I was still studying with Hafiz. lost in discussion that we totally ignored the grand father clock hanging on the left side of a decorative pastel colored wall of my bedroome
"Iman" Hafiz said, his eyes still on his notes. "Are you going to check in the basketball tournament of this year?" I finally closed my notebook and faced him fully. "Umm.... I can't say for sure, actually Shanzay(my girl closest friend) informed me yesterday that she heard some where that both the basketball & foothball tournament are going to take place simultanearly" Of course, we both knew if this happened, I will go and watch foothball match .Although I am not a personal and a crazy fan of both the games. Neverthless, Ahad is my bestfriend so....yeah! Football, then, I guess.
I turned to Haffiz, his brows knitted and lines of tension were visible on his forehead.He was still staring at notes. Maybe he wasn't able to grasp something Maybe
"Okay, I understand " Haffiz snapped and faced me fully.His face showing something I couldn't exactly tell what, but before I could interpret it, he blinked and shifted the whole mood of his and smiled softly.
"Ahad is your bestfriend ".He added slowly, if he was disappointed, he showed it clearly. "but incase his tournament delays.I will be happy if you come to watch my match, only if you are comfortable." His brows rose, when I gave a brief pause before saying. "Yeah, why not." I finally bursted "ummmm..." I searched for the right words to utter. "Haffiz, you are a great freind, neighbour and a study buddy.I am not ignoring you.you.I really enjoy your company. Its just you and Ahad engage in fighting all the time you see one another, that's why--"
I tried to explain.I didn't wanted him to feel uncomfortable or, awkward.He really has been always good to me.And a great company since the day He saved me from road sode romeos. Those boys were bullshit--I rarely curse but it's the only word that suits them, well there are more but this word suited them the best. One amongst them even grabbed me by my wrist.He moved forward I don't have an idea what he was trying to do exactly. BUT, luckily, a metal box came flying and hit his head.He started bleeding the moment it crashed on his head. But he chose not to fight.Rest if them were also cowards, they too flee away when they say Haffiz's eyes were dripping molten magma and ready to fight.I can never forget what he has done for me.
It was the day when Ahad and I had a fight and he went to his home angrily, I know he went away because I honestly can't bear his anger it's literally hell fire. And he didn't wanted to hurt me so when I said him to leave he, without arguing further left, afraid to shout at me or burst from lava inside his head, though his eyes still dropped another degree of coldness. After he left my head was clouded with anger untill I reached a spot which I no longer recognised.
Haffiz saved me there, I don't know how he followed me upto there, he said he saw me entering that colony where drunken people resided mostly so he followed me.
My friend Shanzay spilled everything to Ahad the next day.She always tries to put me and Ahad together or making a love triangle between us and Haffiz..LIKE SERIOUSLY!
Ahad has never left my side since then. Although he still feels guilty about it all and still blames himself.No matter how cranky we will get or how dangerous fight we Will have, we won't talk to each other the whole journey but he still won't leave my side.
They both are my nice friends, and I respect them both. Nevertherless, their fighting is pain in everyones---
A knock interrupted my thoughts, yanking me into the present.It followed by the opening of the door and someone' rough and soft way of approaching.I knew the moment the door opened who the person was.Same way of entering my room, same way of approaching,same scent..Damn..it can't be him, No-No-No, how is it possible, he probally would be resting in his room,no he can't be here, especially after giving me a shocking gift kinda thing today..No-No-No
I still hadn't turned my head towards the door only to confirm what deep down I already knew who it was, my back was still facing it. However, the slight hope that it isn't him after our uncomfortable meet up, died the moment I looked into Haffiz's cold eyes, his face serious. Meanwhile, I closed my eyes only to open when Haffiz said, "Didn't expected you here, this late at night. Ahad Shah"
My slight hopes turned into ashes
"Its 10 PM," Familiar rough voice echoed through the room like a deep, controlled growl that only belonged to one person.His voice was the kind that could cut through the silence with ease, the kind one couldn't ignore, even if they wanted to."the night is not late for me only, it's for you" anyways, You. Here?" Ahad asked, I turned. He ignored my gaze. Part of me was relieved that he ignored them, or I would have vaporized immediately by the fire blazing in his eyes at alarming rate. His arched brows, framing the perfect, serious statue, crarved from stone.
"I was studying with Iman.Didnt realize it was this late, thought its just 8:30 or something. By the way, why are you here?" Hafiz demanded. I knew it. They were trying to not fight in front of me, after last year's farewell party. Seriously? Skipping Hi, hello, normal chit chat and directly asking questions, indirectly to each other, why the hell are you here?
Men, they greeted each other like that. My inner voice spoke.
"Hmmm" Ahad agreed to disagree, still ignoring my gaze. Walked towards me softly yet roughly, and sat next to me closely as if protecting me from something, but still ignoring my existence. He looked up at the ceiling before dropping the first bombshell in, 'try not to fight conversation' and pull down the mask of being perfectly nice human.
"Now, as you are aware its already late at night.Could you shut the door for us before you get out?" I could practically taste the tension breaking up.
Hafiz took his bag and walked towards Ahad, stopped before him, his smile tight along with his glaring eyes. To my surprise, he didn't gave Ahad any comeback, but turned his head to me and leaned forward. I noticed Ahad's little jerk. Hafiz whispered in my ear, softly but audible for Ahad to hear what he had to say. "It's lovely as always, studving with you buddy. I will see you tomorrow
I could practicaly taste the tension forming.
Hafiz took his bag and walked towards Ahad, stopped before him, his smile tight along with his glaring eyes.
To my surprise, he didn't gave Ahad any comeback, but turned his head to me and leaned forward. I noticed Ahad's little jerk. Hafiz whispered in my ear, softly but audible for Ahad to hear what he had to say. "It's lovely as always, studying with you, buddy. I will see you tomorrow, Iman". Hafiz went back, faced Ahad once again, his face screaming the word 'satisfied' before speaking. "Sure, I will close the door for you. At least I was brought up with basic etiquette"
Hafiz gave another tight smile, but Ahad was still recovering from something. Before the said Mr. Bombsheller dropped another bomb on Hafiz's face.
"Congrats on the basic etiquette badge," Ahad smirked. "When do you plan on upgrading to common sense for leaving a lady's room before Maghrib?" Ahad snapped before he leaned forward to Hafiz. His smile was lost now, while looking up directly into Haffiz's eyes, "especially when it's my lady"
Hafiz might have lost his words because he froze, but the heat remained in his eyes. "Now put your etiquettes to good use". Ahad stood up, to his full height, and managed to look down upon Hafiz, who was only half-inch shorter than him. "Get the hell out."
Instead of doing what Ahad just demanded Hafiz took a step closer to him and whispered something, and gave him another tight smile before leaving. And yes, with basic etiquette-- I mean, umm... he closed the door before leaving.