Chapter 28A

Chand Raat is not only the sign of arrival of the new Islamic month and Eid but also the arrival of happiness and positive energy in the house and lives. A hurdle came in the way yester night but with the blessings of Allah, none of the wrong intentions succeed because Allah was with right, not with those who planned to demolish the castle of Khan's happiness.

Zoya has worn a white stand collar churidar with an orange dupatta woven with resham work. Her head was covered with the dupatta in respect of the holy god, on the blissful day.

She finally cupped her hands in front of Allah in the prayer and prayed, "Ya Allah! Main nahi janti kal jo kuch bhi hua wo hona chahiye tha ya nahi...magar uske hone mein aapki marzi chupi thi...", she gulped her saliva down and continued, "... Par main... Main usko aur age nahi badhana chahti... jis baat se kisi ko takleef ho use aage badhane se koi matlab bhi nahi."

She closed her eyes and thought for a while whereas on the other side Asad prayed in the other area of dargah made for males. He has worn a crisp white chickenkari kurta with a churidaar and his head too was tie with a handkerchief in the respect of the Allah, "Kabhi na kabhi to us baat ko samne aana hi tha... Aseemah ek raaz nahi haqeqat thi... aur haqeeqat kabhi chupti nahi...shayad yahi apki aur us chand ki marzi thi...aur aapki marzi ke age kisi ki nahi chalti... "

He shut his eyes tightly and decided, "Main nahi jaanta Ms. Farooqui se kya rishta hai mera... aur kyu farq padta hai mujhe agar ye baat unke samne aati hai...unhe takleef deti hai to..."

Both of them took a pause of second continued as if Allah wanted them to continue it in the chorus, "Par main unhe takleef mein naa dekh sakta/sakti hoon aur na takleef de sakta/sakti hoon"

"Aur aaj se ye baat... Yahi dafan... ke kabhi ye baat kisi ke samne aayi thi... ", they declared to themselves and ended, "Meri madad farmaye meri sacchi khushi dhundhne me... aur UNSE mera talluq janne mein bhi", they used the word UNSE for each other in their prayers.

A lone tear fell from Zoya's eyes when she soulfully requested, "Aap unhe -unhe har khushi dein, kyuki wo deserve karte hain duniya ki har khushi..."

"Chahe main unse kuch bhi kahoon ek baat to pakki hai... unki rooh bahut paak hai... or itni paak rooh ko...aap khushi aur sukoon farmayein", he asked as if he doesn't want anything else except this not even for himself, so as she.

And finally after a long pause they prayed in the unison, "Mera unse har taqleef har khushi ka rishta hai... wo jo meri nahi unki hai... kyun mere khuda ... main dua karta/ karti hoon ... aapki rehmat se mujhe mere is sawaal ka ... mere is akele sawaal jawab milega..."

Finally they rubbed their palms on their faces to end the prayer and followed the rest of the rituals to end the namaaz. 

But before exiting the dargah, alike every person, on the holy morning of Eid they tied the holy and divine dhaga on the holy wall and prayed their mannat, "Unki zindgi ka har uljha dhaaga suljha de mere maula", they both prayed the same mannat on the opposite sides of the wall, without even realizing their respective presence on the either side.

And lastly, when both of them from the either directions of the dargah, were taking the exit, Zoya whose head was covered with dupatta and Asad with the handkerchief, both all lost in their own lava of thoughts, the same time a holy green chadar came flying somewhere from the sky and sheltered both of them with their blessings as an indication that Allah, as always fulfilled the true prayer and  now also he is there to fulfill their wish and bless them with all the positive energy, as if they both are made for each other.

The only person, who was witnessing all this was Dilshaad, thanked Allah as for her it was the blissful blessing of Allah with a message that indeed who may ever do anything; these two will overcome with every bad situation, because Allah has given them that strength and blessing.

~~~~

Few Hours Later, Dilshaad was ordering the decorators to decorate the whole Khan Villa properly, with flowers and lights as it was the festival of Eid and she wanted to throw an Eid party, alike every year, and this year she wanted to let Asad and Zoya forget what happened on the Chand Raat. 

On the same time, Zoya entered the living area and looked here and there as the Khan Villa was getting decorated with flowers and candles.

"Wow Phuppie! Decorations bahut acche se ho rahe hain", she smiled widely.

Dilshaad smiled back and replied at her innocence, "Abhi poore kaha hue hain decorations. Abhi to in decorators ko daant daant ke karwane padh rahe hain"

Zoya chuckled and wished her Phuppie, "Eid Mubarak Phuppie!", and hugged her tightly.

Dilshaad too blessed her Zoya and closed her eyes looking over the sky, "Eid Mubarak!

 Tumhari har khushi tumhe jald se jald mile", and both of them parted away.

"Mujhe bhi karna hai Eid Mubarak", Najma came giggling and hugged Zoya and her mother tightly and while parting she alike a child asked cocking her brow up, "Where is my Eidi?"

"Eidi!! Hmm!! Wo to nahi hai", Dilshaad joked.

"Don't lie Ammi! You have bought my Eidi, give my Eidi fast otherwise I will complaint Bhai", she pouted and sheepishly and slipped Asad's name in front of Zoya, which reminded them what has happened on Chand Raat but all of them came to senses when a calm voice came from behind.

Asad asked folding her white crisp kurta's sleeves to Najma, "Kya complaint karni hai mujhse"

Dilshaad and Zoya were expecting that after the whole scenario of remembrance of past Asad might not be okay but he was looking fine and it forced them to smile from the heart, which was relaxing because it was an indication that almost everything was coming on the track.

Najma took small baby steps towards her Bhaijaan and wished him Eid Mubarak, he too blessed her and it was now the Najma's time to complaint about her mother to her father like brother.

"Ammi ke paas meri Eidi nahi hai", she made a puppy face which forced Asad to laugh and he cupped her face in his palms and looked into her eyes.

Zoya was witnessing all this that how this man has gone through all Aseemah fiasco, but still how much he love his family, especially when she herself reminded him, the strong and painful night of Aseemah's accident.

She closed her eyes tightly and pressed her lips when Asad's voice took her to the senses from her thoughts, "Argh!! Meri Tamaatar...", he cupped her little sister's face in his palm who made a cute innocent face and asked, "Aise kabhi hua hai ke ammi ke paas humari Eidi na ho?"

Najma nodded her head negatively and Asad counter questioned, "Then what is new this time?", and cocked his brow up.

"Nothing!!", she replied sheepishly.

He grabbed her cheeks and said, "Meri cute Najma mil jaegi tumhari eidi", and winked.

He stepped towards his mother took her palm in his and touched her back of the palm to his eyes, "Eid Mubarak Ammi"

"Eid Mubarak! Allah tumhe tumhari asli khushi pehchanne me tumhari madad kare", she blessed her elder child with a hidden blessing which no one understood but only Dilshaad knew about whom she was talking about at which Asad quizzically smiled as in he didn't know what his mother wanted to bless him with but he avoided it as every mother wants happiness for her child.

"Eidi kaha hai abhi bhi clear nahi hua", Najma pouted again and everyone chuckled at her question and when she made a puppy face three palms came in front of her eyes and with three packed gift boxes and everyone said cheerfully, "Tumhari Eidi!!"

Najma's mouth was opened in a perfect O shape, if someone have had measured it, it was even more big than that and her eyes were popping out with happiness and unexpectation. 

"Teen Teen Eidi?", she chirpily said.

"Yes after all humari Tamatar sab se cute sabse choti sabse pyaari hai", Zoya answered her happily.

"Thank you Zoya!!", Najma hugged Zoya tightly and snatched all the three Eidi gift from her mother, brother and Zoya. 

And when she was busy in un-wrapping the gift boxes and enjoying, Dilshaad presented Eidi to Asad as well, a gold-plated diamond studded wrist watch at which he frowned, "Ammi!! I already have a watch. Aap bhi na fizool kharchi kar di"

"Aye! Don't you dare call it fizool kharchi haan. This is my eidi present to my son", she pouted the same way as Najma was pouting few minutes back which forced Asad and Zoya to giggle.

Zoya hit two with one stone, "Haan! Now I got from where did Tamatar got all these tantrums", and giggled at which Asad pressed his lips to control his laughter, being AAK.

And Dilshaad pulled Zoya's ear, "Phuppie ka mazaak banati hai?", and she tried so hard to portray as if she was in anger but she being lovely lady of Khan Villa couldn't succeed and herself laughed when Zoya said, "No Tamatar ka", and they all laughed in the fits of laughter, including Najma.

After few minutes when they got normal Asad again tried to explain her mother, "There was no need to buy a watch when I already have"

"There is a need", Dilshaad retorted back.

"Oh really! How?", he asked.

"How nahi Why poocho", she hit his head lightly and both the girls uninteresting asked, "Why?"

"Because , he is always busy. He doesn't want to call his own mother at time. He never take my calls and...", she started counting the complaints on her fingers when Najma stopped her shrugging from the shoulders, "Meri ma kya kehna hai sidhe point pe aao"

She questioned, "Point pe?", and continued herself, "okay! I have loads of complaint with him regarding not calling me, that's why I am gifting him this alarm watch ...and"

She stopped for a while and Asad fearfully asked, "And...", at which she continued, "And you have to call me whenever the alarm buzzes ", she ordered him and folded her hands on her chest.

"Ammi!! Have you already fixed the alarm?", he tried to dismiss this but she said, "Ji haan!! Ammi hoon tumhari islie pooch nahi rahi order kar rahi hoon", she finally being a strict mother ordered him, and he being the obeying child of her mother agreed lowering his head, "Ji ammi!"

"And don't you dare to remove this watch from your wrist", she informed him everything and he again said, "As you say ammi I will never disobey you. You know me!!"

Witnessing this Zoya laughed out loud as much she could as she has noticed this version of Babbar sher into bheegi billi after a long time and she laughed as she wouldn't stop to the eternity, which forced Najma and Dilshaad to laugh as well and after few minutes Asad also broke into fits of laughter and his laughter pleased all the ladies present there and they smiled heartily as all happiness was there.

~~~~~~

An Hour Later, Zoya was searching a dress for herself to wear on the party, as she has just came to know that at every Eid The Khan's throw a grand party and invite almost the whole community of Bhopal and now poor she was so confused in choosing a dress for herself as she had very simple dresses and that too not for the festivals, as she mostly had jeans or skirts or shorts, which isn't even allowed in Khan Villa, how come on Eid Party, especially when the whole community is invited. 

She had salwar suits and ethnic suits as well but very plane and lame, not at all suitable for such a grand party. So she was highly confused, in spite of being Zoya, who is always in the Who-cares mood, especially when it comes to clothes, but now she was caring because it was the question of the prestige of the Khans, Khans means Asad.

And the same time she realized a knock on the door but her attention was still on her wardrobe, "Ji Aiye", she allowed the person to come inside and she found Dilshaad.

"Phuppie aap aaiye na. Come sit.", Zoya welcomed her in the room and get seated on the bed with her.

"Kuch kehna tha apko?", clueless Zoya asked. 

Dilshaad took a deep sigh and forwarded a gift box in front of her eyes which raised a question in Zoya's mind, "What is this?"

"Your Eidi!!", she replied with a peaceful and warm smile.

"Eidi? Mere lie par kyun Phuppie?", Zoya hesitatingly asked.

"You tell me Phuppie and get hesitate when I give you Eidi", Dilshaad pouted, "Par?", she again objected when Dilshaad chuckled, "Do you have anything good to wear tonight?", at which Zoya bit her lower lip and nodded her head negatively and when Dilshaad handed the well-wrapped gift box in Zoya's hand and ordered finally, "Unwrap it! Dekho kaisa laga tumhe", Zoya smiled and nodded her head in affirmation.

She un-wrapped the gift box and finally the Pandora box of Eidi opened in which she found a beautiful dress and immediately hugged Dilshaad.

"Wow Phuppie! This is beautiful", Zoya pleasantly praised the beauty of the dress. "Aapne to meri problem hi solve kardi.", and completing this she blinked her eyelids and smiled and again embraced her in a tight motherly hug.

"Chup! Thank you ki bacchi!", she kissed her forehead and completed, "Now come. It is the time to cook and have meethi sewiyan", and winked.

"Meethi Sewiyan!", Zoya licked her lips as she was all ready to have the yum sewaiyans and exit the room, keeping the dress in her wardrobe, carefully.

~~~

Asad, who was previously busy in his office work in his room, entered the kitchen when he realized the fragrance of yummy food made for lunch, especially the desserts. He took a look on the dining table and the whole dining table was filled with the food but his eyes were on Sheer-Khurma, his favourite. He was in the mood to snatch all the sheer-khurma from others and have it, alone, but in the presence of the ladies in the Khan Villa it was beyond impossible.

And he, with a gloomy face took his own bowl of Sheer-Khurma and started enjoying it. His mouth was filled with the dates and the seviyan of sheer-khurma when he praised, "It is yum...mmm I must say ammi... It is it is... far bet...better than all the... all the tim...times"

 "Accha?", Dilshaad confirmed at which he hummed and again filled his mouth with a spoonful. "Ms. Farooqui!", he called her.

"Learn something from her. Aapko pani boil karna bhi nahi aata", and he laughed out loud but at the same time all the three ladies laughed into the fits of laughter.

Asad disbelieved, "What happen?" 

"Ye maine nahi Zoya ne banaya hai", she informed and Asad remained with opened jaw.

"Really?", asked with utter amusement.

And finally gulped it down and tried to cover the situation because he wanted his victory at any cost even in the argument, "Ammi ap se accha Sheer-Khurma koi bana hi nahi sakta.  Ye bhi utna kuch khaas nahi hai"

Najma laughed out loud, indicating her own bowl, "This is the best Bhai", at which he said, "Ammi! Ye ladki ajkal bahut ajeeb harkatein karne lagi hai...", he intervene himself and continued in a lame tone, "She has to laugh at everything, just like ...like Ms. Farooqui", and he gave a look to her and Najma stopped laughing but wasn't able to try to stop her grin.

Zoya clanked her spoon down on the plate when she was having her cham cham and asked with a childlike anger, "Main ajeeb harkatein karti hoon?"

Asad tried to find out his answer and said, "Of course", as in he had no option.

And their unstoppable Tom and Jerry fight was back, after a long time which was forcing Dilshaad and Najma to hide their laughter behind their dupatta or with the support of their palms but whenever anyone from Asad and Zoya witnessed them, they use to scold them, to not laugh.

Finally, after a long fight Dilshaad used her well known weapon to stop them by scolding them as if they are the children of 6 and 8 who are fighting, "Stop you both!!", and this was enough to let them not argue but making childlike angry face.

"Itne bade ho gaye abhi bhi kinder garden ke baccho ke tarah ladte ho", she gave them an angry look.

They both give each other an angry look and apologised, "Sorry!", in a low tone.

"Par Ammi/ Phuppie", they both were about to complaint about each other when she again shut them up, "Can't you both keep quiet", and she gave them a fake deadly look at which Najma blasted into the fits of laughter.

"Why did you start again? Isi kaaran shuru hua ye sab", Asad clenched his jaw.

"Why're you scolding my li'l tamatar", she scolded him hardly.

"Your li'l tamatar is my sister as well", he informed as she was forgetting this.

"Bas Bas Bas!! Asad/ Zoya dono chup karo. Aur Najma tum bhi", she scolded in a hard angst.

"Ji", all the three obeyed.

Dilshaad applauded Zoya's desert, "literally Zoya this is very tasty"

"Thanks Phuppie", Zoya hugged her back and winked to Asad on her victory, which was left with a gloomy face as in, he had no option.

Finally Dilshaad who was over with her food left the dining table and engrossed in the left out household work, so an Najma, only Asad and Zoya were left because they started having food late and so Zoya was enjoying each and every flavor of the Sheer Khurma made by her on Dilshaad's instructions, because she was cooking it first, in her life time and Asad was not having food but was enjoying witnessing Zoya's expressions, enjoying the flavors and taste of the seviyan.

Zoya stuffed her mouth with the dessert and closed her eyes to enjoy it, but she didn't realized when a noodle of seviyan stuck on her chin, just below her lower lip and when she opened her eyes, Asad who has noticed this tried to indicate about that noodle but she was avoiding him because of that cool fight just happened between them. 

Few seconds passed but he was still indicating her, so she realized that it might be something important. So she tilted her head up as if was asked "what happen"

He touched his own chin at which she thought he is irritating her so she kept her head a little down and attention on her bowl, which she filled again but this time Asad was done so he left his chair and sat beside her so that no one can notice it, but Zoya again turned into another direction so she can enjoy whatever she was doing.

But when he extended his hand towards her face she considered it as his cunning trick to irritate her and making her fun so she clenched her jaw, "Kya...", and meanwhile lowered her tone, so no one can hear, "Kya hai Mr. Khan"

He took a deep sigh and removed the noodle from her chin, and his finger touched her lower lip a bit and he showed his finger to her, which had the noodle. He tilted his brow up and she gulped down as she was at fault which she has understood now and had no answer.

He wiped his hand with the tissue paper, filled his bowl again with sheer-khurma and praised huskily, "It is yummy. I want to have more and more", and with completion of his sentence, he left her winking his eye, enjoying the spoonful of sheer-kurma which left Zoya with an embarrassed and blushful smile.

~~~~~

Mostly, the bad days or the times passes as if they are the longest but here for a change, with a good one, the good day and the happiest day of the year was becoming the longest. The decorators have done all the preparations for the Jashn-E-Eid and the whole Khan Villa which was looking like a bride was decorated with roses, orchids, marigolds and lilies and the beautiful colorful lights. 

The colorful glass lantern enlighten with candles, star and crescent moon shaped golden and glittery decoration pieces with a colorful and printed candles in the whole area, wholly enlightened with candles and lingered small tags encrypted with Ramadaan Mubarik were the highlight of the decorated area.

Asad examined the whole decorations while lightening them up and lingering the decoration pieces, and when he was satisfied, he ordered the decorators to give the finishing, and the same time Zoya came and said with a gloomy face, "There is something incomplete Mr. Architect"

"Achaw? And what's that?", he confidently asked.

"Hmmm...", she examined the whole decoration pieces, flowers and lights when  a grin enlighten her beautiful face at which he asked quizzically, "Kya?"

She immediately ordered the workers to enlighten the candles of the chandelier and fixed that and enlightens the whole area with lights and candles and dims the light of the whole area.

"Hmmm! So how it will look like, dim light with colorful candles and lights with fragrance of flowers. Instead of lightening the main lights as well", she asked with a grin.

But before Asad could answer, she before the main lights on, couldn't notice the paper roll on the floor because of that she slipped her leg, hitting Asad, who was standing beside her, rolled over the floor along with him and only their eyes were noticing each other's, because only candles and the decoration lights were on.

They were all lost in each other's eyes and weren't able to took their eyes from the lala land which has made in their respective eyes. He was on the floor and Zoya was over him, their chests were so close but they were not at all aware of the world in which they were physically present and lost in each other's eyes, he realized that one of her hair strand was coming on her eyes so he immediately tuck it behind her ear and before they could come more closer the workers immediately turned the lights off which took them back to their senses and the coughing sounds embarrassed them a lot.

Both of them were not at all in the situation to tell anything when Asad declared in a low embarrassing tone, "Finalize this. It's good"

And hearing the acknowledgement from AAK's mouth for herself the childlike Zoya mumbled, "See! I am the best", and then she left after winking and he remained without a single word but embarrassment and blush.

The workers grin but tried to control themselves when he scolded in a low tone, "Kya hai kaam karo na. Candles melt ho jayengi"

"And ... And fix this.", he indicated towards the mess created with the ribbon when he fell down along with Zoya on his chest and left after coughing.