The Arrival

Knotting my long hair into braid, I was getting ready for School.My hair had grown  long,they were jet black and thick.Everyone used to say I had inherited them from mama

They were only thing that I take pride in.I was not really a morning person,So I was walking like a zombie who had not eaten food for months.

But guess what my Baba was all chirpy and all that crap in morning.He used to sing something and interact with everybody.He rushed towards me asking me questions

They used to call me Haya as nick.While my brother called me Servant,our maid,little witch and blacky which I really loved a lot because I don't give a shit anymore.It used to annoy the hell out of me.But with time I grew out of my insecurities and as I was growing I transformed from thin,bony girl to healthy curvy one and my complexion kept on getting better and better.I knew he just used these names to get a rise out of me and I intend to not give him this pleasure.

But with time I used to get used to these names,they felt like mine.

I know I'm weird,You don't need to tell me that

Blacky was due to my little darker complexion than his extremely fair one.Never said I mind it. Ignorance is a bliss.

So here my father was really annoying at that moment.Ignoring him completely, I moved towards breakfast which I 've never completed anytime.Because I was always running late whether I woke up on 6:30 or 7:00 am.

Tardiness was in our genes as Baba was same lazy slag as me.But due to Armyaziam got in his blood from military he was really agile,the organized one.The laziness in him was only in matter of time, nothing else.

So, my brother never leave breakfast unfinished and I never completed one.How ironic it is.

I was in 9 grade studying in Science group visualizing for studying medicine in future.I don't know from where I get the idea.From my interest in Science,from Chachu's mindmaking and dreams about me ,treating Dadu(my grandmother) in hospitals.But I got interest.

If someone had said such a thing 6 years ago, I would have laugh a lot at this silly joke.But here I was completely devoted to Biology.The thought of becoming doctor give me adrenaline boost, injecting life in my veins.Making me utterly and completely happy.

I was versatile person.I liked dancing,singing,painting,acting, playing and almost everything.There was nothing I wasn't good at.So don't classify me as nerdy one because my grades were good but just look at the  million hairstyles I opted to do at school.

One of my teacher was completely annoyed and said to me :

"HAYAT I would love to see the day when you've combed your hair like normal people"

Poor madam don't know that day won't come in School.So,I loved my school my studies,my friends and teachers.

Ignore the boys drooling  on our section girls.Our class was sorted as 9 A.So let me tell you straight ,I hate a man the moment when he sees a girl like his eyesockets are gonna pop out and start acting cheap.

Like seriously man!! have a class.Why eyerape every human being having vagina....

So that was my top hatelist.So I never liked anyone at college.Nobody had class enough.

When I returned home,Mom sweet Mom was already there.Like the good house women she was,she was serving everybody.

LADIES and GENTLEMEN it was rare scenario.Because mostly we were left at the cost of Yaseen Chachaa.

He was an adult man of late thirties serving us since my Baba's second marriage.He carried all house duties including making dinner,ironing and washing clothes,picking me and my brother from school,taking care of our house cleanliness.

He was really kind,devoted and not selfish.I considered him as my uncle.He brought us up.So here she was,we had lunch together.

With her thick sugary accent she asked : "How was your day?"

I replied in non-chalant manner, "It was okay" . Knitting my brows expressing "Like you really care".

So the day went on until night Baba announced:

"Betaa.Uncle Arshad is coming back from Europe with his family.They would be staying in our house for a time while.Be courteous to them and welcome them whole-heartedly"

My brother said enthusiastically  : "Really baba.Chachaa Arshad is coming !!"

"Yes dear!" He answered.

Chacha Arshad  was younger brother of Baba.Second son of Sarfaraz Abbasi-my Dada.

He had three childrens including two sons and one elder daughter.

We've talked to our cousins through phone.But I had very blurred memory of them as many years had passed since we last met.We almost spend our childhood together but later when I was in 7 they moved to Europe.Now after almost 4 years they were coming back.These years had put a distance between me and my cousins and an air of reluctance that I almost forget them.

Husni was excited because he and Chacha's eldest son were old pals.Husni is nick for my full-of-himself-bro.

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So, the preparations started for welcoming my Chachaa.Mama was making her special Chicken Pulao when I reached home, completely exhausted.I used to take a short nap in afternoon.

Unlike Early bird like my mother,I was night owl like my Baba.My stubborness was also a gift from my Baba's DNA.

At 7, I started helping mother.Usually I wasn't present in kitchen because Yaseen Chacha was there to made food.Mama served it.But today mama was making huge meal, so I helped her in making salad.At that time,I don't know anything about cooking except it was a process to make eating items presentable to throat down the mouth.

At 8, Baba and Husni went to take Chachaaa from airport.Finally, the bell rung and here I was in the huge warm arms of my uncle.His hug was so tight that It was suffocating me.Nevermind our family is bit sentimental.

He was speaking with love: "Haya Janaana...How were you,I miss my little cat"

I whispered with few words smiling,  exchanging  same sentiments with him.Then api warm hands and warm eyes greeted me.She was so beautiful with brown speaking eyes,long black hairs and full plump pink lips.She embraced me with affection.Her name was Ayesha.Then I was in bear hug by aunty.She was always nice to me.

Like her daughter she was curvy and graceful women who always meet with kindness and empathy.

Finally,I beheld the two brothers.The first time I beheld the eldest son,my heart skips a beat.I was too naive to notice it.

Age really did him good.Now he was grown to a man not the cousin I slept with and we used to fight all night for blanket.No he was definitely not my that brother.

His large chocolate brown eyes were full of mystery and mischief,His black hair were gelled back,the beard on his ice-cut jaw made him more masculine and attractive.Hands large with hairs like Bilal Chachu.All the chubby fat from cheeks was gone and I realized how much time has passed since I last saw him.Now his body was not of little boy but grown man.

They had great resemblance.But most remarkable feature was his eyes speaking everything yet giving nothing at same time.He was undoubtedly handsome.

"Ammaar!! Bro long time no see .We would get along well"

So Ammaar he was.But this Ammaar was so different from the one I used to watch CID with.

I said Salaam nodding and moved away because lack of communication had caused a hesitance in our friendly bond 

We were not that little child anymore that play day and night.We are grown up now and should act like one.

After greeting me back ,he went talking to my brother.

I went to meet little panda version of my cousin.He was sitting with his cars oblivious to the world.When I greeted him, he barely acknowledged me.He was blabbering non-stop about some car crap and laughing with my younger sister.

Sister from another mother.Yup, she was five years younger than me.Eventually, my really-kind-to-guest  mom initiated serving dinner.She was perfect at hospitability.Yes, it was her thing and I appreciate her for that.I really want to adopt her this feature.

So, everybody was talking and eating.Later we played truth dare,I started to get along well with my cousins.So bear-bro aka my brother and Api was teammate.While me and chocolate eyes were partner in game.We were really enjoying well.Further the horror story session started and here Api was blabbering with her thick accent to create a dramatic effect:

"When they arrived at that room there was......Dulhan....The same with that large fangs and witchy hairs.She hadn't changed her dress nor anything" 

She was wiggling his fingers like a big saint telling a huge mistery and we were all cocooned in blanket creating more horror air.

She added : "Then her wife went to kitchen here again She was...The voice of her bangles clicking.....Dulhaan "

And like the big brave and supersouls we were shivering from fear and horror.Like seriously,what cowards pigs we were.....

The bear-bro might gave always the impression he was the more macho(masculine) but he was hyperventilating like coward mouse.Oh dear.....I loved to see him like that.His testerones in limit.

She kept telling but the word always ended on "here again what they saw" remarking with curling fingers "Dulhaaan"

She was terrible story teller.But we don't have enough brains to knew that and ended up hugging each other tightly and finally snoring together.So It was how the night ended we forming a big Quadrad group.

Little had I idea what air is going to rush in our lives and how my brain and heart will change it rhthyms.It was a new start.But I knew another storm was brewing,waiting to explode at any moment.