It was a night and Zaroon was returning home after a hectic day at work. He had got a new international project and he was trying his best on this project with his few trusted and talented employees.
It was a calm and serene night, the sky was painted in a dark black color. Blame the late February as the wind was not chilly nor hot. And as usual, people were rushing back to the places they desired to reach. Mostly people were wandering just like that and enjoying their night walk. But continuous work stress was the reason that Zaroon wasn't able to enjoy the weather.
He just wanted to reach his home and have his coffee to fight with this headache. He drove towards his home and in the stress of work he forgot that he was anxious in the morning due to some reason.
After all, what would you have expected from a workaholic like him? He crossed the familiar iron gates of his house and parked his car. He entered his house and smiled tiredly at his mother who in return smiled brightly at him. Zaroon forgot that he was having a headache before, his mother's smile worked like a painkiller on his headache.
He entered his house after saying his salam. And slumped on the black leather couch. Her mother gave him water and coffee after some time. After taking one sip of his dark black rich coffee he felt rejuvenated and sat straighter. His mother was still looking at him with a bright look on her face.
He felt a wave of De Ja Vu. He smiled at his mother.
"Bataiye!(Tell me)" He said to his mother who was looking like a child who was controlling his excitement after seeing ice cream.
"Zehra's mom has called and they said yes!!" she squealed like a child and hugged him.
He chuckled at her reaction and embraced his mother mumbling gratitude to his creator.
After breaking a hug.
"I have fixed your engagement this weekend which means after three days and there is lots of work to do. Now get up and start preparing for your engagement." She said while pushing him to get up from the couch.
"Okay, okay I am going but at least let me tell you something." He said while shaking his head but having a smile on his face.
"Ammi, when you go to her house talk about wedding dates also, I don't want much delay in it. 2 months are more than enough." He said lost in some thoughts and his mother smiled at him mischievously but nodded at him.
"Okay, I will. Ab jao bahut kaam baaki hai. (Now go, many works are pending)" she said while pushing him towards the staircase, he huffed and tried to handle his mug but smiled afterward.
~*~
It was finally the day of engagement. Zehra was getting ready in Light pink color Garara. (Knee length top and garara means a type of palazzo pants which is right till the thighs and flared from below) And her black traces were fully open in beach waves style. It was parted from the middle and Mangtika(head accessory ) was set proudly on her forehead. Long pearl earrings were dangling in her ears. Both hands were stained with dark-colored beautiful and delicate henna and her wrists were adorned with pearl-encrusted gold bangles in her right hand and her left hand had her favorite Silver-colored Rado watch. She was looking beautiful with minimal makeup and light pink lipstick with a shiny gloss.
"Masha Allah, oho kya lag rahi ho aaj to.(Wow you are looking beautiful)" her cousin Tanzim said while entering her room.
Then Tanzim helped her heavy pearl embedded Dupatta to set it on her head. It was a small function held in her house only. Tanzim was clicking her pictures when her mother entered her room to call her downstairs.
Her mother's eyes filled with tears when she looked at Zehra. She put her small finger and swap it on her lower eyelid and put it behind her earlobe, to protect her from Buri Nazar (evil eye). Zehra hugged her mother tightly while controlling her own tears.
She was descending stairs. Her look and posture just looked like a princess of some kingdom. Her family members looked at her, their eyes filled with adoration and love for their not-so-little Princess. She descended stairs and sat down on the center of the couch.
Anabiya came towards her, Zehra said her salam. She made her wear a ring on her left ring finger. Hand her some cash and blessed her with lots of Duas and made her eat some sweet. Then everyone followed after her. She would say salam to person and they would bless her and hand her some money and made her eat some sweet. That was called Salami. (engagement) everyone was done, they were sitting.
His mother came and sat beside her. Zehra smiled at her.
"Masha Allah (Arabic phrase to compliment ), you are looking beautiful." She said.
"Jazakallah! ( Arabic phrase for thank you )" she said while blushing.
"Now I can't wait to have you in my home as my daughter, so come soon," she said but Zehra became tensed at this sentence but she managed to smile.
Afiya was from both sides so it was decided that in engagement she would come from his side and in the wedding she would be from Zehra's side. On which Zehra just scrunched her nose and looked away but accepted as she cannot bear the absence of her best friend in her own wedding.
After dinner, everyone went to their respective rooms. Zehra was sitting near her window. She was sitting on a recliner and her legs were brought to her chest, she encircled her arms around her legs and supported her chin on one of her knees. Her hairs were open and flowing due to the cool breeze. Her brown eyes were looking at the shiny crescent-shaped moon which was spreading its light in the dark black night. She was looking at the moon lost in her thoughts while fiddling with her new ring which was shining brightly under the moonlight. Her face was glowing from the happiness of her heart but eyebrows were brought together and a frown was present on her heart-shaped face. Her shiny rain-drop-shaped nose pin was set proudly on her nose.
She was lost in all the buts and ifs of her confusion.
Would he understand her problem?
Will he accept her condition? If not then what she will do?
But he said he would never stop her from doing anything?
Will he stay true to his words?
All her confusion seems to be answered by only one person. Who would be called her husband after a course of time.
She remembered each and every word of his mother's conversation, she was at peace but also restless at same time.
"Zubaida Aapa (Sister), we don't want anything except zehra. Zaroon has strictly told me that he has everything to provide his future wife and doesn't want anything from her family."
"And we would like marriage to happen as early as possible. We are even ready if you are in a month. I want Zehra as a daughter in my home very soon."
She was ready for the marriage but in a month, she is not ready this early or didn't thought to get married in a month.
Now she have to meet him and only he can answer her queries and questions.
~*~
Zaroon was staring at the picture he had got after a lot of bargaining from Afiya. She was adamant on not sharing her best friend's picture with him. But his little hacking skills he had learned has helped him to get her pictures.
But he got only two pictures. In one picture she was looking at the camera and giving a pose by putting her one hand on her waist. Second one was candid one in which she was giggling while putting a hand on her mouth. Both pictures were amazing and she was looking breathtaking in her pink outfit.
His mother has told him that she presented her wish to meet him once again and he also wanted to be sure that she has taken this decision with her own will and not due to any pressure. Though he knew that her family would never pressurize her for anything.
~*~
She had left early from hospital as she doesn't want to be late on her second meeting also. She sat in her car and informed afi to reach directly at Cafe as she won't be able to pick her up from her place.
As she reached Cafe where she supposed to meet him. He was already present. She looked towards her Titan black strapped watch which showed 4:55 p.m. Guess he was early as they were supposed to meet at 5 p.m.
He was sitting with afiya and talking to her when she reached at his table and said salam. He stood up from his place and gestured her to sit while replying to her salam.
"I hope you didn't have to wait for long." She said while looking at him.
"No i have arrived few minutes before only."he said and gave her a smile.
After this they sat quite not knowing what to say. She started fiddling with her hands which was placed on the table.
He looked at her dark colored henna filled hands and shiny engagement ring. He smiled looking at her hands. She followed his gaze and blushed at the thought of her engagement ring.
Afiya cleared her throat to bring back the two out from their thoughts.
"Zaroon Bhaijaan(brother), let's order something." Afiya said and he nodded at her.
"Excuse me."he called the waiter while raising his hand.
"What would you like to have?" He asked looking at Zehra.
Zehra rummaged through menu and decided to have Chocolate shake, afiya ordered Belgian waffles and Zaroon ordered Espresso.
Zehra mentally scrunched her nose at the thought of bitter liquid but remained quiet.
They all were silent throughout the time as Zaroon and Zehra was hesitating to have conversation and Afiya was waiting for them to have any conversation.
Waiter placed their order and Zaroon and Zehra both simultaneously thanked him. While Afiya was busy in her instagram feed.
Afiya excused her self as she got a call. As afiya left the table.
"I wanted to ask you that are you really happy with this arrangement means are you sure about this decision?" He asked and she smiled at his concern but eventually nodded her head.
"I really am happy and very sure about this decision." She replied making him relaxed.
"Umm.. Did you pray istikhara?" He asked in which she just nodded.
After a while when she didn't say anything.
"If you want to ask me something you can ask without any hesitation!" He encouraged her as she wasn't saying anything.
She took a deep breath and fixed her eyes on him and with all the confidence she said " I don't want this marriage to happen now."
~*~
Hey people!
Here is your update.
What do you think why is she denying marriage for now?
Will he understand her condition?
What will happen next?
Let me know your thoughts on this.
Vote,comment and share.
And yeah sorry for any typos and errors.
Till the next update, Allah hafiz.