Tragedy had befallen over the Haider household. Aliya had called her engagement quits to Zeeshan Khan, A Dubai Based engineer she was supposed to get hitched to the previous evening.
The decorations lay untouched, the flowers, sweetmeats and props remain scattered as Aliya sat on the floor numbed and emotionless. Her beigesalwaar suit complemeted her porcelian skin and crimson lips. Her eyes were dark and hollow, she had obviosuly been wailing throughout the night, her eyes now naked of any salty tears and her heart barren of any love.
"Aliya uth jao beta" the concerned voice of her Ammi Shabana broke her train of thoughts and halted it abruptly. She quickly composed herself when a rectangular piece of paper fell off her hands, she bent down to pick it up to realise that she had been holding Zeeshan's photograph all throughout the night.
She stared at the photo devoid of any facial expressions, her heart obviously whining and whining in pain as if it will break. Zeeshan Khan was dressed smartly in a grey sherwani, his freckled nose firmly sat between his 2 smouldering eyes and a face with Clear cut features, He gave his trademark grin J
She stared at the photograph for a while a sea of memories flooding her mind before she shredded the photograph into a Million pieces and threw it as the zephyr winds blew it with them.
She had enough of mourning. "Mujhe isse bahar nikalna hoga, yeh kab tak chalega" she quickly composed her dreary self, combed her dishevelled hair and splashed her face with some chilled water and ventured into the kitchen to help her Ammi with the lunch.
"tum jao beta, main kar lungi" Her mother tried to dissuade her, concerned for her daugter's broken heart. Aliya looked at her assuringly and planted a warm kiss on her cheek saying "Ammi apki gudiya bohot bahadur hai" J and busied herself with the preperations of the meal.
Phoops Phoops, someone was screaming outside from the verandah in a husky baritone. A huge grin was pasted on Shabana's face, Her Most Favourite Nephew Zain had come all the way from London J
She ran outside like a hurricane and stood in front of this Tall, sturdy and handsome looking gentleman. Dressed in a red tshirt, a brownish half jacket and Dark Blue Jeans with a bg hanging from his broad shoulders he looked someone straight out of a Mills and Boons Novel J
"Mera Baccha Aya Hai, Haaye Allah kitna Khoobsurat lag raha hai" Shabana gaped at him in sheer awe as she planted wet kisses all over his tried yet cheery face. "Phoops How are You Sexy?" Zain asked putting a relaxed hand around her shoulder, a mischievious glint in his eyes. "Besharam Ladka, Allah iska kya karu main" Shabana slapped her forhead and mock cried to The Almighty. "Filhal Andar Bulalo, Mujhe Badi Bhook Lag Rahi Hai" Zain replied as Shabana ushered him in.
Aliya had been watching all this from the Kitchen window, occasionally hiding her face to avoid contact with Zain. She had always a "tom and jerry" equation with Zain, they had been close friends since childhood, actually back slapping cousins J. Aliya ahd claimed to Zain very proudly that Zeeshan was the BEST guy in the entire universe and a thorough Prince charming material to which Zain had laughed off Saying that she wouldn't get a guy better than her J now obviosuly she was scared to tell Zain about her broken enegament. What if he would make Fun of her? Mock her? Ridicule her? Such thoughts disturbed her, a deep frown on her forehead and she decided to avoid meeting him.
Zain had freshened up and changed into a yellow teeshirt and white pyajamas, Shabana placed the lunch in front of him a mouth watering and delicious fare of Shammi Kebabs, Mutton biryani, gosht, Rumali Rotis and his favourite kheer with Ample of dry fruits.
"Waah Waah phoops, Khana behadd lazizi hai, har nivale ko Subhanallah kehne ka jee chahta hai" Zain praised as he helped himself with another serving of the scrumptious Biryani. "Aur lo mere bacche jee bhar ke khao kitne patle ho gaye." Shabana said, her voice so motherly anf genuine that Zain almost cried, he had missed "home cokked food in London".
"Kheer behadd badiya hai phoops" as he slurrped down the cold and milky kheer down his throat in one big sip. "Kheer Aliya ne banayi hai" Shabana said gratified about her daughter's culinary skills.
"Haan main wahi sochu yeh ghar itna chip kyun hai, Yeh Mamu ki bhanji kahan hai" Zain enquired inquistively of Aliya's Absence.Shabana looked crestfallen on Zain's words.
Zain Looked worried at Shabana's dejected face, "Phoops, Kya Baat Hai?" He Enquired the warmth of his palms on her hand. Shabana Broke Down in tears, Sobbing profusely she somehow mananged to reply "Zain Beta. Aliya ki Mangani toot gayi". Zain agaped at her, in Incredulitity, The world had come crashing Down in front of him. "Yeh Kya keh Rahi ho Phoops?" He Almost screamed and Shabana narrated her version of story to him, while he heard her out patiently.
He half Finished his meal and got up hurridely to meet Aliya, He ran up the terrace to find her watering the pot plants there. She looked simple, the glittering rays of the sun shining on her cream colored skin, she looked radiant, her face flustered off any artifical decoration, she looked stark opposite of what she looked in her enagagement pictures, resplendent heavy eye makeup, blush and strawberry colored lip gloss to complete the "to be bridal" look J what a dichotomy!
Zain tried a Cheery "Hi" from behind her, she turned back, her face pale with horror as if she had encountered a ghost. She managed a meek "Hello" In response. Zain noticed that though Aliya Looked BEYOND BEAUTIFUL at any point of time and in any look, Her Million dollar smile was amiss, that dulled her radiance for sure.
Not to encourage the conversation any further, she was set to leave the terrace when Zain grabbed her arm and gazing deep in her eyes he asked Very seriosuly "Aliya, Sab theek hai na?" He asked, his voice unfeigned. Aliya had to put up a brave front, Zain was the last person she would ever tell about her problems. "Zain main bilkul theek hoon" She replied in a flat tone, looking into his eyes, trying not to surrender to his irresistible charm. She freed herself from his cluches and walked away without making any further communication. Zain stood there frozen, totally unconvinced of Aliya's explanation.
Zain knew that Aliya wouldn't tell him anything as of now so he decided to wait till the dusk sets in and he will initiate the conversation once again. He was weary after the long journey but still his mind continued to waver towardd Aliya, he tossed all over the bed, the hard hitting thoughts chewing his brain cells, the more he thought the more he was convinced of the Gravity of Aliya's pain and hurt and in no time he fell asleep.
Aliya had shed some more tears as she sat on her bed. She didn't wish to meet anyone, speak to anybody. She wished to run away to a far off land where NOT a single soul was to be seen, away from humankind and their mean ways. She cried for some bit before she decided to resume her normal life and move on.
It had been 5 in the evening when Zain woke up from his afternoon siesta, his mind burdened with the thoughts of Aliya's grief. He felt terrible. Shabana had aready arose from her afternoon nap and was making the evening tea. Aliya and Zain joined in, not making any eye contact with each other. Shabana offered Aliya her cup of tea, her hands trembling as she was handong Aliya her hot cuppa of "chai" when it slipped of Shabana's hands, Zain Like a superman came to his beloved's recue, as he enthrusted his own hand and let the steaming tea burn his hand.
"Allah Tauba Yeh kya ho gaya" Shabana screamt, both her palms covering her mouth, Aliya too got up statrtled at the turn of events, her mind went completely blank for sometime. Shabana ordered in a hurried tone"Aliya beta first aid leke aao aur thanda pani bhi". Aliya ran in a jiffy and poured some cold water over his burn and alos applied some soframycin and dabbed some cooling gel to ease him out as Zain was still withering in pain. Shabana escorted him to his room as he lay on the bed.
Aliya disappered into the garden, What had just happened to her? What did Zain Do? Why was she so charmed by this heroic deed of Zain. "He is my cousin after all and knows me for SO many years now" she tried to brush off the topic, but there was something magical in the moment but what. Her mind ran in the speed of Milkha, when she suddenly encountered an incident. It was during on eof her courtship days with Zeeshan, when the 2 had been out for Dinner at the local dhaba and some leacherous roadside laofers passed some lascivios and lewd comments on Aliya and Zeeshan did NOTHING to stop them. He just asked her to "ignore" them. Aliya recollected being completely take aback with Zeeshan's nonchalant and careless attitude. Someone was leaching at his to be wife, How could he NOT defend her she failed to understand. Though Zeeshan was EVERYTHING she needed and desired for in man, there was something Amiss, she had always felt. Zain too was had all the qualiites which Any girl will look for in her "dream" guy but there was more to him, he was not just a "dream" guy but an "ideal" man in very which way. A knight in shining armour in every which way, he Protected and cared for "his girl" and could even "give her life for her" something which Zeeshan could never do.
In an instant Aliya hurried towards Zain's room. She saw he layed on the bed, still reeling in pain. His left palm was bandaged with a translucent tape, the red burn marks obvious. He gingerly raised his hand when Aliya rushed to grab it. Her eyes welled with salty tears as she warmly kissed his hand.
She moved closer to him, inches away from his mouth, their chests touching each other slightly. Their warm breaths mixing with each other, she leant closer, zain followed suit. The cold tips of their nose touching each others, they were breathing down each others neck, Aliya's brown hair falling all over her face, she cupped Zain's face in her palms and leant further. The hands of time stopped as their lips moved together as one. His lips were so soft and urgent on mine,trying to express all that he felt for her.His mouth tasted so minty and she was so happy he would be hers. His lips smiled against hers, then he pulled away from the kiss. she gazed into his beautiful brown eyes and blushed a crimson red.
Zain wonderfully surprised pulled Aliya closer again, unthreading the knots of her Salwar, he partly undressed her to kiss her neck, her suuple breasts rubbed against his chest as she unbuttoned his shirt and they kissed madly, sucking each others mouths and their tongues doing a salsa, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He partly inefficient still managed to make love using one working hand of his.
The sweet cacophony of the birds chirrupping outside as it drizzled slightly and the radio in the opposite house played "Main Tenu Samjhawan ki". The "Lovers" Smiled and the world rejoiced their union.
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From
Kung Fu
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
