Be Mine

Chapter#4

Yawar's gaze travelled from Shahina's pale face to her trembling hands and settled on her face again. Her nervousness provoked him to play some prank on her like he used to do, but a part of him wanted to reach out and caress her smooth skin with his hand. He felt a strange excitement caused by their closeness, it was different, foreign to him yet, overwhelming. He wanted to subside these thoughts and speak but she didn't allow him. Before he could utter a word, she ran away.

Shahina ran away... from him ... from her 'Boss'... An urge to run after her emerged and died down at the same time. Yawar wanted to embrace her as he did to Moosa but he couldn't. Therefore, he silently watched the girl until she was in sight. The girl he was dying to see, the girl who was the cause of his many sleepless nights, cause of his restlessness, cause of his disturbing thoughts and slowly becoming the cause of his life.

~*~

A small dinner was arranged in the main house the next day of Yawar's arrival. Moosa, Natasha, Ahad, Sarmad, Owais all of them were present along with another unexpected guest name Muhammad Muntaha, Sarmad's youngest brother. An hour before coming to the Main house, Sarmad called Moosa and took the permission of bringing Muntaha along with him. Which he gladly granted, Moosa also wanted a good talk with this young man who got famous among the members within a few months after joining. He is rumoured to be a better fighter than the Sarmad and Moosa wanted to see how much potential this guy have. Moosa told Ahad beforehand about his intention behind approving Sarmad's request and what else could Ahad asked for to make his time more delightful. One of his targets is already available and he got another in bonus.

Soon Sarmad arrived with the awaited guest of Moosa and Ahad, Muhammad Muntaha. A lean young man of age nineteen, tanned skin, black eyes and hairs. However, unlike Sarmad he has soft facial features blended with mischief.

Muntaha was one of the blessed members of the g**g who came from an average family background with all the privileges of life and relations and it was mere curiosity that brought Muntaha to Black Eagles despite the objection of Sarmad. But living under the protection of Black Eagles for years and observing them, he cannot fight the attraction of the power the g**g holds. Besides, he wanted to know the reason why his brother works with so diligence and cherish every member of the g**g. Which he found soon after he was accepted as a member. He felt proud of his brother and his work of saving the neglected lives, not only by rescuing them from the souls eating monsters but also by giving them a shelter when they are shunned by the society. That's why most of the members of the Black Eagles are the ones who suffered from inhuman actions in the past.

Muntaha was astonished after meeting the young and not so arrogant leadership of the Black Eagles. He has seen Moosa Ali Khan, the leader of the g**g, who was feared by the world but after a brief meeting he turned out to be as same as his own elder brother. A person with a big heart and heartless when the right time comes.

Then it was Natasha a famous boutique owner, also known as Nats Api among the g**g members and adored by almost everyone but after hearing her story from his group mates whom he trained with, Muntaha went in shock. He wasn't able to decide that he should be disgusted because of her past or admire her because of her present. But her straightforwardness towards her mistakes didn't allow him to dislike her.

The third person caught Muntaha's attention was Ahad, the second in command of the Black Eagles aka 'The Brain of Black Eagles'. This was his first meeting with Ahad and he was curious because meeting this guy is a rare opportunity for the field workers. However, after talking few minutes with him he realized that the rumours about him of being sharp and dangerous than Moosa was true and with his good looks and wise usage of speech was more than enough to attract anyone. However, his instinct told him to keep a good distance from this guy and to his surprise he sensed Yawar being on the same page as him. Taking a mental note, Muntaha turned his attention to Moosa who was already looking at him with a small smile. It startled him and for some reason, he felt like Moosa was reading his thoughts about Ahad or perhaps it was just his imagination.

"Muntaha, this is probably your first time meeting everyone in person right?'' Moosa directly addressed him.

"Yes, it is. Thank you very much for allowing me to come."

"It was a pleasure. Actually I also wanted you to be here. I hope you realized that as Sarmad's brother you will have a special place in Black Eagles."

Muntaha straightened himself and nodded.

"Good, I want you to keep this in your mind and have some time with me after dinner." Muntaha nodded again and Moosa continued, "Anyways, this is Yawar. You must have heard about him?"

"Yes, I did." He at Looked Yawar and tilt his head in acknowledgement and Yawar copied his moments.

Moosa was right, he had heard of Yawar, as the brother of Moosa Ali khan and rumoured to be third in command of the Black Eagles. He also heard that Yawar is younger than him and he already has a strong stance in the g**g for his exceptional qualities, he is also the only student Sarmad trained in the g**g because he wants to resign from this post and someone else needed to be prepared to take his place. Means, sooner or later, Muntaha would be working directly under Yawar.

Taking another mental note Muntaha glanced at his surrounding and found the person who was missing from the scene. Moosa's younger sister, Shahina. Who came like a gust of wind asked and returned after whispering something in Natasha's ear. But his eyes remained on the place she disappeared until he heard Ahad clearing his throat, gaining everyone's attention.

"How much time left in dinner Nats? I am hungry." Said Ahad.

"I will go and check." Natasha got up.

"I am coming too." Ahad also followed her after giving a strange smile to Muntaha.

After two or three minutes Ahad came back to call everyone into the dining room. While they were making their way to the dining room Yawar sprinted to the kitchen instead. But stopped finding Amma-Bi in there. He stepped aside to hide from the entrance and waited for Shahina to come out.

"Ruko (wait/stop)." Shahina heard Yawar's voice from behind and her steps halted mechanically but she didn't turn to face him.

"What are you doing?" He came in front of her and she held out the dish full of Biryani in her hands.

"Why are you taking it? Where are the maids?" His demanding voice made Shahina flinch but she didn't answer him, just stood still staring down.

"Give it to me," He took the dish from her hands and continued, "Mehmano ke samne nazar nahi aana (don't come in front of the guest)." Yawar ordered and left.

Stunned, Shahina stood on her place, trying to believe that Yawar actually took the dish from her. She remembered him increasing her work and criticizing her way of carrying things but he never tried to help her in any way.

"Shahina? What's wrong? Why were you standing there?" Amma-Bi's voice brought her back to reality and she went into the kitchen again.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Amma-Bi asked staring at her pale face.

"I am ... fine. Amma-Bi, you should eat too." She said turning to take the plate for Amma-Bi.

~*~

"Nats Api, didn't you guys missed me while I was away?" Yawar threw a question at Natasha lying down on the sofa of her apartment.

"What made you think that? Of course, we did." Natasha raised her head from phone to answer him.

"It doesn't seem like to me."

Natasha puts her phone on the side and came to the sofa next to Yawar, "What happened?"

"I was expecting some sort of special treatment from everyone." He whined like a kid. A side he only shows to Natasha or sometimes to Moosa.

"Aren't you getting already?"

"What? A boring dinner hosted by Ahad Bhai in my own house?" He c****d an eyebrow.

"Hmmm. Right. But what about all the dishes Amma-Bi is making on your request?"

"Yeah, that too." He nodded in acknowledgement.

"And a whole week rest from the training you got?"

"Exclude it Api, I was exhausted because of exams. These holidays were my right."

"Hmm... you have a point." Natasha continued after a pause, "So what do you want?"

"Someone to talk or something to do. I am bored of being alone in the Main House."

"Why don't you help out Moosa? He might need your hand."

"That's also a part of work Nats Api." Yawar said with a straight face.

"Than tell me exactly how can I help you?"

"Forget it." Yawar put his arm on his face.

Natasha chuckled at his childish behaviour but instead of getting annoyed, she starts combing Yawar's hairs.

"Don't do it Nats Api, I will fall asleep." Yawar said without moving an inch.

"Then go to sleep." Natasha smiled.

A few minutes passed in complete silence before Yawar spoke again, "I don't understand."

"Understand what?"

"Why MB allowed that chipkali (lizard) to train for self-defence, we already have enough guards to protect her."

Natasha's eyes darted towards Yawar's face but she was unable to read it since it was still covered by his arm.

"She is growing up and needed privacy just like anyone else."

"What it has to do with training?" He suddenly got up.

"It will help her to increase self-confidence."

"She will be studying in a girls college, not a co-ed so why it is necessary?"

"It is yet to be decided."

"Decide what?" Yawar gave her a confused look.

"That what she wants to study. If her subjects required her to study in co-ed than she will study there. We will not force her for anything."

"Even for her own safety?"

"Yawar, she will be in college not a battle zone and stop behaving like Moosa. She is not a caged bird, let her live her own life." Natasha said in a strict tone, means this topic is closed for further discussion.

Natasha's scolding increased Yawar's agitation, he has been noticing the change in Shahina and it was making him restless. After coming back he overwhelmed by an unknown fear, a fear of losing his important belonging. However, the reason for this doesn't have a single moment to pay attention to him and whenever he tries to confront her, she successfully dodges it. The caged bird he left a year ago has now spread her wing and is ready to fly. Fly high, away from him, out of his grasp, the thought was making him anxious.

~*~

Finally, the day came when Shahina's result came and a wave of excitement and happiness engulfed the Main House. Natasha came running as soon as she got the news with a huge bouquet of flowers and a box of Shahina's favourite mithai (traditional sweets). Amma-Bi prepared special food for her just as she did for Yawar. Ahad called her to congratulate, even Owais greeted her but Yawar, he was silently watching everything and observing the flushed face of the girl he used to call Chuhiya (mice) and Chipkali (lizard). He recently realized that she was nowhere near the names he gave her, yet calling her by her name wasn't something Yawar learned to do.

In the evening Moosa called Shahina into his study after reaching home. Sniffing the atmosphere Yawar went to Moosa's study before her and Shahina's excitement died the instant she spotted Yawar in the room yet she remained silent.

"So, you are planning to study engineering like Yawar?" Moosa asked Shahina after congratulating her.

Shahina's body stiffened for a nanosecond on mentioning Yawar's name and only nodded in response. She hates when people took the impression that she wants to follow Yawar's footsteps. It wasn't the fact. Shahina was trying hard to find her own way of living but whenever she looked up, she found Yawar there before her.

"Good, you have our full support." Moosa leaned back on the armchair with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Thank you, Bhai." A small smile appeared on her lips as well.

"So, what you want for a gift?"

"Gift?" She gave him a dumbfounded look.

"For passing your exams."

"A ... laptop," She said reluctantly, and continue in a low voice, "If I am not asking much."

"That's it?" Moosa raised his brows and she nodded again.

"Oh, I was thinking to give you something else. But if you want a laptop, then you will have it."

"You can give her what have you planned, MB. I will give her a laptop when I go to buy a new one for me." Yawar spoke for the first time since he came in. His eyes darted from Moosa to Shahina as he said it and his lips twitched when he saw Shahina changing her position uncomfortably.

Yawar knew very well that she will not like the idea of taking something from him but who said that she has a choice.