AsYa FF: Mohabbatein - Part 18 Updated: Pg 140 - 20/12/16 - Page 8

Originally posted by: mummyoftwo

Now I'm up to date with the chapters and I can say I'm speechless. The story has a nice flow and even the parts u called filler in a post don't feel Ike fillers but a integral part of the story line.
I'm living dilshads character in this story, she seems stronger and more in touch with her feelings here than in the show.
I'm dead curious about the tension between zoya a nana and asad. If my hunches are right or wrong about asads character only time will tell. Let's se how his character develops aswell.

Originally posted by: DailyDaisy

<font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Thank you for all the lovely words! They seriously make my day and inspire me to write more and more (which in turn causes verbal vomit that sometimes shows in the parts😆). I'm glad you're enjoying the story. </font>

<font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">That is precisely what I meant by filler parts. Not too much of AsYa (which I did deliberately) because I don't want them to overshadow the story or the story/background to overshadow them before time. Before their love story officially begins. Every scene serves to set the background and basis for the story to begin. They all serve integral purposes of describing characters, households, backgrounds and stories. </font>

<font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">The tension between Nana and Asad will be hinted at in the coming parts but will be exposed way later on. The coming parts expose a lot of the story and take it to a different level. A lot happens in these 2 parts and a lot of it is exposed including one of the biggest twists so I hope you enjoy that. </font>

<font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Amen to that! DIlshad in the show was butchered as harshly as the rest of the show was!</font>

<font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Can't wait to read your reactions on the coming part and the twist that is revealed! </font>

Originally posted by: anopama

Res

Unres

Love the update

But the hindi punished me

Aww anwar arrived

Asad such a darling

I love the way u portray him

He is not a total goody two shoes like the show

He is all man he has faults he drinks he smokes but he is honourable and passionate and loving

He has fears he has pride he has a dirty tongue

But love the way he respect and love his family

So zoya was taken to the hospital by the mystery man

And tht person has claimed her marked her with his symbol

The chain ayaan is shocked

She keeps seeing the intense chocolate eyes and the arrogant asshole face

Maybe if u put it together u will solve the mystery

Oh asad outbreak was heartwrenching

So much pain hope now his ammi understands

I saww through ur updates the films influence

Love when he steps out of the helicopter and she fells tht

So they will.have one heck.of a connection

I was wondering how come asad was horseback riding bare chested on the streets

But now I realizes he has a farmhouse near the farooqui

Aww thw tinkling laughter again he wants to find the owner this time

Omg anwar never knew zeenat was a widow

He was.shocked and realizes y zee was.like she was

She was shocked to see him but she dont know ms zoya did the mischief

But anwar now is more determined he will marry her still

Bcuz he just got confirmation she loves him too

So how does grandpa and asad know each other

And it seems like animosity

So asad cqlled the badtameez new yorker cute

Nice

So will their be a anzee wedding willingly or will it be an uproar

Bcuz tht grandma definitely look like satan ki behen

Plz.dont let the haseena and her beta play out like the show

Let her son actually be someone with a heart

Bcuz anaya is so precious

And dont make it a anaya and aisha with the same guy

Bcuz it seems like he is doc and will work at same hospital

Waitng for more

Cont soon

Mohabbatein

Part 7 - Challa ki labda Phire..Yaar, Uda Ghar Kera?

xxx

Haveli:

Azlan looking like hell, even more ragged and exhausted than this morning as he returned home was about to enter the house as he locked his car when he spotted something in the distance. He stepped back a bit and looked to the garden where he saw his father sitting alone in a garden chair. There was something about the way he was sitting; his fallen face, his eyes staring into nothingness. He could see the emptiness in them from this far. His slumped shoulders and his overall defeated state just didn't sit well with Azlan and before he knew it he was walking over to him. He stopped in front of him, something breaking in his heart as his father didn't even notice him standing there. He smiled sadly as he placed a hand on his shoulder and Rashid looked up surprised to see him.

Rashid- Arre Azlan beta aa gaye tum..main..main tumhara hi intezaar kar raha tha-

Azlan- Don't. Don't lie abbu. (Rashid stared at him surprised again) Aap..aap apne dosre bete ke intezaar mein baithe the na. Yeh umeed aur dua kar rahe the ke koi miracle ho aur ek din woh inn gates ke beech mein se chalke aye

Rashid-(smiled sadly, his eyes staring at the gates of their palace with a longing in his eyes) It's..It's been a dream of mine since the day he was born (Azlan gave him a sad smile) and even though there are probably more chances of hell freezing over then Asad doing so (laughed) you can't blame a father for hoping right..

Azlan- Abbu. Kismat ke khelon ka kisko pata hai kal tak to humne yeh bhi nahin socha tha ke hum Kasauli waapis ayenge agle pal kya hone waala hai kissi ko nahin pata Abbu so (gave his dad a reassuring smile) kuch bhi ho sakta hai. Waise..uh..aap aaj gaye the..to wahan-

Rashid- Main nahin jaa paya. Shayad, Khuda ki aankhon mein mere gunnahon ki saza abhi baaki hai..ke main aaj bhi wahan nahin jaa paya

Azlan- Par kyun? Aap to nikalne waale the..

Rashid- Last minute pe Haseena bi aa gayeen aur mujhe rukna para rishte ki baat karne aayen thin woh..iss sunday woh log Anaya ka rishta laane waale hain..

Azlan- KYA! Itni Jaldi abbu? (Rashid nodded)

Rashid- Razia bhabi aur..Tumhari Ammi dono yeh chahtin hain..

Azlan- Aur Anaya? Woh kya chahti hai?

Rashid- You need to understand the situation here Azlan. Mere liye Anaya kissi heere se kam nahin hai..par yeh Kasauli hai..India hai..aur unfortunately yahan ladkon ki ma waise nahin sochtin jaise hum chahte hain ke woh sochein. Tum khud socho..kya tumhari maan tumhare liye koi aisi ladki qubool karegi jis mein Anaya jaisi mehroomi ho- (Azlan was about to argue but he cut him off) Anaya..she wishes to get married some day Azlan..have a family and she knows she won't have the option of rejecting guys like other girls her age reject. She will settle and so will your mom. Sapna di ne kaha hai ladka bauhat acha hai. So Azlan, please apne ghusse pe kabo rakho humme har kadam dihaan se uthana hoga. Agar yeh shaadi ho jaati hai toh iss mein koi harj nahin. We have an added security factor, Sapna di bhi usse ghar mein hongi. (Azlan nodded as he heard his father out with a more cool mind, understanding what he was saying even if he didnt agree with it and then he saw the emptiness return in his dad's eyes and he sighed)

Azlan- Abbu. Please. Aapne Ammi ko vaada kiya hai ke aap uss hadse ko ab bhool jayenge. Hafta hone ko hai dad uski chot ab theek hogayee hogi. Please, snap out of it. Ab aapko issi shehr mein rehna hai uske saath you made a decision 25 years ago please thori himmat se kaam lijiye. Aapko baaki ki zindagi bhi unse door rehke guzarni hai Abbu. Aise kaise chalega? If you're worried about his health toh main aapko bata deta hoon, he's fine dad. He's work at and he'll be as good as new in no time..Aap-

Rashid-(his eyes widened with surprise) Tum Asad se mile the? Kab?

Azlan- Ji. Main aur Zain hum..(deep breath) Asad se milne gaye the (he couldn't help but smile in disbelief as he saw a smile break out on his dad's face and watched him stepped towards Azlan to say something but then quickly realizing what he was about to do he sobered up) don't worry Abbu..main aapko bata deta hoon ke..aapke beta bilkul theek hai. He's the same arrogant..narcissist asshole he usually is (Rashid shook his head at Azlan who just shrugged) now can you please promise me ke kalse aap iske baarein mein pareshan nahin honge aur socheinge nahin. It's time to move on Abbu (Rashid sighed nodding and Azlan smiled)

xxx

Farooqui Mansion:

Shazia- BAS! Yehi din dekhna baaki tha. Issi din ke liye khuda ne zinda rakhna tha humme? Mere bete ke badle mujhe kyun nahin maar diya Khuda?? Kamaz kam yeh zillat, yeh badnaami to na dekhni parti. Yeh din dekhne se pehle main mar kyun nahin gayee..

Sapna- Ammi please-

Shazia- KIS BAAT KI SAZA MIL RAHEE HAI HUMME? KIS GUNNAH KI? Dekh liya general

Sahab, kya izzat banayee hai aapki bahu ne hamari, kya gul chare urayen hain issne Delhi mein. Jis baat ka dar tha, aakhir wohee hua na. Abhi toh mere bete ki kabar ki mitti bhi nahin sukhi aur (stared at both Zeenat and Zoya with pure undiluted hate) Pehle yeh dono mere bete ko kha gayeen..aur AB-

Ayaan- DAADI PLEASE- (He stared worriedly at Zeenat who stood emotionless in the middle of the room. Her eyes dry, her face bare of emotions as she stared into space)

Shazia- MERI EK BAAT KHAAN KOLKAR SUN LO. HUM MAR JAYENGE PAR YEH BAAT AAGE NAHIN BADHNE DEINGE. HAMARE KHANDAAN KI IZZAT-, KABHI NAHIN YEH SHAADI NAHIN HOGI.

Zoya- KYUN NAHIN HOGI? Hunh?

Humayun (Asif's Father - Her uncle)- Zoya tum chup raho?

Zoya- Kyun? Aaj AAP haath uthayenge mujhpe? Kyun nahin ho sakti Aapi ki shaadi unse? Woh Aapi se pyaar karte hain, Aapi unse pyaar karti hai woh unke saath khush reh sakti hain. Unhe poora haq hai apni zindagi khushi khushi jeene ka, aage badhne ka. Kyun ghut ghut ke jeete rahein woh iss ghar mein? Kyun khawb nahin dekh sakti who, khushiyan nahin dhoond saktin woh? Kyunki woh aapke ghar ki bahu hai iss liye? Iss mulk ka kanoon aur Islam DONO unhe yeh haq dete hain ke woh dobara shaadi karein toh phir AAP kaun hotin hain unhe rokne waali

Shazia- MAIN USS BETE KI MAAN HOON JISSE TUM DONO ZINDA KHA GAYEEN..WOH APNI KABAR MEIN TARAP RAHA HOGA AAJ ISKI HARKATEIN DEKH KAR-

Zoya- (Her voice quivered and her eyes filled with tears. Clearly not an easy topic for her to discuss) BHAIYA KI MAUT EK HADSA THI. UNHE GAYE 7 SAAL HO GAYE HAIN!! AUR EK ROZ WOH HUM SABSE POOCHEINGE KE HUMNE AAPI KO AISE JEENE KYUN DIYA. KYUN UNKE LIYE NAYEE KHUSHIYAN NAHIN DHOONDI? UNHE AISE ROZ MARNE KAISE DIYA HUMNE? AUR KAMAZ KAM MAIN TO UNSE USS DIN AANKHEIN MILANE KE KAABIL REHNA CHAHTIN HOON. AAPI KI SHAADI ZAROOR HOGI.

Shazia- YEH SHAADI NAHIN HOGI NAHIN HOGI NAHIN HOGI. HUM HONE NAHIN DENGE. AUR AB TUNE EK AUR LAFZ KAHANA..TOH MAIN BHOOL JAONGI KE TU IS GHAR KA HISSA HAI.

Zoya-(her tears finally spilling over) aapne yeh maana kab tha? Mujhe bhai ki kasam yeh shaadi toh- (someone spun her around and before she knew what was happening they had slapped her across the face. HARD. Aahil quickly grabbed her from falling to the ground and both he and Zoya stared into Zeenats angry face dumbstruck)

Zeenat-(angry tears rolling down her face) Kyun? Kyun kiya Zoya. KYUN!! (Zoya closed her eyes crying harder as Aahil hugged her and Arsalan tried to console Zeenat) bachpan se leke aaj tak tune jo kiya maine karne diya. Jo kaha maine kuch nahin kaha. Tujhe itna pyaar diya, inn haathon mein khilaya. Apni beti jaise paala tumhe Zoya. Kya kya saha maine tumhare liye aur tumne..KYUN KIYA ZOYA. Kyun bulaya usse yahan?

Zoya- Kyunki Aapi, woh..woh aapse pyaar karte hain..

Zeenat- TOH? Karne deti..MAIN TO NAHIN KARTI NA USSE PYAAR.

Zoya- Aap, Aap karti ho. (Zeenat fell silent as everyone stared at her. Zoya crying as she tried to reach for her but Zeenat jerked her hand away and wiped her tears determinedly)

Zeenat- Main, yeh shaadi nahin karoongi. BAS. (She tried to turn around and walk out of there)

Ayaan- Nahin Aapi. Yeh shaadi to aapko karni hogi. (Everyone stared at him shocked. Zeenat's eyes filling with a fresh load of tears as she shook her head pleadingly and he held her shoulders)

Faisal- Ayaan, tum beech mein mat bolo.

Ayaan- KYUN NA BOLON ABBU? Aapko to koi fark nahin parta. Chachu aapke bhi bhai the. Aapse bhi poocheinge ek din ke apne unki amanat ke saath kya kiya (laughed) par aapse kya kehna. Aap apni biwi ke ilaava kissi ke nahin ho paye. Aapko apne kaam ke ilaava kissi ki khosh nahin hai. Aapi meri sagi behen jaisi hain aur unki khushiyon ke liye main kissi se bhi lar sakta hoon aap aur daadi kya cheez hain. Yeh shaadi HOKE rahegi. Shaadi ya no shaadi, Aapi ab iss ghar mein nahin reh saktin aur agar Aapi ki shaadi na hui toh main iss ghar mein nahin rahoonga.

Zeenat- Ayaan-

Asif- Nahin Aapi. Ayaan bilkul theek keh raha hai. Aapi yeh aapka haq hai. Don't think that by choosing your happiness you're doing something wrong just because these people consider it to be wrong. Aap ghalat nahin ho. Aapko haq hai aage barne ka, shaadi karne ka, KHUSH hone ka. (He also came and stood by them as did Aahil and Zoya and Arsalan and surprisingly so did Sapna followed by a recultant faisal)

Shazia-(her whole body shaking with rage) Theek hai. Toh phir mera bhi ek faisla sun lo. Agar yeh ladki yahan se gayee toh woh akeli nahin jayegi. Jo musibat woh 18 saal pehle apne saath is ghar mein layi thi woh bhi uske saath jayegi. Aaj se hamara aur iss Zoya ka KOI rishta nahin hoga. Naa yeh is ghar ki beti naa yeh hamari poti. Yeh sirf aur sirf Zeenat ki behen. Shaadi pe bhi hum sabse yehi kayenge. Aur zeenat ki doli ke saath..yeh bhi yahan se rukhsat hogi. Iss ghar mein inn dono ke liye koi jaga nahin hai. Na yeh iske chachoo aur na tum sab iske bhai. Agar tum isse apni behen maane se inkaar karo aur yeh is ghar mein dobara na aye hum se har rishta tor le, dobara humse na mile..TOH HI yeh shaadi karwayenge hum. Agar tumhe manzoor hai toh- (all of them just stared at her in utter disbelief and shock. She was spinning this to her own advantage finally seeing an opening to achieving what she had wanted for years)

Zoya- Manzoor hai. (Every soul present in the room just stared after her as she gave her grandmother one last determined look. Her eyes filled with unimaginable pain which overflowed in the form of tears as she turned on her heels and fled from there)

xxx

Khan Mansion:

Dilshad- Anwar, hum samajh sakte hain unhone aisa kyun react kiya. We took them by surprise beta. Beti ke baare mein phir bhi samajh sakte woh log, but bahu..woh bhi bewa..wahan dard zyaada hota hai beta..samjho na.

Anwar- Main samajh raha hoon Ammi but (sighed) I don't know. Maine pehle kyun nahin socha

Dilshad- Kyunki tum aisa sochna nahin chahte the beta. You didn't want to believe you couldn't have her..

Anwar- I know, par ab jab sochta hoon toh sabhi signs mere saamne the..(was silent for a few seconds before he shook his head) mujhe nahin lagta Ammi ke Zeenat bhi maane gi, forget her family..woh..(Dilshad shared a worried look with Aisha and Asad)

Aisha- Bhai, aisa mat sochiye. Aap dekhiyega, woh zaroor maan jayengi warna hum mana leinge unhe. Balke manana kya hai ek baar aap apne haathon ki biryani khila dein unhe inkaar kar hi nahin payengi who.

Asad- Bhai, she looks like a sensible mature woman. I'm sure she'll agree and..and it seemed like she loved you as-

Anwar-(raised an eyebrow at him) Delhi ki hawa mein aaj aisa kya tha Asad miyan. Kaafi behki behki baatein kar rahe hain aaj aap. Aap to pyaar mein yakeen nahin karte toh pyaar dikh kahan se gaya aapko?

Asad- (shoved him away from his face) I was just trying to make you feel better. It's no wonder she doesn't wanna marry you. You're irritating as hell. Even if love did exist no one would ever love you.

Dilshad- Uff ho, baat ko kahan le jaa rahe ho tum. Anwar, unhe thora wakt do aur apni Ammi par bharosa rakho. Tumhari shaadi wahin hogi dekh lena (Anwar smiled and kissed her hands as she kissed his head)

xxx

The Next Day:

Haveli:

A sleepy Azlan tossed off his pillow and sat up in bed, yawning and stretching before getting out of bed.

Azlan- CHACHA, CHAI!! (He rubbed his eyes as he walked out of his room and began walking down the hall only stopping as he passed by Anaya's room and saw her in her room reading a book. He stepped towards her room and knocked on the door as she looked up and found him standing there smiling at her)

Anaya- no hasty goodbye's to girlfriends or rushing off to duty this morning inspector Khan?

Azlan- It's our day off. THANK GOD. (Anaya laughed at the horrified look on his face as he recalled work) just wishing to chat with my sister this morning Ms. Khan. If you'll have me.

Anaya-(laughed) you know you're my most favourite person in the whole world Azlan of course I would love to talk to you..

Azlan-(sat in front of her on the ground with his head in her lap) I was hoping you'd say that

Anaya- kya huwa? Kaam ki tension ho rahee hai

Azlan- that's one thing.

Anaya- Azlan..

Azlan- Aapi, aapko kya lagta hai hamara Kasauli mein rehne ka faisla sahee hai? Kya jis wajah se maine yeh faisla liya kya woh wajah jayz thi? Meri wajah se aap sab ko yahan waapis aana para. Abbu ko, Abbu ko apne guzre hue kal aur uski yaadon ka saamna karna par raha hai. Was it selfish on my part to-

Anaya- no Azlan. Tumhara faisla bilkul sahee tha. You don't know how proud I am of you Azlan. You could've easily stayed in Delhi, partying, dating and enjoying your life, but you instead chose to come to Kasauli and help these people fix there problems. Tumhara faisla bauhat acha tha Azlan..

Azlan- agar faisla sahi tha toh sahi lag kyun nahin raha?

Anaya- Azlan abhi aye hue din hi kitne hue hain humme. I know iss jaga se tumhari yaadein judi hain. This place brings you a lot of pain but we all have to move on at some point Azlan

Azlan- Hmm. So is that why you agreed to meet this boy on Sunday?

Anaya-(her face fell) mere chahne na chahne se kya hota hai Azlan. Hoga wohee jo baron ka dil chahe ga. Tum bhool gaye hum kis khandaan mein paide hue hain, yahan khandaan ki izzat se upar kuch nahin hai

Azlan - to hell with this khandaan Aapi. Aap jaanti ho ke main aapki marzi ke khilaaf kuch nahin hone donga. Aapko shaadi nahin karni hai toh aap mujhe bolo. Aapko koi force nahin karega

Anaya- mere chahne na chahne ka sawal hi nahin uthta Azlaan. Koi bhi ladka mujhe ek baar chalta hua dekh le toh shaadi se saaf inkaar kar dega. Meri chahat ka sawal to baad mein ayega..

Azlan- Aapi! Aap aisa kaise bol sakte ho. Aap jaanti ho ke aapse zyaada khoobsurat ladki iss dunya mein nahin hai aur jo log yeh dekh nahin sakte ye unki badkismati hai, it's their loss

Anaya-(smiled) main jaanti hoon. Khuda ne mujhe mehroomi di hai toh uske badle unhone mujhe tumhare jaisa bhai diya. You make up for everything wrong in my life (Azlan smiled at her)

Azlan- so I've been told by many women over the years.

Anaya- (slapped him) Azlan!! (Azlan laughed as she shook her head at him) waise Kasauli ki ladkiyon aur Delhi ki ladkiyon mein kuch farak laga ya..meh.

Azlan- pahari ladkiyon ki to baat hi alag hai Aapi. Unka stamina hi kuch aur hai (Anaya shook her head) meri choro aap batao. Hospital kaisa chal raha hai aapka (pulled away the anatomy textbook from her lap cringing at the site of it)

Anaya- It's amazing Azlan!! Main tumhe bata nahin sakti. Itne saalon baad..FINALLY..mujhe aisa lag raha hai jaise..jaise main ji rahin hoon..jaise jaise I can breathe again..I'm so happy!!

Azlan-(his eyes full of tears) I'm happy your happy..

Anaya- aur tumhara case kaisa chal raha hai? Kuch progress hua ya ab tak dead end?

Azlan-(sighed) so far it's a dead end. But don't worry. Ab tak it was a dead end kyunki iss ko main handle nahin kar raha tha. But now their dealing with Azlan khan. The bas***ds won't know what hit them. I'll find every last one of them no matter what hole theyve crawled into

Anaya- Inshallah.

xxx

Farooqui Mansion - Zoya's Room:

Zoya was sitting in her window cill with her legs pulled up to her chest, still in her clothes from last night. Her eyes dry and empty. Dried tears stains all over her face. She looked pale and sick but most of all she looked tired and defeated. As if she had just fought a huge battle and it was finally over. As if she had been carrying all the weight of the world on her shoulders and the burden had finally caught up to her. She stared at the grey clouds and gloomy weather which perfectly reflected the mood she was in. She was so lost that she hadn't even noticed Ayaan who had been standing by her dresser watching her for the last half an hour or Aahil as he came in and sat on the window cill by her feet. She did notice as he put a plate full of sandwiches before her along with a coffee. She glanced at them once. Uninterested, and then darted her eyes away from him.

Azlan- Oh, so tum jaanti ho ke hum tumse naraaz hain? (Zoya didn't say anything. She avoided eye contact and continued looking out) Khair, hamari naraazgi ek taraf. 12 baj rahe hain Zoya. Tumne kal raat se kuch nahin khaya. Chalo shabaash, be a good girl and eat this right now. Dekho hum already bauhat naraaz hain aur ghussa mat dilao-

Ayaan- To hell with not yelling!! HOW COULD YOU ZO!! HOW COULD YOU even say (his voice betrayed him as he spoke the next words) matlab tum sach mein meri..hamari behn hone ka rishta tor dogi. Tum sach mein hamari ekloti, choti, ziddi si pagal si, annoying behn nahin rahogi. Hum se rishta tor dogi? Chorke chali jaogi humme? Reh logi hamare bina? Humme sitaye bana, humse lade bina..hamare paise harch kiye bina? Meri girlfriends ko bhagaye bina, Haseena chachi aur Daadi ko sataye bina? Asif bhai se mujhe daant parvaye bina? How could you- (shook his head) hum soch bhi nahin sakte Zoya, ek aisi zindagi jis mein tum na ho. Hamari behen na ho. Jis ko ham sab ek doosre ki shikayat lagaen., jisko hum sab ek doosre se bar ghad bighadein, jo humme has aye, sataye par hamari khush ke liye dunya se lar jaye aur tum..tumne itni asaani se keh diya ke tum humse rishta tor dogi. Maana ke hamara khoon ka rishta nahin hai- (that was the last straw. Zoya came hurling into his chest and broke down completely as did he. Tears raced down his cheeks and the two hugged each other as tightly as they could. Arsalan and Aahil also wiped their tears and were about to move towards them when Zoya all of a sudden roughly shoved Ayaan away)

Zoya- YOU JERK! How could you even think like that! You know how much I love you guys. Aapi ke baad you guys are ALL that matter to me. Your're my family, my brothers and I love you all to death. You know how lucky and blessed I've considered myself my entire life that Allah gave me 5 brothers. Main 5 bhaiyon ki ekloti behen hoon. Woh bhi itni ladli. Aur yeh ek baat thi Ayaan jiske sahare maine yeh 18 saal katein hain iss ghar mein. Itne zulm, itne tanon, itni takleefon ke bawajood I kept on coming back because of you guys.

Par ab aur nahin Ayaan. I'm tried and I'm done. Mujh mein aur himmat nahin hai Ayaan. Daadi se larne ki aur haseena chachi se larne ki. Ya unpe zabardasti boj banne ki. 18 saalon mein agar woh mujhe qubool nahin kar payeen, mujhse pyaar nahin kar payeen toh aage bhi nahin kar payeenge. Par main pyaar ki umeed mein yahan pari nahin reh sakti Ayaan. Har kissi ki self respect hoti hai, dignity hoti hai, meri bhi hai. Aur mujh mein aur insult aur gile sunne ki himmat nahin hai. Issi liye Ayaan, maine kal unka faisla qubool kar liya. Aapi ke liye. Tum jaante ho ke main woh ek cheez hoon jo unhe roke hue hai yeh shaadi karne se. Agar main na hoti toh woh kabki doosri shaadi kar chuki hotin. I know pehle bhi kahee rishte the jo unn mein interested the par Aapi ne shaadi nahin ki, but iss baar..woh uss ladke se pyaar karti hain aur iss baar kuch bhi ho jaye main unhe apni khushiyon se mun nahin pherne doongi. Ayaan, you have no idea how hard it was for me to live in this house but I just want to be free now. Free of this burden and of this house. Mera, mera dam ghutta hai yahan Ayaan. Please, please mujhe jaane do.

Tumhe kya lagta hai, ke just because main iss ghar mein nahin reh rahi hoon ya main logon ko yeh nahin bataongi ke main tumhari behn hoon hamara rishta toot jayega? Koi kitna bhi chahe Ayaan hamara rishta nahin tor sakta. Hum itne saal alag rahe, main New York mein tum yahan ya London mein, Arsalan Aahil bhai mumbai mein, kya isse hamara pyaar kam hua? Nahin na. Log kuch bhi samjhe, tum sab hamesha mere bhai rahoge aur main tumhari behn. Iss ghar mein nahin na par hum bahar to mil sakte hain, phone pe baat kar sakte hain, Kasauli se bahar chutiyon pe jaa sakte hain. Aapko meri kasam hai bhaiya kuch bhi ho jaye unke iss faisle ko maaniye aur Aapi ki shaadi ho jaane dijiye. Woh humme door kar sakti hai Ayaan juda nahin. (and before she knew it, she was being hugged and kissed from all 4 sides by Ayaan, Arsalan, Aahil and Asif who were all as emotional as her. They were all literally choking her but in that one moment she felt loved like she hadn't in a long time and she wasn't about to let go. She laughed over her tears as a silent promise was made between them all. A promise to remain together come what may)

xxx

Continued in next post...

xo - DailyDaisy!

Part 7 Continued...

xxx

Graveyard:

Zeenat was sitting at her husband's grave, still dressed in her party attire from last night. She looked as if she hadn't slept a single second and you didn't have to be a genius to guess that she had spent the most of last night and this morning, crying. The tear stains on her face were evidence of that. As she continued sitting there, Zoya walked up to her with hesitant steps also still dressed in her sharara from last night. She stood a little far and watched Zeenat, debating on what to do. She didn't want to invade in her privacy but she also wanted to and needed to talk to her and make sure she was okay. After a long internal battle and monologue she took a deep breath and walked the rest of the distance over to her and without saying anything just took a seat beside her. At the grave of her brother (in-law). Zeenat also didn't say anything nor did she acknowledge her presence. The two just sat there in silence. A long comfortable silence before Zeenat finally spoke.

Zeenat- It was the evening before Faizan's 18th birthday. We had been dating since the 9th grade. It was our 4th year anniversary and I remember, it was just such a magical perfect evening. He was about to come over to pick me up. We were supposed to go for his birthday dinner. I remember you were just sitting there staring at me making such yucky faces as I applied make up just like you do today (Zoya smiled but continued staring at the grave waiting to hear the rest of the story. Her eyes now brimming with tears) and then the doorbell rang and I can still remember the way your face lit up with the brightest of smiles upon Faizan's arrival. You nearly fell off the dressing table in your hurry to go see him. Even though you were just 3 and you two had just met like 3 weeks ago you instantly developed a bond deeper than I had imagined. Literally every time I saw Faizan stare at you I felt like that's the way he would look at our daughter one day. But for him Zoya, you were his daughter. The affection, the love, the adoration for you (shook her head) it still touches my heart (smiled through her tears). I ran after you in a hurry as you wobbled down the stairs in your batman pajamas also courtesy of Faizan. You were yelling Faizan at the top of your lungs and I could hear him laughing through the closed door as you began pounding on the door telling him to open it. And then I opened the door and (she shook her head as her voice shook and covered her mouth to control her sobs. By this time both women were openly crying) it was raining and that's all I was focusing on. I didn't even see Faizan till I heard your giggle and when I finally saw him (she was silent for a few minutes) it was the most beautiful moment of my life. I don't remember ever crying that much or being happier ever. Even though his words nearly gave me a heart attack initially (laughed) he was such an idiot. Mujhe bola.. "Zeenat, I know it's my birthday and you probably already have my gift wrapped up in there but it's not what I want and it's not wrapped the way I want it. I was so baffled. He had been going on and on about that watch for months. I had worked over time to buy it and just as my eyes started watering up he spoke up again. He said "I want two presents and If you give me those I won't want anything else from you for the rest of our lives. In fact I'll spend an eternity trying to repay you for the happiness you'll give me by giving me those two things." So I got impatient (she saw zoya rolling her eyes and she nodded) and I asked him what it was he wanted. He said "I want a wife and a sister"and I felt my heart break and anger just rush through me all of a sudden. Like what kind of a jerk comes to his girlfriends door step and tells her he's marrying someone else but she can be his sister? I mean proposing friendship is one thing but siblings? (Zoya was besides herself laughing, despite her tears and Zeenat too smiled shaking her head staring off, as if she could see the whole scene playing out in front of her) and then he pulled out the ring and I screamed so loud there was a cop car outside the door before he had finished putting the ring on me (Zoya laughed again) he made me the happiest woman on earth Zoya..I..(sighed) tumhare jeeju jaise bauhat kam log hotein hain iss dunya mein Zoya. He was an angel. So selfless, such a big heart. He was only here to give..

Zoya-(nodded) issi liye to main dua karti hoon Aapi ke har anaat bache ko chahe koi adoptive parents milein ya na milein unhe jeeju jaisa bhai aur aap jaisi behen mil jaye to sage maan baap ki kammi bhi poori ho jaati hai. (Touched his grave) It's just not fair.

Zeenat- You miss him a lot.

Zoya- (choked the words out) with every breath I take.

Zeenat- Tum uske liye beti se bar kar thi Zoya. Tumne uski, meri hamari zindagi mein itni khushiyan itni raunak bhari hai (shook her head) you have been the light in our lives since the day you wobbled into my foster home. Uski jaan basti thi tum mein. (sighed) You know..Faizan ko khone ka dard itna hai ke..main shayad saari zindagi uss sadme aur dukh se bahar nahin aa paongi no matter how forward I move in life. He was just that special of a person. But jaanti ho uski sabse zyaada kammi mujhe kab mehsoos hoti hai (she finally looked towards Zoya) jab main tumhe dekhti hoon. Jab main, tumhare liye kuch kar nahin paati. Faizan tumhare liye dunya se lar jaata tha. Apni Ammi Abbu, Bhai sabse. Woh hamare liye unhe chorkar chala gaya hamare saath New York. Par main, main to kissi ko javaab hi nahin de pati. Yeh log, inse mera rishta Faizan ki wajah se tha. Warna mera to koi rishta nahin hai par tum to meri behen ho na. I should stand up for you..par main.. (Shook her head) Faizan ke jaane ke baad inn logon ne jo kuch chaha tumhare saath kiya. Tumhe new york lautne pe majboor kardiya, aur maine tumhe zabardasti bhej diya back to boarding school when that's exactly why Faizan took you to New York. He didn't want you to be alone in boarding schools here anymore. If his mother didn't accept you in her house. But mujh mein New York lautne ki himmat nahin thi so I let you go. Aur khud buz dilon ki tarah Delhi chali gayee. Unhone tumhe taane diye, tum par haath uthaya..par main kuch nahin kar payee. I failed you and I failed Faizan. Na jaane woh kaunsi manhoos ghari thi jab humne India waapis aane ka socha..Kasauli aane ka socha.

Zoya- Aapi, please aisa mat sochiye. Aapi, agar aap aisa kahoogi khudko kamzoor kahogi..toh baaki dunya ki larkiyan kya hain phir? You're the strongest person I know Aapi. You're a fighter. Jabse mujhe yaad hai tabse aap dunya se apne ya dosron ke haq ke liye larti hi jaa rahee ho. Our foster parents, my teachers, Naani, Haseena and even Jeeju. Aap ab khamosh ho Aapi yeh bhi aapki strength hai. Aapi aap hi ne sikhaya haina ke ghusse mein aake bol dena bauhat asaan hai par kissi ki umar, rishte aur feelings ka ehsas karke chup rehna..mushkil? Aap to phir bhi khamosh reh jaati ho Aapi..mujhe dekho..kitni baar ghussa bardaasht nahin kar paati aur har ghalat baat par phat partin hoon..even if I regret it later. Aapi aap khamosh ho Jeeju ki wajah se. Aapko lagta hai ke unki family ke saath reh kar ya unki har baat sar jhukaye sun kar aap unki izzat kar rahee ho par Aapi aisa nahin hai. You and I both know that he wouldn't want this. He would want us to be happy on our terms. Live with dignity and move on in life. Aap socho agar unhe waqt mila hota to woh kya aapse doosri shaadi karne ka waada nahin lete? He would convince you Aapi even if it's the last thing he did. Main bhi to wohee kar rahee hoon na Aapi. Aap kyun-

Zeenat- Kyunki Zoya agar Faizan mujhe doosri shaadi ka keh paate to woh tumhara khayal rakhne ko bhi kehte. Faizan ke jaane ke baad tumhari zimedari ek bar phir mujh par hai..

Zoya- So what Aapi? Aap yeh shaadi meri marzi se kar rahee ho. Aapko zimedaari ka itna hai toh mere liye hi kar lijiye. You dont know HOW HAPPY this would make me.

Zeenat- and if I did, I'd move to Delhi zoya. But you want to stay in Kasauli. How do you expect me to leave you here after what happened last night?

Zoya- Aapi please hunh, don't use me as an excuse. Main bachi nahin hoon. I'm 21. Main apna khayal khud rakh sakti hoon. I can stay in the hostel-

Zeenat- For God's sake Zoya, stop arguing. You may be 21 but you behave like a 5 year old. You get into trouble left right and center. Yeh New York nahin hai jahan tum reh sakti thi. This is Kasauli. Right now this is the most unsafe place in the world. Tum nahin jaanti yahaan kya kya ho raha hai..upar se Naani? Zoya just to get rid of you she tried to get you married the day you came to india. Now she's using this wedding to kick you out of the family aur tum-

Zoya- Aapi bahane mat banayee. Aap yeh shaadi karein ya na karein main uss ghar mein dobara NAHIN jaa rahee hoon. Aapko unki bewa bahu bana hai baniye but I'm done being their Granddaughter. M eri hi ghalati thi jo maine socha ke agar woh Ayaan aur sabki Daadi ho saktin hain to meri Naani. Agar woh un sabke chachoo ho sakte hain toh mere bhi (shook her head) unn logon ke liye khoon khoon hai Aapi..aur yeh main samajh chuki hoon. Main dobara wahan nahin jaongi..

Zeenat- (stared at Zoya. Fighting her own battle on the inside. Finally making up her mind she spoke) Main Anwar se milne waali hoon. Kyunki tum yeh shaadi chahti ho main usse shaadi ke liye haan kardoongi (a smile was breaking out on Zoya's face seeing which Zeenat spoke faster) IF you agree to move to Delhi with us and he agrees to keep you with as much love and respect as Faizan did. If you don't agree to move with us or if he doesn't agree, then I will move here with you and you can go to that college you want to. But either way Zoya tum mere saath hi rehne waali ho (she stood up as Zoya stared at her brothers grave with angry and helpless tears running down her cheeks. Each tear was a blow to zeenat's heart but she had no choice. this was for her betterment even if zoya herself couldn't see it)

xxx

Asha's Cafe:

Anwar stood up. His nervousness and anxiety visible on his face as he saw Zeenat walking into the caf looking beautiful in her simple green Anarkali. She walked up to him a little hesitantly but he could still see determination in her eyes and he knew that she had made her decision and knowing that expression this could go either way now. As she walked up to him she gave him a small smile.

Zeenat- Hi.

Anwar- Hey.

Zeenat- Thank's for agreeing to meet me. I mean, after all that happened yesterday you didn't have to. I would've understood.

Anwar- Are you serious? That was a lack of better judgement and decision making on my part. I showed up all of a sudden and then bombarded your parent's (he stopped mid sentence as he saw her freeze just as she was taking a seat) I mean, sorry your in laws. I completely understand the reaction, but I'm sorry..I don't..I..I didn't understand yours. I thought you wanted me to come to that party.

Zeenat- (shook her head) not me. My sister.

Anwar-(surprised) your sister. Wow, I..I didn't even know you had a sister..just like I didn't even know you were married.

Zeenat- and yet you want to marry me. Well, wanted to (looked down)

Anwar- (grasped her hands in his over the table and felt his heart break as she pulled them back hesitantly) I still do by the way (she looked up at him surprised) so please quit being surprised. There is nothing you can say that will scare me off. I love you for the person you are. Not because of what family you belong to or are married into. It doesn't change who you are and you're perfect the way you are. You are the most beautiful, graceful, intelligent and kind woman I have ever met and I'm not about to let you go. Now, (smiled) tell me more about your sister. I'm already a fan..what's cupids name?

Zeenat- Annoying Farooqui (Anwar laughed and Zeenat couldnt help but smile) Zoya

Anwar- Farooqui? But isn't that- (zeenat nodded)

Zeenat- My ex husband adopted her. He was her legal guardian and gave her his family's name. He was like the father she never had. Zoya..Zoya meri saghi behen nahin hai Anwar. At the age of three she was brought into the foster home or rather the hell that I was raised in. But there was no way that I was about to let her go through the same fate that I did. Lucky for both of us. Faizan came into our lives like a guardian angel and gave us what we were looking for. A family. A home. (Her eyes filled with tears again)

Anwar-(despite his heart breaking every second as she spoke about her ex husband realizing she still loved him and cared for him and it kind of made him lose hope) sounds like he was a great man.

Zeenat- (wiped her tears) The greatest. (She smiled at him as she looked around the caf, clearly awed by the adorable place) your mothers cafe? (Anwar nodded proudly)

Anwar- and the mother (he pointed to the kitchen where Dilshad was "subtly" eavesdropping while pretending to go over the books by the door and Zeenat laughed despite the turmoil she was in)

Anwar- Would you like anything? Coffee? (Zeenat shook her head)

Zeenat- Anwar. I came here, because I made a decision. But before I tell you my decision there is something I need from you. (his heart sank further) Anwar, what I'm about to tell you is very hard for me to say, so please let me. (he nodded) Anwar, Zoya and I are from New York. Faizan's family used to live there but they moved to india before Faizan graduated high school. His mother wanted him to marry one of her nieces in India. She had planned to get him engaged as soon as he came back home after graduation. He knew she would never agree to anything else even if his happiness or even his LIFE were on the line for that matter. I respect her a lot but the truth is, for her, only what she wants matters. So he rebelled. We got married right after graduation in a small ceremony at our local mosque with just our closest friends and our adorable flower girl Zoya. (Anwar smiled along with her) As soon as we came to India life got really bad. His mom absolutely refused to accept me as her daughter in law from the heart even if she did for society's sake and her son's sake. But Zoya? She hated her from the first instant. One thing after another, she had it out for Zoya. She has 5 grandsons and she loves them to death and it broke our heart to see the longing in Zoya's eyes for her love. But all Zoya got were insults and hate and it really began affecting her mentally. So we put her in a boarding school at the age of 5. Can you believe what sort of idea that gives a young child? Her worst fear, that she was incapable of being loved was confirmed. Faizan wanted to go back to New York but I didnt let him. I know despite everything he loved his family and he loved his job. He had ran home to join the police force. It had been his dream since he was a child to serve Kasauli. (stared out the window) he was in love with this place. When zoya was 8, she was bullied in her boarding school here and it went far. It was pretty bad. So again on my instance we sent her to boarding school in America. (Closed her eyes as tears spilt from her eyes) sometimes when I try to sleep at night I can still hear her cries from the day we left her there. Faizan didn't talk to me for weeks. He didn't smile for months. He loved zoya like his daughter. She was everything to him. His joy, his pride, everything. Uska din Zoya se shuru hota tha aur ussi par hi hatam. He spoiled her rotten. When Zoya came back that summer she was no longer the same smiling, cheerful girl who always's wore a bright smile that lit up our whole world. She was distant. She wouldn't talk to anyone and her eyes were just so sad.

Ek din uska aur Ayaan ka jhagda hogaya. He pushed her, she pushed him, but he tripped over and hit his head. There was so much blood. He got 13 stitches in his head aur Faizan ki Ammi ne Zoya ko 20 thappar (her voice broke as she shook her head). Faizan ne ek baar bhi murke nahin dekha. He packed our stuff, packed Zoya's stuff, left his training and took us to New York. He did everything and anything he could to provide for us. The smallest to smallest labour work just to provide a decent life for us. But I could see behind his smile. His dream was incomplete and because of that so was he. Beech mein uske Bhai, Ayaan's father kept on visiting and bringing all of his nephews to New York over the holidays. 4 years later, his father had a heart attack and so his mother begged him to come back. She promised him that she wouldnt ever say another hurtful word to Zoya let alone touch her and upon Zoya's force, he agreed. Even she could see what his unfulfilled dream was doing to him. His mother remained true to her words she didn't say anything to Zoya. About 2 years after we moved back, right after Zoya's 14th birthday, Faizan, he..he passed away. He died on duty..in a crossfire.

Uske jaane ke baad main bata nahin sakti (she shook her head) she drove Zoya out of there. She pushed her to such an edge that when I brought up the topic of boarding school Zoya jumped at it. She went to boarding school, willingly in New York. I didnt have the courage to go back. The place held too many memories. I moved to Delhi and time went on. Zoya stopped visiting. She came every summer for a weeks to Delhi or we got together on a holiday somewhere else and then she moved on to college. Uss din ke baad woh AB Kasauli lautii hai upon force from my end. Ammi Abbu ki 50th anniversary ke liye. It was a horrible decision on my part. Jis din Zoya land hoi ussi din Ammi ne uski shaadi karwane ki koshish ki. Dulha baraat sab gharpe wait kar raha tha. She tried to force her. (wiped her tears) Anwar, main aapko yeh sab issi liye bata rahee hoon, kyunki you need to understand. You may love me for who I am but you don't know the baggage that comes with me. I know you probably have your own, everyone does, but Anwar, you deserve better.

Anwar- That's my decision Zeenat you can't decide for me.

Zeenat- I can decide for me though, and I have to for Zoya. She's my responsibility Anwar. She's my priority for everything in life. The first thing I have to think about. Marrying me, you need to understand that you're not just marrying me. I come with a 21 year old daughter who needs to mean the same thing to you that she does to me and she did to Faizan. May be you may not love her the same, but you need to respect her and care for her the same as Faizan did. You need to understand Anwar that she will be a part of our life. She will live with us in our home, be a factor in every decision we make and will always come first for me. Before you and before children of my own, if I have any. Anwar, I am so thankful to have you in my life. You're a wonderful person and a wonderful human and I love you for who you are and for how much you care for me but this is the reality of my life Anwar.

Anwar- and?

Zeenat- and...

Anwar- Do you expect me to scream or do you expect me to run, because frankly I'm kind of disappointed. I was looking forward to hearing something about demonic possessions or a hidden corpse maybe.

Zeenat- I'm being serious.

Anwar- (glared at her a little angrily as he leaned over the table) So am I.

Zeenat- Anwar Zoya-

Anwar- Stop trying to hide behind her. It's obvious she has more sensibility than you. Which is why she saw my message and invited me to the party, when you would have ignored it just like you did with the rest of them. She;s okay with this. She wants this, then what's holding you back? Just think about all that I've told you about my life Zeenat. My childhood, my background, my family and then ask yourself how silly and stupid you sound. How stupid you are for even having to doubt whether I'd accept Zoya, let alone love and respect her the way she deserves to be. Zeenat, agar rishte khoon se bante na toh aaj mera bhi iss dunya mein koi na hota. I have a mother, a sister and a brother who I love to death and who love me just as much as they would if we did in fact share the same blood. We're connected by the same thread you and Zoya are zeenat. Love. Tumhe kya lagta hai? Main Aisha aur Zoya mein fark karta? I already have two step siblings zeenat and you can ask them how I treat them if you don't believe me.

I was raised by a woman who my father treated worse than a prisoner. He respected the lady who cleaned his toilets or polished his shoes or the women he had one night stands with more than he respected her. He beat her worse than an animal Zeenat and yet that woman took me into her home. I was in a higher grade, with harder studies and so they left me at home while she worked 3 jobs and her son begged on the streets and brought money home for not just his food and his sister's food but my food. Not just their school fees, but my school fees. He went to school for 6 hours and worked 12 hours a day to pay for my college. A boy who has no blood relation with me Zeenat. A boy who SAW my father beat his mother with an iron rod and let me not get started on the beatings he gave Asad. Aur tum? How could you doubt for a second when you know that I live with my step family and not with my own father. I have lived Zoya's life Zeenat. Lived with people who don't share the same blood as me (Zeenat was about to say something but stopped last minute) unfortunately Faizan's family couldnt love Zoya for who she is and that's their bad luck and fortunately Allah blessed me with the world's most beautiful family Zeenat. I have the most beautiful most kind mother, the most loving sister and a real angel for a brother. But don't tell anyone, see we charge a fees to let people see him. I mean he is a real angel afterwards, but then the lines get too long (Zeenat stared at him as if he had grown too horns before he winked at her and burst out laughing and she too laughed) but seriously don't tell anyone because if he heard this he'd literally shoot me. I mean he's great and all but saying he's got a temper would be an understatement (Zeenat smiled)

Zeenat- You have a beautiful family Anwar. I saw them yesterday. You're lucky you have them.

Anwar- Hey their just as lucky.

Zeenat- I was getting there..(Anwar laughed) but Anwar, that's not the only problem.

Anwar- Ab kya huwa?

Zeenat- Zoya.

Anwar- Can you stop dragging my pyaari bechari saali into every problem she's not the problem here you are.

Zeenat- will you please hear me out? (He gave her an apologetic smile) Zoya Kasauli mein rehne ki zid kar rahee hai. She got into some program at the Media and Arts intitute here, IMA and she refuses to not go. I, may have to move here with her..

Anwar- So I'll move too.

Zeenat- No. What about your job?

Anwar- and your job? Zeenat they have a university here, I can quit my job.

Zeenat- NO. Don't you see this is exactly what I dont want. What zoya won't want. This is exatly what happened with Faizan. We have seen him suffering because his dreams were incomplete. Teaching is your passion Anwar. I've seen the way your eyes light up when you talk about it. When you talk about your students and I won't let you quit.

Anwar- they have a university here Zeenat-

Zeenat- Anwar if this was 5 years ago I'd let you stay but you know after that incident that college has lost all value. There's nothing there..

Anwar- It's all about new beginnings. Kasauli mein aur kitna kuch log phirse pehle jaisa karna chahte hain. This will be our thing to fix.

Zeenat-(shook her head standing hp) No. I can't let you give up your whole lifes hard work for me or Zoya. Zoya wont come to Delhi with us and I won't let you move here. That's all I came to tell you. That For this reason, I can't marry you. Not because, I..I..don't love you..(Anwar also stood up. In shock. Pleasantly surprised and relieved. He was about to say something when she spoke first) I'm sorry, I have no other option.

Dilshad- But what if I do. (They both looked towards her. Zeenat more surprised than Anwar who knew she was there and Zeenat lowered her eyes as Dilshad wiped her tears and walked forward cupping and lifting Zeenats face to find her eyes filled with tears. Without saying anything she just kissed her forehead and Zeenat closed her eyes relishing the feeling. She could feel so much love and warmth emanate off of her unlike it did from anyone else)

Zeenat- Aunty please..

Dilshad - (sternly) Ammi. (Zeenat stared at her surprised, her eyes filling with fresh tears as she lowered her eyes not able to find the strength to reject her) Beta, I'm so sorry for everything that you and Zoya have been put through. It's not fair. Not you nor Zoya deserves that. You're wonderful girls who deserve nothing less than wonderful. You deserve to be loved, respected and cared for. And you will be. In my home. In my family. Tumne sahi kaha, Faizan did give you what you wanted and what you needed but not the way you think he did. He gave you the path that would eventually lead you too to your true home and your true family. Right here, Right now and right this moment. This is where you were meant to be, meant to come all along. And you know what somewhere in the heavens above, Faizan is so proud of you and of himself for bringing you here. Zeenat I know and I understand the insecurities and doubts your having. No matter what people say, society pressures are a real thing and often they play a part in helping us make wrong decisions out of fear. I've made many of my own. I regret them for some reasons and for others I don't. For example, marrying Anwars father was possibly the worst decision of my life. For my kids and for me. But if I hadn't done so I wouldn't have had an elder son. This gem of a boy. He's the only thing that saved me from being driven mad at the hands of my other two brats (she nodded outside where Asad's car had just pulled up and Aisha was getting out of it along with him) (Zeenat smiled as Anwar smiled proudly and hugged his mother who gazed at him lovingly. Zeenat's heart tugging painfully for never having that kind of love in her life) Zeenat, I can't tell you how long it's okay for you to grieve over your husband or live with his memory because that would be unfair and cruel. I can't even force you to move on or convince you to marry Anwar. But I can tell you that the fear and reasons your giving to not marry him are irrational and uncalled for. Look at me Zeenat and look at Anwar. Do you still have any doubts? Do you think we'd treat you two girls any less than the princesses that you are? Palkon pe batha ke rakhein ge tumhe. Arre maine isse itne saal itni training di hai bartan dhone ki, ghar saaf karne ki, pair (feet) dubane ki, woh kis din kaam ayega? Aur rahee baat Zoya ki, toh did I ever tell you that Mashallah my son is very rich. We have a very big house. with lots and lots of guest rooms and I love pampering and fussing over my kids and my guests.

Anwar- Yah seriously it gets annoying.

Dilshad- Shaadi karni hai ya nahin tumhe? (Anwar hugged her closer laughing with her) Seriously Zeenat, ab aur kya kehna baaki hai..

Zeenat- Zoya? Aapke saath?

Anwar- I can assure you, ke agar Zoya ki khudki maan bhi hoti naa to woh itna dihaan nahin rakheingi uska, na hi itna pyaar kar payeengi usse jitna meri Ammi deingi..

Dilshad- Agar Aisha ne complain na kiya na ke main inn dono ki tarha Zoya ko bhi usse zyaada chahti hoon toh kehna. Shehzaadiyon jaise rakhoongi use infact tum rehne do tumhe bahane banane ka shauq hai. Tum Zoya ka phone karo, usse hamare ghar ka address do aur kaho humme wahi mile. Agar Zoya maan gayee toh tum kuch nahin kar sakti. Kal main tumhare ghar rishta leke jaongi aur shaadi ki tareekh leke aaongi, samjhi? (Zeenat was just about to protest when a loud squeal of BHABI stopped her and Aisha came running over to her wearing a 400 megawatt smile with an always emotionless Asad wearing just a simple polite smile)

Aisha- Ammi Bhai? Bhabi maan gayeen.

Dilshad- Just the last hurdle. Tum dono bhi isse kaho ki meri baat maan le..

Aisha- Kaunsi baat?

Dilshad- Zeenat ki choti behen hai jo yahan college mein parna chahti hai. IMA. But zeenat doesn't want her to stay

Aisha- AMMI PLEASE KYA WOH HAMARE SAATH REH SAKTI HAI. Bhabi please usse hamare ghar bhej dijiye. Aapko pata nahin hai, inke aur inke beton se main itni pareshaan hoon. I really need some girl company in the house (Dilshad raised an eyebrow at Zeenat)

Asad- Great, more headaches (Anwar snickred and Aisha glared at them both)

Dilshad- Asad? Zoya hamare ghar reh sakti haina?

Asad- (There was something about the name. The name itself was beautiful no doubt, 'life, but to him it felt more like a blessing. His eyebrow's furrowed as his heartbeats quickened)

Dilshad- Asad..

Asad- Zoya. (the word sounding more like a prayer from his mouth than a name)

Dilshad- ASAD (he snapped out of it to see all of them staring at him worriedly and he rushed to cover up his behavior, frustrated at it himself)

Asad- Woh actually uh..hamare ghar (Dilshad Anwar and Aisha spun around at once glaring at him and he gulped) reh sakti hai. Of course, no problem. I mean, why not? Just, ghar saaf- (Anwar kicked him) I mean sure.

Dilshad-(beamed at zeenat) Call Zoya, bahurani. (Aisha screamed in joy startling Asad as she practically jumped on Zeenat hugging her to death making Zeenat laugh and cry at the same time, overwhelmed by this kind of love and acceptance and still in doubt over Faizan and her marriage to him. While Anwar hugged Asad and ruffled his hair affectionately. His eyes filling with tears for different reasons and different insecurities getting the better of him. He didn't have to voice them for Asad to understand them. He was raised by a sorry excuse for a man who didn't understand the meaning of marriage or a wife, or what it meant to be a father and had it not been for Dilshad and Asad he would probably have turned out to be just like him if not worse. Drunk, jobless, ill mannered with no respect for women. Just using them for their bodies. But today, he was a professor, with a beautiful family eligible enough to propose to such a wonderful woman thanks to them)

Anwar- Thank You. (He felt Asad tighten his grip on him) I know you want to me to stop saying it but main jitna kahoon utna kam hai Asad. Yeh zindagi kam par jayegi, alfaz kam par jayenge par main tumhare ehsaanon ka badla nahin jhuka paonga. Thank You Asad. (pulled him away and cupped his cheek) Thank you for being you and being my little brother. I love you.

Asad- Love you too.

Dilshad- Ahem (glaring at them all)

Anwar- Oh sorry Ammi hum log--(made a move to hug her)

Dilshad- Tum teenon ghar jaa sakte ho main apni bahu saath aa jaongi.

Anwar- Oh.

Asad- Oh. (They both looked at each other)

Asad-Anwar: Uh-Oh. (The ladies giggled)

Aisha- Bye bye boys.

Asad- Actually Ammi mujhe kuch kaam se jaana hai toh bhai ko aapke saath hi aana hoga. I'll meet you at home.

Dilshad-(strictly) FOR DINNER. (Asad just stared at her and saw the warning in her eyes so sighed and nodded before leaving)

xxx

Continued in next post...

xo - DailyDaisy!

Part 7 Continued...

xxx

Kasauli City Mall:

Zoya continued staring at the crowded mall she was currently browsing through. She was so sure that someone had just called her name but when she had turned around no one was there. Getting the chills she turned back around confusedly..

Zoya- Allah Miyan! Yeh mere saath kya ho raha hai. Jabse Kasauli ayee hoon, har din kuch na kuch naya aur ajeeb ho raha hai mere saath. I'm so sure I just heard someone call me but (looked behind her again) jab yahan mujhe koi jaanta nahin hai toh kaun bolaiga? (Stared at the ceiling) Main jaanti hoon aap bhi Aapi ki side pe ho na. Mujhe yahan se bhagana chahte ho. I'm sure Aapi ne koi tantar parha hoga ke main unke saath Delhi chali jaon but Allah Miyan aapko toh pata haina mera yahan rehna kitna zaroori hai..phir bhi aap? (She stared around the mall again. Everyone was in a sudden rush to finish their shopping and leave when it was only just around sunset. Why were they all in such a rush? She found the apprehension, fear and worry etched on every shoppers face a little strange. She was also not pleased by the way they were all staring at her, as if she were some sort of alien. Half the men gave her sleazy looks and half refused to look at her while all the ladies and aunties gave her judging and calculating looks. She looked down at herself to see what the problem was but couldn't seem to understand it at all. She was wearing a regular pair of jeans, a black jumper and sneakers. What was wrong in that? Half the ladies were wearing more indecent shalwar kameez and yet no one was looking at them.

Zoya- Aapi sahee kehtin hain, this place is strange. (She was walking ahead a little when her cell phone rang and the caller ID showed 'Aapi calling') I hope Allah Miyan Aapi ko akal aa gayee ho aur woh shaadi ke liye maan gayee hon. Please Allah Miyan!! PLEASE Haan hi ho!

Meanwhile on the other side of the mall-

Azlan and Zain rolled their eyes heavenward for the 100th time in the last 15 minutes. The two were surrounded by shopping bags and were sitting leaning against the window of a shop where the girls had gone in to shop. Azlan was sipping his soda while checking out every lady that walked by and getting approving smiles from them. Some secretly gushing upon spotting the prince, while Zain was busy on the phone.

Zain- None of them are picking up.

Azlan- I swear the next time I have a day off I am not telling no one. Ghar se subah subah uniform pehen ke nikal jaonga and I am going to enjoy my day. Not be stuck in a bloody mall.

Zain- (raised an eyebrow) Half those bags are yours.

Azlan- Ya, but I shopped in an hour. These chipkalis have been here for 5 hours and their STILL not done. Ladka to sirf Anaya Aapi ko dekhne aa raha hai why do the rest of them need new clothes?

Zain- Because their women. We may have a whole 3 storey wing in the palace dedicated to their wardrobes but they will convince you that they have "nothing to wear"

Azlan- But why do we have to stay here, why are we being punished?

Naina- I should have known (rolled her eyes as she stood before Azlan. A cheeky smile on her face and Azlan also rolled his eyes with a not so happy face) you know shop ke uss side tak kissi bache ke rone aur complain karni ki awaz aa rahee thee and I just knew there couldn't be a more whinier baby than the one we brought along.

Azlan- (getting to his feet) And no one tortures the babies they bring along like you women tortured me, us.

Naina- I don't see Zain jeeju complaining.

Azlan- WHY would he? His master comes out of the shop every few seconds and throws a doggy treat at him. Paltu kutta hai, usse chorke kahan jayega?

Zain- HEY!

Azlan- Shut up. You know your sticking around for your girlfriends kisses. You hate shopping more than I do.

Naina-(laughed as she stared around the shopping bags) Still claiming to hate shopping are we? You do realize shopping doesn't make you less of a man.

Azlan- and you do realize that being a miss know it all doesn't make you any more attractive than the 5% that you are.

Zain- OKAY, OKAY. Naina we're going up to the restaurant and getting a table you wind up the girls and meet us there in 10 minutes. Got it??

Azlan- I don't wanna eat here.

Zain- Then?

Azlan- I want the double beef burger from Rocky's.

Zain- They don't have a rocky's here.

Azlan- So?

Zain- So what Nawab Sahab?

Azlan- That's never stopped us before.

Zain- You mean, you want to drive 5 hours out of town to get a burger?

Azlan- No, I want to do what we used to do during college.

Zain- Fly? Now?

Azlan- Yes now. I'm bored. I forgot how lame this city was.

Zain- I thought you wanted to go dancing?

Azlan- Yah, where do you expect me to do that here? The only club they have belongs to your dear step brother and I ain't about to step into his home and break bread or have beers with him.

Zain-(bit his lip from smiling) would you rather sip beer with your own brother then?

Azlan- Don't act smart with me. Call the damn airport and arrange for it. Oh and call bari ma and let her know as well. Tell her we'll be dining in Mumbai tonight and that we'll be back before breakfast tomorrow.

Zain- You do realize that you have duty in the morning, you can't drink (Azlan waved him off)

Kajol- You guy's are going to get drunk?

Azlan- (Bent his head as he watched another girl walk away earning him a smack from Anaya) and hopefully more.

Kajol- Seriously Azlan, yehi sab soojta hai

Azlan- Hey, just because you snatched him up when he was 8 doesn't mean the rest of us are that unfortunate as well, thankfully (eyed Zain) some of us are more fortunate enough to taste ALL the ice cream in the world not the have same scoop of boring vanilla over and over again.

Zain- You should know that you're a dead man.

Azlan- Sure. Now make the damn call. (as he focused on another girl)

Naina- (her face was tomato red as she watched him smile approvingly at the girl) Wait. We're coming too. (Azlan slowly turned his head to stare at her and then burst out laughing)

Anaya- Behave yourself Azlan.

Azlan- Isse boliye Aapi. Yeh..(tried to sober up) they don't let mommies into clubs in Mumbai maan ji. Wahan chai aur samose nahin milte..

Naina- Waise bhi mujhe tumhare saath kahin aane ka shauk nahin hai. Mumbai pauhanch kar tum apne raaste aur hum apne we aren't partying with you.

Zain- You two can party with whoever you want me and my girl are partying together..(pulling Kajol closer)

Naina- No we're partying together (pulled her to herself)

Azlan- and we're partying together (pulled Zain's arm).

Anaya- You're all partying together or none of you are going. Understood. Now someone call the driver to take these bags and me home and you all get lost to the airport. Stay out of trouble and be home before breakfast tomorrow or else find yourselve's a cliff and jump off to die a less cruel death than the one mamu will have awaiting you. And most importantly..(Naina and Azlan ripped their eyes off of each other from their long glaring match long enough to join the others in turning their attention to her)

Anaya-(smiled) Have fun.

Azlan- Oh I plan to (He winked at her and Naina fumed harder. Just as a chirpy humeira finally walked out of the shop carrying approximately 30 bags. They all raised an eyebrow at her)

Zain- Is there anything left in there? The cash register maybe (peeked in) might wanna grab that and the teller as well.

Humeira-(looked around at all of them smiling bright) So what'd I miss?

Azlan- Me leaving. Isn't that right sweetheart (he walked up to a girl passing by and bowed before her as she gasped obviously recognizing who he was) By the way, the faster you register your shock the faster I can let you know that I have a private jet about to take off for Mumbai in an hour and I even have an extra seat (winked at her) You wanna fly with me? (She looked too dazed to speak so she simply nodded in response and they were gone in a flash. While Zain and the girls shook their heads in shock over both of them)

xxx

Khan Mansion:

Zoya hesitantly got out of her car. Checking her text message again, and then looked up at the pristine white mansion before her eyes in awe. It's beauty rendering her speechless. She couldn't tear her eyes away from it for the longest time.

Zoya- Mashallah. Par Aapi ne mujhe yahaan kyun bulaya hai? (She began walking up the driveway, rubbing her arms to keep warm as the wind picked up speed. The closer she got to the door the faster her heart was beating and a strange feeling erupted in her chest and stomach. Kind of like a million butterflies fluttering at once. But why? She had never seen this house before, had never been here, she didn't even know who the house belonged to then why? The feeling resembled one of absolute joy, contentment and peace one would feel upon finally returning home from a long tiring journey..but this?)

Zoya- Allah Miyan main Paagal ho jaongi (looked up at the sky) main kahin nahin jaane waali so aap please interfere karna band kijiye aur mujhe yahan se bhagane ki koshish na kijiye okay. Stop with all these alien feelings (she hadn't even realized that her fingers had been subconsciously running over the chain and the tag in her neck for comfort. The same chain that stranger had given her a few nights ago. The same chain she couldn't find it in her heart to take off. She shook her head at Allah Miyan again and then taking a deep breath she knocked on the door hesitantly)

(She felt her heart knocking around in her chest for some reason as she waited for what felt like the most excruciating half hour of her life even though it was a total of 40 seconds before the door opened and a nice refreshing wave of wind hit her face, instantly relaxing her tensed nerves and spreading a calm and warmth through her body. She found her Aapi standing before her with tears in her eyes but a smile on her lips, confusing and worrying her even more.)

Zoya- Aapi? Aap, yahaan. Yeh ghar..Whats going on? (All of a sudden a man appeared next to her Aapi with a bright smile on his handsome face and a bright twinkle in his eyes and Zoya's confusion grew. Which was visible on her face.)

Anwar- Toh aap hain, who all the fuss is about? The little troublemaker Zoya who caused all of this and is the biggest hurdle in my wedding.

Zoya- (Baffled) Sorry?

Anwar-(laughed) You're right, she is a little slow.

Zoya- (her eyes narrowing at both of them) Excuse me!!

Anwar- and feisty. I can see a little smoke in her right ear.

Zoya- Aapi what?

Anwar- I'm just joking Zoya (all of a sudden the strange man had his arms around her as he pulled her in for a tight bear hug and while zoya looked baffled at his bizarre behaviour what she was more baffled by was the smile on her Aapis face which had just grown bigger and there was a certain conviction, contentment and peace on her face that Zoya hadn't seen in years as she stared at them both lovingly)

Zoya- (shook her head) Okay, What the hell is going on?

Anwar-(moved back laughingly) What is going on my adorable sali saheba (Zoya's eyes grew wide upon hearing those words while he tapped her nose playfully) is that I tried to meet you officially as your jeeju and you didn't even hug me back. I thought you said she gave the best hugs zeenat?

Zoya-(her eyes darting between both of them) Jeeju? Saali? Aapi..? (she stared at her questioningly and her Aapi nodded as tears fell from her eyes and Anwar put an arm around Zoya)

Anwar- Don't worry even I can't believe it (whispered into her ear) She said yes. (Anwar and Zeenat didn't know what hit them as Zoya screamed so loud it was certain to have been heard all over Kasauli. They both nearly fell over stumbling backwards as Zoya jumped on them, hugging them at once still squealing and gushing in excitement and happiness as she held onto them for dear life. Both of them hugged her back just as tightly smiling behind her back) (Once zoya had finally gotten a grip on herself and had moved back from them she turned to Zeenat and she wasn't surprised to find tears running down her cheeks)

Zoya- Sach Aapi. Yeh sach keh rahe hain, aap..aap waake hi inse shaadi (Zeenat nodded once and Zoya had instantly wrapped her in another deathly hug) Oh my God, thank you thank you thank you Allah Miyan (as she began hopping around excitedly) Aapi, Main aapko bata nahin sakti ke main KITNIII khush hoon! Thank you so much Aapi!

Anwar- No, Thank you Zoya (Zoya finally pulled away from Zeenat and stood befpre him throwing a careful and appreciative glance at him before smirking at Zeenat who slapped her playfully) Thank you for playing cupid. Agar aap humme apni Aapi banke message na kartin aur uss party mein na bulati toh yeh kabhi na ho paata. So, meri shaadi karwane ke liye thank you so much saali saheba.

Zoya- You're most welcome Jeeju. Main bhi itttnniii daant sirf bauhat special logon ke liye khaati hoon. Like my new handsome jeeju..

Anwar- Daant. Well Zeenat, that was the last time you yelled at my saali samjhi. Koi itni pyaari ladki ko kaise daant sakta hai bhala..

Zoya-(giggled) I love him already. (He winked at her and held an arm open for her and she went running over and he hugged her to his chest as Zoya playfully stuck her tongue out at Zeenat)

Zeenat- Pyaari? Shaitaan ka doosra roop hai yeh.

Anwar- (showing mild interest) Uh-Hunh. (Turned to Zoya) waise Zoya, Zeenat ke haan kehne mein abhi bhi ek ruqawat rehti hai.

Zoya- Kya? AB BHI AAPI..Aapi ab-

Anwar- Actually Zoya, Zeenat ki haan tumhari ek haan pe depend karta hai.

Zoya- Par jeeju meri taraf se to haan hai..

Anwar- Iss shaadi ko lekar nahin Zoya..iss..(looked towards Zeenat once before he smiled at Zoya again) Iss ghar mein rehne ko lekar..

Zoya- Matlab?

Anwar- Matlab Zoya, main chahta hoon ke hamara naya semester shuru hone se pehle shaadi ho jaye aur hum Delhi ek saath as husband and wife lautein..after 10 days. Ab tumhare paas ek faisla karne ko hai..

Zoya- (threw a nervous look between them both as Zeenat came and stood next to Anwar) kaisa faisla?

Anwar- Ya to tum hamare saath Delhi laut sakti ho..wait let me finish (as he saw her about to argue with Zeenat) Ya..jaise Zeenat ne bataya ke tum yahan rehna chahti ho..aur IMA mein parna chahti ho..toh tum woh kar sakti ho..but ek shart par..

Zoya- Aur woh shart kya hai?

Anwar- Woh shart yeh hai, ke tum jab tak Kasauli mein ho. Yahan iss ghar mein rahogi and not in a hostel, hotel or any other place.

Zoya-(stared at both of them confused, before she looked around the house and became even more confused) iss ghar mein?

Anwar- Haan. Don't look so confused Zoya (laughed) yeh mera hi ghar hai, meri family ka. Yahaan tum rahogi, with my family so they can look over you and take care of you. My mom and my younger brother and sister.

Zoya- (threw her Aapi a worried and pleading look and both Zeenat and Anwar understood what she meant) Par Aapi?

Zeenat- Zoya, tumhe kya lagta hai (cupped her face) main tumhe aise kissi ke paas hi chorke chali jaongi? No bacha. Especially not after what we went through in that family. Zoya. Anwar ki family bauhat hi sweet hai uski Ammi ITNI achi hai Zoya ke unse milke aisa lagta hai mano main apni khudki Ammi se mil rahee hoon. I trust them Zoya. I trust them with the most special thing in my life..with you.

Anwar- Zoya, you won't find more nicer more loving or sweeter people in the entire world. Trust me you will LOVE living here..yahaan se jaogi hi nahin even if we tried forcing you..

Zoya- Par..

Dilshad- Yeh behes karne aur zid karne ki tum logon ki khandaani adaat hai? (Zoya heard a motherly voice say from behind Zeenat and Anwar. She peeked out from one side of Zeenat and saw a graceful and elegant women looking more maternal and loving than any other lady. It was like the empty canvas of a mother Zoya had painted in her mind just got filled with features and colours to resemble Dilshad's warm face. Love, care and warmth seemed to be radiating off of her. Zoya had never seen more kinder eye's which for some unfortunate reasons held their own share of pain that Zoya was sure reflected wounds in her heart that ran deep) (She stood upright as Dilshad too bent her head to peek at her. Zoya stared at her Aapi with wide eyes as Anwar laughed openly)

Anwar- She really is as innocent as you say she is Zeenat (he put an arm around Zoya and started walking her towards Dilshad who gave Zoya such a warm bright smile that all her insecurities, fears and hesitance vanished in a second. As she took in her surroundings; the grey black white interiors with soft accents here and there she felt herself falling in love. She found herself immediately associating this building to the word in her heart that she could never find a meaning to associate with. But now, this place felt like home. She felt someone cup her face and she relished the motherly touch she had been craving her entire life as she turned to look into Dilshad Ahmed Khans warm eyes. Dilshad gazed at her lovingly before bending her head and kissing her forhead and Zoya's eyes instantly filled with tears..)

Dilshad- Toh yeh hai Zoya. Kal raat party mein dekha par mulakat nahin ho payee. I believe you were more busy in your shararat (nodding in Anwar and Zeenats direction) Mashallah, bauhat hi pyaari hai tumhari Zoya..Zeenat. Aur bauhat samajhdaar bhi. Proud of you beta. In dono duffers se to bauhat samajhdar ho. (Zoya smiled wide) Ab please tum jaldi se keh do ke tum mere saath yahan rehne ko tayaar ho taake main kal tumhare ghar rishta le jaane ki tayaari

mein lagoon..

Zoya- Ek shart par.

Dilshad- Of course,Zeenat ne apni shart rakhi..ab tum apni rakh lo.

Zoya-(smiled) Kya main aapko, phupi bol sakti hoon? Pata hai, jaise jaise main bari hoti gayee na aur realize karne lagi ke uss ghar mein (looked down sadly) pata hai maine kahin suna tha ke phupis apne bhai ke bachon ko BAUHAT pyaar karti hain, unhe bauhat spoil karti hain. Par uss ghar mein meri koi phupi nahin thi. Chacho the..but..(shrugged) main aapko phupi maan sakti hoon kya? Faizan bhai ki behen samajh ke. That way it'll feel like a part of him has come back to me..

Dilshad-(her eyes filled with tears) Kyun nahin bol sakti.

Zoya- (jumping with excitement) To phupi, issi baat pe ek sher arz hai.

Dilshad-(surprised) Irshaad.

Zoya- Aapke ghar mein mohabbat hai iss kadar chayee hui..aapke ghar mein mohabbat hai iss kadar chayee hui..deeware bhi lovers hain. Corners mein mila karti hain. (All 3 of them laughed as Zoya beamed proudly) Shukriya. Mashallah phupi, aapka ghar to bauhat khoobsurat hai..kisne design kiya hai?

Dilshad- Mere bete ne. Asad ne.

Zoya- Mashallah aapke bete to bauhat hi talented lagte hain.

Dilshad- Woh to woh hai..

Anwar- Par usse mat bolna yeh. Already bauhat proud hai as it is (Zoya smiled)

Dilshad- Zoya dinner almost ready hai, tum ruko gi.

Zoya- I would love to Phupi but maine already Pizza kha liya mall pe aur mujhe actually late ho raha hai so I have to go.

Dilshad- Fine. But Zeenat ke saath saath tum bhi apne bags pack rakhna. 10 din baad Zeenat ki doli Delhi jayegi..aur tumhari yahan aayegi. Welcome home beta (Zoya smiled bright as Dilshad enveloped her in a hug and Zoya hungrily drank up the love she was bestowing upon her. Just then a girl came into the hallway and Zoya's smile faltered upon placing the girl who looked all too familiar while Aisha who had come up behind Dilshad paled upon seeing the girl who had seen her at the club that night)

xxx

Mumbai Marriott:

Kajol and Zain sat separately at a table for two. Away from the other 2 who were currently driving Humeira mad with their banter.

Azlan - Just because you don't approve of something doesn't make it wrong.

Naina- Just because you believe that doesn't make your actions right.

Azlan- WHAT actions? Dating is not an action. It's a ritual. People have been doing it for centuries and generations. It's how the population progresses love. Just because your parent's unfortunately had an arranged marriage doesn't make it right. I have never heard of a more pathetic concept then getting two strangers together and letting them reproduce. You know what happens when people have an arranged marriage. YOU. An error. Sadly they don't hand out delete options as wedding gifts.

Naina - You know I always had my doubts but I am now convinced that phupi fell when she was pregnant with you. That is the only logical explanation for why she gave birth to a creature like you.

Azlan- Say what you want eyeball (Humeira spat out her drink) you can't keep claiming that dating is wrong just because no one's ever gonna ask you out.

Naina- STOP CALLING ME THAT.

Azlan- (calmly sipped his drink) Ask your parent's to change your name and I won't b- (before he could finish what he was about to say he was left sitting there dumbfounded as his entire glass of wine was showered on him by Naina. As the droplets continued trickling down his cheeks and hair and into his shirt Naina stood up and smiled at Humeira)

Naina- We'll meet at the club. (She grabbed her purse walking out of there while Humeira held out a napkin to a still shocked Azlan and Zain and Kajol oblivious to all of this sat in a corner enjoying their cheesecake)

xxx

Continued in next post...

xo - DailyDaisy!

Part 7 Continued...

xxx

Outskirts of Kasauli - Sunshine Orphanage:

Situated in the slumps of Kasauli, it was a small broken 2 storey building. The walls were cracked, the roof cracked and half fallen in. The windows were broken and there was garbage surrounding it from all around. The place was in such a bad condition that no one deserved to call it home especially not angels like the kids who were forced at the hands of fate to seek shelter there.

Asad was sitting surrounded by the children on the steps of the orphanage looking like the simple 25 year old boy that he was and not the millionaire businessman he was forced to be. Dressed in a black open shirt with a white t-shirt underneath, a grey vest jacket and jeans tucked into his black military boots he smiled at the elderly lady who kissed his head as she continued stroking his hair and blessing him..

Asad- Farida bi, main keh rahoon na..koi bari baat nahin hai.

Farida Bi- Tumhare liye nahin hogi beta par mere liye, inn bachon ke liye, yeh hamari zindagi ki sabse bari baat hai. 20 saal mein yahan itne bache aye aur iss jagah ki wajah se barbaad ho gaye, ya bemari ki wajah se khuda ko pyaare ho gaye. Kissi ne hamara nahin socha..par tum-(she kissed his hands again and Asad grasped both of hers firmly and kissed them as well)

Asad- Farida bi, jo kismat main leke paida hua tha woh inn bachon se zyada alag nahin thi. Agar mere baap ka bas chalta to main bhi aisi hi kisi jaga mein khuda ke sahare para rehta ya kissi bemaari ki wajah se bachpan mein hi (looked down trying to regain his composure and not get sucked into his past) One hand. Farida bi. It takes one hand to pull someone out of darkness. Fortunately someone found me and pulled me out. Unfortunately (and his eyes clouded over with the same haunted quality they usually had) it was already too late. But not these kids Fairda bi. Main pehle kuch nahin kar sakta tha, kyunki main khud kuch nahin tha. Par ab, main inko woh zindagi nahin jeene doongi Farida bi jo mujhe jeeni parhi hai. Inshallah kal aap log naye orphanage shift kar jaoge Shehr mein. Woh jagah inn sab bachon ke liye aur jo naye bache aa rahe hain un sabke liye kaafi hai. Wahan kitchens hain, bedrooms hain, TV, internet, books, toys, blankets, Ac Heat SAB hai. Maine helpers ka bhi bandobast kar liya hai. Aap ko kissi cheez ki kammi nahin hogi aur agar hogi to aap bas ek baar kahiyega aur main hazir ho jaonga. Inshallah maine apne PA se baat karli hai. Jald inka admission bhi kara dega woh..

Ayesha- Tum aur meri chutki tum dono mere liye fairshte ho..

Asad- Aapki chutki. Aap mujhe aaj bhi uska naam nahin batayeengi na..

Ayesha- Usne bola hai kissi ko nahin batane ko.

Asad- Inn shaitanon mein se bhi koi nahin bol raha (tickled one of the little girls as he pulled her into his lap and she kissed his cheek) par main ab tak nahin samjha. Woh jagah mujhe dene pe raazi kaise hue woh log? Aisa kya kiya usne (Farida bi just laughed) aap has rahee hain? Aap nahin jaanti woh log uss jagah ko dene ke liye maan hi nahin rahe the. Roz 10 lakh keemat barha dete the, phir jis din faisla karna tha uss din papers sign karne hi nahin aye (shrugged)

Ayesha- Yeh hamare beech ki baat hai.

Asad- (sighed) Aap bhi na. Khair mera shurkiya bol dijiyega unko sirf zameen ke liye nahin balke itne saalon mein unhone aapko aur inn bachon ko support kiya uske liye (Farida nodded) ab main chalta hoon ghar jaake Ammi ki daant bhi khaani hai, dinner miss hogaya.

Farida- Apni Ammi ko na sataya karo aur khaana khaya karo. Tum jaise farishton ki zaroorat hai iss dunya ko (Asad smiled at her) ab chalo bacho bhaiya ko Allahfiz karo.

Kids (screaming) - Nahin Nahin Nahin!! Gaana bhaiya!! Gaana Gaana Gaana.

Asad- Arre iss waqat-

Ayesha- (laughed) ab to gaye bana nahin jaa payenge aap Asad Miyan (Asad sighed as he stared at the screaming kids and then unlocked his sports car to grab his guitar)

Asad- (smiled at the kids as he stood on the ledge of the wall separating the orphanage from the ocean on the other side and strummed his guitar which he had snapped around his neck) Challa ki labh da phire (A girl in a red trench coat, with long straight silky auburn hair who was walking around nearby stopped dead in her tracks as she heard his voice..as if some invisible force had just forcefully gripped her) Challa ki labh da phire..Yaaron ohda ghar keda

Lokan ton puchda phire..Challa hansda phire..Challa rounda phire..Challa gali gali rulda phire..Challe tu sab da..Challe tera koi nahi..Challa gali gali rul da phire..Challa ki labh da phire (closed his eyes. A small smile playing on his lips..His eyes snapped open as his ears rang with that same twinkling laughter..He was so certain he had just heard it and he wasnt hallucinating..he turned left and right but was unable to see the source anywhere) Challa ki labh da phire..Yaaron ohda ghar keda..Lokan ton puchda phire..Challa ki labh da phire (He stared across at the bridge leading into the city. The tall mountains in the distance and the moon in between..the shadow of which reflected proudly in the ocean below)(The girl in the red trench now running in between alleys trying to find the source of his voice)

Asad- (Bent and smiled at Farida as she ran a loving hand over his cheek before he stood upright again..leaning against his car on one leg) Rang satrangi de bulbula di boli..Dhoop de pairi chale, chhavan ni le doli..Rang satrangi rangi de, bulbula di di boli..Dhoop de pairi chale, chhavan ni le-le doli..(bounced around with the kids a little as they surrounded him in a circle dancing around him happily) Oye kaale kaale badalan ch chand labh da..Goongiyan hawava diyaan waaja sun da..Yaaro aase-paase wasda ay yaar mera..Dikhda ni ohdiyaan khusbuaan sunghda..(Closed his eyes singing again) O Challa ki labh da phire..Challa ki labh da phire..Yaaron ohda ghar keda..Lokan ton puchda phire..(His eyes snapped open as the image of a certain crying angel from that day in the mazaar flashed before his eyes. The beautiful brat, looking majestic and angelic in a red lehnga..and his heart skipped a beat. He momentarily forgot to breathe as his eyes widened in shock and fear over what he had just imagined) Challa ki labh da phire (Little did he know in his confusion about why he imagined her..he had been singing these words about the same brat as well..singing out what his heart had been wondering all these past few days. The subconscious thoughts running through his mind ever since he saw her)

(After bidding fair well to the kids and Farida bi he was driving his sports car home. Drumming his fingers on the wheel as he enjoyed the breeze. He rested his head back and ran a hand through his messy hair thanks to the wind and continued singing feeling lighter than he had in a very long time)

Asad- Naa visaal hoya kadi na judai hoi Ishq de qaidi ki naa rihaai hoi..Lokon sufne cho milne da wada usda (closed his eyes)
Saari saari raat na akh lagdi..Mere saa vi thode thode ghat aaunde..Meri nabz vi thodi ghat wajdi...Hooo (opened his eyes)
Challa ki labh da phire..Challa ki labh da phire..Yaaron ohda ghar keda..Lokan ton puchda phire..Challa hansda phire..Challa rounda phire..Challa gali gali rulda phire..Challe tu sab da..Challe tera koi nahi..Challa gali gali rul da phire.. Challa ki labh da phire

(Unknown to him. He was heading right for what he had been singing about the entire time. His phone rang and he leaned back to pick it up from the back seat and just as he had turned back around a flash of red came before his car and he cursed loudly as he swerved the car and it slammed into the nearest tree. He sat still for a few minutes trying to control his raging heartbeat and get a grip of himself and his shock. Then coming to terms with had happened and remembering the flash of red he jumped put of his car and ran over to her. He saw a girl in a red trench and jeans on the street and quickly ran over to her, kneeling behind her as her hair flew around her face blocking her view)

Asad- Are you okay?

Zoya- Allah Miyan! (Her! Of course! The girl in the red trench just had to be her! He couldn't believe his luck. Why was she EVERYWHERE. Even he was doubting himself now, was he actually stalking her?) (His eyes widened as did hers. HIM? Why HIM? He was so stalking her. She was convinced. Allah miyan was this another attempt of driving her out of the city? Making him bump into this Kadhoos? She was searching for prince charming with the most beautiful soulful, calming and magical voice she had ever heard and..HIM?)

Asad-Zoya: YOU!!! (She winced as she rubbed her face which was stinging a bit)

Zoya- I should have known. (She stared all around at the slumps they were surrounded by) yehi expect kiya tha maine. Kissi achi family ko to belong kareinge nahin, ladkiyon ko stalk karna (eyed him up and down) chori ka maal pehna, chori ki gaari. Mujhe bhi iss liye hi follow kar rahe haina. Main aapka naya target hoongi. Soch rahe honge aap. New york se ayee hai, iske yahan kaunse contacts hongein. Kuch na kuch to chura hi loonga, paa hi loonga. SOCHIYEGA bhi mat. Yahan ke sabse bare logon ke haan tehri huin hoon main. Sabse izzatdaar aur shareef. Kabhi unke ghar ayenge to jaanenge ke bare log kaise rehte hain par woh aapko kabhi apne ghar ghusne to deinge nahi .toh bahar se hi dekh lejiyega door door se (but Asad was barely listening to her. He was instead busy staring at her cheek which had an imprint of fingers on it and was red. One wouldnt be able to notice it and she had applied make up on it but standing under a streetlight and with him watching her like a hawk. it was kind of hard for him to not notice and as soon as zoya realized it. she quickly made a futile attempt to pull her hair forward and block his view. Asad too averted his gaze feeling foolish and frustrated for staring..why did he care? Why did he feel angry over the thought that someone had hurt her?)

Asad- Jin logon ke ghar aap tehri hain woh log izzetdaar aur shareef hain ye maana mere liye thora sa mushkil hai..

Zoya- Aapne sabko apne jaisa samajh rakha hai..

Asad- (clenched his fists suddenly remembering something) Itne hi bare logon ke ghar rukin hain toh meri gari ka bill bhi unhi se bharwayee. Waise bhi aapki jaan bachate hue hi yeh haal hua hai uska

Zoya- (flipped her hair) sure. Agli baar takraenge..to bill de dijiyega.

Asad- Agli baar? Matlab aapne maana ke aap jaan booj kar mujhse takrati hain right?

Zoya- Oh please, main to kissi aur ki talaash mein yahan aayee thee. Aapke paas laa ke khara kar diya Allah Miyan ne..hmph..(turned around and began walking off)

Asad- Umeed hai iss bar bina mujhse takraye apni manzil tak pauhanch jayeengi aap.

Zoya- Aur umeed hai aap mera peecha karte karte meri manzil tak nahin aa pauhancheinge. (They both walked off in opposite directions not realizing that their manzil was one and the same)

xxx

Midnight Lounge - Mumbai:

Ignoring the beauty perched in his lap at the moment he took a long sip of his drink watching her every move like a hawk. His eyes not leaving hers for a second. Every sway of her hips, every placement of the bas***d's hands. Every small move. What the hell was she thinking wearing something like that to begin with and then she had the audacity to dance so closely and intimately with another guy.

Azlan- (A sudden fear/insecurity passed through him) Another guy? What the hell does that mean. She can dance with whoever the hell she wants to..why do I care? (He turned and smiled wide at the girl in his lap as she began to now kiss his neck and he caught Naina immediately turn around and put her hand at the back of the sleazy bas***d's neck to bring him close and Azlan shot out of his seat like he was on fire trying to convince himself it was only because he didn't want to see Naina get hurt. Rhe guy clearly had the wrong intention and he would be damned if he let him get anywhere near Naina) (He spun around furiously as he felt someone grasp his bicep trying to stop him and came face to face with the girl he had left hanging who stared at him with irritation and annoyance an eyebrow raised in anger. Giving a quick half glance in Nainas direction happy to know she was still watching him he smirked at the girl before him and then began walking backwards onto the dance floor keeping eye contact with her just as the song changed)

Azlan- Ho.. Badshah hain dil ke (Moonwalked right in between Naina and her little boy toy as they both stared at him incredulously. Zain and Kajol stopped dancing and finally came out of their bubble as they saw him dancing close to where Naina and another guy were standing and then exchanged worried looks. Boy was this not going to end well) ..Aish farmaate hain..Gaadi ke bonnet pe..Peete hain khate hain (Then he smiled at the girl who was with him and began dancing around her as Naina fumed) Ho bashaah hain dil ke..Aish farmaate hain..Gaadi ke bonnet pe..Peete hain khate hain (dancing closely with his girl, his eyes fixed on Naina) Fitrat apni atpati..Upar se jeans bhi phati (just as he noticed the guy about to take Naina off the dance floor he danced his way in between them again. Standing face to face with Naina. Both glaring at each other when in the heat of the moment he grasped her hands and using them tugged at his shirt making his buttons go flying just as a gasp escaped Nainas mouth and the guy who stood behind Azlan clenched his fist) ..Aur khol ke rakhte..Apni shirt ke button..(Azlan danced away from Naina with his girl but his eyes were completely fixated on her) ..O kudiya kya nachengi re..Dancing floor ke legend hum..Hai laage latko jhatko se..Hero ke bhi hero hum (Then he turned and smirked at the toy with Naina and danced all up in his face) O kudiya kya nachengi re..Dancing floor ke legend hum..Hai laage latko jhatko se..Hero ke bhi hero hum..Dance ke legend hain hum..(the two boys now stood neck to neck..their chests heaving with anger) Speaker bole dhum dhum dhum

Naina- (interfered, as she sidled up next to her little boyfriend..while her eyes remain fixated on Azlan) Show me...What you got?

Azlan- (spun away from her and began dancing with his girl again) Ho tere pas Mercedes..Mere pas hai Cycle..Tu club ki Shakira..Toh hum gali ke Michael (but he couldn't help himself and he spun back around..a very obvious smirk on his face as he danced around Naina's friend)

Naina - (dancing with her friend..with a huge smile on her face even though her own eyes were also fixated on Azlan) Plans tere fake hain sabhi..Banta hai kyun wannabe..Desi kya jaane international rhythm

Azlan- O kudiyan kya nachengi re..Dancing floor ke legend hum..Hai laage latko jhatko se..Hero ke bhi hero hum..O kudiyan kya nachengi re..Dancing floor ke legend hum..Hai laage latko jhatko se..Hero ke bhi hero hum (the two continued dancing with their "friends" despite still continuing their staring battle)

Naina- (dancing a little too close to her friend for Azlans liking who immediately stopped dancing with his own friend and chose instead to give her the death glare) Main cheez original..Tu chaalu note hai Tere dance se zyada..meri adaa hot hai (she then sidled upto Azlan..who closed his eyes as her hair smacked him in the face as she too danced between him and his friend just like he had done to her) Main cheez original..Tu chaalu note hai..Tere dance se zyada..meri adaa hot hai

Her friend - (grabbed her wrist just as a vein throbbed dangerously in Azlans temple and he clenched his fists) Hey! (Began forcefully dancing with her and a little too closely. His hands roaming everywhere as Naina tried to smile and act chill) ..Samjho na humko duffer..Hai apna high caliber..Baaton se zyada apne moves mein hai dum

Naina- (broke away from him dancing on her own) Munde kya nachenge re..Dancing floor ke legend hum..Apne latko jhatko se
Speaker bole dhum dhum dhum

Azlan - (danced with Naina. Finally both of the'm smiling) O kudiyan kya naachengi re Dancing floor ke legend hum..Hai laage latko jhatko se..Hero ke bhi hero hum..Dance ke legend hain hum..Speaker bole dhum dhum dhum! (Just as they had finished dancing..Nainas friend turned her around and kissed her..and Azlan saw RED. Before he could get farther than a peck, Azlan had spun him around and punched him in the face knocking him out and before any of them could react the guys friends jumped Azlan and Zain who intervened and a brawl broke out)

xxx

Kasauli :

Zoya was walking through the deserted streets of Kasauli towards her car which was parked on a now empty street.

Zoya- Allah Miyan (getting spooked) Kaisi jaga hai yeh. Raat ke 10 baje hain aur koi banda hi nahin hai yahan. This city gets weirder and weirder by the (her blood froze in her veins as she heard some voices from the alley way she was just about to cross and stopped in her tracks. Her face going pale for a quick second before she regained her composure and got a grip on herself. She was a strong girl and wasn't going to cry because she heard voices on a deserted road at night. Gathering her courage she slowly and carefully leaned forward and peaked into the alleyway and what she saw left her shocked beyond limits) (whispered to herself) Allah Miyan!

(She covered her mouth as she continued watching) (A drug deal! There were two scary looking men. Thugs. Perverted uncles actually. Dressed in shalwar kameez with gold in their necks and wrists. Zoya watched silently as they handed a very scared looking 10 year old kid a packet of something white and the other man held up a sharp knife that shined in the dim lit street. She saw the kid visibly pale and shake as he saw the knife and nod eagerly)

Man 1 - Chal phir bhaag. Aur Kaam na huwa toh (kid nodded before turning around and running off into the dark and Zoya too snapped her head back. Pale as a ghost. Her heart beating a mile a minute, her eyes filled with tears as she covered her mouth to stifle her sobs and then ran towards her car)

xxx

Early The Next Morning - Mumbai Police Station:

Lock Up - The 5 of them sat against the back wall. Their eyes wide in fear and shock and their face registering complete disbelief. The police had somehow arrested them for the chaos in the club and to Azlans horror had let the scum who kissed Naina go free just because he had a broken nose? Where was the logic in that?

Humeira- We are dead. We are so dead. Mamu to humme maar daaleinge. Aur iss baar, Nani, Ammi, Bari Maa SAB unka saath denge. Aaj Anaya Aapi ko dekhne ladke waale aa rahe hain aur humme AAJ Hi ka din mila tha arrest hone ke liye?? Woh hamari ek nahin suneinge. Seedha hamara gala duba deinge. Allah main aise marna nahin chahti. Mere to baal bhi dhule nahin hai (the 4 turned and stared at her disbelievingly but she remained oblivious) whose bright idea was it anyway's to fly to Mumbai today of all days? you know we have rotten luck of not staying out of trouble the few times we ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO (She slowly joined the others who had all turned their heads at once in Azlan's direction when she had asked whose fault it was)

Azlan- WHAT? Mujhe itni gandi nazron se dekh rahe ho tum sab? Haath pair mun sab toota hua tha tum logon ka? Zabardasti leke aaya hoon kya main tum logon ko yahan? Ache haase main aur Zain aa rahe the, bina tension ke enjoy karne par nahin (glared at Naina) MUMMY ko pehra dene saath mein aana tha. AB bhugto. Maine tum meinse kissi ko saath aane ke liye nahin kaha tha. sab apni marzi se aye the..samjhe. Aur of course agar isse saath laye the toh yeh to hona hi tha. Ghar waalon ki chamchi..I swear ladkiyon ka doosra naam sar dard hona chahiye.

Naina- (glaring at him) Aaphi ko shauk hai iss sar dard ko gale lagane ka. Aapko chor ke jaati hai to aapko acha nahin lagta..waapis pakar ke le aatein hain aap..nahin?

Azlan- Please don't talk to me eyeball. Yeh SAB ACTUALLY TUMHARI GHALATI HAI..

Naina- (laughed sarcastically) oh really? Maine aapka haath pakar ke maar peet ki thi?

Azlan- You kissed him.

Naina (her heart fluttering for a second) and?

Azlan- (stared at her incredulously) and? You kiss the first random drunk stranger you dance with. A PERV at that and all you have to say is..AND??

Naina- I can dance with whoever I want..what's it to you? Humeira was also dancing with a complete stranger..why didn't you punch him? (Azlan was about to retort back when he suddenly shut up. Having no retort. She was right. What reason did he have to punch the stranger except for the fact that he could absolutely not tolerate seeing her with any other guy..but..Why? Why her? He continued to glare at her angrily. Angry at both her and himself when Zain grabbed him and shook him hard. Zains face had broken out into a cold sweat. His eyes were wide and he had a crazed look and he was clearly panicking and that immediately set an alarm off in Azlan as well because Zain never panicked. He was the responsible one. Always calm and collected even in a crisis. But if he was panicking that meant that shit just got real)

Zain- AZLAN! For heavens sake stop this childish debate. We have more pressing matters. Do you understand the fact that if we don't get our asses back to Kasauli in time for breakfast..mamu humme maar daaleinge. Aur mujhe itni jaldi marne ka KOI shauk nahin hai. Abhi to meri shaadi bhi hona baaki hai.

Azlan-(rolled his eyes) yes because shaadi is the only purpose of life worth staying alive for.

Kajol- AZLAN PLEASE GET SERIOUS HERE. GHAR pauhanchna to baad ki baat hai pehle yeh socho ke hum bail ke liye phone kisko kareinge? Ghar pe phone kiya to band baj jayegi, lawyers ko phone kiya aur ghar phone kiya ek barabar. Kissi dost ko phone kiya aur baat nikal pari TOH BHI hamari band baj jayegi..aur upar se tum dono ko apne badges bhi ghar chorke aane the. Ab KISKO BULAYENGE HUM? Aisa kaun banda hai jo hum 5 logon ko bail kara sakta hai aur kissi ko kaano kaan khabar na hone de ghar pe? (Azlan's eyes snapped open. A bit of hesitance in them but then he heard Kajol console Naina and humeira who both had tears in their eyes and he turned to Zain who was ripping his hair out)

Azlan-(took a deep breath as he spoke in a monotone voice, clearly not comfortable with his decision) Zain isko keh mujhe ek phone karne de (Zain looked up and found him glaring at the constable who was busy eyeing the girls in a sleazy way and he could see the anger building in Azlan's eyes as he gave him a hateful glare. He looked away for his own sanity and turned instead to stare at Zain who gave him a questioning look not understanding clearly but Azlan gave him a reassuring nod and Zain understood that was the only answer he was about to get out of him so he nodded back deciding to trust whatever new genius idea Azlan had come up with and hoped atleast this one wouldn't come back to bite him in the ass) (Sure beta!)

xxx

xo - DailyDaisy!