5: Let the madness began....

Zaheer's POV,

I do love her but I don't see anything for me in her eyes. It's like she's being forced to marry me. I need to stop, I need to let her go. So I went to Mom to tell her this. 'I want Sania to be happy, but maybe its not with me'

Mom's in her room. "Mom, can we talk?"

"Yes Zaheer beta"

I close my eyes. 'Why is it soo hard?'

"I think we should-"

Her phone rang. "Oh its Fatima ji. Sania's mother."

'May be she called to inform that Sania rejected the proposal'

"Yes" she looks happy. "-- oh really! Mubarak(congratulations).....Mubarak. Now i think we should immediately decide the dates. -- oh yes-- say Salam to Ahmad ji.-- Allah Hafiz" she hung up and smilled at me.

"Mubarak beta. Sania said yes!"

"What?!"

Sania's POV,

I sat on my bed and did my favourite thing I always do when I'm stressed. Eat nutella. I was still in my PJ's, a jar of nutella in my hand and a big spoonfull in my mouth.

'This is all for my parents.....my parents'

Just then the door opened and Aditi walked in.

"Hey Sania, r u ok? Why didn't you come to the bank today?"

"Hmm" I said still dazed. She shook me.

"Oye. What are you still doing in your PJ's? Did you even bath?"

"It's just 10am" I said removing the spoon from my mouth.

She wiped the chocolate off my mouth with a tissue. She can really be like my mother sometimes.

"Aree my female Devdas, its 5 in the evening. I came back from the bank. The manager is mad at you. You didn't even call and your phone is off."

"Huh" I'm still dazed. Its maybe because of the sweet nutella. I turn my head to the phone beside me.

"Oh, it's dead. No battery"

She facepalmed and taking my phone, connected it to the charging point.

"Did you had lunch?"

My stomach growled. Saying no.

She shook her head. "Where's Aunty?"

"She's gone to our village"

"Ok and may I know why you are --" she pointed at me from head to toe. "--not YOU today"

I sighed heavily. "I said yes"

"For what?" Then she gasped and jumped off the bed on her feet. "Really! Omg! I'm sooo happy!"

I covered my ears as she squelled.

"But why r u soo sad? You should be happy. You are going to get married now Sania. Let me see that Noor on your face. Why so dull?" She asked tilting her head.

"I'm just doing this for my parents" I said straight.

"I know" she sat beside me again. "But I'm 100% sure Zaheer is the best guy for you. Its like you two have a spark."

"I don't believe in such things" i said. "And I don't care as long as my parents are happy."

She smiled and hugged me. "You'll sacrifice anything for the people you love won't you? Sania, having a friend like you, I'm really lucky" she said.

I hugged her back. "No. I'm the one who's lucky to have u. Mom"

We both laughed till we fell on the bed.

"Ok now give me that nutella." She took the jar from my hand.

"Uh-- I kind of licked it before" I said carefully getting away from her reach.

She slowly looked at me and then threw the pillow at me. I squelled and caught it. She took another pillow and started hitting me. I was hitting her back.

So my depressed day ended up with a fit of laughter and fun. Best friends really know how to turn your frown upside down. They know exactly which strings of your heart to play. Don't they? 😘

4 months later,

My life has turned into an utter chaos. There's just 1 month left for my wedding. Yep, looks like Mr Fancy Pants can't wait longer. Mamma and my relatives,( I don't even know who half of them are), are taking me for shopping and everything everyday.

I mean EVERYDAY!!! Who spends soo much money on useless stuff everyday? Clothes, makeup, accessories, bla bla bla. I don't even use makeup. One of my cousin who's right now 5 months pregnant asked me to have a total beauty spa before the wedding ceremonies. You know the body waxing, facial and all the nonsense.

Like hell I'm doing it. 😒 I'm not letting a frustrated women rip of my skin from my bones. (Cause that's what it feels like)

I literally beg the manager to give me double work but for some reason recently he is being very kind to me and reducing my work instead.

Bloody asshole.......

Zaheer's POV,

There's only a month left for our wedding. I still can't believe she said yes. I tried to talk to her but my trips and work gave me no time. I need to talk to her and ask her if its her own will or someone's forcing her into this. I don't want her to be unhappy.

Sania's POV,

Mr Fancy Pants asked my father permission to take me out for the evening. I wonder what he wants to say now.

I said yes already damn it. I don't want to meet him.

Zaheer's POV,

I'm waiting in CCD for my fiance. I came a bit early. There she is looking as beautiful as always. My heart skipped a beat.

I stand up as she reaches the table. She smiled. "Assalamualaikum"

'Ya Khuda that voice'

"Walaikum assalam" I say and she sits. I take my seat to.

A painful silence.

"Would you like to order anything?" I try to start a conversation.

"Just a coffee" she said.

"Um ok". I gave the orders for 2 coffee.

Again the silence.

"You look beautiful today" I say and she smiled but the smile missed her eyes. "Thanks" she replied.

I take a breath and go for it.

"I was surprised that you said yes"

She looked at me for a min, her eyes wide. "Well I had to. Your mother is very sweet and my parents like you"

"What about you?" I ask her. She looked at me pausing in her words. But she says nothing. I smile.

"So I was right. You are being forced into this"

"No I'm not" she insisted.

I look straight into her eyes. "Then why?" My voice is low.

"Because I'm willing to give you the benefit of doubt."

'woah! Always soo straight forward Ms Hitler'

"Oh. Well I can't promise to be the best husband of your dreams but I promise to try to be a good husband you need"

She just looked at me. Her face unreadable. I shake my head and smile.

"Ok let's forget about the wedding fo now. Let's just get to know eachother. Hi! I'm Zaheer Kazmi, age 27, I'm a CA in a govt firm, I have a mother and sister in my family, I'm the only man in the house, I love football, diehard fan of Ronaldo, I like to read mystery novels, I like Shakira, favourite Bollywood movie would be PK but favourite actor is Salman Khan. Favourite actress  Katrina. Favourite food, Indian. Favourite place on earth, my home. Now what about you?"

She giggled. For the first time I see a real smile on her face for me. My heart fluttered.

"Uh. Alright. Hi! My name's Sania Sayeed. Age-" she paused. "Won't be telling."

I grin and see her grin to.

"I live with my mamma. Daddy works in Dubai. I'm a bank teller by profession. I love Varun Dhawan. Favourite actress is Kareena. I would like to see the world someday. And sometimes I write Shayris." She said.

"Wow. Really? You write Shayris?"

She shrugged. "Just sometimes" she looked a bit embarrassed.

"Can I read some sometimes?" I say excitedly.

"I'm terrible at it"

"I don't think so. A girl like you can do anything perfect if she wills."

Sania's POV,

    Hmm. He's not that bad I guess.

'no Sania men tend to be all charming and sweet before marriage but after that they show their true colours.'

"When I saw you for the first time at Ahad's wedding , i kinda gave you a little nick name" he said smirking.

"Oh really? What?" I challenged him.

"Ms Hitler"

'what! How dare he? But its ironic'

"Well I have a nick name for you too" i say.

"And that is?"

"Mr Fancy Pants".

He laughed. "Uh as much as I know my pants are always simple. I don't see what part of it seemed fancy to you" he said checking his pants.

I couldn't help but laugh.

So we laughed and talked about this and that. He told me about his sister. She just gave her 12th board exam and wants to be a doctor. I've met her before. She's a shy and quiet girl. But according to him, she talks a lot.

Mumma told me about his father. He passed away 3 years ago by a heart attack. How awful! I can never ever imagine my life without my Daddy.

"I heard about your father. I'm soo sorry" I couldn't help but say. He paused and just looked in my eyes.

'Ya Allah those eyes.'

Suddenly a layer of water sparkled in them. He blinked and looked away.

"I had just received the approval for my job. I was soo happy. I wanted to say that to him, but when I called, Mom said he doubled in pain in his chest and is being taken to the hospital. I rushed there but I was too late. " He said. He cleared his throat to not let his voice break. And he was succeding.

"I'm soo sorry for mentioning it right now" i apologized. I just don't know when to shut my mouth. Idiot'

He smiled at me and my heart did that strange thing. 'What the-'

"Its ok. You should know all this now."

He offered to drop me home but I had my scooter. I couldn't stop thinking about him, his younger sister. They went through soo much. Soon I'll be joining thier home, their family.

'Ya Allah. Plz help me. You always do don't you? Be with me during this times a bit extra ok'