Before we start :
My Reader- request fan fiction 💕
This is a re-imagination based on episodes 135 - 139 (jashn-e- saugaat episodes)
Again, I have decided to take a more diary-like approach. ( Think watching a movie then reading its book)
There are direct references to the scenes and dialogues so watching the episodes would definitely make it more fun to read, but could be understood without as well.
Happy reading❤️
Disclaimer: I don't own any qubool hai characters. The lines taken from the episodes belong solely to creativity of its writers.
Chapter 1
"How do you wake up...when you're not even asleep?"
"Jaise hi ammi thik hojayengi, main unhe sab bata dunga"
Here we go again!
"Agar ammi beemar na hoti toh main ye sab nahi karta"
Has he always been this frustrating? Yup. Definitely.
"Main yeh nikaah nai karna chahta"
Why. Did. You. Drag. Me. Back. From. The. Airport. Then.
"Good" she muttered disdainfully.
Zoya guarded her face to show no extra emotion. But the careful mask slipped with an announcement of a new rasam looming hours away.
"Allah Miyan, how many more of these do we have to go through?" This is just torture.
"Look, there's no other option as of now" Why won't he look directly at me?
"Fine, toh karlenge rasam but in any case, I'm the bride Jahapanah not you. You can stop blushing you know" she teased.
The words that came out of his mouth next, stole her satirize. She should have been angry – furious that his denial kept coming – but she simply wasn't. The rage and disappointment had frozen itself into ice – chilling her heart, guarding it.
For the moment, sarcasm took its place.
"How sad that the man who values rituals so much has to fake it all. You and your lies, Mr. Khan!" Zoya tut-tutted him disapprovingly.
Asad dare didn't meet her eye. What was she playing at?
"Anyhow, just because you're forced to 'fake' marry me, don't even think you can get out of getting a saugaat for tomorrow" He finally faced her, thankful she had lightened the conversation.
"Bataiye phir, kya la rahe hai mere liye" His eyes got trapped in the dimples that formed as she spoke. He went with the easiest answer.
"Nothing" Her mouth pouted; eyes widened in fake surprise.
"You're such a spoil sport! If anything, you totally should, kyunki jab itne dil se jhooth bolo toh sach lagta hai"
Asad held his breath trying not to show how much her words pleased him. Zoya regretted as soon as they were out. She wanted to wipe that smug grin off his handsome face.
She recovered quickly. "Look I just think if we are doing it, at least be convincing. Saugaat nai layenge toh sab yunhi sawaal karenge"
The recoveries were all in vain for he left her pulse throbbing with half a smirk and a playful nod.
"Six packs" she muttered under her breath when he walked away.
It was going to be a plug-earphones-in-at-full-volume-to-fall-asleep kind of night, she thought as she stepped into her room.
It sounded odd that someone could pass out when music was blasting in their ears that loud, but not to Zoya. She needed the distraction. Between yesterday and today, her world had flipped upside down and she'd be damned if she let the tears consume her.
Tomorrow was going to be harder than today but hopefully she'd be stronger than her yesterday.
***
The bride and groom had been encouraged to put a performance. Soft music played in the background, a buzz of chatter afloat. She didn't recognize any faces but calmed when her Phuphi and Najma smiled at her. All eyes were on them, everyone eager for the show. She turned her face towards the only pair of eyes that mattered.
His eyes were vivid, smile blinding. It was an emotion so happy, it rocked her, steered her into believing it was all a dream. She found herself walking on petals soft, worried a moment that she might slip. He held her gaze then – reading it– and reassured.
Fairylights twinkled and sparkled around their clasped hands. Moonlight played tricks with the jewels in her hair. It wasn't until they had reached the tree that stood tall in the middle of the garden, she realized how mesmerising it all was.
The trumpet shaped; silvery white flowers hung over them casting a shelter. The frail branches swayed in the gentle breeze like the loose strands of her soft hair. They moved together to the music. Swaying. Twirling. Feeling.
It wasn't until he cast a glance upon her body, she remembered the soft pink gown she wore. His eyes were appreciative, intense than the dark night and brighter than the fireworks above.
Slowly then just like hum of the melody - buzz lifted, people disappeared.
Only the harmony remained and him.
His smooth hand grazed the length of her arm covered in satin before it settled on the back of her bare neck. His fingers moved with the sound of music, drumming her skin, sweltering it with touch.
But it was when he dipped her low, only to swoop her back in into his waiting arms, did she realize he had been holding something out for her.
Bodies in motion, her feet glided with his, dress billowing out as he handed her the velvet box. Asad whispered coming close, "Aapki saugaat" a moment before she stopped to inspect; gasping when she came face to face with the shiny object.
There lay white diamonds - elegant, regal. They remind me of you, a tiny handwritten note in the box said.
Zoya told herself it was just a gift, that it didn't matter, but her eyes felt full as she looked up. He had stopped moving too, looking for signs of his own on her face. His hands moved towards the bracelet attempting to put it on her hand. He's just trying to make it look 'real', she fought with herself.
As he struggled, the box slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor landing in a loud distorted echo.
Abruptly, the scenery around her dissolved, feeling of his hands vaporised and Zoya found herself standing alone in the middle of a dark garden. Lights gone, fireworks dead.
She gasped, sitting up immediately, and cast a quick glance around her.
There was no Asad.
No gift.
No canopy of flowers.
No fragrant scents.
Just her and the blackness that surrounded.
Still coming down from the high her dream had left her in, she blinked a number of times but made no attempts to move.
3:04 a.m., her bedside clock flashed. Heart palpating, the same sensational images played like a movie on her walls.
Not sure to what to make of it, she put her head between her knees and did what her heart had longed, since he'd placed the heavy ring on her finger.
She cried.
***
They hadn't seen it coming. Their faces said it all. Only the second day of their so-called wedding, and the house was decked up more than the bride-to-be.
Phuphi was proving to be an unstoppable force.
And here she thought, Jahapanah ruled the kingdom. Boy, was he delusional!
Standing in front of the mirror, she promised she wasn't going to lie to her own self today. She felt awful. The love-sick dream from hell was still giving her goosebumps. And the hocus-pocus of nosy aunty ji's outside surely wasn't going to help.
Zoya had been wrestling with the heavy blue dupatta when her phuphi entered.
"Barson iss lamhe ka intzaar tha mujhe" she said as her eyes took in the dolled-up figure from the door "I am so happy, Zoya" she continued ... "Main toh tumhe bahu kahungi" ... "Mera sabse bada khwaab poora kiya hai tumne" the raw emotions slowly kept flowing.
Every word, each teary smile of her phuphi seeped Zoya in some guilt unique. It sat on her chest, heavy like the jewellery she donned.
Would you do this to your own mother? Would you lie?
"Phuphi, you know how much I love you right? Isliye mujhe lagta hai, I shouldn't hide the truth. I should..."
"You don't have to say a word!" Dilshad interrupted her. She had sensed in Zoya's eyes, the shame and self-reproach building. Funnily enough, it made her will concrete. She was the one.
"Ammi bhi kehti ho aur formalities bhi karti ho." She held her hand and continued "Zoya... I realise that the decision I've made for you, for my Asad is a life-changing one. Par sach kahu, toh yeh faisla mera hai hi nahi. Yeh faisla toh uska hai jo sabke faisle karta hai. Ho sakta hai abhi tum iss baat ko samajh na pao. Par waqt aane par tum sab samajh jaogi. Tum bhi, aur who ziddi Asad bhi" Zoya cracked a smile in spite of herself.
Her phuphi's words confused her. But she realised what they had done, they could not un-do. The guests were here, the stage was set. Jhoothi hi sahi, kuch der ki khushi toh di. And not to mention she was painfully curious about Mr. Khan's saugaat.
For now, she could only pray that her phuphi would never feel ache equivalent what she felt every waking moment.
This middle of nowhere, na ghar ke na ghaat ke situation, was slowly building its toll on her.
***
CID
Kumkum Bhagya
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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