Sooo Chapter 8 is here and because I was suuuper swamped these past weeks, my apologies for the short update.
Hope you all enjoy !
Chapter 8
'Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi, Na Dhoop Chune Na Chaon'
The after effects of Asad's little dinner adventure left everyone thinking. Dilshad wondered if Asad had actually talked to Zoya about his feelings, hence the whistling. Zoya wondered if her Jahapanah truly – literally – had a bipolar disorder alongside his OCD, while Tanveer looked uncharacteristically happy helping Najma clean the kitchen.
She hadn't had a lot of wins recently but the conversation at the dinner table seemed like a ray of hope. Miss New York had got talking about Ayaan's sagai and as usual blurted out bits she wasn't supposed to. It was a good thing Asad was much too preoccupied with his lunacy to take notice.
That girl really needed to learn to keep her mouth shut, Tanveer thought spitefully.
But to her benefit she would be able to get rid of her just as fast now. The sooner she leaves, quicker she gets to Asad and his capital.
Ah! She just couldn't wait. Tomorrow was going to be a good day.
xx
The front door squeaked as the chilly morning air made its way through the house.
The hands on the knob trembled cold and wet from the pouring rain, the strings in the handle recoiling, echoing through the empty space as the door opened.
Out of all the days, it had to be raining today. And why in the world does this door have to be so loud? I knew I should have used the window.
Ok! Now remember.Kick and step. Kick and step. Kick and...
"Woahhhh"
A loud thud drowned the early morning quiet.
"Allah Miyan! I told Aapi the length was not going to work. Why does this have to so long and slippery."
A burqah clad Zoya picked herself from the lobby floor not seeing the hand extended to help her at first.
"Zoya?"
Busted.
"Oh! Hi! Great weather na. Just perfect for a morning jog" Just act calm Zoya. Nothing-strange here.
" Aap Burqah mein jogging jaati hai Zoya?
Ya Allah! Why didn't my smart brain think of an excuse earlier and why is Tanveer up so early?
" How come you are up so early? I didn't know you were a morning person."
"Well I am a light sleeper and I thought I heard something"
"Oh" Of course she did.
Zoya hid her wet sweaty hands beneath her burqah. She was usually a quick thinker. The last thing she wanted was Tanveer to blow their cover.
Tanveer could almost hear the gears in her brain turning.
" You know Zoya, you could tell me" she tried to reassure, her hand on Zoya's.
Nothing. She tried again.
" You are also a part of this family" Not for long "It would hurt us all terribly if something were to happen to you. I just want to make sure you are safe" Come on spit it out already. I know you have a soft corner for all this emotional family talk.
And she most definitely did. Zoya had stopped hearing after the words 'part of this family', visions of her and Mr. Khan hand in hand warming her icy skin. Maybe it was a far-fetched dream but she was a part of his family, however insignificant he considered her role to be.
Tanveer felt an unpleasant cold feeling on her arm one moment and she was being dragged by Zoya to her room the other.
" Ok but you cannot speak one word of this to Mr. Khan" she declared letting her hair loose, pinning her down with her eyes.
" Aap bilkul bhi fikar mat kijiye! Hum Jammy se kuch nai kahenge"
xx
Zoya let the wind play with her hair as the cab rushed past all traffic, in hopes to drown the strange ominous feeling that slithered through her being since morning. Perhaps it was just the nerves. Yes, definitely the nerves given what had happened before she left.
Her phuphi had seen her decked up with a whole lot of stuff just before she was stepping out of the house. Scared that she might forbid her to go through, Zoya had made a run for it, muttering a quick "Sorry Phuphi, will explain later!"
A moment later Tanveer had texted her saying she would handle it at home and she needn't not worry. She hated she had to run from her phuphi like that, but how could she have rebelled against her word if she resisted her visit to Ayaan's house.
She already had an apology plan building up and she was sure she wouldn't even need to put it into action once everyone realized her motives. She tried to distract herself.
Looking at the giant thali full of sweets on her lap now, she couldn't help but gulp. The motichoor laddoos, the kaju katli and was that miniature gulab jamun? Damn! She was just so tempted to have one. But she had promised Tanveer. Apparently it was a bad omen to eat mithai from the couple's thali before them, so she had resisted.
Apart from the fact that she was alarmingly close to the love of her life, Tanveer wasn't all too bad, Zoya concluded. She had given her all pointers on what to do and how to do, and even saved her a*ss from getting busted.
"Madam ji, aagaye" the cab driver declared interrupting her line of thoughts.
She muttered a quick thank you before heading into the Siddiqui mansion.
"Allah Miyan!" she couldn't help but exclaim.She always had a thing for night parties, all the twinkling lights and the moonlit sky – but that was definitely about to change. The house looked magical decked up like a bride, with hundreds of roses suspended from the ceiling. The aroma of food and flowers spread throughout the villa. A floral canopy had been built around the chandelier just above the bride and groom's love seat. And it was only their engagement. Wow! Ayaan was such a lucky idiot. But where was he?
xx
Ayaan stared at his reflection in the mirror festooned much like the house. He remembered his conversation with Humaira last night. Her words had kept him up all night.
I know this is a step that will change our lives forever. But I just want you to know that I will always be your best friend.
"Always be your best friend" The words played over and over in his mind like a tape on record taunting him. He could see the place she had for him in her eyes– care, adoration, a friend, and dare he say love. Then what was he doing to his best friend. He hadn't been open to her about his feelings at all. She had the right to know where he stood in the relationship.
But what does one say when all thoughts were suddenly muddled? How does one explain the sudden fascination he was beginning to have with this nikaah?
Humaira was a beautiful, smart and a kind-hearted girl. It was so easy to like her. But love?He had never dreamt of falling for a girl like her. And her Ammi, she was such a calculated devious witch. What would it cost them when he saw Mumani's reflection in her being each time he looked at her?
Her soul is different from hers. His heart yelled. And that was exactly the reason this why nikaah shouldn't happen, because if Humaira knew about the deal he had made, it would crush her heart.
xx
" WHAT? SHE DID WHAT?"
"Asad, calm down. It was in our best interest. This just shows how much Zoya cares about this family" Dilshad rushed to soothe him.
" Khala is right Jammy. See..." she said pointing at a laptop on the coffee table " she left me with this. So we can all watch Ayaan's sagai" chimed in Tanveer.
Shut up you traitor! he had wanted to yell but instead ended the conversation with a quiet " I need a minute" making way to his room.
Tanveer tried not to roll her eyes. Everyone in this house was so melodramatic. Good for her though.She could use some drama right about now.
Asad lied down on the settee by his window to calm his heart down. It must be beating a hundred beats per minute.
He just couldn't believe it. How could she be so careless? She of all people knew just how complicated the situation was. What if someone spotted her? They wouldn't take one second to come up with a ploy to blame him and his Ammi. He knew how Razia was always ready to pounce on them. He might be a kid when his parents separated but he remembered every vicious word.
He thought Zoya knew better than that. But he had been wrong. His Ammi had been wrong. They were too different. She was too impulsive and careless.
He could only hope that her childish endeavour ends successfully, or his family must be the one that would pay the price.
xx
A hush fell upon the crowd as Humaira walked down the flower-laden staircase, her zari worked golden lehenga sweeping the floor.
Zoya recognized her instantly. The girl from the fashion show!
She was suddenly happy for Ayaan. She could sense he hadn't been too excited about his engagement but if this was the girl, he would say qubool hai to, everything was going to be just fine. Maybe it was the look Ayaan wore or the twinkle in Humaira's eye that convinced her. But she could feel it.
Zoya looked in Ayaan's direction again. He hadn't been able to tear his eyes away from her.Looks like she had stumped him all over just like that day. How cute!
Alright focus now; back to what she came for.
She tried to spot the cameras hidden away from all eyes amidst the bundles of flowers. Maybe this flower frenzy wasn't too bad after all.
Hmm! Looks like someone did a good job on the angles. The location of the cameras was perfect.
Good job Raabart Miyan!
Now all she had to do was feed the blushing couple shagun ki mithai and skedaddle out of there; but only after pushing her way through at least million uncle and aunties surrounding them. This one was going to be tough. A line to congratulate them had already started forming and she was nowhere near it.
She'd have to hurry or Mr. Akdu Ahmed Khan would use his stupid 7 pm curfew as an excuse to lock her out tonight. She wouldn't be surprised at him raging like a bull right about now back home.
Trying not to daydream about her and a certain six-pack self instead of the embarrassed duo on the center stage, she hurriedly made her way towards the line to greet the now engaged couple. The hall was filled with chants of congratulations, glasses clinking against each other and a very loud DJ drowning pretty much everything else. I guess the conservative Siddiqui's are not so opposed to noise pollution.
Finally after what felt like eternity, she got to the front of the line.
"As-salamu alaykum"
Zoya almost laughed out loud at Ayaan's shy formal greeting. Get it together you red-faced monkey; she had wanted to tease him. She probably would have if not for his glowing golden bride within earshot.
" It's me", she hissed at him through her burqah.
Mona Darling! He hadn't seen her sneaking in. Come to think of it, he had no idea what was going around him. All except for the fact that his left hand felt heavy all of a sudden, guilt choking him every time he looked at Humaira's content smiles.
'Congratulations!' he heard her say in a chirpy voice. He tried not to look at her would-be bride's returning smile as Zoya fed her sweets she had brought.
"Ya Allah!" he heard someone cry.
Vintageflower2020-03-12 08:15:53