She held his coat closer, smiling to herself. She was acting like a kid who just got scolded for getting wet in the rain.
He couldn't help but shake his head at her childishness.
The rain hadn't stopped completely yet and he pulled her closer, into his warmth. He was glad that she gave in easily without struggling to let go.
She was too happy to stop him today. First; it was the rain that she loved. Second; they were together like this for the first time. Third; she'd already done enough damage to his feelings today and didn't want to make it worse, so just gave in. How couldn't she anyways !? When all her happiness lied in him.
He was broken out of their blissful moment by Zoya's amused shriek, which took some time to sink in.
''Gol gappe Mr.Khan !! Mujhe gol gappe khaane hain... Wo dekhiye !!'' she said pointing towards a dimly lit gol gappa stall.
''Zoya... Bohat raat ho chuki hai... Hum ghar pohanchne hi waale hai... Wahin pe dinner kar lenge...'' came his curt reply.
He wasn't sure about her eating somethiing roadside, that too during monsoon.
She was disappointed by his reply but couldn't compromise with her need to have a gol gappa, right then and there.
Asad saw a little disappointment on her face but couldn't do much being handcuffed by her and the baby's health.
He walked a little ahead and noticed that Zoya hadn't budged.
''Kya hua...?'' he asked in a soft voice.
''Mujhe gol gappe hi khaane hai Mr.Khan !'' she pouted.
''Ye aapki aur baby ke sehat ke liye theek nai hai Zoya... Roadside stuffs are really unhygenic...'' he said trying to ignore his melting heart.
Zoya couldn't help but smile at her husband's OCD. ''Mr.Khan... He's one of the best gol gappa seller around this area. I and Tamatar have been here so many times and never ever fallen ill after eating such delicious gol gappas !'' she said as if she was relishing one.
Asad was amused at his wife. He had never seen this side of hers. How she managed to act like a kid even at this stage of life. Had she always been like this ? Ofcourse, she was, remembering her love for pizza !
And wait ! When did she and Najma have gol gappe here ? Why did I never come to know about it ? He thought to himself. Only to come in terms with the fact, how much he had track about his wife all these months. Again pushing him into his pool of guilt !
''Agar aap keh rahi hain toh theek hai... Chaliye..'' he said after a few moments, giving in to her wish.
''Bhaiya... Do plate gol gappa deejiye...'' she said to the stall keeper flashing her smile. He immediately looked up to see her and greeted her, ''Arey... Salaam memsaab... Kaisi hai aap ? Aaj aap akele ? Choti memsaab kahan hai ?''
''Wo ghar pe hi reh gayi bhaiya... Sirf mera mann tha gol gappe khaane ka...'' she replied to him, waiting impatiently for her gol gappe !
''Acha... Ye lijiye... Bilkul waisa hi jaisa aapko pasand hai...teekha !'' he said handing over her the plate with a smile.
Asad looked at them with a lost expression. He felt so out of place looking at his wife talking to someone like she'd known him for quite sometime now. The gol gappa wala too was so friendly with her like she had been visitting him every once in a while and he referred to Tamatar as choti memsaab ?! And hadn't even bothered to look at him.
He was brought of his thoughts when he saw Zoya struggling to eat the gol gappa with her burnt hand.
He silently took the plate from her hand and fed her. She looked so adorable trying to gulp down the whole gol gappa in one go. Asad could eat her up alive.
The happiness on her face was so contagious. He couldn't help but feel blessed. It looked like her wish of the lifetime had been fullfilled ! She closed her eyes and relished every bit of the gol gappa.
''Mr.Khan aap bhi khaaiye na... Its really good !'' she said, trying to look away from his intent gaze.
''Nahi... Aap kha lijiye...'' he replied coming out of his dazed state.
She knew he would never agree to eat something outside and she didn't want to push him to anything, until he really wished to. So, she ate to her full and thanked the gol gappa wala, who hadn't bothered to notice Asad till the end, like he wasn't even there.
They left the place and soon reached home. Dilshad asked Zoya about her hand and got to know what the doctor had said. She told them to have dinner and take care as she was already done and going off to sleep, after greeting them Allah Hafiz. This was just her another attempt to get them closer by leaving them alone.
Zoya felt so tired and sleepy but she couldn't leave Asad all to himself, especially when he had not even eaten anything, knowing how bad he was at all the kitchen works.
Continued below :)
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