|AsYa FF| Destinies Intertwined Thread # 3 - Page 48

Originally posted by: Anushakgowda

Waiting for u r update...vvv

U w'll update 2day na...b b b b

Originally posted by: rhythmsangh

WOW... JUST LOVE THE STORY PLEASE CONTINUE SOON

Originally posted by: SmileyStar

Originally posted by: Sweet_Ashum

What logic is Asad using?
Morals, traditions?
And falling in love only when one wants to?

🤣 🤣 🤣

LOL, so after marriage I'll fall in love with my husband ONLY if I want to?

🤣

MAN! He is the king of logic!

Loved the chapter esp how Zoya handled him

But I am disappointed with Asad, like the many times during the show

Unnecessary gussa isnt leading him anywhere

It'll destroy everything

But glad that Imran has his head on his shoulders, nobody else would react so calmly to things like this

LOVE YOU

Originally posted by: SmileyStar

I love Islamabad too but I love Karachi for it's ronaq and stuff. I spend my Summer Vacations there 😃
Stop laughing at me!! You're a meanie *pouts* 😆
My 3 years younger brother and I started learning at the same time, now he drives everywhere and I'm still stuck on empty roads 😆😆😆

Hello people 🤗

As promised, I'm back with an update 😃

And this update is dedicated to my little sister QuboolHai1234 for loving this FF so much 😳 And also to --Bubble007-- because she refused to hear any excuse about this update getting delayed 😆 She forced me to update so thank her for this timely update, from the laziest writer known to mankind 🤣

I think I've fallen in love with my Imran 😆 It might has something to do with imagining him as Imran Abbas 🤣 I really enjoyed writing his dialogues. Hope you guys like him more too with this update 😉

Edited: I just came to know through zola007's comment that Imran is nicknamed Immi in the show 😳 I've called him Mani, alright? 😆 So don't get confused!

NOT PROOF-READ 😆

CHAPTER 20

Najma's phone buzzed on the side table and she picked it up immediately on seeing the caller's ID.

"Hello?"

"Hey sweetheart!" Imran's cheerful voice came from the other end.

"Mani, you might as well stop calling me because Bhaijan is never going to agree." She told him in a voice that informed him at once that she was on the verge of crying.

"Hey, hey calm down, my love. Breathe. No salaam, no greeting? What is this?" He chuckled lightly.

"How can you be so cheerful even at this time?"

"Probably because I know that worrying and crying is going to get me nowhere." He told her in a gentle tone and she smiled softly, shaking her head. This was what she loved about Imran. No matter what happened, he never lost his calm, neither his hope. And he never let her lose hers either.

"You have no idea Mani, how angry Bhaijan got when he learned about us last night." She told him in a small voice.

"Oh I just got a firsthand demonstration of his anger a few minutes ago. I think he came to prove that you were not exaggerating about his temper." Instead of sounding worried, there was an amused smile in his voice.

"Bhaijan came to your office, Mani? Why?" Najma almost shrieked.

"Come on, you can guess it yourself. I can give you a hint though; it was NOT to give me an invitation card to our wedding." He laughed.

"Mani!" She whined. "I'm serious here."

"Okay fine. Mr. Khan barged into my office and warned me to stay away from you."

"WHAT?"

"Mr. Khan barged into my office and warned me to stay away from you." He repeated impishly, even though he knew her loud "what" was due to shock. He was just trying to keep the conversation light, otherwise he knew that if he got serious, Najma would start crying and that was something that he couldn't bear.

"I heard it the first time, Mani. What did you do then?" She asked fearfully.

"Well to be honest, he didn't give me a chance to even open my mouth, so I basically just stood there and listened to his threat as calmly as I could."

"Threat?"

"Oh yes. He said if I didn't stay away from you, his one phone call can destroy my career." The amusement in his tone had returned. "I think over-protectiveness is a bit of an understatement when it comes to your Bhaijan."

"Bhaijan said that? He must have said it in his anger. He can never destroy anyone's career." Najma told him as tears sprung to her eyes in worry and helplessness.

"Let's hope so, shall we?" Imran replied breezily, sounding unfazed. "By the way, why didn't you come to office today? Do you have any idea how much I missed you? You do know that my day goes rotten without seeing you, don't you?"

"Bhaijan banned me from going to office." She informed him tearfully.

"Oh did he? I suppose I'm not surprised. No worries though, you had to resign before our wedding anyway." He replied casually.

"Mani, how can you take things positively even now? Aren't you worried? Do you have any idea what we're going to do next?" Najma queried in a distraught voice.

"Well, I do have a plan."

"And that is?"

"You are going to try to stay calm and I'm going to talk to your Bhaijan."

"WHAT?" She yelled.

"Umm... Do I need to repeat it again?" He pulled her leg again, chuckling lightly.

"Mani, you will do no such thing!"

"What thing?"

"You will not go to Bhaijan's office! He'll kill you."

"Ah it's nice to see you putting so much trust in my fighting skills. I have a black belt in taekwondo, you know." He replied in a mock-offended tone.

"Mani, are you thinking of fighting with Bhaijan? Please don't. Don't even think about it." Najma told him frantically.

"Calm down, my love!" His quiet laughter followed. "Of course, I'm not thinking of a fight! Your Bhaijan is older than I am and I respect him too much to raise my hand on him. So... if it comes down to a fight, I'll just stand there and let your Bhaijan beat me to a pulp. To be honest, the idea doesn't tempt me at all." He informed her, laughing easily

"Mani, will you ever get serious? I'm telling you; don't go to Bhaijan's office today."

"Najma, I have to. We don't have much time on our hands. Every day counts now." He said softly, getting serious for the first time.

"Mani, wait for a couple of days. Bhaijan's anger will come down. He'll kill you if you go right now."

"Then let him kill me! A life without you isn't worth living anyway! I'd rather die!" He said bitterly.

"Mani, don't! Don't say that!" Najma gasped as a tear flowed down her cheek. "Please never talk of dying again."

"Ah I made you cry, didn't I? I'm so sorry." He said apologetically, frustrated at his slip of tongue. "I won't talk of it again."

"Promise?"

"You make me promise about so many things woman, that I have a hard time keeping track of them now." He complained like a child and Najma smiled despite herself.

"No promise me. Otherwise I'm not talking to you."

"Okay fine, I promise I won't." He said with a smile in his voice. "But I must say, when you freak about such things, I feel so loved."

"Mani, you're a jerk." She huffed.

"Oh now you're back to normal! This is how you fought with me when we were in university, remember?" He laughed.

"How can I ever forget?" She giggled with him. "You were such a jerk. You annoyed me so much."

"I think I still do." There was a teasing note in his tone.

"Yes, but I've gotten used to you now... And I love you the way you are."

"I know. I'm awesome the way I am." He agreed smugly to annoy her.

"Urgh you weren't supposed to say that, Mani! Having a romantic conversation with you is impossible." She said irritated.

"What was I supposed to say then?" He asked, even though he knew what she wanted to hear.

"I'm putting my phone down. You sit and think." She huffed.

"Okay sure thing... But before you go, just wanted to say that you are my life and I love you with every fiber of my being. And will continue doing so, for as long as I live. I promise." He said in a voice so full of emotions that Najma's eyes welled up with sudden tears.

She stifled the sob building up and said in a cracking voice, "I love you too, Mani. I love you so much that it hurts..."

She wanted to continue further but the sudden lump in her throat didn't allow her to and she knew that without her saying it, Mani would know it already. He understood what she wanted to say before she said it. He knew her too well and that was yet another thing that she loved about him.

***

"Mr. Khan, there is a gentleman outside by the name of Mr. Qureshi who desires a meeting with you. Do you want me to send him in?" His young secretary entered the room and asked him politely.

Asad frowned thinking. Mr. Qureshi? Oh it must be Mr. Ghaus Qureshi who signed an important contract with our company recently.

He looked up to his patiently waiting secretary and gave a curt nod. Saying a quick, Okay Sir', she retreated.

A while later, the young man he had blasted today morning itself, strode in gracefully and Asad's temper flared when he uttered a polite salaam, with a charming smile.

"What are you doing here?" Asad spitted out, getting to his feet.

"I wanted to talk to you about something important, Mr. Khan. You were in a hurry this morning when you came to my office so I had to come here instead." He replied calmly.

"You can leave this moment because I don't want to talk to you about anything." Asad hissed.

"You should Mr. Khan, if you care about your sister's happiness." Came the reply a bit forcefully.

"Who are YOU to march in MY office and tell me about MY sister's happiness?" Asad exploded.

"I'm a person who's right now more concerned about YOUR sister's happiness than you are, Mr. Khan. Do you have any idea how upset she is at the moment? Are you aware of the fact that she cried herself to sleep last night because of you?" Imran's voice now held a slight hint of anger. "Mr. Khan, I understand you love your sister very much but when that love becomes a noose around her throat, trust me, she'll see it as suffocation, not as care or concern." He said ominously.

"You dare to come to my office and speak to me in this manner?" Asad fumed, his hands balling into tight fists.

"Yes I dare. I dare because I love your sister very much and unlike you, my love for her doesn't allow me to see her suffering!" He bit back.

"You think I enjoy seeing her suffering? Her every tear is a blow to my heart!" Asad chewed his words out.

"And yet, you're still being stubborn?" Imran questioned in a quiet, incredulous voice.

"I'm being stubborn because I know what's good for her!" Asad yelled.

"No Mr. Khan, you're being stubborn for your own selfish reasons."

"What did you say?" Asad's voice was a steely whisper. A whisper that sent people cowering in their seats but Imran remained unsettled.

"You heard me. You're being obstinate because you love your sister and you don't want to let her go. But don't you understand Mr. Khan? She's not a child anymore. She's big enough to make her own choices. And you can't stop her!"

"I bloody well can stop her!" Asad bellowed.

"Fine! Then go ahead and stop her. And see how her love for you decreases with every passing day until one day all that will remain in her heart for you, will be hate and bitterness. Nothing else, Mr. Khan. Nothing else." Imran retorted fiercely, not knowing that for a second, Asad froze as this last sentence struck his heart with a force he had not imagined.

"Get out!" Asad whispered suddenly and then yelled more forcefully. "I said get out! And I don't want to see you near my sister again!"

"I always wondered why couples eloped. Now I know that it is people like you who force them to. If I didn't respect Najma as much as I do, I'd have taken the same course. But my Abbu has always taught me to do things the right way" Imran's voice trembled with suppressed anger. "Mr. Khan, you can make Najma stay away from me, but you can't make her forget me. And you can count on it that I won't forget her either and I won't stop waiting for her. Because I know that sooner or later, you'll realize your mistake. I just hope that when you do, it's not too late. Allah Hafiz, Mr. Khan." He said in an ominous manner before whipping out of the room.

***

Asad sat in the garden, staring blankly at the dark grounds stretching in front of him as the cold wind ruffled his hair playfully. Everyone at home was angry with him - his Ammi, Ayaan and Najma. Only Zoya was bothering to act civilly with him and that was probably due to their confrontation last night.

Why didn't they understand that whatever he was doing, it was because he loved Najma?

Suddenly, Imran's angry voice resonated in his ears. "Mr. Khan, I understand you love your sister very much but when that love becomes a noose around her throat, trust me, she'll see it as suffocation, not as care or concern."

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Until this morning, he was so sure that whatever he was doing was right but today's meeting with Imran had made him doubt his judgment. Was he over-reacting? Was he being over-protective? Ayaan loved Najma too and he had accepted this match, then should he as well? Was this the best for his sister?

Najma's tear-stricken face resurfaced in his mind's eye and he winced slightly. Didn't even she understand that what he was doing was for her own good? Again, Imran's enraged voice rang in his ears. "Fine! Then go ahead and stop her. And see how her love for you decreases with every passing day until one day all that will remain in her heart for you, will be hate and bitterness Nothing else, Mr. Khan. Nothing else."

Asad ran a frustrated hand through his hair and threw his head backwards, staring at the velvety black sky sprinkled with twinkling stars, feeling more confused than ever before.

"Mr. Khan?" He heard Zoya's voice beside him and looked to his right to see her holding two steaming mugs in her hands.

"What's this?" He asked, looking uninterested.

"Your favorite beverage in this world - coffee, made especially by Miss. Zoya Farooqi and guaranteed to be the most delicious coffee in this whole wide world." She grinned cheerfully, down at him. He quietly took the mug from her hands with a small Thanks', too worried to even give her a polite smile.

"Mr. Khan, I brought you a shawl. You just got well and now you're already planning on getting sick again? Wear this." She extended it towards him.

"No, I'm fine. I don't need this." Asad mumbled.

"Mr. Khan, you'll fall sick and then it'll fall on me to take care of you... Sounds familiar?" She asked impishly.

"Miss. Farooqi, take it inside or better yet, wear it yourself." He told her in a tired voice.

"No way, Mr. Khan. I carried it all the way outside and now you want me to take it back? You want my hard work to be wasted like this? How rude. Here, let me drape it over you." She proceeded to open the shawl and wrapped it around his shoulders. He let her, too mentally tired to protest.

"What are you doing here all alone, Mr. Khan?" She questioned, sitting beside him and taking a small sip of her coffee.

"Everyone in the house is mad at me. It's better that I sit outside... Why are you here with me though? Don't you too believe that I'm wrong?" He asked in a voice, full of bitterness and hurt.

"No Mr. Khan, remember you can never be wrong." She joked, remembering her lines from their fight at the breakfast table on her first morning at the Khan Villa, before she turned serious and said in a thoughtful voice. "I'm here with you because I believe that whatever you're doing, you're doing it with a good heart."

"Then why don't they see it?" He said in a frustrated voice, jerking his chin in the direction of his house.

"Because although your intensions are good, your anger is pointless and illogical." She saw him bristling with sudden anger and hurried to explain. "You see Mr. Khan, whether it was morally correct or not, Najma fell in love with Imran. Now she can't live without him and you're forcing her to." Zoya's voice turned soft and cajoling. "After giving her all the worldly happiness, you are denying her the biggest joy in one's life - her first love. Do you even realize how much you're hurting her unconsciously, Mr. Khan? How can you expect her to understand you when she believes that you're the one who's putting her through this torture?" Zoya asked him softly.

"But Zoya, how can I just give her away like this? And that too in less than a month?"

"I know it's too soon but Mr. Khan if you think about it, all this happening so quickly is because of your anger as well."

"What?" Asad asked in a bewildered tone.

"Mr. Khan, Najma kept delaying telling you the truth because she was afraid how you'll react. She told you finally when there was no further time to postpone. And that's why all this came as a surprise to you. On the contrary, Ayaan had known about this since Najma was in university." She explained gently.

He remained quiet, mulling her words over in his head thoughtfully as he sipped his coffee. A sudden cold breeze swept across the garden and Zoya shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Zoya, go inside. You'll catch a cold."

"No, Mr. Khan, I'm fine. I'm enjoying it out here. The atmosphere inside the house has remained too gloomy for my liking today. Everyone's walking around with long faces. I'm finding it all very depressing." She said, her manner resembling a child in its simplicity.

"I think I'm more depressing than all of them combined, Zoya." Asad muttered slowly.

"You might be depressing but you're interesting. You know, a museum could do more good with your presence." She teased.

"Fine, at least go and get yourself a shawl then. It's getting chilly out here." He ordered.

"Mr. Khan, walk all the way inside, grab a shawl and then walk all the way out here again? Nah, too much hard work. I'm feeling lazy." She grinned.

"Very lazy." Asad corrected.

"I know, Mr. Khan but I'm saving my energy for later."

"What are you going to do later?" Asad asked confused.

"Walk all the way inside and go to bed." She joked and wrapped her arms around herself as securely as her mug of coffee allowed her to, when the cold air nipped at her body again.

Asad sighed, shaking his child in an amused manner. "Sometimes Zoya, you behave just like a child... Here, share my shawl. It's big enough to cover us both." He placed his coffee mug beside him on the bench, unwrapped the shawl around himself, spread it to its full length and covered them both with it. Their shoulders were touching now as they sat together and resumed sipping their coffee slowly. Zoya was so surprised by this gesture of his that she was at a loss for words for a few seconds.

But seeing that Asad was in a gentle mood, She began talking again. "Mr. Khan, I think you should meet Imran at least once before taking any final decision. I've met him and I think he's a lovely guy and he loves Najma very sincerely."

"You've met Imran? When?" Asad asked in a surprised tone.

"Remember when I came home late in the evening once and you got the pleasure of yelling at me? It was Imran who came to drop me off."

"Ohhh... I thought that guy looked familiar when I went to his office today but I couldn't place him." Asad said in a thoughtful voice almost as if he was talking to himself.

"You went to his office today, Mr. Khan? Why? To beat him black and blue? Allah Miyaan! Is that poor boy even alive?" Zoya asked shrilly.

"Calm down, Zoya. I didn't even touch him." Asad said with a lopsided smile at her dramatics. "By the way, first tell me why did you go to meet him?" He asked confusion visible on his face.

"Mr. Khan, remember about a couple of days ago, I forgot to inform you about an important phone call and you got yet another opportunity to yell at me?" She pouted slightly. "That was because Ayaan and Najma had just told me about Imran and all that was so much to process that I forgot about your meeting and ended up getting an earful from you." A guilty look crossed Asad's face on hearing the actual reason behind her forgetfulness that day. Why did he always end up misjudging her?

How conveniently he had called her irresponsible without thinking that day. Why didn't he ever try to find the actual reason behind her actions instead of jumping to conclusions? Why always with her?

Oblivious to a guilt-stricken Asad, Zoya continued with her story. "So when they told me about Imran, I said I wanted to meet him first and decide for myself if he is a nice boy or not. I mean, how could I have talked to you about him and Najma if I didn't even know what sort of a boy he was? I know you think I can be irresponsible at times, Mr. Khan but believe me, I try my best to be cautious while dealing with serious issues."

Her eyes danced impishly as she continued, "So Ayaan and I went to talk to him and he seemed like such a genuine person that I couldn't help feeling that he was perfect for Tamatar, Mr. Khan." She carefully put her views forth before adding, "But on the way home, Ayaan couldn't accompany me and Imran volunteered to drop me off and the rest, you know."

"You said he was your friend, didn't you?" Asad asked amusedly.

"Well, I couldn't think of a better excuse, okay? If I had told you who he actually was, you would've blasted Tamatar and I didn't want that happening."

"So basically, you took her share of scolding?" Asad questioned incredulously.

"So what, Mr. Khan? Sisters protect each other against the Hitler of this house." She shrugging casually, her dimples peeking but Asad was looking at her carefully.

Why had he failed to notice that Zoya had become an older protective sister towards Ayaan and Najma especially to the latter one? It was quite apparent that she would go to any length to support them. It baffled him how easily she had made his family her own.

"Hello, Mr. Khan? Back to Earth!" She waved her hand in front of his face to get his attention.

"Hmm? I'm listening." He mumbled.

"Now tell me why did you go to Imran's office?"

"To warn him to stay away from Najma." He answered simply.

"You didn't!" Zoya gasped.

"You know fully well Zoya, that I'm capable of doing that." He smiled crookedly.

"Poor Imran! What did he say in return?"

"Well he tried saying something at that time but I left."

"Of course you did." Zoya said nodding knowingly.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Mr. Khan, I'm quite aware of the fact that when you're angry, you only talk and never listen. Only your mouth works, neither your mind nor your ears. This is my firsthand experience speaking." She laughed.

Asad shook his head slightly, marveling at how much she had come to figure him out before continuing, "But seems like Imran isn't one to back off easily, Zoya. My threat didn't exactly work on him as planned because he came to my office in the afternoon."

"He did?" Zoya asked, pleasantly surprised at his boldness.

"He did." Asad agreed slowly. "Zoya, he said so many things that are bugging me now."

"Like what, Mr. Khan?" Zoya asked softly.

"He-" Asad hesitated and on getting an encouraging nod from Zoya, he continued slowly in a pained voice. "Basically Zoya, he said that if I stop Najma from this marriage today, she'll never forgive me. She'll start hating me for it."

"Imran's right, Mr. Khan. Your anger might seem justified to you but to others, it doesn't." Zoya's voice turned coaxing, forcing him to listen attentively. "Mr. Khan, you have to realize that if you stop Najma today, she'll never be able to love again. Don't you realize, she'll never get married if she loses Imran! And a time will come when she'll see all her friends settled with their families and children and she'll loathe you for taking that away from her... And as Ayaan said, she has to get married one day; why not to the man she loves?"

"Zoya, I'm not stopping her from getting married ever. She can in 4, 5 years when she's a bit older."

"What is the point in torturing her first Mr. Khan? Why not give her what she wants right now, so that her love for you grows even more?" She suggested softly with a smile.

Asad looked down at her face thoughtfully, saying nothing for a while. Finally, he sighed. "I'm confused, Zoya. I don't know what to do anymore."

"I know what we'll do. We'll go inside right now, offer Namaz and ask Allah for guidance. How does that sound?"

"That sounds perfect." He agreed softly. "I was thinking just the same."

Together they got to their feet and started making their way inside when midway Zoya stopped short, looking startled. "Oh my goodness! I can't believe we actually had such a long conversation without fighting!"

Asad seemed surprised by the realization as well. "Well I must say, I'm surprised that you're capable of doing that." He pulled her leg.

"Allah Miyaan! What's wrong with you, Mr. Khan? You're the one who always starts a fight, not me!"

"I do not! You do!" Asad retorted.

"You do, Mr. Khan! It's always you." Zoya replied adamantly.

"No Zoya, I think you're wrong once again."

"Once again? What do you mean by that, Mr. Khan? When was I ever wrong before?" Zoya asked, looking annoyed, not realizing that Asad was just having fun at her expense.

"Oh, on countless occasions." Asad replied airily.

"Really Mr. Khan? Name me one such occasion."

"I'm too tired to think right now, Zoya."

"Huh! That means you give up. You were wrong!"

"Zoya, you can think that if it makes you happy." He smiled at her crookedly.

Zoya smiled back in return as they made their way inside. As Asad held the entrance door open for her, Zoya asked, "You never told me how you liked my coffee, Mr. Khan?"

"Oh it was the world's best coffee."

"Really, Mr. Khan?" Zoya asked excitedly.

"Of course not. I was just kidding!" He smiled mischievously down at her.

"I hate you Mr. Khan."

"Oh believe me, the feeling's mutual, Zoya." Asad responded, his eyes twinkling with silent laughter.

Dilshad saw them entering the house, bickering and shook her head with a small smile. "Always fighting. I doubt if they will have a serious conversation ever in their life." She mused to herself as she went inside her room.

***

Asad finished praying before Zoya and folding the prayer mat, he made his way to the dressing table to have a glass of water but the jug was empty. Sighing he made his way downstairs to the kitchen. As he passed Najma's room, he heard the sound of soft sobs, making him halt on the spot with an agonized look on his face. Softly, he pushed Najma's door open and walked inside her room.

***

Zoya prayed fervently to Allah to bless Asad with a better sense of understanding, regarding the whole Najma issue and to help him understand what he was doing wrong. Muttering a small Ameen after she was done praying, she stood on her feet and was surprised to find Asad nowhere. Thinking that he had gone back outside, Zoya made her downstairs to call him back in. But as she passed Najma's room, some voices stopped her and she peeked inside, only to be greeted with a wonderful sight that made her eyes moist and her heart swell.

Asad was hugging Najma fiercely who was opening crying on his chest, whispering to his little sister in an emotional voice, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Tamatar. I'm so sorry for making you cry and for not understanding you."Najma shook her head vehemently and hugged him tighter, chanting, "Thank you Bhaijan. Thank you so very much!" over and over again.

Zoya felt her heart melting on seeing the lovely sight they created. She kept watching them quietly, her eyes brimming with unshed tears of pure happiness.

"Call Imran and tell him to come to our house with his father with the official proposal tomorrow, huh?" Asad asked, pulling away and wiping her tears, his own eyes sparkling with emotions.

"Thank you so much, Bhaijan." Najma gasped again, her voice cracking with emotions. She hugged him again, letting him encircle her in his arm as she started crying her heart out, letting her anger, hurt and frustration of the last two days flow freely from her eyes. She had never gotten angry with her Bhaijan and she hated every minute of it.

Zoya stood at the doorway watching the emotional scene unfolding before her eyes. There was something about the moment that told her not to go inside and disturb them. Gently wiping a tear that had slipped down her cheek, she turned around to make her way back, only to find herself face to face with Ayaan who had tears streaking down his cheeks quietly.

"Oh Ayaan!" She laughed softly as she patted his arm in a comforting manner.

"Bhabhi, you made Bhaijan agree." He whispered wiping his tears, looking embarrassed at being caught crying.

"I don't know whether I did it or Imran did. But the good news is that the Hitler bowed down in front of his sister's happiness." She smiled.

"Stay here. I'm gonna go and tell Ammi this good news, this very instant." He said hurriedly, rushing off.

A minute later, he was back with a surprised-looking Dilshad tagging behind. Without saying a word, he pointed inside Najma's room and Dilshad looked inside. She pulled back, looking surprised. "Asad agreed?"

"Yes Ammi. He did. Who said miracles don't happen anymore." Ayaan replied, grinning so widely, his cheeks hurt. "You know what this calls for?"

Zoya shook her head, looking confused.

"A GROUP HUG!" He yelled grabbing Dilshad and Zoya's hands and running inside the room. Without warning, he launched himself on his hugging siblings, taking them entirely by surprise.

Dilshad looked at a bewildered Zoya with bright, laughing eyes, "What are we waiting for? It's a family hug! Join in!"

Zoya grinned cheekily at her Ammi, who placed an arm around her shoulder and together they joined in, laughing heartily at Najma's half-choked giggles and Asad's loud complaining.

"Seriously, what in the world is wrong with you people?" Asad grumbled on being surrounded by his family, though the happiness in his voice was tangible.

"Shut up, Bhaijan." Ayaan advised him.

Zoya felt tears of blissful happiness stinging her eyes as she hugged her family with all her might, as if she would never let them go...

***

So how was it? Let me know! Especially leave your views on Imran. I think I kinda like him very much after this update 😆

And the next update will come up when, I don't know! I don't get time to write on weekdays. Just letting you know because you guys probably expect to me update next on Wednesday or something which I can't! 😆

Love,

Fari ❤️