A/N: Here is the next up! It's not proof read, so ignore the mistakes, if any!
A quick note the readers: I most likely won't be able to update the next chapters soon! I have very cramped up weeks ahead! Apologies for that beforehand!
Enjoy this one! As you can tell from the song of choice for the chapter, THIS IS THE BIG ONE!😃
Chapter 17: Can't help falling in love with you
"Where are they?" Zoya craned her neck as she tried to look past the hoards of people in the arrivals terminal in the airport. Aadil, who was perched upon the railings that stopped them from going any further, was more eager as his Ammi, if not more than her. Asad shook his head as he looked at his little crazy and very exuberant family. They were at the airport, waiting for Anwar and Zeenat to arrive. According to the flight information boards, their flight had arrived on time, and now the waiting for them at the arrivals' was testing Zoya and Aadil's patience.
Zoya's excitement was understandable. She had missed her best friends over the time she had been in India. But it was Aadils' insistence to tag along with Asad and Zoya and his demand to greet them at the airport was that surprised everyone. But according to the little Khan, his presence at the airport was most important because he was meeting his "Mamu" and "Mumani" for the very first time.
Aadil had taken to call Anwar and Zeenat his Mamu and Mumani after he had heard that Zoya thought of Anwar as her brother. The eager and inquisitive little brain of Aadil Khan had him running over to his Dadi. And after asking his Dadi about what a mother's brother is called, he had declared their relationship.
Asad had repeatedly tried to tell his son that Anwar was also Asad's younger cousin, and that Aadil's Chachu.
Asad laughed silently to himself as he recalled that particular conversation.
*flashback*
"Anwar is my cousin, Aadil and that means his is your Chachu." Asad tried to explain.
Aadil scowled at his father for challenging his logic at relationships shook his head vehemently, "But I already have a Chachu! How can he be my Chachu too? I don't have a Mamu, Abbu!" he protested.
"It doesn't work that way,Bud" Asad said, "You can have more than one of uncles and aunts. You have Najam Phuppi and then there is also Nikhat and Nuzzat Phuppi, remember?" Asad rationalized.
Aadil pouted at his Abbu, "But I like Mamu better! Like I said, I don't have one!" he sighed and the as another idea made its way into his head, Aadil's eyes lit up, "Does Ammi have any more brothers? I can have some other Mamu!"
Asad ruffled his hair, "No Bud, Ammi does not have any more brothers."
Aadil gasped at his father in disbelief, "And you still want to take away her one brother and make him yours too, Abbu? You are being mean and not sharing! I am going to call him Anwar Mamu. Ammi needs a brother."
*end of flashback*
And just like that, Aadil had filled Zoya's empty family with a brother. He truly loved Zoya and was over the moon about calling her Ammi.
And now, both of them had the same anxious expressions on their faces as they waited for the much anticipated arrivals. After a few more moments, Zoya shrieked.
"THEY ARE HERE!" she yelled at the top of her voice, earning some amused and some very annoyed glances from other people around them who were waiting there as well. Before Asad could ask her to be quiet, Aadil jumped up and in an equally loud voice, he started shouting too.
"WHERE? I WANT TO SEE, AMMI!"
Asad pinched the bridge of his nose. Stopping the two of them, when together, was a lost cause.
Zoya picked Aadil up and settled him on her hip and pointed towards the luggage carousal.
"You see them, Aadil? The man wearing the blue shirt and the nice lady in the white shirt next to him? That's them!" her excitement evident in her voice.
Aadil's eyes scanned the area Zoya was pointing at and he looked for the said people. His eyes soon landed on them and he squealed and clapped his hands in glee. It was fairly obvious how excited he was to meet his Ammi's family.
The three of them moved towards the gate as Anwar and Zeenat made their way towards them. Zeenat's eyes lit up as she saw Zoya, and then her eyes warmed, seeing the little boy in her arms and the wide smile on both their faces. Anwar also saw Zoya's excited self and he couldn't help but send a little prayer to God for blessing Zoya with happiness and a little family of her own. Ya Allah! Keep that smile like that, forever!
"ANWAR! ZEENAT!" Zoya squealed at them and rushed to greet them. Aadil squirmed in her arms at being jostled by her movements and she let him down.
As soon as Anwar and Zeenat were within her arm's reach, Zoya pulled them to her and took her best friends in a bear hug. Forgetting the rush of other arrivals, the three of them stood in their embrace for a long time. Anwar smiled at her while Zeenat was close to sobbing. Taking Zoya's face in her hands, Zeenat fussed over Zoya and talked by her lightening speed while everyone only looked at her.
"Arrey, Zeenat!" Anwar dared to interrupt her, "She is not going anywhere. But please, you don't forget to breathe, okay?"
Zoya laughed at him, and then smiled at her crazy friend.
"I am fine, Zee darling!" she slung her arm around Zeenat, "Come meet Asad and Aadil!"
"Anwar! It's nice to see you again. It's been too long!" Asad shook his hand and then they pulled each other in the "man-hug".
"It's good to see you to Asad. It has been too long. Meet my wife, Zeenat" Anwar introduced them.
As everyone greeted each other, Anwar noticed the little boy looking at them intently and inching closer to Zoya and grabbing hold of the sleeve of her shirt. He noticed how Zoya held him close to herself, almost unconsciously. The boy looked at him and Zeenat with calculative eyes and frowned when he saw Zeenat take Zoya into another hug.
Knowing very well what might be going on in that little boy's head, Anwar smiled to himself and then cleared his throat.
"And who is this fine young man, Zoya?" Anwar winked at Zoya and then looked at Aadil.
Zoya and Asad expected Aadil to introduce himself to them like he always preferred to do when he met new people. But this time, their little man shied away and hid his face in Zoya's side. Zoya looked at Asad in confusion and he only shrugged his shoulders.
"Aadil?" Zoya prodded, "Aren't you going to say hello? You were so excited to meet them. See, they are here and be a good boy and say hello." She gently pried him off her.
Aadil looked at Anwar and Zeenat with shy eyes and mumbled a little hello and then clung to Zoya once again. Asad made his move to talk to his son when Anwar shook his head at him and Zoya and then kneeled in front of Aadil.
"Well, I have heard that someone is very excited to meet his new Mamu? Can that person be you?" he scrunched his eyebrows in wonder?
Aadil nodded at him timidly.
"Hmmm!" Anwar tapped him fingers against his cheek, "But how can that be? You don't seem to be very excited to see us. You can't be my excited nephew!" Anwar exclaimed.
Aadil nodded his head at him, "I AM! But I--" he hesitated and looked at Zoya and Asad, and said in a tiny voice, "But I don't like you squashing my Ammi. Only I can give her special hugs. She is my Ammi" he said in a voice that supposed to be a warning.
Anwar laughed, he had guessed it right that the little boy was not too keen on sharing Zoya's affections, and said, "Al right, young man! Only you can do that! Now, don't you think your Mamu needs a special Aadil hug as well?"
Aadil giggled at Anwar and leapt forward, hugging him. Zeenat followed suit and received the special hug as well.
Asad gathered their luggage and they made their way to the parking. Zoya tugged Aadil close to her and kissed his cheek.
"I love you, baby."
Aadil looked scandalized, "Ammi!" he tried to whisper but it came out pretty loud, "Don't call me a baby! I am big boy, now!" he appeared mortified over being coddled in front of his newest relatives.
***
The house had come alive with all the chatter and constant flurry of activity that now always kept the Khan Villa excited. Everyone was sitting in the living room and, for a while, just being a family. Anwar was catching up with his relatives whom he had not seen in years.
Aadil, as expected, had soon taken to Anwar and Zeenat and was now comfortably seated on his Mamu's lap. He had only been jealous of them for hogging his Ammi at the airport. But now that he had seen that he still had monopoly over Zoya's time, he threw himself at them with his usual energy. He had decided that since Anwar Mamu and Zeenat' Mumani's accent was very cool, just like his Ammi's, they were cool too.
"And then, she went up to the boy, and pulled his pants down in the middle of the playground," Anwar's joyous voice finished the tale about how Zoya had dealt with her elementary school bully. Everyone hollered as Anwar continued to tell stories about Zoya from school and their common accounts.
Everyone was talking and having good time when the door bell rang.
Asad went to the door. It was the mail. Asad grabbed it from the delivery guy and thanked him. He closed the door as he opened the official mail. His body went rigid as he read the expected, but still staggering court papers.
"Asad?" Rashid questioned his son after he had not moved from his spot for some long moments. "What is it?"
Asad looked up from the papers in his hand and looked at his waiting family.
"Official notice, that I have two weeks to get ready to fight for my son, Abbu."
***
Aadil was jumping around the house and telling everyone on every chance he got that he finally had a mother. Happiness was infectious and he made all the attendees for the wedding laugh by his sparkling eyes and hyper self.
Ayaan was hanging around Humeira Sheikh, Haider's younger sister, as she flitted across the hall to check all the preparations and decorations. Being a professional decorator and also close to the Khan family, she had shown up to the house one day and announced that she will take over the arrangements for the wedding day. It gave Ayaan the opportunity to woo her, much to the disgruntle of Haider.
Asad looked around the hall and smiled to himself. He could not believe that he really was getting married. He had never imagined it to happen, but now that it was happening, he realized how satisfied he was with it.
"Asad?" It was Rashid, "Can I talk to you for a moment, son?"
Asad nodded at his father and the two of them made their way to the nearest room.
"Abbu? Is everything alright?" Asad questioned him.
Rashid looked at his son with bright shining eyes. "Everything is fine, son. I just wanted to talk to you before you took a big leap in your life. I wanted you to know how proud I am of the man you have become. I told you the day you brought my grandson home that you are noble person, Asad, and that I am proud to be your father.
"All these years, I have worried for you, son. I saw the loneliness in your eyes. I knew what kept you closed off and I respected your decision. But with Zoya, you are a different person. Whatever the circumstances are, and whatever made you two come at this point today, I know that you will move beyond that. You couldn't have found a better life partner. She has filled the missing part of our home."
Asad smiled at his father and both of them fought to keep their tears at bay.
"Thank you, Abbu." Asad whispered as his father took him into his embrace.
***
It felt right.
Zoya took a deep breath as Najma, Nikhat and Nuzzat chirped around her, setting her veil right or retouching her makeup.
"Zoya, you look so beautiful! I am so excited! We are really going to be sisters, now!" Najma sat next to her and took her in a side-hug.
"Uh-huh, Najma! You have to call her Bhabhi now!" Zeenat entered the room and walked over to the girls. She looked at Zoya and kissed her forehead.
"You really do look beautiful, Zoya. I am so happy for you!"
Zoya beamed at her, "I am happy for myself too, Zee!" and the two friends hugged each other.
They broke their hug as someone knocked at the door. Ghafoor entered the girls' room, looking very awkward. Zeenat signaled to all the girls and led them out of the room - letting Zoya and Ghafoor have some minutes to them.
Zoya stood up and faced her father, waiting for him to say something. He dug his hand in the pocket of his sherwani and pulled out a little box.
"Uh, this is for you." He pointed to the box in his hand, "I had bought this the day you were born and I had hoped to give it you on the day you get married. Look, after everything, Allah let me actually live this desire of mine." He smiled at his daughter.
Zoya smiled at him too and took the box from his hands. Inside the elegant box, lay a vintage golden pocket watch. Zoya opened the pocket watch and tears filled her eyes. The watch held a black and white picture of young Ghafoor holding newborn Zoya. Zoya's date of birth was inscribed inside.
"Uh, the hands of the clock don't move." Ghafoor told her, "They rest on this time, always. It's your time of birth."
Zoya sniffed loudly and crashed into her father's arms.
"Thank you so much!" she cried and then added, "Abbu."
Ghafoor gave into his emotions as well and hugged her close to him. It was the first time she had called him Abbu. "I have yearned to hear that, beta. I have craved to hear you say that word to me."
He gently palmed her cheeks and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"You look beautiful, Zoya. Happy and content. I am so happy for you."
***
Zoya was brought down by Zeenat, Najma and Dilshad. Asad looked at her descending down the stairs and felt a sense of completion settling in his bones. This was it. His bride was there.
Soon they were both seated opposite each other with a beautiful red veil fluttering between them and letting them only get glimpses of their future. With smiles adorning both their faces and eyes shining, they vowed themselves to each other and proudly announced to the world that to that I accept - Mujhe Qubool Hai.
***
Asad entered his room, which was not just his anymore. He swallowed his nerves as he saw his new bride sitting on the bed, all decked up in the color and jewels of matrimony and her enchanting blush.
He slowly walked to her and sat down next to her and very gently he lifted the veil that separated him from her beautiful face. Zoya's eyes fluttered as he looked at her with love in his eyes. He brought his hand forward and brushed the back of his fingers across her left cheek and whispered her name.
Zoya smiled at his tender touch and with a jolt realized that it was her husband who was touching her. It increased the blood that had pooled in her cheeks. Her blush warmed Asad fingers as they danced across her face. He leaned forward and held her face in his hands. His grip made her look into his eyes.
Their eyes were shining with inexplicable happiness. Even with the circumstances that had led them to this stage, neither of them could deny the bliss that they felt at being tied to each other in the most scared ceremony.
Asad crossed the distance between them and placed his lips on hers. Zoya sighed as she moved her lips along with his and she let the attraction they felt for each other over take them. Asad unclipped the heavy dupatta and let it fall on the ground. They kissed and touched and explored each other for a while.
As Asad's hands moved across her body, he felt her squirm under his touch. He lifted his lips from where they were trailing across her jaw and looked at her in her eyes.
"I am not forcing you for sex right away. I hope you know that!" he whispered.
Zoya smiled at him and touched his cheek, "I know that. I just thought that I was ready for that, you know like a hundred percent?"
And propped himself on his elbow and stroked her face, "Then?"
"I don't feel a hundred percent right now." She pouted at him.
Asad chuckled at her and swooped down to kiss the pout off her face, "I will wait for the hundred, Zoya. I am very patient man."
Zoya grinned at him and then very slyly asked, "Well, we still can make out, right?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Asad once again covered her body with his, "And just out of curiosity, what percent are we at?"
Zoya fused their lips together and mumbled, "Ninety percent" against his lips.
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay, would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
- I can't Help Falling In Love With You by Elvis Presley
A/N: THEY ARE MARRIED! Woohoo!!
Many of you were worried about Imran or Zainub ruining the wedding, but I wouldn't do that! I hate the clichd wedding "Nahi" or "Rukoo!" LOL! My babies are definitely married on the first try!
I hoped you liked this chapter! Leave a comment and hit the button if you enjoyed this one!
Cheers,
Simi
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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