Seventeen
Zoya and Karan sat outside on the balcony talking 'Mamoon will ask me to come back as soon as my last exam is over...I don't want to go back' 'I know...we still have time to figure it out Zoya, you just concentrate on your finals...once they are over we can think about how to buy extra time...as hard as it is don't think too much about it for now' 'ok...them two have been gone for ages...you think we should call them back...it's gone lunch time' 'yeah...let me call Mr Roy' as soon as Karan walked back inside Mr Roy and Aisha Bibi walked through the door laughing at something 'oh good you guys are back I was just about to call you' 'sorry we got a little carried away...see even at our age it's possible...isn't that right Mr Roy' Karan started to laugh 'you sure it was just coffee you drank...I hope you didn't have lunch...me and Zoya have been waiting' Aisha Bibi stepped forward 'no, we didn't...you sit I will start preparing something'.
Zoya stood in the kitchen with Aisha Bibi helping her cook 'I know you still have your finals...but I was thinking that once they are over you and Karan...I mean you should go away...on a short break...you know like a honeymoon thing' Zoya started to turn crimson 'Aisha Bibi please...' 'Kya please...isn't that a normal thing to do?' 'Yes, it is but...' 'But nothing...you are going matlab you are going' 'what about you?' Aisha Bibi put down the glass she was holding and looked at her 'Zoya it's your honeymoon what am I going to do there...hold your hand whilst I have one child sleeping on one side and the other one sleeping on the other side' Zoya opened her mouth wide 'Ya Allah...Aisha Bibi' Aisha Bibi started laughing 'Zoya, sooner or later you will have to break free...even from me' Zoya quickly hugged her becoming all emotional 'never...I can never break free from you Aisha Bibi...I will never leave you and I will never let you leave me' Aisha Bibi wiped her tears and pulled Zoya black 'theek hai don't leave me...I don't mind being the kebab mein hadi...' She said making Zoya laugh out loud.
After lunch Mr Roy stood up 'Karan I have booked my ticket to return back...for this evening' 'so soon...you only just got here...please stay...at least a few more days' 'I came here to do something, which I have done...I have to get back to work too...' Karan couldn't argue with Mr Roy, not when it came to his work.
Karan went to drop Mr Roy to the airport 'I would like you to do something for me...I don't trust Akram, there is something that has been nagging me about him but I can't out my finger on it...do you think you could have one of our people to monitor him, keep a close eye?' 'Most definitely...don't worry, if he is up to no good...we will get him'.
Karan came back home 'Aisha Bibi gone to sleep?' He asked walking in further 'yes, a little while ago...Mr Roy got off ok?' 'Yes, he said he will message me once he reaches back...you look exhausted, why don't you go to sleep...you still have uni tomorrow' 'hmm...I seemed to have forgotten about that...I guess I should' Karan took her by the hand and led her to her room, as he opened the door she took a step inside looking at him nervously Zoya opened her mouth to say something when she was stopped. Karan placed his finger over her lips, he cupped the side of her face and leaned in slowly to kiss her 'goodnight wifey...I will see you in the morning' Zoya looked at him, he had understood exactly what was going on in her head and before she could put herself in an awkward position he took the first step to put her at ease. Kissing her one last time Karan turned around and walked off towards his room. Zoya couldn't stop smiling, even though this was supposed to be their wedding night it was far from it, they both knew they weren't ready, they not only had respect for one another but also the person that lived with them, Aisha Bibi.
Aisha Bibi stood rooted looking as confused as ever as she saw Karan and Zoya come out of their respect give rooms 'Ya Allah...I swear you two got married yesterday...please don't tell me I dreamt the whole thing?' Zoya rolled her eyes 'Aisha Bibi, we did get married...honestly' 'but then...you and Karan...are married people not supposed to share the same bedroom?' Zoya looked towards Karan who gave her a smile 'yes Aisha Bibi they are...now before you start asking us anything else...I really need some breakfast...Zoya has to be at uni for half eight' Zoya looked at him and mouthed a thank you, the last thing she wanted was for Aisha Bibi asking her awkward questions.
Zoya went to quickly change, she looked at herself in the mirror and saw her mangalsutar' holding it in her the palm of her hand she kissed it and hugged it dearly 'Zoya you ready?' Zoya turned around to see Karan standing a few feet away from her 'can you apply this ' she said holding the small trinket with the sindoor in it 'you want to wear it...I mean to uni?' 'Yes, why not?' 'Because then everyone will know you are married' 'I am aren't I?' 'Yes, you are...you don't have to wear it Zoya, you are wearing that...that is is more than enough for me...this you can adorn when we are together, or at home' 'oh' Karan stepped closer to her 'don't look so sad...it's ok...I will put it on when you come back...now come let's go' Zoya tiptoed and placed a kiss on his cheek before she picked up her bag 'am ready now'
Inaya sat there in total shock, it didn't matter how much Zoya pocked her arm she refused to move 'Inaya...will you say something' 'Zoya...I can't believe it...all that has happened...you got married...Ya Allah...you got married' Zoya had explained everything to Inaya as much as it shocked her she was very happy for her, Zoya had asked her to keep it to herself, which she promised to do 'don't go back...you would be stupid to...Zoya...just run...go away from here, it's the only way you will be able to live a happy life with him' 'I have to...We only did this to protect me from Akram...I want Mamoon to accept him...we can't run forever' 'what if...' Zoya saw the concern on Inaya's face 'I know...at the moment all I can do is pray that things don't get out of hand' 'insha'Allah...I will pray for you too' 'thank you'.
Karan saw Zoya walk towards him making his face light up instantly 'hey...how was your day?' He asked taking her into his arms 'very long...am glad it's home time' 'Aisha Bibi has instructed that we both go out for dinner tonight' 'that would be nice, although I don't like the idea of her being by herself' 'I know...maybe we should have let Iram come with us' 'hmm...maybe...I will ask her if she agrees we can all go out together'.
Aisha Bibi was adamant that the two of them went out alone, which they ended up doing. Zoya didn't want to venture out too far so they opted for a small Thai restaurant close to where their apartment was.
The food want that great but they didn't mind as they had the pleasure of being in each other's company 'I get my final exam time table tomorrow...according to the provisional one I finish on the 29th of June...Mamoon will want me back within a week of that...Karan Ramadan is starting on the 18th, which makes Eid on the 18th off July' Karan placed his hand over hers 'Zoya, we will work it out...you can ask to stay on until Eid, I mean isn't it normal to have end of year parties or get togethers?' 'It is...but he will know that I won't go to any of them especially as I will be fasting' Karan let out a deep sigh 'trust me...I don't want you to think about this...not until you walk out of your last exam...deal?' Zoya reluctantly nodded her head 'deal'.
Although legally married both Karan and Zoya continued to live separately, the subject of moving in to the same room never seemed to come up and that fact that they had no physical relationship between them didn't seem to be a problem for either of them.
As days continued to pass Ramadan finally came, Zoya felt her heart trip as Aisha Bibi passed her the phone, it was Hamid who wanted to speak to her 'Asalaam O Alaikum Mamoon...Ramadan Mubarak...yes I am well, just busy getting ready...no I haven't thought about coming back yet...Mamoon, I was hoping to stay on until after Eid...all my friends are going away on holiday...I wanted to ask...can I go?' Aisha Bibi and Karan looked at one another and then back at Zoya whose face was draining of all colour as she continued to speak to him 'I know Mamoon, but these are friends I will probably never see again for a long time...it's only for ten days...ok I will wait to hear from you?'
'What holiday, what trip...you never told us about any holiday' Aisha Bibi questioned her 'I'm sorry I lied...well not exactly lied...just about the friends part' Karan looked at her confused 'I don't get it' 'I thought that me and you could go away...to spend some time together...before we...' Karan started smiling 'you really want to?' Zoya nodded 'what did he say?' 'That he will think about it and get back to me' 'where do you want to go?' 'Anywhere...as long as I am with you and...' 'Oh no...don't you look at me...you can count me out...I was only joking about being the hadi...I think it's a great idea, you two go and I will go back to Delhi, it will help me work out some things'.
Zoya shook her head at Aisha Bibi 'fine don't come...but will you be ok on your own?' 'Of course I will...look you two sit and figure out where you want to go...I am going to pray...and Zoya don't forget...you have to wake up for Sehri too'.
'Whats Sehri?' Karan asked. Zoya sat next to him and explained the whole process of fasting, what it meant and it's importance 'in that case Mrs Oberoi I think you need to go to sleep, you only have a few hours before you have to get up again' 'I will...after we worked out where we are going' Karan starting naming a number of destinations nationally and internationally 'I don't know...Karan you choose' 'ok, I will...now go on off you go' Zoya gave him a quick peck on the lips before she went to her room.
The hot weather was not helping those who were fasting, it was the thirst more than anything else that started to make it hard for Zoya, especially whilst she was revising.
Being a weekend Zoya woke up later than usual, coming out she saw Aisha Bibi and Karan sitting in front of the tv 'good morning' she said suppressing a yawn 'you mean afternoon' Aisha Bibi said 'well I just woke up so it's still morning for me...Karan would you like me to make you something to eat' 'no...I am ok, thank you' 'why don't you just tell her' Aisha Bibi said 'tell me what?' Karan looked at Aisha Bibi and shook his head, but that didn't to seem to stop her 'Karan is fasting, he has been for the last few days...what kind of a wife are you...haven't you noticed?' Karan hit his forehead with his palm, this new funny side of Aisha Bibi was cute but also very annoying.
Zoya looked at him surprised 'you have...Karan why?' Karan held his hand out to her, as she took it he pulled her towards him and made her sit on his lap 'because you are...I thought I would too' Zoya couldn't describe what she felt, she placed her hand on the side of his face 'as beautiful as your gesture is...you really don't have to Karan, it is not easy for someone who has never fasted before' 'I want to do this...I know I am not a Muslim but I can still support you in what you believe in and observe' Zoya really did to know what to say to him 'I love you so much' 'I know...I love you too'.
Zoya came out of her final exam smiling to no end, she was finally free 'how did it go?' 'Honestly I really don't care...it's all over and I am free...so am not going to think about it until my results come out next month'.
'Aisha Bibi, I still haven't heard from Mamoon and Eid is...' 'Zoya you know this is an extremely busy time for him...why don't you call him instead' Zoya picked up her phone and called him. Hamid who was in the middle of a meeting answered the phone 'Zoya...beta how did your last exam go...I am so sorry I wasn't able to call you' 'that's ok Mamoon...Mamoon I wanted to ask you if I could go on holiday...you know with my friends?' 'I will be honest beta, I don't like the idea...but seeing you have worked so hard, I guess you deserve a break before you come back and settle down here...I will need full details of course and also I will need to speak to Karan' Zoya started jumping in her seat 'thank you so much Mamoon...I will get Karan to call you with the details later'.
'Ya Allah...I can't believe it...Aisha Bibi he said yes...I can go...this is going to be awesome' 'awesome tab ho ga when you two start living like a married couple...I don't understand you two, you have been married over a month and you two still walk around acting as if you are house mates...at this age bas mauka milna chahiye and here you are with all the freedom in the world and you still don't...' 'Aisha Bibi will you stop...you are embarrassing me...' Aisha Bibi started laughing 'ok...ok...no more embarrassing...go on, go to your room...your husband has already gone to his'.
Edited by Saima-Syed - 10 years ago
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