"How is she?"

"Same." Zoya took a deep breath to fight off the tightness in her chest.

Saqib could see the red rimming in her eyes and coloring her nose.

"I miss her. I miss the old her, whose presence once brighten the whole house." She sniffled. Tears streaked her beautiful face. Her lower lip trembled.

He heard the chair move, and a second later, Ayaan's arms came around her waist. She didn't say anything, just pressed herself against his back and held on, seeking the comfort of his body against hers.

He pull her closer to him and rested his chin on the top of her head.

Saqib wonders randomly, 'Will his and Arzoo relationship in the future would be just like them?'

'Insha'Allah', His heart replies.

"Khuda Aksar Naik Bando Ko Apne Paas Jald Bula Leta Hai. Aur Imran Ussi Ek Bando Mai Se Ek Tha..." Ayaan said, "Umar Hi Kya Thi Us Bacche Ki. Bohot Jald Chale Gaya."

"Beshak, Chachu." Saqib agreed, sipping the remaining tea and placing it on the table. He looked around the table at their concerned faces regarding Arzoo.

"She need us most right now." Ayaan said mostly to Zoya and Saqib, who nodded. "We need to get her out of her room. We need to distract her, to get her mind off him and lessen the pain."

All eyes landed on Zaan who appears carrying several bags on both of his hands. In the early twenties, Zaan Ayaan Khan looked exactly like his father Ayaan Khan.

He has his father's features. He take after his father in every way, whether it be their singing talent or possessiveness which has made them closer than most fathers and sons. Much closer. Like Buddies. That's the reason why he a well known singer, who mostly sings for Bollywood movies.

"Itni shopping kis cheez ki, Zaan?" Saqib ask, eying the bags in his hand.

"Woh.... Baji ke liye Ice creams aur unki pasandeeda novels laya tha. Maybe that will make her feel better."

"Hayyye Mera Shehzada." Said Zoya with adoration in her eyes.

"Where is she?" Zaan inquired.

"Like usual in her room. She ain't coming out of her room. She hasn't even eaten something from yesterday."

It's been three months, since Imran death. But Arzoo had stopped talking to everyone, she usually locked herself in her room, not ready to go outside and face the world.

Zaan went towards his sister room, but seeing her praying on the Jahnamaz. He left the shopping bags on the bag and leaves towards his own room.

But not before praying for her sister, 'Ya Allah, Meri Zoo Appi Ko Sukoon and Khushiyan Ata Farma'.

'Aameen'.

"Chachi, Aap mujhe khaana de de. I will make sure she ate it." Saqib said to Zoya, who nods.

With a plate full of Dal Gosh, he entered her room. His heart nearly stopped. He kept the plate full of Dal Gosh near the table beside the bed.

His stomach dropped, and a wave of nausea crested as every muscle in his body tightened.

A dupatta was wrapped around her head as she was sitting on the Jahnamaz. Her cheeks were covered with fresh wet tears, while her hands spread in dua.

He stand beside the wall, with his arms crossed around his chest, as his eyes bores into her back. Wondering how she was managing all this pain.

When Arzoo was done praying namaz, she stand up, folded the Jahnamaz and kept in the drawer. Just then her brown teary lifeless eyes met his dark one's.

"Saqib tum yaha." She wipes away the tears that was framing her cheeks with her dupatta.

She untie the dupatta and put it on one of her shoulders.

She loosens her hair from the ponytail and brush her fingers through her hair, as she felt a headache coming. The silky brown strands cover the side of her face.

He sat on the corner of the bed and patted the space beside him. "Come here, Arzoo." His tone soft but still commanding.

With small steps, she walk towards her bed and sat beside him.

Her eyes went towards the several bags laying on her bed and she couldn't help but ask in a weak voice. "You bought this?"

"No. Zaan bought this for you, thinking may be this might lift your mood."

She picked up the bags and look in it. To find her favourite novels and Ice-cream in it. This action of her brother warms her heart. And she couldn't help but internally whispers, "Mera Pyara Kaddu."

"Subah se Kuch Khaaya Tumne?" Saqib asked, breaking her thoughts.

To which she shake her head in no.

"Kab Tak Aesa Chalega, Arzoo?" Taking her soft hand in his big rough ones, he said, "Tum khudko hi nahi balki hum sabko aur Imran ko bhi takleef dere ho."

"It's been three long months. I know it's not easy for you. But you need to get out of your shell," He roams his eyes around, "You need to get out of this room."

"But first you need to eat. Tumhe pata hai Chachi ne kya banaya khaane mai?" His hands left hers and pick up the plate and he smirks, "Your favourite, Dal Gosh!!"

"Aqib, mujhe bhook nahi hai." She lied.

"Par mujhe lagi hai. Aur agar tum nahi khaogi. Toh mai kaese kha sakta hu!!" Saqib exclaimed. "Par chodo zyada se zyada kya ho jaayega. Mar hi jaaunga na mai-------"

He didn't get to complete his sentence, because the very next moment her soft hands were placed on his soft, kissable lips.

"Imran ko toh kho Chuki hoon. Ab tumko nahi Kho sakti main, Saqib." Arzoo meets his gaze as huge tears spill out of her eyes. "Mar Jaaungi main."

The moment her soft hand met his lips an electric spark zapping up his arm.

Arzoo must've felt it, too, because her eyes snap up to his. She tries to hide her reaction by looking away. Then she takes a step backward, putting some space between them.

"I miss him." Her hands went towards her chest. "To the extent that my heart hearts."

Saqib sat quietly, listening her open her heart to him. He was listener, and she was a talker, that's why their friendship lasted so long and was so strong.

She inhale. She looks up at him with tears in her eyes, "Tumhe pata hai Imran ne mujhe kaese propose kiya tha?"

To which Saqib shook his head, despite the tears in her eyes, a small smile took over her face, and it makes his own mouth curve up.

Her first smile after Imran's death.

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[PAST......................,]

Arzoo was seated on her seat ready to go to her country. Her eyes darted on her mobile to see only five minutes were left for the flight to take over. She glanced at the old lady who sat beside her on the window seat.

"Good morning, Everyone."

Her head snapped upwards towards the voice, to find Imran standing at the front, his face so serious her stomach dropped. Unlike his casual outfit, he was wearing his pilot uniform which actually made him look more handsome.

"As you can see from my uniform, I am the pilot that will be flying this plane." Clearing his throat, he continues. "There is someone sitting among you is very important to me. Someone who I fell in love with at the very first sight."

She felt all the people sitting on the plane surrounding her whistles and cheer, they all looked so happy, like they were anticipating something.

Her heart instantly begins to beat faster, leaving her breathless.

"But she's leaving for India and I can't let her do that. Not before telling her how much she means to me."

"Arzoo." His eyes met hers, as he started coming closer, until he was in front of her. She swallow hard on the nervousness spinning in her stomach and unconsciously stood up, making the people around her widen their eyes. She didn't notice until now that he had a box in his hand. A small, black velvet box.

Ya Allah.

"I clearly remember the first time we met. Inside a bookstore, this pretty girl was standing beside me lost in her thought." A laugh escapes his lips. "And she turned out to be my favourite author."

There was a ripple of laughter and Arzoo smile widens as the moment they met flashed in front of her eyes.

His words make her eyes snap up to his, which has him saying,

"I love you, Arzoo."

"Will you make me the happiest man alive by marrying me?"

The tears were threatening to spill over, and there was nothing she could do to stop them. He opened the box, as her blurry eyes met his.

Her hands flew to her mouth. Her smile got impossibly brighter, and her eyes filled with tears. She felt like she couldn't quite catch her breath.

"Yes." She managed to whisper, her cheeks warm to soft pink.

A loud cheering and whistles blooms on the plane, while the lady around Arzoo was capturing the whole thing on her mobile. With a big smile on her face, and a blessing from her heart.

Slipping the ring on her slim finger, he whispers, "I love you so much, Arzoo."

***

AUTHOR'S NOTE:-

So how was the proposal?

I think I am in love with Imran!!!