Zehra's POV:
I haven't drive this much reckless in my entire life like i was driving now. I just wanted to reach home before them but i guess today luck wasn't on my side as when I entered first thing i saw was black color FIAT. It was same model as mine just in different color. I have my car in grey color.I parked my car and hurriedly took my apron, stethoscope and hand bag from passenger seat and entered the house.
First thing i saw when I entered was Mamma's angry face. Last time if I remember correctly Mamma was this much angry on me when i was stressing after my exams and fell sick in my 4th year. After that Mamma was never ever this much angry on me.
Removing my eyes from Mamma i saw Afi's glaring face, I gulped the lump forming in my throat and said.
"As salamu alaikum!"i said in small voice.
There were different voices of answer and I quickly went towards Mamma while removing my veil.
I stood beside Mamma and apologized to her in whispering tone but her expressions clearly told me that 'i am just leaving you now, i will talk to you after they will be gone.'
Then I turned my face towards the guests where i found Afi's khalajaan, a man looks like in near fifties,and a man in mid twenties. I immediately lowered my eyes looking at him. He was looking directly at me. So he was the guy papa thinks is the one for me.
"Beta, go freshen up and come downstairs!" Mamma told me and that was my cue to leave from there.
After nodding my head, I started ascending stairs.
"I will help her."i heard Afi's voice behind me.
I came to my room and released a breath which i was holding from the time of entering in my house.
I put my stuff on their respective places and started removing my hijab when afi entered.
"What was that? You are never late and why are you late today? Do you have any idea how panicked aunty was? And why were you not picking up calls? And..." i put my hand on her mouth to shut her up.
"Will you stop your questions so then only i would be able to answer your dozens of questions!" I said.
I removed my hand and stripped out of my abaya.
"Why blood is present on your apron?"she asked getting hyper, well she has a phobia of blood ,on seeing blood she starts getting nausea and dizziness.
"Shit!" I murmured and put apron in washing basket.
"Listen we have more important work right now! Just sit down here!"i said holding her from shoulders and made her seat on bed.
I gave her glass of water and started taking clothes from my cupboard and put it beside her on my bed.
Till that time she was back to normal.
"What is this? Are you going to wear this clothes?"she asked looking at my clothes which was a Straight Kurta and Plazzo.
"Do one thing, go and freshen up i will give your clothes now go!" She said pushing me towards bathroom.
I came out from bathroom wearing the dress afi has given me.
"Don't you think it's a bit much?" I asked looking at my reflection in mirror.
"No, you don't know anything, you are looking beautiful." She said.
I prayed my asar salah and put my hair in bun and wear my white color hijab.
"Wait wait! Put something on your face." Afi said.
"If your cousin wants to marry me then he have to accept me in my normal look and not in make up!" I said to her but eventually applied a lip balm, a little foundation, compact and kohl in eyes.
As I don't want to make my Mamma further angry than she is. Afi snickered behind me looking at me while i was applying lip balm.
I made a face looking at her and she returned that face. After that we started laughing thinking about our craziness.
After sobering up she looked at me and smiled.
"Zeh, seriously i am telling you Zaroon bhaijaan is very nice person and you both are perfect for each other. If you both will be getting married na i will be the happiest as you will be close to me.." she said and i looked at her and gave her a genuine smile.
I was about to tell her something when mamma entered the room and looked at me. After looking at me she gave me small smile for which i am relieved that at least she smiled.
She came towards me and cupped my face and kissed my forehead.
"Mera beta, bahut pyaari lag rahi ho!"she said.( my dear, you are looking very beautiful.)
"Me ab bhi tumhare late aanewali baat bhuli nahi hu, par hum iske baare me baad me baat karenge."she said returning back to her serious self. (I still haven't forgot about your late coming thing , but we will talk about that later.)
~*~
Zaroon 's POV:
After sound of screeching tires. She entered in house while adjusting her apron and stethoscope on her arm and handbag on her shoulder. She stopped at the entrance and looked towards her mother who was glaring at her. I found that scene very funny but I controlled my chuckle,she was getting scared of her mother i guess because she is late.
Then she turned towards Afiya and went towards her mother and stood beside her after saying her greeting which everyone returned.
She had removed her veil now and she is looking beautiful as usual even without any makeup. She i guess apologized to her mother which her mother ignored and was glaring at her.
Then she turned towards us. She looked at Ammi, abbu and then me. She immediately lowered her lashes when our eyes met for a moment.
After that i got back to senses that i was staring at her whole time, i looked down where noticed her metal chain watch and there was a blood stain on her apron.
She must have got emergency, that's why got late.
"Beta, go freshen up and come downstairs!" Her mother said.
She went from there and Afiya left behind her.
Then her family members started asking me questions about my work, how religious i am and related to some other stuff. I was answering their questions.
After around 20 minutes she came downstairs wearing off white colored Anarkali and white hijab, and white strap watch and delicate ring in her ring finger of right hand.
She came and sat on the couch beside her father. Mamma was asking her some questions and she was answering it. After some more conversations between all of them.
"Beta, why don't you guys go and talk in garden?" Her mother asked.
I was little nervous after her question i looked towards everyone's face to get some reaction. Everyone was looking calm except her brother who was throwing daggers at me like i have committed some serious crime.
Ammi patted my shoulder and nodded at me so i stood up. Zehra stood up from her place and walked towards entrance I walked behind her.
~*~
Zehra's POV:
I started walking towards staircase when i looked at him. He was answering some questions asked by Papa. He was looking little nervous as he was rubbing his hands again and again.
It was then I noticed his clothing. He was wearing Sky blue color shirt with dot prints and dark blue jeans,brown strap watch and brown shoes.
He has a good fashion sense unlike me.
I sat down beside papa and Afi's khalajaan started asking me questions about my studies and work while i was answering it. After sometime Mamma said.
"Beta, why don't you guys go and talk in garden?" Mamma said.
I looked at papa and he nodded his head at me then i saw him standing up so i also stood up and went towards entrance and he was following behind me.
When i came out of the house i looked at the car which i have parked there only in hurry so i went towards Abdul chacha, he is our driver and looks after our garden also. So i went towards him.
"Abdul chacha, aap meri car ko garage me park kar de inhe car nikalne me takleef hogi!!"i told him as my car was just behind his and it would be difficult to take reverse. ( Abdul uncle, park my car in garage as he will face difficulty in taking out his car from here!)
"Jee beta, me laga deta hu!"he said and left from there.(Yes dear, i will park it.)
Then I turned towards him and he gave me smile , I didn't knew how to react so i walk towards the chairs in garden.
~*~
Third person's POV :
They both sat on seats.Zehra sat on seat across from Zaroon and in between the chairs there was a small wooden table.
"As salamu alaikum!" Zaroon said.
"Walaikum as salam." She replied.
"How are you?" Zaroon asked not knowing what to say.
"Alhamdulillah, what about you?"she asked.
"Alhamdulillah i am fine!!"he replied.
After that they both fell silent as he was confused what to ask and she simply not knowing what to tell.
When she saw him looking at his watch, she felt that maybe he got late because of her.
"I'm sorry, i got late!"she said genuinely feeling bad.
"Oh no problem!"he said and assured her with a smile.
"Umm can i ask you a question?" He asked after some moments of silence, in answer she nodded her head.
"There was blood on your apron.."he didn't knew how ask her about her work.
Oh! So he noticed that but that was just a small stain. She thought.
"Actually there was an accident and patient was slipping into hypovolemic shock due to excessive blood loss, so it must have stained from his blood. And that's why i got late actually i was about to leave from there when this emergency case arrived and i got late as there was no senior Dr. was present on the spot." She said and then looked at him who was looking at her with a smile which made her blush on her blabbering.
"I'm sorry I blabbered too much!"she said getting embarrassed.
"No, you didn't blabbered too much and I really appreciate you for your efforts and work. Someone's life is more important than this meeting." He said in soft tone.
"Umm i wanted to tell you that if this will workout then i want to pursue further in this field and I want to practice medicine. What do you think on this?" She asked getting straight on the point but she was sure she heard small In sha allah from him on her first sentence.
"If this will work out then I promise you i will always support you in whatever decision you take. And it would be my pleasure if you keep practicing and helping people even after marriage."
"It is an amazing job what you are doing and i would never stop you from doing it and I assure you won't find any barriers from me or my family." He said putting his point of view.
She smiled genuinely at him hearing his answer.
"As you know i am not from same field as you are, do you have any issue in that?"he asked as he was feeling too insecure about this.
"No, I don't have any issue if you are from this field or not, what matters to me is your character and behavior, not your profession." She answered and he smiled.
" I am a family man and my parents are my priority, What I expect from you is to respect them and treat them righteously." He said.
"I will try my best to treat them as i treat mine. And i will expect same from you as family is my priority." She said.
He nodded in response. Some moments went in silence when she suddenly asked.
"Are you a practicing nuslim?"She asked.
"Yes,I pray five times and try to be as punctual as i can and i often pray nafl also.And i try to follow my deen as much as i can."he said purposely avoiding to tell about Tahajjud.
"I want to ask you the same question." He asked but he already knew the answers.
"I am not perfect but i try to follow deen at my level best." She said.
"Umm, have you performed Istikhara?" He asked.
" Not yet, but i will." She muttered her answer.
Before they could talk any further, Afi came towards them.
~*~