Zavian had never felt this kind of silence before.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall, the glow from his phone still lighting up beside him but he didn't dare to open it again.
He had confessed. He said it all. Every feeling, every truth he had buried for so long.
Now he was just afraid. Not of rejection but of what will happen next...
Mahi's reply wasn't harsh but it was distant. Like she was afraid too. That fear in her words scared him even more.
His mind was running wild
"Did I ruin everything?"
"What if she never talks to me the same way again?"
"Or maybe she never talks to me again??"
His hands were cold. He rubbed them together, trying to feel something. But all he felt was regret crawling on his spine.
He had been brave for a moment. Just one moment & now, he didn't know if that moment had cost him the one person who felt like home.
Zavian was still sitting quietly, lost in thoughts, when his phone suddenly buzzed.
His heart skipped a beat.
He picked it up slowly.
It was Mahi.
His fingers hesitated for a second before he opened the message.
"Yay sb kb hua, kesy hua?" (When did all this happen? How did it happen?)
Zavian stared at the words, his chest tight.
She wasn't angry. She wasn't distant now.
Just... confused. Curious.
Maybe even soft.
Before he could reply, another message popped up.
"Mujhy pehly hi lg rha tha k you'll take my name" (I had a feeling you'd say my name.)
Zavian blinked at the screen.
She knew. Somewhere inside, she had always known.
She was surprised... but maybe not really.
And for the first time, a small bit of hope entered his heart.
Zavian took a deep breath & slowly started typing. His hands were still cold but his heart was speaking now.
"Mahi, I don't know how this happened... but it just did"
He paused for a second, then continued:
"I kept avoiding it. Mai nai chahta tha hamari dosti kharab ho"
(I didn't want our friendship to get ruined.)
"But Mahi... I wasn't able to hold it in anymore"
"I love you"
He stared at the message for a few seconds... then pressed send.
It was all out now.
On the other side, Mahi looked at the screen, a small smile came onto her lips before she could stop it.
Maybe... maybe she even blushed a little.
But all she typed was:
"Astaghfirullah Zavian use some mouth filter"
Zavian read her reply & couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, the kind that escapes when you're still nervous but slightly relieved.
His hands were still cold but his heart felt a little lighter now.
He replied gently:
"I really do, Mahi"
Simple words.
But they carried everything.
Mahek's reply came a few minutes later.
Zavian's heart beat a little faster as he opened it.
She replied:
"Zavian, maybe it's just attraction maybe I tried to listen to you, tried to heal you... that's why you got attached to me"
Zavian stared at her words.
They were calm not cold.
It felt like she was trying to explain his feelings like they weren't real.
Like they were just a reaction... not love
And for a moment, he didn't know what to say.
But he knew one thing, this wasn't just attachment.
Not for him.
Zavian took a deep breath. Her words hurt, not because she didn't feel the same but because it felt like she was trying to make his feelings smaller than they were.
His fingers moved slowly as he type but this time there was no hesitation, just honesty.
"Mahi, no It's not like that"
"If it was just attraction or attachment, it would've faded in a few days... or months"
"But it didn't It only grew"
He paused, then added:
"I love you, Mahi & you can't just disrespect my feelings like that"
His heart was heavy but his words were calm
"If you're not ready or if you don't want this, just tell me"
"I promise, I won't say a single word after that"
"But please... don't disrespect what I feel for you"
He hit send.
And now... he waited again.
A moment later, Mahi's message appeared on his phone screen:
"I'll be back in few minutes, my Baba is calling me"
Zavian read it quietly. He didn't overthink this time.
He simply replied with the same softness he always had for her:
"I'll be waiting"
And he meant it.
Whether it was five minutes... or forever.
Zavian got up quietly, trying to calm his mind. He walked to his cupboard & pulled out a soft grey kurta shalwar. After changing, he came back to his bed & picked up his phone.
There it was.
Mahek's message had already arrived.
"I'm back"
He quickly typed:
"I'm sorry, I was changing, Mahi"
A second later, her reply came:
"It's alright, relax"
Zavian looked at her message, then slowly started typing, his heart was heavy, hands still cold.
"Mahi, do you remember? I asked you once what if I lose her?"
"And you said, No, she won't leave you"
"But now... you're behaving like that"
He paused for a second, then typed:
"Mahi, I can't lose you. Please try to understand it's not just attraction"
"I don't know how to prove it... but I will"
Then he added, his fingers shivering slightly as he typed the next line:
"I'm offering you Nikkah, Mahi"
"Tell me... how else can I explain this better?"
Mahi's message came quickly:
"Zavian, what about Eman?"
Zavian sighed deeply, a mix of frustration & disbelief.
He typed back quickly:
"Mahi, Eman khn se aa gai?" (Mahi, where did Eman come from?)
Mahi replied quickly, worry in her words:
"Zavian, she will think I snatched her man from her"
Zavian took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. He typed back:
"Mahi, we left each other months ago. How can she say that?"
"If she says that, I'll tell her exactly what she is now"
Mahi's message popped up again, a little worried:
"But Zavian, she'll think that I snatched you from her"
Zavian smiled to himself & typed back:
"Mahi, if you're with me, I'll handle everything. Just say yes"
Mahi replied, teasing him a little:
"For what?"
Zavian chuckled & wrote:
"To marry me"
Mahi laughed & said:
"Zavian, ghr se nikalwao gy?" (Zavian, will you get me out of the house?)
Zavian teased back without missing a beat:
"Hayee, the way you call my name, mere naam ka maqsad pura ho jata hai"
(Oh, the way you say my name, it completes the purpose of my name)
Mahi blushed & teased him right back:
"Shut up, Zavian bhai"
Zavian laughed & replied:
"Come on, Mahi, not again"
Zavian's tone changed, becoming soft & sincere, he typed:
"Mahi, marry me"
There was a pause before her reply came, teasingly:
"Think about it again"
Zavian smiled sadly & replied without hesitation:
"My mind can't think anymore. I lost it the day I fell for you & there's no going back, Maho"
Mahi blinked at the screen & asked:
"Maho?"
Zavian smiled as he typed back:
"Yes, my Maho"
Zavian's fingers were shivering as he typed:
"Allah Mahi, my hands are shivering & cold"
Mahi's worry showed in her message:
"What happened?? Why are they cold?"
Zavian sighed & replied honestly:
"I don't know... I'm nervous"
Mahi smiled through her words, teasing him softly:
"Toh kesy thk hongy?" (So how will they get better?)
Zavian's replied softly:
"Hold them"
Mahi smiled & teased back:
"Zavian, you're so cheesy"
She was smiling as she typed.
Zavian smiled & replied:
"Am I, Chanda?"
Mahi maybe blushed a little & sent a message with a crying emoji, like she was shy & smiling at the same time:
"Stopppš "
Zavian couldn't resist teasing her again:
"What happened, Chanda?"
Mahi quickly replied, still playful, with the same crying emoji:
"This Chandašš"
Zavian smiled as he typed back:
"If you like it, I'll call you Chanda forever & I'll treat you like one too"
Mahi smiled & replied:
"Come on, Instagram. If someone sees my WhatsApp, they'll kick me out of the house"
Mahi sent him a message on Instagram on his private account that no one else knew about.
She asked softly:
"Your hands okay now?"
Zavian replied:
"No, they're still cold"
Mahi smiled through her words & said:
"Zavian, have something to cure them"
Zavian's answer made her blush again:
"You are the cure"
Mahi blushed & quickly typed,
"Zavian, stopš"
Zavian smiled & teased her back:
"Aren't you Chanda?"
His playful words made her blush even more.
They kept talking for few minutes, laughter & warmth flowing between their messages, until the chat ended.
That night was beautiful.
Zavian slept peacefully, his heart lighter than it had been in a long time.
And Mahi, somewhere far away, slept peacefully too.
The next morning, Zavian woke up feeling different calmer, hopeful.
He got ready for work, dressed neatly & before leaving, checked his phone.
There was a message from Mahi,
"You're sleeping yet?"
Zavian smiled, he typed back:
"No, Chanda, I'm just going to the office"
Mahi replied quickly:
"Oh okay, wapis kb aogy?" (When will you come back?)
Zavian smiled again & replied:
"I won't go if you say so"
Mahi smiled softly & said:
"Come on, don't compromise on your work for me"
Zavian's replied softly:
"I can compromise on my life too for you"
Mahi teased him,
"Cheesy insan, office jao" (Cheesy person, go to the office)
Zavian laughed softly & replied,
"I love you"
Mahi smiled & said:
"Shukriya" (Thank you)
Zavian smiled & replied to her,
"Imama Hashim 2.0, I love you"
She playfully answered,
"Shukriya 2.0"
He said politely,
"I'll be back soon & I'll keep texting you at the office"
Mahi reminded him,
"Focus on your work, Mr. Cheesy"
He smiled & said,
"My all focus is on my Chanda"
She smiled & blushed at the same time, she replied:
"Go, you're getting late"
Zavian smiled & replied,
"Okay, okay, I'm going"
They said Allah Hafiz to each other.
A few moments later, while driving to his office, he texted her again:
"I love you, Mahek"
Mahi read it & smiled, then texted back:
"Focus on work, Zavian Ubaid"
He saw her message & smiled peacefully,
"Yes, Mrs. Zavian, as you say"
Zavian reached his office & went back into his usual routine.
He was in the middle of a meeting, surrounded by files & serious faces, when his phone buzzed quietly on the table.
He opened her message
"Mr. Cheesy?"
It was from Mahi.
A soft smile appeared on his face the kind that comes without trying. Without thinking twice, he quickly typed back under the table:
"Yes, Mrs. Cheesy? You okay?"
Even in the middle of a meeting, just her message made everything feel lighter.
She replied sweetly:
"Yes, I was just asking"
Zavian smiled teasingly & typed:
"Are you missing me?"
Mahi quickly replied:
"Bilkul naiš" (Not at all )
Zavian smiled softly & answered:
"Jhooti" (Liar)
Zavian messaged:
"I'm texting you during a meeting & you're saying you're not missing me? That's not fair, Begum"
Mahi replied softly:
"I'm sorry, mai disturb kr rhi hun" (I'm sorry, I'm disturbing you)
Zavian smiled & typed:
"Kaam disturb kr rha hai" (Work is disturbing me.)
And just like that, he left her blushing on the other side.
Mahi replied with a shy smile:
"Batein na bnao, ghar aao" (Don't make excuses, just come home)
Zavian chuckled softly & replied:
"Roger, Mam"
Then he focused back on his meeting, wrapped it up & got back to work but with a smile that didn't leave his face the whole day.
Zavian wrapped up his work & returned home as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in warm orange pink tone.
He headed straight to the shower, letting the water wash away the stress of the day. After drying off, he changed into a pair of crisp brown dress pants & a clean white polo shirt that fit him just right. His black formal shoes were polished, sharp against the floor.
His long, wavy hair was still a bit damp, the ends gently touching the back of his neck. There was something calm yet confident in the way he looked, like he was ready, ready to go somewhere important.
Zavian stepped out of his room, adjusting the collar of his shirt. The soft click of his formal shoes echoed lightly through the quiet corridor as he walked toward the stairs.
Just then, he saw his mother coming up, maybe she was coming to him.
He paused, smiled gently & greeted her,
āAssalamualaikum, Ammaā
But she didnāt respond.
No smile, no glance just silence.
She walked straight into his brotherās room, without a word.
Zavian stood still for a moment, his smile fading. He sighed quietly, the warmth in his chest dimming just a little. Then, without saying anything else, he made his way downstairs, the weight of that silent moment pressing lightly on his shoulders.
Zavian walked quietly to his car, the cool evening breeze brushing against his face. His steps were slow, not rushed, like his mind was still stuck on the moment with his mother upstairs.
He reached the car, unlocked it & opened the door. As he sat on the driverās seat, he rested his hands on the steering wheel for a moment & took a deep breath.
It was quiet inside.
His little corner of peace.
He put the key into the ignition & turned it on. The engine started with a soft rumble, breaking the silence. He reached up & adjusted the rearview mirror, making sure everything was in place not just in the car, but maybe in his heart too.
He slowly reversed the car, eyes calm but thoughtful, then gently turned the wheel & began driving towards the main gate of the house. Zavian drove out of the main gate, the tires gently rolling onto the main road. The sky was slowly turning golden, the city buzzing around him but inside the car it was just him & his thoughts.
At a red signal, he picked up his phone & opened Instagram, his private account, the one only a few knew about.
No message from Mahi.
His heart sank just a little but he softly typed:
"You okay, Chanda? Iām home"
Just a few seconds later, his phone buzzed
Her reply came fast like she had been waiting too
"Yes, Iām okay. How was your day?"
Zavian smiled softly, his fingers already typing:
"It was tiringā¦ but your one message made it better"
Then he added:
"What about you? Did you miss Mr. Cheesy today?"
She replied:
"Yes, I did... a little"
Zavian smiled, warmth spreading across his face. He quickly typed:
"Hayeee, my Begum missed me"
Mahi, trying to hide her blush behind the screen, replied:
"Zyada urho mat ab š" (Donāt get too full of yourself now)
Zavian softly laughed to himself, heart light.
Just then, the traffic signal turned green.
He quickly messaged:
"Iām driving now, just give me a second, on signal"
He put his phone aside, focused on the road & carefully drove ahead. After a few turns, he found a safe spot & parked the car on the side of the road, ready to talk to her without distractions because when it comes to Mahi, she had all his attention.
Zavian leaned back in his seat, phone in hand & a soft smile playing on his lips. The world outside kept moving but inside that parked car, time slowed down.
He started talking to her softly, his voice low even though he was just typing.
"Mahi... I know I say it a lot but I really mean it. This isn't just some phase or random feeling. Itās you. You calm something in me I didnāt even know needed peace"
Mahi, as always, responded with her playful teasing.
"Bs bs, Mr. Cheesy tum overly filmy ho" (Okay okay, Mr. Cheesy. You're too dramatic)
He smiled, shaking his head.
"Iām being real, Chanda, not filmy. Youāre the only one I want & if this is cheesy, then Iāll stay cheesy forever just for you"
Mahi replied with a blushing emoji:
"Baaton se phasaogy mujhy?" (Will you trap me with your words?)
He laughed again, silently, his fingers resting for a second.
Outside, the sun had quietly slipped away & the soft orange sky had turned into a deep, dark night. Street lights were on. Headlights passed by him.
Thatās when he realized...
He had been driving somewhere but forgot where.
Lost in her words, in her voice, in her teasing replies
He was on a road, both in his car & in life, that only led to her...
He glanced at her message again & smiled.
"Where was I going?" he whispered to himself.
Didnāt matter.
Wherever she was, that was the destination.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Stay tuned for the next part...šš¤
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