Hey Everyone! 🤗
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not the last update to this SS either! 😆 I got some new ideas so it got long! And this SS will probably have 2, 3 more updates 😳 Hope you guys aren't annoyed at me 😉
Another important thing is that in the last update, IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MEHENDI! Not the wedding! Sorry for the mistake!! So yeah, this update starts with the same night... That is, the night before the mehendi 😳
I've added some background on Ahsan and Asmara as well 😳 Hope you will like it! Aaannnddd Pardon me if this isn't all that good cos I'm facing the writer's block these days! 😔 And its not proofread so sorry for any mistakes!!
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Ashar carefully adjusted the cushion underneath Asmara's head in his lap so that her neck was in a more comfortable position while she slept soundly. It amused him how she still had her childhood habit of dozing off on everyone's shoulder.
'She is such a kid', he thought chuckling lightly, 'but its not her fault though. No one ever let her fully grow up especially Dad'. And he knew Asmara only acted like a kid in the house otherwise he had seen her deal with people and he had been surprised how mature she could be when needed. He was proud of her for that.
He was worried about his parents though especially his Dad. Asmara was the life of their house. Loud and cheeky, always spreading happiness around. She would talk to Arnav for hours unstop while he would listen quietly with the softest smile adorning his face, speaking a word or two every now and then.
Asmara and Khushi didn't share a mother daughter bond, they were more like friends, having the same bubbly nature. Always partners in crime when they played their cute harmless pranks on Ashar and Arnav. In fact Khushi was the one to whom Asmara had confessed her love for Ahsan the very first time. It was another thing that Ashar had figured it out on his own way before than Asmara did herself.
Ashar was a different story from his sister altogether. Having a quiet nature like his Dad, he and Arnav would sit together for hours by the poolside both immersed in their work not talking unless needed but enjoying each others presence. It amused Khushi and Asmara to no end.
Ashar loved gardening with his Dad. It was Arnav who had taught him when he was a kid and now Ashar had his own collection of exotic plants. But unlike his Dad, Ashar loved plants which bore flowers. They always made him smile and feel like his hard work was rewarded.
And the other thing he loved doing with his dad was watching football. They both were passionate about the game and always watched it together, both jumping with joy when there was a goal and cursing the referee when he declared a foul.
Ever since Asmara's wedding had been fixed, Arnav had, after much insistence, allowed Ahsan to pick and drop Asmara as they worked at the same place on the condition that they come back straight home. Recently whenever there would be a match, Ashar would ask Ahsan to stay back so that they could watch it together. He remembered the grateful looks Asmara would throw him and Arnav's extremely annoyed look when Asmara announced for the first time that she would join them too. But Ahsan's trustworthy and friendly nature had quickly won over their hearts and soon he was treated as a part of their family.
He smiled remembering one of Ahsan's first visits to their house when Khushi had been hand feeding Asmara lunch cos she wasn't in the mood to eat and while talking to Arnav, she had accidentally offered the morsel to Ahsan sitting on her other side, who had promptly opened his mouth and taken it. Khushi had stared wide eyed while Arnav, Ashar and Asmara had burst out laughing.
Ashar leaned his head back smiling at the memory as his mind drifted to their usual fun family fights, his mum would be on his side while his dad would team up with his little Princess. His heart clenched painfully as he realized there would be no such fights with Asmara gone.
'But she'll be living so close by, We can always go visit her whenever we want.' He tried to pacify himself but he knew it won't be the same.
Asmara moved in her sleep then and he looked down at her. He knew it would be really hard for her as well as she was really attached to them all. He recalled the time when he was studying at Harvard, there wasn't a single day in the 2 years he spent there that she didn't call. He would come home once every month and every time he would leave, she would cry. Every single time. His eyes misted and he blinked furiously to keep the tears at bay.
But he was glad she was getting married to Ahsan and he had no doubt in his mind whatsoever that Ahsan would keep her very happy. He was the youngest of his family too, having an older brother and a sister who were both married and being the smallest, he was pampered by his family as well.
Ashar's mind went back to the time Asmara had come home from a Spring Festival at her university about an year ago and told him about meeting her friend's childhood friend, Ahsan. It was the way she talked about him that made Ashar feel like Asmara liked him even though she didn't knew it herself at that time and he didn't like it at all. Thats why the next time Asmara was going out with her friends and told him Ahsan would be there too, he volunteered to drop her off so that he could meet the guy. He immediately knew why Asmara liked him. The main reason behind it was their awfully similar nature. Carefree, childish and full of fun, hell bent on enjoying every minute of their lives.
And the part Ashar liked best about their relationship was that they were like best friends with mutual respect for each other.
Ashar's thoughts went back to the last time he had gone out with Asmara and Ahsan. He couldn't remember the last time he had so much fun and enjoyed someone's company to that extent. They dared each other to do the stupidest things! They had a Fastest Gol Gappay eating competition in which they forced Ashar to participate as well and in which Asmara won, then they had 4 cones of Ice Cream in a row simply because both felt like it before Asmara dared them to cross a lawn with her which was for some reasons labeled, 'Out Of Bounds'.
Ashar had refused point blank and before he could stop them as well, Asmara had grabbed Ahsan's hand, yelled 'Meet us at the car park, bhaiya' and they were off, jumping over the hedge and running across it. Ashar had seen a guard running his away to chase them off and he had quickly turned his face in a picture of innocence, acting like he wasn't related to the two lunatics running at full speed across the lawn at all. He went to the parking lot to find Ahsan and Asmara already there laughing their heads off, apparently ecstatic with themselves and their silly antics before Asmara launched at Ahsan hugging him tightly, unaware of Ashar's presence behind her. Ashar had cleared his throat loudly, his expression amused with an eye brow raised and Asmara had quickly pulled away blushing a tomato red and walking towards the car while Ashar and Ahsan had burst out laughing.
Ahsan had grown on Ashar in a very short span of time. Not many people could do that as most of them got intimidated by Ashar's quiet and serious nature but Ahsan wasn't the one who got intimidated easily. He held Ashar in great esteem and Ashar never treated him in any other way than a younger brother. In fact, he enjoyed his company so much that there would be many times when Ashar would ask Ahsan to stay back after office and they would play Playstation for hours while Asmara would complainhalfheartedly how Ashar got to spend more time with Ahsan than her. But he knew she was really happy with the way her family had accepted Ahsan as their son.
Ashar was positive that Asmara would be very happy with him seeing how deeply both were in love with each other but just the thought of her going away always managed to bring tears to his eyes. He wiped his hands across his cheeks and was surprised to find them damp. Settling back against the bed rest he closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep as it was Asmara's Mehendi tomorrow and it was going to be a hectic day.
***
It was 11 o'clock and everyone had returned back to their houses after attending Asmara's Mehendi. The function was a huge success. The dances were incredible! Even Arnav and Ashar who were allergic to dancing, did a couple of choreographed dances as it was Asmara's request, along with Anser and Anjali's 20 year old twin boys, Fawad and Hammad.
Ahsan's side had brought the Mehendi and Ahsan had tried to sneak in as well but Ashar and Anser had found him and sent him back without letting him meet Asmara.
Arnav had seen to it that every wish of Asmara's was fulfilled. Like, she had wanted all on the boys on her side to wear black kurtas with yellow dupattas, the exact yellow as her outfit so that they would easily be distinguished as being from her side and so every boy had worn that. And Arnav had to admit, the idea was fabulous.
But the best moment was when Asmara was brought in by Aashi, Payal's 21 year old daughter and Mahera, Anjali's 17 year old daughter, and the boys had held the dupatta over her head. Ashar and Anser at the front and Hammad and Fawad at the back. It had looked adorable to see the boys bringing their sister in too.
Now the family was sitting in the TV room, exhausted and tired but not willing to go to bed so early cos it was their daughter's last night at her house. Asmara looked at the brooding faces around her who quickly plastered a smile everytime they saw her looking at them and knew she had to distract them somehow.
'Today's my last night in this house and instead of doing something fun, we're all sitting her with long faces.' She started with mock sadness, sitting on the sofa next to Arnav who had his arm around her shoulders.
'So what do you want to do Sweetie?' Arnav asked, flashing her a smile which didn't reach his eyes.
'I... I want to eat Jalebies!' Asmara announced enthusiastically.
'I'll go make them.' Khushi quickly answered getting up from the sofa but Asmara stopped her.
'Mum! You can't make Jalebies today. And neither can I! We have Mehendi on our hands, remember?' She waved her hands which had beautiful intricate Mehendi done till her elbows.
'I'll get some from the market then.' Ashar said, getting up.
'No bhaiya! I don't want the market ones! They aren't that good. I want the home made ones. Can you and Dad make some for me please?' She asked him sweetly.
What? Me and Dad?! You've gotta be joking, kid!" Ashar shook his head.
"Yes, you and Dad! And Dad has made them before... Haven't you, Dad?' Asmara turned to Arnav.
"Just once and now I've completely forgotten!" Arnav informed her.
"Why in the world did you make Jalebies, Dad? I thought it was always mum who made them." Arnav asked confused.
"Ummm... Cos your mum wanted them... So I thought I would..." Arnav answered meekly.
"No, actually I was angry at him and he wanted to make me happy by making me Jalebies." Khushi informed them all laughing.
"Dad standing in the kitchen making Jalebies??" Ashar choked out before roaring with laughter.
"Go on, laugh all you want! But when you'll have to do such stupid things for your wife, then we'll see who will be the one laughing." Arnav smirked at his son.
"Okay, now get up, you two! In the kitchen now!" Asmara caught Arnav's arm and yanked him to stand up. She then proceeded to pull Ashar's sprawled form from the sofa but to no avial. Ashar seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself as he instructed her to 'Pull harder'.
"Bhaiya, you're so heavy! Now get up yourself otherwise I'll start pinching you! And I've grown my nails for the wedding." She smiled at him wickedly and Ashar quickly jumped to his feet and sauntered to the kitchen followed by a laughing Arnav and Khushi.
"Ok so now Mum and I will instruct you two and all you two have to do is to follow the instructions." Asmara told them happily, as she perched herself on one of the kitchen counters.
They had a fine time that night with the girls calling out the instructions while both the boys, who were helpless cases when it came to cooking, tried to abide by their commands.
Finally after an hour of hard work, the family was back in the living room, smiles of pure happiness etched on their faces, with two plates piled up with deformed Jalebies.
Ashar winked at his dad before taking a Jalebi and starting eating it and Arnav did the same, picking up a sugar free Jalebi and munching on it, happily stating how delicious it was while the two girls sat there unable to eat due to the Mehendi on their arms.
"Dad, Bhaiya! Hello??" Asmara called out. "I thought you made these for me! Now pop some in my and Mum's mouths."
"Oh you want some too?" Ashar asked her in a surprised voice. "Well then, you'll only get this one if you say I'm the best bhaiya in the world!" Ashar announced his condition, grinning from ear to ear.
"No, you're not but you are definitely the most annoying Bhaiya in this world!" Asmara shot back, smiling.
"You aren't going to get it this way, Asmi! Okay, then say this, Asmara is the stupidest person anyone can ever set their eyes upon." He said chortling.
"She doesn't need to say that, Ashar." Arnav said laughing as he himself fed Asmara some of his Jalebi and Asmara stucked out her tongue at her brother, giggling at his reaction.
Ashar gave Khushi some Jalebi before stuffing some in Asmara's mouth as well. And after a minute's thought, grabbed on of Arnav's sugar free ones and feeding him some too causing everyone to laugh. And then for half an hour, the entire family enjoyed to their heart's content, feeding each other Jalebies and enjoying their last night as a family together.
No body noticed the video camera running, perched on top of the TV recording every action of there's. Ashar had thought of the idea himself. He would be darned if he didn't treasure these precious family moments.
***
PART 4So how was it guys?? The next one will continue with this last night! I thought this family should have fun on the last night! But there will be emotional moments as well 😳 So please Like and Comment! 😛
Edited by SmileyStar - 13 years ago
Anupamaa
Hindi TV Shows
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