Loath (Nafrat)

Unexpected Hero

It was a regular afternoon, and Falak was walking back home after her classes at the business university. Unbeknownst to her, a group of unruly goons had noticed her and found her beauty and presence intriguing. They decided to bully her, surrounding her and making her feel vulnerable.

As they inched closer, their intentions menacing, a sudden shift in the situation occurred. Out of nowhere, Sahil appeared on the scene. With a confident stride, he walked up to Falak, positioning himself between her and the intimidating group.

"You can't even look at her, okay? Or I will tear you into pieces," Sahil warned them with a firm and commanding voice.

Taken aback by Sahil's presence and the seriousness in his tone, the goons stepped back, momentarily retreating. Sahil believed they were gone and turned to face Falak. She couldn't help but smile, amused by his bravery and sense of protection. Her smile, albeit small, didn't go unnoticed by him.

However, as Sahil reached for his phone, which had accidentally fallen during the confrontation, the goons seized the opportunity to make another attempt. This time, they were determined to assert their dominance.

But they had underestimated Falak's resolve. With a confident and determined look in her eyes, she stood her ground, alone in their midst. In a quick and unexpected move, she knocked all four men to the ground one by one, using a combination of self-defense techniques she had learned over the years.

Rodaba, who had been watching from afar, was shocked by her friend's newfound talent. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed.

When Sahil turned his head to check on Falak, he was met with an unexpected sight. Falak, standing alone amidst the fallen goons, smiled with a glint of mischief in her eyes. She then acted as if she was about to fall to the ground.

Sahil rushed to her side, extending a hand to help her stand. His protective instincts kicked in, and he was genuinely concerned for her well-being.

Meanwhile, the goons, who had been thoroughly humbled by Falak, mumbled their apologies. They gave horrified expressions as they scrambled to their feet, realizing the error of their ways.

Sahil didn't let them off lightly. He stated firmly, "You should also apologize to the lady."

One by one, the goons muttered their apologies to Falak, who accepted them graciously, maintaining her composure.

After they had left, Shaheer approached Sahil, admiring his bravery. "Wow, Sahil, you saved Falak. You're a hero, man."

Sahil simply shrugged, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. "I did what anyone would do in that situation."

As they reached Falak's home, she thanked Sahil for his help. She was about to close the door when he resisted, saying, "Just 'thank you'? That's not fair."

Falak gave him a perplexed look, wondering what he meant. "What do you mean?"

Sahil replied, "You saved my life when those guys tried to attack me. You're a real hero, Falak."

She tried to close the door again, but Sahil continued to resist. "Just 'thank you'? That's it?"

Falak rolled her eyes, thinking to herself, "What a fibber."

She reluctantly opened the door and invited him inside. "Come on in. I'll be right back."

Sahil made himself comfortable, and Falak returned with a tray of coffee cups. As he took a sip of his coffee, he asked, "You like cold coffee?"

Falak simply stared at him, not offering a response. Rodaba intervened on her behalf, saying, "Yes, she loves it."

Falak shot Rodaba an annoyed look, and Sahil, realizing he might have said something wrong, tried to correct his mistake.

"I'm sorry if I asked something I shouldn't have," he said sincerely.

Rodaba tried to help the situation, saying, "No, no, you're fine."

However, Falak remained silent, prompting Sahil to ask her directly, "Why didn't she answer?"

Rodaba interjected, "Because she has...," but Falak cut her off, saying, "I don't talk to everybody, except for family and friends."

Sahil, looking directly into her eyes, responded, "I see."

Falak, frustrated by the situation, pondered why she was even having this conversation. She had offered her gratitude, and that should have been enough. Sahil, however, had different plans.

"I want you to fulfill one more request, please," he said.

Falak rolled her eyes, thinking, "Oh God, please."

Rodaba encouraged her, saying, "Just listen to him, please, Falak."

Falak simply glared at Sahil, waiting for him to continue.

Sahil extended his hand and said, "I want to be friends with you, always."

Falak hesitated for a moment, but Rodaba took her hand and placed it in Sahil's, initiating the handshake.

Rodaba then declared, "Why not?"

Falak shot an angry look at Rodaba, but before she could pull her hand away, Sahil spoke again, "Before you accept my request, I want to lay the foundation of our friendship on honesty. I'm sorry, but I was not the one who saved you. I just wanted to become your friend. Now, you can accept my request or not. No regrets."

Falak couldn't help but smile at Sahil's honesty. "I thought you enjoyed the lie. Forever."

She extended her hand to him. "It's for your honesty."

Sahil's heart raced with excitement as he shook her hand, smiling widely. He thought to himself, "I'll make your heart flutter, Falak. One day, you'll feel the depth of my feelings, and you'll have the same feelings for me too."