CHAPTER 14
The good news brought happiness and thrill in both families, Asif and Aqeel decided to throw a small party so that they can do a rasam and announce their engagement. Maryam couldn’t believe everything was happening so quickly and so easily on the other hand Shehry was all so excited, but the poor boy was under constant bullying from Waqas, Atif and Hussain …. Today Asif and Saba thought to visit Aqeel’s place so they bought mithaai and some gifts for Maryam including a pretty dress. It was Saba’s idea she didn’t want to go khali hath.
At Maryam’s place Mehru and Nabi were really excited Maryam wore a simple purple kameez shalwar and braided her hair into French style, she was looking cute as always. She made a few dishes for the guests herself, though the cooks were reluctant to let her cook but she insisted.
It was evening when they heard the car horn, Maryam’s heartbeat quicken with the thought of facing him again, and this time it was such a speciall occasion he is going to be her life now, she could feel her heart was racing she tried to calm herself and went downstairs where the first image she had was …. Him. He was looking cute in that black kurta and denim with that, Maryam had never seen him in desi style, it suited him well. Maryam was literally checking him out and her cheeks were all red, she smiled cheekily at her thoughts and came into the hall
“um..assalam o alikum! She entered in the hall, everyone looked at her, Shehry looked at her, she smiled, she was looking really pretty, she tried hard to avoid his gaze
“walaikum Assalam….beta kesi ho? MashaAllah you are looking even prettier…Saba said when she sat beside her and patted her head she blushed
“Hello bhabi….i hope I can call you this now? Hussain greeted her and winked at her, she smiled and nodded her head
“bhai,….bhabi kia hota hea?.....Maha asked, looking cutely at Shehry she was sitting in his lap. Shehry turned red and everyone laughed at him
“umm bhaabi kia hota hea….bhabi…umm why don’t you ask mom…. Go, ” he patted her cheek and tried to pass the awkward question Maryam looked at him and they shared a cute shy smile.
“Asif bhai iss sab ki kia zarrorat thi…. This is really too much yarr” aqeel looked at the packed gifts and fruits and Mithaai k dabbey and said
“oye ye sab hamari beti k liye hea not for you….so let it be between us” Asif said and Aqeel laughed
“Aunty ye sab waqai mein buht ziada hea….ap log aaye this is enough for us” Maryam said softly to Saba and she smiled at her
“This is our love for you beta just accept it” Saba said and Maryam smiled
“Wah wah Maryam you are a lucky dude…. Dad, I think ap ko ub hamare bare mein bhi sochna chaiye , you know, is mein bara faida hea itne gifffts milen ge aesa nai socha tha mein ne” Mehru looked at the gifts and said sweetly to Aqeel and all laughed
“Hmm, let me think then there are few really good proposals for you two as well…. So what say?” aqeel asked, looking at her with a hint of tease and Mehru literally blushed
“isi k liye dhoondiye ga dad not for me…..han” nabi said making a face
“q bhai….shadi ka plan nai hea janab ka?” Shehry asked
“herrrgiz nai…… mujhe world class business woman banna hea koi bv shiv nai” Nabi said and aqeel laughed
“wah ye to tum ne waqas wali bat ker di….” Hussain said and Nabi smiled
“umm mehru come lets bring tea” Maryam said and headed towards the kitchen
“AAA…Shehry why don’t you go and give her a hand am talking to aunty its very important you see” Mehru seriously said to him and Saba smiled while Shehry shyly got up and headed to the kitchen after giving a wink to Mehru and she chuckled
Shehry was entering into the kitchen when he halted there Maryam was standing on her toes, she was trying to take something out of the cabinet Shehry kept on looking at her then he slowly went near her to help her out
Maryam felt warmth near her body, she looked at her right, he was standing there too close to her his hand was in the air near Maryam’s hand instead of grabbing the pot, he grabbed her hand, they looked into each other’s eyes, lost completely in the gaze. Suddenly their hands touched the wrong place and the flour bag came thudding on the floor, for a couple of seconds their eyes got blind because the air was filled with the white powder Maryam closed her eyes tightly while Shehry started coughing, they were covered with flour they looked at each other and burst into laughter…… Maryam was holding her stomach Shehry was looking funny so did she
“han hans lo hans lo….. ek to madad kerne ki koshish ki ooper se ye sila mila” Shehry made a puppy face and Maryam tried to hide her laugh
“You are looking like 90 years old… with white hair and a white beard, but don’t worry, you are still looking cute” they started dusting off the flour when Maryam looked at him and said while giving emphasis on the word CUTE.
“Acha?..... chalo dekhen zara” Shehry said and before Maryam could realize he took her wrist and brought her to the big mirror at the front wall and stood behind her, they looked in the mirror at each other’s reflections they were looking like a big mess still they looked cute together….. Slowly Shehry moved his arms around her torso and snaked them softly, he put his chin on her neck and whispered in her ear
“you know?.... You are the most beautiful person I have ever met Maryam and it is not just your face, I fell in love with your heart… thanks for making me the luckiest person on earth” maryam closed her eyes, her hands were holding his arms, heart beating dead fast, she felt her ear was on fire, she slowly opened her eyes and looked in the mirror they looked perfect together… it felt so right in his arms.
“Maryam… are you happy?” he asked looking in the mirror
“I have never been happier before Shehryaar” she looked into his eyes and solemnly said Shehry gave her the world’s best smile
“Now… if you could tell me why did you come here in the kitchen?... you needed anything? Maryam felt the closeness was way too addicting so she softly removed his arms and turned to face him….
“ Well, I was comfortable there……” Shehry made a sad face and pointed towards her, she laughed and went towards the counter… together they prepared the trays and put things in the trolley meanwhile nabiha and Hussain came in the kitchen
“oyeee hoyeee…. Bhabi bhai, did you people took thatttt much time in flour fighting?” Hussain looked at the spilled flour and the white powder in their hair
“ummm no it… it accidentally fell off” Maryam said, looking at the teapot and hiding her blush
“umm okay, okay I got it” Hussain smirked at Shehry and he smiled
They took the trolleys to the hall mehru gave Maryam curious looks
“What's wrong?” Maryam sat near her and asked
“nai… wese he I was wondering what took you two that long in the kitchen?” Mehru asked like a police officer and Maryam giggled
“Nothing…..” Maryam replied
“Well Shehry… I guess you owe me a thanks” mehru poked him and he laughed while Maryam looked curiously at her
“Yah yah … thanks a lot, you are a sweetheart seriously” Shehry smiled at her
“so bhai bacha log… we elders have decided the engagement date… we think next Friday would be great for the ceremony. What do you think” Aqeel announced while chewing on his cake and Maryam looked down at her feet
“Yeah, that’s is great… what do you think Maryam?” Nabi asked her and she smiled awkwardly
“umm yeah i.. I don’t have any issue, if the elders have decided that would be for our good” Maryam smiled and said softly
“wah wah bhabi ki bat hea ap ki….. You are too good to be true honestly” hussain said and they laughed at him
“isi liye to mujhe maryam itni pasand hea….. us se mil k ahsaas hota hea k sherm, haya, lihaaz ye sab abhi bhi hamari bachiyon mein mojood hea” Saba sofly patted her head and she blushed hard
“kia Matlab aunty hum mein ye sab nai hea kiaaaaa?” Mehru asked crossing her arms at her torso and pouted a fake sad face
“haaaaa nai nai beta tum dono to MashaAllah ho he buht piyari bachiyan” Saba said at once and Mehru smiled at her ear to ear
“So Shehry is it good with you?... I mean its already an off from your work and uni bhi nai hea on Friday” Asif asked him, he looked at his father in a blank way
“ummm what?... what did you ask dad? M sorry I was….ummm
“hahahaha……he said and the rest started laughing hard he was constantly looking at Maryam lost in his thoughts he couldn’t realize Asif talking to him
“Shehry yarr kia ho gaya hea…. I know your lady is damn pretty but at least thori si he ghaas humein dal do…” Nabiha poked him and he blushed hard while Maryam smiled at his cute expressions. Shehry scratch his head in embarrassment
They were leaving for home Saba gave a long tight hug to Maryam and kissed her forehead…… she headed towards the car when suddenly Maryam felt someone at her back
“I wish I could do the same…. Mom is so lucky” shehry whispered at her back and her eyes went wide she blushed hard, didn’t dare to turn around and look at him. He came in the front and hugged Aqeel his face was towards Maryam, he winked at her and she smiled back…..
“Bye bye bhabi….” Maha came running to her and Maryam hugged her back
They left for home and Maryam went to her room, she stood in front of the mirror and looked herself, she was indeed looking different, happier and satisfied. Somewhere in her heart something ached, she missed her home back in Pakistan, she wanted to tell Asad and Ali how happy she was but she just couldn’t. She touched her right ear and felt the heat, Shehry’s words came into her mind and she smiled;
“Did I really made him the luckiest man?” she smiled, she missed those arms around her waist… a cute blush appeared on her cheeks, she held the chain and looked intently at the hanging S
“I was never happier before Shehryaar, and this is just because of you. You made me the world’s happiest girl….. I… I think am falling for him… am I in love?” She looked at herself in the mirror a smile spread across her face. She got her answer
SHEHRY’S END
Shehry changed into his usual night dress; a vest and a baggy trouser, washed his face and came out to sleep, he smiled at Hussain, who was already snoring this time he didn’t get irritated with that noise just smiled and stood in front of the mirror.
He took the hair brush and started brushing his hair when suddenly his hands stopped, he felt as if he saw Maryams reflection in the mirror, he slowly touched the mirror there was nothing… he shook away the thought “ pagal ho gaya heat u bhaai…kisi kam ka nai raha”
He put down the brush and from his wallet he took out the M, for a couple of minutes he kept on staring that, suddenly he looked in the mirror and notice his cheeky grin, it was all over his face he just couldn’t get her out of his mind..
“Is this love?.. Am I in love with her?” he looked at the letter and then himself in the mirror and smiled, he held the M in his fist and put it near his heart
“Yes, Mr Shehryaar Asif you are in love….. this cant be anything else, this has to be Love” Shehryaar said aloud and looked sideways at Hussain thaks God he was fast a sleep