Nothing was easy
It was familiar yet unfamiliar
All those times have gathered
To make this moment freeze
It was a bit hard
This new world she faced
Sometimes, she felt awkward too
But then she remembered this feeling
That she felt on her fingertips
With another miracle, she won't forget this.
■■■
In the morning
"Why are you sitting here alone?"
With a coffee mug in her hand, Azeen asked Imraan who was sitting on the swing in the backyard.
"Why? Am I not allowed to sit here alone?"
Imraan asked back, making space for Azeen to sit on the swing.
Narrowing her eyes at him, Azeen sat beside him before asking,
"Did you fight with Ayana?"
"Before you ask anything let me inform you Ayana didn't say anything to me."
Imraan was about to say something when Azeen cut him off.
"It's just evident from the way both of you are avoiding each other."
Instead of replying Imraan simply looked ahead. The cousins continued to sit in silence when Imraan break it.
"Zee!"
Azeen looked at Imraan questionably.
"If I ask you something will you answer that truthfully?"
"Why will I lie to you?"
Azeen confusedly turned towards him.
Imraan took a breath before speaking,
"Recently I saw something. A distant memory perhaps."
"Memory?"
"Of my family."
Imraan nodded.
"My actual family."
Instantly Azeen's mood changed as she asked in a nervous voice.
"I thought you didn't remember anything."
"I thought so too, but it seems like they are coming back. My memories are coming back. In pieces."
Azeen gulped inaudibly listening to him.
"Do you perhaps have any idea about my past? Did Ma ever share anything with you-"
As soon as Imraan questioned, Azeen's mug slipped from her hand as some coffee splashed on her dress.
"Oh shoot! You okay?"
Quickly taking the mug from her hand, Imraan got up before Azeen could spill more coffee on herself.
"I... I need to clean..."
Pointing at her messy dress, Azeen excused herself before almost running from there.
♧♧♧
"I... erm... I could have taken a taxi or Uber. You guys don't have to drive all the way just to drop me off."
Awkwardly Imraan spoke from the back seat of the car.
"Dude, chill. We don't mind dropping you off."
While driving the car, Ayyan spoke. Beside him, Reeha was sitting and in the back seat, Ayana and Imraan were seated.
Initially, Imraan was about to go with Fawad and Azeen but the duo had some urgent work and they left early leaving behind Imraan.
"Imraan bhai, do you have some time to spare?"
Suddenly Reeha asked Imraan.
"Yeah, I'm pretty much free today. Why?"
Confusedly Imraan asked back whereas others looked at Reeha.
"I heard that there's a fair going on here. So I was thinking maybe we could stop by there."
Reeha suggested.
"Reeha, I don't think this is a good idea."
Ayana said, turning her doctor mode on.
"It's not good for you to be out so long in this situation."
"But, api, I'm feeling completely alright. Moreover, it's not that I want to go to the fair, it's the baby who wants to go there."
Emotionally Reeha said making Ayyan support her.
"Ayana, I think it'll be alright. I mean, after all, it's the baby that wants to go."
Ayyan said to make Ayana and Imraan give him a look.
"You can be so stupidly innocent sometimes."
Ayana murmured before agreeing to go.
"An amusement park? This is where you wanted to come?"
Ayyan gave Reeha a ridiculous look who simply gave him a sweet smile.
"This is the place where the fair is going on. See!"
Reeha pointed out the park where children were running around.
"Reeha, this is so childish. We are not wasting our time in this park. Let's go."
Holding Reeha's hand, Ayyan was about to go when Ayana spoke.
"I love this place."
With her shining eyes, Ayana excitedly spoke.
"This is so colorful and it has a roller coaster."
"Oh God! Not you too, Ayana! Imraan, dude say something."
Ayyan said with a fed-up voice.
"Yeah, I think it's better not to go-"
"You guys can go wherever you want. But I'll definitely ride that roller coaster."
Ignoring Imraan, Ayana spoke before going to ride the roller coaster.
"God!"
Ayyan let out a frustrated sound.
"Imraan, could you go with her? I don't trust her there alone."
"Me?"
Imraan looked at him horrified.
Ayyan nodded before adding,
"I would have gone but with Reeha,"
Pointing at his wife who was going somewhere, Ayyan completed.
"I don't think I can."
"It's okay. I..."
Imraan cleared his throat, before adding,
"...understand."
Patting at his back, Ayyan ran after his wife.
"Reeha, wait for me!"
Excitedly sitting on the seat, Ayana was waiting for the roller coaster to start when she felt someone sitting beside her. Raising her head she saw Imraan sitting beside her with a bit of a nervous look on his face.
"Do you really have to ride this thing?"
With a nervous voice, Imraan asked.
"Yes!"
Ayana replied with a bit too much excitement.
Tightening his belt, he repeated.
"You really think you'll be okay with this ride?"
"Of course! I really really want to ride it."
Ayana spoke with a thrilled smile before asking him,
"If you don't feel comfortable then you don't have to be here."
"No, I'm... pretty much comfortable."
Gulping a little, Imraan replied.
"You sure?"
Imraan simply nodded and then once all the seats were filled up, the ride started.
♧♧♧
"Uncle! Give me another plate of fuchka please."
Reeha said to the old man who gave a stall of fuchka in the fair.
"Reeha!"
With his eyes, Ayana indicated to her to stop eating.
"What? I'm not full yet."
In her defense, Reeha spoke.
"Sweetheart, you have already eaten three plates of fuchka, two burgers and a pizza."
Ayyan pointed out with a bit of sarcasm.
"You have already eaten a whole pot of food."
"Don't make me angry, Ayyan."
Narrowing her eyes at him, Reeha continued to eat.
"I'm feeling stressed."
"Stressed? About what?"
Confusedly Ayyan looked at her.
'Wasn't she alright just a minute ago? Now what made her stressed?'
Putting the spoon on the plate with a sound, Reeha gritted her teeth.
"The stress of my marriage life, the stress of my work, the stress of your annoying comments on top of your taunts."
Ayyan held his head with a hand.
'God! Why does her mood swing have to happen now?'
"Don't worry. I won't look like an elephant. So let me eat in peace now."
"I don't have any problem if you become an elephant. I'm just worried for your health."
Patiently Ayyan spoke.
"Fine then. I won't eat anymore."
Reeha put the plate on the table with a cute pout.
"Good girl. Come here. Let me give you a hug."
"Don't push me Ayyan."
Seeing him inclining towards her, Reeha said shifting a bit away but it was of no use as Ayyan caught her eventually in a tight side-hug making her heart warm as a giggle escaped her mouth.
"We are in a public place, Ayyan!"
"Whatever. I don't care."
Ayyan replied, still side-hugging her.
"Now let's get you home."
Ayyan released her and turned his phone to call Ayana when Reeha spoke,
"No."
Reeha groaned.
"You don't understand."
"What don't I understand?"
"I am home."
Cheesily Reeha said.
"You are my home."
"Awe, Reeha. You are so cute!"
Ayyan pinched her nose when Reeha cutely asked,
"Can I finish that plate before leaving?"
Instantly his smile vanished from Ayyan's face.
'So that's why his wife was acting cute.'
Ayyan thought before shaking his head with a stern face.
♧♧♧
"Are you okay?"
Worriedly Ayana asked Imraan who once got out of the ride slumped on a chair.
Without speaking Imraan simply nodded with his head resting on the table.
'It was one hell of a ride. And never again he's gonna ride that monstrous ride.'
"That's exactly how you replied earlier and after that, you almost made me deaf."
Ayana murmured before handing him a bottle of water that Imraan gratefully took before gulping down the whole in a go.
Ayana looked at Imraan's state. If she knew that he was so afraid of the ride, then she would have never insisted on riding it. Ayana still remembers the embarrassment she felt during the whole ride while Imraan was screaming at the top of his voice. She wonders whether his voice was alright after all that screaming.
"I... I'm going to... head to the washroom."
With his shaky voice, Imraan somehow managed to speak before excusing himself.
"Just give me a moment."
Once he left, Ayana stood up to find a tea stall. Spotting one, she went there to buy one.
"One bubble tea please."
Paying the money, Ayana was about to take the bubble tea when a man took the tea from the counter and threw some money on the counter.
"Excuse me! That's mine. I have already paid for it. You can order another one."
"Look, miss. I am busy. So you can order another one with the money."
The bulky man said, indicating the money that he just threw at the cash counter.
Before the man could walk away, Ayana snatched the tea from his hand.
"Even I am busy. You can buy it with your money."
Showing the tea, she added.
"This is mine."
"Look, miss. Don't piss me off. Just because you are a woman doesn't mean that I won't do anything to you."
Ayana sarcastically laughed before deadly glaring at the man.
"What will you do? Hit me?"
Imraan who was searching for Ayana, spotting her went there where a mini crowd was almost gathered.
"What happened?"
Cluelessly Imraan asked, looking at his wife who was looking at the stranger with a murderous glare.
As soon as Ayana's eyes fell on her husband, something came to her mind and without thinking twice she blurt out,
"You wanted to fight right?"
Grabbing Imraan's arm Ayana said.
"Here. Fight with my husband and watch how he beats the hell out of you."
"Ayana, what are you saying?"
Mortified at her words, Imraan looked at her before eyeing the bulky man.
"We can solve the issue by talking like civil people."
"Fine. Bring it on. Let's see who beats the hell out of whom."
Saying the bulky man folded his shirt showing his muscles.
"Imraan, do it. Show him your strength. Show him what power this,"
Grabbing his biceps, Ayana proudly said.
"Biceps hold."
"Ayana, have you lost-"
Imraan couldn't complete it as the man grabbed his collar.
"Woah woah, big man. Relax!"
"Why? You afraid, pretty boy?"
The goon-like man said, still holding Imraan's collar.
"Of course not. But give me some time to mentally prepare, dude."
Nervously chuckling, Imraan spoke, making the man release him.
As soon as the man released him, Imraan did a quick scan around him. And then slightly lowering his head to Ayana's level he whispered,
"On a count to three, we run like hell."
Breaking her murderous eye contact with the bulky man, Ayana confusedly looked at her husband.
"Huh?"
"One."
Imraan slowly took his hand out of his pockets and to his sides and made an intense eye contact with the man who was now slowly approaching towards him.
"Two"
He grabs Ayana's hand properly. Ayana's eyes widened as she realized what Imraan's plan was.
"Imraan, no."
"Three."
As soon as the number came out of his mouth they ran out of the stall so fast that they were gone in an instant. The couple could hear the man screaming while following them behind. But they did not stop their pace and kept on running. Their hands slipped out of grasp but they still stayed together whilst running.
"Where do we go now?"
Ayana asked Imraan who was panting heavily while looking around.
"Why are you asking me now? Didn't this come to your mind while you were arguing with him?"
Imraan frustratedly said.
"Are you blaming me right now?"
Narrowing her eyes at him, she asked.
"I'm blaming that stupid bubble tea of yours because of which we are in this situation right now."
Just then they heard footsteps approaching their direction. Imraan groaned frustratedly before ordering.
"Just keep running!"
And he did not have to tell her twice as Ayana continued to run for her life.
Spotting a place to hide, Imraan pulled Ayana there as he heard the man crossing them. Once he was sure the man left, he sighed in relief before looking down at Ayana, the little troublemaker whose face was hidden in his chest.
"Erm Ayana, can you get out of here?"
Hesitantly Imraan spoke. She was close, too close to him. And although he didn't want to, but this closeness was making his heart beat faster.
"Why? Have we been caught by any chance?"
Worriedly Ayana whispered.
"I think he is somewhere close to us. What do we do now?"
With a serious face, Imraan said teasingly.
"What?"
Ayana's eyes widened in fear as she tightly stuck to him even more.
"You can't betray and leave me alone, okay? Promise me, you won't. Promise me!"
"Sure, I promise."
Imraan laughed out loud confusing her, who was looking cute hiding on his chest.
"Why are you laughing?"
Ayana quickly looked outside seeing no one, she frowned at him.
"Were you lying?"
"Can you let go now?"
Pointing at her hand which was tightly grabbing his shirt he said.
"My back is starting to hurt."
Quickly being flustered Ayana let go of her hold earning a chuckle from her husband.
"You do realize that you almost killed me today right?"
After a while, Imraan said, making Ayana look away.
"How was I supposed to know that you'd be scared to have a mini-fight with a goon?"
Looking away she murmured loud enough for him to hear.
"A mini fight with that 100 kg man? Seriously? You think I would have won against him?"
Imraan questioned to which Ayana looked down.
"Tell me honestly, you wanted to take revenge on me for lashing out at you yesterday night. And that's why you did this, didn't you?"
"What? No. Why will you accuse me of something like that?"
Ayana frowned at him before truthfully saying.
"About yesterday night, you were right. I never share my thoughts or secrets. I... there's a reason why I keep it all inside."
"And I have no right to ask you about your personal matters when I don't share mine."
She added, looking down guiltily.
Lifting her face with his hand, Imraan deeply looked at her velvety eyes.
"I'm sorry."
He sincerely spoke.
"I should not have spoken so harshly with you yesterday. I'm sorry."
Imraan continued.
"And about sharing your personal matters, I understand. You might not feel comfortable telling me-"
"It's not that I'm uncomfortable telling you."
Stopping him, Ayana shook her head.
"It's just that..."
Ayana took a deep breath before speaking.
"I'm afraid."
"Afraid? Of what?"
Confusedly he asked.
"Afraid of your reaction."
Seeing him still confused, she added.
"I'm afraid that if I told you my secrets, then you won't ever look at me the same way you do now."
"Look, Ayana, I don't know what you are hiding. But I do know one thing. And that is no matter what happens, I will never judge you. Not for your secret, your past, or your history."
Imraan took her hands on his, before softly speaking.
"Do you know why?"
Ayana looked on, allowing him to continue.
"Because all these made you who you are today. A strong capable woman whom I really admire."
"And about sharing secrets, it can wait. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to listen."
He concluded with a smile.
"You can talk to me or not, but I'm here. Always."
♧♧♧
"Where did you two vanish?"
Seeing the couple walking in their direction, Ayyan asked.
The couple looked at each other with a smile before Ayana replied,
"Long story. Will tell you later."
The couples were about to leave when Reeha spoke,
"Shall we buy something for Mahrosh?"
Ayyan nodded.
"Sure. But what?"
"What about a doll?"
Reeha suggested before her eyes stuck into a particular doll.
"That one seems pretty cute."
"Alright. You guys stay here. I'll be back in a minute."
Saying Ayyan was about to go when Imraan also offered to accompany him and then the duo went away.
"Today was one hectic day, wasn't it? First, the farmhouse and now this fair. Reeha usually isn't this childish or demanding but due to the pregnancy, her mood swings are quite unpredictable."
While waiting for the shopkeeper to pack the doll, Ayyan spoke.
"A lot of time got wasted because of this fair, didn't it?"
Imraan smiled a little.
"No problem. It was fun actually. I got to experience something new,"
Remembering the earlier incident with the bulky man, Imraan said.
"And also got a chance to apologize to her."
He mumbled the last part before looking at Ayyan.
"By the way, you and Reeha truly complement each other."
Imraan added buttering Ayyan a bit.
"I do admire you for the way you handle her mood swings."
"No need to butter me up."
With a little laugh Ayyan said and then taking the doll he paid the shopkeeper before continuing.
"About me dealing with her mood swings,"
"Well, if a man is in love, unlike what he used to be when he usually forgets the existence of his heart, he'll feel as if someone suddenly performed CPR on him to make his heart beat again."
Dramatically Ayyan said whereas Imraan gave him a weird look.
"No. Such a description isn't good enough."
"It's like a heart that has stopped beating suddenly gets an electric shock."
After thinking for a while, Ayyan spoke.
"It's just like the feeling of coming back to life after encountering an electric shock."
"Wow! You have..."
Imraan searched for the right word to say.
"... Such a unique way to share your emotions."
"It was weird, wasn't it?"
Embarrassedly Ayyan asked.
"Honestly,"
Imraan replied as the duo laughed out loud.
"Hella weird."
♧♧♧
"So..."
Cluelessly Ayana looked at Reeha who was looking at her curiously.
"What?"
"Did you guys patch up?"
Reeha asked.
"Seems like you did."
"Was it that obvious?"
Ayana asked, a bit embarrassed, making Reeha laugh.
"Nope. But I have passed this phase so I can tell just by seeing you two."
"You talk like you have been married for 30 years."
With a smile Ayana said, making Reeha giggle.
"So, how's everything going on with Imraan bhai?"
"Are you interrogating me?"
Narrowing her eyes, Ayana asked jokingly.
"Am just curious."
Reeha shrugged.
"So..."
"It's going well. I mean we have you know ups and downs but apart from that everything is going pretty well."
Ayana replied.
Reeha was about to make a teasing comment when Ayana added.
"You know what, Reeha, honestly, I'm happy the way we are doing now. I mean we have established this mutual understanding, respect and space. And I'm happy with that."
"And what about love?"
Looking at her Reeha asked.
"Love?"
Ayana paused at the question before replying.
"I don't think, Reeha, that love is mandatory to be happy in a relationship. Honestly speaking, I'm glad that in my relationship, a complex and complicated thing like love is not involved. I'm happy with the way things are now between me and Imraan."
"From my previous experience, I have realized what a dangerous emotion love is. It is enough dangerous to destroy a person and I,"
With a determinant tone, Ayana completed.
"I'm not repeating the mistake of giving someone else the chance to destroy my life. Not twice."
"Api, you know how my and Ayyan's marriage wasn't either a love or an arranged one. He and I, including our families, were almost like enemies. From that situation to the current situation, a lot of things happened. We had to face many ups and downs."
Reeha spoke remembering her initial days of marriage.
"All of these taught me one thing."
"The best love always comes unexpectedly. It made me realize that you don't just pick someone and cross your fingers to magically fall in love. Rather,"
Looking at Ayana, she continued.
"You meet them by fate and there's an instant connection and the chemistry shared is way above your head. You just talk and notice the way their lips curve when they smile or the color of their eyes and all at once you know you are either lucky or screwed."
"And from my experience, I can say that if it happens to you and Imraan bhai, then both of you will be lucky."
Reeha completed with a wink making Ayana shake her head with a chuckle.
"Mind sharing the joke with us?"
Ayyan said joining the ladies with Imraan behind him.
"Nothing interesting for you guys."
Reeha replied before asking,
"Done buying?"
Instead of replying Ayyan showed the shopping bag.
"Shall we go then?"
"Of course."
♧♧♧
In the Quraish Villa
Imraan and Ayana were about to climb the stairs when Sherebano Quraish called Imraan.
"Imraan!"
The couple looked at her.
"I would like to talk to you. Come to my room after you are done freshening up."
Without waiting for a reply, Sherebano Quraish went away.
Entering his room, Imraan immediately went into the washroom to freshen up. Once he was done, Ayana, who was in Malik mansion for the past week, asked.
"Did something happen while I was away?"
Imraan shook his head.
"But now something is definitely going to happen."
"Means?"
"Will tell you later. For now, let me go and talk with Maa."
Saying Imraan went away.
"May I come in?"
Imraan knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"What did you want to talk about?"
Imraan asked, sitting beside his mother.
"Imraan, have I ever made you feel like you don't belong here?"
Without beating the bush, Sherebano Quraish asked.
"Did I ever do something that hurt you, or made you feel like you were not my real son? Did I ever for once make you feel like you were adopted?"
"Maa, why are you suddenly asking..."
Imraan confusedly stated before realizing the situation.
"Did you talk with Azeen?"
"Yes."
"I should not have told her anything."
Imraan murmured before holding Sherebano Quraish's hand,
"Look, maa, I... it's not what you are thinking. I -"
"You what Imraan? I gave you everything."
Mrs. Quraish spoke as tears accumulated in her eyes.
"I loved you. More than I would have loved my real child."
"I know, maa. I know and I'm not denying any of that. And I'm grateful to you for that. Forever."
Imraan said.
"For me, you have and you will always be my Maa. My mother."
"Then why are you trying to dig into your past? Why?"
Mrs. Quraish asked as tears poured from her eyes.
"Maa, I... I don't know why you are reacting in this manner in the first place."
Taking a breath, Imraan spoke.
"I have the right to know about my past, don't I?"
"Imraan -"
"I know you are hiding something from me, you all have hidden something from me. I knew that from the start but I never asked."
Imraan said truthfully.
"But now seeing you like this... it is making me more curious about my past."
"Imraan, my dear, I -"
"It's high time, maa. It's high time."
Cutting her off, Imraan said before leaving the room.
"Now either you tell me the truth or I find it in my way."
■■■
Assalamualaikum and Hello everyone! 👋
Hope all of you are doing well.
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Sorry if it was a bit boring. 😅
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