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ive kept this SUPER long, as this is the last chapter... 😭 hope you guys like it!!! Please do read the note at the end... its for ALL YOU GUYS who read and appreciated my work!!!! 😳 enjoyy!!
Part 6
"Good morning, bhaijaan!" came Najma's enthusiastic greeting as Asad came downstairs for breakfast.
"Morning, tamatar" Asad replied, smiling at her and then suddenly frowning. "Why aren't you in college, Najma?" he asked her sternly. "You know I hate the idea of bunking college and sitting at home".
"Relax, bhaijaan! It's a Sunday! No college today!"
"Oh, okay. Umm… where are the others?" he asked her as he sat down and opened the newspaper. As usual, Najma placed his customary cup of coffee in front of him and waited for his nod of approval.
"Tastes okay?"
"Yeah. It's great, thanks. So, where are the others?"
"Others?"
"Yeah, you know, Ammi and-"
"And Ayaan, Nikhat and Nuhzat, right?" cut in someone. Asad looked up in shock, to find all his step-siblings standing beside Najma, looking extremely happy about something.
"What are you guys doing here!?"
"We're here to have breakfast with you, dearest bhaijaan!" Ayaan sang and sauntered forward to hug him. "With mamujaan gone, there's no reason for us not to meet anymore. We're free to meet as much as we like, bhai. Even my parents don't have a problem with it! Isn't that great?"
"Yes it is" Asad replied, and got up to hug them all, on by one. Then he pulled back, looking worried. "But, Ammi?"
"Ammi doesn't mind, bhaijaan" Najma said "in fact, she's the one who invited them here, today. She knew it would make you happy". Asad smiled and motioned them to sit down.
"Where's Ammi?" he asked, once they were all seated and ready to tuck in.
"One of our neighbours needed some advice regarding a dish she was preparing so Ammi went to help her. She'll be back in a while".
"And Zoya?"
"Arrey haan!" put in Ayaan, jumping at the opportunity to tease his big brother again. "Where is our Zoya? Can't you see, Najma? Bhaijaan ke gale se khaana nahi utar raha!" Nuzhat and Nikhat sniggered as Asad glared at them all.
"Good morning, everybody!" Asad immediately brightened up, hearing her voice. He knew he was being extremely cheesy, but the mere sound of her voice made him feel so contented and happy. His whole expression turned soft as she entered the room, towelling her wet hair. Not wanting to look too 'love-struck-, as these kids had described him earlier, he picked up his mug and took a sip.
"Good morning, Zoey!" Ayaan chanted back. Asad choked on his coffee and went into a coughing fit as the others burst out laughing. Zoya hurried forward and thumped him on the back till his coughs subsided.
"Zoey!?" he cried, incredulously. "What kind of an idiot gave you that name? No, wait. Don't answer that. I know Ayaan did."
"Arz kiya hai!" Ayaan said, standing up and throwing is right arm out as a dramatic gesture.
"Dil pe lage taale ki mil gayi hai chaabi"
"wah wah!" cried Asad's sisters.
"Dil pe lage taale ki mil gayi hai chaabi!
Please have you food bhaijaan- look! Here's bhabi!"
Ayaan took a bow, while the girls clapped and cheered noisily. Asad cracked a smile, in spite of himself.
"All right, everybody" Najma said "sit down and start eating else the food is going to get cold". Asad smiled to himself as his sibling chattered noisily around him. For the first time in years, this was beginning to feel like a real home, where everybody sat together during meals, chatted and had fun.
"Najma!" called Zoya "Where's my pizza? Didn't you heat it up?"
"I did, Zoya!" she replied "It's in the oven. I didn't take it out"
"It's not here! That's why I'm asking you. Where's my pizza?"
"Zoya" Asad said, his tone disapproving. "Forget about the stale pizza and come have some fresh fruits and pancakes. I fail to understand why you're so obsessed with eating leftover pizza for breakfast".
"Asad. Eat your own food and let me eat mine" she retorted, as she continued to hunt for her lost pizza. The sound of the main door opening took Asad's attention away from her, momentarily.
"Ammi's back! Ammi, come have breakfast with us!" Najma called. Dilshaad smiled and made her way towards the children, whom she'd already met before leaving.
"Ow!" came a cry from behind the counter and Zoya emerged from behind it, rubbing her head and looking at the counter accusingly. "Stupid marble" she muttered.
"Zoya? What are you doing?" Dilshad asked her.
"Phupi. Have you seen my pizza?"
"Yes, I have and I threw it away after I took a look at it. I can't believe Najma actually heated up that thing for you. Honestly, Zoya, do you want to fall sick? Now stop fretting over your pizza and come sit here" Dilshad finished, pointing to the chair beside her. Zoya meekly came and sat down, glaring at the fruits as if willing them to disappear into thin air.
"Now, since you all are here, I'm sure Asad has something to say to all of us, am I right?" Dilshad said, looking at her son expectantly. Asad looked scandalized. He had wanted to talk to his mother alone! Not in front of everybody and especially not in front of Ayaan! He knew his younger brother wouldn't stop teasing him for days.
"Well? We're waiting, Asad" his mother probed. Asad cleared his throat.
"I wanted to tell you all that Zoya and I want to get married" he said, and looked up to find everybody looking at him expectantly. "What?" he asked.
"That's all?" his mom asked him, sounding surprised.
"Yeah, what else? Zoya, say something!" he said, turning towards her. But the woman he was planning to marry was busy stuffing herself with pancakes.
"Phupi, these pancakes are amazing! You've got to teach me how to make these!" she cried, with her mouth full of food as she jabbed her fork into another one.
"Zoya!" chided Asad, torn between being annoyed at her for abandoning him in the middle of an awkward conversation and the urge to take her into his arms and kiss her for being so childishly adorable.
"What? Oh. Yeah, phupi. We'd like to get married" she said, hastily joining in the conversation.
"Bhaijaan, at least propose her properly!" Ayaan said "set an example for your younger brother!"
"What? No!" Asad cried, trying hard not to blush. "She knows I want to marry her. I know she wants to marry me. Why do I need to propose?"
"Bhaijaan, come on!" Nuzhat cried "Be a man and say it!"
"Bhaijaan, stop blushing! We're not asking you to kiss her! Nuzhat's right! Be a man!" Ayaan added.
"Yeah, bhaijaan!" urged Najma "ask her! And ask her properly! It should look genuine!"
"All right all right, fine!" Asad sighed, holding up both his hands. He looked at Zoya who was again eyeing her food longingly. He smiled to himself. No one could take her attention away from food, not even a marriage proposal from the man she loved. What was he going to do with this woman? Asad got up from his chair and walked over to where Zoya was sitting and held out his hand. She smiled and took it and followed him as he led her to the center of the drawing room. The others tagged behind.
Asad turned to look at the woman he loved with all his heart and soul, who meant the world to him. She was the one he wanted to spend every second his life with, live and fulfil every dream with and he knew she felt the same way about him. Her feelings were mirrored in her eyes, as she gazed back at him lovingly. Taking a deep breath, Asad slowly slid down on one knee in front of her.
"Zoya" he said "there is not a single minute in a day when I don't think about you. My world seems to overflow with happiness and life, whenever you're near me and it seems heartbreakingly empty, when you leave me even for a second. I cannot imagine leading a life that doesn't have you in it somewhere, reciting pathetic, but adorable poems, running around the house looking for random stuff in totally absurd places or arguing with me over things as insignificant as a kitchen napkin. Zoya, I live in Bhopal, a historic and vibrant city, full of life, which I happen to love living in, while you live in New York, which is highly over rated. But since the continents separating these two cities would be a bit difficult to cross every day, I think I know what to do. And if Bhopal is a problem, then I don't mind crossing oceans and continents to get to you, as long as you're waiting for me on the other side. Because, the truth is, that I am truly, deeply, madly and passionately in love with you. Ms. Zoya Farroqui, will you marry me?"
Zoya looked down at him with tears in her eyes. She had not expected her Akdu Ahmed Khan to come up with such a romantic proposal and now that he had, she did not want to ruin the moment by saying something too cheesy. Who knew this man could be capable of making her fall in love with him all over again? So Zoya sat down in front of him, cupped his face in her hands, looked deeply into his eyes and whispered a tearful "Yes, Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan. I will marry you".
This was just the beginning of the perfect future awaiting them, its unknown beauties waiting to be explored together by a match made in heaven.
TO ALL MY READERS!!!
I LOVE YOU GUYYSS!!!! 🤗 thank you SO much for reading my story and even more for such wonderful comments and reviews!!!! i had thought of many ways to take the story forward, but none of them were satisfactory enough so i decided to end it here... but this isnt the last time i'm writing something! since i'm hooked to QH now, i'll keep writing! And all those who've been such sweethearts and commented and liked this SS are gonna get updates, whether you like it or not!!! 😆
Until next time, then!!! take care, guys!!! ❤️
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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