Novel Name "Humnava" Writer: Arisa Rashid Episode 4

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“I want to apologize on Asif’s behalf… and these are the science notes you missed. Asif had erased them.”

Rehan said while handing a notebook to Kainat.

Kainat’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Thank you, Rehan. I’ll return it tomorrow.”

The happiness she felt at that moment couldn’t even be described in words.

After saying goodbye to Rehan, she climbed into the van. As the van drove away, Rehan stood there watching it disappear into the distance before smiling softly and getting into his own car.

“Shall we leave, young sir?” the driver asked.

“Yes, let’s go.”

---

“Everyone, place yesterday’s notes here one by one,” the teacher instructed.

One after another, the students walked up and placed their notebooks in front of the teacher.

Asif smiled while looking at Kainat.

Because she was still sitting in her seat.

She hadn’t gotten up.

When all the students had submitted their notes, Kainat finally stood up, placed her notebook in front of the teacher, and quietly returned to her seat.

Asif was stunned.

He had erased yesterday’s work himself.

Then how did she submit the notebook?

And Mahnoor wasn’t even present yesterday either, so she couldn’t have helped her.

Asif remained lost in thought until he heard Kainat’s voice.

“Thank you, Rehan. Here’s your notebook back.”

Rehan took the notebook from Kainat, handed it to the teacher, and sat down at the desk behind Asif.

Asif silently watched everything.

And for some reason…

It hurt him.

---

“You gave her the science notebook?” Asif asked Rehan during break time.

“Yes, I did. Exams are close, and this is our final year. If she doesn’t pass, how will she get admission later? And honestly, what you did yesterday wasn’t right. Stop bothering her.”

Rehan spoke calmly, trying to make him understand.

“We’re not kids anymore, Asif. Back then it was different. People could say children play pranks… but now we’re grown up. We’re in matric now. It doesn’t look good anymore. Change yourself.”

“I don’t need your advice.”

“This is our final year. After this, we’ll all separate anyway, so why not—”

“Then do something good before leaving,” Rehan cut him off emotionally. “So people remember you with a smile and pray for you… instead of remembering the pain you caused them. You never know, maybe you’ve hurt her deeply enough for her to curse you in her heart.”

“And you said it yourself — if she hadn’t been there that day, those criminals would’ve taken you away. After everything, you still shouldn’t have treated her like that.”

Asif looked away.

“Whatever happens to me will happen to me. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“What are you saying? I’m your friend. I know you better than even your family does.”

“I don’t need a friend like you,” Asif snapped before walking away.

Rehan could only stare at his retreating figure.

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“If you ever need anything, you can tell me.”

Rehan said this to Kainat as soon as he entered the classroom, then sat down while glancing toward Asif.

For some reason, anger burned inside Asif.

He felt like dragging Rehan outside and throwing him away.

---

“Come inside, dear. Asif, Rehan is here. Sit down, I’ll bring something for you both.”

Asma Begum smiled before leaving the room.

Rehan entered Asif’s room where Asif was throwing a ball against the wall and catching it repeatedly.

“Asif…” Rehan called softly.

Asif didn’t reply.

He threw the ball again, but this time Rehan caught it.

“Listen to me, yaar,” Rehan said while holding the ball.

Asif turned his face away.

“Why did you come?”

Rehan sat beside him and turned his face toward himself.

“Stop acting dramatic. This isn’t a movie. Look at me.”

Rehan laughed.

And finally, Asif laughed too.

Then Rehan started tickling him.

“Yaar, stop!” Asif burst out laughing.

“Come on, let’s go play in the ground. We need practice too.”

“Oh right, I totally forgot.”

Asif scratched his head sheepishly.

Both stood up to leave when Asma Begum entered the room with a maid carrying a tray filled with juice, samosas, cake, and snacks.

“Keep it here,” she instructed the maid.

“You’re not going anywhere until you finish this first,” she said, pointing toward the tray.

“Well, Auntie, if you insist…” Rehan laughed while picking up a slice of cake.

Asif grabbed one too.

---

One Week Later

“You’re from Asif’s class, right?” Mubashir asked Kainat.

“Yes,” she replied before walking away.

“Yaar, we practiced so much, but I’m still nervous. Look at Mubashir’s team — they seem completely relaxed,” Rehan said while watching the boys from the other school.

“We can’t lose. This is about our school’s reputation,” Asif replied seriously.

“Ten minutes left before the match starts,” Rehan said while drinking water.

Asif’s eyes wandered around the ground until they stopped on Kainat.

She wasn’t alone.

Mubashir — one of the boys from the other school — was standing with her, laughing while talking.

“Why are you laughing so much?” Kainat asked him oddly.

“Because you’re really funny,” Mubashir laughed.

“Huh? But I didn’t even say anything funny…”

Kainat looked completely confused.

“Look at him, getting all friendly with girls from our class,” Asif muttered angrily while glaring at Mubashir.

Rehan looked ahead.

“She’s from our class?”

“Idiot, that’s Kainat. I’d recognize her anywhere.”

Grinding his teeth, Asif stood up and walked toward them.

“I should go now,” Kainat said while trying to leave.

But Mubashir blocked her way.

“The match hasn’t even started yet. What’s wrong with talking for a little while?”

“I can talk to you instead.”

Asif stepped between them, pushing Mubashir back slightly with a hand against his chest.

“Go. Mahnoor is calling you,” he told Kainat.

She quietly left.

“What kind of behavior is this?” Mubashir asked angrily.

“What behavior? Mind your own business. There’s no need to get friendly with girls from my class. We came here to play cricket, so focus on that.”

“I wasn’t getting friendly with her. I was just talking.”

“Then talk to girls from your own school.”

Rehan quickly grabbed Asif’s shoulders.

“Asif, come on. Sir is calling us. We’re getting late.”

Asif glared one last time at Mubashir before leaving with Rehan.

---

The match had officially begun.

Both teams played with full determination.

But in the end…

Mubashir’s team won.

Cheers erupted from their side.

Their teachers congratulated them proudly.

Asif threw the ball aside and sat down alone, silently watching the celebration.

“Don’t be upset. Winning and losing are part of the game. Here, drink some water.”

Kainat extended a bottle of cold water toward him.

Asif looked up at her before taking it.

“Kainat is right,” Mahnoor added while sitting beside him. “Besides, the final match is the day after tomorrow. The real prize is still ahead. Don’t lose hope already.”

Asif smiled faintly and drank the water.

“InshaAllah, we’ll win the final match,” Rehan said while wiping sweat from his forehead.

“Yes, exactly,” Mahnoor nodded. “If everyone practices together properly, we can definitely win next time.”

“Yes,” Asif finally said with confidence, “We will win the trophy.”

The three of them smiled together.

---

One Day Later

“Mubashir, Asif’s team is here,” one of his teammates informed him.

“Let them come,” Mubashir laughed. “Looks like losing the other day wasn’t enough for them.”

His teammates laughed too.

Asif’s team had three runs.

Mubashir’s team had four.

Only six runs remained.

Both teams fought hard to win.

Then suddenly—

A player from Mubashir’s team caught the ball.

For one second, Asif and his teammates thought they had lost.

But then Rehan shouted loudly,

“Asif! It’s out! He caught the ball outside the line!”

Everyone’s attention shifted toward the player standing beyond the boundary line with the ball still in his hands.

The realization hit instantly.

Asif’s team had won.

The entire ground exploded with cheers.

Everyone congratulated Asif and his teammates.

The celebration was even louder than before.

Teachers gathered around to praise them.

Meanwhile, Mubashir and his team watched bitterly from the side.

“How is this even possible? How did we lose?” Mubashir clenched his fists angrily.

“I told you we’d win if we kept hope,” Rehan said while hugging Asif.

“If you hadn’t noticed that, we probably wouldn’t have even realized we won,” Asif laughed.

“How could nobody notice? What were the teachers there for?” Rehan replied.

Both burst into laughter.

---

When Kainat entered the classroom the next day, everyone was still discussing yesterday’s match.

She smiled softly.

She had barely stepped inside when she heard a voice behind her.

“Planning to stand there forever?”

Kainat turned around.

Asif stood there, carrying his bag over one shoulder while looking directly at her.

Without replying, she quietly went and sat down.

“How are you, Kainat?” Rehan asked warmly as soon as he entered the classroom.

Asif, who had been searching through his bag for something, immediately looked toward Rehan.

“I’m fine,” Kainat replied with a smile.

“Rehan, come here,” Asif called with a fake smile.

Rehan walked over and sat beside him.

“Wow. We were the ones who played the match yesterday, and you’re asking her how she is?”

Asif complained dramatically.

Rehan laughed.

“Alright then, brother, tell me — how are you? No broken bones, right?” he joked while glancing at Asif’s leg.

“Stop your drama,” Asif laughed.

Then his eyes briefly shifted toward Kainat, who was taking out her notebook.

“What’s this?” Rehan asked while looking at something wrapped in paper.

“This is my drawing,” Asif replied while removing the wrapping carefully.

To be continued… ✨

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