Chapter 8

He pulled her into a sudden hug. She was taken aback but later calmed down and hugged him gently caressing his back.

"I was so worried Kashaf! It's been 2 days since you picked my calls! Kaisi ho tum?", he asked.

"Shhh.. I'm fine! I was busy with the shifting work. Thought of giving you a surprise!", she replied.

"You scared the hell outta me!", he shouted pulling out of the hug. He looked at her face intently.

"Is mein darrne ki kya baat hai Zaroon?", asked Kashaf sweetly.

"I thought I did something to upset you and that's why you weren't talking to me! I can't afford to lose you, crazy woman!", he said cupping her face.

"I'm not going anywhere!", she replied with a smile as she moved her hand up to her cheek to hold his palm.

"Don't ever do this to me again!", warned Zaroon.

"Haan na! My surprise plans, all went down the drain! Apni tabiyat kharaab karke baitthe ho!", complained Kashaf with a pout.

Zaroon smiled.

"Main ab theek hoon and I loved the surprise!", replied Zaroon with a wide smile.

"Have a shower and come down! Apni shaqal dekhi hai.. Aisa lag raha hai ke tum beemar ho!", said Kashaf.

"As you say madam!", replied Zaroon and paced into the washroom.

Kashaf walked out of his room down to the garden and sat on the chair next to the coffee table admiring the flowers in the garden. She took a deep breath as a cold breeze caressed her skin. After a few minutes, she felt a pat on her shoulder. She looked up to find Zaroon grinning.

"I missed you so much!", he said as he settled on the chair across her.

"Kyun? Kaam waam nahi hai kya tumhe?", asked Kashaf with a smirk.

"Hai na!", he replied.

"To phir, itna kyu miss kar rahe the mujhe?", asked Kashaf.

""Because I love you!", he replied casually. He then realized what he said and looked away.

"Jaanti hoon.. Phir bhi! Apni haalat dekhi thi tumne? Main darr gayi thi ke tumhari tabiyat ko kya ho gaya hai!", replied Kashaf.

"Jaanti hoon? Kya jaanti ho?", asked Zaroon wide eyed.

"Ke tum mujhse mohabbat karte ho!", replied Kashaf.

"Aur?", asked Zaroon eagerly.

"Aur kya?", she asked.

"Tum?", he asked.

"Main kya?", she asked.

"Tum bhi mujhse?", he trailed off.

"Haan to?", she asked.

"Kashaf! Stop confusing me! Saaf saaf bolo!", said Zaroon.

"Kya bolun?", asked Kashaf.

"Kitne sawaal poochhti ho tum Kashaf!", sighed Zaroon in frustration.

"Tum chahte ho ke main tumse izhaar-e-mohabbat karoon?", asked Kashaf sweetly with a smirk playing on her lips.

"Haan! Obviously!", he pleased.

Kashaf giggled and got up. She walked and stood behind Zaroon and snaked her arms around his neck. She bent down to his ear.

"Main bhi tumse mohabbat karti hoon!", she whispered softly.

Zaroon grinned to himself and held her palms in his hand and dropped a light kiss.

"Khush?", she asked.

"Bohot!", he replied.

He pulled her in front of her and made her sit on his lap.

"Tum jaanti ho na.. Tum duniya ki sabse unromantic ladki ho!", he stated.

"Kyun?", she asked with a pout.

"Tumne mujhe dhang se propose hi nahi karne diya!", complained Zaroon.

"To kya hua?", asked Kashaf sweetly.

Zaroon shook his head in disbelief.

"Ya allah!", he sighed.

Kashaf hit his chest.

"Oww!", he shrieked.

Suddenly Kashaf's phone rang, she picked it up.

"Haan Sara! Bolo!", she said.

Zaroon's eyes popped out.

"Zaroon kaisa hai?", asked Sara.

"Wo theek hai! Tabiyat bigaad ke baittha tha! You should have seen him Sara. He was looking so pale!", replied Kashaf.

Zaroon took the phone and put it on loudspeaker.

"To ye tum dono ka plan tha?", asked Zaroon.

"Oh hey Zaroon! Well.. Haan!", giggled Sara.

"Bohot hi bura plan tha!", said Zaroon.

"No way! Bohot achha tha! Tumhari haalat kharab ho gayi thi jab maine 2 din tumhare calls nahi liye to!", said Kashaf with a chuckle.

"Tum dono ko bada mazza aaya na?", asked Zaroon.

"Bohot!", Sara laughed.

"Ab phone rakho! Mujhe meri hone waali biwi ke saath time spend karne do!", announced Zaroon.

Kashaf's eyes popped out.

"Ooohhh!!!", squealed Sara.

"Shut up!", chided Zaroon.

"Enjoy guys!", said Sara and cut the call.

"Tumne aisa kyun kaha?", asked Kashaf.

"Kaisa?", asked Zaroon.

"Wohi jo tumne Sara se kaha!", said Kashaf.

"Kyun? Shaadi karne ka koi iraada nahi hai kya?", he asked.

"Hai par..", she trailed off.

"Par?", asked Zaroon in shock.

"Mujhe ek baat batao!", she said.

"Bolo!", he replied.

"Tumne Ammi aur Sidra se kab baat ki?", she asked with a frown.

"Sidra se ek din baat hui thi tab maine Aunty se baat ki thi aur permission li thi. Jab tum Badin mein thi, I went over to your place with Mom and Dad!", replied Zaroon with a grin.

"WHAT?", shrieked Kashaf.

Zaroon laughed and pulled her close.

"I love you!", he whispered.

"I know!", she replied with a smirk.

He dropped a kiss on her cheek.

"Chalo andar! Humara ghar dekh lo!", said Zaroon with a wink and dragged Kashaf inside the house.

Kashaf walks around the house hand in hand with Zaroon.

"Bohot achha ghar hai!", she said with a genuine smile.

"To shaadi kab karogi?", he asked with a gleaming smile.

"Jab tum chaho!", she replied.

"Great! Aaj main Aunty se baad karunga aur Mom Dad ko bolunga unse milke shaadi ki date fix kar lein!", he replied enthusiastically.

After a month Zaroon and Kashaf got married in a private affair with family and close friends.

Kashaf and Zaroon stood at the Clifton Beach. Kashaf closed her eyes enjoying the sea breeze and subtle sounds of the waves.

"Itni khamosh kyu ho?", asked Zaroon.

"Kyunki main khamoshi ki awaaz sun rahi hoon!", she replied still with her eyes closed.

"Kha-moshi ki bhi koi awaaz hoti hai?", asked Zaroon.

"Bilkul hoti hai!", she replied.

Zaroon snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He gently held her hands in his.

"Apne pair mere pairon pe rakho!", he said.

Kashaf scrunched her eyebrows.

"Tch.. Rakho to!", he whined.

Kashaf shook her head and kept her feet over his and held onto him tightly by his shoulders. Zaroon held her waist possessively by her waist and started walking.

"Zarooon! Main girr jaungi!", she said.

"Nahi girogi!", he said and continued walking.

"Sab log dekh rahe hain Zaroon!", complained Kashaf.

"Dekhne do!", he replied.

"Zarooon!!!", she whined.

"Kashafff!!", he imitated with a chuckle.

He walked with her standing on his foot for a distance when Kashaf spoke again.

"Ghar chalein?", asked Kashaf.

"Tumhare ya mere?", asked Zaroon.

"Pehle tumhare, phir mere aur phir...", she replied and trailed off.

"Aur phir?", he asked.

"Humare! Islamabad!", she replied with a wide smile and got off from his foot. They walked over to the car with their footwear in hand and drove away.

After 2 days they went back to Islamabad and settled down. Their life was running really smooth. Love indeed changes people for the better. They were true companions.

One fine day

"Zaroon! Kya kar rahe ho itni der se bedroom lock karke?", asked Kashaf banging the door again.

"2 minutes!", came his reply.

"Hadd hoti hai Zaroon! Kab se ye 2 minute khatam hi nahi ho rahe tumhare!", she exclaimed.

Finally the door opened and Zaroon came out.

"Hato! Mujhe andar jaana hai!", she said.

"Ruko!", he said and covered her eyes with his palms.

"Kya kar rahe ho Zaroon?", she asked again.

"Shhh!", he hushed her and guided her in and gently removed his hand from over her eyes.

"Happy Birthday!", he whispered in her ear.

Kashaf was smitten by the decoration of the room. There were red heart shaped balloons all over and a cake on the table. A wall hanging of Happy Birthday Wifey!' hung on the wall behind the bed.

"Zaroon!", she let out a sigh of surprise as her eyes went teary.

"Kaisa laga surprise?", he asked.

"Bohot achha! Thank you!", she said turning towards him.

She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him. She buried her head in the crook of his neck as Zaroon snaked his arms around her waist lovingly pulling her into himself.

"I love you Zaroon!", she whispered.

"I love you too!", he replied.

They stayed in each other's embrace for a while after which they cut the cake and fed each other and talked about random things enjoying the time in each other's company.