It was a fine Sunday morning and all the shaikh's were present at the dining table for their breakfast except Zehra as this is the only day when she gets to complete her beauty sleep and she do not compromise it in any cost.
When everyone was sitting and having breakfast with their little chitchat here and there, Zubaida nudged her husband in order to talk about the thing they have discussed earlier.
He cleared his throat which gained everyone's attention on the table.
"Abbu,i wanted to talk to you all in matter of Zehra's marriage."he started smoothly.
(Father)
After getting a nod from everyone he continued.
"Abbu actually Hamid's wife , Sadiya has brought a proposal of her nephew for Zehra but at that time we have denied thinking that may be Zehra need a partner from same field or Profession."he was about to continue his talk when he was interfered by his father.
"Did you ask Zehra about that?"he asked.
"We have asked Zehra about the marriage topic but we haven't told her about this proposal!"he cleared.
"Farukh i know that whatever you will do would be for her betterment only but this is her life and it should be her decision to take whether she wants a life partner from a same field or not?" He told them in gentle manner but indicating their fault.
"But abbu we thought that it would be better that way only he would understand her!"her mother put her point of view.
"As i said earlier i know you both want betterment of your daughter but it is her life and i know she has given you all rights to choose a partner for her because she trusts you with her life decisions but it is also our duty to tell her about proposals then it should be her decision whether she wants it or not! And i am disappointed in you both as you haven't even informed her about proposal and denied it by your own!"he said voice confident as ever.
This is life of her granddaughter who is so dear to him and life decisions of her life taken like this do not settle well with him.
"Abbu, we didn't mean like that.." farukh said as he didn't want it to go like that.
"It's okay, abbu is just upset over the fact that you didn't inform her and I agree with him. You should have told her!" Faiez (his elder brother) said.
"But it's okay, mistakes are meant to be happen and you have no experience in these kind of things so i let it go this time."his father said.
"Yes abbu we will keep that in mind."Farukh said.
"So yeah what were you talking?" Faiez asked.
"Yeah, so i was telling you that we have denied that proposal at that time but i met this boy at Hamid's house this Saturday and I really liked him, so we were confused what to do about this now?" He said as to ask that now what should be done.
"Chachu who is that boy?" Shaan finally asked as here they are talking about his sister and it will not be easy for him at all to let go his sister.
(Uncle)
"His name is Zaroon and he is Software engineer." Zubaida replied his question.
"Kya karta hai?(What does he do?)"Aaliya asked.
"Bhabhi uski apni company h!! (Bhabhi, he has his own company)" Zubaida said. (Sister in law)
"Chachu itna kaafi nahi hai! Aur information chahiye hume!! (Uncle,this is not enough, we want more information about him)" shaan said.
"Shaan beta, cool down , we are not marrying her off now!!" Her mother said and other snickered in response except shaan who was frowning. (Dear)
But they all admire the relationship they both have, they may tease each other or get on nerves of each other, but they always held each other's back.
There were things which Zehra shared with Shaan rather than anyone else. He never let her feel anytime that she is the only child, he always stood by her side and now thinking of letting her go to another place and getting married, he don't want but alas this is the tradition and it has to be this way only!!
After breakfast they all were sitting in their living room to discuss further about the matter at hand.
This was the first wedding of the girl of shaikh's and last of this generation. It was a bittersweet feeling for all as they were talking about their princess alliance.
They were talking when Zubaida's phone started ringing and she looked at his husband who was watching her with question in his eyes.
"Sadiya is calling" she said and answered her call when he nodded.
After greetings she asked "sadiya is everything alright?"
"Yes, Bhabhi actually i wanted to have a talk with you about zehra!" Voice from other side said.
"Sadiya, i was about to call you today in Zehra's matter!!"she said remembering the conversation she had with her husband.
"But as you have called first, tell me what you want to say?"she asked.
"Bhabhi as you know Zehra is also like my daughter and i have never discriminated between her and afiya, and what i am about tell you is what i would have done for my Afiya!"she paused.
"Sadiya you know i know that, you can tell me anything, she is also your daughter."she said encouraging her to go forward.
"Bhabhi actually the thing is i know you have once told me that you want a guy from the same field as zehra but..." she don't know how to continue conversation as they have already rejected Zaroon once but on insistence of her sister, she is calling them again.
"Sadiya tell me whatever you want to tell without any worry!!" She said but inside she was fearing if she have got another proposal for zehra as they were considering Zaroon's proposal for her and she was about to call her for the same matter.
What if she has brought another proposal then how would she talk about Zaroon with her. Many things were running in her mind and only her next words would be able to calm her down or brought more chaos.
"Bhabhi i want you to reconsider about Zaroon's proposal for Zehra!!" She said in one breath as if it was the most difficult thing to say.
The words left from her mouth brought an bright smile on Zubaida's face, now she no longer have to worry about how should she tell her about the proposal thing. She felt like heavy weight was lifted off from her shoulders.
"Sadiya i was about to call you for the same matter, we were thinking to reconsider about this proposal." She finally said after a moment of silence from both side.
"I am telling you Zaroon is like my own son and i would have never tell you if..." she started babbling as she was not expecting this answer from her but it came to halt as soon as she registered her words in her mind.
"Wait what did you say?" She asked bewildered as she was not at all expecting this to happen out of all.
"You mean to say you are agreeing for their proposal?" She asked getting excited.
A small laugh escaped from her mouth as she heard getting a woman all excited from the other side.
"Yes, Sadiya you heard it right but i will only call you after talking to Zehra and i will let you know what we are thinking do afterwards!" She said as she have the most important thing in her hand now that is talk with Zehra.
After some more talk they have cut the call and Zubaida told everyone about the talk she had with Sadiya.
~*~
Zehra slowly opened her eyes and looked around her room and then after stretching her limbs and some more time just laying on bed and relaxing when she finally thought to get up from the 'most gravitating thing' in the whole universe 'Her Bed'.
She finally got up and freshened up and took her mobile phone from the bedside table and look at the time.
12:37 p.m. it showed.
But it doesn't matter for our sleeping beauty as it is her day, Sunday and she can sleep as much as she want on this day and no one means no one tries to wake her up from her precious sleep.
After watching some notifications on her phone she started stepping towards downstairs. From where she can hear all voices of her family members and smiled at their voices.
"As salamu alaikum!" A small voice interrupted the talk they were having among themselves and turn towards the source of voice.
When they see their Princess standing near the end of staircase yawning in her pink and black pajamas which has a penguin print on it with a same knee length t-shirt having the same print.
Who would say she is 23 years old and Doctor and they all were talking about her marriage proposal in this morning only.
They mumbled their replies when she lazily walked towards one of the couches and sat down beside her Bade abba and put her head on his bicep.
And yet again closed her eyes.
Oblivious to the all set of eyes set on her, as the only thought was running in their mind was now their princess has really grown up.
It was an emotional moment for all of them, sensing eerie silence she again opened her eyes but watching everyone looking at her made her frowning.
'Is something wrong with me' she thought and looked at herself, she was wearing pajamas and her black stall on her shoulders, she was looking normal but what happened to all of them?
"What happened?" She finally asked.
In return no one said anything which made her more suspicious.
" Come on, go get food, you must be hungry after this long strenuous exercise called sleep ." Shaan finally said in order to lighten up the environment.
"Haha, so funny!!" She said while making faces towards him.
But eventually she turned towards her mother and she nodded smiling towards her daughter.
She got up from her place and followed her mother towards dining room but not before sticking her tongue at her cousin. Which made everyone chuckle in response.
She is never going to grow up ever!! They all thought but the thing they didn't know was coming situations will mould her into the person which they never have thought.
After all Change is the Fact of Life. Change is inevitable thing.
She was having her tea and paratha her mother has served and enjoying her time of life. When her mother said.
"Zehra, i wanted to talk to you something important." But she has vague idea what this important thing is about!!