FF - A Rude Awakening COMPLETE STORY PG 145 - Page 100

Before I forget... The girls told me that the scene that touched them was the moment that sahir was free from his burden.. The way you broke away the barriers and ties from his past with zero at was well executed... The pivotal point in the chapter was when zeenat died... This made them emotional and cry because it was sad to see that in the end the only person that lost in the journey was zeenat herself and this proved that her greed cost her the most valuable gift off all.. her husband sahir whom now was blissfully happy with arzoo... It was symbolic and beautifully highlighted by yourself when he asked arzoo to join him at the hospital.. The bon between saaz nor only became solid but also made us feel that they together could tackle any storm in the form of zeenat...

For me the part of the saaz conversation made me cry and feel upset because it was nice to not only read but also feel sahir emotions... The way you linked the whole journey from the marriage to jealousy and fear was breathtaking... I felt this because it showed that at each of these stages the deal was the mask in is insecurity of losing arzoo... He longed for her company yet he felt for her safety it was better age stayed away... This scene is not just symbolic for saaz but also the reader because we finally get to read the effect the attack had on him emotionally... I loved the way you made the birthday celebration the true sign of his love for arzoo... Thank you...

Secondly the way you let sahir become a free man and move forward in life was nice... I loved the way he was there with zeenat till the end... The bonding between saaz was nice again to read because it felt like finally he could live his life to his wishes and not as per others expectations... I really felt sorry for ka during the funeral line because it made me think what she was feeling... can you share what you had thought about her lose? As throughout the story her believe of her recovery was the reason for her support to sahir... will she still respect him?

Finally thanks for giving sahir a second family in the form of arzoo family... I loved the whole exchange between sahir and his saali... It was sweet and the picture was perfect.. really like that you made the first encounter of saaz the highlight of the family occasion because as soon as I read it.. I though wow they were supposed to be humsafars all along and god had always chosen this path for them... loved the way you made sahir reflect positively on this memory because it showed us how special this bond really is... Thanks for including arzoo mum and daadi I missed there humour...

Thanks for the great ending and look forward to the last post in this story...

Again sorry for typo as writing from phone.. and the long review...

:) razia

why does my exit coincide with your entry here these days??

Happy weekend yaara!! 🤗

Two years later:

Zaki went down on his knees, a loving, pleading expression on his face. "Saira, you're my darling, aren't you? You're my sweetheart, the ruler of my heart.."

Arzoo, who was on her way out grinned. "Don't bother Zaki. She's not like your Singapore girlfriend. This girl is not going to fall for you so easily."

Zaki threw a mock scowl at Arzoo before turning back to Saira, "Oh but you already do love me, don't you? You just want me down on my knees begging you and see, here I am. Begging you. Come on my Shehzadi, come to your chacha now. You took all the toys I got for you but you cry and scream when I try to pick you up. This is not fair now, is it?"

The fair chubby ten month old Saira with a head full of thick, black hair crowed gleefully before gracing her chacha with a beautiful smile. One hand holding on to her half squashed banana, she held on to the sofa with her other hand and stood up. Her black, black eyes locked on Zaki and with a toothy grin, she took two fumbling steps towards him. Zaki's entire face lit up as he opened his arms to receive his niece. "Come on, come on, come on, one more step and.." she reached him and caught hold of his collar tight and fed him the squashed banana in her hand. Only her aim went a little awry, resulting in the banana landing on his cheeks and chin.

Alvira and Nausheen who were sitting on the sofa talking and catching up, took one look at Zaki and burst out laughing. But Zaki was oblivious to all as he picked up Saira and kissed her rosy cheeks. "Oh my! You do love me, don't you?" He displayed her to his mother proudly. "Don't laugh ammi. She shared her food with me. Didn't you my princess?"

Nevertheless, he didn't refuse when Nausheen handed him some wet tissues to wipe his face and Saira's hands. "It was so good that you could come Zaki beta."

"How could I not come aunty? I wouldn't miss the chance to visit Lucknow for the world. Not to mention the factory is to be inaugurated tomorrow."

"Yes," Nausheen happily nodded. "But it's so good to have all three daughters of mine under one roof after so many months. Especially Zara. Ever since she got into acting she has no time for anything. Only the fact that she lives in Mumbai and is constantly in touch with Sahir and Arzoo keeps me somewhat reassured."

"She is a big girl now Nausheen. You need to stop worrying," Alvira said. "You have too much time in your hands that's the problem. Good thing that Sahir is giving the management of this factory to you and Myra. Will keep you busy."

"But I'm still worried about that Alvira. I mean I never did something like that before, have no experience.. I wish Munafar bhai hadn't relocated. He would've.."

"Don't think so much," Daadi reassured. "Sahir personally trained Myra and said he will be in touch with her until you all can get a hang of it. And if he can't, I will step in." Everyone laughed.

"How are Shiraz and Anam doing Alvira?" Nausheen asked.

"They are fine. He asked if I wanted to shift there. But I told him visiting is fine. I will do it as and when I can but living?" She shook her head. "I'm happy living with my eldest son. And now I have this imp to keep me company too." She looked at Saira who was busy pulling Zaki's cheeks.

"Kurti apa is fine after moving back to her village?"

Begum, I can't stay here any more. All these years the thought that my Zeenat would recover and come back to this house and take her rightful place..that had been the only thing that had kept me here. But now..without her..and watching her Sahir move on happily with someone else..I can't stay. Please don't think I don't want Sahir to be happy. But with someone else? No. I can't see that. I want to go back begum. Back to my village. At least there, I will have memories to get me through.

Alvira sighed. "She doesn't call as much but yes, I think she is doing OK there."

"Ammi.." Sahir walked into the hall from one of the bedrooms, adjusting his jacket.

"Yes beta?" Alvira turned.

"Yes beta?" Nausheen too turned at the same time. Both women grinned.

Sahir lost his preoccupied expression as he looked at them. But not for long. Because the apple of his eye spotted him and screeched, "Aaabbooo!" And threw herself out of Zaki's arms, completely confident that her abbu would catch her. Before the women could yelp in panic, Sahir snatched Saira midair and whirled her around playfully. Her loud shrieks of "Gain abbu, gain abbu," filled the room.

He settled her into his arms and patted her back before tickling her neck and kissing her cheek. "Later, our play time later." She gave him another toothy grin and layed her head on his shoulder. Hugging his precious bundle close, he looked around, "Ammi, where is Arzoo?"

Nausheen looked out of the window. "It's raining na. All three sisters would be outside." Sahir grimaced.

"Bhai, why do you hate rain?"

"I don't hate rain. I just don't like getting wet in the rain. That client called. He was raving your praises. Good work Zaki." Zaki grinned and bowed playfully. "He also said he has a daughter and he wants you to.."

"Bhai no bhai, not again..oh please," his expression of horror made the women laugh. It drew a grin from his brother. "Arre bhai, that painting of Saira is done yet? I want to take it with me to Singapore."

"It will be done by the time you leave," Sahir assured. "The manager called from the factory site. I'm off there. Will be back in an hour or so."

Alvira nodded and came to take Saira from him who howled and cried at being pulled away from her abbu. Her cried turned pitiful as she stretched her arms, "Abbu, Abbu," Fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

With a painful groan, he took her back into his arms and hugged and rocked her. "Shhh..OK, OK. Shhh..Abbu won't leave you. OK? Shhh. I'll take her with me."

"Arre beta but.."

"It's OK ammi, I won't be long. Will be back before her next meal." Like magic the tears evaporated and she was back to her baby talk.

Rimjhim gire saawan sulag sulag jaaye mann..

"Khuda haifz Asharfi," Sahir didn't wait for the bird to complete her song.

"Saira has become one big dramebaaz," Nausheen tried to look exasperated but her eyes were brimming with joy as she watched the father and daughter leave.

Sahir walked to the portico and sure enough heard the laughter from all three followed by water splashing. He turned and spotted them in the rain. Ya Khuda! They were jumping into the puddles and laughing their heads off as they tried to dance on the wet slippery ground. Bunch of teenagers, he muttered as he waited for his wife to spot him. "Babba, babba," Saira babbled looking at the rain. Her version of water.

"Yes, babba and your ammi is going to look like a wrinkled prune if she doesn't come inside."

"Ammi," Saira gave him another toothy grin before giving him a sloppy kiss, making him laugh and hug her tighter to his chest.

Arzoo saw her shauhar and her daughter standing in the shade and waved. She saw him gesturing her to come. "There, now she will go running," Zara rolled her eyes while Myra gave a dreamy sigh.

Arzoo came running into the portico. "You're going somewhere?"

He nodded. "Factory site. I'll be back in an hour or so." She extended her arms to take Saira. He backed away with a scowl. "Are you crazy?"

"Arre why?"

"You're wet. You'll get her wet and she'll catch cold."

Arzoo gave him a dubious look. "Ya Allah! So you're going to take her with you?"

"Yes."

She glowered. "Allah knows, what will she do there?"

His fingers rubbed his daughters hair softly, "She can start learning how to manage people. Saiyyara is going to be hers one day after all." Arzoo's entire face lit up as her lips stretched into a wide, wide, smile. "Now if you're done behaving like a teenager, go and get changed."

Her scowl came back full force and she muttered, "Yes sir!"

"I heard that." Poking out her tongue at him, she blew a kiss to her daughter who clapped her hands gleefully and turned to go back into the rain. "Suno?"

"Ji?"

"Tonight wear the sari I bought you."

With a naughty look she faced him once again, "And what about Saira?"

He shrugged. "What about Saira? She has her khala, not one but two, her chacha, her dadi and nani..I'm sure they can handle her. Talk to them."

Arzoo looked horrified. "Me? Talk? What do I say? Allah knows.."

"That is not my problem. I'm sure the head of design team, Saiyyara can think of something..creative." Adjusting his daughter comfortably, he started walking towards the car where the driver was already holding the door open for him.

"Gabbar Chaudhary!"

"What?"

"Yes sir, of course sir, three bags full sir." She made a face at him.

"I saw that." With a grin he got into the car.

****

Arzoo waited until the car disappeared from the view before dancing back to her sisters. Myra asked, "He took Saira with him?" Arzoo nodded.

"He loves her to pieces, doesn't he appi?" Zara said with a bitter sweet smile on her lips. Myra had been too young to remember Sarfaraz but Zara's memory had more than a few bitter incidents.

Arzoo nodded, hugging herself. "And I love him Zara. So much."

"Yeah, yeah," Zara and Myra giggled and started chasing her sister.

****

Saira stopped banging on the window with her fist and crawled back into her abbu's lap. Settling her head on his chest, she started giving him her entire repertoire of vocabulary. "Ala..achu..ani..aai..babba..bubu..uta..mammam..ana.." She grinned up at him as he praised and kissed her. "Abbu!" she crowed loudly. "Ammi!"

"Yeah, your ammi. Your love her a lot, don't you?" He ran his fingers through the baby soft hair. "I love her too," he whispered. "So much."

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