After dinner, Ayesha stayed with her aunt the whole time. She followed her to the kitchen to serve the dessert into bowls, helped her share the dessert, and sat next to her in the living room. Ever since the talk with her brother, she hadn't spoken another word. Ayesha yawned and set her head on her aunt's shoulder. Her aunt turned to her and offered a small, warm smile. Ayesha just blinked and yawned some more.
Her aunt soon realized that Ayesha wasn't going to go to bed on her own and decided to join her for the night. She took her husband aside to let him know and watched as his face converted into a frown and he pouted his lips for extra effect. She chuckled and ruffled his hair before leading Ayesha up the stairs and into her assigned room. There, she sent Ayesha to freshen up and then tucked her in bed.
Zeeshan chuckled at his uncle's forlorn look as he climbed the stairs to his own room.
"Wait until it's your turn son.., We'll see who gets the last laugh!" His uncle challenged.
Zeeshan waved his uncle off and made his way into his room, sighing.
"Seems it's taking forever to get to my turn chachu (Younger uncle)," Zeeshan complained in his head.
Zeeshan had grown to see the elder couples around him get all lovey-dovey. They had their fights and quarrels, but nothing could separate the said couples once they made up. He wondered what would be like to quarrel with someone that wouldn't back down. When she would glare at him with a frown attached to her beautiful face. Her hands clipped to her hips and she raised herself to her toes to try and overcome his intimidating height. Her honey brown doe eyes...
Wait...
Did he say honey brown?
It was just a subconscious thing, right?
What the hell was wrong with him?
Is he really attached to her?
Does he actually like her?
Zeeshan shook his head.
"Remember how heavenly her voice sounded?" His subconscious asked.
Oh, he did. He remembered every single second of her moving lips. But it was all a restricted area. The girl was still devastated by her parents' death. Not to mention, the only person she felt safe with was his Chachi (younger aunt). Zeeshan sighed before he made his way to the closet to change into his pajamas. All the way, from the shower to the bed, Zeeshan thought about how Ayesha kept weeping ever since he saw her. Soon enough he was checking in in slumberland.
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It was the weekend. The Zaweri women woke after the sun on the weekend. They would make their way together to the kitchen and breakfast would be made extra special. So when the ladies made their way to the kitchen and found Ayesha showered and dressed, they were shocked. Ayesha usually woke up later in the day. Sometimes even in the afternoon. But there she was standing behind the stove and flipping pancakes.
"Assalamu aleikum Ayesha, dear, you're up early today." Her aunt announced.
Ayesha turned and nodded at her aunt. She then returned to her what she was doing. The other ladies then decided to change course and set the dining table. Breakfast was done early, so everyone gathered around the living room. But not Ayesha.
Ayesha made her way back to the kitchen.
"What is wrong with Ayesha?" Ayesha's khala (maternal aunt) heard her mother-in-law ask.
"Oh, nothing. The girl's just excited for her brother's arrival." That was what her aunt replied.
Two hours to her brother's flight landing, Zeeshan left with her uncle and Iqbal, her uncle's son. Ayesha was still in the kitchen, making more aromatic dishes. The girls made their way to the kitchen and gave her company as she dashed around the expensive tiles, chopping vegetables and stirring pots. She refused to let anyone near the stove, let alone help cook. So the girls took to gossiping and telling Ayesha about their favorite and least-liked people.
Ayesha listened to it all, a smile on her face when no one was watching. Once Ayesha was done, the girls helped her set the table, and then they proceeded to sit in the backyard with everyone else, waiting for Ayesha's uncle and the rest.
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Zeeshan had just reached the airport with his uncle and Iqbal when his uncle received a text explaining that Ayesha's brother's flight had landed. He had never met this person and was very skeptical. But the guy got Ayesha to talk, and that's all that mattered... for now. Soon, Zeeshan was standing at the International Arrivals terminal with Iqbal holding a name card.
A while later, two men approached them. One of them had the same hair color as Ayesha's, not that Zeeshan was making notes or anything. It was a mere observation, that's all. The other guy looked shorter than the first and had blue eyes, a contrast to his black hair. The first guy introduced himself as Parvaiz and the second introduced himself as Parvaiz's best friend Fardan. The guys looked almost the same, muscular physique from the military training, combat pants, and fitting plain t-shirts. Iqbal helped load the car with luggage and then made their way to the Zaweri Mansion.
"...So, I look around the plane for entertainment and see Fardan seating across the aisle. We talked and I realized he hasn't met Ayesha for a long time. Then I invited him over for dinner. I hope that's okay Khalu (Maternal uncle)?" Parvaiz explained.
'Hasn't met her for a long time? Why not just marry her off to him?' Zeeshan thought to himself in contempt.
"Oh, that's fine, son. How is the business coming along? Ask for assistance if you need any." His khalu confirmed.
They continued to talk business the entire ride to the mansion. Once there, Zeeshan honked and parked in the driveway. The gardener assisted them in offloading the luggage. They made their way to the backyard next and Parvaiz collided with Ayesha.
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Ayesha's eyes were fixed on the backdoor. And when she heard the honk of a car, she rose up and made her way towards the house.
"Ayesha, where are you going dear?" Lubna asked.
Ayesha just shook her head and continued her walk. Reaching the door, she saw her brother make his way to the backyard. She made a dash towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug. Her brother chuckled and tightened the hug.
"How are you doing, my Chanda (moon)?" Her brother asked.
"OK." That was all Ayesha answered with.
It was muffled in her brother's chest, but no one cared. Her brother greeted their khala (maternal aunt) and her in-laws with her sticking to his chest all the while.