Zaheer's POV,
I'm exhausted! Finally its over....
Its my cousin bro's wedding, yet I had to manage and supervise everything. And what is he doing? Sitting on his chair like a king in his reception.
I managed the catering, the decoration, the guest, everything! You might wonder what everyone else did? NOTHING!!! Geez! These are all good for nothing people. The women just took care of their makeup and clothes while the men concentrated on eating; and the friends of the groom? They were busy checking out girls.
Like this all wasn't enough. I had various aunties pestering me about when I was getting married. They are asking why am I still single with such good looks, and job at the age of 27. Looks like they can't wait to go for another round of shopping and eat a buffet.
But something good happened too. It felt like an reward for the hardwork. I saw someone. Her walk could make heads turn, her smile could make your heart beat faster, and her eyes could paralyze you. She was in a blue long dress, her long earrings brushed her cheeks whenever she moved her head. Her skin sparkled in the light and her long hair flew behind her when she walked long paces lifting her dress a little gracefully.
No. I'm not describing a Bollywood heroine. She was a real girl. She seemed to be one of the bride's friend. I went to Asad (the groom) who was busy greeting people. "Hey, whose that girl over there? She's beautiful" I said in his ear.
"Who? The one in the blue dress? Bhai don't even think about it" he warned me.
"Why?" I was confused. 'Is she engaged or something.'
"Bhai, she's THAT cousin of Rukhsar (the bride) I always told you about.
I looked at him clueless for a while and then I remembered-
"Oh, the Hitler?!"
"Yes" he whispered smiling at the guests.
I couldn't believe it. Such a sweet looking girl, how can she be all that? I remembered what Asad told me about her like how she'd intimidate him by asking vague questions in front of everyone and how she'd just pop up whenever Asad and Rukhsar tried to talk or meet alone. This guy was seriously scared of her.
However, my doubts were almost cleared when this happened -
She was standing near the cold drinks counter with her friends when suddenly a guy went past her. By the look on his face I could say he was up to something. She noticed that too when he brushed his arm to her's. She just eyed him, but said nothing.
Again the guy came and did the same. But this time he gave her a wicked smile. She sweetly smiled back to him and never taking eyes of him, threw the glass of her drink at him. 'Oh snap! '
"Oh sorry, but no sorry" she said with such an attitude, that I felt like saluting her.
"What the hell! This is such an expensive jacket" he yelled literally pissed.
"Oh is it?" She acted innocent. "But it looks soo cheap on a cheap person like you." She folded her arms and looked straight up in his eyes.
"You bitch-" he lifted his hand to hit her and I lost it. I was about to go and beat the crap out of him but I stopped shocked when I saw how she grabbed his hand and stopped him.
'What the- '
She's quite strong for that slender body of her's. She looked so delicate but she definitely wasn't. That guy was twice her size. He could easily break her wrist and throw it away. But she wasn't scared, I could tell you that much.
That guy was literally intimidated by her, but she didn't let her guard down even once. I just watched her in awe. So did everyone else.
"This guys is not one of the guests. Please see him out" she said and that's when people came to help.
Not one of the guests? I didn't recognise him either.
'So I thought he must be from the bride's side. Nice observation Ms Hitler. '
And he was thrown out.
"Are you ok?" One of her friends asked.
"Me? Why? What's wrong with me?" She said like nothing happened.
The girls started giggling.
I walked up to her. "Um is everything ok?" She turned to me. 'Shit! I'm offguard. She's just soo-'
"You're rather early to ask that" she said looking straight in my eyes. Her chocolate eyes are just so beguiling.
"Oh- um- yeah- I- " and I was totally ignored. I sighed inwardly and walked away.
I bet you her friends were taking about me.
But what's the use. The girl who I wanted should notice me, totally ignored me. 'But miss Hitler, I promise we'll meet again. Its a small world you know......'
2 Months later......
Sania's POV,
I'm late...soo late. Damn! I overslept. I rush out of bed, grab some random clothes from the wardrobe, towel; and rush to the bathroom. After 20 min I'm out. I check myself in the mirror. I'm in a red and white kurta, red leggings and dupatta. My brownish-black hair is a hot mess as always. 'ugh!' I tie it up into a messy bun and rush out.
"Allah Hafiz. I'm late." I yell from the door.
"Sania, don't skip breakfast" I hear my mother scoulding.
"Sorry Mumma, I'm already soo late. You didn't even wake me up today, my boss will kill me. Love you" I said hastily, rushing out and getting on my scooter and enter the busy roads of Vashi.(New Mumbai).
'no, no, no..... Not a trafic jam! Ya Allah, why is this happening to me? Please clear it off please.......' after 5 mins, I see it clearing. 'Yes! Thank you Allah Miya. Your the best...'
After covering a certain distance, I see an awful sight. A young girl was lying on the ground in pain and no one was coming to her aid. They were just watching her from far. Why? Because she was in a burkha and no one wanted to take her responsibility. 'Bloody hypocrites!'
Her leg was bleeding. I was about to go to her, but just then I heard a bus approacing. It was so fast. If she doesn't move in time it could crush her. Just the thought of it my skin crawl. But i couldn't move her that quickly in such a condition.
So without a 2nd thought, I took my scooter and stopped horizontal in the middle of the road blocking her.
'ALLAH, if I die today, please take care of my parents' I prayed silently as I shut my eyes tight and wait for the bus to throw me. "Ya Allah!" I heard my scream....
My heart stopped for a second as I smelled the nauseating smell of the bus. I slowly opened my eyes. 'It stopped'
I take a breath of relief. 'Alhamdulillah' I grin like crazy.
'Oh shit! The girl'
The bus driver was cursing me, but I ignored him and literally throwing my dear scooter aside, rushed to her. "Are you ok" she seemed like a high-school girl. Her face was covered in tears, and she was in a lot of pain which made her look even younger.
I made her sit resting her head in my shoulder. I winced as I saw tire marks on her leg. Now people started coming to help. I lifted a hand up. "No thanks. I can take care of her. No need to show false concern." I said angrily and luckily spotted an empty rickshaw. I called for it and helping her in, rushed to a hospital.
My heart was pounding, but that young girl's pain made me forget all my fear. Sure i was late, but this girl's life was far more important than my stupid job at a boring bank.
After the required medical help when she smiled at me saying, "thank you Didi" I knew my life was worth it.
Zaheer's POV,I brought my mom for her routine check up. She has diabetes. I was just waiting for the reports that's when my phone buzzed. "I'll just take this call its from work" i told mom. She just smiled and nodded sitting in the waiting room.I've never been so thankful to a call from work as I was that moment, because of that call, I got to see her again.She had a injured girl in a burkha with with her. She looked so desperate, her beautiful face full of concern.'maybe she ran to the nearest hospital'I thought she must be a family member but I was wrong."That girl is soo brave, she helped a complete stranger." One of the nurses outside
Sania's POV,I was getting ready for work that's when mumma came to me."Shona, come early today ok?" She said."Mumma" I said with a chuckle. "- I work at a bank. Ofcourse I come early always""But still, come early" she said.I looked at her suspiciously. "Why what's wrong? Is someone coming?"She hesitated a bit but then smiled."Yes. A boy's parents are coming to see you" she said.Ting, ting, ting. The bob pin that I was holding in my lips fell on the cold tiles as my mouth dropped open.
Zaheer's POV,Its been 3 weeks since I met her. She rejected me straight away. Ya Khuda! What should I do? I just can't get her out of my head. I- I think I love her. And I can't figure it out until I see her again. I have to see her. I need to...Sania's POV,Its been 3weeks since Mr. Fancy pants came here. Haven't heard or seen him or his family since then. Its good, but Mummy just wouldn't let go. She keeps on pestering me with questions. 'did you say something stupid? Did you insult him? This- that!' ya Allah! I'm tired.She's worried that a nice proposal would get out of reach. Tsk. I don't want this. I just wanna stay single for the rest of my life and take care of my parents. Mamma says I should worry about having my own family. But trust me, I'll be a terrible mom. I'm already soo bad
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. 'Iwant 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 A
Sania'sPOV,The ladies are singing *Geet for me. I'm sitting on a chair surrounded by all of them. One by one the ladies and girls are approaching me and applying haldi on me. I am smiling, but am I?I see the glowing face of Mamma. She just can't stop smiling. Occasionally, she has tears in her eyes, but that smile, its still there. Guess that's the only thing that's helping me to go on.It's a ladies function so Daddy isn't here. He's outside looking after the catering. But he still came for a while and applied the haldi on my face. I cried hugging him, eventually staining his new kurta. Stupid me.There's soo much commotion around here. Soooo much expenses. Why do people even get married? It's soo costly. But
Sania's POV,The sun is in my eyes disturbing my precious sleep. I groggily cover my eyes in my sleep. Irritated, I turn the other way wide awake now and see him. Mr Fancy pants. Oops sorry, my husband.'Wait, he said he'd like it lf I call him that. If he's saying it himself then will it be wrong if I called him that?'He looks soo peaceful when he's asleep. Kinda cute I can say. Wow! He has really long lashes. So thick hair, and that pointy nose. Yep he's handsome. Maybe."Goodmorning" I heard him say, his eyes still closed. And he's smiling."Um- I- uh" I scrambled a bit back mortified. 'what the hell was I doing?'"Did you sleep well?" He opened his eyes and propped his head ov
Sania's POV,I'm not used to wearing a duppatta on my head everyday around the house. But now that I'm married, I have to do it always, everyday, without fail. The room is the only place where I have a freedom.Zaheer and I keep on going out every evening meeting mine and his relatives. It's exhausting. Sometimes, he takes me out on dates too. 3 days ago he asked me the most dreaded question.'Where would I like to go on our honeymoon?'I know he said he won't do anything, but still... Come on..... We'll be all alone. That to for 2 weeks he said.What if he--- and I can't even say no. He's my husband! Just the thought of it makes me nauseous. I kept on ignoring the topic but finally he cornered me and I literally meancorneredme.
Zaheer's POV,A week's finally over in Simla. Now we actually look more like a couple. We hold hands walking around, sometimes I put my arm around her, taking pictures and everything. Both trying to do our best.She- trying to get close to me &I- trying to maintain the distance.Yep, it's tough.I came to the room late as I was busy talking to the guide after our visit to the Johnnie's wax museum. As I walked in, I saw Sania fallen asleep sitting on the bed. Her duppatta drooping from one of her shoulders, its edge touching the floor and her face turned to a side. She looked so peaceful. I just stood near her, watching her sleep soundly. Her lips parted a little as she breathed.'so tempting'I shook my head and stepped back.'No Zaheer! You can't!' I reminded myself.
7 YEARS LATERZaheer's POV,I woke up scrunching to the sunlight that suddenly hit my eyes."Naaz....shut the curtains." I scoulded her groggily.I worked till 3am last night so that I could get a relaxing day today. I remembered how Sania used to pull the curtains like that to wake me, but still I used to pretend to sleep so that she could wake me up with a morning kiss...... I miss her.Naaz came and pecked my cheek. I smiled still pretending to sleep."Daddy wake up!" She yelled in my ear shaking me and jumping on the bed."Give daddy another kiss." I said with my eyes still closed and she kissed my cheek again. I pulled her to me and started tickling her as her giggles filled the room."Daadi and Phupi asked me to call you for breakfast. Hurry up daddy."I sat up. "When is Mummy coming back?" She's been to her mother's home for 2 day
Sania's POV,I sank on the sofa paralized. 'He knows.... Zaheer knows. Ya Allah! How? When? What do I do now?'I tried soo hard to protect him from the truth and now....."H-how d-did you...." My voice was shaking."How did I know huh? Did you really think I'll never know and you'd leave me without a word?" He said with a voice filled with pain and anger.Mamma shook me."Sania, what is Zaheer saying? I-is it true?""Shona....say something. What is your husband saying?" Daddy asked.I couldn't even look at them. My worst nightmare just came true. Everyone found out."Sania..." Mom begin."Yes.... it's true." Madiha said. I looked at her."It's no use hiding anymore Bhabhi. They were ought to know 1 way or another."I was soo shaken that I couldn't speak a word. 'They know...
Sania's POV,It's been 2 weeks yet the wounds are still fresh. Everyone of us is still mourning our precious Naaz. I can't even explain how her parents are feeling. Mom is sad, angry, frustrated."Why did my daughter in law had to go like this? First her child and then her. Why didn't I die instead? Why didn't someone else die instead?!" Her eyes landed on me for a second. She was right. Why didn't I die instead? Why her? She was my hope, I just lost all my hope.Madiha is puzzled as to how to handle everyone. She's trying to be a woman. It's not that easy when your own feelings are all over the place. She's trying to console all of us at the same time. She has a strong heart. I respect that.Zaheer? What can I say about him? I don't know who he is anymore. My Zaheer is lost somewhere. I wish I could ease some of his pain but then I realise, I'll be giving him more pain instead. He lost someone dear to him again. I'll be
Sania's POV,Everything's going on soo well. Mumma and Daddy are happily living in Qatar, Mom is happy that she'll have a grandchild soon and she even got a daughter in law she always wanted. Aditi is married and is happy in her married life, Madiha will be an amazing doctor soon.... And Zaheer has finally accepted Naaz as his wife and they both are happy together.It's all exactly as I wanted it to be. Now I can finally leave without any regrets. Alhumdulillah.I don't have anything else left for me now. My work here is done. If I stay here any longer I'd just be a burden. I'd like to spend my remaining days with my parents. Even though I know it will hurt them to let me go at the end but it will hurt more if I leave without saying goodbye.I informed my parents that I'll be coming to stay with them for a while. I even got my ticket and visa without informing anyone here. 1 week before leaving I told them.
Zaheer's POV,I rushed to her and pulled her fragile body towards my lap. I shook her, patted her face, yelled her name but she was still unconscious. I quickly lifted her in my arms. 'Why is she soo light?' I shifted her on the bed."Sania wake up!"She wasn't. I even sprinkled water on her face. She was still unconscious. I was scared now. I didn't wanted to lose her. I checked her arms if there were any broken pieces of glass struck but there were none. Alhumdulillah.I desperately rubbed her hands and feet. 'Why were her hands soo cold?'I called Madiha and Mom."She isn't waking up. Please do something." I said desperately while I called the doctor.My heart was pounding. 'Its all my fault. I did this to her. I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her.'The doctor came soon enough. I ushered her hurriedly to our room.
Zaheer's POV,We spent the time shopping at the mall."Zaheer ji we should get going now. It's almost 1:30. Sania Didi is making lunch for us." Naaz said."Are you bored with me?""Not at all. I'm really enjoying a lot.""Then what's the hurry. Let's wait a little while." I said."But...""No if's and buts.... Let's go there."I pulled her to a cosmetic store.Sania's POV,It's almost past 2 pm yet they aren't back yet. I hurriedly prepared everything and it's all ready."Mom, Madiha, you 2 should eat, I'll wait for them." I told them and they agreed reluctantly.I waited for them till 3:00. I didn't had an appetite either. They got home."Oh you 2 are back. You must be hungry. Go get freshn'up, I'll heat the food." I said and turned to the kitch
Zaheer's POV,Her eyes were wide with fear and shock. I stepped closer and she took a step back, her eyes locked with mine."Why Sania, why did you betray us all like this? Why did you lie about yourself? Why did you made me marry Naaz?" My eyes clouded with tears and my voice turned hoarse.She was still silent."Answer me damnit!" I growled banging my hand to the wardrobe door.She gasped scared and closed her eyes tightly. I tried to calm myself but it seemed impossible. Her silence was killing me. I was too desperate.I held her face gently."Sania, just say something. Huh, I'll believe anything you say."I wiped her tears with my thumbs still waiting. My voice was a desperate cry."Sania please... Give me a reason. Don't you love me? Are you tired of me? Did I do something wrong? What is it Sania? W-Was it because of Mom?"
Warning!!! Mature content!Zaheer's POV,I pointlessly walked into the hospital. This was the same hospital where I came with Sania for her fertility test, this was the same hospital that ruined us. I don't know what I was doing here I just kept walking inside."Oh, Mr. Kazmi."I heard someone call me and I came back to my senses. It was the same gynaecologist who took our case."Dr. Singh.""You are here today? Do you have an appointment?""No...uh... I just came here..." 'Why was I here again?'"By any chance is there a good news. How's your wife?"'What good news? She sent the reports herself. Is she mocking me?'"Good news.""Did I say it too soon. I expected you 2 might be trying.""How can we try for a child if there will be no results? The reports were negative, right?"
Zaheer's POV,"Why are you still here Zaheer? Go to your room your bride is waiting for you." I heard Mom say.I didn't turn. I just stood there on the terrace watching the stars. Not long ago I spent the night watching these stars with Sania on the beach, listening to the waves clashing and our hearts beating as one. Now I'm being asked to spend the night with another woman who's supposed to be my wife.She stood beside me with a hand on my arm. "Zaheer beta. You shouldn't keep your bride waiting like this. It's your wedding night.""Mom, that girl can stay here as she wishes, I don't care. For you all she's my wife but for me she's no one. I'm not going to her. So please tell her not to wait for me." I said without any emotions."Don't be like this beta."I turned to her angrily but I promised myself not to yell at her. "Mom, you asked me to marry her, I did, but please don't expect an