'Aaah, this feels so good!', Ayaan said in his deep throated voice, relaxing in the front seat of the SUV, raising his palm in front of the AC grills.
'I know. I'm so glad Asad called another car!', Zoya said crossing her legs on the backseat, while Humeira had her head thrown back on the seat, exhausted. 'That Riya was creeping me out!'
Asad rolled his eyes and shook his head, smiling inwardly looking at how jealous his wife was. Also, how his enthusiastic family was so glad they had a ride now. But he couldn't deny, this trip was indeed fun. The best he had ever had. It may have to do with the fact that this time, he had Zoya with him. And the other fact that Ayaan was now a happily married man too, and he no more had to listen to his moping stories of how Humeira wouldn't even look at him, throughout the vacation.
'I know! She was such a weird woman!', Humaira piped in, rubbing her forehead.
'Oh come on, guys! She was sweet and-', Ayaan began, turning himself around im his seat, to face the ladies, but was cut off when he recieved the death glares thrown at him by them.
Ayaan looked over at Asad and they shared a knowing glance, turning their eyes towards the road again, smiling.
'Wese Bhaijaan, what happened to the driver who brought this car?', Ayaan asked.
'Oh haan Asad, where did he go?', Zoya asked looking at the rare view mirror.
'I sent him back on a cab, giving him the money enough for the fare', Asad replied, shrugging.
'Why?', Humaira asked, confusion on her face mirroring others. 'Weren't you tired? If the driver was here, he would've drived'.
'This is our trip, guys', Asad said, proud of himself. 'We started it with ourselves, we'l end it just the four of us two. Besides, I wanted to drive'.
Zoya, Ayaan and Humaira, all had their jaws wide opened, their eyes turning wide as saucers. Did he just say all that without rubbing his temple, without his jaws clenched and his irritated self?
'O M G!', Zoya gasped, coming forward on her seat, and holding Asad's shoulders from the back and shaking them. 'What did you do to my, husband?! I want my husband back!'
'I want my Bhaijaan back. Oh no, Zoya!', it was Ayaan's turn to gasp. 'What if someone else's Aatma came into him? Maybe thats what they mean by the 'Aatma Dhabba'?!'
'Mujhe mera Asad waapis kero!', Zoya hissed, shaking Asad some more, making it hard for him to concentrate on the road.
'What the hell, guys?', Asad said, exasperated. 'Is it this hard to believe that I am actually contributing in this vacation?'
'YES!', all three of them said in sync.
Asad rolled his eyes the third time during the drive.
'Shutup you all and let me drive, I want to reach the farmhouse by tonight', Asad spoke, irritated by his family's response. 'I am not spending another sleepless night somewhere in the middle of the road!'
'And he's back!', Ayaan said straightening himself on his seat.
'Yay, my irritated, annoyed, silly and kind-of-an-emotionally-challenged husband is back!', Zoya squealed throwing her arms around his chest as he drove, his seat between their bodies.
And there came, another eye roll.
**
They were now connected to the highway. Zoya looked out the window and admired the scenetic beauty around her, as the SUV sped away. The lush green mountains that could be seen far away, cattle grazing on the grass. She was loving the weather too. Clouds covering the sky, floating above them, only letting a little ammount of sunshine through. She loved it all.
They had experienced so much in this vacation. She hoped there was a whole new adventure for them today when they reached the farmhouse too. She hadn't enjoyed this much since a long time.
'You know, I wish sometimes Najma and Phuppi were with us too', Zoya said suddenly missing the other two women she loved.
'Yeah, I do miss Baddi Ammi and Tamatar', Ayaan said.
'Oh I'm sure Ammi wouldn't have wanted to be a part of this', Asad said, as he drove.
'I'm sure she would've loved to!', Zoya argued.
Dilshaad and Najma had immense importance in Zoya's life and she could never imagine having so much fun without them. She wished they were here too.
Asad looked at how his wife's face fell, through the rare view mirror, as she seemed lost in some deep thoughts. He didn't like that sad pout she made when she was upset. Although it did make her full lips look even more kissable if that was even possible, but he just didn't like seeing her upset.
'We could always take pictures we could show them?', Asad suggested, hoping this would cheer his wife up.
'Yeah, Mona darling, Bhaijaan is right', Ayaan said ignoring the look being thrown at him by Asad, he very well knew why. 'We will be stopping for lunch, right Bhaijaan?'
'Yeah. Just about in another thirty minutes'.
'See. We can start taking pictures now', Ayaan said, smiling widely.
Ofcourse. Pictures, yes. They hand't taken any pictueres as yet. They have to take so many pictures to show Phuppi and Najma. They'd be so happy. Specially Najma who loves collecting tourism photos. This could help her, Zoya thought.
Asad saw her pout going away, her dimpled smile making way through. He saw how perfectly the smile reached her eyes. Made him fall deeper in love with her, everytime.
'YES!! Thankyou Ayaan! Thats a great idea!', Zoya exclaimed, throwing her arms around him as he had turned towards the ladies, completely forgetting who proposed the idea first.
Asad looked at his brother narrow-eyed. It was his damn idea, he thought burning inside.
Humaira giggled looking at the look being thrown by her brother-in-law to her husband. Oh he was dead meat, she thought.
Ayaan looked at the draggers being thrown his way by his brother. This was fun, he thought. He loved irritating his brother.
'Oh no problem, Mona dear. I have some brilliant ideas, yes', he said, hugging her back, irritating Asad even more.
Ayaan shrugged between the hug towards a fire breathing Asad.
Oh he would see him later, Asad thought. Right now, he had to focus on the road. Road, road road road, je kept reminding himself.
**
The two couples got off their SUV and walked towards the highway side restaurant called 'Haven'. It was almost two in the afternoon, and everyone walked towards the restaurant with their rumbling stomachs.
Zoya walked with her camera hanging in her neck, while her arms were entwined with Asad's, the younger couple almost ran inside, making Asad and Zoya chuckle.
'You know Asad, sometimes I feel our babies would be just like them', Zoya remarked giggling.
'Oh please', Asad resisted. 'I don't want another pair of brainless kids around. Our kids would be much more sensible'.
Zoya rolled her eyes at her husband, smling inwardly.
'Wese Zoya speaking about kids', Asad spoke near her ear, his voice husky. 'I would really want a little baby girl, with the same eyes and a same little nose as yours'.
This made Zoya blush the deepest shade of red.
Asad quickly grabbed the camera hanging from her neck and took a click of one of the most precious sight ever. His wife blushing so beautifully on the mention of them making babies together.
Zoya didn't realise what was going on till she saw the flash hit her eyes. She slapped Asad on his arm causing him to chuckle and drag a complaining Zoya into the restaurant.
As they entered 'Haven', Zoya started clicking pictures of the beautiful restaurant, admiring the beautiful architechure.
Being the wife of an industrialist, Zoya sure had an interest in architechure. She saw how everything had an antique feeling and how the carvings on the wall were done so beautifully. Forcing a very reluctant Asad to stand on the enterance, she clicked a photgraph, rewarding him with a peck on the cheek afterwards.
'Come on Bhaijaan and Zoya', they heard Ayaan's voice.
They looked ahead to see Ayaan and Humeira had already booked a table for them. Asad and Zoya joined them.
'I want a click of you two now. Smile', Zoya ordered Ayaan and Humeira.
Satisfied by her click, she kept the camera on the table and took hold of the menu.
'Asad, don't tell me you're just ordering soup for yourself?', Zoya gasped.
'We're on vacations. Forget the diet plans everyone. We eat what we want to!', Zoya announced happily.
The ate all sorts of Desi foods to their hearts content, Asad first being reluctant, but finally giving in when his wife started feeding him with her hands. Zoya took turns feeding herself, taking pics and feeding his husband when he looked double minded. The two couples also ordered some take aways for the night in the farmhouse for they knew they wouldn't have any energy left in them by the night to cook anything for themselves.
As they exited the restaurant, Zoya handed the camera to Ayaan asking him to take some picture of her and Asad.
Climbing on a step outside the restaurant, while Asad stood on the ground, she threw her arms around him from the back, her chin resting on his shoulders, while he held her arms. Ayaan happily took a click of the smiling, beautiful couple.
'One more, please!', Zoya called out, coming down the step to stand next to Asad.
'Sure, Mona!', Ayaan replied, smiling.
Placing her arms around Asad's waist as she stood next to him, while Asad placed his arms around her shoulders, they posed in front of the camera.
Zoya ran to grab the camera from Ayaan once he took their picture. She kissed the camera screen being so happy about the perfect click. She loved how the picture showed a little of the highway behind them and half of the restaurant. She loved it.
Taking a few snaps of the younger couple, Zoya wanted a picture of all four of them.
Spotting a mid-aged woman nearby, Zoya requested her to take a picture of them. Zoya thanked her by a quick hug when she agreed.
And the four of them stood together, posing in front of the camera. Asad and Ayaan stood on the ground, Ayaan's arm around his brother's shoulder as he stood on his side, while the ladies climbed the step above, throwing their arms around their husbands from the back, smiling widely.
The woman smiled widely seeing them.
'MashaAllah, beautiful couples', she said to herself as she clicked their photograph.
After Zoya and Ayaan done with clicking photos, they climbed back in their SUV, once again starting their journey towards the farmhouse.
'Farmhouse, here we come. FINALLY!', Ayaan said out aloud before he along with the ladies started singing loudly in the car, Asad only humming along occasionaly as he drove.
A/N:
I am really sorry for not updating this SS since ages. Actually, I was so focused on my FF, and since thats dark, I couldn't get myself to write a lighter one. Real sorry. 2 chapters left of this SS and an epilogue. Hope you like this update. Love you all! ❤️
Real Estate
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