Turning and tossing around the bed, I tried to sleep but it was of no use. Wali's image kept roaming around my mind. He was so formal and distant towards me in the whole event as if we weren't best friends before but strangers.
And its good! If he wants to act like this then so be it. I don't care anyways, I huffed.
He was the one who left me five years ago and did not even said goodbye to me. He was the one who did not contact me so I should be the one mad at him, who should be ignoring him, not the other way around.
Stop it Aleyha! You told Zoha you have moved on, you do not care. So why are you thinking about him!?
Glancing at her, beside me, I kissed her forehead and moved out of the bed towards the terrace. Even though Wali was her brother and she loved him very much, she had always supported me. She is the only one here who knew how I felt about Wali which Wali himself didn't know. She know how broken I was when he left and didn't contact me.
Closing my eyes and breathing the fresh air in, I tried to relax. Ouch... I felt something hit my shoulder. Looking down in the garden, I saw a figure waving hands at me maniacally, calling me down. I know who must that be. Grabbing my dupatta, I streamed downstairs and moved towards the garden.
"Zaroooooon, you idiot! Is that the way to call someone down" I glared at the same figure who threw the stone at me.
"What! It's not my fault that you were soooo lost in your prince charming's thoughts that you did not notice me waving hands at you like a lunatic" he pointed out, surrendering his hands in the air.
Moving towards him, I sat on the grass opposite of him, looking at the flowers around which still were in the garden.
"By the way, were you not told to sleep early because the girls Chachi called for applying mehndi to you all will be here early" he said, making a disgusting face.
"Why are all the boys so disgusted by mehndi" I said rolling my eyes.
"Its smell is so yuckkkk"
"Rehney do jab bhabhi ayen gi na mehndi laga kar tab phochun gi" I teased him.
"Yeah right," he scorned.
I don't know how long we talked, it was pretty late when we decided to retire to our rooms.
I stood up to leave when Zaroon called my name. Halting in my tracks, I turned around.
"I know why you are not yet asleep and what's disturbing you. Its all about Wali bhai's sudden arrival, right? I noticed how you two were acting the whole event and I perceived it affected you. But just know that everything will be fine when the right time comes and when its meant to be fine. Give him some time to come around," his soft voice ranged in my ears. Giving him a weak smile, I walked towards Zoha's room.
When Wali left me, Zaroon was there for me. He was like a brother I never had. Talking to him always diverted my mind from my problems. He didn't know my feelings for Wali but he knew when Wali left I was pretty upset. How stupid of me to even think that he might not be able to figure out what was troubling me and I could change the topic.
I perceived it affected you.
Zaroon's words rang in my mind.
Why did he think Wali's behavior affected me?
It did not affect you at all Aleyha!
Zaroon doesn't know what he's talking about.
Yes, that's the only truth and nothing else, I told myself.
__________________________________________________________________________
Zoha's Pov
"Aleyhaaaaaa, wake up" I yelled at her for the hundredth time.
"Five more minutes Zoha, please" she repeated the same dialogue which she was repeating from the last fifteen minutes, and put the pillow on top of her head. Having enough of her childishness, I picked up the glass of cold water, pulled away the blanket and was ready to throw water on her that someone knocked. Telling that person to come in, I looked towards the door and saw Wali bhai entering the room. He must have judged the situation I was in, shaking his head, a smile graced his face "She is still not a morning person" he whispered to himself, not realizing that I heard him.
"What bhai, do you want something?" I asked.
"No...uh...I mean yes, mama is calling you and all the other girls. The mehndi girls are here" he said, diverting his gaze from Aleyha towards me.
"Yes, I am coming. Let me wake this stubborn girl here first"
Turning around, I was about to continue my task but Wali bhai stopped me.
"Wait. Zoha, I think you all should go and apply mehndi first, it will take some time. When the mehndi girl would be free then you can wake her up. She must be tired, let her sleep"
Still not facing him, I nodded, surprised at his behavior.
"You are right bhai. I will be there in five minutes"
Hearing the door close, I sighed looking at Aleyha "Oh my Allah, so much for ignoring and forgetting about her? What's cooking in your mind bhai? Why are you acting like this with her?" I muttered, asking questions to myself which only, bhai have answers for.
"You know how your sister is, I will not let my questions left unanswered" I grinned mischievously.
Aleyha's Pov
Still half asleep, I stretched my hand towards where Zoha was sleeping but found the spot empty. Frowning, I pushed the blanket away and stretched myself. Glancing at the clock, my eyes widen, it was 11 o'clock.
"Shoot. Shoot. Shoot" jumping out of the bed, I rushed towards the bathroom.
Having been done with my morning routine, I rushed downstairs and saw all of my cousins sitting and applying mehndi.
"Finally, you are here Aleyha. I was about to send someone to wake you.Manahil's mehndi is almost done, you are next" nanna said.
Walking towards her, I sat beside her. I glared at Zoha, who was sitting on the other side of nanna still applying mehndi. She raised an eyebrow at me.
"Why didn't you wake me up? Its her fault nanna that I am late" I scorned, placing my head on nanna's shoulder.
"My fault! I was waking you for almost twenty minutes but you did not even budge" she glared at me. I was about to accuse her of telling lies when nanna interrupted "Okay, both of you, stop it"
"Aleyha. Come on, I am done" Manahil called out. Sticking out my tongue at Zoha and giving nanna a kiss on her cheek, I moved towards the mehndi girl.
It was almost half past twelve when all of us were done with mehndi and were now sitting in the living room waiting for it to get dry.
"Nanna, why didn't you put on mehndi?" I frowned.
"Come on Aleyha, I am old now. It doesn't suit me"
"No, you are not old. You are still my young beautiful nanna"
"That's your love beta. But admit it, I am old and now this mehndi irritates my skin"
"Oh...okay. I'll not force you to apply only because it irritates your skin otherwise I would have at least applied a tippa on your palm" I pouted.
Shaking her head, she kissed my cheeks. Laying my head on her lap, I pulled my legs up on the sofa so that I could lay down properly. After sitting for several minutes, waiting for mehndi being applied, my back hurts. I looked at the mehndi on my hands and wished that the stain would be worth this all.
"Wali," nanna called out. My ears perked up, and all my attention diverted from the mehndi to the man entering the living room.
"Is everything prepared?" she asked.
"Yes, dadu. I have arranged the cars for other people who will be going with us to Sami's house so that it will be convenient for them. Karim Lala had brought all the decorations that Laiba asked for decorating the mehndi plates. I too have personally checked them and have told the tailor to bring Sami's sherwani till the evening" he said, removing the mobile phone from his ear.
"Mera farmanbardar aur zimedar beta, shabash" she smiled affectionately at him.
Rolling my eyes, I walked out of the living room and towards the kitchen, ignoring Wali's gaze.
He was always nanna's favorite boy, I huffed.
Suddenly feeling hungry, I decided to have some milkshake for the moment. I almost picked the glass but then realized that I cannot hold the glass, my mehndi was still not fully dried. Annoyed, I was about to exit the kitchen when I saw my knight in shining armor.
"Zaaaarrrrrr..." I shouted.
"What women! Are you trying to make me deaf?" he exclaimed, rubbing his ear.
"Stop overreacting. I am hungry and I want to drink this milkshake. Can you please hold the glass so I can have some milkshake at least" I asked him as sweetly as I could, gesturing him towards the milk shake kept on the counter.
"Am I your servant? And what happened to your hands" he raised an eyebrow. Lifting my hands up, I showed him the mehndi on my hand.
"I have some work. Don't you have somebody...wait...Wali bhaiiiiiii" he called. Wali, who was about to step out of the house halted in his steps.
Aware of what he was about to do, my eyes widened. Shaking my head vigorously at him, my eyes begged him not to do what he was about to do.
"Can you help Aleyha? She is hungry and wants to drink this milkshake here. I have an urgent work" saying that he fled away from the kitchen, smirking at me. And I glared at him.
Knowing Wali would not agree because I could no longer expect anything from this new version of Wali. I was about to leave that I saw him striding towards me, shocking me. I was dumbfounded.
Picking the glass from beside me, pouring milkshake into it, he brought the glass towards my lips.
Coming back to my senses, I stepped back "I don't want to have it anymore" I said and was about to walk out of the kitchen that he grabbed my elbow "Why?..." he cocked his head to the side "...Were you not hungry?"
"Not anymore" I gritted out and tried to free my hand from his grasp.
Whirling me around, he once again brought the glass to my lips.
"Drink it!" he ordered, a muscle in his jaw twitching.
"I said, I. Am. Not. Hungry anymore!" I told him, emphasizing on each word, and looked away.
"I know you are hungry. So have it" he once again ordered. His eyes flashed..
"Why? Why do you care whether I drink it or not?" I questioned, raising my chin up and glaring at him. His forehead puckered and he visibly tensed. His grip on my arm loosened. He opened his mouth to say something that I heard Hammad mamu calling me. Freeing my arm from his now loosened grip, I ran from the kitchen.
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So guys, how was it?
Please give me your reviews so that I keep on updating the book.
I know there are some urdu dialogues and words in the chapters, if you are interested, I can translate them for you at the end of each chapter.
I am writing some dialogues in urdu because they donot have the same feelings once translated😉.
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Allah hafiz for now.