SantaClaus &Tooth Fairy-FF,Chapt 16 updated,(23/7) PG 70 - Page 13

Originally posted by: chco

awesome

loved it

update soon

Originally posted by: parakshi

Awesome update!
update soon plzz

Originally posted by: aarzoo50

plz update kaussar... waiting for the update... it has been almost a month now since u updated last part

CHAPTER 8 :

As the evening progressed, Zoya's apprehension over dinner and facing Asad after the encounter they had on the previous dinner disappeared. For one thing Asad came home late around 8, just in time for dinner, and so Zoya did not have to face him before dinner.

And the dinner itself went smoothly with Dilshad narrating to Zoya some of Najma's childhood funny habits. And she and Dilshad laughed over it, while Najma feigned anger at them. And Najma kept on asking Asad to support her and take her side, but Asad as usual kept quiet. However, he smiled indulgently at Najma a few times, surprising Zoya who had never seen him smile till then.

It was past 9 o'clock by the time they finished dinner, and Zoya was feeling glad she stayed back as she had thoroughly enjoyed the evening. She was sitting in the living room sofa thinking of something Dilshad said regarding Najma and smiling to herself when she saw Naina coming down the stairs in her pyjamas. Seeing Zoya sitting there, Naina ran to her with a big smile on her face and climbed on to her lap. Zoya hugged the girl and marveled at how much Naina had become friendly with her in the days passed, and how relaxed Naina had become when she was with her. She loved the little girl and was glad that she was able to make her talk and come out of her shell.

"So are you ready for bed Sweety... did you come to say good night to me?" Zoya tugged Naina's pony tail playfully and asked.

Naina shook her head at Zoya indicating that she did not come to say good night.

"Want to see a movie Zoe." Naina whispered in Zoya's ears. She had started calling Zoya Zoe', a few days back and Zoya loved hearing the sweet way she calls out Zoe'.

Naina then suddenly climbed down from Zoya's lap and went towards the shelf where the TV was kept and started searching for something from the drawers.

"Movie Sweety? ... right now?... is that a good idea?" Zoya called out to Naina.

Since Zoya hardly stayed at khan villa during Naina's bedtime, she had no idea what Naina's bedtime habits were like and she had no idea if Naina was even allowed to see movies.

At that moment Naina again came back running to her and showed her a DVD. Zoya took it from her hands and looked at it to see that it was Disney's Little Red Riding hood. Since it's a children's cartoon and not a real movie, Zoya saw no harm in letting Naina see it. But still she wanted to ask either Dilshad or Najma about it. But Najma who went to make Naina ready for bed had not come down and Dilshad had gone to perform prayers.

"Come Zoe..." Naina tugged at Zoya's hand and pointed at the TV with the other hand, asking her to put the DVD on, and Zoya went with her and put it into the DVD player and switched on the TV.

They started watching the movie and Naina cuddled in to Zoya and got engrossed in the movie

And it was about 15 minutes later that Najma came down and saw the two huddled together watching the movie.

"Miss Sunaina Ahmed Khan!... I was waiting in your room to tuck you in and wondering where you had gone and here you are, doing something that you are not supposed to do... and you must have persuaded Zoya to put on the movie for you right?." Najma held Naina's ears playfully.

"What do you mean Najma? Isn't she allowed to see these?" Zoya asked Najma

"Actually Bhaijan is very strict with some rules. He doesn't allow her to see TV after 6 PM and she is supposed to sleep latest by 9... If he comes out now, we will all be in trouble." Najma clarified to Zoya.

"Oh I didn't know that, that's why I put it on for her... but then, it's a children's cartoon and what harm is there in watching it this time? It's like reading a bedtime story isn't it?" Zoya asked Najma

"Miss Farouqui, you have no right to question the rules I have set for Sunaina." Asad had just entered the house through the large French windows which opened to the small side garden on one side of their living room, and had heard what Najma said and Zoya's answer to her. Hearing his voice, Zoya and Najma both turned towards him with shock as neither knew that Asad was in the garden outside.

He strolled towards them calmly by taking measured unhurried steps but the anger on his face was clearly visible to Najma and Zoya and Najma's face turned red with fear of what he would say while Zoya gulped nervously.

He came and stood in front of Zoya and folded his arms across his chest and looked at her angrily.

"This is the second time I am seeing you trying to interfere in the way things are done in Sunaina's life and the way I am bringing her up. Who gave you the right to do it and to question my sister behind my back regarding the rules I have made for Sunaina for her own good." Asad's eye's blazed with anger.

"Mr.Khan, my intention wasn't that... I didn't know that she is not supposed to watch it and I didn't mean to question your judgment..." Zoya tried to clarify but Asad cut her short.

"What were your intentions then Miss Farouqui? Sunaina was supposed to be asleep in bed by this time and here she is with you watching a cartoon. And when my sister told you that she was not supposed to do it, you were questioning my stand on it."

Dilshad who had just come down the stairs, heard Asad's angry voice and came running to them.

"What is happening here? Asad, why are you speaking to Zoya this way and why are you so angry?" Dilshad asked worryingly.

"Ammi, you are asking me why I am speaking this way?... Ask your guest here, what she did... and tell her not to interfere in the way I am bringing up Sunaina... if this happens again, I will not tolerate it Ammi." Having said that Asad abruptly turned towards his room and walked away, leaving Dilshad stumped.

Dilshad then turned towards Najma and asked her about what exactly had happened and Najma related the story to her. Dilshad sighed in frustration, sadness and anger, at the way her son jumps to conclusions and at the way he gets angry so quickly and at the way he shouted at Zoya.

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"Asad!.. here's your coffee" Dilshad was in the kitchen sometime later and called out to Asad as he was walking towards his room after getting a file from the living room.

"Thanks Ammi" Asad took the coffee mug and was about to walk away with it when Dilshad stopped him once again.

"Can you wait for a minute Asad... I want to talk to you about something." The moment Asad heard Dilshad's tone of voice he immediately guessed what his mother was going to talk about and he became guarded.

"Can't it wait Ammi?... I really have an important work to finish..." Asad looked at Dilshad's face and his voice trailed off seeing the stern look on her face.

"No Asad! You are always busy with your work and even tonight, I know that by the time you finish your work it would be past my bedtime... I want to talk to you right now." Dilshad replied a bit angrily.

"Alright Ammi... what is it that you want to talk about?" even his voice now sounded guarded.

"Why did you talk to Zoya so rudely this evening?... I know that you don't like her and trust her, but she is a nice girl and she was here as our guest." Dilshad came straight to the point.

"Exactly Ammi... she was here as a guest... So why can't she behave like a guest? She has no right to break the rules that I have made in this house, especially regarding Sunaina... why can't she remain within her limits as a guest?"Asad tried to keep the tone of his voice mild, despite his anger and irritation.

He took a sip of his coffee and tried to calm himself. He was angry since that time but he did not want the situation to go out of hand because of his anger, and he did not want to get angry with his mother regarding this matter.

"Asad!" Dilshad sighed in exasperation. "she didn't do it on purpose... she was just trying to make Naina happy. Asad you don't know it, but ever since Zoya started coming here, Naina has become very friendly with her and Naina likes to be with her and play with her... and Zoya is a nice girl Asad."Dilshad tried to reason with him.

"But Ammi you know very well that I don't like outsiders coming here and interfering in our life... so why are you allowing this? And how can you trust her so easily just like that?"

"Asad, by now, I know her well... and Najma knows her and we trust her because we know her...And Asad, it's been 4 years..." Dilshad came close to him and held his free hand and looked into his eyes pleadingly. "4 long years since we have been living like this... even if you want to live your life like a recluse, we don't want to... we want to have some company and some friends as well... and even Naina needs to be around people other than just the three of us."

"Ammi, this is not about having friends and company... I don't mind you having friends... But I don't like you having people I cannot trust, as your friends... and I cannot trust such girls."

"Such girls?... what do you mean by that Asad?... Zoya is a hard working, sensible and well mannered young woman, and you have just formed an opinion about her without really knowing her..." Dilshad took a deep breath and looked at Asad's eyes piercingly before continuing.

"Asad, even after all these years, this all about that woman' isn't it?... you keep on comparing every woman to her isn't it?... why can't you ever forget her Asad?" Dilshad shook Asad's arm vigorously in exasperation.

Dilshad herself had been trying to control her anger and exasperation towards Asad because of his lack of understanding and unyielding attitude. But this time, hearing him speak of Zoya that way, she could not control herself from saying something which she had not meant to say.

"Forget her Ammi? Forget her?..." Asad also lost his cool hearing his Ammi say something which he never wanted to hear and he lashed out at Dilshad in anger.

"And Ammi, you trusted her' as well... but see where it lead to?" Asad's voice was laced with anger, loathing and bitterness and he looked at Dilshad imploringly.

"Asad yes I trusted her and I know where it lead to... but it wasn't only me who trusted her. You trusted her as well..." Dilshad knew that she sounded accusing but she could not help it. She was too angry at Asad for talking to Zoya the way he did earlier and not trying to understand her pleas right now.

"Yes I did trust her Ammi... but it was you who pushed me towards her... and it was because of you I married her." Asad countered angrily and his words rang in Dilshad's ears long after he said it. The colour drained from her face and she stared at Asad with sadness, finally hearing something from Asad's mouth, which she had dreaded hearing all these years.

"And I'm not going to make the same mistake of trusting any woman again... especially a girl like that Zoya Farouqi, who behaves as if she knows everything including what's right for a little girl whom she met not long ago and who had no shame in coming here asking for salt, even before you had invited her here...I am sure she comes here with some ulterior motive, and may be that is the reason why she is getting close to Sunaina as well." Asad said vehemently.

But right that moment, his gaze shifted upwards as if by an unknown pull and what he saw then made him wish he had not spoken those words. Half way down the staircase, clutching the railings stood Zoya with tears in her eyes, and from across the distance also Asad could very well see the hurt in her face when she stared back at him.

"Asad!..." seeing him arrested like that, Dilshad called out to him but he remained unresponsive. Dilshad turned around to see what he was staring at and seeing Zoya standing there with tears in her eyes, Dilshad gasped. When she had started talking to Asad, she had completely forgotten that Zoya had not gone home and was still upstairs with Najma, helping her with some computer lessons

Dilshad turned back towards Asad, thinking of asking him to apologize to Zoya immediately, to see that he had started walking towards his room.

"Asad..." Dilshad called out to him but he had already reached his bedroom and as an answer what echoed throw out the house was the loud noise of him banging the door in frustration. He was angry at Zoya for interfering with the rules he has set for Sunaina, and he can never trust any woman like Zoya so he wanted to put her in her place, but it wasn't his intention to purposefully hurt anyone, be it his Ammi or Zoya, but it looked like he had ended up hurting both and saying some things in the heat of his anger, which he knew he should not have said.

Dilshad then once again turned towards Zoya who was by then coming down the stairs slowly. She met Zoya at the foot of the staircase.

"Zoya..." Dilshad exclaimed regretfully. She herself had tears in her eyes.

"Umm... I should go now..." Zoya whispered shakily and started to walk towards the door but Dilshad held her arm to stop her from leaving.

"No Zoya wait... I'm so sorry Zoya... Please don't go like that... I want to talk to you about all that you heard... please come with me to my room Beta." Dilshad tugged at Zoya's hand.

Zoya did not want to stay and the only thing she wanted to do right then was run to the safety of her own home, but she could not refuse Dilshad and she started climbing up the stairs along with Dilshad.

Once inside her room, Dilshad sat on the bed and patted the place besides her, indicating to Zoya to come and sit beside her.

"Zoya Beta.. I am so sorry once again.. Asad shouldn't have spoken so harshly about you that way... I know it hurt you a lot... he shouldn't have spoken about you that way when there is no fault of yours at all."

"May be it's my fault... I shouldn't have gotten too friendly with you all , and I shouldn't have become so attached to Naina and started behaving as if I have a right on her when I have known very well that her Abbu doesn't like it... And I am after all an outsider." Zoya sat staring at the floor with a look of detachment.

"No Zoya... don't think that way... it's me who invite you here and you have become like another daughter to me...i could never think of you as an outsider... so regardless of what ever Asad says or feels, for me, Najma and Sunaina you are a very close person."

"And Zoya, maybe I should tell you certain things about us ... about Asad... Asad is not a bad person Zoya... it's the circumstances of life that made him the way he is..."

"It's Ok Phuppi... he may not like it if you talk to me about him... so let's leave it at that... I will try not to keep any hard feelings towards him in my heart.." Zoya tried to pacify Dilshad.

"It's not only about him Zoya.. it's about me and about Sunaina as well and I want to share this with you so that you know us better... and I feel like talking to someone right now and who else is there other than you, with whom I can share my feeling?" Dilshad said sadly.

"Ok Phuppi... Tell me everything then... I can't see you so sad." Zoya reached out and held Dilshad's hand and Dilshad looked at Zoya with gratefulness and started to narrate their past.

"It all happened 5 years back... we were living in a 3 bedroom small house on the opposite side of the town. Asad had finished his Masters degree a year before that and had started his own company, with the help of one of my distant cousin plus a loan he took from bank. And by the end of one year, because of his dedication and hard work, he had already started to get quite good projects. I used to tease him asking why he was working so hard and he would say that he wanted me and Najma to have all the luxuries that we never had. By then he had already started to build this house as well and everything in our life looked rosy and promising and we were very happy in our little world..."

As Dilshad was narrating the story to Zoya, Asad sat in his own room, thinking of what his Ammi just told him in anger and his own outburst at his Ammi.

His mother's accusations and the tears in Zoya's eye made him question himself and it made him remorseful for what he said and how he behaved with Zoya. He wondered if his mother was right and if he had been too judgmental while dealing with Zoya... and he knew that his mother was right when she accused that his mistrust towards every female stems from what happened in the past. And he realized that it was not right to compare Zoya, or for that matter any other woman to that one woman who was the root cause of all his anger towards everyone and towards life itself.

But how could he let go of the past and forget that woman and behave normally when his past had been so brutal, when it has left him with wounds so deep that he never knew what medicine to use to heal them, and the only thing he knew how to do was cover those wounds with indifference, harshness, anger and bitterness.

Asad had always avoided dealing with his brutal past, but what happened today has forced him to think of his past and it has made him face the demons of his past once again.

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It was February 2009, and exactly one year before that he had started his own construction company, Dilshad constructions. The company had been his dream. He had very little capital with him when he started the company, but through hard work by the end of one year he had already started making profits and had even paid back the money he borrowed from his Uncle, his mother's cousin.

It was a Sunday but he was sitting in his sitting room going through the year end accounts of the company when the door bell rang suddenly. Knowing that his Ammi was in her room, he went and opened the door. He could not immediately recognize the young woman who stood at the door, because he was seeing her after almost 9 or 10 years.

"Asad don't you recognize me?" the girl smiled seeing the momentary confusion on his face.

"Tanu...?" Asad raised his eye brow in question.

"Of course Asad... Tanu... your best friend Tanu... How could you have forgotten me?" the girl smiled again.

"I am sorry Tanu.. I haven't forgotten you... but I am seeing you after so many years.. let me think... the last time I saw you, you were a 14 year old chubby girl with braids, running around in her school uniform even after school hours... and look at you now, all grown up... so how could I recognize you?" Asad laughed and invited her in.

Asad was genuinely very happy to see her after so many years. Tanveer Qureshi used to be his neighbor and they had gone to the same school and had been in the same class since 5^th grade till Tanveer's family left Bhopal when she was 14 years old.

Asad called Dilshad and asked her to come out and see who had come. Dishad was equally surprised to see her after so many years. She hugged Tanveer and made her sit and asked about her life and what she was doing in Bhopal once again and Tanveer told them that she had joined a course in fashion designing and was there for 6 months in order to learn about traditional Bhopal fabric work and designs.

Dilshad asked her where she was staying and when Tanveer replied that she was staying at a guest house till she could find a place to stay, Dilshad felt concerned about her safety and immediately told Tanveer to come and stay at their house. At first, Tanveer refused saying she didn't want to be a burden but when Dilshad told that it wouldn't be a burden, a look of pure relief appeared on her face and she agreed to stay there.

Dilshad then told Asad to go with Tanveer and fetch her things and bring her to their home immediately and Asad obliged.

Chapter 9 below...

LATE INTRODUCTION:

In order to keep the suspense of the story, I did not give any introduction to the story as well as my characters, but I guess it's time I did, because otherwise many would start wondering what this story is all about and I know that many would get bored also as I am too slow with my progress. But this is a FF and not a SS so I wanted to write it in a novel style and establish the base of the story well and unfortunately it took me almost 10 chapters to do it... and I assure you story will progress from now onwards... And now let me introduce the characters.

ZOYA FAROUQUI/SIDDIQUE:

She is a young woman who had suffered a lot in her childhood and as a teenager, due to her Abbu betraying her mother and leaving them for another woman, and later her mother dying at a very young age and being forced to live with a step mother who never liked her and mistreated her...

All this should have made her a woman hardened by life's cruelties, but she has grown up to be the kind of woman everyone would admire and love ... she is well educated, independent, strong willed, works hard to achieve her dreams and does not believe in depending on a man to support herself, and believes that life is not a bed of roses but at the same time, she is optimistic, is full of life and believes in the principle that your life would be what you make it to be.. ...And hence, despite her childhood experiences, she believes in love, believes in falling in love with someone some day and hopes that person would not betray her like her Abbu betrayed her Ammi.

And she believes in spreading happiness in not only her life, but everyone around her.

TANVEER QURESHI:

The first thing I want to say about Tanveer here is that she is not a criminal in this story... neither is she a prostitute. She is another young woman who had suffered as a child and as a teenager and has taken a wrong path in life.

Tanveer's early life was somewhat similar to Zoya, her Abbu also left her mother for another woman. But unlike Zoya, Tanveer grew up to be a woman hardened by life, and she does not believe in love and she does not believe in the sanctity of marriage. All she knows is that to survive she should go out and get what she wants in whatever way she can, be it by deceiving and lying to people who really loved and cared for her.

Also she does not believe in being faithful and the only thing she believes in is that she has to have money to survive, so she would go to any extent to be surrounded by it, including being unfaithful to a man who ironically would have given her everything that she desired in life; only to loose him for forever because of her own behavior.

So Tanveer here is not a psychopathic criminal who would go to the extent of murdering people, but yes she is negative or let's say that she is that woman who has more grey shades than white, but is not really black.

SUNAINA ASAD AHMED KHAN:

In the middle of these character's life is this little girl, who has also lost the love of her parents and is yearning for it silently... if her life's circumstances does not change, I wonder how she would grow up to be - whether she would become a Zoya or a Tanveer?

And how and who will change her life is to be seen.

ASAD AHMED KHAN:

In this story I wanted to retain some of the basic characteristics of each as it was in QH, so even here Asad's basic character is somewhat like in the original QH story, but it's the circumstances of his life which is different and which made him the man he is... And he is a man who had suffered heartbreak twice and has lost faith in love, marriage, children and sharing of his life with someone else.

And this is the story of how one woman came into his life and destroyed his faith in trust, love and a relationship and how his life collides with another woman, through whom and because of whom, he would once again learn to trust' and to believe'.

And here, I would like to highlight a comment I got from one member after I introduced Sunaina. She guessed that Sunaina is Asad's daughter and she was very disappointed with the fact that Asad already had a daughter... and so I feel that many other readers would also be disappointed because Asad was married and had a daughter before he met Zoya.

To all those who are disappointed with this aspect of the story, I would like to tell you that as young girls, we dream of meeting that prince charming and falling in love and get married and live happily ever after. And in our dreams that prince charming is someone who is so pure that he would have not even loved anyone else and he has all the good qualities, he is charming, he is rich, he is attentive and he fulfills all our wishes... but when is real life so unblemished and do we really meet such perfect men? In real life we hardly do and so our prince charming might be a man who was married, who is carrying a lot of baggage and who would not even look at you with a twinkle in his eyes, like the Asad in this story. But beneath all that he is still a prince charming and many times it is up to us to bring out that prince charming and it happens when we accept the realities of life and learn to love someone even with his/her flaws.

CHAPTER : 9

Four months had passed after Tanveer started staying in their home. And during this time she managed to form a close bond with Dilshad. Asad who had always sensed an underlying loneliness in his mother's cheerful and positive outward self, was happy to see her being pampered by Tanveer and enjoying her company.

And as for Asad, Tanveer would go out of her way and do things for Asad as well. Things like laying out his breakfast, folding his shirts and arranging it in his wardrobe and bringing his night time coffee to his room; things which either his Ammi or Najma always did for him. Initially Asad had felt uncomfortable with all the attention Tanveer gave him as Asad had always being a very reserved and private person. But thinking that Tanveer's intentions were good, he did not have the heart to tell her not to do those things for him, and over time even he got used to having her around and doing things for him.

"Asad, you never talk to me or discuss with me anything these days." Tanveer pouted and complained one night after bringing him his coffee.

"Umm... what do you mean Tanu?" Asad replied absentmindedly still engrossed in his work.

"See that's what I mean... you are always engrossed in your work even at home and hardly talk to me. Whereas when we were small, we were best friends and were always together and had shared everything about each other's life."

A small smile formed at the corner of Asad's mouth after hearing what Tanveer said, because the truth was even when they were small he wasn't a person who was really close to anyone and he wasn't used to sharing things with anyone other than his Ammi. And the truth was that Tanveer had always followed him around so he was kind of forced to hang around with her and spend time with her. And he never had the heart to push her away and hurt her then and he neither has the heart to do it now, so he always ended up in indulging her whims.

"OK Tanu... what do you want to talk to me about? I am all ears." Asad closed the file he was reading and told her.

"Nothing particular Asad. I just want to see you a bit relaxed at home, instead of working all the time."

"Tanveer is right Asad. You work too much. At least at home let go of all your files and spend some time with us as well." Dilshad who had just entered his room to check on him before she slept, agreed with Tanveer. And Dilshad was very happy to see Tanveer's concern for Asad.

Few more weeks had passed. One night Asad came home late from office having a terrible headache. It was a particularly hectic day for him and on top of that he had to deal with a very snobbish and irritating client the whole afternoon. Asad had guessed the character of the man even on his first meeting with him, but the project was too important for the company, so he had agreed to take up the project with Mr.Feroz, but few days after they signed the agreement he had started wishing he had not because the man was too much into himself and snobbish beyond words.

When Asad entered the house, the lights were dim and it looked like everyone had slept. He wondered where his Ammi was as usually she would never sleep till he came home, however late it was.

He tiptoed through the living room so as not to disturb his Ammi in case she had fallen asleep after a tiring day. He entered his room and put on the lights, and the moment he did the glare of the lights made him wince and squeeze his eyes shut as it made his headache worse. He immediately took out a tablet from his drawer and gulped it down quickly with a glass of water.

He lay on his bed and gently massaged his forehead with the balls of his knuckles. He was contemplating on going for dinner, when he heard Tanveer's voice,

"Asad, when did you come? I was waiting to have dinner with you."

"There was no need Tanu... you could have had your dinner and slept... Anyway where is Ammi she always waits for me." Asad asked her.

"Actually khala was waiting but I told her to go and sleep as I can wait for you... Come let's have dinner."

Asad did not reply to her and he kept his eyes squeezed shut.

"Are you not feeling well Asad?" Tanveer came close to his bed and sat beside him on the bed.

"I am having a bad headache Tanu... and I am not sure if I can have dinner right now.. I think I should sleep."

"Headache?... oh that's terrible Asad... You should take medicine... Let me get you medicine." Tanveer started overreacting

"Tanu calm down... I already took medicine and I will be alright after sometime... you should really go and sleep."Asad's voice sounded a bit irritated.

"How can I sleep when you are sick? Let me do something... let me massage you head."

She removed Asad's hand from his forehead and started messaging his head.

"Tanu.. I really don't need this... I am telling you I will be alright after a while." Asad groaned and protested.

It was at that moment Dilshad came and entered Asad's room. She had woken up suddenly and wondered whether Asad had returned home and came out to see the lights of his room on.

Seeing her inside the room, Tanveer turned towards her.

"Khala Asad is having a headache... but he doesn't want to eat... and I am trying to massage his head but he is not allowing me to do that as well... How will he get better like this?"

"It's Ok Tanu." Dilshad smiled at her. "let him rest and sleep for sometime... If he wakes up later and feels hungry he will eat." Dilshad took hold of Tanveer's hand and started walking out of the room and on her way out she put off the lights so that Asad could sleep.

"Tanu, Asad gets these migraine attacks on and off... and when he is having a headache he likes to be left alone and sleep, and he usually feels better only after sleeping... So let him be." Once outside, Dilshad told Tanveer.

"Oh Khala, I did not know that." Tanveer replied.

"It's ok Tanu... you were trying to help... and I am actually really happy to see that you care about Asad so much and always tries to help him and take care of him." Dilshad told her with a smile.

Another few weeks had passed. And one night they all were sitting together in the living room when Dilshad received a phone call from one of her close cousin Shaira Bhi who lived in Indoor. She told her that her eldest son was getting married and she invited them to come to Indore for the Nikah and Walima. Dilshad and Shaira being the same age, they used to be very close and so naturally Dilshad was very excited after hearing the news.

She broke the news to Asad, Najma and Tanveer and told Asad that he should come with her and that he cannot make any excuses. Asad was happy seeing his mother's happiness and excitement and seeing that he readily agreed to come with her.

Dilshad then invited Tanveer to come with her as well as otherwise Tanveer would be alone at home for two whole days.

The trip to Indore was fun with Najma singing throughout the whole journey and even Asad joining her at times.

Once in Indore at the house of Shaira Bhi, they were immediately surrounded by relatives, some of whom they have not met in years. The preparations for the Nikah were going on full swing, and soon Dilshad and Najma also got engrossed in it. After spending some time with some of his relatives, Asad went to meet the groom, Zafar, whom he had not met since years. Asad was quite close to him when they were small, so he was happy to meet him.

"Asad Bhaijan, I am so happy you came... it's been so long since we met." Zafar was the same age as Asad, but since he was few months younger than Asad, he calls him Bhaijan.

"I am glad to meet you too." Asad hugged him affectionately.

"So tell me Bhaijan, what's happening in your life? And when are you getting married?" Zafar asked Asad playfully.

"If it's left to your Bhaijan, he will never get married Zafar."

Dilshad who had come to meet Zafar at that moment heard what he said and answered him before Asad could, and Zafar laughed.

"Is that true Bhaijan?" Zafar smiled at him.

To Asad's delight, Zafar's Ammi and a group of other relatives entered his room at that moment asking Zafar to get ready and his attention got diverted so Asad did not have to answer Zafar.

The Nikah ceremony was scheduled for 5 Pm and it was 3 Pm and everything was almost done and some of the ladies were sitting quietly talking and enjoying in one side of the large court yard of the grand old house.

Dilshad saw her Nazneen khala, an elderly lady sitting there and went towards her. Najma and Tanveer followed her. Dilshad greeted Nazneen khala warmly and enquired about her health.

"With Allah's grace I am good Dilshad beti... It's good to see you after so long... how are the children? They must be so grown up now."

"Here, Najma is here... you didn't recognize her isn't it?." Dilshad took Najma's hand and brought her forward so that Nazneen khala could see her well.

"And Asad is also here. I will ask him to come and meet you later."

"And who is this pretty young girl here? She is with you isn't it? Is she Asad's fianc?" Nazneen khala squinted her eyes and looked at Tanveer carefully.

"Oh No Khala!.. Asad is not even engaged... this is Tanveer, Asad's childhood friend and our neighbor. Her parents have passed away and she is staying in Bhopal at our house for few months." Dilshad smiled and clarified.

Soon the house started filling up with guests, half of them from the bride's side and hence strangers to Dilshad and family. The family members got involved in welcoming the guests and there was no time for them to sit and talk among themselves.

Sometime around 4.30, the groom and bride were brought down and seated in the area prepared for the nikah. Zafar looked handsome in a red and white Sherwani and the bride wa equally beautiful in a red and white gharara. The Nikah ceremony started at exactly 5 pm and when they finally said Qubool Hai to each other, there were tears of happiness in Shaira's eyes. Dilshad who was standing beside her hugged her side ways. She was very happy for Shaira, knowing that it was every mother's dream to see this day.

Since Asad had to go to office next day, soon after the Nikah ceremony they bade good bye to everyone and left.

During the return journey to Bhopal everyone was tired and quite. Najma who was sitting in the front with Asad had dozed off so there was no singing and only quietness.

Dilshad was also tired but she could not sleep. She had suddenly started feeling a kind of sadness and loneliness which she had not felt since years. Suddenly she started remembering her estranged husband and wished he was there with her and wished she had a normal family like others and her children had the love of their father as well.

It was not something she thought of often as she was a woman who was usually content with her life, and had accepted the fate that Allah had bestowed upon her. And she never complained and never desired for things which she knew were out of her reach.

But every mother desires for their children's happiness and she was no exception. And so she knew why she had suddenly started to feel this way. After seeing Shaira's son who was the same age as Asad getting married, she had started wishing for Asad to get married as well. Like every mother, she also wanted to see her children happy and settled every way in life. And she felt sad knowing Asad never thought of marriage or love, because of what had happened in her own marriage. And she remembered the times when she had talked to him regarding the matter. Even when he was at college she had occasionally talked to him about it in an indirect teasing manner, asking him why he never even brought a girl home as a friend while his close friends were having relationships and enjoying their young age. But Asad had always brushed it off saying his studies were too important for him and that he did not have time for such things. But Dilshad had always sensed that there was an underlying reason for Asad avoiding girls and relationships with them and she feared that it had to do with her unsuccessful marriage and his father leaving them, which Dilshad knew had affected him very badly as a child.

And her fears were proven right around one year back when Asad had established his company, and when she had started bringing the subject of his Nikah in a more serious manner.

Dilshad remembered the first time she seriously talked to him about it. He had come home one night very happy after securing an important contract and had told her about it. Dilshad had congratulated him and told him how happy she was to know that he was doing well in his business.

"I am really happy to see you succeeding Beta... but why do you work so hard?... I wish to see you relax and enjoy life as well." Dilshad hugged him lovingly.

"Ammi I want to fulfill all yours and Najma's wishes and I want to give you both everything that you never had. And Insha Allah I will." Asad lay on the sofa beside her and put his head on Dilshad's lap and sighed contently.

"Beta do you really want to see me happy and will fulfill all my wishes?" Dilshad caressed his hair lovingly and asked.

"Of course Ammi. Your happiness means everything to me." Asad looked at her and replied.

"In that case Beta, money and material things in life doesn't always bring happiness.. happiness and joy comes in other forms as well... like having a partner with whom you can share your ups and downs in life, having children of your own etc... you have now started doing well in your career and the next step in life is getting married... If you would fulfill all my wishes, my next wish in life is to see you get married and give me a grandchild to cherish" Dilshad looked at Asad lovingly.

"Why aren't you saying anything Asad?" Dilshad asked when Asad continued to lie silent, without saying anything after what she told him.

"Ammi I think you know that I don't believe in love and marriage and all this stuff." Asad finally replied with a sigh.

"Yea I know and I think I also know the reason why you think that way.. . But Beta every marriage won't end in the same way... and love is something beautiful; you would only know it when you experience the feeling... And despite what happened to me, I want my two children to fall in love and experience that joy as well."

Since that conversation she had with Asad, Dilshad had again tried to talk to Asad on another few occasions as well. But as he was still young and working hard to establish himself, Dilshad had then decided not to push him too much and wait for another year or two before she again talked to him seriously. But today, after attending the Nikah of Zafar , she had become too emotional and sad about Asad and his future.

Dilshad sighed sadly and looked at Asad who was driving the car lost in his own thoughts but she knew very well that his thoughts would never wander in the direction in which hers was going.

At that moment her gaze fell on Tanveer who was sitting beside her on the back seat and had fallen asleep. She then remembered how Nazneen Khala had assumed that Tanveer was Asad's fianc.

Looking at Tanveer and remembering that incident, an idea started to form in Dilshad's mind. She remembered the time when she had walked on Tanveer trying to massage Asad's head and she also recalled how Tanveer always tried to take care of Asad's needs and she started thinking that Tanveer would be an ideal daughter in law for her and a good wife for Asad. And after all she was Asad's friend since childhood, and so if not love they at least had that bond of friendship.

She let few days pass before she confronted Asad with her idea. Asad was too shocked to even say anything initially but then he knew how stubborn his Ammi was regarding his marriage so he easily understood why she had gotten this idea, and he tried to talk to her calmly and make her understand that it was not a right thing.

"Ammi I have never thought of Tanu in that way... And I am still not ready for marriage... please Ammi let go of this idea." Asad pleaded.

"Asad, I remember that the last time I talked to you regarding the subject of your marriage, you told me that you don't believe in love and that you would never fall in love but if it would make me happy you would get married one day."

"Yes Ammi I agreed... But so soon Ammi?... And with Tanu?"

"Why not Tanu Asad?... She is your friend and she knows you well. And I have seen how attentive she is to your needs and how caring she is towards you. She would make a good wife and companion for you and I like her... so why not her? Unless of course there is someone else whom you like or you dream of falling in love with someone someday and want to wait for that someone... but you always tell me that you could never fall in love." Dilshad did not want to give in to Asad this time.

"Ammi I don't dream of falling in love... still, like I agreed earlier, if it would make you happy I would one day get married... but this is so sudden and I am not prepared for this Ammi... please be sensible." Asad pleaded with her.

But Dilshad could not let go of it this time, and over the next few days she kept on talking to Asad and finally her emotional talks got in to Asad as he could never see his Ammi unhappy. And he finally said yes on the condition that she would talk to Tanveer and make her understand that he may never be able to love her the way she might want to, but he would always care for her and would always be faithful to her and would always stand by her side.

And after talking to Tanveer , Dilshad informed him that evening that Tanveer was ready for the marriage. But even then, Asad thought of talking to her himself, and when she came with his evening coffee he asked her to wait as he wanted to talk to her.

"Tanu , Ammi told me that you agreed for the Nikah... but I just wanted to make sure whether you are doing this on your own will and whether you really want to get married to me or not... We have met after so many years and I don't know many things about you... there could even be someone you love isn't it?... so don't get carried away because of Ammi... if you aren't sure of this in anyway either because you love someone else or because I may not be able to love you the way you desires, just tell me frankly and I will make Ammi understand."

"Asad, don't worry I am OK with this Nikah... I know very well that you don't believe in love and marriage and is doing this for your Ammi's sake... But you are a good man Asad and I am happy that I am the one who got this opportunity to marry you... and I don't have anyone else in my life." Tanveer told Asad.

"Are you very sure about this Tanu?" Asad asked her once again.

"I am Asad... And I will make this marriage work... And who knows one day you will even fall in love with me" Tanveer smiled at Asad and reassured him.

************************************

They got married 2 weeks later. Asad had wanted to at least wait for a while after the engagement so that they could get to know each other better as a couple, but Dilsahd said that they could do that even after the Nikah and Tanveer insisted that even she did not mind getting married soon.

Tanveer appeared to be really happy about the whole thing and Asad had wondered a couple of times how that was possible as he himself was still not happy about this Nikah and he wondered whether it was because Tanveer actually loved him and that was the reason why she had agreed to the marriage so easily and was happy about it, because he could not understand any other reason why she would be so happy about this sudden and unexpected Nikah.

Days started to pass and although Asad had gotten married half halfheartedly and had felt very awkward around Tanveer in the beginning, as days passed by he started to accept the marriage and the relationship with Tanveer. He had not fallen in love with her, but gradually he had truly accepted the fact that she was his companion for life and he tried to give her as much of his time as possible and even tried to do things that would make her happy like taking her out for dinner, and Dilshad was very happy and satisfied seeing him trying to make the marriage work.

And finally, although he wasn't overtly happy he had started feeling a kind of contentment thinking that he had a wife with whom he can share his life with, someone to grow old with and above all, he was happy seeing his Ammi happy and content as that was the thing which gave him the maximum happiness in the world.

And then 6 months in to their marriage, they found out that Tanveer was pregnant. Dilshad was so happy that she immediately went for shopping and bought numerous things for the baby and had even ordered a baby cot on that day itself and Najma who had gone with her could not stop laughing seeing the way her Ammi who always kept a strict check on the money she spent, went on spending without a thought at all.

As for Asad, he wasn't prepared to become a father, especially so soon, and he was overwhelmed, scared and apprehensive in the beginning. But as days passed by he started to feel excited. It wasn't that he was still not scared and apprehensive wondering things like how he would behave as a father and whether he could handle being a father and what kind of a father he would be, but the excitement of becoming a father outweighed the fears. And he started looking forward to the day when he could hold the chubby little hands of a small baby who would be a part of him and whose veins would run his own blood.

And as Tanveer's pregnancy progressed, the excitement in the house grew. And as she became near term, the prospect of becoming a father no longer appeared so daunting to Asad and he was waiting eagerly for the day when his little bundle of joy would arrive and he could hold him or her in his arms. And Asad had started feeling really content and happy with his life and he actually started feeling grateful to his mother for pushing him to get married. His business was doing quite well and their new house was about to get completed. And he was going to become a father. Asad's life in fact appeared to be perfect in every way and he felt blessed. Little did he knew that there was a storm silently brewing, a storm that would destroy all his belief in marriage, companionship and even love once again and wipe away the smile from his face for forever.

Asad got the first hint of something amiss with Tanveer when he went to Gwalior for a meeting. There he had met with an old school friend, Rehan who had settled in Gwalior after his college. Asad and Rehan had been quite close when they were in school but had lost contact after Rehan moved to Jabalpur after high school, so they were very happy to meet after so many years.

Rehan invited him to his house for dinner that night. He was married and had a small daughter who had just turned one year. Asad liked the family and looking at Rehan's cute daughter he started wondering if he would be getting a daughter or a son and whether she or he would looked as cute or not.

Rehan saw Asad lost somewhere with a smile on his face and asked him what he was thinking. Asad told him that his wife was also pregnant and what he had been thinking just then. Rehan did not know that Asad was married and about to become a father so he started asking him questions like when he got married and how it happened, and finally he asked him what his wife's name was. Asad replied that it was Tanveer and that he would know her as she was also in school with them. The moment Asad said that, all colours drained from Rehan's face and he appeared to be in a shock. Asad noticed the sudden change in Rehan and wondered what had happened but it would be another few months before Asad would know the reason, because right that moment Asad's phone rang and his usually calm Ammi was almost hysterical on the other end saying that Tanveer had gone in to labour.

Asad immediately told Rehan what happened and hastily left to drive back to Bhopal. Rehan was still in a daze and thinking about something when he said good bye to Asad and Asad wondered what has happened to Rehan suddenly, but he was too much in a hurry to wait and ask.