Zehra

Days and months flew by, with Bushra almost nine months pregnant, and Amyrah two months pregnant.

Life was hectic.

Today there was a small party in my cousin's house. Mama, dad and I will be going, and so will big brother and Amyrah, I think. Because Zameer---

"Zam! I want to go!"

"No, love! You are pregnant. You shouldn't get tired unnecessarily!"

"If you don't let me go, then I'll clean the house the whole day!"

----And this was life. Zameer and Amyrah yelling and romantacizing every minute of the day.

Thankfully Zameer goes to work in the morning and comes back late in the evening. Him being here gives me a headache, due to his screams.

I think they don't know the meaning of speaking!?

***

With a last touch of eye liner and a pink lip gloss, I put my one inch healed rose gold sandal. Turning to the mirror, I ran a hand through the delicate silk of my evening gown, and with one final glance, I left the room.

"Masha Allah, you look very pretty, Zehra!" Dad beamed at me.

I smiled embarassed. I wasn't used to compliments, mainly from males, though dad never made me felt uncomfortable, end of the day he is my step dad. Zameer never complimented me, and neither does mama. Only all the desi aunties mutter their praises, and I be like, "Thanks?"

Long story short, I always blush at their compliments, even though I don't take it to heart.

"Wohooo! Zehra! You are looking so pretty! Now tell me how do I look? Do I look fat? Is my make up okay?" Amyrah grabbed my hands and grinned gleefully.

"Thanks. Nope, you are looking beautiful, Amyrah."

Well, not like I was going to tell her that she had actually become chubby, but she was cute.

Zameer comes near Amyrah, and I heard him whispering, "Love, I told na you are beautiful, I won't lie."

Amyrah whispered back. "I know you won't, Zam darling, but you know na I love you and----"

I rolled my eyes and moved away from them. Like seriously guys, give it a break!

Well, I'm glad they are getting along. Anything is fine as long as they are happy, right?

***

The atmosphere changes, just as we step inside the house. I felt very conscious of myself. Am I looking okay? Is my hijab wrapped properly? Is my dress wrinkled? Questions roamed through my thoughts.

I quietly stepped closer to Amyrah, as she nonchalantly marched inside the house. I gaped at her in surprise.

We moved towards the corner, where I met Anaya, my cousin, who was a year younger than me. Today was her sister's engagement, kind of.

We smiled and then the ladies got together, speaking and laughing.

A middle aged lady sits in the empty chair next to mine. She smiles and I smile back.

Minutes pass by.

I hear the lady's phone ring and saw her hurriedly answering it.

"Beta, tum kahaan ho? Aap itane late kyon hain? Aap theek hain?"
(Son, where are you? Why are you so late? Are you okay?)

I furrowed my brows quizzically, but quickly turned away. Just as I heard the voice.

"Haan, Ammi jaan. Main theek hoon. Mein abhi aaya hoon. Aap kaha ho?"
(Yes, mom. I am fine. I just arrived, where are you?)

"I'm in Saba Aapi's room. You come here soon."

Huh.

Huh.

Oh my Allah!!!

It's him!

The one and only Murtaza guy!

My lips stretched into a wide smile. I couldn't control my giggle nor could I stop smiling. My heart bursted with glee. I didn't know what to do. I was squealing. I am squealing inside. Everything felt so good.

A glimpse of him was enough.

"Are you okay?" The lady next to me looked at me amused.

"Y..yes, aunty."

Still the blush, the smile, the glee wouldn't leave my face. I couldn't control the giddiness I felt. I was over the moon. It was childish of me, but at that moment nothing else mattered.

A glimpse of him was enough.

I was in a whirl wind of emotions. I saw the lady aka his mother, walking towards the door and speaking to someone.

I knew it was him.

But I couldn't see him. I wished to. I wanted to stand up and steal a glance, yet I knew I wasn't courageous.

Just then his mother stepped aside. He came inside, and spoke to another lady.

I saw him.

Oh my dear heart.

I looked away blushing. I was confused. I was amazed. I was elated. Yet again I didn't know what to do. I had no idea. The emotion and feelings grew strong each minute from the day I met him.

Was it bad of me?

I tried my best to ignore, to forget him. But now it felt impossible. He, with him, right infront of me.

And then I felt it.

The sparkle.

The flicker of lights.

The deep eyes crossing mine.

His eyes spoke tons of words. In the sea of people, a second felt like an hour, as I found myself looking at him. And him looking at me.

Oh my dear Heart.

I turned left, and walked out of the room.

I was wrong. This was wrong. Everything was wrong. So wrong of me.

I didn't want this. And neither did he. Right?

***

I stare at the ceiling of the dining room, currently back home.

"Zehra, why aren't you eating?"

"I am," I murmured.

Amyrah lets out a chuckle and a wink.

Zameer stared at us suspiciously and muttered something like, I'm going to get to the bottom of this.

I shrugged nonchalantly.

But the hue of red on my face told a different story.

***

It was 7 in the morning. The house was in uproar. I mumbled exasperated and hopped out of the bed.

"Oh my God! Zehraaaa!!!" Amyrah barged inside my room, crying.

"What!? Are you okay!?" I checked her face for any sign of injury.

"Bushra is taken into labour!"

"Oh my Allah!"

The two of us hug and cry. Sets of fresh tears pour from our eyes again, as we called Humaira.

Zameer takes us all to the hospital. 

Shehzad cries nonstop.

Zameer goes to quiet him down, to which Shehzad hugs him crying, and soon Zameer starts sniffing too. Their parents aren't able to calm them down either.

Bushra's parents are crying hugging one another.

Amyrah, Humaira and I stay numb. After all, we had cried for 1 hour continuously. And just as we stopped the others stared.

A nurse comes in, looking weirdly. "Madam, sirs, it would be appreciated if you'll could lower your voices."

Shehzad sniffs loudly.

The nurse glances at another nurse and says, "Did someone die? Or---"

Zameer gives them an intense glare, to which they meekly walk away.

Hours later, as the sun shines at its peak, the fresh air waves around, the sky turns bright blue, the birds chirping lyrics of happiness, the flowers blooming in the broad daylight and just as the clock struck 12 noon, a baby boy was born.

Bushra birthed a son. Their son, Shahid.

***

Days flew by, and one month later, again our house was in uproar.

But this time, I was clueless.

And then it happened.

Mama called me to her room. She started off with the importance of marriage. Then told me about the rights of a wife and husband. Then she began to narrate stories of successful marriages, arranged marriages, love marriages.

Have I ever told that my mother was once a lecturer?

I think she still is.

She continued her lecture when dad barged in for the fifth time.

"Have you told her yet!?"

Mama nodded and gave the same reply. "I'm about to."

"What!? Leave it, I'll tell her!" Dad reprimanded.

"No! You're a man. Don't talk about these stuff to your daughter!"

He scrunched his eyes. "I'm just going to tell her that---"

"Hush!" Mama quieted him down.

I glanced at them warily, as they continued to argue. "Come on guys, just tell me who's going to come to see me?"

They looked at me horrified. Mama gasped at dad, "How dare you! You told her!"

Dad widened his eyes. "I did not."

"Yes, you did!"

"Did not!"

"You did!"

"Did not!"

"Hey!" I snapped. "Nobody told me, I guessed! Okay? Now tell me who---"

"My Zehra is such a genius."

"My darling."

"She'll make a great wife."

"She's not only a beauty---"

I groaned. "Mama, dad, please stop buttering me. Just tell me already."

They shut their mouth and nervously began telling me of the guy's family, his background, his qualifications, his age which was 27, his height, his weight, how he has a short beard, how dark his eyebrows are, everything single thing.

They told me that his mother already knows me.

My mind was in a haze.

"And Zehra," dad continued. "His name----

My heart was in a deja-vu.

"---is Imran."

Oh my poor Heart.

***

The next day I got dressed.

In a cream coloured light gharara, with my shawl wrapped in my head and a dupatta over my one shoulder.

I was reluctant. But Amyrah together with Zameer, went to a boutique and bought this dress.

I wished, hoped and prayed for only him. Only him. Nobody else.

The bell rang.

I was sweating profusely. Nervousness ruled me. I was falling into a trap of aghast. I was not in my senses.

Minutes later I was called to the living room.

And then I made a fuss.

Amyrah was the one supposed to bring me inside.

"I don't want to go!" I wailed again and again.

"Don't be an idiot, Zehra. You can't back up now!" Amyrah shook my arms threateningly. I couldn't. I can't.

"No! No! I can't! I can't!"

She pulled me, but I didn't budge from my place.

"You aren't going to even marry the guy dude! You just gona see him, that's all. And we are all just here!" Amyrah whisper yelled.

"Right," I mumbled after what seemed like thirty minutes. I was exhaused.

And then I stepped in.

Everything happened in a slow motion.

I saw him. And the lady. Another man. And another young woman with a two year old child.

The same child I saw in the shopping centre.

They greeted me.

I was shocked. I didn't reply back.

Amyrah shook me and gave me a smirk. She was in it. She knew it. Zameer raised his brow.

It was then reality hit.

"Oh my Allah."

My heart beat increased. My palms became more sweaty. My smile widened. My blush increased. My eyes lowered. My chest rose up and down beneath my shawl. My legs moved forward.

And I went towards them.

Things happened fast. Everyone was speaking. I learnt few important things.

One, He is the owner of an orphanage.

Two, His sister's husband has passed away. The two year old girl is his neice, he is a father figure to her.

Thirdly, I realized he was, is, husband material. For me.

Just as it had began,

The two of us were left in one side of the hall.

Nervous.

Nervous.

Nervous.

Don't faint.

Be calm.

Oh my---

"How are you?" I heard a deep voice.

I blushed deeper. "G..good."

"I'm well too." He fidgeted with his fingers and tapped his foot against the ground repeatedly.

"I.. um.. how are you?" I heard him utter.

Huh?

Why is he asking the same thing?

And then I looked at him. He looked flustered, rubbing his ears again and again.

I internally laughed. "I'm fine. How are you?"

He flushed deep red. Looking at him, my cheeks flared up. The intensity was so high, that my hands turn cold, our hearts began beating rhythmically together, as if it wished for us for a lifetime of togetherness.

He looked up at me. "Will... will you be my wife?"

Oh my Heart,
You don't know how much,
Those words mean to me.

Ever since I met you,
I felt attached,
You were a part of me.

You, my heart,
Will be always close to me,
Just like how one's heart is.

Your smile, your blush,
It feels so malleable,
So filled with love.

Forever unchanging,
Forever together,
Forever and ever.

Oh my heart,
You, my love,
Will always be mine.

I nod.

☆☆☆

Assalamu Alaikum.

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Bonus Chapter 02 is updated as well! Don't forget to vote and comment!❤😘