Chapter 24 The PartyIn a simple, large sized granite home, an older woman was sitting in the living room of the house. She was going through what appeared to be an old photo album. She had long shiny black hair and was dressed in a blue saree with floral print on it. Just then, a younger girl, dressed in a blue blouse with blue jeans came in the room with a courier guy. The older woman looked up and said, "Yes?"
"You're Humeira begum, right?" the courier man asked.
"Yes, I am." the older woman answered.
"I have a package for you. I need your signature please." the courier man said, handing a clipboard to Humeira. Humeira took the clipboard and signed on the papers, exchanging it back with the package. The courier man left. "Hurya...why didn't you call me? I could have just gone to the door instead." Humeira told the young girl.
"Come on,ammi! I know you too well! Whenever you get comfortable, you never like to get up!" Hurya exclaimed.
"Pagal! You act like I'm so old!" Humeira laughed.
"No, ammi. I may be your twenty one year old daughter...but you and abbu never look a day over thirty!"
"Pagal! You know something, beta...you remind me of your aunt...Zoya."
"Zoya? Who's that, ammi? You never told me of any aunty by the name of Zoya."
"Come...take a look at this album."
Hurya sat down with Humeira on the couch and took a look at the album Humeira was looking at. Humeira turned the page and pointed to Zoya's face in the photo which was with Haider. "This here is Zoya...your abbu's sister," Humeira said. "She was just like you. Modern clothes and modern thinking...very talkative...but had a heart of gold."
"Wow,ammi! Zoya maasi is so pretty!" Hurya exclaimed. "But I must say...I can't believe you never told me about her. I mean...she isn't just some aunt! She's abbu's sister! Where is she now?" Humeira's face became saddened upon hearing Hurya's question. She was just about to answer, until she saw Haider come inside the house. "Haider." Humeira called out as she stood up from the couch along with Hurya.
"Hey, abbu!" Hurya greeted Haider, giving him a hug.
"Hi, beta. How are you?" Haider asked.
"I'm good.Now where's my pastries?! You promised!"
"Right here! You can take it."
"Thank you!"
Hurya took a the plastic bag from Haider and headed down to the kitchen. Haider sat down on the couch. "Shall I get you chai?" Humeira asked Haider.
"No, Humeira. I don't need."
"What's wrong, Haider?"
"Nothing, Humeira."
"Haider...I've been with you for twenty two years. I know you well enough to know when you're not in a good mood."
Humeira sat down on the couch along with Haider. "Tell me...what's wrong?" Humeira asked Haider. Haider let out a deep breath. He turned to Humeira.
"I saw Zoya." These words gave Humeira a shocked look on her face. Humeira was left speechless. "When I was at the bakery, I bumped into Zoya." Haider added.
"Haider...what are you saying?!"
"That is what is shocking me. I saw her right in front of my own eyes."
"That's not possible! Zoya died with Asad twenty years ago! Then how could you meet her all of a sudden?!"
"I didn't exactly meet her. I bumped into her."
"Then what happened? Did she recognize you?"
"No...even when I said her name...she didn't say anything and then she left."
"Haider, you must have been hallucinating or something. If it was really Zoya, then she would've recognized you. Zoya is no more...and unfortunately,,,we have to accept that."
Haider began to shed a tear down his face. Humeira noticed this, holding onto his arm. "I'm sorry, Haider," Humeira said, beginning to cry. "But...it took time to start a new life after Asad and Zoya's death. We shifted so many times but we couldn't get over it. But once Hurya came into our life,,,then we had a reason to move on...for the sake of our daughter. And even today...we still have to do that."
"I know, Humeira. But when I saw that girl...the memories came back." Haider cried. Humeira hugged Haider tightly, consoling him. "We have to stop crying," Humeira said as she wiped Haider's tears. "Today is Hurya's birthday. The party is in the evening. We have to be happy today. Okay?"
"Okay." Haider said, trying to smile. He hugged Humeira back, while Humeira held onto him tight.
On the other hand, Aahil and Sanam returned to the outhouse to see Latif and Rehan waiting for them. "Good, you both came back!" Latif exclaimed.
"Did you need something?" Aahil asked.
"Latif wanted to tell some important news to the three of us." Rehan said.
"What is it?" Sanam asked Latif.
"One of my old friend's is having a birthday party in the evening for his daughter. He invited me. So you three are coming along." Latif said.
"Why? You're the one who was invited." Aahil said.
"I know. But I asked him I could bring some guests and I mentioned about the married couple here. He said okay." Latif said.
"But why do we have to come?" Sanam asked.
"I can't trust you three in my house alone. I have to be alert. That's why. We have to leave at five...so be ready by then."
"Sure." Rehan agreed.
With that, Latif and Rehan went to the kitchen while Aahil and Sanam went upstairs to their room. "I don't believe this! Another party!" Sanam told Aahil. "I thought it was enough I had to act like your wife for five days! And now we're doing it again...for who know's how long!"
"Don't think that I'm very happy about it...I don't like acting. So its too bad we can't be real about this." Aahil said. Sanam looked at Aahil, stunned by his words. Aahil realized what he had said and turned around saying, "I ment...I wish we could just be our normal...unmarried...selves. You know what I mean." Sanam rolled her eyes.
"Just be ready by then." Aahil said. He headed to the bathroom to freshen up. "Weird guy. He says something and tries to twist the meaning." Sanam said to herself.
At around nearly five in the afternoon, everyone in the outhouse was getting ready for the party. Aahil found a nice white suit to wear and matched it with a black tie and black dress shoes. As he was combing his hair, he noticed Sanam coming out all dressed up. She had her hair down, with a braid tied around in the back. Her bangs were put to the side. She wore a yellow ghagra choli with blue, pink,silver and green embroidery on it with a matching yellow dupatta. She wore silver and yellow bangles on her hands and a pair of silver, pearl jhumka hoop earrings. Aahil looked at her, mesmerized by her radiant beauty. "I can't believe I'm asking this...but how does it look?" Sanam asked Aahil.
"Well...it looks...nice."
"Thank you. And you...suit...not bad."
"What does that mean?!"
"Huh?"
"I said you look nice and you said I don't look bad."
"Yes...so?"
"So you're basically calling me average!"
"No...I was just surprised-"
"You could at least say something nice to me."
"I did!"
"No you-"
Before Aahil could finish, there was a knock on the door. Aahil went and opened the door to see it was Rehan, who was dressed in a blue sherwani. "Are you two ready?" Rehan asked.
"Yes, we are." Aahil answered.
"Good. Latif said we should go now." Rehan said.
"Okay...let's go." Aahil said.
Later on, Aahil, Sanam, Rehan, and Latif arrived to the house where the party was being held at. This house happened to be Haider's house. They came at the doorstep, waiting for an answer. One of the servants came and answered the door, letting them inside. Many people had came. They went on to socialize with other guests. Hurya was conversing with her friends who were about her age, while Haider and Humeira stood by her. "Abbu...why don't you and ammi dance for me?" Hurya asked Haider.
"Dance? I don't dance, beta." Humeira said.
"Not that kind of dance, ammi! Slow dance on my favorite song!" Hurya exclaimed.
"Which song?" Haider asked.
"Banjaara from "Ek Villain"!" Hurya replied.
"Why don't we ask other couples to dance as well then?" Haider asked Hurya.
"Sure, abbu." Hurya replied.
Haider took a microphone and called out, "Attention everyone!" All the guests turned to Haider. "Thank you all for coming. My daughter wants all the married couples here on the dance floor. So let's fulfill her wish," Haider announced. "Music please!" The song Banjaara began playing. Haider took Humeira to the dance floor and began dancing with her while Hurya looked at them smiling. Other couples began to come to the dance floor as well. Aahil and Sanam stood still with the man they were talking to. "Come on. You heard na...all married couples must dance. Go on." the man urged. Aahil and Sanam looked at each other and Aahil then led Sanam to the dance floor by her hand. They went to the near ends of the dance floor where they weren't seen by Haider, Humeira, or Hurya. Aahil held Sanam's right hand, while he put his left hand around her waist as she held onto him by his shoulder. The two danced along the beat of the song like the other married couples, and began to look deeply into each others eyes as they danced.
Why do I feel as if...as if...as if destiny continues to bring us together like this? Aahil asked himself. So close to each other...yet so apart in our minds that...that we don't go beyond our emotions.
I fail to understand what I think of him, Sanam thought to herself. Before...it was always Gabbar Singh or gunda...now...it has started to change. But to what? I've started to feel for him...but something holds me back. I don't know what to do.
Even when the song ended, Aahil and Sanam continued to hold onto each other. It was only when they heard the guests clapping that they came back to their senses and let go of each other. "Excuse me." Sanam told Aahil.
Sanam left from the dance floor, going into the crowd. She went up to one of the servants and asked, "Where is the washroom?" Sanam asked the servant.
"Upstairs on the left." the servant replied.
"Thank you." Sanam said.
Sanam began to head upstairs. Once she went upstairs, she got confused as she tried to look for the bathroom. "Now I don't know...left from where?" Sanam asked herself. She went walking down the hall and then turned, seeing the bathroom. She went inside the bathroom and turned on the sink, splashing water in her face. I feel so bad...I've hardly talked to anyone at this party! Sanam thought to herself. I should try and mingle with some people here. After all...people might get suspicious of the whole 'marriage' between me and him. Sanam took a towel and wiped her face dry. After she was done, she stepped out of the bathroom. As she was walking down the hall, she bumped into a lady walking by. "I'm really sorry! Are you okay?!" Sanam asked the lady. The lady Sanam bumped into...was Humeira. Humeira looked up and was shocked, seeing Sanam's face. Sanam looked at her confused as to why Humeira was giving her such a face. Humeira didn't say a word. This is the girl...who Haider was talking about, Humeira thought to herself. That means...Haider wasn't hallucinating. Can it be? Can this really be...Zoya?
Edited by meryl97 - 11 years ago
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