"Motarma, you do not have to pay for the boat ride here. We hired it." Zain told Aliya.
"I know but I prefer paying my own money for anything I do. And thank you for the ride once again." She said, before walking away to the row of bikes placed at the side of the bay.
Chapter 4
Zain paid the boat owner the fare he had promised, before walking home with Rizwan.
"Bro, kaisi larki thi wo. She spoke what was on her mind. It was such a refreshing change." Rizwan spoke with a smile. "I like her."
"Riz, this is not the time or place," said Zain, his facial features displayed his seriousness.
"Whoa bro, what happened to you?" Rizwan asked after seeing a sudden change in Zain.
"Nothing. I thought you were hungry." Zain said.
For Zain changing the subject was a familiar mechanism, used when he didn't want to talk about something.
Although Rizwan was worried, he knew never to push his friend. Zain would come to him when he needed to. But when Zain mentioned the word "food" his smile grew wider than a person could possibly imagine. The mention of food made Rizwan almost dragged Zain all the way home.
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Aliya's Home
Bhopal, India
The boys had arrived at the house after a while. As they entered the house the scent of freshly cooked paranthas wafted into their nose.
"That smells delicious." Rizwan said, his mouth salivating for food as he moved further into the house to find the source of the scent.
"Phups, does make the best paranthas." Zain said, as he followed Rizwan in.
As the boys eventually found their way in to the living room, they saw a Shabana organising what seemed like a buffet on the dining table.
Shabana looked up to see them stood in the door.
"Arey Zain, Rizwan come sit down and eat."
"Thanks phups, this looks delicious."
"Yeah, Zain's right. Amazing." Rizwan mumbled through half the parantha he had stuffed in his mouth.
Shabana smiled, seeing them happy with food.
"You two eat. I'm going to go see where Aliya is." Shabana said as she walked out of the room.
Zain's face visibly turned into a grimace.
"Dude, chill. You've both grown up. She's probably changed over the years and became a beautiful young woman." Rizwan stated, trying to change his friends perspective.
"Yeah, right!" Sarcasm oozed from Zain
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Aliya entered the house and bumped same her ammi in the kitchen.
"Ammi, I'm back."
"Aliya, where have you been we have guests and come your home later than usual?" Shabana said looking at her watch.
"Ammi, there was a problem with the boat. Don't worry it was nothing." She quickly added as she saw worry on her mother's face.
"Accha teek hai, I've made all the food. Since you're here could you go and make the kheer?" Shabana asked.
"Sure, ammi." She said as she gathered all the ingredients on the kitchen counter.
Shabana returned to the living room to see the boys getting up from their seats.
"Arey, Zain, Rizwan, sit back down." She said as she began to piled up their plates with food. "I've made all this food for you and you are leaving?"
The boys resumed eating until they had put on at least 10 pounds and no more room in their stomachs.
"Okay, phups. I can't eat anymore."
"Not even kheer?" Shabana question with smirk.
"Oh, phups. You know I can't resist your kheer."
"Aunty, do you add pistachios to the dish?" Rizwan questioned, his eyes lighting up at the thought of the dish even though he was full.
"Haan. Of course, I do. But I haven't made it this time."
"Ammi, I've made the kheer." Aliya said, interupting the conversation in the room. She walked in stunned to see the two young men she had seen at the dharbhar. The gentle smile that was on her face earlier had disappeared
Zain once again entranced by Aliya's beauty just like he was at the Dharbar.
What is she doing here? Zain curiously wondered.
"Zain, Riwan, this is Aliya, my daughter," said Shabana. "Aliya, this is Rizwan," she said pointing at Rizwan. "And this is Zain, Osman bhaijaan's son."
"Assalamu alaikum," said Aliya whilst motioning with her right hand.
"Wa alaikum asalam." Rizwan and Zain spoke simultaneously. Rizwan had just replied to Aliya whereas, Zain had motioned with the incorrect hand, his left hand.
"You obviously haven't changed since the last time we saw each other, still an idiot." Aliya said to Zain.
"Aliya, yeh kaisa tarika hai kisi ko baat karne ka." Shabana scolded Aliya.
"Ammi, he doesn't even know you give salaam with your right hand." Aliya replied quickly.
"That is still no reason to act like a child, Aliya."
"Sorry, ammi." Aliya pleaded her mother to forgive as she held her ears. Sure she was being slightly over-dramatic but her relationship with her mother was used to having these phases.
"Aliya, you can stop being dramatic now." Shabana said shaking her head.
"Accha, you two need to taste the kheer Aliya has made." Shabana said passing them the bowls.
"She's probably put poison in this." Zain murmured, just loud enough for Rizwan to hear.
Rizwan began to choke on his first spoonful of kheer, as he tried to cover his laugh.
"Rizwan, are you okay?" A crease covered Shabana's forehead, as she worried for the boy who was choking on the food. "Is there something wrong with the kheer?"
"Aunty, I'm fine and this kheer is actually amazing. Aliya has magic in her fingers. No wonder she's getting married."
Shabana shook her head as she laughed, meanwhile Aliya's cheek has turned pink as she blushed. Zain was amused and surprised to see Aliya act like a girl. Never in his wildest dream could he have thought "Toyboy Aliya" would turn into a girl. Not even after the 10 years he hadn't been in touch.
"Zain, how do you think the kheer tastes?" Shabana asked him after he had taken a few spoonfuls.
He couldn't deny it, the kheer tasted amazing, it tasted even better than when his mum made it and she was a celebrity chef. But Zain would never admit to Aliya what he truely thought.
"It good but I've tasted better." He answered
Aliya's face contorted into a frown as she heard his opinion on her kheer. She was sure she had tasted the kheer and it had tasted better than just good.
"I'm just going to go wash my hands." Zain said, as he exited the room.
A couple of minutes later Zain's ringtone echoed around the room.
"Yeh "Darling" kaun hai?" Shabana asked as she read the caller I.D.
"Aunty, it probably his girlfriend." Rizwan said, as he tried to keep a straight face. He full well knew that it was Osman calling yet, he couldn't help himself. It was the perfect opportunity to pull a prank.
"Girlfriend? Ya allah." Shabana looked horrified at the thought.
Aliya on the other hand knew Zain would do something stupid like this.
Zain, re-entered the room to see his phuphi in shock.
"Phups what's up? Are you alright?" He asked his aunt.
"Who's Darling, Zain?" Sha
"What?" Zain exclaimed,looking confused.
"Somebody just rang you and it said "darling"." She told Zain.
Zain laughed.
"Phups, its only dad." He said.
"Oh. Rizwan, just told it was probably your girlfriend." Shabana stated, now understanding the Rizwan was messing around.
"Did he now?" Zain questioned, not to happy he was being targeted by Rizwan for a prank.
Zain turned to face Rizwan just as Rizwan burst out laughing and Aliya joined into. Zain stopped what he was going to do as he listened to Aliya's chime-like laugh. As soon as she stopped laughing Zain smirked.
"Bro, I'll get you soon." Zain smirked wickedly as he picked the phone up to redial his dad.
Zain talked seriously to father on the phone for approximately 10 minutes. As he was about to end the call, Shabana told him to pass on her salaam, which he did. Zain ended the call. His face filled with remorse and sincerity as he looked at his aunty.
"Phups dad told me to tell you..." He paused. "him and everyone except the kids will be here tomorrow morning for the sagai in the evening."
"That great news," Shabana happily exclaimed.
Aliya's face also lit as she heard her uncle was coming, 10 years had passed and they saw each other on their weekly video chats but this time she would get to see him directly.
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