Abrar
My eyes settled on her from head to toe. I was silently observing if she was fine. Because I just couldn't go and panic to see how she was, nor I could rush and hug her tightly though I badly wanted to.
She looked at me and then at Kaif in shock.
"Zoya, are you okay?", Kaif asked. Just a few minutes ago, he was asking me to go and sleep but I knew he got tensed too. I couldn't utter a single word and kept staring at her.
"Yes, what would happen to me?", she rolled her eyes as if nothing happened and everything was normal. It pissed me off. I couldn't hold it anymore.
My eyes burnt and nerves shook as I clenched my jaw to control. However, it wasn't easy to control when she was acting like everything was fine.
"What the hell, Zoya?", my voice boomed around the tiny apartment and it echoed like never before. I had never heard my voice roaring like that way.
She quivered a bit, widening her eyes and taking a step back.
"Abra
AbrarShe didn't speak and kept gazing at me. That might be the end of our conversation. I didn't know if there was anything left to say after that.Holding the papers, I pulled out the pen from my pocket, and without making a delay, I signed it and slammed it on the table.There was a long silence between us. I was waiting for her to finish if she wanted to say something else."Abrar!", Kaif spoke after a long time. "I'm going. Let me know if you need something""Thanks", I came out of my senses as he walked out of my apartment.I glanced at Zoya for once and turned to my room."Why did you call him over here?", her voice stopped me as I turned around and looked straight into her eyes. She crossed her arms, raising her eyebrows."Now, you have a problem with my friend too?", I grumbled and hoped she didn't make an issue of it too. "I can do anything I want, right? You shouldn't have a proble
AbrarI literally couldn't believe what I just saw and tried to come back to reality. But I saw exactly her. My grandparents were sitting on the couch. A big smile appeared on my face to see them after months but soon it vanished when I realized that the situation wasn't exactly the same as before."Abrar", my grandmother stood holding the arm of the couch as I rushed towards her and held her arms tightly. She had a million-dollar smile on her wrinkled face."Dadi, you're here? How are you?", I beamed, dumping all the negative thoughts aside. I should welcome them warmly."My boy!", she caressed my hair, skimming her palm down to my face and cupping it, looking at me with her moist eyes. "I'm good. How are you? It has been months since I saw you"I hugged her as my eyes went to my grandfather. His expressions were hardened. I wondered if they got to know about my marriage which was definitely fake. It was going to be tough for me to tackle the situ
Abrar"Where did you find this beautiful girl? I can't stop praising but she is so pretty", Dadi beamed, touching Zoya's cheek while having the tea.Unfortunately, I had to agree with Zoya. My dadajan and dadi used to be worried about me all the time. And today I could see the happiness on dadi's face and relief on dada's. Zoya was right. The happiness was temporary. So why not just stretch the happiness a little longer.Zoya passed a smile. Her cheeks turned a bit rosy. I didn't know if she ever blushed but today she did actually."I'm not interested in these silly questions, Salma. Ask him when they got married. This is the most important question", dadajan grumbled, looking away. He was still mad at me. And I knew he was fair in his place. He raised me like a father for the last ten years. And it was a huge thing for him. I walked towards him and went on my knees, holding his hands."Dadajan! Actually, it—", I strived to say.
I helped her cleaning the room and packing her stuff so we could move as soon as possible. She never panicked so much but today it felt like she was trying her best not to do anything to offend them."What are this stuff about?", dadi asked when we came out of the room with two pieces of luggage."Nothing much, dadi. Some unnecessary stuff. We were shifting them so they don't trouble you", I muttered."How can only two luggage trouble us? Leave them in the corner", dadi said as I looked at Zoya. She was confused as hell. I rolled my eyes to make her say something. She was a story making queen."Huh! Dadi— actually", she muffled looking down. "I had a few things of mine in that room. So—"I hoped dadi left that matter right away. I knew her well. If she got after some matter, she easily didn't leave that."That's also your room, my child. You can come and go anytime", dadi smiled. As I expected, she wasn't going to leave even a si
Abrar"You'll help me?", I gaped at her, widening my eyes when she offered to help me in the kitchen. It had been a while since we settled down everything and I came to the kitchen to prepare dinner for us."Yeah, until the cook arrives. And you used to cook for two. It was easy. So, I thought—", she stood next to me in front of the counter and placed her palms over it, scanning everything placed on the counter."Is that the only reason?", I focused back on the stove while placing a pot with water to prepare rice. And I had many things to cook today. Most of the time, I survived only eating rice and eggs and Zoya managed with the pickles that Mrs. Sharma used to arrange for her after she finished eating one batch. But today, we couldn't serve them to dadajan and dadi."Well, I was feeling awkward. Like you were outside the entire day, and now you're cooking. If I rest in my room, what will they think about me?", she rolled her eyes, making a tiny fa
Abrar"Life skills, no?", she threw a wry smile and turned back to chop again. "Not everyone knows everything""You're impossible", I sighed. She could do anything to prove her point."See the shapes", she beamed while placing the chopping board in front of me."You don't need to be so careful", I told her. Though she came to help me, I could finish my work earlier than this time. She was distracting me a lot."You'll taunt me if I do something wrong", she pouted, glaring at me."So, my taunts affect you?", I let out a chuckle."Don't give yourself so much importance, Mr. Abrar Zafar", she threw me a blank look and got back to chop again. I silently smiled at her.We took some time to prepare the breakfast and serve them together. She was really excited about her first attempt in the kitchen today. Although she used to make a salad and plain coffee for herself, she could never make them perfectly. Especially, she was real
Abrar"Will you manage on the couch?", Zoya asked when we were done settling the bed and the couch to sleep. I let the windows open so she could have the moonlight next to her bed. The lights could disturb me to sleep.I looked at her. She was still confused or maybe she wasn't feeling it right to make me sleep on the couch in my own room.I smiled."Of course. Why are you asking so?", I sat on the couch and settled the pillow correctly."Your height. The couch is small", she said, sitting in front of the dressing table. My dressing table always had a comb and perfume. Nothing else. Now it was filled with her creams and perfumes. She started applying them to her face and arms. A smile appeared on my face as I watched her.She needed nothing to look flawless of course. She always glowed like a moon for me."No problem. I can manage", I said, staring at her as she raised her eyebrows at me, through the mirror."You can manage eve
Abrar"Zoya is a good girl", dadi said at the breakfast table. I just passed her a smile."She is""And I'm glad that you took a decision for yourself", she added with a blissful smile on her face. I wondered how to react. The decision was imposed. And it was not even real. How should I feel? It was so complicated."Yeah", however at some point she was right. After Zoya's arrival, many things changed in my life. I could say that my boring life with no meaning at all had become cheerful after her.Nonetheless, the next moment I remembered last night and everything that was happening throughout the time she was with me. There were so many secrets to unfold. And I knew none."What happened? Is there any problem?", dadi asked while frowning as I came back to my senses."No, dadi. Not at all", I chuckled. After a few minutes, dadajan came to the table. His mood seemed to be fresh as he took the newspaper from the table. Deep down, I was ne
Nikhat"He's the photocopy of Abrar", Mrs. Ali says, holding the newborn. After eight months of our marriage, Zoya delivered a cute baby boy. He's a premature baby, indeed but still out of all danger by the grace of God. "Just pray that he gets the same tactics as me. I can't handle two short-tempered creatures", Abrar laughs."Wait! You just wait. Let me get a bit healthier", Zoya shoots him a glare. "You can scream only. What else can you do?" Abrar rolls his eyes."You—"And they continue.I take the newborn in my arms, giggling at him lovingly."First and foremost rule, Mrs. Wife", Kaif whispers near me. "No future planning after this"He's always so scared!"I know right? Stop worrying!" I scowl at him. So many things changed over time but he didn't. At first, he was scared to love someone and get married. Now, he's scared of having a baby. I don't mind it though. It's just a matter of time. I'm happy the way I am.I was promoted to the company with my salary getting doubled.
Nikhat"Are you hungry already?" Kaif asks from behind.I drift my eyes outside and look at him from near the window with a smile. He is munching a subway burger with a tight-lipped smile on his face. "Wouldn't it be better if you had gotten something for me instead of just asking?" I shrug, jumping behind and sitting at the edge of the window."Hey, careful", his eyes widen. "You're gonna fall""I'm used to it", I giggle. "This is not the first time I'm sitting at your window"He chuckles, walking toward me. "Yeah, but definitely you never hoped onto it wearing a lehenga", he scoffs as I stare down at him. He stops just an inch away from me and spirals his left arm around my waist. I shudder with the abrupt contact and lack of distance between us. My heart starts thudding against my chest and my body vibrates when he tightens his grip around me. It's been a year since we were engaged but never before has he touched me this way. I didn't want him to. But if he wanted, I wouldn't ev
Author's POVRuzina goes completely shocked but it doesn't take her much time to understand what is exactly happening. "How wouldn't I come, Mrs Ruzina?" Irtaza chuckles. "After all, the alliance maker should be there?" Zoya presses her lips tightly so she doesn't burst into laughter by watching Ruzina's stunned face. On the other hand, Nikhat gets confused with Irtaza's words."Alliance maker?" She exclaims."We can discuss that later", Zoya jumps into the conversation. "Let the guests in, Nikhat""I'm sorry", she smiles and makes a way for them to get in. As others follow Ridwan and Nikhat inside, Ruzina keeps standing there and gazing at Irtaza."You look stunned, Mrs Ruzina", Zoya rolls her eyes. "Ah, well, let me introduce myself. Zoya Zafar, Irtaza's business partner and your would-be son-in-law's friend"Ruzina curls up her face and doesn't even smile at any of them. Zoya crosses her arms and takes a step toward her, raising her eyebrows."What did you think Mrs Ruzina? Onl
NikhatI have been waiting for the evening the entire day and finally, the moment arrived. Kaif has indeed replied to me with a message which said, "it's fine"The text didn't sound genuine to me at all. Especially when he sent only two words in the reply to my entire paragraph. Couldn't he realise the urgency in that message? I don't know if I'm overthinking. He's not bound to send me a paragraph just because I did. "Nikhat, shall we leave?" Mia asks. "No. I have some work left", I lie. I don't have any pending work. Besides, Irtaza already told us that he doesn't need the whole team today. I should have left. "I thought you were done", Mia roll her eyes."No. I—" I stammer. "I'm yet to complete a few""Okay, then. Goodnight", grabbing her stuff, Mia walks towards the exit. I get back to my desk and look for some work to do. "Nikhat!" Irtaza's voice hits my ear as I look up, finding him walking out of his cabin which is straight in front of me. "You didn't leave yet"I don't kn
NikhatI don't know how to react to this crap. I can only see how hard Irtaza is trying to pass a smile. I know that wasn't expected. And why did he even need to come here just because Ruzina called him? He could have turned her down. He has plenty of work to do. I force a smile and walk toward them. "That was not necessary. Was it?" I mumble, glaring at Ruzina. How can she still smile like that?"I just thought to—" Ruzina strives to say as I walk up to her."Thought to what?" "This is so embarrassing. Why did you do this? He's my boss", I exclaim, whispering near her face.I can't say if she deliberately did that. Why would she anyway?"But he said—" she mutters. "That's called courtesy which he said. And we'll not do that. That's our courtesy", I shoot her a glare. Ruzina frowns at me as if she still can't digest that I'm arguing with her. As I should. I should have done that a long time ago. And now she literally crossed the limits by embarrassing me. What will Irtaza think a
"Okay. What about that?" I ask."Irtaza came there to meet them. They spend an afternoon together", he says and his reactions harden."Okay, so?" I ask even though I have already sensed what it meant. This is something different from any boss and employee relationship. I'm not judging though and I'm not even sure if there's another reason. I bet Kaif also doesn't know the exact reason. He's just assuming. "So? Zoya, can't you understand what that means", he scoffs at me. "That means Nikhat is having a lot of guests. What else?" I roll my eyes. "Stop it, yaar. You—``''why can't you see what I'm seeing?" He yells out of nowhere. "Because I'm not as intelligent as you. Explain to me", I scowl at him. "You can't get, Zoya? Really? Don't you know what it means? In this society, when a guy meets a girl's parents? That guy who likes her. They literally had a meeting, a conversation. Don't you know what it seriously means?" He speaks out of frustration."So!" I mumble.."So!""Yeah. So,
KaifI walk faster. As fast as I could. Through the dark alley. My head literally stops working when I put the pieces of the puzzle of that incident. I don't know why I'm getting so pissed and irritated. He just came to meet.He just came to meet. I kept ranting this to myself until I reached the resort. I feel my breathing getting ten times faster than before. I can hear my groans as I grab the grills of the gate and fum heavily. My body has heated up and I'm unable to calm down anyway. Everything was going so fine. So damn fine. Until she talked about Irtaza being there. I lost it and I didn't want to show how pissed I was, nor could I behave normally. I'm already hiding enough and this will go beyond. Anticipation builds me rapidly, no matter how much I try to console myself. "Sir, I need to close the gate", the security guard says. I glare at him for no reason and storm into the resort, walking as fast as I can.I reach my room and twist the knob. Opening it a bit, I slam the
Nikhat"Nikhat!" He whispers my name but I don't look up. I feel him holding my hand tightly and I hold the edge of the bench. Then I sense him decreasing the gap between us. He uncovers my face, lifting my hair from my cheek and tucking them behind my ear. I can feel him staring at me which makes me blush harder. "Look at me", he leans down to my ear and whispers. I squirm with his warm breath fanning my skin. As I don't respond to his words, he lifts his hand to me and slides two of his fingers across my jaw, slowly nudging my face towards him. I finally look up at him. Our eyes meet. He smiles, peering at me as if he's scanning each detail of my face. I had never been so comfortable with anyone's gaze the way I'm with him. It seems to be pure and peaceful. Most importantly, I love it. He locks his hand with mine and gets closer to my face. Enough closer which forces me to drop my gaze in shyness. "Why do you always steal your gaze from me?" He whispers. "I want you to look
NikhatIt's been a while since I've sat here in the dark alley with Kaif. It's so strange that I have never explored this alley in the last six months but today I did. With him. I'm also a bit concerned about Ruzina and Abbu being in the lodge. They might be wondering where I have been. I'm sure Ruzina is gonna make a fuss about it to abbu as she has always been doing about me. I remember those days when I couldn't be a single minute late to return from school and Ruzina used to complain to abbu, saying I had been disappearing for hours. I can't forget those dreadful days and somewhere I used to believe Ruzina is acting like all the typical mothers as she had made me believe all mothers are like that. I used to think she was strict and wanted the best for me. As I grew up, I realised it wasn't a normal thing. But then, it was too late. Abbu wouldn't believe me if I said anything against her. He used to think I had gone reckless. I never complained for years. Then why at that moment