The next morning was quietly beautiful. The kind of morning that wrapped itself around your soul like a warm hug. Soft rain was falling gently, each drop dancing on leaves & balcony rails. The breeze was cool, calm & carried the nostalgic scent of wet soil, one of those smells that brings peace.
Zavian was still asleep, sitting on the balcony chair. His phone rested on his chest, screen dim but still unlocked, the last thing he saw before sleeping, Mahi's name.
The night before had ended with soft talks & shy smiles from miles apart. Zavian didn't even realize when his eyes closed, his last memory being Mahi's voice in his mind.
The sound of rain & the freshness in the air began to wake him slowly. He shifted slightly, the wind brushing against his face. He opened his eyes lazily & smiled faintly. Peace
Without thinking anything else, his hand reached for his phone. The first thing he checked Mahi
& there it was. Her message, received just ten minutes ago:
"Sona nai tha wahan. Baarish mei bimar ho jao gyš"
(You weren't supposed to sleep there. You'll fall sick in the rain)
He replied with a light smile, stretching a little as raindrops continued to fall around him,
"Ab toh ho gaya, Chanda. Dantna mat"
(It's already done, Chanda. Don't scold me now)
A message popped up on his screen,
"Chai pi lo" (Have some tea)
He smiled, imagining her saying that with her usual softness.
"Kaash hum paas hoty, toh chai mai bnata, phir hum ek sath peety"
(I wish we were together. I'd make the tea & then we'd drink it together)
Mahi smiled on the other side, holding her cup of tea. She teased him:
"Tum chai bana lety ho? I can't risk my taste buds, Zavian. Sorry"
(You can make tea? I can't risk my taste buds, Zavian. Sorry)
Zavian laughed a little, pretending to be annoyed.
"Haha, very funny, Mahi"
He typed with a soft irritation but his heart was smiling.
Zavian stretched a little & texted her:
"Mai shower ly k aata hun, phr baatein karty hain"
(I'll go take a shower, then we'll talk)
But her reply came quickly:
"Nai, baat nai krni"
(No, I don't want to talk)
He stopped, looking at the screen. He replied softly,
"Ab kya hua Chanda?" (Now what happened, Chanda?)
She said,
"Zavian, I don't know. I'm not sure about my feelings"
Zavian sighed deeply, his heart a little heavy. He stared at her message for a moment, then typed slowly,
"Mahek, dekho esy nai hota"
(Mahek, look it doesn't work like this)
"Kabi ap mujhy hope deti ho, kabi esy kehti ho. Mujhy acha nai lgta"
(Sometimes you give me hope & other times you say things like this. I don't like it)
"Jo baat hai clear kr lo, esy confused mat raho"
(Whatever it is, please be clear. Don't stay confused like this)
"Take your time but please, ek jawab dein"
(Take your time but please, give me one clear answer)
"Esy meri feelings hurt ho rhi hain"
(This way, my feelings are getting hurt)
He sent the message &leaned back, staring at the rain falling outside, hoping she'd understand.
Mahi replied softly:
"Okay, I'm ready to give it a try"
Zavian paused for a second, heart skipping a beat. Then he typed:
"Are you sure?"
She said:
"Yes"
A soft smile came on his face as he replied:
"Shukar, ab mai aram sy shower ly lu?"
(Thank God, now can I finally take a shower in peace?)
She smiled on the other side & replied:
"G, ly lein"
(Yes, go ahead)
Zavian went to shower. The warm water washed over him, calming his nerves & softening his thoughts he had since morning. After a while, he stepped out, towel dried his hair & changed into a black kurta shalwar, simple, elegant.
His hair, still a little messy, gave him a raw look. He stood in front of the mirror, running his fingers through his damp hair, trying to set them.
He stared at his reflection for a moment not just at his face. Then, with a slight smirk, he slowly unbuttoned the sleeves of his kurta & folded them neatly up to his forearms.
On the other side of the border, in that lite green painted house, Mahi had just stepped out of the shower. The fresh scent of her still in the air, mixing gently with the breeze slipping through the window.
She wore a black & white kurti shalwar with fine black & white lines running down it, almost like the ones you'd find in a traditional Pakistani suit. It wrapped around her simply, yet beautifully, echoing a sense of calm & innocence.
Her wet hair falling slightly to her back as she gently towel dried them. Then, without thinking much, she walked to the bed & sat down quietly.
There was a softness in her eyes maybe it was the weather maybe it was Zavian.
Or maybe it was the feeling of wearing something that unknowingly connected her a little more to him.
Author's POV:
At that time, they still hadn't seen each other not even once.
It had been almost a month since Zavian confessed his love to Mahi. He had expressed everything with honesty, softness & a heart full of hope but Mahi she was still confused.
Maybe her confusion wasn't because of Zavian. Maybe it was because of her family, their values, their strictness, the kind where love marriage was almost a sin, not a choice.
On the other side, Zavian's family wasn't supportive either but there was one difference Zavian had made his decision. He wanted Mahi just Mahi. No second thoughts, no doubts.
He had already started fighting silently with his mother, his uncle, his own comfort taking a stand, choosing love over family pressure & yet he never told Mahi what he was going through.
And Mahi? She was fighting too but with her own thoughts maybe it was overthinking maybe fear. Maybe the idea of losing herself in something that may not last. She was building walls while Zavian was trying to build a future.
They hadn't seen each other's faces yet but they both knew.
They had seen each other's hearts.
Things were slowly, quietly leading to something big. A shift in their story, in their hearts, in their fates but neither of them knew yet. Not Mahi... not Zavian.
While Zavian was buried in files, eyes tired & thoughts of Mahi. Suddenly, his phone lit up.
A message popped up on the screen, from her.
"Mr. Prime Minister, khn ho?"
(Mr. Prime Minister, where are you?)
He looked at the screen & smiled. Somewhere between chaos & calm, She still had the power to pull him into peace.
"Give me 10 minutes, Mahi"
After exactly ten minutes, Mahi's phone buzzed. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it.
A voice note from Zavian.
He had never sent one before, ever.
With a little confusion, a little excitement & a racing heartbeat, she tapped on it.
And then, His voice. Soft, raspy, a little shy. It filled her ears but more than that it wrapped around her heart like a hug. She froze just listening. Not just to his voice, but to how close he suddenly felt.
He said in the voice note,
"Mahi, files check kr raha hun, abi meri buri si awaz sy guzara krna pry ga"
(Mahi, I'm checking files right now, for now you'll have to bear with my terrible voice)
Mahi smiled on the other side, her cheeks slightly pink.
She wanted to argue playfully "Is it really that bad?"
But instead, she softly replied,
"No no keep sending voice notes"
Because deep down, that voice raspy, tired had already become her comfort.
Zavian sent another voice note, short & soft:
"I love you"
It was the first time Mahek had heard those three words in his voice real, raw, close to her heart.
She froze for a moment, heart skipping a beat, face turning warm. Blushing hard, she quickly typed back:
"This on voice note?? Stoppp š"
She was shy, covering her face with both hands but somewhere deep in her heart, she had already replayed it thrice.
Zavian sent another voice note, teasing her softly,
"Mahi, kitni baar suno gi?"
(Mahi, how many times will you listen to it?)
On the other side, Mahek blushed even harder. She bit her lip, hiding her smile in her dupatta.
He knew. He just knew she was playing it again and again.
And she knew he loved how it made her smile.
She texted him, trying to hide her blush:
"Shut up"
Zavian sent another voice note, this time his voice was a little softer,
"Can we call, Chanda?"
There was a pause on her side. Her heart skipped a beat she stared at the screen, smiled shyly.
She texted him:
"No Zavian, Iām shy I donāt usually call people"
He sent a voice note, in calm voice,
"Mahi, I never used to send voice notes or make calls either but it's you, that's why I want to. Should I call?"
She replied shyly:
"Mai kya bolun gi call py?"
(What will I even say on the call?)
He sent another voice note, with a soft chuckle:
"Mai bol lun ga, ap sun lena"
(Iāll do the talking, you just listen)
And her cheeks were red again.
He called her on Instagram. Her heart raced. She saw the screen light up with
āZavian Calling...ā
But she didnāt pick it up.
A few seconds later, his message popped up:
āPick it up, Chandaā
Her fingers shivered. She hesitated, took a deep breath.
And finally she picked up.
For the first time ever
Zavian & Mahi were on a call. No video, just a voice call.
He softly said,
"Assalamualaikum, Chanda"
And she whispered back, almost breathless,
"Walaikum Assalam"
He chuckled softly & said,
"Kesi ho? Chanda?" (How are you, Chanda?)
On the other side, she was quiet not because she didnāt want to speak but because her cheeks were already warm & pink.
He sensed her silence & smiled.
In a voice just above a whisper, he said,
"Ab apki yay sharmati hui awaaz sun k mai apny dil ko kesy sambhalun?"
(After hearing your shy voice like this, how am I supposed to control my heart?)
She said in shyness,
"Shut up, Zavianš"
He softly teased her with a smile in his voice,
"Hayee the way you call my name"
(Hayee the way you say my name)
And just like that, silence filled with butterflies lingered on both sides of the call.
He said softly,
"I love you, Mahi"
She blushed deeply on the other side, trying to hide her smile.
She said, pretending to be calm,
"Bs ho gaya call?"
(So, is the call over now?)
He replied even more softly, as if holding her through his words,
"Mere paas rho" (Stay with me)
She cut the call.
Zavian quickly texted her:
"What happened?"
She replied:
"Bhai aa gaya mera"
(My brother came)
He replied softly:
"Acha acha" (Oh okay)
On the other side, Mahi was hesitating fingers paused over the keyboard but then, gathering a little courage, she finally typed & sent:
"Voice notes bhejo, I'm obsessed now"
(Send voice notes, I'm obsessed now)
And her cheeks turned pink againā¦
Zavian smiled on the other side.
He picked up his phone & sent her a voice note:
"I love you"
His tone was soft, deep.
Mahi heard it
Her heart skipped a beat & her face turned red.
She quickly replied, shyly typing:
"Yay nai kehna thašš"
(You werenāt supposed to say that)
But she played that voice note again maybe twice, maybe more.
The day began with a warm sun & soft hopes.
Zavian woke up, stretched & headed for a refreshing shower. He got dressed in his office clothes. Before stepping out, he sent Mahi a message:
"I love you, office ja rha hun, I'll miss you" (Going to office)
He smiled to himself, started his car & drove off toward the day ahead.
Meanwhile, miles away, Mahi was busy making her morning tea & cleaning her room. Suddenly, her phone buzzed. She picked it up, saw Zavianās message & a gentle smile spread across her face.
Softly, she whispered,
"I'll be waiting"
Zavian was busy going through business files when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen & saw Mahiās message:
"Zavian, I know I'm acting too childish but for now I don't think I'll heal you. I'll hurt you, Zavian. I don't deserve you & there are no possibilities for us. I'm going. I'm sorry"
His eyes widened & his heart tightened. His calm office world suddenly shifted, the weight of her words hit him hard.
And with that, he saw something that made his heart sink even more
Instagram user
She had blocked him.
Zavianās fingers shivered, quickly searched for her other account, the private one. He sent a message:
āMahi? What happened ?Mahi???ā
He started calling her, again & again but there was no answer.
Zavianās eyes filled with tears & soon the tears started rolling down his cheeks. He couldnāt stop himself from crying, feeling like a child who just lost their favorite toy.
His voice cracked as he recorded a voice note,
āMahiā¦ please donāt leave like this. Iām all alone without you. I donāt know what to do I canāt without you. Please just answer me. Pleaseā
His voice was shaky & broken, between his words, you could hear his quiet hiccups. He sounded so hurt like someone who had lost everything important to them.
He sent her countless voice notes, each one filled with tears & shaking voice. His voice broke every time as he called her again & again, desperate for even a single reply but silence was all he got.
Slowly, the hope inside him faded. With a heavy heart, he rested his head on the table, hiding his face beneath his arms. Quiet sobs escaped him as he cried maybe for the first time in a long while, letting his pain show without any walls around it.
After a few hours, Mahi finally listened to his voice notes. Her eyes filled up with tears & she felt a deep guilt for leaving him like that. She never expected him to cry so much, crying like a child & it hurt her more than she thought it would.
With a shaky hand, she typed back:
"Zavian, Iām here. Relax, bacha"
She always called everyone bacha but this was the first time she said it to him.
His phone buzzed softly, breaking the heavy silence that had settled around him. With shivering fingers, he grabbed it & saw her name Mahi. His heart reacted wildly, a mix of hope & fear inside him. He opened the message,
Without thinking twice, his fingers flew over the screen, putting out everything he felt in one desperate question,
"Where were you, Mahi? Why did you leave me like this? I was lost without you"
Mahiās message came slowly, each word carrying a weight of regret.
āIām sorry, Zavian. You wanted love & Iā¦ I treated you like your past. Iām sorry, Zavianā
His heart clenched at her words but he quickly replied,
āNo, no, itās not like that. Please donāt leave me like this. If you donāt feel the same way, just tell me honestly. Iāll try to understand, Mahi but donāt shut me out like thisā
She finally replied, letting out what she had been holding inside for months.
āToh ho gai hai na mohabbat, I do get worried about you. Dur jate ho toh I canāt breathe normallyā
(I'm in love, I really do get worried about you. When you go far away, I canāt breathe properly)
On the other side, Zavianās heart skipped a beat. It was a confession, Mahiās confession of love for him.
He couldnāt believe his eyes & quickly typed,
āDo you love me???ā
She replied softly, her words full of shyness & guilt,
āYes, I love you. I want you here with meā
Zavian couldnāt believe what he was reading happiness & disbelief mixing in his heart.
He asked, almost like a child, eyes wide with hope,
āSo will you marry me? You really mean it? You love me & youāll marry me?ā
Mahi melted at his words & smiled softly,
āYes, I want to marry you, Zavian Ubaid. Come to India & take me with youā
He replied like a child,
āYou made me cryā
Mahi could almost feel his cute pout through the words.
She quickly replied,
āIām sorry bacha, I love youā
His heart skipped a beat again,
āI love you moreā
They talked for a while. Though tired, they stayed awake, sharing dreams & whispers until 1AM.
Finally, with smiles & soft goodnights, they fell asleep peacefully, feeling closer than ever.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Stay tuned for the next part...šš¤
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