by the way?"

N: "A girl can be but Zoya Faruqi can't."

Z: "Why? What's wrong with me?"

N: "Everything honey."

Z: "Don't you forget you are at my expense right now. I can drop you anywhere, penniless, and your hero is not here to rescue you either."

A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she tried to ignore Zoya's comment about her "hero".

N: "Well I am not penniless to start with and I know my way around pretty good. So I am no damsel in distress."

"Zoya, can you please just pick one of them and move. You have already tried about ten dresses and checked the whole mall. It's just plain old boring Eid that comes twice a year. Nothing special. Enlighten me if there is anything."

Najma moaned, bored and already regretting her decision to accompany her for shopping.

"But all five of them look pretty good and I have tried eleven dresses to be precise but none of them was up to the mark."

Holding one frock against herself, as she checked it in a giant size mirror, she spoke nonchalantly.

"Eid in itself is a pretty special occasion. Isn't it?"

N: "Urgh! I give up. I am sitting outside, on that bench. Tell me when you are done."

Z: "But... wait. Who's going to give me a second opinion?"

To Najma's utmost relief, she finally selected one dress and came out. Their next stop was the shoe shop. There too, Najma cursed Zoya while she took her sweet time selecting shoes for herself.

"She is never this fussy normally. What the hell has gotten into her today?"

Najma thought to herself as she saw Zoya rejecting the fifth pair she had almost selected.

Zoya looked at Najma feeling a little guilty as she tried to keep up pace with her. Clearly she was exhausted.

Z: "Come. Let's go to McDonald's. I'll pay. I know you are tired and it's all because of me."

N: "Well, it is due to you but I am not going to McDonald's. I am dieting, remember? We can go to Subway though."

Z: "And that won't ruin your diet plan. Just say you like it better."

N: "No there is a difference actually. At least at Subway you can actually see what you are eating as they make it in front of you."

Z: "Okay fine! I lose. Now let's go."

On their way back home, Zoya stopped the car on the road side and jumped out. When she came back she had two mehndi cones in her hands which she put in Najma's lap before starting the car again.

N: "Zoya, what is wrong with you? Who applies mehndi on Eid-ul-Adha?"

Z: "I do. Last time I checked it was completely legal."

N: "Well you don't. For the last three years, I have never seen you doing so."

Z: "Stop interrogating me Tamater. I do whenever I feel like it."

N: "Fine. Who am I to argue with you anyways?"

Zoya bent down on her knees and placed the water hose, she was watering the plants with on the ground, to fix her hair. Suddenly she felt something cold and wet on her head. She turned around on reflex and shrieked in delight. She stood up and threw her arms around him to hug him.

Z: "Hammad when did you come back?"

Slowly and stealthily, making sure that he didn't notice she pried the pipe out of his hand and drenched his back by putting it into his collar. As soon as he felt it, Hammad jerked backwards.

H: "Zoe, what the..."

Z: "Tit for tat. So have you met everyone?"

He bent down to pick up his bag from the floor and replied.

"Just came in, saw you here and couldn't resist the urge."

Z: "You are one annoying big monster."

H: "You are no less. Let's go inside. Now that I am all wet, thanks to you, I am feeling cold."

Z: "I am not dry either, thanks to you."

As they entered the living room, Zoya noticed that he was looking around as if searching for someone.

Z: "Who are you searching?"

H: "Huh... Ammi."

Zoya gave him a knowing smile and called Sarah from her bedroom. After exchanging pleasantries, Sarah went to the kitchen. As she saw him looking around again, Zoya said.

"Hamza is sleeping and Baba is out of town in case you are looking for any of them now."

H: "And... umm..err."

Z: "And...umm...err, that's all."

H: "Where is that friend of yours?"

Z: "Gone for lunch with a new man in her life."

H: "WHAT?"

Z: "Why are you getting so surprised?"

H: "No I mean, she can't, why would she, I mean."

Z: "It's so much fun to see you flustered. She made up with her Dad and she has gone somewhere with him. Don't worry, you are "the man" in her life."

H: "No I mean...Okay."

Z: "Is that a blush? OMG you are blushing Maddy."

H: "Don't call me Maddy and I am not blushing. I am a boy."

Z: "I just thought, why the hell did I stop calling you that? Maddy suits you and blush, my my, you just did."

H: "No I didn't."

Z: "You did."

H: "I didn't."

Z: "You did."

H: "Okay fine. What if I did?"

Z: "You are in Lauoorve. OMG Mr. Maddy is mad in lauoorve."

H: "Shut up Zoe."

Z: "You didn't negate whatever I said. So when are you planning to tell her?"

H: "I don't know."

Z: "Oh come on. Let me tell you, the fire is burning there with full intensity as well."

H: "You mean, OMG Zoe, I am so happy."

He moved ahead and enveloped her in a hug while she laughed at his response.

Z: "You must be tired and you are still wet. Go change."

Right at that moment Najma entered. When she saw him, she was clearly happy. She was about move ahead to greet him but her expressions suddenly changed to indifference as Haseena's words came to her mind. Hammad passed her a smile and started to move towards her but she just said and formal "hello" and turned on her heels to go to her room.

H: "What happened to her?"

Z: "Let her be. She has been having these mood swings for quite some time now since she started talking to Rashid uncle."

H: "Would it be okay if I go and ask her?"

Z: "Go ahead. Why are you asking me?"

Just when he was about to go upstairs, Sarah called him from the kitchen.

S: "Hammad, go with Ramu Kaka to the Mandi to buy a goat for Qurbani."

H: "But Ammi I just came back after a long journey."

S: "An hour long flight is no journey Hammad. Don't whine. Just go he is waiting."

H: "Okay."

When Hammad came back after buying the sacrificial goat, he saw Najma and Zoya sitting on the bench in the lawn with their backs towards him. Smiling mischievously he moved towards them with the goat and pushed it a little towards Najma.

Najma felt something wet and sticky on her hand. As she turned around, she saw a goat way too close for comfort near herself. She shrieked, got up from the bench and started running around the lawn cursing Hammad along. The goat trotted after her as she ran. Najma screamed some more and increased her pace. Hammad and Zoya laughed their heads off seeing her state. Finally Hammad decided to end her ordeal by taking hold of the goat. Najma went inside to wash her hands, still shouting profanities at him while he only laughed shamelessly in response.

"Tamater yaar I said sorry. It was just a stupid prank, not big enough to make you react like this. At least talk to me."

Hammad apologized to her for the nth time that day. Although she had said, she was not bothered about the prank; she had not talked to him properly and had been avoiding him all day. This was absolutely not acceptable for him so he decided to keep bugging her till she forgave him for the "prank".

H: "I am sorry."

N: "It's okay. Stop following me now."

H: "I won't till you forgive me for... I don't even remember now what. Tamater please don't be angry."

N: "I am not angry with you. Besides there must be some relation for one to be angry with another person. When there is absolutely no relation between us other than you being my best friend's brother, why would I be angry with you?"

H: "What? You are not just my sister's best friend for me. I know I am not just your best friend's brother either."

He spoke angrily as he cornered her against the wall.

"It's much more than that. Can't you see?"

Najma averted her gaze and whispered.

"Let me go. What if somebody sees us?"

H: "Let them."

N: "Hammad what the hell is wrong with you. Let me go."

H: "Can't."

N: "Why?"

H: "Cuz I love you."

N: "Hamma... What?"

H: "I love you."

She looked up at him and smiled the first time during that day. Whatever Haseena or anybody else said did not matter at that moment. It was just the two of them.

He moved closer to her and intertwined her fingers with his and bringing his face near her ear whispered.

H: "I am waiting."

N: "For?"

H: "You know what."

N: "I...I..."

H: "You?"

N: "I...love, I love..."

"Ahem ahem"

Both of them were startled as they heard someone behind them.

Asad came out of the airport and contemplated whether to call anybody home to come and pick him or to go there himself and surprise them. He finally called for a cab as he had decided to surprise everyone as was his initial plan. As he entered the house he was shocked at the sight before him. Hammad was standing way too close for his comfort to Najma and they were talking in whispers. After some time Hammad moved even more close to her, held her hand and brought his face way too close to her. When he couldn't take it any longer Asad decided to interrupt their little "meeting".

When they heard him, both of them jumped away from each other, startled.

"Bhai." Najma spoke in a scared tone. Then she repeated chirpily, happy at him being there.

"Bhai." But stopped seeing his serious expressions.

Asad spoke in a somber tone.

"What exactly do you think you are doing?"

N: "Bhai...we were... we are not... it's not like what you are thinking... No it is like what you..."

"And you Hammad?" Asad started to speak as he moved towards him. "What did you think, there is no one you have to be answerable to for her?"

As Asad moved forward, Hammad moved backwards but then he thought why was he getting intimidated by him. He loved her and that was not wrong in any way. All he had to do was to stand up for their love. He stopped moving backwards and stood his ground. Asad noticed the sudden change in his demeanor and his expressions but kept moving forward nonetheless. When he was close enough, he enveloped Hammad in a hug and spoke.

"I am so happy for you both but you could have at least told me."

Najma stood there completely shocked at the sudden turn of events. When Asad called her, she mechanically moved towards him. When she hugged him, she felt a sudden surge of emotions and burst into tears.

A: "Hey Tamater, I was just joking yaar. Shsh, it's okay."

She lifted her head, wiped away her tears and replied.

"I am sorry. I don't know what came over me."

H: "No no. It's good you know. We have a pool at the back side of the house that has been dry for quite a few years now. Your tear glands are so damn efficient that the pool won't be non-functional for long now."

A: "Oye! I will break your bones every time I see tears in her eyes."

H: "God save me. Soon I'll have 412 bones instead of 206."

A: "I'll do you a favor by raising the number by eight you 420. Where is Zoya?"

H: "My my. That is why they say Allah takes care of all his beings. My sister will make you pay for every atrocity you put me through."

A: "Well that is what I am afraid of. She usually pays back with interest."

"Fu*k!" Zoya swore loudly as the wire she had been trying to bend to make a denture clasp pricked her finger. Just then, she heard a knock. She got up and opened the door of her room. Hammad stood there leaning against the wall.

Z: "What?"

H: "Nothing. Can't a brother come to his sister's room when he feels like talking to her?"

Z: "Look Hammad, I am busy right now. College work. Can we talk later?"

H: "Okay."

Z: "Okay?" Zoya was surprised as he never went away this easily. She went back to her work but he followed her inside. As soon as she sat down, he messed up her hair and then calmly walked out of her room.

"Urgh!" She got up and locked the door.

After some time he knocked again. When she opened the door, he shoved a glass in her hand and said.

H: "Water. It's good for health."

Z: "So?"

H: "Drink it."

Z: "Why are you so concerned about my health all of a sudden? Okay I will drink it but please let me finish my work."

H: "Okay."

Zoya was irritated when he knocked again after some time. She opened the door and snapped.

"What now?"

H: "Soup, Ammi made. Have some."

He extended the bowl towards her but dropped it in the process spoiling her clothes in the process.

H: "Oops! Sorry. I guess I should take it back now."

Z: "Hammad you dash... Urgh!"

She slammed the door in his face and went to the washroom to wash off the stain. Just when she came out of the washroom, she heard a knock again. Mighty irritated now, she looked around her room and saw Humza's bat lying on her study table. She picked it up and raised it, ready to hit him as soon as she opened the door.

Z: "HAMMAD I WON'T SPARE..."

Just before she was about to hit him she realized, the person standing before her was not Hammad. The bat fell from her hand on its own accord. She blinked her eyes, then rubbed them and finally poked him with her finger to make sure it really was him. He looked at her with interest when she finally exclaimed.

"Asad, Oh my God! Holy mother of surprises it's actually you."

In her excitement she raised her arms to hug him but stopped midway and extended her hand ahead to shake it. Asad who was about to reciprocate the hug was taken aback at this but shook her hand nevertheless.

Z: "So, how are you?"

A: "I am good. How are you?"

Z: "Fine. So... How's your health?"

A: "I am good. You just asked me the same question."

Z: "I did? Oh! The...the weather is good."

A: "Yah. What were you doing?"

Z: "Nothing. How was the flight?"

A: "Okay. It felt way too long as I was excited to be back home after so long."

Z: "Cool. So?"

A: "Err... you look... umm...Are you okay?"

Z: "Yah! It's that idiot Hammad's doing."

"Oh my God! Asad?" Sarah exclaimed when she saw him while passing by.

As Asad moved towards Sarah, Zoya realized that they had been holding hands, the whole time. She closed the door to change her clothes.

"He is back. Oh My God! Oh M Geee. Hammad tera satya naas. You ruined my look. What would he be thinking about me?"

She moved towards her wardrobe for a change of clothes.

"Urgh! This is too loose. I look so fat in this. Naa, the color is too bright."

She threw two new dresses on her bed which joined the already formed big pile of dresses there. Finally she decided on a simple red chooridaar. When she turned around, she herself was surprised at the mess she had created.

Sarah moved towards him and cupping his face in her palms kissed his forehead. A warm feeling fuzzed through his at this gesture of hers.

S: "You should have told me earlier that you are coming. I would have made your favourite dishes but now you'll have to wait."

"Asad bhai!" Humza ran towards him as soon as he heard his voice in the corridor. Asad picked him up in his arms.

Hm: "Did you bring my chocolates?"

A: "Ummm"

Hm: "Say yes, say yes."

A: "Yes."

Hm: "Yaaay. So where is my big bag of chocolates?"

A: "Downstairs, your big bag of chocolates is inside my small bag."

Hm: "Then let's go."

As Humza happily checked out the chocolates Asad brought for him, Hammad entered the living room.

H: "Hey dude. Should I let you in on a small secret?"

Hm: "Yes?"

H: "He didn't bring your chocolates from London. He brought them from outside the airport here in Mumbai. A typical desi trick to save money."

Hm: "No Asad Bhai? *sob* I asked you *sob* to bring chocolates from there *sob* I don't want these. You cheater."

A: "No Humza. Promise I brought them from London and Hammad you seem quite well versed with desi tricks."

S: "Hammad what is wrong with you? What do you gain by troubling him for nothing?"

H: "I don't trouble him for nothing Ammi. It's so much fun."

S: "Yeah right."

Zoya was applying mehndi on Najma's hands when she thought of an idea. Without telling her she hid Hammad's name in the design she was making on her palm. Humza who was passing by tripped over a rug and the contents of the glass he was holding fell on Najma's hand spoiling her mehndi at the point Zoya had hidden Hammad's name.

Z: "Humza! Look what you did."

N: "No problem. I'll go and wash this off. Then we can start afresh."

Z: "Okay."

The next morning, after he got ready for Eid prayer, Asad was passing by Zoya's room when he saw her getting ready. Zoya turned when she felt somebody's presence behind her. He leaned against the doorway and spoke.

"You look beautiful."

A faint reddish tinge appeared on her cheeks while she tried to clear the air which she felt had suddenly gotten thick with tension.

"What beautiful? This clip won't just stay in place. I have been trying so..."

He straightened himself and walked towards her.

A: "Let me help. Turn around."

He took the hair clip from her hand and fastened it in place as she held her hair. After he was done, his fingers accidently brushed against her neck. Her breath hitched in response. A little flustered, she turned around and thanked him.

"I am getting late for Namaz."

Feeling a little awkward he quickly moved out of her room while Zoya sat on her bed thinking about what had just transpired between them.

"Is it possible that we could be more than friends? No no no Zoe, just don't think along those lines. It would ruin the beautiful friendship you have with him. Besides what will he think about you if he ever comes to know about what you have been thinking about him?"

"Now this is not fair Tamater. Everybody, literally everybody I wished today, I have done so by hugging them. Why should I not wish you properly? I should hug you too, right?"

Hammad blabbered as he entered her room without knocking as usual.

Najma got scared at his antics and moving backwards answered while he kept on moving towards her.

"No no. I am fine."

H: "I am not."

N: "Hammad stay away. Don't touch me."

H: "It's Eid today. You know what Eid means, it means happiness. Why would you want to make me unhappy? Come here."

She stepped backwards and finally hit the wall behind her. Right at that moment Asad entered the room.

"Man!" Hammad exclaimed in an annoyed tone. "Is there some trigger in these walls? You come whenever she touches them."

A: "What are you up to anyways?"

N: "Nothing Bhai. He was just asking me about my favorite sweet."

H: "Sweet. Indeed."

A: "Uncle is calling you downstairs."

After Hammad left, Najma spoke.

"I need to tell you something. Can we talk about it now?"

A: "Oh come on Tamater. You don't need to tell me anything. I am so happy for you. He is a great guy. Actually I am getting late right now, uncle is waiting downstairs."

Precap

"Really? None of you even bothered to at least let me know about all this? There was hell lot of trust I put in you people and left her here with you. And you Najma, how could you? Have you forgotten this man here is the reason we don't have our mother with us today. He is the reason she suffered so much. How can you forget all that, leaving aside what we had to go through, and even think of starting afresh with this sorry excuse of a man?"

Asad bellowed while Najma shrunk back scared. She had never seen him so angry. Making an effort to placate him Rashid spoke.

"Asad son, just listen to me once please, I..."

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME SON. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT SO PLEASE... If you still have an ounce of self-respect which I highly doubt you do, please leave."

R: "Asad."

A: "Leave I said."

R: "Beta just once..."

A: "LEAVE! Before I say something you don't want to hear." He spoke clenching his fists, clearly making use of every bit of restraint he could exercise.

Hammad and Najma are finally together

and Asad is back

I am so happy now

Update soonish now please

luv

Mahi

i just loved asad being back 😃...the way zoya is suppressing her feelings... is just way too awesome... i adore all the convos between hammad and najma... it made ,me literally dance that asad gave his nod in a yes ... well at least love wins somewhere...although im a little scared about the precap..😲. lets c how it goes... tks for the update... and all the best for your exams...👍🏼 keep writing and updating...