The fifth one is here!

Be ready to meet someone.

In-line comments are welcome!

|~★~|

Humaira was tracing a single drop of rainwater sliding down the glass of the window that had her attention.

"It's getting late, the rain isn't gonna stop anytime soon."

"If my presence is bothering you so much, then just ask me to leave."

"No one is bothered by your presence here, Humaira." Saad defended his brother, "Stop with this behaviour of yours already. We are not our dad who keeps up with your ill manners. "

" Saad, " Umair called on his brother, " let her be. "

Who, in return, just coldly glanced at the girl- unbothered by the two brothers, but followed his brother's command.

The cold war between the brothers and Humaira was still on. Saad, who was very concerned for Humaira in front of his fiancée, had his tough mode on in front of her with a complaint about why Humaira hadn't talked to her about his secret yet, unaware of the damage done by his brother's words. He didn't know that Humaira's silence wasn't just anger but the hurt of being felt as an outsider within the walls she called home.

Humaira was true to herself; she was made to feel like an outsider, and now she was being one.

" Congratulations on your wedding to my ex... Bestfriend." Her manner was bitter.

" Stop with your childish behaviour already, Humaira."

" She's just provoking you, Saad." Umair whispered to him," Don't give her what she's seeking. Your reaction. "

" But Bhai, " he shifted closure to him," she has been ignoring Zoya for the last 3 days. She's so upset because of her behaviour towards her and is blaming me for it. Though it was her own decision to keep our relationship a secret from Humaira. "

" That's the matter between those two. They'll sort it out. You stay out of it. " He advised his younger brother. It was a fact- if two people who are close to one another are in a fight, it's better to let them resolve it on their own. If a third person comes in between, then it's going to be a trial for them once the two are back to normal.

All three of them were busy with their respective tasks; Saad was working on his PowerPoint slide, Umair was planning his lecture, and Humaira was clinging to the window, waiting for the rain to stop. Neither did she start any fight with Saad nor did she try to annoy Umair. The personal touch she had with them was gone. Now, she was keeping it professional. A student waiting to leave her tutor's home once the weather turns in her favour. The silent chattering of rain was disturbed by the noise of an engine approaching near the house. A lavish black car stopped near the lane of Mirza Manzil.

" That's not Dad's car." Saad commented, standing up from his spot, followed by his brother," Yeah. It's too exclusive to be his. Then who's here? "

The driver was the first one to get out of the car with an umbrella. He rushed to the backseat and opened the door for someone. A well-suited man got out; his face covered under the umbrella. After a few quick steps, he was standing outside their door. Humaira stood up from the window ledge seeing that person. The face seemed familiar to her.

"Stay where you are," Umair commanded Humaira on sensing her move. He made his way towards the man standing at his doorstep. The driver had now kept the umbrella aside and the person's face was now in their view.

He was a handsome man in his late thirties or early forties, donning a black suit and tie. His hands dug inside his pockets.

"And you sir?" Umair asked for his introduction.

"Furqan Hanif." The man introduced himself, stretching out his hand to Umair.

Umair accepted his gesture with a formal smile, "Mr. Furqan. Umair Mirza. I assume you're here to meet my dad but he isn't here at the moment. He is out of the city for a seminar."

The person in front of him smiled, "Good for him, but I'm not here for your father, Umair. I'm here to pick my fiancée."

Umair narrowed his eyes in response, "Sorry. I think-" but was interrupted by a soft voice.

"Furqan...?" Humaira came from behind.

"Humaira," Umair turned, "I told you to stay inside. Why are you-"

"I called you," Furqan said in between Umair's words.

Umair sighed, hiding his frustration at being repeatedly interrupted, and was also curious about the visitor, who, in any normal scenario, was too old to be his student's fiancé.

When did she get engaged?

In between the two voices, Humaira remained unfazed. Her eyes focused on the new face standing in front of her. The face showed his experience. He had dark brown eyes, and his hair was wet and messed by the rain. A few droplets of water were resting on his forehead, which had a couple of lines of wrinkles.

"You're Furqan?" She asked timidly.

"In flesh and blood. At your service," he smiled in a way that made him look charming, as well as subtly hinting at the power he may or may not hold.

"Do you know him?" Saad came up front, who was pissed at the girl before, now protective of her.

"No. Not yet." Her eyes were fixed on the visitor.

"We have enough time to know each other but not quite to choose your engagement ring."

" What is happening here?" Umair asked the question to no one in particular but waited for an answer anyway.

" Humaira seems a little bit surprised by my arrival. I don't blame her." Furqan spoke, "As I said, Umair, I'm here to pick my fiancée, Humaira. She has to choose our engagement ring. It'd have been done over a call, if only she had answered it."

"I don't allow her to take any calls in between her classes. " He faced his student," is he right? Is he your fiancé? I don't remember you having your marriage fixed. " He asked the question that was running in his mind since the moment that word left Furqan's lips.

" Why would you, sir?" Humaira asked, looking at him in his eyes, "You're not my family, who is going to be aware of everything happening in my life." But in this case, even Humaira wasn't aware of Furqan.

Umair knew where this was coming from. The conversation that they had three days back. She was getting back at him. Bold and direct. And even after his father's orders, he still hadn't apologised to her for the way he behaved.

When Humaira agreed to her aunt's suggestion, she didn't think that her aunt would find her a boy within 24 hours. The next day, after she returned from college, her aunt informed her about a 'good proposal'; the boy was a businessman. His name was Furqan Hanif.

When Humaira heard the description, she didn't imagine the 'boy' to be a man of this age, introducing himself as her fiancé.

"Humaira?" Furqan called breaking her trance, "We still have time to make a trip to choose the ring."

Humaira was quite surprised by his bold manner during their first meeting. Furqan didn't even bother to introduce himself to her. He just announced his status in her life which wasn't even confirmed yet, and was asking her to accompany him to choose their ring, as if she was obliged to do so. She was obviously not comfortable with going on a ride with someone she had just met.

Humaira looked at Umair silently and that was enough for him to understand what he had to do.

" Uhm... Sorry, Mr. Furqan but I cannot allow Humaira to go out with you. "

No words, but Humaira's one look was enough for Umair to take charge of the conversation, keeping aside their personal dispute.

" Why not? I'm here because her aunt said so. " Furqan's tone was well-balanced.

" Furqan, " Humaira joined in the conversation," It's late. I don't think the little time is enough for me to choose something like an engagement ring. We can do that some other time. "

" Other time? " He wanted to pursue her but decided against it." Fine. Then allow me to drop you home. "

Humaira took in a sharp breath," I don't mean to sound rude, Furqan, but I'm sorry, I'm not comfortable with the idea of you dropping me anywhere. "

Umair looked in her direction, pleasantly surprised by her. He found her to be nervous but still brave enough to speak her mind.

Furqan smiled," There's nothing to apologise for, Humaira. I get it. And I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable in any way or for dropping by your coaching classes like this. It was your aunt's idea. I'm sorry. " He apologized once again. He didn't seem offended or find her request disrespectful towards him.

" It's okay. I'll call you when I'm free... For-"

" Shopping."

She nodded," Yeah. "

" Okay, see you soon. I hope. "

The trio quietly watched the person leave their sight.

Humaira didn't even start to think about the person she had just met when she found a question being thrown at her without any warning.

" That guy is your fiancé? " Umair asked, still digesting the fact that a person in his late thirties or early forties had introduced himself as his student's fiancé.

" I think. " Her face didn't have any expression. It was blank. And that annoyed Mirzas for some reason. They wanted to know what exactly was happening.

" Bhai, in what mind you're calling that uncle a 'guy'? Are you mad, Humaira? Is this some kind of a prank you're pulling on us? " Saad didn't bother to sugarcoat his thoughts, it came out raw and unfiltered.

" Shut up, Saad. " Humaira snapped," he might be older than you but he's not old enough to be your uncle. "

" Really? Did you even see him! He's like double your age. "

Humaira scoffed, " I'm not eighteen, Saad."

"Neither is he thirty-six! He looked no less than forty!"

Humaira faced him, "and I'm twenty-four!" She sounded frustrated, almost angry when she continued, "You might forget that because you all remember me as someone in the second year, but I'm not as young as they are," but the reason behind her emotion was unclear.

"Saad," Umair spared a stern glance at his brother, which was enough to silence him, though he grunted.

"It's late, Humaira. Get your bag, I'll drop you home."

"I'm not getting on your ride."

"You won't. We are walking."

"It's raining." She said dryly.

|~★~|

Seems like someone's not gonna be single for long.

The cold war is still one.

Saad unaware.

Humaira aloof.

And how long till Umair apologise to Humaira?

Any guesses?

Okay!

The CEO of our story, Furqan is here!

Can you guess the kind of role he'd play.

Would he be a catalyst between you-know-who

Or

An antagonist?

Or a Prince charming indeed?

Guess your thoughts!

And lastly,

Would Humaira accept Umair's offer to walk her home?

Let me know what you guys think!