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Chapter 7
Rude Awakening
Tanveer stood there smiling at us like a nice person. I never had any problems with Tanveer, I even liked her; but then she did something so deplorable that now everything she does is questionable in my eyes and even her smile seems vicious.
"How funny that I meet you two here!" She beamed.
I just nodded. Funny, indeed.
"How are you? I'm your cousin and I never see you and here you are with Jammy." She asked me as she sat down beside Mr. Khan as if to stake her claim, "how lucky that I finally get to sit down and have a chat with you!"
I don't know if she talks like this because she genuinely feels it or she is trying to insinuate something... And what kind of silly name is Jammy?!
I don't really want any of this.
"Sorry, Tanveer, but I have to go, I'm already late, may be some other time. Bye, Mr. Khan." I was getting up but Mr. Khan stood up as well.
"And I said I would drop her home, so I'll see you later, Tannu." I tried to tell him it was alright and he can spend time with his fianc but he was already gesturing me to walk to the car.
"Jammy, then can you drop me off as well?" She asked and he agreed with a smile.
So, there I was in an awkward car ride. Awkward just for me, because the two of them kept talking stuff I had no clue of. I was spacing out looking outside the window.
"Ms. Farooqui?" He asked me looking at the rearview mirror.
"Yes" I straightened up. "Did you say something?"
"Sorry, are we boring you?" He smiled compelling me to smile back at him. The fact that he remembered I was there despite Tanveer's stubborn attitude that I was invisible was enough to make me feel better in that moment. But of course, she had to ruin it.
"Why do you call him Mr. Khan, Zoya? Call him jiju, like Humeira.." She asked me. Before I could answer, Mr. Khan added, "or Asad and I can call you Zoya."
"I guess, you can call me Zoya." I mumbled. I didn't mind calling him Asad, now that I actually know him; but it just sounds weird to me. And I can never call him jiju, it's such a cutesy term.
Because we reached my place, we didn't get to dwell much on this topic. It was a good thing.
"Zoya, we've arrived." Mr. Khan smiled at me looking back from his seat. I didn't think he actually heard me. Saying thanks, I got off with my shopping bags.
I hadn't yet reached the gate when Tanveer got off the car and called after me. "Zoya, aren't you being a little too friendly with my fianc?"
She smiled sweetly like she didn't just accuse me of taking someone else's man.
Not about to back down, I replied, "I wasn't. I helped him and he offered to help in return, I accepted."
When I tried to leave, she grabbed my hand and started talking to me in a patronizing tone.
"Look Zoya, Asad had a lot of girls but he never really liked any of them. He always came back to me. You've probably heard that he does things like that a lot. Attention from him probably makes a girl like you feel special but this is nothing to him. He is not interested in you like you think he is, so please stay away from him."
"What rubbish are-" I was indignant.. what did she say? A girl like me?!?
She cut me off and continued, "You'll give people the wrong idea; I'm only worried about you. And then you came back from US, people already... you know..."
I was fuming at her, but I forced a smile on my face to say, "Don't be worried about me, Tanveer. I am not delusional and neither do I need someone else's man to make me feel special. Instead of insulting your fianc in front of me, you should just tell him to stop paying attention to anyone but you. You know, so people don't get the wrong idea. And, please, feel free to tell your fianc to not approach me if he sees me."
I stepped inside and slammed the gate on her face. But as soon as I was inside, I was hit with a sad realization and my heart sank.
It was true that she said everything just to spite me, but I was a fool too. I did feel special even for a moment when I was around that guy " Tanveer's fianc. While it was true that he was the one who approached me first, I never turned down his invitations. But I should've.
I know he was a flirt. Despite what I said to Tanveer, I was shaken by his actions when I shouldn't be.
"Zoya! What happened? You look pale as a sheet." My mom ran up to me worried.
"I'm fine. I was just tired." I brushed her off.
I went to my room and sat down on my bed too worked up over what Tanveer said; too scared to find out why I was so apprehensive. I lied down and closed my eyes tried to calm down; I'm getting ahead of myself. Like always, I was thinking too much. Tanveer just wanted to get on my nerves.
There was nothing. And it will never be something.
I got my peace back... but only for it to be snatched away when I realized that their engagement is the day after tomorrow. Puri kayanath toh mere hi peeche pari hui hain, mujhko pagal karne ke liye.
But in a party with around 100 people, it should be easy to avoid those two. In fact, since they are the main attraction of the party, they will be busy entertaining more important guests. Hopefully.
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Engagement Day
The venue was beautifully decorated. You could tell that one of the top industrialist's daughter was getting engaged. The lights, the flowers and the food were all top notch.
I was wowed. It has been a long time since went to a full blown desi party like this.
I was walking with Humeria when she brought my attention to Ayan and Mr. Khan. She dragged me where they were and initiated the conversation. I wasn't so keen per my new found resolve to avoid him; however, what baffled me was Mr. Khan.
He greeted me with a nod and Ms. Farooqui, just barely acknowledging my presence. For the rest of the conversation as he answered Humeira's answers, he didn't even look at me once. He was ignoring me like I didn't exist.
Suddenly, he glanced at me and I was caught off guard when I saw his cold eyes. I looked away embarrassed that I was staring at him. What happened in these two days?
I didn't need to think for long because I recalled what happened. Tanveer happened. She asked him to stop talking to me, like I wanted her to. And he was doing just as his fianc told him.
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And the time came to exchange their rings. I wasn't paying attention but nibbling on the god awful food. The food only looked delicious but was actually inedible. I heard gasps and I looked up to see a commotion.
Some people were whispering that the ring didn't fit. I sighed. He did call her to ask for her size, she was the one who didn't answer. But thankfully, they managed with that ring, a little too tight as I heard from Humeira later.
"Why are you in a bad mood the whole day? You are not even enjoying the party! Everything was going so perfect till that moment." Humeira was talking to me but I was too tired to respond to her exclamations; but I was listening to her. "I wonder why Jiju got that kind of ring for her."
"What do you mean that kind of ring?" I defended myself suddenly. Well, she didn't know but I approved that ring.
"No, I mean a small ring. Besides that the ring was gorgeous, a gold ring adorned with real ruby." She practically swooned.
Hah.. so they're going to be like that?
What happened to the ring I chose? I thought bitterly. What happened for him to refuse the ring? Was it because I was there when he bought it?!?!? Why was he...
My eyes landed on the happy couple surrounded by people congratulating them.
Fine! It's not like I cared. I. Didn't. Care.
Shiv Shakti
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