Chapter 4

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Chapter 3

Kashaf reached home exhausted and saw Ghazala, Sara and Zaroon sitting along with her Ammi and Sidra in the hall.

"As-salam alaykum!", she greeted with a weak smile.

"Kashaf! Tabiyat theek hai?", asked Zaroon with genuine concern.

"Main theek hoon. Just a little head ache.", she replied and pursed her lips.

"Dawaai li?", he asked.

"Nahi. I'll have it now. Aunty aap kaisi hain?", asked Kashaf trying to end her conversation with Zaroon.

"I'm fine beta.", she replied sweetly.

"Kashaf! Hum tumhare rishte ki baat kar rahe hain.", informed Rafia.

"Aapko jo baat karni hai kar lijiye Ammi. I know whatever decision you'll take would be good for me. I'm really in no condition to sit and talk. Main sone jaa rahi hoon!", Kashaf concluded and walked upstairs to her room.

"Ghazala, humari taraf se to rishta pakka.", said an excited Rafia.

"Aunty kya main Kashaf se baat kar sakta hoon. Uh! I mean.. uske room mein?", asked Zaroon.

"Ofcourse beta!", replied Rafia.

Zaroon smiled and got up from the sofa and sprinted upstairs to Kashaf's room. He knocked on the door.

"Come in!", he heard her call out.

He walked in to find her fallen on the bed, dead tired and exhausted.

"Kashaf tum theek ho?", he asked in concern as he made his way closer to her and sat beside her lying form.

"I'm fine Zaroon. Wo aaj I had to go all the way to Northampton for collecting some raw material and got stuck. Then on the way back the heels of my sandals broke and..", she trailed off irritated.

"You should have called me na. I would have gone with you. I was free today.", he informed.

"To? Why would I call you?", she counter questioned.

"Kyunki main tumhara hone wala shauhar hoon!", he replied.

"What? Ammi ne tumhare saath meri shaadi fix ki hai?" she asked shocked and got up from the bed.

"Haan. Tumhe kya laga, main tumhari shaadi kisi aur se hone dunga? No chance!", he said.

"Kyun kar rahe ho tum ye sab Zaroon?", she questioned him exasperated.

"Maine tumhe kuch hafte pehle kaha tha na.. Baar baar poochhne se tumhare sawaal ka jawaab band nahi hoga. Main tumse mohabbat karta hoon.", he replied with his eyes reflecting immense love and respect for her.

"Haan, agar tumhe ye rishta manzoor nahi hai to it's okay. I'll go and tell aunty!", he smiled.

Kashaf sighed and closed her eyes.

"Zaroon, ye sab mere liye bohot naya hai. You in love with me, Ammi getting me married to you, all this happening in the same time is too much stress.", she whispered.

"Take your time. There is no hurry.", he said.

"Agar Ammi iss rishtey se khush hai, to main iss shaadi ke liye taiyaar hoon. Umm.", she replied.

"Kuch kehna chahti ho?", he asked.

"Haan wo..", she started but left off.

"Kya hua Kashaf?", he asked.

"Ek request hai.", she mumbled.

"Bolo na kya baat hai?", he asked gently taking her hand into his own.

"Mujhe thoda time chahiye Zaroon. To know you and understand all this.", she said.

"Bola na, tum jaisa chaho, waisa hoga!", he said.

She smiled.

"Wais eek baat batao!", he said.

"Kya baat??', she asked.

"Tum mujhse school time mein nafrat karti thi?", he asked with a genuine smile.

"Maine kabhi tumse nafrat nahi ki par tumse pyaar bhi nahi kiya. It was something very different between you and I. We were you know uh..", she trailed off with a chuckle.

"Umm.. Frienemies!", she laughed as he joined her.

"True. But I've always loved you. Tumhe pata hai, jab class 11 mein Sidra ne notice kiya, usne seedha seedha aake mujhse poochha. Main usse mana bhi nahi kar paya. Tumhe pata hai Kashaf, Sidra mujhe Sara se zyada achhi tarah jaanti hai.", he informed making her smile.

"So what's the plan?", she asked.

"Kya plan?", he asked.

"Shaadi ka..", she said.

"Kiski shaadi?", he asked confused.

"Arey, humaari shaadi. Itni der se aur kiske baare mein baat ho rahi hai?", she asked blankly.

"Oh. Achha. Um.. Jab tum chaho.", he replied.

"Shaadi ke baad main apna boutique nahi chhodungi!", she warned.

"Of course not. In fact, main to soch raha tha ke shaadi ke baad hum saath mein tumhare boutique mein baitthke lunch karenge. Your customers already think that I'm your husband!", he chuckled.

"Shut up!", she wacked him on his shoulder.

"Chalo, tum rest karo.. Main ghar jar aha hoon. Good Night!", he said and got up from the bed.

"Good Night!", she replied.

He opened the door of her room to leave as he heard her call out his name.

"Kya hua?", he asked.

"Ek aur favour chahiye tha.", she said.

"Bolo.", he replied with a smile.

"Hum shaadi ya sagaai jab bhi karein, can it be done in a simple manner. Mujhe extravagant ceremonies pasand nahi.", she said guiltily.

"Dates kal tak decide ho jayenge. Main Mom aur Rafia aunty se keh doonga!", he said with a smile.

"Thank you!", she whispered.

He blew a kiss to her as she looked at him blankly and exited the room shutting the door. As soon as the door shut, a small smile curved up on her lips and a faint blush rose on her cheeks.

"Ye mujhe kya ho raha hai!", she exclaimed and laid back down on her bed.

--

Few weeks later, Kashaf sat in her boutique going through some papers fidgeting with the thin platinum band with a diamonds studded all around. She picked up the pen to finally sign the document satisfied with what she read, when she heard the door of her boutique open.

"Hey!", came his voice.

She looked up to find Zaroon smiling at her.

"Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain?", she asked with a gentle smile.

"I was just passing by so thought of spending some time with you.", he said.

She chuckled.

"Waise tum ye "aap" kisse keh rahi ho?", he asked.

"Ammi ne kaha tha. Unhe mera tumhe tum kehna achha nahi lagta!", she replied.

"Lekin mere liye tumhara tum hi kehna theek hai! Aap digest karna thoda mushkil hai yaar!", he replied as he pulled the chair next to her and seated himself.

"Mujhe bhi aap nahi kehna, par..", she trailed off.

"Good! Waise mangni ke baad to tum aur bhi zyada khoobsurat lagne lagi ho.", he complemented.

"Tum mujhe romance shuru karna chah rahe ho ab?", she asked raising her brows.

"Kyun? Nahi kar sakta tumse romance?", he counter questioned.

She looked away blushing faintly trying to hide it from the man who brought that blush on her cheeks.

"Tum mujhe ghar chhod do please.", she requested.

"Yaar! It's our wedding in 2 weeks. Kuch to time spend karlo!", he complained.

"Kal se boutique band hai until our wedding. Aur waise bhi Zaroon, shaadi ke baad to hum dono saath rahenge. Tum itna complain kyun kar rahe ho?", she asked.

"Achha okay. I'll drop you. Par what do you mean by Boutique is closed until the wedding?", he asked.

"Aur nahi to kya? Ammi has told me that the bride is not allowed to step out of the house much until the wedding, until and unless the work is related to the wedding itself.", she replied casually.

"But only till the wedding? Shaadi ke baad we'll be going for our honeymoon.", he informed.

"I know that. Sara told me that she is gifting us the honeymoon package and I was planning to gift her the same.", said Kashaf.

"So boutique ko kaun manage karega?", he asked.

"Sidra!", she said.

"Oh!"

"Ab ghar chalein hone waale shauhar sahib?", she asked.

"Arey wah, Kashaf.. Tum mujhse pyaar karne lagi ho?", he asked.

"Jee nahi.", she replied pushing him out of the boutique.

Kashaf gave him some files as she locked the boutique and pulled down the shutter and started walking down the side walk.

"Madam, you told me to drop you.", reminded Zaroon.

"Haan. So walk with me. Then once you drop me, walk back here and get your car!", she laughed.

Zaroon smiled and ran to catch up with her and slipped his right hand into her left and held onto Kashaf's file with the other. They walked back home talking and smiling.

"I love you Kashaf!", he whispered tightening his grip on her hand.

"Mujhe pata hai!", she giggled and soon they reached Kashaf's home.

A/N: Another chapter is here and I'm waiting for some comments please.

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