Two months passed in a flow it was a weekend and lots of preparations were going on in Aafandi family. Zumar and Feriha were busy in the kitchen since morning. Haani and Ezaan were busy in cleaning and other arrangements. Today Aarzam and his parents are coming for official selection of dates for the marriage. Everyone had a happy face. After so many years such a happy occasion came to their family.
"Yahaan, come to my home ASAP... we are short of hands... and lot of work is still pending..." Zumar called him.
"Ok.. I will be there soon... keep my breakfast ready..." he said..
"For your kind information... you are coming here for work not for eating... got it.."
"Stop it Zumar... give me the phone..." Feriha asked for phone.
"Yahaan.. sorry to disturb you dear but we are short of hands so please do us a favour.."
"Anytime Auntie... Haani is just like my younger sister... I will be at your service in just few minutes..." he said.
My mother hang up the call and started her scoldings
"Zumar why you keep on arguing with Yahaan, he is such a good child... you both fight like a kid.. You have grown up..."
"Mom you always take his side... Is he your real child or me... you like him more?"
"Why are you not thinking seriously about him... see Haani will be married in few days. We are worried about you... you are already settled in your career... then what are you waiting for..?."
"Mom... you again started this useless topic... I am still not ready.. for all this marriage stuff..."
"See Yahaan is so good to you... he is good to us also... his family background is good and above all you both have good understanding... where will you get all these advantages...?"
"Mom we are just friends... and why are you trying to force me on him... have you ever thought whether he like to marry me or not...and will his family accept me"
"U have such a good understanding you talk about each and everything why can't you talk about marriage.... Once you both are ready we will talk to his parents also..."
"Who said I am not willing to marry.... Aunt I am ready...but just for the sake of all the delicious food you make.. and where will I find such a beautiful and loving mother-in-law." he entered with a bright smile on his face...
"Think of the devil and devil is there..." I murmured
"And Aunt you are absolutely right... only I understand her very well... only I can tolerate all her tantrums... otherwise you'll never be able to find anyone who can handle her... which man in this world would be willing to marry this crazy girl" he rolled his eyes at her.
"Who asked you to raise my tantrums... I don't need anyone... I am capable enough to handle myself... no need to sacrifice yourself"
"I am fed up with both of you... Zumar stop your bickering... Yahaan here is your breakfast.. you must be hungry..." My mom arranged his breakfast on table.
"Thanks Aunt... you love me the most.." He pulled my hairs and left the kitchen.
"I will kill you..." I throw a potato at him.
"Zumar.. are you trying to hurt Aunt..." he catches the potato and gave me a cunning smile...
"Focus on your cooking... do not burn the food... " he added...and I looked at him with a murdering gaze. He knows best how to irritate me.
Aarzam and his family came in evening. By then, almost all the work has been completed. I made some traditional dishes and some continental food along with salad and few desserts. Mom prepared snacks to serve with fruit tea. Elders were talking about business and other stuff.
We youngsters moved to backyard for chatting...
Aarzam gave us gifts he brought from U.S. he brought me my favourite skin care products and a beautiful diamond bracelet for Haani. He put bracelet on Haani and she blushed...
"Oh my God Haani...!! you are blushing... you know how to blush..." Ezaan teased her.
"I know a lot more... U keep your mouth shut...and enjoy your gift" Haani fight back
"Yes... except cooking... Aarzam bro... get used to being hungry.. or you have to depend on cook.... don't expect any favour from her.. she don't even know how to make noodles..." he teased again.
Aarzam smiled at her... they love each other very much and finally they are getting married. Both the families are very happy.
Haani keep on offering snacks and other things to Aarzam.
"Learn something from her... you tomboy..." Yahaan started again..
"What's your problem... why you keep on teasing me..."
"It's for your good only... how will you impress your in-laws...After all you too have to go to in-laws one day?"
"I think it's none of your business..." I got annoyed and left the place as mom was calling me.
"Bro... you haven't seen sis when we were in City B... she was a very shy girl..." Ezaan told him
"Really... I can't believe... you might be forgetting something or it might be your dream or something like that... Zumar and shyness... these are two entirely different things.."
"You don't believe me... Haani... tell him whether I am right or wrong..." Ezaan said
"Yes Yahaan... sis was like that only... she was called silent queen.. She only talks to Aani and Zayden back then..."
"You don't know bro... When our family hit with crisis back then... she worked really hard but was not able to get admitted to her dream college even after clearing exams with top grades... at that time she didn't talk to anyone. she was having something in her heart but She didn't tell anything about her to anyone... she had even forgot how to laugh... sometimes even my mother gets worried abou her.... thanks to you... you changed her totally with your company.." Ezaan expressed his gratitude.
He looked shocked with this surprising knowledge about her. he then asked
"She didn't even talk to Aani and Zayden.?"
"Aani was with her but Zayden was studying in City S and I think they didn't have any contact after he left for City S..."
"Zumar and Zayden.... were they very good friends..?"
"Yes they were once best buddies.... they went together for school trip, they sometimes hang out together with Aani and Tahaan. They really care for each other... He was like a bodyguard for her protecting her from all the boys who want to persue her in school...sis even tried her first cooking for Zayden... you can see their photos in her album..." Haani said.
"What happened after that..?" he asked.
"Don't know what happened after he left for S city... I don't think they had contact after that... I don't know much about them..."
Yahaan started joining all the loose ends of the information he knew about her and Zayden. He heard their conversation at the engagement, he tried his best to guess the situation between them but was not able to reach a proper conclusion. But now he started to understand the situation between the two...
He finally got the answer why she was not willing to marry and why she didn't hesitate to accept Yahaan as her boyfriend infront of Zayden.... He analysed everything and smiled.
"Zumar... I will give you all the happiness of this world..." he made a promise to himself.