Episode - 01 | Chaotic Siblings

The clock on the wall ticked relentlessly, marking the passage of yet another sleepless hour. Ferisha lay tangled in her sheets, tossing and turning as though her bed had become a battlefield. A soft groan escaped her lips, a sound of frustration mingled with exhaustion. Two weeks had passed, and yet the memory of that voice haunted her like an unshakable spectre.

She pressed her palms against her ears as if to drown out the ghostly echo of his words. But the effort was futile. The voice lingered-not sharp, not distinct, but persistently sweet, weaving itself into the threads of her thoughts. It was maddening.

Finally, with a sigh that was part exasperation and part surrender, she sat up abruptly. Her hands flew to her head, and she raked her fingers through her hair, turning the once, sleek strands into a wild, tangled mess.

"What the hell?" she muttered under her breath, her voice thick with irritation. "Ya Allah, Why can't I stop thinking about him? Allah! What's wrong with me?"

Her voice broke into a whine as she hugged her knees to her chest. "What should I do? I can't sleep."

The weight of her restlessness pressed on her chest like a suffocating blanket. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she slipped out of bed, her bare feet padding softly against the cool tiles. She left her room, her destination clear, and soon found herself at the far end of the dimly lit second floor.

There it was-her brother's door. Solid, unyielding, yet somehow comforting in its familiarity. Without a second thought, she raised her fist and banged on it, her frustration finding release in the sharp sound of her knocks.

"Bhaiiiiii! Open the door. I can't sleep," she called out, her voice tinged with desperation.

Silence.

She frowned and knocked again, louder this time. "Bro!!! Please open the door. How can you sleep when I'm still awake?"

Still, no response.

She began knocking in earnest, her fists pounding rhythmically against the door until her knuckles ached. When that wasn't enough, she leaned forward, resting her forehead against the wood, and continued her plea.

"Bhaijaan! Please! I'm going mad here. Bhai... Bhai... Bhai, please open the door!"

Her voice grew louder, more insistent, until finally, with an audible click, the door swung open. Ferisha caught off guard, stumbled forward, landing squarely in her brother's arms.

A young man, 21 years old and strikingly handsome, stood in front of her. Ariz Raees Ahmed, Ferisha's elder brother, exuded an effortless charm even in his state of half-asleep dishevelment. He wore a half-sleeved t-shirt that clung to his broad, muscular frame, the fabric stretched taut over his defined arms and chest. His full, length trousers hung comfortably, hinting at his casual demeanour, but it was his presence that demanded attention.

His hair was a tousled mess, as though he had just woken up, which he had and he stifled a yawn, his blue eyes glinting sleepily in the dim light. The combination of his fair olive skin, well-defined features, and the faint shadow of irritation on his face made him look both rugged and captivating.

"Ferisha," he muttered, his voice low and gravelly, "what is it now?" His tone carried a mix of exhaustion and brotherly patience, but his commanding presence was enough to quiet her frantic energy-if only for a moment.

Ferisha looked up at him, her face a mix of frustration and helplessness. "Bhai, I can't sleep."

Aariz sighed, his broad shoulders drooping slightly with fatigue, but he didn't hesitate. Wrapping his arms around her, he gently pulled her inside and shut the door behind them with a soft click. "But I need to sleep, sweetheart," he said, his voice laced with mock exasperation."I have college in the morning. So please, take my bed, get some rest, and let me do the same."

Ferisha let out a dramatic whine. "Bhai!!!" (Bro!!)

Aariz silenced her with a single raised finger, pressing it to his lips. "Shhh. No 'Bhai,' no complaints. I'm letting you sleep in my room, and you should be grateful I didn't just throw you out. Now, stop complaining and sleep."

Without waiting for her protests, he guided her to the bed, his grip firm but gentle. He tucked her in, pulling the quilt snugly around her, and before she could protest further, he turned away and sank onto the wide couch that dominated one corner of the room-a piece he'd chosen specifically for situations like this. Dragging his quilt over himself, he stretched out, his long frame fitting comfortably, and closed his eyes.

For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the sound of Ferisha shifting restlessly under the covers. Aariz could feel her gaze, persistent and unrelenting, even with his eyes shut. With a resigned sigh, he cracked one eye open, only to find her sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of him, her sparkling blue eyes fixed intently on his face.

He groaned, sitting up slowly and raking a hand through his already messy hair. "Fine," he said, his voice tinged with both amusement and defeat. "Tell me-what's the problem now?"

Ferisha smiled, her face lighting up with an innocence that seemed to belong to a little girl rather than an 18-year-old. Her delicate features, framed by her loose, dark hair, radiated a charm that made it impossible for anyone to stay angry with her for long. As the only daughter in her small family, she was the apple of everyone's eye, and her giggle was a weapon no one could resist.

Seeing her grin, Ariz's frustration melted away. A faint, sleepy smile tugged at the corners of his lips, softening his sharp features. Though exhaustion still clouded his eyes, an undeniable warmth shone through as he looked at her.

"Stop giggling and just tell me," he said, shaking his head with a mock annoyance. "Tell me! What's your problem?"

Ferisha stood up and plopped herself beside him on the couch. Her small hands clasped his arm tightly, and she leaned her head against him, rubbing her cheek against his bicep like a kitten seeking comfort.

"Bhai," she murmured, her voice soft and uncertain. "I don't know what's wrong with me, but I can't sleep. I... I can't sleep bro. There's this voice... it's lingering in my head."

Aariz raised an eyebrow, his confusion is evident. "A voice? What kind of voice, my dear?"

She confessed, almost shyly. "A guy's voice."

Aariz blinked, taken aback. "A male voice? Seriously? You don't even like boys, you hate them. Then how come you're hearing a boy's voice? Wait! Maybe it's a ghost. Yeah, for sure. It must have come to greet you." he teased turning the situation from serious to comedy.

Ferisha pouted, her lips forming a perfect, exaggerated curve. "Bro! I'm not joking here. I'm damn serious. And that's the main problem! I do hate boys. All of them-well, except a few. But him... His voice is stuck in my mind. I just can't get it out."

Aariz leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Who's this boy?"

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Aariz asked, frowning.

Ferisha sighed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I heard his voice two weeks ago. I was shouting at the engineer on a call, and I heard him speaking on the other end. I didn't see him-I just heard his voice."

Aariz stared at her, his expression shifting between disbelief and amusement. "Let me get this straight. You don't know him, you've never met him, but his voice is haunting you?"

Ferisha nodded, her cheeks growing even warmer. "Yes."

Aariz sighed, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable, Ferisha. What am I supposed to do about this now?"

Ferisha let out a whine, her stress mingling with her natural cuteness. "I don't know, Bhai! I just don't know. What should I do?"

Aariz, desperate for sleep and clutching at his last thread of patience, suddenly had an idea. "Fine," he said, sitting up straighter. "I'll help you. I'll talk to that engineer and ask about him, okay?"

Her face lit up, but then her lips pursed in hesitation. "Okay! But..."

Aariz groaned, throwing his head back in mock despair. "Now what?" he cried, feigning a dramatic wail.

Ferisha played with her fingers nervously. "What do I do then?"

He sighed, rubbing his temples as if he were in physical pain. "Uf Allah! Feri!!! Please, we'll figure that out later. For now, just go to sleep. You have school tomorrow, remember? Please, my little apple of my eyes, I beg you. Go. To. Sleep."

Seeing her brother's exaggerated antics, Ferisha couldn't help but giggle. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she dashed to his bed and flopped down with a playful grin. "Okay, okay. I'll sleep. You take rest, Mr. Big B."

Aariz glared at her, though the corners of his mouth twitched with suppressed amusement. "Now dare to disturb me again," he warned, his voice stern. "And I swear I'll throw you out of my room."

Ferisha pulled the quilt up to her chin, hiding her grin. "Hehe. Sorry. I'm asleep now," she said sweetly, pretending to close her eyes.

Aariz sighed deeply, sinking back onto his couch. He had barely rested his head on the pillow when he heard her voice again, soft and teasing.

"Bhai!"

He bolted upright, narrowing his eyes at her. "Ferisha, you-"

But she was quicker. Giggling uncontrollably, she pulled the quilt over her head, shielding herself from his pretend wrath.

Aariz shook his head, laughing quietly to himself. "She's so cute I can't even throw her out. Allah help me," he muttered, a fond smile creeping onto his face.

He turned off the lamp and lay back down, his tone playful but firm. "This is your final warning, Ferisha."

Finally, the two siblings settled into a comfortable silence, their bond unshaken by the night's mischief. Moments later, the soft rhythm of their breathing filled the room as they drifted into a peaceful sleep.

The soft morning light filtered through the windows as Aariz woke promptly at 6 a.m. He moved through his routine with practised efficiency, freshening up and dressing in a casual outfit-an understated yet stylish sweatpants and shirt . He grabbed his gym bag and tiptoed out of the room, careful not to disturb his sleeping little sister.

The air was crisp when he arrived at the gym. The familiar rhythm of his workout calmed him, each rep and stretch grounding him for the day ahead. By 8 a.m., he returned home, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead.

One of the house helpers met him at the door, holding out a steaming cup of coffee. "Good morning, sir," the helper said politely.

Aariz took the cup and said, "Good Morning. Ferisha is still asleep?"

The helper nodded. "I believe so, sir."

"Alright. Get breakfast ready," Aariz instructed, sipping his coffee as he made his way back to his room.

When he pushed the door open, the sight before him made him pause. Ferisha lay sprawled on the bed, her features soft and peaceful, her breath slow and even. Aariz couldn't help but smile. For all her antics, she was still his little princess, and moments like this reminded him of just how young and innocent she truly was.

But the moment of sentimentality didn't last long. With a mischievous grin, Aariz stepped closer to the bed and, in one swift motion, yanked the quilt off her.

"Feri, run! Earthquake!" he shouted, his voice filled with mock urgency.

Ferisha's eyes snapped open, and in her panic, she scrambled to get off the bed. But her movements were clumsy, and before she could regain her balance, she tumbled to the floor with an unceremonious thud.

Aariz burst out laughing, clutching his sides as he watched her sit on the floor, disoriented and indignant.

Holding her arm, Ferisha's face crumpled, and tears welled up in her eyes. "You always do this! Why??" she wailed, her voice a mix of hurt and frustration.

Still laughing, Aariz shrugged. "Because you always disturb my sleep. Fair payback, don't you think?"

Ferisha's tears turned into full-blown crying as she called out, "Daddddddd!"

Aariz smirked, leaning casually against the bedpost. "Dad and Mom aren't home, sweetheart. Now get up, go to your room, and get ready. Or you'll be late."

Sniffling, Ferisha glared at him through her tears. "You're the worst!" she muttered, dragging herself to her feet and stomping off toward her room.

Aariz chuckled softly, shaking his head as he watched her retreat. "Little drama queen," he murmured affectionately before finishing his coffee and heading out to start the rest of his day.

After getting ready, Ferisha descended the staircase with an air of indignation, her steps deliberate and her expression set in a pout. At the dining table, she sat down, her piercing gaze fixed on Aariz as if she could bore holes into his soul. Aariz, however, remained unfazed, meeting her fiery stare with a mischievous grin that only deepened her annoyance.

"Good morning, Princess," he teased, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm.

She huffed, stabbing at her breakfast with more force than necessary, choosing to remain silent, though her expression spoke volumes.

Once breakfast was over, Aariz grabbed his car keys and motioned for her to follow. The drive to her school was uneventful, save for the occasional sideways glance from Ferisha, which Aariz countered with smug smirks.

As they reached the school gate, Ferisha got out of the car, turning to face her brother with a defiant look. "I'll make you pay for this, Bhai," she declared, her tone full of conviction.

Aariz leaned back in his seat, smirking. "Yeah, yeah. First, focus on your exams, Miss Revenge. Don't forget your boards are in just two months."

Ferisha narrowed her eyes at him. "Wait for me, Aariz Raees Ahmed. Once I join college, I'll be at your level. Then you'll see who I am!"

Aariz chuckled, mimicking her tone dramatically. "Wait for her, huh? Ooooh, I'm so scared." He gestured toward the school entrance. "Now go inside before I have to push you in myself."

With a flick of her hair and an exaggerated turn of her head, Ferisha stormed off toward the school gate, her bag swinging behind her. Aariz watched her go, shaking his head and smiling softly at her theatrics.

The guard saluted Aariz as he passed, and Aariz nodded in return before driving off, his day already brightened by his sister's antics.

After finishing his classes, Aariz made his way to the office where the engineer worked. Determined to help his sister, he asked to speak with him, but luck wasn't on his side-the engineer was out of town on a work assignment. Aariz sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. He didn't like disappointing Ferisha, but there wasn't much he could do at the moment.

Later that afternoon, he arrived at her school to pick her up. Ferisha climbed into the car silently, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed out the window. Aariz glanced at her, noting the pout that hadn't left her face since morning.

"Still mad at me, huh?" he asked, but she didn't respond.

Smiling to himself, he decided to break her sulkiness. Instead of heading straight home, he drove to her favourite café.

"Where are we going?" she finally asked, her curiosity overriding her annoyance.

"You'll see," Aariz replied, his tone playful.

When they arrived, he ushered her inside and ordered her favourite chocolate pastry and boba milk tea. As the server placed the treats in front of her, Ferisha's eyes lit up despite herself. Aariz chuckled, watching her mood shift.

"Don't think this means I've forgiven you," she muttered, though she was already taking a bite of the pastry.

"Of course not," Aariz replied with mock seriousness. "This is just damage control."

As she sipped her tea and nibbled on her dessert, Aariz decided it was time to tell her. "So, I went to the engineer's office today..."

Ferisha paused mid-bite, her eyes widening with hope. "And? Did you find out about him?"

Ariz's expression softened. "Unfortunately, no. The engineer's out of town for work."

Her face fell, the sparkle in her eyes dimmed. "Oh..."

"But," Aariz said quickly, leaning closer to her, "don't be sad, okay? I promise I'll find him for you. No matter how long it takes, I'll figure it out."

Her lips curved into a hesitant smile, and she looked up at him with a mixture of gratitude and affection. "Bhai?"

"Really," Aariz confirmed, his voice warm and sincere.

Unable to hold back her happiness, Ferisha grinned brightly. Aariz reached over and gently ruffled her hair, his hand lingering as if to comfort her.

"That's my little sister," he said, his tone teasing but full of love.

As they finished their snacks, the bond between them felt even stronger. Aariz knew this was just the beginning of the search, but for now, seeing his sister happy was all that mattered.

To Be Continued...🦋

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