n o o r= sacred shine

Her phone rang continuously in the monotony of the night. It's light shone in her face, lighting it up like nur from jannah. She looked up at the ringing device, trying to manoeuvre herself to get it.

She sighed stretching out her hands, in mere tiredness. She was tired no doubt. Studying for six hours straight will do that to you.

Snatching the mobile from it's place at the bedside table, she quickly swiped open the password. Knowing full well, that it's her mother's call.

Pulling it to her ear, she yawned, covering her mouth with her hand, in the most disciplined of gestures.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum, ammi." She greeted her mother.

"Walekum-Assalam, where were you Naz?"

"Studying, as usual." She replied, offhandly.

"You sound really tired, and off."

"Hmm, yes. I am really tired, but I have to complete this, or Sir. Anthony won't waste a second insulting me in front of the whole batch."

"Okay, do study, but don't forget to care about your family."

"Ji ammi, but you know I--" She got cut off, by her mother's sharp tone.

"YOU young lady, are coming and that's final!"

"But, ammi jani, I don't like going to family functions and weddings."

She whined. It was true that she didn't like family functions at all.

"No, no buts! Your mother is saying, no commanding you to come. Do you know how it feels, not having your daughter by your side?"

She heard her mother's woeful voice, which was shrouded in sadness.

"Urgh! Okay mom! I will come even if I despise it!" She finally gave in to her mother's pleas.

"Good girl. My best daughter." Her voice lightened, at the perspective that her daughter has agreed to come.

"Ammi, I am your only daughter!"

She responded, pouting her baby-pink lips. She knew what her mother's reply would be.

"No, your not my only daughter. Warda is also, my daughter, as well as Arooba."

"Ammi, they are my cousins. Okay, they're like my sisters, but than also, I am your only daughter!"

She couldn't understand why she felt the obligation to prove her point across.

"Uh-uh. Whatever helps my Naz to sleep at night."

Her mother laughed.

"Bye, ammi jani. I have to review my assignment, yet again."

"Okay darling. But take care of your health, and please don't over work yourself. Also, remember to eat fully, and don't miss your sleep. At all, understand?"

"Yes, ammi. Please don't start with it all over again. I understand very thoroughly."

"My beautiful baby, masha Allah."

Her mother sniffed.

"Oh mom, please. I have grown-up now, not a baby exactly. Good night now, I still have to oversee my project."

"Yes, of course. Good night, darling. Sleep on time."

With that the line ended.

Sighing internally, she pulled the heaps of books to herself and engrossed herself in them, writing and then rewriting her assignment. Again and again, she wrote and than rubbed it out.

Truth be told, she couldn't concentrate on her work at all. She couldn't quite capture the word ru'uh.

Soul..

She loved and despised the word at the same time. She knew what felt when people despised their own souls, their own bodies. Their own self.

How come people loved their souls?

How can they love themselves?

Her fingers shaking, she pulled upon her shirts's long sleeve. Baring her wrist, to the shadow of the crescent moon, she saw the jagged lines that ran up the slender wrist. White, adjacent lines curved upwards towards the precipice and disappeared along her cloth-ridden arm.

Instead of concentrating on your damned ugliness, please do your work.

Thinking to herself, she concentrated on the assignment at hand.

She thought again and again, but her mind didn't provided her with the exact beautific meaning. Her mind whirled to write that perfect definition, which she couldn't quite navigate to.

"Bitch's back, babe!" Annabelle Yazif, her bestie as well as roommate, stood in the doorway to her room.

"Hey Bells." Naz looked up to see her dressed in that all bitchy look. Ripped Jeans paired with a red, off shoulders top. Huge loop earrings shone eerily in the lamp's light. Six inches heels adorned her feet and made her look extra tall, not that she was looking bad at all.

"Watcha doin'?"

Annabelle came over to her, and slumped down on the bed, in an unlady-like manner.

"Studying." Naz rolled her eyes.

"You bitch, have real nerd's issue!" Annabelle screeched, reminding Naz of someone utterly familiar.

"What's the issue in studying?"

Naz raised her eyebrow, at her friend.

"You here are studying your butt off, while I was partying like a mad-hatter. You know what? Next week you will accompany me in a party or two."

Her friend said, cocking her head as if thinking hard.

"No, no. Utterly NOT like me. Also, I will be in Dubai next week. You know, for the wedding."

"Ohhh! Fuck! Your going!"

Annabelle screeched yet again, putting Nazpari's ears in mortal danger.

"Will your all Greek-Male model cousin be there?"

Annabelle jumped up like she has suddenly been electrified.

"I don't know, Bells. Maybe, maybe not. Who knows?"

"I pray, to whoever is up there, that please let Adnan Sultan be there."

Annabelle looked up, like her duaa was going to be accepted.

"Why do you have such obsession with him? I mean-"

She got cut off, yet again this night by her bestie.

"You BITCH! YOU DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYONE HAS AN OBSESSION WITH HIM?"

Annabelle shouted, as if Naz's words pained her. She looked absolutely horrified and her eyes widened in utter consternation.

"Um-"

Naz wanted to say something, but apparently she couldn't.

"Let me show you. Why we love him!"

And snatching Nazpari's laptop, more like her baby, Annabelle started typing vigorously in the search engine, her nails going clipity-clop.

Just as her bestie tapped the 'search' button, Naz regretted looking at the screen. She regretted even giving her the laptop, at all.

Immediately nude and utterly, gorgeous pictures of her cousin, Adnan Sultan Zaidi clouded the screen. Annabelle browsed lower, and smirked at Nazpari, as her mouth dangled open.

He was every sculpturer's daydream and nightly visions, he had picturesque face and photogenic features that made lady of every age swoon. A sharp, strong masculine jaw, with the combination of straight sliding nose was a feature which women would never tire of tracing. His bold, grey eyes were the most dominant feature on his face. They looked as if lightening swirled in a chalice of transparent wine. They mainly showed pride and arrogance and would minimize to narrow slits, when he would be thinking hard. Forehead, light and demanding. Hair silky and smooth, and gelled in the most seductive of manner, touching which was the dream of every women's.

The most cajoling feature, which every women needed upon her, were his lips. Light, thin and dangerously alluring. His masculine XX Alpha male body, which was taut and lean by daily workout, made his entire body eye capturing and mouth-watering.

"Please close it.

Naz mumbled, her cheeks tinting red.

"With gracious pleasure, bitch. Hope I got the point across."

Annabelle smiled smugly, closed the laptop, stood up, and sashayed out of her room, not before giving Nazpari to get her ass up and start cooking dinner.

"And you know what's strange?"

Anna exclaimed, while browsing through his pictures again.

"What?"

Naz replied, really curious now. She wanted to know what crazy quirk her friend has discovered.

"He's never seen with a female."

Anna said, glancing over at the honey-colour haired girl, who was cutting cheese cubes.

"Hmm, but he has a sister, and a mother."

Naz looked up, to see Anna looking inquisitively over at her.

"Of course! I am not talking about his sister or mom!"

Anna exclaimed, to which Nazpari just shrugged.

"Then?"

Naz questioned, slicing the cheese with the sharp knife. She then shredded the cheese of pieces of garlic.

"I mean he has never been seen in a picture with a girl. A girlfriend. Or even a female acquaintance, who isn't related to him. Even with any of his female cousins, he simply isn't there."

Anna concluded her speech, which felt as though she has learnt it by heart.

"Maybe he wants to keep his personal life private. Away from prying eyes."

Saying through gritted teeth, she referred the sentence to a certain someone.

"Prying eyes? The man's such a hottie! Who could stay from him?"

Anna protested, and questioned from her.

"I just wanted to say that maybe he likes his privacy. We like our privacy, don't he has the right as well?"

Naz verbalized her thoughts, which succeeded in helping Anna calm down.

"Yes, you're right. But I have a hunch to why he's never been seen with a female."

Pulling open the browser again, and searching for the specific fanclub from thousands, she retracted the one she wanted to show Naz.

"Here," she said, shoving the mobile close under Nazpari's eyes, "look at this."

"It's too near. Also, just tell me what's written, they fumes from the garlic aren't helping my allergy situation."

Putting a hand over her mouth, she gestured Anna to read aloud.

"It's saying here that Adnan Sultan, blah blah blah, has never been eyed upon, with a female in tow. Unlike most of the successful men, he doesn't show any interest in women. This is a fact, as the seduction of the world renowned Fashion Queen didn't worked on him, and he rejected the female, infront of billionaires who were there for the Annual Donor's Day.

It maybe because he is the Elite of the Elite or maybe because he'll be next President after his father, the current President. It's also stated, that his tastes are quite unreachable and insatiable and nothing interests of fazes him in the slightest.

OR

Maybe it's something else entirely. Some rumours occuring and whispered throughtout America, is that he is attracted to his own sexual gender. That he is gay. But maybe all these allegations are false and he just wants his love and sex life to be private and well hidden away from the public-eye. As that is completely fair.

Anna finished the tidbit and glanced up at Naz, who looked blankly back at her.

"That's unusual."

She stuttered, causing Anna to nod along with her.

"Yes, maybe he is gay."

Anna slumped at the barstool in their kitchen, like all the life has been drained out of her.

"But maybe he's not."

Naz stated the fact, not looking at her friend. She opened the oven door, and pulled at the platter inside. Immediately rich scent of baking filled the air.

"A guy as handsome as that? And he's gay! Like what the total fuck?!"

Anna exclaimed, pinning up her hair and picking up the fork to eat the bolognese with.

"Oh! Leave him! See, I made your favourite muffins!"

Naz pushed the plate of still-hot muffins towards Anna and gave her a lopsided grin.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I love you?"

Anna asked, drool metaphorically dripping feom her mouth.

"Umm, maybe. But repeat it once again, so that I remember."

Naz said, winking at her friend. The roles got reversed for a moment.

"Nazpari fucking Pari, I love you damn much!"

Anna vigorously started eating the bolognese, her fingers itching to get a piece of those muffins.

"Eww. You're as bad as Adnan, only if he's gay."

Making a face at her friend, she smirked.

"Shut up bitch! Let me eat in eternal glory!"

Anna snarled, to which Naz effectively sealed her mouth.

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