Final Chapter

Mutually, Ashar and I had decided to arrange a small wedding at the Church and invite only few people like his family and my friends. We had to get married properly this time in order to get rid of all the confusions. Ashar had asked the lawyer to renew our marriage papers also. After that, Ashar would publicly disclose our marriage.

The wedding date right now was indecisive. We had thought to discuss on it after he would be back from his business trip. He said the trip was important so he had to go, but he had promised me that he would be back in a week this time.

In his absence, I got a chance to spend some time with his family, even went for a baby shopping with Estella. She was so excited about her first baby that she had planned to buy all the stuf for the newborn by herself, so she invited me to go with her. Katherine and Matt also gave me a warm welcome after that party and told me stories of Zoya and how they took care of her altogether.

I was surprised, but above all I was happy. I couldn't remember the last time when I was happy like how I was nowadays. At times, I felt like to lock myself in a room and scream and laugh, even jump on a bed like a kid. I knew it sounded crazy but that's how I had been feeling nowadays. Ashar's love showed me the different side of this world, that was beautiful, colorful and worth living. The feeling of being loved by someone was so amazing that it left me smiling throughout the day. That stupid smile stayed on my face.

While Ashar was away, I fixed a meeting with Melanie; my friend Melanie who was there for me during my dark days. Since Andrew still worked as a butler at the mansion, I got Melanie's personal number from him. He said she had left the job about a year ago.

I entered into the restaurant where she asked me to come and moved my eyes around to search for the empty table. Putting my shoulder bag down to the table, I sat on the empty chair and waited for her. I was bit ashamed of never contacting her not even once in the past years because of my own mental turmoil. At that time, I just wanted to stay away from everything that had little or big connection with the Hobsons' family.

"Hey, Sanaya." A sweet, feminine voice called for my attention. I looked up.

"Mel..." My eyes glistened as soon as I recognized her. Sad smile lifted up the corners of my mouth as I stood up.

Her bouncy red curls were gracefully tied into a high ponytail. Few of the locks were resting on her shoulder. She was looking different, but elegant and dignified in a silk dark maroon button-up shirt and nude pants. Her nude blazer was hanging on her one arm. Melanie's fashion sense had been polished so much in all those years.

"I couldn't recognize you. Are you really Melanie?" I exclaimed, studying her appearance with surprised gaze from head to toe.

She grinned, came closer, encircling me into a hug, "I've missed you so much. Why didn't you give me at least a single call?"

I patted her back, smiled weakly against her shoulder and then pulled back, "I'm sorry. I couldn't...because...let's not talk about it, can we?"

She flattened her lips and motioned her head in agreement, "Take a seat."

We both settled down and ordered some snacks and drinks. I began feeling wistful as she reminded me of my loneliness and my old-self. As some people say, meeting with old friends evokes how much your life has changed - how much you've changed. I thought that if I wasn't that young at that time maybe I would've dealt the whole marriage situation differently, I was so immature and naïve in my late teenage years.

"So, tell me, what's the reason behind this change?" I hinted at her clothes through my eyes.

She crossed her arms on a table in front and slightly leaned forward, "All thanks to you. You created my interest in cooking. After you left, I gave a serious thought to learn that skill because I understood that in housekeeping profession you work too much, but your pay is not enough. So I thought of trying my hand in cooking, I did few courses and then applied at the local restaurant."

I widened my eyes at her, "Okay that's great. Then what happened?"

She explained, "I was working for Hobsons side by side while gaining some experience in cooking. That restaurant hired me and that's how I started my first job as a cook. Time passed and one day a customer came at the restaurant and offered me an opportunity. He was planning to open up his restaurant and asked me to join his chefs' team with a huge pay. I resigned from Hobsons and accepted his offer."

That's what I call it a miracle. In just few years, Melanie's professional life progressed so much. I was happy for her.

"I can bet you're a better cook than me. I always felt the potential in you." I said and took a bite of barbecue chicken wing.

"You'll remain my teacher always no matter if I'm cooking better than you." She smiled.

"I don't cook anymore. I only cook for myself and my daughter."

"Oh, yeah. I remember Zoya." She raised her finger at me, "You know I've seen how Ashar adorably took care of her. I wanted to contact you at that time and tell you this and clear your misunderstanding about him. He wanted you. He loved you."

"Hmm." Melanie's words once again saddened me and replayed the regretful memories of my past. I wiped off my hands with napkins and pulled back in my chair.

I didn't experience parental love, but I was happy that Zoya had such a loving father. She was lucky. I was happy that Ashar's didn't let her influenced by his tensed married life and raised her and gave her a proper environment, the kind of environment a toddler needs.

I would never forget this favor of him that he looked after my daughter in the best possible way. I knew Zoya was his daughter too, but still I was grateful of him and my love would increase for him every time I would think about his kindness as a father of Zoya.

"Are you two together now?" She quizzed.

I nodded, smiling, "Yep. There's no way I'm going to let him go ever again."

"Aww. Look at you. Sanaya is in love."

"Come on." I blushed.

We chattered for an hour and talked about our lives and other random topics. We promised to each other that we would remain in touch. However, I told her that it was unnecessary because I had no plan to go away from here so as long as I was here, I would remain in contact with Melanie.

💙

Once you become jobless, it's not easy to find a job again no matter how experienced you're. Besides, I hated job hunting process and still I had to go through that process again and again. Since I had shifted to New York, I had gone to one interview and I failed that one. Today was my second interview and I was not very hopeful about that interview as well.

It just five days I had come here, not many days had passed. Maybe I was being impulsive and exaggerating the problem. It's because I had decided to find a job until Ashar's return, but I don't think my plan was going to be successful.

My phone began ringing in my pants' pocket. I took it out and saw Ryan's name was flashing on the screen. I tapped on the accept button and moved the phone to my ear.

"Hey."

"So you've decided to ditch your friends after finding your man?" Ryan asked sarcastically.

I chortled, "It's not true."

"Then why you left early from my wedding? And you didn't even call me to apologize for your offensive crime."

"Offensive crime?" I exclaimed, "Besides, I didn't call you because I didn't want to disturb the privacy of the newly married couple."

"Wow, so sweet of you." He groaned. I could imagine him rolling his eyes.

"Stop whining. I'm sorry, okay?"

"Apology accepted. Only because I'm happy for you."

I smiled, "Thank you so much for everything, Ryan. You're a great friend."

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"No?" I responded, confusingly.

"Then, shut up."

"Okay, I'll call you back."

"Good." He cut the call.

I looked at my phone for a moment, thinking about my precious friends who were like a family to me. All that time, I kept complaining that I was an unlucky woman, only because I was so engrossed counting the bad things in life and not paying attention on the good things.

I understood how wrong and ungrateful I was! I had great friends, beautiful daughter and now a loving husband-to-be. And I would treasure those relations till the end of my life.

With that thought, I started moving forward to bring back Zoya from the mansion. I had told Katherine that I would pick up Zoya after the interview. I shifted here so I had to find a new, good daycare center for her till then Katherine suggested me to drop her to the mansion whenever I had to go somewhere. Ashar's family was quite attached to her and Zoya also liked to stay close to them.

💙

I changed into a nice, soft, short-sleeved midi dress. The watermelon red dress was not too tight nor too loose on my body, but fitting perfectly on me. Moving my hands against the fabric to straighten it, I ambled towards the dresser and saw my reflection in the mirror. I adjusted and tied the same colored belt around my waist and started doing my makeup.

Ashar was returning home today, so I decided to wear something good and formal. He said he would stop by tonight at my apartment before going back to his house. First I quickly prepared dinner for him and then I changed my clothes.

Zoya was there, sitting on the bed, coloring some plain, vector images that were in her drawing book, looking at my reflection after every two to three minutes. I used all the nude shades and did my makeup. Since it was not a date or any other, fancy occasion, I didn't go for any other color, but just those colors which were suitable for everyday make up. I didn't want Ashar to think that I was overly-dressed or something. I was only trying to look good for him.

The makeup was too light that he probably won't even notice, but it gave me a fresh and bright face. I brushed my hair, settling my front locks through few bobby pins. I framed my face through them and tried to make them look as natural as possible.

Once I was done, I looked myself in the mirror for the final look. I was looking fine, but plain. Something was missing.

Jewelry, yes. I thought.

Lowering down, I pulled opened my dresser's drawer and took out a pair of small, dangling earrings. The artificial, silver solitaire at the end of the pair was twinkling, enhancing their elegance. I wore them along with a dainty bracelet on my wrist.

I saw through the mirror, Zoya jumped out of the bed and ran to me. She closely observed my scattered cosmetics on the dresser and picked up a random lipstick out of them.

"Mommy, I want to put it on me. Mommy, I want to look pretty like you." She looked up at me, whining.

I let out a chuckle, kneeling down in front of her. She had finally learned to correctly pronounce the word pretty, "You look pretty without it. You don't need it."

"Just once, please." She looked eager to use my makeup so she turned towards the mirror, took my blush brush and started moving it against her cheek, mimicking me. I laughed at her cute action. She was just stroking it on her whole face and trying to act like a grownup.

I was about to open my mouth to ask her to stop doing that, but I couldn't because my phone started ringing. Standing up on my feet, I began walking towards it while Zoya got freedom to play some more with my makeup.

The caller was Ashar. Smiling coyly to myself, I took the call, "Hey. Did you arrive safely?"

"Yep. How are you?" His deep voice made my stomach flip.

"I'm fine. At what time you-"

"Can you please give your phone to Zoya? I want to talk to her." He cut me in.

"Is everything okay?" I asked in concern.

"Yes. Call Zoya." He persisted.

The smile on my face faded and replaced by a frown. After resolving my differences with Ashar, I took that phone away from Zoya which Ashar had given to her with a thought that she can now call him anytime through my cellphone. She doesn't need a separate phone. I would try to be a responsible, perfect mother from now. I had been reading blogs and watching videos online related to parental duties, learning some tips and techniques from them.

I looked at my phone for a moment before passing it to Zoya who had changed her skin color into crimson through my blush brush. Shaking my head at her in annoyance, I sat on my knees and cleaned the pink powder from her face through a tissue paper while she talked with her beloved Daddy.

"Yes, Daddy.....Without Mommy?"

I narrowed my eyes at the mention of my name. Ashar's behavior was making me suspicious. "Right now?...........Okay, Daddy. I'm coming."

As soon as she put the phone down, I inquired, "What he's saying?"

"Mommy, daddy is calling me outside. He said don't come with Mommy." She explained.

"What?" My face contorted in disbelief. If he was here why was he not coming inside? Did he change his plan or what?

"I wanna go."

"But you can't go all alone." I reasoned.

"Daddy said, tell mommy not to worry."

I arched a brow at her. I smelled a rat here now. Were they going somewhere if yes then why he was separating me from his plan? Did he change his mind about me in a week?

Sighing in exasperation, I permitted Zoya to do what her daddy had told her to. I stood on my feet and sat on the bed. Curiosity was bubbling up in me. I wanted to know what both of them were doing secretly. I would be so mad on Ashar if he had changed his plan of coming here. I mean, I had prepared dinner for him, even got ready for him and he was not coming here.

It had been a week since I last saw him and seems like he didn't miss me at all. He didn't even sound excited on call while talking to me and here I was being so eager to see him, hear him. I understand that both Zoya and Ashar were very much attached to each other, but that didn't mean they could ignore me.

I sat on my bed for like ten minutes all alone and tried to think of Ashar's reasons when finally my doorbell rang. Maybe, Zoya was back. I was going to get all the details from her what Ashar had said to her.

I pulled opened the door and got startled when my gaze witnessed Ashar instead of Zoya. My mind forgot all of the complains and anger in a swift and I felt myself lost into a trance. With the blue slim fit jeans, white striped shirt and a black jacket on it, he was looking dropped-dead gorgeous and somewhat delicious. My mouth literally filled with saliva.

A warm, perky smile slowly spread on his face as he looked at me. His smile further affected my senses and I felt my legs going weak.

"You're looking good." He commented, scrutinizing my appearance.

"Uh." Strange sound came out of my mouth unknowingly as I tried to react to his words. I think my voice was robbed.

He let out a soft, short chuckle. The sound of his chuckle reverberated through me and made me realize that it was my favorite sound in the whole world. "Sanaya, are we going to stand here and stare each other or you'll let me come in?"

"Oh. I'm sorry." I finally moved my gaze from his face, stepping aside.

He walked few steps inside. I turned around, combing my hair through my fingers to settle them once again.

Hold your horses, woman. Don't act like a hormonal teenager. I reminded myself and composed my posture while gulping down the saliva from my mouth.

I moved towards him, "Where's Zo-"

I stopped in mid sentence when I saw him going down on his one knee in front of me. My eyes widened to its full length. My heart raced in my chest for no reason. He suppressed the smile by flattening his lips and cleared his throat, "Don't think I'm hesitating because I don't like doing this. I don't mind sitting on my knees in front of the woman I love. I'm just feeling awkward only because I want to make it look perfect so that you can cherish this memory all your life and keep it in your heart."

Rubbing my temples in nervousness, I also tried to get rid of the awkwardness that stirred in me. It was my wish, still I was feeling nervous, surprised, alarmed all at once. I was not expecting this. To increase my surprise, Zoya entered into the house with a bouquet of fresh white lilies and red roses and stood beside her father. A shy smile was playing on her lips.

My face contorted into utter astonishment at the sight. Ashar took her in his arms and put her on his upright knee, looking back at me. The intensity in his eyes wobbled my legs. "I don't know if we're made for each other or not, but still I want to make you my fate. From today, I'm giving myself to you. I'll listen to your every condition, every wish. So, Sanaya, make me yours, own me."

The tears in my eyes blurred my vision. I didn't know he could be so cute, so romantic. I was falling for this man with every fiber in me.

He slid his hand inside his pocket and took out a small black box. My breath caught in my throat as soon as I understood what he was about to do. Zoya was silently observing everything. He opened the box and extended in front of me, "Marry me."

I fought the urge to say awe aloud and stood still. A faint smile lingered on my lips when my eyes landed on a ring sparkling in that box.

"Mommy, please say yes." Zoya overlapped her bottom lip over her upper lip, "Daddy said, we all can live together if you will say yes."

I lifted my brows at her innocent plead, suppressing my smile. That little woman was advocating her father. She pulled down from Ashar's lap and walked to me, offering me the bouquet, "Please marry Daddy."

Ashar began grinning and I followed him. I took the bouquet from her and kissed her cheek, "You used Zoya purposely, right? You knew she will do all of your work and convince me."

He shrugged at my words, "So is that a yes?"

I smiled, switching my eyes from him to Zoya, "Who can say no to such a cute proposal?" I bent down a little to level my face with Zoya, "Tell your beloved daddy that I said yes. I will marry him."

Zoya started jumping and clapping her hands after hearing my answer. Ashar stood up on his feet and came forward. I stood upright. He stared at me. The glint of playfulness played in his eyes. He took my hand in his and finally slipped the ring in my finger. The warmth of blush crawled up my neck, reddening my cheeks. I felt the urge to kiss him right there, but stopped when I remembered that Zoya was here, looking at us.

"Mommy, are you married with Daddy now?" Zoya asked with a toothy smile.

Ashar and I both stepped back while laughing at her question. Ashar lifted her up in his arms, "Almost. My baby is acting like a big girl now."

"I'm a big girl, Daddy." She pouted, "Will you watch Powerpuff Girls with me?"

"Sure. Why not?" Ashar agreed, "Let's go." He was about to move the other way, but he stopped and turned to me, "I'll see you then."

"Yeah." I passed a small smile to him, still blushing.

Ashar and Zoya both settled down on the grey sofa and switched on the television while I went to my room and locked myself there for few minutes. If I wasn't hesitant, I would've started jumping in happiness just like Zoya was doing a while ago. Inhaling the fragrance of fresh flowers, I recalled the entire scene in my head. With reddened cheeks, I put the bouquet on the bed and observed my ring, stroking it. Was it a real diamond ring? Was it really mine? Was I living my happy ending? Those thoughts were overwhelming me.

That ring had a large diamond in the center, that's sparkle could momentarily blind someone's vision. It was surrounded by the mini diamonds. The design was elegant and beautiful. Ashar surely had a good taste.

My cup of happiness was overflowing and making me go crazy. God, he was so cute. I was really drooling over him and his charms. That's it. I wanted to kiss him right now, right this moment. I couldn't wait anymore. Desire stirred in me, aided by emotion and love for him that was bubbling up in me.

I opened the door and stepped out of the room. Clearing my throat, I called his name, "Ashar, come here. I want your help in something."

Zoya and Ashar both were cozied up on the sofa. Zoya was watching her favourite cartoon while Ashar was stroking her hair. When he heard my voice, he turned his head and looked at me with knitted brows.

Giving me a nod, he said, "Okay." He moved his face again to Zoya and said, "I'll be back."

After confirming that he was coming here, I again went inside my room and even closed the door, waiting for him. The door slowly opened and he peeked inside through his head.

I held his hand and pulled him in the room, closing the door behind. He got startled a little. I pinned him against the closed door. "What are you-" I shut him off by crashing my lips on his. He stiffened at first, but relaxed afterwards. I clung to him, running my fingers in his hair and kissed him with all the passion, with all the strength I had in me.

"Feeling horny?" He breathed on my mouth. I gave him a slight nod. "Okay, let's do it in a proper way." He cascaded his arm around my waist and the other hand at the back of my neck, pulling me to him and pressing his lips on mine.

My breathing quickened at the fastest speed possible that I thought my heart was about to explode. He changed our positions and moved me against the back of the door. I pulled his jacket down, hinting him to remove it. He understood. He removed the jacket while his mouth was still working against mine. Enclosing me into his arms once again, he kissed me with hunger, with desire.

"I love you." I blurted out lowly, parting my mouth from him to get some air, "I want to keep you for myself only."

He moaned in response, switching his gaze from my eyes to my mouth. His lips slightly stretched into a smile as he leaned closer, "The feeling is mutual. Believe me, I adore you with everything in me." He once again attached his mouth with mine.

This time we both fought for dominance. I kissed the every nook and corner of his mouth. He let me took the lead when he understood my eagerness.

"Daddy, look they killed the monster." Zoya's sudden voice frightened both of us. We immediately pulled apart. Her voice broke my haze of pleasure.

At first we both gave an awkward stare to each other, then burst into laughter. My cheeks heated up in embarrassment, changing their color.

"I should go." Ashar blushed, like me.

I nodded, stepping aside from the door. He opened it and walked out. I followed him after rearranging my hair and dress and wiping off the aftereffects of our make out session from my face.

Once I was out, I saw Zoya was sitting on Ashar's lap and telling the whole story of today's episode; how bravely those little girls defeated the monster. I joined them on the same sofa.

Zoya slid down from Ashar's lap and snuggled close to me, "Mommy, who is your favorite among them?"

My heartbeat was still unsteady, giving me shivers. I caressed her head and pretended to think on her question, "Umm, I think I like Bubble the most. She's cute and looks like you."

I turned my head towards Ashar, who was smirking at me. A gleam of amusement was sparkling in his eyes. His swollen lips were an indication of our heated moment inside my room, tightening all my feminine body parts.

"Really, Mommy? But, I can't fly like her." She looked up at me.

"Baby, it's fake. No one can fly in real."

She rested her head back on my chest, "Do I've big eyes like her?"

"Yes, your eyes are much bigger and prettier than her."

She smiled, nestling more closer to me, "Look, Mommy, there's a new, creepy monster again." She pointed her finger towards the television's screen.

"Yeah. Let's see how they are gonna defeat him." I said, trying to sound eager.

After that, Zoya didn't say anything, silently enjoying the cartoon. Ashar scooted closer to me, brushing his arm with mine. He leaned to my ear, whispering, "You know you can use my shoulder."

I turned my face to him, looking at him with adoration. He raised his brows, wordlessly asking for my answer. I pressed my lips together, stopping them from stretching into a smile and rested my head on his shoulder. He took my hand in his, lacing his fingers with mine.

While Zoya enjoyed her favourite cartoon series, Ashar and I enjoyed each other's warmth and comfort in silence. That's how I had imagined my life to be from the very start; Just a normal, ordinary life with my daughter, with my husband or almost husband. I would want to spend the rest of my days like today.

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