Kissa

News Of The Proposal

*KISSA*

*Chapter 3: News of the Proposal*

Morning.

The alarm rang. 7:30 AM. I picked up my phone and hit snooze.

Five minutes later, Mom's voice came from the door. "Kissa, get up. Breakfast is getting cold."

I got up. Washed my face. Changed my clothes.

Only one question was circling in my mind. Why did Ali meet me like a stranger last night? That look, that tone... as if he did not know me at all.

I came downstairs. Dad and Uncle were busy reading the newspaper at the dining table.

"Good morning," I said.

"Good morning, dear," Dad replied with a smile. "Come, sit."

I sat down. Started spreading butter on bread.

Then a girl walked out of the kitchen. A clip in her hair, toast in her hand. Around my age. Twenty, twenty-one.

She looked at me. Then smiled.

"Hi," she said. "I am Noor. Ali's younger sister."

I put the cup down. Stood up.

"Noor?" I asked.

"Yes," Noor said. And came forward to hug me. "You are Kissa, right?"

I hugged her back. Lightly. "Yes, I am Kissa."

Noor pulled back and looked me up and down. "Wow, you have changed so much.

When you were leaving here, we were both nine years old."

"Nine years old?" I laughed. "You remember?"

"Of course," Noor said. She also sat down beside me. "You always beat me at chess.

And I would pull your hair in return."

"Will you still pull it?" I teased.

"I will try," Noor winked. "But now you are grown up. I won't be able to fight you."

Mom pushed a paratha forward. "Noor, let Kissa eat breakfast."

"Mom, let us talk," Noor said. "We are meeting after twelve years."

And then Noor and I got busy in gossip. Time flew by. Noor had become so funny. Talking to her was really fun.

Dad called out to me. "Kissa, come to my room. I need to talk for two minutes."

I put the cup down and went to Dad's room.

"Yes, Dad."

Dad was sitting on the sofa. I sat on the chair in front of him.

"Kissa," Dad started directly. "Khuwajah Alam called last night."

I stayed quiet. Listening.

"He was talking about his son Danyal," Dad said. "The boy is not bad."

"Then why are you telling me, Dad?" I asked.

"Because he has asked for your hand for his son," Dad said.

Mom also said, "Kissa, you know Danyal too. And his father is also a minister. They are people of our status. I don't think there is any harm in this proposal."

I said, "Dad, I will finish my studies first, then I will think about this."

"That is fine, dear," Dad said. "We can just fix the engagement. We will see the rest later."

"No, Dad, not now," I said. I stood up. "I am sensible, Dad. And I will make the decision about my life myself.

And I will tell you first."

I left the room and went straight to the lawn.

I sat on the bench. Took out my phone and started scrolling.

"What are you doing?" A voice came from behind.

I turned around. Ali was standing there. Black shirt, jeans. No file in his hand. The strange look from last night was gone.

"i********:," I said. Raised the phone. "Watching reels."

Ali came and stood in front of me. "Did you feel bad about last night?"

I put the phone down. Looked straight into his eyes. "No, I actually liked it a lot."

Then both of us burst out laughing.

I act well, don't I?Ali said.

"That was acting? If that was acting, then it was a complete flop, Mr. Advocate," I said.

"But you did lose your color, didn't you?" Ali said.

"Absolutely," I said. "We were meeting after twelve years. And you were treating me like I was some client."

Ali took a long breath. Sat down on the other end of the bench.

"I got scared, Kissa," Ali said. Straight.

"Scared of what?" I asked. "Of me?"

"No," Ali said. "Scared that you would leave again. So I was practicing building a wall beforehand."

I laughed. "Even as a lawyer, you are so illogical?"

"You are my client," Ali said, smiling. "Case name: Kissa vs Time."

"Will you win the case?" I asked, teasing.

"One hundred percent," Ali said, full confidence. "Because my opponent is very strong."

"Who is the opponent?" I asked.

"Memories," Ali said. "Of childhood."

I went quiet. Then said, "So the grudge is over?"

"The one from last night? Yes, over," Ali said. He held out his hand. "Handshake?"

I shook his hand. "Deal. But next time you act like a stranger..."

"Then what?" Ali asked.

"Then I will also become a stranger," I said, winking. "And you will lose the case."

Ali laughed. From the heart.

Noor was watching from a distance. Then she ran over. "So you made up?"

"Yes," I said.

"Then come on," Noor said. "Team back together?"

I said, "Exactly. The same childhood Three Idiots team."

Ali stood up with a smile. "I have to go to court. Hearing at eleven."

"Go," I said. "But come back early in the evening."

"Promise," Ali said. And left.

Noor sat down beside me. "See? brother has learned how to talk to you."

"This is just the start," I said. "Let's see what happens next."

The sun was getting stronger. But there was no darkness in my heart.

There was a proposal. There was Danyal. There was a date. But there was no fear.

Because Ali was no longer a stranger. And I was no longer a child.

Will Dad convince Kissa for the proposal? Find out in the next chapter.

To be continued...