It was Sunday, and that's why Shahzaib woke up late. Lazily sitting up, he stretched his arms out.
"Kubra!" Without bothering to brush his teeth or even washing his face, he left his room, calling for Kubra.
"Yaar, chai toh..." He has entered lounge room when got startled, Kubra wasn't alone, with her was Zara, who maybe just came as her suitcase was also placed near the sofa.
(Make tea...)
"Assalam-Alaikum!" The hint of sleep which he had in his eyes vanished away as he straightened up his body.
"Walekum-Assalam!" Zara smiled at him, while Kubra was amused.
"Main... ata hoon." Shahzaib didn't stay there for long and quickly left.
(I... will just come.)
"Dekhna ab pura taiyyar hoke ayega." Behind him, Kubra giggles, making Zara laugh too but she slapped Kubra's arm.
(Now he will be dressed up properly.)
"Achha tum baitho, main chai banati hoon tumhare aur Shahzaib ke liye." Kubra stood up and told her.
(you rest up, I will make tea for you and Shahzaib.)
"Baithne ke liye nahi ayi hoon main, chalo main tumhari help kar deti hoon. Nashta bhi chahiye hoga na unhe, abhi uthe hain." Zara also went after her and said.
(I've not come here to rest, let me help you. He just woke up, he will want breakfast too.)
"Unhe? Badi fikar hai." Looking at her, Kubra raised her eyebrow.
(How thoughtful of you.)
"Achha na bas..." Bashfully, Zara said.
(Okay, enough...)
Kubra and Zara were preparing breakfast for Shahzaib when Rafey, who was downstairs, came there.
"Khushbu toh bohot achhi arahi hai, kya ban raha hai?" He stood on the doorway and asked.
(What are you making?)
"Aloo ka paratha." Zara answered with a smile. She was kneading the dough while also checking cooker's whistle.
"Shahzaib bhai ka favourite." Kubra added.
(Shahzaib's favourite.)
"Shhh!" Zara hushed her. "Tumhare liye bhi banau?" She then asked to Rafey.
(Should I make for you too?)
"Nahi, mera mann nahi. Par, Kubra, mere liye coffee bana do, please." He looked at Kubra and requested.
(No thanks. But, Kubra, can you please make coffee for me?)
"Abhi banati hoon." Kubra, who was making tea, quickly went to shelf to take coffee powder.
(Okay.)
"Thanks." Rafey left.
"Uska har kaam itna bhaag bhaag ke karna zaroori hai kya?" Zara was done kneading the dough, she went to sink to wash her hands and asked to Kubra, disappointed.
(Is it necessary to do all his work?)
"Konsa kaam? Coffee hi toh hai." Putting water to boil, Kubra answered.
(What work? He just asked for coffee.)
"Par abhi toh tum chai bana rahi ho. Aur niche se aya haina, Uswa se kyu nahi kaha coffee ke liye."
(But you could have told him that you are making tea. And he is coming from downstairs, why didn't he ask Uswa for coffee?)
"Uffo Zara! Tum toh aise bol rahi ho jaise usne coffee ki nahi koi 5 course dawat ki demand kardi hai. Aur dheere bolo, sunn lega toh kya sochega." Kubra turned her back to Zara and said, she didn't want to see Zara's angry face.
(Uffo, Zara! You are acting as if he has demanded a 5 course meal. And lower your voice, what if he will hear you?)
"Jo sochna hai soche, mujhe bilkul nahi pasand yeh." Zara shrugged her shoulder and said, taking down the cooker to take boil potatoes out.
(Then let him hear, I don't like him.)
"Achha na, tum paratha banao, Shahzaib wait kar rahe honge."
(Alright, you make paratha, Shahzaib must be waiting.)
Kubra knew about Zara's dislike for Rafey, and according to her it was unreasonable. But still, Kubra couldn't say more in the defense of Rafey.
•••
As Kubra predicted, Shahzaib was indeed dressed up, black jeans and half sleeves black shirt (which perfectly showed his biceps.) he was even wearing a watch which he only wears when he had to go out.
His attire made Hanif Mirza questioned if he is going out anywhere? And this made Kubra and Rafey snicker.
"Shadi ka ghar hai kahi na kahi jana hoga na kaam se baar baar kaha taiyyar hota..." Scratching his head, Shahzaib make up an excuse.
Once again, Rafey and Kubra burst into laughing.
When Hanif looked at them, and Shahzaib glare in their direction, Rafey covered his laugh by a fake cough, while Kubra bowed her head down.
"Kya hua hai?" Hanif Mirza asked.
(What happened?)
"Kuch nahi, baba." Zara picked up empty cups and left. She was already feeling unwell with Rafey and Kubra's continues teasing. And now Hanif Mirza's oblivious questions were embarrassing.
(Nothing, Baba.)
"Issey kya hua?" Hanif looked at Kubra and asked, Zara has just come and left, without eating anything.
(What happened to her?)
"Kuch nahi hua, baba, ap pareshaan na ho." Kubra assured him and left to check on her friend.
(Nothing happened, Baba, don't worry.)
Hanif looked at Shahzaib to ask him about something, but Shahzaib bowed his head down so he won't have to answer him.
This made Hanif looked at Rafey.
Rafey could only shrug his shoulder. "Baba, ap paratha khaiye, achha bana hai." Passing Hanif casserole, Rafey said.
(Baba, have paratha, it is very tasty.)
"Haan, lao. Zara ke hath mein bilkul apni nani ka zayka hai." Hanif Mirza took it from him, when he took first bite of the paratha, he praises Zara's cooking.
(Zara has taken after her grandmother's cooking skills.)
•••
"Hayder, tum mithai wale ke paas ja rahe ho na?" Rabia stopped Hayder, who was going out while talking on his phone
(Hayder, you are going to sweet shop, right?)
"Ji, badi mummy." Disconnecting the call, he put his phone in the pocket of his white kurta and answered her.
(Yes, badi mummy.)
"Hyra ko sath le jaoge? Isko haldi ke liye matching churhiyan leni hai." When Rabia points at Hyra, who was standing beside her, it is when Hayder noticed her small frame.
(Can you take Hyra with you? She has to buy bangles.)
"Mummy, main... main Dawar bhai ke sath chali jaungi." Hyra was startled, as she looked between Hayder and Rabia. She wasn't expecting Rabia to ask Hayder to take her.
(Mummy, I... I will go with Dawar bhai.)
"Abhi main ja raha hoon toh chalo." Hayder told her.
(I am going out, come with me.)
"Ji, Hayder bhai." Bowing her head, she mumbles.
(Okay.)
"Chalo." Ordering her, Hayder took a step forward to leave the house, while he once again took his phone out to call someone.
"Woh main... apna dress leke ayi." Hesitantly, Hyra said.
(I.. I will get my dress.)
"Jaldi karo." He half listened her and left.
Hyra quickly ran to her and Uswa's room, her shopper was placed on the table which she picked up without looking into it and left.
Hyra ran toward Hayder's car, he was wearing airpods and talking to someone angrily.
Hayder didn't look at her and started the car.
When car started, Hyra thought of looking into her shopper.
"Woh, Hayder bhai..." She called him in low voice.
(Eh.. Hayder bhai...)
"Kya hai?" It is when Hayder looked at her, his dark eyes matches his stern face which always scares her.
(What?)
Hyra shook her head, her words died down in her throats, afraid Hayder might get angry. "Kuch nahi."
(Nothing.)
"Main baad mein call karta hoon." Hayder said on his phone, taking off his airpods, he looked at Hyra disapprovingly.
(I will call you later.)
"Kitni baar kaha hai ghar se nikla karo toh dupatta le liya karo."
(How many times I've told you to wear dupatta if you are going out.)
Hyra was wearing short white chikankari kurti and baggy jeans, her brown wavy hair in low pony tail.
"Woh..." She opened her mouth to answer him, but again close it, when realised she really don't have answer.
(I...)
•••
Hyra was sitting in car while Hayder went to sweet shop to order sweets for tomorrow's function.
When he returned, he passed her a small paper bag.
"Yeh kya hai?" She asked.
(What's this?)
"Taste karne ke liye koi mithai di hai..." Wearing his seat belt, he told her, as he started the car.
(It is for tasting.)
Nodding her head, Hyra took out the mithai from bag to taste it, it was barfi with chocolate chips in it.
"Achhi hai..." When the sweet taste hits her sense, she couldn't help but compliment.
(It is good...)
"Khalo fir bolo." Hayder saw her with scrunched nose, little piece of barfi fall from her mouth, and it disgust him.
(Don't talk while you are eating.)
"Sorry." Putting her hand over her mouth, she mumbles. "Yeh wali bhi menu mein hai?" When she was done, she asked.
(Did you order this too?)
"Nahi. But add karwa sakte hain. Waise tumhe kaha jana hai?"
(No, but we can add it in the menu. Where do you have to go?)
"Woh ghar chaliye." Avoiding his eyes, Hyra requested.
(I... home.)
"Tum kya car mein ghoomne ayi thi? Tumhe woh necklace churhi kya lena tha batao kaha jana hai."
(Did you come with me for a ride? You have to buy necklace or bangles something, tell me where should I take you.)
"Woh darasal..." Bitting her lips under her teeth, Hyra started.
(I... actually...)
"Woh woh karna band karo. Normal baat karo." Strictly, he told her.
(Stop stuttering.)
"Main... Main apna kapda ghar pe bhool gayi." Closing her eyes tightly, she informed in a single breath.
(I... I forgot my clothes at home.)
This made Hayder stopped the car as he looked at her.
"Toh yeh kya hai?" Hayder points at the shopper she was holding.
(Then what's this?)
"Yeh Uswa ka hai." Tears shone in her beautiful eyes.
(It is Uswa's.)
"Tum Uswa ka kaise le ayi shopper? Itna dhyan toh hona chahiye na." Hayder, who was oblivious of the fact that Hyra would cry any moment, scolded her. "Itni bhi aqal nahi hai kya tum mein? Badaqal larki."
(How can you take Uswa's shopper? How careless you are.)
"Hum dono ne shopping ek jagah se ki... same shopper the... ek hi jagah rakha tha aur..." And this was last stroke on her as she started crying.
(We both bought our dress from same place... we had same shoppers... it was on the same table and...)
"Tum... ab tum ro kyu rahi ho." Hayder was flabbergasted by her sudden cries.
(You... why are you crying?)
"Aap datenge." Crying, she took off her specs, and wipe her tears.
(You will scold me.)
For a moment, Hayder was speechless. She deserves to get scolded, how can one be so careless? But obviously he can not scold her when she is crying this badly.
"Rona band karo, nahi datunga." Tiredly, he told her.
(Stop crying, I won't scold you.)
"Main ro nahi rahi." Sniffing, she said.
(I am not crying.)
"Haan yeh tum has rahi ho." Mumbling, he passed her tissue.
(Yes, you are laughing.)
"Tumhe color nahi maloom apne dress ka? Bata ke le lo jo lena hai." Hayder thought it would be completely useless if she will go to home without shopping.
(Don't you know the color of your dress? Whatever you want to buy tell the color to shopkeeper.)
"Woh... yellow hai but uspe multi color kadhai hai uski matching churhiyan leni thi."
(My dress is yellow but it had multi color embroidery, I had to buy matching bangles.)
•••
"Suno, Main intezar kar raha hoon jao apna dress leke aao." When they arrived home, Hyra was about to get down but Hayder told her.
(Listen, Go and take your dress, I will take you to shopping.)
"Koi baat nahi, Hayder bhai, apko aur kaam hoga..." Being with him was a punishment for her, she didn't want to go to shopping with him.
(It's okay, Hayder bhai, you have lots of work...)
"Main puch nahi raha hoon, jao apna dress leke aao." But he left no choice for her.
(I am not asking you. Go and take you dress.)
"Pata nahi inn sab mein main hi kyu fasti hoon." Going inside the house, Hyra slapped her forehead and cursed her fate.
(I don't know how I always get stuck with him.)
She was unaware that Hayder was walking just behind her.
"Ek toh Hayder bhai itne gusse mein rehte hain unki shakal dekhke darr lagta hai..." She was lost in her rambles.
(Hayder bhai is always angry that I get scared just by seeing his face...)
"Kya?" Hayder was shocked, as he stopped walking, and his voice made her froze.
(What?)
Hyra looked up, thinking if she is hearing his voice for real or it is her imagination.
Dreadfully, she turned to look behind her, but in her anxiety she twisted her ankle.
Hyra's eyes was tightly shut, as she believed she would fall, but instead someone held her in his arms.
"Hyra! Theek ho khade khade girr rahi ho." Hyra's recognises the voice. It was Keyaan, her maternal aunt's son.
(Hyra! Are you okay, you are falling while standing.)
"Keyaan bhai?" Opening her eyes, she asked.
"Hyra!" Hyra and Keyaan both seem to unaware in the position they were in, but Hayder's stern voice came. Both of them quickly parted away from each other.
"Assalam-Alaikum, Hayder bhai." Keyaan greeted him.
"Walekum-Assalam, tum kab aye?"
(When did you come?)
"Bas abhi."
(Just now.)
Hayder nods his head then looked at Hyra, who was standing there like a little rabbit.
"Hyra, jao apna dress leke aao." He reminds her.
(Hyra, go and take your dress.)
Maybe it was her lucky day because Rabia had to go to somewhere and and she told Hayder to take her. Hyra was spared.
"Arey toh mere earrings le ati na." When Hyra was don telling Uswa what happened, Uswa said.
(Why didn't you buy earrings for me?)
"Tumhari toh shopping ho gayi thi?" Hyra's eyes widened as she asked.
(But your shopping was complete?)
Today's morning, Uswa was proudly telling everyone how she is already done with her shopping and Hyra here still have to buy bangles.
"Haan woh ab mujhe utni achhi lag nahi rahi." Scratching her head, Uswa sheepishly said.
(Yeah but now I don't like the one I have bought.)
"Aur yeh mere khwab mein aya tha na." Scoffing, Hyra picked up bottle to drink water.
(And I had a dream about it.)
•••
In the evening, when Rabia returned, she has bought two sets of bangles (which she liked.) for both Uswa and Hyra. One was golden color and other was in silver.
"Yeh wala main lungi." Uswa quickly picks up the golden set and announced.
(I will take this one.)
"But mere lehenge pe yeh bohot suit karega." Hyra's face turned down as she said, she liked the golden one too.
(But golden will go with me lehenga.)
"Dusra le lena na. Tum janti ho mujhe silver nahi pasand. Main yahi lungi." Uswa didn't budge.
(Buy another for yourself. You know I don't like silver, I will take golden.)
"Uswa, tumhare konse dress pe yeh match karega? Uske lehenge ke color pe suit karega, Hyra ko de do." Rabia told her daughter.
(Uswa, golden won't go with any of your dress, it will match Hyra's lehenga, give her golden bangles.)
"Arey, Yaar, Mummy." Now this was Uswa's time to sulked as she pushed the bangles to Hyra.
Happily taking it, Hyra teased Uswa, in return, Uswa stick her tongue out.
•••
"Hyra, beta, itni zidd achhi nahi." When Arzoo and Hyra were alone in Arzoo's room, she told her daughter, lovingly.
(Hyra dear, this much of stubbornness is never good.)
"Maine konsi zidd ki?" Hyra was confused, raising her head to look at her mother, she asked.
(What insistence did I make?)
Hyra was ironing Arzoo's dress.
"Abhi lounge mein tumne zidd ki churhi ki. Bhabhi jo de rahi thi le lena tha na, kya zaroorat thi zidd karne ki. Uswa ko chahiye tha golden set."
(In the lounge room you were insisting on golden set. You should have take whatever bhabhi was giving you, there was no need to throw tantrums. Uswa wanted the golden set.)
"But mere lehenge pe match..." Putting the Iron box aside, Hyra started saying but Arzoo stopped her.
(But golden matches with my lehenga...)
"Jo bhi hai. Tum apne lehenge ke liye baad mein le ati na. Bhabhi layi thi churhiyan. Achha nahi lagta tum aise zidd karo. Haan agar tumhare papa hote, woh tumhare liye kuch late toh tumhare zidd karna itna bura na lagta."
(Whatever it was. You can buy another bangles for your lehenga. Bhabhi was the one who bought bangles, you shouldn't have throw tantrums. If you father was alive and he would have bought something for you then you could have show insistence.)
"Lekin abhi hum Asim bhai aur Rabia bhabhi ke asre hain. Woh unki darya dili hai jo hume izzat se rakha hai aur humari zarooratein puri kar rahe hain, woh pehle se humare liye bohot kuch kar rahe hain. Iss tarah zidd na kiya karo unse. Jo bhi diya kare le liya karo."
(But Asim bhai and Rabia bhabhi are taking care of our expenses. Is it more than enough that they are fulfilling our needs, don't demand anything more from them.)
"Ji, Maama." Hyra nods her head.
(Okay, Maama.)
•••
"Uswa, tum yeh rakhlo." After she returned from her mother's room, the first thing Hyra did was to return the golden bangles to Uswa.
(Uswa, you can have this.)
"Kyu? Yeh toh tum lehenge pe pehenne wali thi na?" Examine the bangles, Uswa asked.
(Why? You wanted to match this with you lehenga.)
"Main kuch aur le lungi, tumhe silver nahi pasand na." Hyra half smiled and told her.
(I will buy another for me. You don't like silver.)
"Hana! Mujhe lagta hai silver mujhe suit nahi karta." Getting down from her bed, Uswa went to her cupboard to take out silver bangles.
(Yes! I think silver don't go well on me.)
"Waise bhi agar tumhe chahiye hoga toh shadi mein le lena yeh." Passing her the silver set, Uswa said.
(And if you want to wear golden one then you can take them.)
Hyra nods her head.
•••
"Bhabhi, apne bulaya tha?" Knocking on the door, Arzoo stood on the doorway and asked.
(Bhabhi, you called me?)
"Arzoo, aao, andar aao. Zara meri help karwa do yeh sab rakhne mein." Rabia was setting the jewelleries in boxes and called her in.
(Arzoo, come in. Can you help me to put these in boxes?)
"Kya kar rahi hain aap?" Asked Arzoo, as she sat down on the bed in front of Rabia.
(What are you doing?)
"Shadi mein jo jewellery Laraib ko deni hai bas wahi nikal rahi hoon. Zara inko achhe se pack karwa do."
(I am taking out the jewellery which I will give Laraib.)
"But uske liye toh apne nayi jewellery banwayi haina?" Arzoo also started helping her.
(But you bought new jewelleries for her?)
"Haan, uski pasand se banwayi hai lekin fir bhi shadi mein kuch khandani bhi toh denge na."
(Yes, I bought new jewelleries for her, but I will obviously give her some of these too.)
Arzoo picked up a rani Haar necklace, "Yeh apko Uswa ki paidaish pe bhai ne diya tha na."
(Bhai gifted you this on Uswa's birth, right?)
"Haan, Asim Saab ko betiya bohot pasand thi, Kubra aur Zara ko hamesha goud mein liye rehte the. Jab Uswa hui thi bohot khush hue the woh, Shayad Dawar ke time bhi itna khush nahi the." Smiling, Rabia recalled the past.
(Yes, Asim always wanted a daughter. He used to play with Kubra and Zara all the time. When Uswa was born, he was very happy. I don't think he was this happy on Dawar's birth.)
"Toh yeh aap Uswa ki shadi mein usko dengi?" Arzoo also smiled and asked.
(You will give this to Uswa then?)
"Haan, Uswa aur Rafey ki shadi mein dungi."
(Yes, I will give this to her on her and Rafey's wedding.)
"Waise, bhabhi, Rafey aya hai toh kya aap unn dono ki shadi..." Hesitantly, Arzoo asked. She has heard it from Asiya Begum that Uswa and Rafey's marriage will soon happen after Dawar's marriage, and was little upset that Rabia didn't inform her about this.
(By the way, bhabhi, Rafey has come so will you get both of them married?)
"Pata nahi, jab tak Tabassum ya Ibtisham khud iss silsile pe baat nahi karte hum kya keh sakte hain. Agar woh chahenge toh main toh Bismillah karungi."
(I don't know. We won't do anything until Tabassum or Ibtisham talk about this. And if they want to do the marriage soon, I will not refuse them.)
"Sahi hai. Achha larka hai Rafey." Arzoo nods her head.
They were done with the jewelleries, the ones which Rabia is going to gift Laraib, she put them on side table, she will tell Asim Mirza to get them polish. While she put other jewelleries on her cupboard.
"Bhabhi, apse Hyra ke barey mein baat karni thi." Arzoo suddenly remembered something and started saying.
(Bhabhi, I wanted to talk to you about Hyra.)
"Kya hua?" Rabia returned to bed and asked.
(What happened to her?)
"Woh meri behen Gauhar uska hath mang rahi thi, Keyaan ke liye."
(My sister Gauhar send a proposal for her, for her son Keyaan.)
"Keyaan?" Rabia was taken aback.
She has saw Keyaan after many years, though he has grown into a handsome man, but she wasn't sure about Hyra and him. According to her, they can find more compatible proposal for Hyra.
"Tumhe kaisa lagta hai Keyaan?" Rabia asked very calculatedly.
(What do you think about this proposal?)
"Meri behen ka beta hai. Mujhe toh khushi hogi Hyra apno mein rahegi." Arzoo honestly answered.
(I will be very happy if Hyra will be wedded into family.)
"Main Asim se iss silsile mein baat karti hoon. Ek baar Dawar ki shadi ho jaye toh ussey kahungi Keyaan ke barey mein pata kare." Rabia wasn't sure of the proposal, but when she saw Arzoo's downcast face, she quickly added. "Waise Keyaan toh bohot achha hai, koi kami hai nahi usme. Lekin inn dono ko toh janti ho kitne protective hain Uswa aur Hyra ko leke."
(I will talk to Asim about this proposal. And after Dawar's marriage I will ask him to get information about Keyaan.)
(Keyaan is a good boy, I don't think he have any negative traits. But you know Asim and Dawar, they are very protective about Uswa and Hyra.)
"Ji, bhabhi."
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