Hi guys!
I had entered this entry for the Winter OS Contest and I got the runner's up place! A big thank you to all who read and voted for my story!
I wanted to share this with everyone!
And this the awesome Siggy that I am the proud owner of! Thank you Nisha (DancingDiva.) and the Qubool Hai DT!
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As Zoya completed the final paper snowflake and stuck it on the conservatory window of her childhood home in New York, she noticed her two little angels, Mahek and Mehtab, staring towards the winter wonderland of the back garden in awe and excitement. The lingering aroma of a delicious Christmas Eve dinner they had just devoured was spread in the house. Her Aapi had pulled out all the stops, inviting all of Zoya's acquaintances and friends whom she hadn't seen in years.
The entire evening had been marvelous and she had enjoyed flaunting her sexy husband to her friends and was filled with pride while introducing her little munchkins. Mahek and Mehtab had basked in the attention that Zeenat and Anwar, along with their other relatives in New York, had showered them with.
And now, as her Aapi, Jeeju and Asad sat in the living room by the fireplace and sipped their coffees and munched on festive cookies, Zoya felt a wave of immense happiness wash over her. Bringing her hands together in a quick prayer, she thanked her Allah Miyan and then Zoya went over to where her children sat on the couch by the big window with their faces pressed against the glass and gazing outside.
Kneeling down in the middle of her little boy and girl, she wrapped her arms around them very softly and whispered, "My Ammi senses are tingling and they tell me that some little Khans want to go out. Hmm, now, can those be these two," she squeezed their sides, "Do you want to go out there?" Zoya smiled.
Mehtab's brown eyes, identical to his father's, lit up at once - almost rivaling the shining Christmas tree in the room. He jumped up and down with obvious delight and hugged his mother.
"YES! Ammi, yes, yes, yes! Come on! Let's go now. Now!" he squealed and turned to face his elder sister Mahek and for once, the two siblings seemed to want the same thing. She was as excited as her little brother.
Zoya stood straight and said, "Well, kiddos! First we have a big task ahead of us. Getting Abbu ready with us! Shall we go and get him from the living room?" she questioned them. Before she had even finished her sentence, her sugar-high kids broke free from her embrace and were chasing down the hallway towards the living room.
"Abbu! Abbu! Abbu!" their excited calls preceded them as they reached the front room, and it caused Zoya to smile to herself.
She felt as if she couldn't be any happier. This was the life she had dreamed of when she was a little girl and had written that silly wish list of hers. Being married to the love of her life and having the loveliest children with him. After so many troubles and bad experiences, everything had finally slotted into place for the pair of them and now, they were here! In New York, celebrating the holidays and being a family.
Christmas had always been her favorite time of the year. The atmosphere is always so festive and people are so happy. Zoya used to stroll in the market places and see the twinkling lights in all the stores and the snow on the ground. Given that the cold used to be biting but she loved the warmth of her favorite coffee! Her Jeeju used to take her out for hot chocolate when she was in school. Sharing all these memories with her husband had settled a sense of calmness over her. It didn't hurt that Asad had also fulfilled her little fantasies of being kissed in Time Square and under the mistletoe. She giggled at the memory. Asad could be romantic when he wanted to be.
And now, seeing her children here and enjoying themselves filled her with so much joy, happiness and pride.
Zoya stood at the sitting rooms entrance, grinning as she noticed both Mahek and Mehtab cuddled into Asad's side giggling, kicking and squealing as he tickled them to death, just as he usually did when they bombarded him.
"Does Abbu want to come out as well then?" Zoya questioned them in the midst of laughing, twisting her wedding ring slowly and passing her husband a soft smile as he looked at her.
"Although it's cold outside, I can't say no. They should have the complete experience, right?" Asad responded as he planted a kiss upon both Mahek and Mehtab's foreheads as they got themselves up breathlessly alongside him.
"Can we build a snowman?!" Mehtab asked as he peered up towards Asad in complete admiration. A definite Abbu's boy, that's for sure.
"Of course little man!" Asad told him and bent down to ruffled a grinning Mehtab's brown mop of hair before letting him free as he rushed towards the hooks in the hallway to try and reach for his coat, boots and winter attire.
Zoya felt a small hand slot into hers and noticed Mahek peering up towards her with a sweet smile.
"And snow angels too?" She wondered, lulling her head to the side as she nuzzled herself into Zoya's arm as she gripped tightly onto her hand.
"And snow angels," Zoya repeated with a solemn nod of confirmation.
As Asad brushed past her following Mehtab's lead, he planted a soft peck upon Zoya's lips and rubbed soothingly down her arm with his hand as some form of affection before grasping hold of Mehtab's coat and winter clothing and began helping him put them on. Mehtab seated himself upon the bottom step of the stairs, humming a Christmas song as the excited look remained on his face. At the same time Zoya helped Mahek slip on her winter clothing, covered from head to toe in pink, just like a pretty little princess which is what they always called her. Their little princess Mahek.
"Right! We've got about an hour out there and we shall make the most of it!" Asad began as he noticed himself and Zoya were both ready to go outside. Rubbing his hands together as the excitement was apparent in his voice as if he was a little kid himself. He noticed Mahek and Mehtab rush ahead of him cheering as they made their way to the conservatory doors.
"I love you," Zoya whispered into his ear softly whilst rubbing his arm gently before giving him a smile.
"I love you too. This was a great idea, Zoya - coming to New York, I mean." he responded, stroking the side of her face with his gloved hand before opening the back door to allow the kids free.
They walked towards the backyard with their gloved hands intertwined. He gave her a quick kiss before joining their rambunctious kids.
The hour spent outside was definitely made the most of, that's for sure. A large snowman had been made under a well practiced Zoya's instructions and guidance. The kids learned quickly the art of nicely rolling the snow and piled up the head and the body of the snowman while Asad helped them make the largest part for the bottom of the structure. One carrot had been kindly donated by their Zeenat Khala from the kitchen and an old hat and scarf from Anwar's wardrobe too. As Mahek had wished, there had been several snow angels made in most of the snow which was left leaving just enough for Mehtab to scoop up a bundle and throw in the direction of Asad.
With a gasp, Asad turned to face Mehtab with a shocked expression on his face.
"That's it... I'm going to get you," he teased grasping a tiny amount of snow causing Mehtab to squeal and run around the garden trying to hide away from Asad who slowly chased him around so he had the chance to get free'.
"Help me get Abbu so Mehtab can win," Zoya whispered into Mahek's ear causing a devil-like smirk to emerge upon her lips as Mahek herself bent down and scooped up as much snow as she could in her arms and lobbed it towards Asad.
Asad let out a shriek and his eyes widened towards Mahek as if that hit was completely unexpected.
"Not you too, baby girl!" Asad whined, pouting sadly as he continued to follow Mehtab around the large garden he himself used to run around when he was little.
"Ammi told meee tooo!" Mahek sung happily, skipping along as she collected more and more snow and threw it towards him, hitting him on the back of his jacket and on his trouser leg.
"You!" Asad gasped as he pointed towards Zoya pretending to be shocked as if she was a traitor.
With a delicate shrug, Zoya lifted up some snow herself and rushed towards him.
"We need to win, of course!" Zoya smirked causing him to shake his head over and over and stop himself from running' as snowballs were thrown at him continuously, left, right and centre. Asad took fast strides and grabbed Zoya around her waist and swung her around. Their kids laughed and cheered their father as he "wrestled" with Zoya. They sure wrestled, while sneaking kisses in between.
"I give up I give up!" Zoya shouted, falling dramatically and pleaded Asad to stop tickling her. Mehtab and Mahek looked towards each other before giggling as they rushed towards Asad and dived on him causing him to shriek out again and wrap his arms around them and effectively got his off their Ammi.
"Help I'm trapped help!" Asad pretended to panic, squirming underneath them as he pretended to fight them off whilst failing'. Zoya giggled, clutching onto her stomach as she couldn't help but laugh at the sight in front of her.
She really did have the best family ever. Hopefully, this would be one of many holidays they would share together as a family and in New York and enjoy themselves completely.
***
For Asad and Zoya was so nice to just relax and not have to worry about kids jumping in their bed in with the crack of dawn. While parenthood was very rewarding, it left very little alone time for the couple. The morning of Christmas, Zoya woke up feeling fresh and relaxed. She realized that it was past eight thirty in the morning and her little devils had not come barging in their room.
"They are out." Asad muttered in a hoarse voice against her neck and gave her a soft kiss, as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her even closer; knowing where her thoughts were. "It snowed more over the night and they could hardly wait. Aapi and Jeeju are there with them. I guess snow has its charm?"
"Mmm hmm" Zoya hummed and snuggled with her husband. "Snow has its novelty. I used to spend hours and hours outside when I was their age."
"This is nice," Asad whispered against her chest, winding his arms under Zoya and pulling her on top of him. "And enough talking, make the most of this silence, shall we?"
He cupped her cheeks and brought Zoya close and kissed her. The kiss was soft and warm and full of love. His hands squeezed her cheeks them let them wander the length of her body. They kept kissing and touching for a while and settled back against each other.
"Zoya?"
"Hmm?"
"Where is my present?"
Zoya laughed at her husband's childish behavior. He had been bugging her to tell him what she had gotten him for weeks. It had started when they had gone shopping and Zoya had declined to shop for Asad, saying that she already had her present for him. Surprises were hardly Asad Ahmed Khan's forte.
"You are being such a baby, love!" Zoya exclaimed but got out of the bed and walked over to the closet. She walked to the very back of the closet and dug out a well hidden little box. Hopping back on the bed, she handed the neatly wrapped box to Asad and shook her head at his eager expression.
Considering how eager he was, he sure did take his sweet time to open the gift. Carefully peeling off the sticky tapes, he unfolded the wrapping paper and kept it aside - after folding it properly. Zoya rolled her eyes at him - some things never change.
Asad looked at the plain looking wooden box in his hand and gave his wife a dubious look. After her encouragement, he opened the box and peered inside. Nestled in the box, lay a single white stick, proudly. He did not need time to decipher what it meant. He had been privy to this moment twice in his life before, and each one had been special and dear to him.
He looked at wife, who had tears streaming down her face. He grinned at her and teased her.
"Nine months of your crying and emotional outbursts, love?" he smirked.
Zoya swatted his arm but cuddled up to him, "You ready for another one, Jahanpanah?"
"With you by my side? Always. I love you and thank you so much for this gift." He kissed her temple.
"I love you too. You are thanking me as if you had nothing to do with this. You were there remember?" she snickered at him.
"Oh I was. And I recall it was a great night. Your birthday, right?" he gave her a devilish smile and waggled his eyebrows. "Merry Christmas, Zoya. I am so happy to be here with you. It really is beautiful this time of the year, here."
Zoya only smiled and kissed him again, "Merry Christmas, Asad. Haven't you heard? It's always Christmas in New York!"
And she pulled him down as she lay back; fusing their lips in their private little way of celebrating the season.
Leave some love! :)
Cheers,
Simi
Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
Tum Se Tum Tak
Sampoorna
Jhanak
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