(A story full of laughter, mischief, and unexpected love)
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"My sweet sister! How are you? I missed you so much, I can't even express it!"
Mashal exclaimed as she hugged Nawal tightly.
"I missed you too, Mashal. Now that you're here, I won't let you go until Eid. Spend Ramadan here, and we'll go to Pakistan together on Eid."
Nawal said affectionately, smiling.
Mashal flipped her shoulder-length hair dramatically and grinned.
"Don't worry, Api! I'll stay long enough to drive everyone here mad along with you!"
Nawal glared at her.
"Don't you dare try your usual tricks here. Everyone here is pretty serious. And remember—this is England, not Pakistan. One silly stunt and you could end up in a police station."
Mashal, true to her mischievous name, smirked.
"Oh Api, don't be so dramatic! Let's get out of here before we end up celebrating Eid at the airport."
They both laughed and got into the car where the driver had already loaded the luggage.
"Api, I bet Brother Hanaan is sitting like a bodyguard, protecting his beloved sons,"
Mashal guessed with a grin.
"You bet. Like aunt, like nephews! Honestly, I've never seen any good habit in them that came from me or Hanaan. They've picked all of yours."
Nawal sighed.
Mashal adjusted imaginary shirt collars with pride.
"Well, who else spoils their nieces and nephews like a true khala (aunt)? They'll be thrilled to see me! We're going to have a blast!"
Nawal wisely chose silence and started scrolling through her phone.
"Api, look at that guy doing amazing stunts. Uncle, stop the car!"
Mashal shouted suddenly, making Nawal cover her ears.
"Mashal! Easy…"
"Uncle, drive on. She's always being dramatic,"
Mashal added casually as the driver chuckled and restarted the car.
"Thank you!"
The boy outside shouted cheerfully. Mashal ducked back inside, giggling.
"What did you do for him to say thank you?"
Nawal squinted.
"I threw him a chocolate for the cool stunts he was doing,"
Mashal replied. Nawal just stared. What else could she do?
"Your antics have already started. I'm warning you, no mischief at home. Hanaan's younger brother Rayyan is staying with us until Eid. He's very serious, unlike Hanaan. Please behave."
Mashal's eyes sparkled.
"Oh yes, the grumpy Mr. Rayyan. Let's see if I can't make him laugh. If not, I'll change my name!"
She smiled innocently.
"Don't worry, Api. I won't bother your serious dewar. Sorry, Mr. Moody."
But Nawal sensed danger.
"Mashal acting this innocent? That's like the moon becoming best friends with the sun."
"Api, why are you staring at me like that? Don't you believe me? You told me not to mess with Rayyan, and I've agreed. Why so shocked?"
"Because I never expected you to actually agree!"
Nawal replied.
Mashal just winked and started daydreaming through the window.
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"Salam! Hello! Hey you, ya Habibi!"
Mashal burst through the door like a breeze, making even the walls jump from her loud greeting.
"Mishi Aani! You're here! Yayyy!"
Usama and Haider rushed to hug her tightly. The twins were around 7 and adored their aunt Mashal.
"How are my little munchkins?"
"We're good! How are you?"
"I'm perfect now that I've seen your shining faces,"
Mashal said, kissing them.
Hanaan chuckled.
"How are you, doll? You forgot about the rest of us in the joy of seeing your little fans!"
"Come on, Bhai! You know how much I adore these two. I forget everything when I see them."
"We know. They've been pestering us about your arrival for weeks,"
Hanaan smiled.
Just then, a groggy voice echoed from upstairs.
"Bhai, who arrived? What's all this noise?"
Rayyan, still rubbing his eyes, stepped out. He had stayed up working and was now sleep-deprived.
"Oh no, I forgot Rayyan was sleeping,"
Hanaan said, slapping his forehead.
Rayyan's eyes scanned the unusual figure—Mashal in black jeans and kurta, shoulder-length hair, boyish shoes, and a stole around her neck. He stared in confusion.
"Is that… a girl or a guy?"
"Rayyan, meet my little sister Mashal. Mashal, this is Rayyan—Hanaan's younger brother."
Mashal waved and said, "Hi!" Rayyan just nodded and walked away.
"I'm going back to sleep. Keep it down."
"Sleeping dragon awakens!"
Mashal laughed so loud, Rayyan heard it too.
Hanaan and Nawal exchanged helpless glances while suppressing giggles.
"Seriously, Mashal? Dragon??"
Nawal scolded lightly.
"Well, it suits him! And Bhai, you're so funny. 'Play quietly'—what even is that?!"
Mashal giggled again.
"Playing can be quiet if it's done politely,"
Nawal tried to explain.
Mashal looked at her like she'd spoken Greek.
"Api, polite laughter is like tea without sugar!"
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"And that's a six!"
Mashal, holding the bat like a warrior, celebrated—but just as quickly her joy vanished.
The ball soared and—smash!—hit Rayyan's window.
"Oh no, Aani! He was sleeping! Now he's definitely awake, and we're in big trouble!"
Usama said in horror.
Mashal laughed nervously.
"Yup. The sleeping dragon is up!"
Rayyan, just fallen asleep again, woke to shattered glass and a wrecked window.
He stomped to the window. Mashal, hands on ears, mouthed a "Sorry!"
Then yelled:
"Our ball flew into your room! Please toss it down so we can finish our match!"
Rayyan clenched his fists, picked up the ball, and wham! threw it back to the lawn without a word.
Later, another ball came crashing in—shattering the second window pane.
Panicking, the kids ran upstairs and hid in Usama and Haider's room.
Mashal scribbled a note:
"We're sorry for the accident. Here's a window repair fund."
From: HUM Gang
With a smiley face at the end.
Rayyan, furious, found the note on his bed and nearly laughed at the boldness. He knew exactly where the HUM Gang was hiding now...
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"Aani! We're safe—for now. From now on, we'll only play cricket when he's not home."
"Yeah," Haider added, "He's usually out except Sundays. We can survive one day with indoor games."
Mashal nodded, but couldn't help teasing:
"By the way, your chachu is such a grump. Seriously, were his parents feeding him chilies when he was born? Total dragon vibes!"
She was mid-rant when suddenly—
Rayyan appeared. Arms folded. Calm. Dangerous.
They froze.
"Did he… hear all that?"
Mashal whispered to Usama.
"Yes. Yes, he did."
Rayyan said, voice flat.
Mashal laughed nervously.
"Why don't you join our gang? We can rename it!"
She extended a hand. Rayyan stared.
"Your gang is called 'HUM' or 'Chaos Unlimited'?"
"Respect the name before disrespecting it!"
Mashal replied.
Rayyan sighed.
"All three of you—especially your so-called gang leader—listen carefully. If you disturb me again, there will be consequences. And keep your sorry notes to yourselves."
He tossed the crumpled note back at Mashal.
Mashal unfolded it:
Window Repair: Rs. 10,000
To be paid by: HUM Gang
Her jaw dropped.
"You didn't play fair!"
she pouted.
"You disturbed me. I returned the favor. Now zip it."
"And go back to your dragon cave!"
Mashal muttered.
"I heard that."
"We're sorry!"
she said quickly. "We'll go play carrom now. Quietly."
"You better,"
Rayyan warned, disappearing.
Mashal turned to Usama.
"Why didn't you warn me he was there?!"
"I was poking your shoulder!"
"Oh well. Go grab the bat and wickets—we'll play cricket tomorrow. Time for carrom, quietly, in the hall!"
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