FF - Pehla Pyaar (Epilogue Page 51) COMPLETED - Page 31

Epilogue:

Ishq se haseen humere duniya hai, how wrong was Asad. With Ishq his world became more beautiful. As he sat surrounded by God and a calm that could only come from a place so holy. A year ago Asad sat in the same position back then his heart was none existent back then he was not waiting for her yet God her sent her to him. He looked across to the place he first saw her and smiled at the memories. Today he sat there waiting for her, back then there was an invisible thread that had already binded them together when he first saw her he never understood it then, he was so mesmerised by her. His world shifted when the black scarf she had on her head moved. He had never seen someone so beautiful, so fragile, and as pure as she was then. He couldn't move his eyes away from her. She was crying. Even with tears streaming down her face she was so beautiful. They say tears cleanses your soul and to him she looked so pure almost ethereal. Now, he is back here to relive all those pak/pure memories. After everything that happened. Ammi had declared to the world that she will get them married in 10 days. This time he had no objection. His heart had learned to love and to love in such a way that it was almost sufiyana and that is how Asad thought of his Zoya. They were in Ajmer now, away from everything surrounded by the people that they loved. Lost in her thoughts he didn't notice the object of his affection had seated herself opposite him. Just then a gust of wind blew and her scarf flew off her head. Asad was mesmerised all over again...

Zehaal-e-miskeen makun taghaful,
Duraye naina banaye batiyan.

Do not overlook my misery,
by blandishing your eyes and weaving tales,

Ke taab-e-hijran nadaram ay jaan,
Na leho kahe lagaye chatiyan.

My patience has over-brimmed, O sweetheart!
Why do you not take me to your heart.

Shaban-e-hijran daraz chun zulf,
Wa roz-e-waslat cho umer kotah.

Long like curls in the night of separation
short like life on the day of our union.

Cho shama sozan cho zaraa hairan,
Hamesha giryan be ishq an meh.

Tossed and bewildered, like a flickering candle,
I roam about in the fire of love

Asad was lost at the sight of his bride, in red just like she was the fateful day. Zoya felt his eyes on her. Just like the last time. She looked up and smiled. Only then did he notice that this time they were surrounded by their family. Dilshaad and Zoya's appi flanked on Zoya's side. His sisters and Zoya sister sat behind her. Zoya's appi straightened her duppatta. Asad could not move his eyes from Zoya. Ayaan and Zoya's jeeju flanked Asad's side. They all raised their hand in dua's. Zoya closed her eyes and prayed "Allah Miya, thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart" Zoya smiled and continued "I never thought Akdu Ahmed Khan aka jahanpanah would actually love me someday. I had faith in you Allah Miya, I always knew I was one of your favourites, okay I did doubt that sometime, but you always proved me wrong. My ammi was by your side always putting in a good word for me" a lone tear slid down Zoya's cheek. "She continued "Ammi, I got married today in every real sense. I did miss you, but my Dilshaad ammi was right there by my side. When she dressed me ammi, I felt you. When Dilshaad ammi looked at me in the mirror, ammi I saw your pride and blessings. I have a family now ammi. A family that I belong too. All because of Asad" Zoya smiled with her eyes closed. "Ammi, you would be so proud of him. His name is Asad ammi, in every sense a true lion. He protects his family and he loves me. Allah Miya, ammi I am so blessed and grateful for my life and for my husband's life. Allah Miya, Thank for trusting us with each other's hearts, blessing us with the bond of marriage. You have given us an opportunity to love each other unconditionally and sometimes that is hard to do, but I ask Allah Miya that you would help us to love like you love. Please show me how to be a joyful wife, a compassionate wife, a humble wife, and a truly forgiving wife. I pray for wisdom. I pray that you would equip both my husband and I with whatever we are lacking so that we may bless each other and be a beautiful example of a healthy marriage to other couples. Help me to understand that my expectations for my husband may never be met, that he is human. Give me a discerning spirit and the courage to speak truth into my husband's life, which will encourage him. Keep words of disappointment and regret, lies from the enemy, far from us. Help us grow old together. And forever remain watchful over us."

Asad could feel Zoya's each emotion. Every tear of joy she shed, she was after all talking to her Allah Miya and ammi. Asad closed his eyes and prayed "Ya Allah, thank you for bringing this creature to me. I did not get your signs at first. She was everything that my home and family needed. She awakened my heart again when I was too stubborn, she challenged me at every point, and she broke down the walls that I had built around me." Asad smiled and continued with his dua "Ya Allah, madat..cos I will need it she is exasperating, she will test me at every point. Please help me so that I may never be harsh toward her but instead honor and cherish her, so that I always remember that I am not independent of her. Help me to understand and fulfill her needs. Inspire me to draw on her wisdom and strength. Lead me to treat her with tenderness and humility. Let me display an unselfish spirit at all times just like she is "Asad prayed heartfully. "Ammi" he continued referring to Zoya's mother "I know she has introduced us" Asad smiled "I promise that I will never leave her alone. I will give her each and every desire her heart needs even before she asks for it. I only ask that like how you have always looked out for her, you look out for me as well. I maybe the reason she cries sometime, but I promise ammi that I will be always to wipe away those tears. I will take care of her ammi. She is mine now" And with that Asad concluded his prayer.

Asad looked up to Zoya and smiled. They got up and walked to malvi and the both bowed their head, the malvi sahib touched both their heads and said "May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, May God hold you in the palm of his hand? May God be with you and bless you; May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings, May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward. May the wind be always at your back. May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home. And may the hand of a friend always be near. May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you, May pure be the joys that surround you, May you be true to hearts that love you" And with that everyone said "Insha Allah" everyone walked up to Zoya and Asad and congratulated them. Asad and Zoya basked in all the love they got. Zoya's aapi and jeeju, hugged Asad and Zoya "Asad she has always been our little girl. Please take care of our baby" said Zoya's aapi crying, Zoya's jeeju held his wife and with the other hand Zoya. "Asad, today I am giving you a part of my heart. Zoya is my baby. I should say sorry, cos I spoilt her a little too much.. Zoya rolled her eyes. "But I can see that you love her and will except her annoying habits and all" Said Zoya's Jeeju giving Zoya's hand to Asad. "I will take care of her, she is my life now annoying habits and all" Said Asad earning himself a smack on the hand from Zoya. "Ya Allah, yeh ladki" said Zoya's appi scolding Zoya. Asad smiled and said "Don't worry aapi, I will take all the abuse she hands me" Asad said kissing Zoya's head. "Bhabhi" shouted their sisters and this brought Asad and Zoya out of their world quick. Najma, Nikhat and Nuzhat all rushed and hugged Zoya. "Congratulations" they all shouted together. Zoya hugged them all and said thank you. She held onto Najma a little longer. "Tamatar, Road trip this vacations" squealed Zoya like a teenager. All the girls hi-fived and smiled. Najma hugged her bhai-jaan "Thank you bhai-jaan" She said. Asad was confused. "Thank you for giving me giving me my best friend forever" whispered Najma. "You welcome tamatar" said Asad kissing Najma's forehead. Nikhat and Nuzhat looked at Asad and Najma; they missed out on this brother's love. Zoya looked that Nikhat and Nuzhat looking at Asad and Najma. "My wonderful saali's your bhai-jaan doesn't bite – he only roars" laughed Zoya. They girls were shocked, only their bhabhi could poke the lion. Asad held his arms opened and hugged his sisters for the first time. Nikhat and Nuzhat cried his arms. "Sorry bhai-jaan," they whispered. Asad pulled back from the hug and wiped their tears. "Everything that happened was not your'lls fault, don't ever think. I love you two as much as I love Ayaan. No matter whose genes we share. The two of you are my sisters just like Najma, I will always be there for you. And hugged Nikhat and Nuzhat again. Asad looked over their shoulder to Zoya and Najma holding hands, only Zoya could have done this. "Bhai-jaan save some love for me too" said Ayaan ruffling his hair. "Mona darling, sorry bhabhi" Said Ayaan going in for a hug. Asad moved forward to step between Ayaan and Zoya but Humera beat him to it. "Aapi" she said. And hugged Zoya tightly and started crying. "No Humera, will be forget about that happened. And only remember the good, I found a sister" smiled Zoya wiping away Humera's tears. "Besides Humera begum, you have me" said Ayaan holding Humera. "Ahem" said Asad. "Ayaan,, public place - I think I need to re-introduce to Makka Ahmed Khan" said Asad showing Ayaan his fist. The girls giggled. "Kya bhai-jaan, you can hug bhabhi in public but I can't not fair bhai-jaan, when did our roles reverse" smirked Ayaan and hugged his bhai-jaan with such force. "I am so happy for you bhai-jaan, May Allah shower you with all the blessings" Asad broke the hug and said smiled at his brother. Dilshaad came up to her son and daughter. They both hugged her. "Thank you my children for making me the world's proudest mother today. I couldn't have asked for anything else. Asad, you brought my daughter my bahu home. You my son are my biggest strength. Thank you for completing my family." Dilshaad kissed Asad. She held Zoya's face and wiped her tears and said "kissi ke pehla pyaar kabhi adhoora nahin hota. They fact that it happened is reason enough. And beta, this life is long and your love was true and pure, you were bound to have you love fulfilled." Dilshaad kissed Zoya. And said "I want grand babies, soon". Everyone laughed and started talking about how Asad and Zoya's babies will be.

But they only had eyes for each other. Asad's hand found Zoya's and she looked up to him and smiled. She was truly home. Like reading her thought's Asad said "Let's go home" Asad smiled and brought Zoya's hand to his lips. "No!" said Zoya. "No!" asked Asad shocked at his wife. "There is something I want to do first" And Zoya tugged his hand and walked outside. They came to a wall that had a whole lot of lock on it. Asad saw his friends there and smiled. "What a surprise" he said and bro-hugged Yash and Arnav whom was carrying their baby's. Whilst all Arti and Khushi were too lost in Zoya and how beautiful she looked. "Ahem" Asad cleared his throat looking at the ladies. "Kya hai" Asked Khushi smiling. "Oh yeah congratulations to you" said Arti really not interested in Asad. Arnav, Yash and Asad all laughed at their women. "Congratulations Asad" said Arnav quietly. "Quite a feeling hey being married" said Yash and Arnav completed the sentence "to the love of your life. Makes you think really why they hell, did you wait so long" smiled Arnav. Khushi walked up to the men. She hugged Asad "I am so happy for you guys" she said. Zoya came and stood by Asad and Asad held her by the shoulder. Zoya took the baby from Arnav, "is this Arshi? Too cute, she is gorgeous." Khushi and Arnav smiled proud parents. Zoya coo-ed and hugged Arshi. "Look Aayu, Zoya maasi found you a girlfriend" smiled Zoya holding Arshi and kissing Aayu. Asad just closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. "Zoya, let them grow up first" said Asad. "No Mr Khan, I can't risk that with Aayu, he better know all this now. So when he grows up he doesn't be emotionally challenged like you" Said Zoya. Asad looked at wife in disbelief. "Zoya, after everything that just happened you still believes I am emotionally challenged" asked Asad. "Yes Mr Khan, you took so long" smiled Zoya giving him the puppy dog look. Asad knew he couldn't win not with that look. Arnav and Yash, laughed and patted Asad's back. "Yeah man we know, another one bites the dust" and everyone laughed. They all walked to the wall and Zoya gave Asad a lock and key and explained that you make a wish lock the lock and when that wish comes true you come and open it. "Zoya, I have everything I want right here. I have you" and he kissed Zoya's forehead. "I love you Asad. Thank you for being my knight in damaged armour" and Zoya buried her face in his neck. "I love you Zoya, and that thank you for releasing my prison. Thank you for being my soul mate" and with that that both locked the lock...

A soul mate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks.
When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for whom we're pretending to be.
Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we're safe in our own paradise. Our soul mate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we're two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we've found the right person. Our soul mate is the one who makes life "come to life".

Asad looked at his Miss New York Hoity Toity, his soul mate now. Everything made perfect sense to him now. All that attraction all those restless nights, destiny was giving him signs. Zoya looked up at her husband and smiled. She had found her jannat she thought. She tip toed and kissed his cheek. "Thank you "whispered Zoya. "Ahem" Ayaan cleared his throat. And the rest of family just smiled. Asad looked at his life, who would have thought. She came in like a storm, uprooted everything in his life only make way for a new spring. Asad smiled, he could have not been happier. He scooped her up in his arms and said "No thank you Mrs Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan, for being my soul mate" with all the cheering and clapping behind them. Asad carried Zoya into the sunset towards their happily ever after..