Amina decided to take sick leave for a day and exactly on that day only, Hania's car decided to break down. She was stuck in between her way to home, which was forty-five minutes away. On normal days when her sister would make it late for college, she'd usually drive way too fast and maybe that was the reason her car broke down, again. But right now, she needed help. It was half-past six and the sky was getting darker with each passing second and there weren't many people walking around or visible to her naked eyes. She took out her phone to call someone, only to realize that her Jio pack has expired just today and now she cannot make any calls or even send messages. Great!
Looked like all the difficulties together decided to pay her a visit today.
"Need any help?" Hania suddenly heard an unfamiliar guy ask. He wasn't alone but had some bunch of other creepy guys behind him, who all had their own motorbikes. They all looked like some bike racers, who were looking at her in a way they weren't supposed to look. And Hania could swear that she was never this terrified in her whole life.
"No. Thanks" Hania tried to act all cool and calm but she was shaking from within. She mentally was chanting Ayutulkursi and was praying for some help. Just like her prayers were heard, she saw another car halt near them.
"Hania! Are you alright?" Hania was literally crying when she saw Saad Saeed get down from his car and walk towards her. She left out a sigh of relief as she ran to him.
"Saad!" Hania murmured in an incoherent voice as she came close to him. Saad observed the scenario in front of him and then held her hands trying to comfort her, as much as wrong it was. He felt it was the right thing to do.
"Did they harm you?" Saad asked in a rage-filled voice as he eyed the boys who were looking at the scenario amusingly.
"Chill bro. We just tried to help her. Now that you're here. We're leaving..." one of them announced as they started their bikes and in no time, they were all gone.
"Don't worry, they're gone," Saad informed Hania, who nodded her head still in tears. His hands were still holding hers. But now it wasn't him who was holding it.
"Why did you stop at a place like this at this hour? Are you crazy or what?" Saad asked her as he eyed her car and then at her. Who looked at him angrily.
"I didn't ask for this, okay? I was on my way back home and my car decided to break down and my data pack has expired, so I couldn't call anyone. Before I could do anything else, those creeps showed up and, in few seconds, you were here too. That's it." Hania snapped at him, who was looking at her with wide eyes as he heard her rant.
She was no longer crying or shaking. But still was holding his hands unconsciously.
"You really are an interesting human being. So, what do we do now?" Saad asked as he saw her car and then back at her.
"Firstly, I want to call my Ammi and inform her not to worry and then go home somehow," Hania said as she looked at her car with a frown. All of these stupid things happened only because of it and she wished to push it down the cliff or something.
"Let me bring my phone," Saad said as he walked towards his car, as they were holding hands which he failed to notice and, in the process, she was dragged along too.
"YOU CREEP! HOW DARE YOU TO HOLD MY HANDS?" Hania was seriously the calm and silent type. But Saad is always bringing the worst out of her and they barely even know each other.
Saad chuckled as he eyed their hands, and then smirked as he watched her angry yet confused face, "what?" she asked blankly.
"It's you who is holding my hands and not the other way around." Hania looked at their hands with wide eyes and then immediately left them, Saad shook his head in disbelief as he opened his car door and took out his phone.
"Here..." he handed her the phone, who beamed at him as she took the phone and was slightly surprised as he had no password or anything.
Saad watched her like a creep as she talked with her mother, who was indeed very much worried. After two minutes of assuring her mother that she was really fine, Hania hung up the phone and then smiled at him gratefully.
Saad surely was taken aback because she was smiling at him for like the first time ever and he was awestruck for a second for she had a very captivating smile.
"I can drop you at your home and my mechanic will repair your car if it's okay with you?" Saad offered and Hania agreed almost instantly as she felt like it was the best thing to do.
"Thank you so much! That would mean a lot to me..." Hania smiled at him gratefully, and Saad felt himself going insane as he wished to see her smile all the time.
"Let's go then." Saad got into the driver seat and watched her hop into the passenger seat after locking her car and then the rest of the ride went pretty silent and slightly awkward.
"You're fine, right?" Saad finally broke the silence as they halted in the traffic signal. Hania who was lost in her thoughts glanced at him with a nod.
"I'm fine," she replied with another nod and he too nodded his head.
"Thank you." Hania suddenly spoke, taking him by surprise.
"What for?" Saad laughed slightly as he started the engine again.
"For being there with me today. It means a lot to me you know." Hania knew it would be ungrateful of her if she didn't thank him. So, she thanked him with all her heart.
"It was nothing, really. And those guys weren't foolish enough to try something in a public place like that." Saad smiled as he drove the car.
"Yeah, you cannot blame me though. I was really scared." Hania murmured as she recollected those memories of all the bikers.
"You're safe now, don't think about it," Saad said as though he knew what she was thinking which made her surprised. Hania smiled at him as a reply. Saad who was lost in her smile again averted his eyes and concentrated on driving the car instead.
"Can I ask something to you, though?" Hania nodded her head indicating him to ask whatever he wanted to ask," why are you always alone? I mean you don't have any friends, right?" he asked taking her back in surprise.
"It's true, I don't have friends," Hania replied casually and Saad was more curious now.
"If you are wondering why, it's very simple, friends leave... and look at you, you left your best friend just like that for some silly reason and I don't want to experience that heartbreak of someone leaving me, so I choose the safe side and remained with no friends and my life is less dramatic you know." her reply shocked him to another extent as he parked the car in front of her home, which was massive. He was puzzled for a while as she picked her stuff from the back seat.
"Thank you once again, Saad... for everything you did today and I hope you go and talk with your friend and sort things out. I'll see you in the college tomorrow." Hania smiled at him again and got down from the car.
Her words have left him speechless for a while. He wasn't expecting it at all.
"Take care." Saad finally spoke to which she nods at him with a smile.
"Will you come in and drink some tea or coffee?" Hania asked him which he politely declined," it's okay, thank you. Maybe some other time? My Ammi must be waiting for me."
"Okay then... Allah Hafiz!"
"Allah Hafiz, Hania. Don't think much about that incident. Will see you tomorrow." by saying this he drove off, and Hania walked into her home with a sigh.
It was truly one dramatic day after all!
