"Oh! It means Haya will also get to meet them for the first time. She must be excited!" I exclaimed
                          
"Oh yes. She is. She is way too excited" He stated
                          
I chuckled at the way he said it, realising that Haya's emotions are in over drive "Will they be staying with you and Khala?" I asked
                          
"No. They have their own house here. I got it all cleaned up." 
                          
He stopped right outside my house. I unbuckled the seat belt before turning to him with a grateful smile "Thanks for the ride"
                          
"You already thanked me once and it was on my way so it's not really a problem" he said
                          
"Yeah. Ok. I will see you when i see you. Take care" I said and opening the door, i got out of the car. Closing the door behind me, i turned to look at him one more time. He smiled and mouthing a 'Bye', he drove off.
                          
I stood rooted there until his car vanished from my sight. Everytime i see him, i recall the nightmare and nightmare gives me headaches which meant Zayer gives me headaches. I don't know why i was applying some kind of Math formula over my feelings for Zayer but i just needed an answer. Answer to what i was feeling. Answer to my nightmares. Because no matter how much of headaches he gave me, he also made me feel giddy without him knowing. The more Faria told me to stay away from him and the more i tried to avoid him, the more i was pulled towards him. 
                          
But i didn't want to feel like this. I had promised never to fall for anyone ever again. I had promised never to make mistake again. Then why couldn't i stop myself from feeling this way? I don't even know the point i started having these conflicting feelings for him. And now that i realise it, it terrifies me. It terrifies me because i am afraid it's way too late for me stop them and go back.
                          
___________
                          
"Why do you look like someone a cat dragged in?" Samar asked me right after he was done scrutinizing me with his annoying brotherly gaze. I wished i could argue with him but he was most probably right so i just ignored him with an eye roll and continued devouring on my chocolate pastry which i begged my father to bring on his way to home from work.
                          
"Seriously are you alright?" He asked
                          
I groaned "I am so tired of everyone asking me this question" 
                          
"Well maybe they have a reason?" He retorted 
                          
"It's nothing." I growled
                          
He shrugged his shoulders and started digging in his own piece of pastry. Right after he finished, he glanced at me again and sighed "If there is something going on, talk to someone. Now i am not saying it should be me because let's be honest we are almost everytime ready to pound at each other's throats. But talk to someone who will understand" He said and left. I never thought my brother was capable of saying anything sensible to me. The exchange of words between us mostly includes only swear words.
                          
I walked to the kitchen to see his plate unwashed in sink. I did the dishes and retired to bed, not before deciding to act on Samar's advice. God! I never thought i would say this.
                          
I jerked up straight on my bed as i was hit with the nightmare again. I was panting and sweat dripped from my whole body. I groped for my phone to check the time. I squinted my eyes shut as it's light hit my eyes. I blinked several times before my eyes settled on it again.
                          
2:00 a.m. 
                          
Just freaking 2:00 a.m and i was awake with no intention of sleeping again. I might as well turn insonmiac now. I rubbed my forehead with the back of my sleeve as i felt sweat trickling down. Realising that all i could do now was wait for the Fajr, i decided to take a bath instead of staying awake in my bed like an owl.
                          
I took the shower and stepped down the stairs slowly. I walked in the kitchen and turned on the lights there to make the Coffee for myself. I couldn't help but recall having Coffee with Zayer. Before i could switch into some other world, i shook my head to get rid of his thoughts and started making coffee. The nightmare wasn't supposed to be that scary. The branches crawling around me, trapping me in, and devouring me inside didn't terrify me as much as Zayer's cold gaze did. 
                          
I downed four cups of coffee before i could feel the headache slowly fading away. I switched off the lights and climbed the stairs to go to my room. I prayed Tahajjud and recited Quran till it was time for Fajr. This probably was the only good thing about nightmares. I could wake up during the night to pray. At Fajr time, everyone was awake. Dad and Samar left for Mosque while Mom and i prayed at home.
                          
After prayer, i helped Mom with breakfast. She had been stealing worried glances towards me. My increasing dark circles obviously weren't easy to ignore. You could point them out from a mile and i am not even exaggerating. Just a week of these stupid nightmares and i was a mess.
                          
Stuffing my bag with all my stuff, i said goodbyes to my parents and Samar who was busy loathing about his college life and walked out of my house. I decided -and i hate to say this- i decided to take Samar's advice and dialed Haya's number whilst walking towards school. She picked up on second ring. 
                          
"Assalamualaikum" She greeted cheerfully
                          
"Walaikumsalam Haya. How are you?" I answered, though not cheerfully. I was far from being cheerful
                          
"I am good. How are you doing?"
                          
"Fine. Umm..I have to talk to you about something" I said
                          
She gasped "Are you pregnant?" 
                          
"What??No! Haya!" I cried
                          
"Ofcourse you are not! That's me!" She laughed
                          
"Haya!" I whined
                          
"Sorry. You were sounding like moaning Myrtle. I thought i would cheer you up a bit"
                          
"We need to work on your definition of cheering up" 
                          
"Ok sorry. What's wrong?" She finally asked in a serious tone
                          
I finally told her about my dream, excluding the part of Zayer. She was his sister afterall. I just told her there was some guy and didn't mention the name"I don't know what to do and i just wanted to talk to someone"
                          
"I am glad you chose me. Look i don't know what these nightmares are about. It obviously doesn't sound good. You should do some charity. And stop thinking about it. It will be alright. Ok?"
                          
"I don't know why i am freaking out. I really should stop thinking about it" I muttered
                          
"Yes you should. Infact, you can use a distraction. Amreen and I are going out to shop today. Why don't you join us?"
                          
"I am going to work Haya"
                          
"After work?" 
                          
I nodded my head in a yes but then remembering she can't see me, i answered "Yeah. Sure. I will call you then. How are her wedding preparations going?" I asked. She is getting married to Nameer. I recalled the amount of lectures i received from Mom over getting married. Amreen is a year younger to me and she is getting married before me. The possibility of younger one getting married  before the elder one never settles well with mothers. I have been dodging her lectures and emotional blackmail. 
                          
"They are going good. Unfortunately, i am not allowed to do any work and Sabreena aunty has to do everything alone." She said
                          
"It's ok. I am sure she has enough help. You just take care of yourself" I said the moment i was outside school
                          
"You too. I will see you later"
                          
"See you later. Allah hafiz!"
                          
"Allah hafiz" I disconnected the call and prepared myself to shout my lungs out at a bunch of disinterested students.
                          
__________
                          
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