CHAPTER 24 -HIS CAPTIVATING EYES ~ Ayesha💕

A Y E S H A : -

"Mama, Do you need some tea?" I ask mama as I poured some tea for baba jaani in his cup.

"Thank you beta," he passed me a smile, and I returned one.

When I didn't heard mama's response I looked up to see that she was having her breakfast but her eyes were looking distant as if she is in some deep thoughts.

"Mama?" I asked her again, thinking she didn't heard me first.

She still didn't looked up from her plate. I frowned, what is that she is thinking so intently about?

"Ayeeza?" baba called her, she snapped her head up and looked at our confused faces, She looked startled for a second but composed herself.

"Huh? You called?" She asked snapping from her daze.

"Yes. Ayesha was asking you something," baba jaan pointed at my direction.

"Oh, um yes beta?" She asks,

"I was asking, if you would like some tea?" I asked her lifting the kettle in my hand.

"Tea? Um yeah, sure." I frowned but poured some tea in a cup and passed her. Which she took and passed me a smile. And I didn't failed to notice that the smile quite didn't reach her eyes.

Mama was never like this. She always used to chat on the dining table, to lift the mood. But from this morning I observed she was quite distant. She isn't even having her breakfast properly. I wonder what is going in her mind.

"Amma, are you okay? Is something bothering you?" Farhan asked, who was seated beside me.

I looked at him to see, a frown on his face. Oh, I guess I was not the only one who noticed.

Mama who was about to take a sip from her tea, froze midway and looked up at Farhan.

"No, why you ask?" She shrugged.

"You seem in some deep thoughts," he paused for a second, "Do you not feel well?"

Mama shook her head, playing with the corner of her toasts, "No no, I am fine. It's not about me."

"Then about who?" Farhan frowned before asking, "Is it about mina? Is someone bothering her?" Farhan's voice suddenly changed from concern to anger. I could feel his protective brother side coming up. I kept my hand on his arm, Indicating him to keep calm.

Before Farhan could predict anything more in his anger, mama interrupted.

"No, nothing happened to mina." Mama said defensively. "I am fine. Nothing happened." she dismissed.

I highly doubt that.

"Baba what happened?" Farhan now directed this question to baba.

"She is not even telling me, And ayeeza don't you deny it." He said to mama pointing his finger towards her. "Any person who sees you can tell something is bothering you. Even Ayesha observed. Right?" He turned to me and I nodded my head. Like a obedient child.

"Am I that bad, in hiding things?" Mama said settling her cup down on the table.

"Well, obviously," Farhan scoffs, Mama looked at me and I nodded.

"I think there is now no point to hide now," she mumble massaging her temples with her fingers.

"Please Ayeeza tell us, what key to treasure are you hiding?" I heard baba and we all turned towards baba. I gave him an amused look.

He cleared his throat and said "Whatever. Tell Ayeeza"

"Well... Fine. Amma is coming to turkey." she said and a silence fell over the dining table.

"See it was noth- Wait. Did you said Amma? Your Amma? As in Saso mom?" Baba suddenly chocked on his tea.

Amma as in her mom, which means also my baba's mom. Which is also my grandma. Which is Bi jaan. Oh, just Bi jaan. WAIT. BI JAAN.

"Bi jaan?" I sputter out alarmed. And now everyone turned towards me. I realised I was loud. too loud if you ask.

"Yeah. Bi jaan, your and my Bi jaan." Farhan shrugged looking at me weirdly.

I composed myself and gave him a tight lipped smile.

"Yeah. Just Bi jaan" I looked away biting my lower lip.

"See that's why I was thinking civil and calm ways to tell you. Come on junaid, stop being so gloom. She is not gonna kill you," I heard mama saying baba jaan.

"She can if she wants." I heard baba jaan mumble.

"And when did she informed you?" Farhan asks adding a few olives from his plate to mine,

I give him a side eye, and he subtly ignore it.

"Yesterday, After hira and humza left, I got her call." Mama sighs, a momentary silence fell over the table, everyone busy in their thoughts of the lady hitler when mama asked,

"But why were you so shocked Ayesha?" The olive slipped from my finger as Mama turned her attention to me now. I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment, I shouldn't been so loud.

"Eh, I was... Surprised?" I suggested a reasonable excuse. She looked at me somewhat amused and shook her head.

I looked down at my plate and left the half eaten omelette and toast. Suddenly I lost my appetite.

Ahh! Why Bi jaan. That women is what you call intimidating, bossy. She literally rules everyone. After Dada jaan's death, she became more bossy, she is one of the people in society, whom we all be afraid will judge us. She is like a female version of my baba, except she is nine times more verse.

Nine but not ten because she can be sweet only if she wants. Which is rarely or never. Well it has been never only to me. I don't know why but she is sweet only to her grandson's. She is one of the women of old thinking, that favours sons over daughter despite she has own two daughters. Hypocrite I know. I don't know of my other female cousins, but she is really rustic to my mom and me.

Well for my mom, she is her daughter in law, there have to be a drama, but what problem she has with me, I fail to understand. I've been always scared, when she visits us. And time being I got used to her behaviour. But now it is different, I am married now, To Farhan which means she is also my Dadi- saas. She was so judgemental when I was her grand daughter, Don't know what obstacles I have to face now.

My stomach churned in anxiety. I think I need to talk to my mom. She will encourage me. And maybe some tips about being a good bahu? Ah, I've never seen mama as a saas, or tried to impress her, cause she never made me feel like a outsider, she treated me like her own daughter. Why her mother has to be like this?

"So When is she coming?" I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Farhan's speak next to me,

"In two weeks, She is in turkey for about five months, She is in Izmir City now, She will come to Istanbul two weeks later." Her voice turned a little grim at the end,

Why is she in Izmir now? Who lives there?

Mama sighed and said "I really miss those days when Safina and her Family would come to our house in istanbul, And  we Used to have a nice get together when Amma used to visit us together." mama said with a small smile on her face, her eyes holding longing look.

Safina phupho. Yeah, I remember she lives in lzmir. But what I heard from my other cousins that safina phupho's family doesn't go well with Aunt Ayeeza's family. I never knew the reason. I didn't find any reason to know what's going in other's life. I am fine being careless.

"What can we do when those people couldn't care less about their own blood relatives," baba jaan said and I felt spark of tension rising in the atmosphere.

I frowned. What? Who people. Are they talking about safina phupho?

"Please dad, don't waste your time thinking about those people who can't even come to check on their relatives," Farhan scoffs sipping his black coffee,

"Bloody selfish people," my eyes widened as I heard  Farhan mutter under in his breath.

Okay I am really lost here. I should've listened to my cousin's gossip. Atleast I could have a little idea, what they are talking about. I really regret not being a nosy person, for this situation atleast. I wanted to ask and clear my doubts but I felt that it is highly disrespectful.

"Afsos hota hai mujhe, meri hi behen mera sath nahi de saki," mama says blinking her eyes rapidly to avoid the tears, [ It disheartens me, how my sister never tried to understand me.]

But why? What happened? As far as I remember, wait now that I think in the last few years, I haven't seen safina phupho and mama together, my careless personality couldn't care less at that time. But now this time I regret being careless, I wish I could atleast be a little nosy. Safina phupho didn't even came to my wedding also, She called me a day later on my walima and congratulated me. And when I asked her reason for absence, She gave an excuse that phupha jaan had some work. Now that I think I really need a FBI officer to investigate this.

"Okay enough, Don't sour your mood by remembering them. Hm?" Baba says wiping his mouth with a napkin before standing on his feet.

"Ayeeza relax, don't think too much and finish your breakfast. When saso mom will arrive, I will handle it." I heard baba jaan assure mama, before he walked away from the dining table,

I stare down at the pink floral pattern on my cup and trace it with my fingers,

I had just this one no many questions. Why? Who? When? What happened? Why am I not a nosy person.

"Farhan," I heard baba jaan's voice calling from the hall. They might be leaving for office.

Whenever I went to a family gathering, I didn't used to sit with my cousins, knowing how much they love to gossip on everyone's lives. But just one time why didn't I listened Farhan's gossip. But at time I didn't knew I was going to marry Farhan. So partially it's also not my fault. Again why am I not a no-

"Ouch," I hissed and placed my hand on my side as I felt someone deliberately pinching it. I looked up to find the culprit which was none other than Farhan. Who had a amused glint in his eyes.

"Why did you that?" I cried out, still massaging my waist.

"You were zoned out, and I had no choice." he defended,

"You still didn't needed to do that, you could've called me." I looked around us, only to see that mama and baba jaan's seat were vacant. Was I really thinking that deep that I didn't even noticed them leaving?

"Yes you were," I snapped my head to Farhan who had his lips pursed,

How did he know what was I thinking? I looked at him skeptically.

He chuckled. He actually chuckled and not the sarcastic, angry one, it was an amused one.

"You my wife, are like a open book." He stated amusingly,

Wasn't he getting amused a lot lately? Is this his new trick or something?

How could he read my expressions? I always have a poker Face. No one knew what was going on in my mind except for murat and mom. But how could he-

"Now you are thinking how can I read your mind, while others can do? Correct me if I am wrong." his smirk just grew more wide, as he shifted in his chair, turning towards me.

"How do you know what's in my mind?" I tip my chin up,

"Your expressions are quite predictable."

"Really? But how come any other person couldn't predict by my expressions but only you?" I tipped an extra sweet smile,

My smile dropped as he leans in his chair towards me, so close that our nose almost touched. I wanted to move back, but for some reason I couldn't. His hazel gaze held me captive. inviting me to loose everything and drown in those pools of hazel and never come back.

"Well, maybe because I've inherited this talent from somewhere between," He stared at me intently. I didn't failed to notice the change of tone in his voice, which made a shiver run down my spine.

"Between what?" I ask not moving my eyes from his,

His lips tugged down in an quiet charming smile, "Take the guesses."

"I don't like guessing." I shrug nonchalantly,

"Uhm," he hummed, "That sounds like a you problem."

"Thank you for assessing my problems, kind sir." I chuckle,

"Pleased to be assisted, Madame." He counter back, and I pause for a moment reeling in this moment, for the first time we are having a conversation like this,

Like a normal, cute, happy couple. It kinds of feel unreal.

I couldn't stop staring at those captivating hazel eyes, the look in his eyes was so intent, so I could say, almost sensual.

The notification ping of his phone made us snap from our little trance.

Abruptly I got up from my chair and stared collecting the empty plates from the table. I felt blood rushing to my cheeks.

I heard the screech of chair, as he got up, Still I couldn't match my gaze to his. I was kind of embarrassed for the reasons I don't know why.

"I am leaving for office," He cleared his throat.

I turned towards him, still not meeting his gaze, and nodded my head.

He placed his knuckles under my chin and lifted it, levelling my eyes to his.

"Bye then," his eyes held amusement. This was the most look, I've seen in his eyes, rather than it's cold usual look.

"Bye," I whispered in a daze.

He shook his head and walked away from the dining room, leaving me with flushed cheeks and an accelerated heart beat. I shook my head, I am behaving like some love sick teenager who just got a smile from her crush. Truly pathetic, I know.

From where my thoughts went from Fearing Bi jaan's arrival, Safina phupho's family disputes to Farhan making me giddy.

"I will do that madam," I heard a timid voice. I looked up to see Julia standing near the table, with a wide smile on her face.

I match her smile and walk towards her and gave her a hug, she seemed startle but nonetheless hugged me back after a few seconds, "We all missed you."

"Thank you Julia, I missed you all too." she laughs pulling away from the hug and instantly grabbed the dishes from the table, but pauses looking at my face, before she could ask something I fill her up,

"I fell, No it does not hurts. And I am alright." I fill every question and she nods reluctantly, resuming back to pick up the empty plates,

"I can't tell you how bored we were without you, and Aunt Meryem couldn't stop talking about you every two seconds." She chuckles and I grab few empty tea cups and follow her to the kitchen.

"Really? What does she say?" I chuckle, as we walk in the kitchen,

Before Julia could reply we hear the voice of our favourite aunt Meryem as she turns towards me dropping the knife on the cutting board, "seni özledim küçük kuzum."  She exclaims happily and I rush towards her giving her a hug, although I only understand her calling me little lamb, still I couldn't answer her an Evet  to that. [ I missed you my little lamb]

I look over her shoulder to Julia who mouths saying the transition and I nod saying, "I missed you too, aunt Meryem."

She pulls back and grabs my face, her face drops as she notices the bruise on my face, "Allah allah burada ne oldu? kızım?"  [ oh god, What happened here, my daughter?]

"Uh Um I fell, aunt Meryem, I am fine, really." I assure her grabbing her shoulder,

"Fell? From where?" She frowns,

From a cupboard box in a small store room fighting for my life.

"From...from a ladder." I cringe internally, someone give me an award for lying.

"But...what were you doing on a ladder madam?" Julia wonders setting the last of the cups in dishwasher.

"Oh.. um," I chuckle awkwardly,

"Your madam is quite adventurous, Julia."

Farhan voice fills in, I turn my head and watch him walking inside the kitchen.

"Sir- do you-" Farhan cuts Julia off,

"No, I don't need anything, don't stress yourself." Farhan waved her off and she nodded resuming her work.

"Farhan," aunt Meryem smiled at him, "nasılsın, benim çocuk?" [ how are you, my child]

Farhan nods his head with a small smile, "iyiyim. Sen nasılsın?"  [ I am fine, and you?]

"iyiyim, çocuk, iyiyim."  Aunt Meryem gave him a big smile before going back to chopping vegetables which left seeing me. [ I am fine, child, fine.]

Farhan looked back at me tilted his head, "Can I have a minute?"

I nod and follow him to the dining room, "I didn't knew you are so close to them." Farhan says as we reach the dining table,

"Yes," I chuckle, "They both are a great company for me when I am alone." I sigh leaning against the dining table chair,

"Didn't you left for office?" I ask.

He nodded, "Yes, I did, but I forgot to give you this," he reaches towards his briefcase and slid the zip, before taking out an small white box,

"What's that?" I ask,

"Your new phone. I ordered it yesterday." He says extending the box towards me.

My eyes widened as I look down at the apple logo on the box, "isn't this the latest one?" I tried to conceal the shock and excitement in my voice as I reach for the box.

"Yes it is, and much better than your matchbox iPhone 4." He goaded tapping on the box.

I frown, "That was my first phone okay." I defended, opening the box lid and taking out my new phone, turning it around, I nearly controlled myself from screaming and stopping my foot in excitement, seeing the rose gold colour.

"Thank you." I replied giddily, admiring my new phone.

"You're welcome." I heard him mutter musingly.

I look up to find him staring at me weirdly, like you look at a child who gets excited seeing bubbles.

Clearing my throat I kept the phone back on it's box, "I will set it up later." He nodded still standing staring at me.

"So..." I draw, "Aren't you suppose to you know... go to office?"

He clicks his tongue and starts straight, pursing his lips together, he nods, "Right." And with a last glance he walks away from the dining room. "Don't forget to take your vitamin medicines." He calls out,

"Right," I mumble looking down at the box in my hand with a smile on my face.

After setting my old iCloud Id on my phone, I left it in my room as the transfer process goes long, waiting on it, I went back downstairs, to the living room and saw mama seated on the couch, with a magazine in her hand.

"Where is baba?" I ask sitting beside her.

"Office." She replies turning the magazine pages.

"Baba has gone to the office?" I wonder,

"Yes. He can't stay at house for long." She shakes her head, "That man loves working so much, if he rules the country, he would even make weekend a working day." She closes the magazine,

"Thank god he doesn't." I chuckle.

"How is mina there? You said her exams are going on?" I ask leaning back on the couch.

"Ah, don't even ask. She was about to cry when she got to know we were coming here." She says picking up her phone from the centre table, "She might be going now to write exam, let me give her a call and check on her, okay?" She says scrolling down the call log.

"Oh I almost forgot, did you had your medicines? Farhan told you were prescribed some vitamins after breakfast. He reminded me to check on you." she kept her phone aside and eyed me suspiciously,

I bit my tongue as I remembered I didn't have it. I already forgot about it last night to which Farhan gave me a nasty glare and also reminded me to take it after breakfast.

"I was just about to go," I smiled sheepishly,

"Ayesha, beta don't neglect your health" she scolded me.

"Yes mama, I will take it now." I nodded and went upstairs to my room.

I went to my room and took the medicines which were lying on the nightstand. After having it I checked my new phone and was happy to see it updated. Everything from my old phone was transferred.

There were obvious thousands of missed calls and unattended messages from the night before. Going to my call log, I decided to call

my mom.

"Salam mama," I greeted sitting down on my bed.

"Stay blessed my child. You got your phone back?" She asks.

"No, Farhan got me a new one." I say toying with the bangles on my wrist.

"Uh ah someone got a new phone. Congratulations." She chuckles.

"Thank you mom." I laugh.

"Did you heard? Bi jaan is coming," She sighs.

"Yes, I heard it." I couldn't help but feel the churning anxiety in my stomach. "Excited to see mom in law mother?" I asked mockingly.

"Yes, so excited. I am flying in seven skies right now." I could picture her rolling her eyes.

"Uff, jokes aside, I am not worried that she is coming, she always does. But I am worried for you. You don't know what she will do." I could hear the anxiety laced in her tone.

"You are not helping me mom, I trying to not to think about it." I let out a cry.

"I know sorry, I am worried for you, you know that woman is a living dynamite by all this years I have learned my ways to handle all her taunts and rustic comments, don't know how will she behave with you." I bit my lip. Yes that's bi jaan, she is one hella scary woman. She is what you can say hitler's sister.

I took a deep calming breath before saying,

"But she's coming after two weeks, I have some time to prepare from her wrath." I got up from the bed and started pacing in the room. Who was I trying to compose? Mom or me?

"Hm and one more thing Ayesha, don't say anything I repeat anything about bi jaan there, that's your in laws house now and more over bi jaan is your mother in laws mother, it won't sound nice. I know ayeeza aapa is very understanding but still beta keep all your concerns and doubts to yourself, if any you can tell me okay?" She instructed me.

"Yes." I kept all my fear and thoughts aside and listened to my mom.

"Prove her my upbringing Ayesha, I trust you with that." I stopped pacing around and I felt a surge of determination in me suddenly. Bi jaan is no hitler really. That I have to be that scared of her, I can, no I will prove her that I am good daughter in law.

"I will show bi jaan how my mother thought me, and prove her your upbringing right." I said with an unknown determination.

"That became a little dramatic but alright. I am saying this to you because all the twenty five years of my marriage, and seven years of staying with her, that woman has never failed to give me a tough time." She says. In my dad's family, all of his brother's were married off in the family, but my mom was the first outsider who got married to my dad by the wish of my late grandfather, hence the reason for the evergreen tiff between bi jaan and my mom.

"Time has changed mom, so did people. But bi jaan didn't and that's what scares me." I sigh leaning against the cool balcony door.

"True, but always remember, whatever she might say, answer her with respect. I know you do, but let me say it you again. Respect your elders." My mom says and I nod agreeing with her.

A thought popped in my mind, "Mama can I ask you something?" I asked sliding the balcony doors and stepping inside it. The cold mid November winds gushed through me, making me shiver.

"Yes, what is it?" she inquired,

"Um maybe." I shrugged and sat on my beloved swing.

"Go ahead."

"Mama did something happened between aunt ayeeza and safina phupho's family?" I asked the dreaded question,

"Why are you asking that? Did something happened?" Her voice unsure.

"Not really, it's just that I heard mama I mean aunt ayeeza telling that bi jaan is in antalya city now in safina phupho's home and she also mentioned about missing the old days? Mum am I missing something?" I read my thoughts to my mom.

Not hearing my mom's voice I look at the phone to check weather she was still on line or not.

"Hello? Mom you there?" I ask,

"Huh? Yeah um," I heard her taking a deep breath,

"They have some problems between them, for few years now."

"Few years? But didn't they used to be so close to each other, as far as I remember from my childhood?"

She sighs, "Yes they used to be, but after Fahad's demise, everything changed."

"Fahad's bhai's demise?" I asked confused,

"Fahad, Farhan's elder brother who passed away four years ago, don't you remember him?"

"Yes, Fahad bhai, I do remember him but why is his death related to this fight?"

A blur picture of Fahad bhai formed in my mind. He was one of the sweetest person I knew, but somehow I couldn't remember the time when he died.

"But how did he passed away mom? And why can't I remember anything?" I switched my phone from my left ear to the right one.

"It was an accident, You were eighteen at time and when he died, at the same time you were suffering from typhoid you had very high fever So you were with your nani in Ankara, while I went to Istanbul. That was a very bad phase of life for not only me but everyone." she sighed

I remember that typhoid fever which I had years ago, it was the worst phase of my life. I don't even remember what used to happen around me, except for the time when I was admitted in the hospital. So not remembering Fahad bhai's death was reasonable to me.

There was a silence on the line. I was registering everything which mom said and she maybe was reminiscing that difficult time.

"But what is the connection to break relations after Fahad bhai's death, shouldn't Safina phupho be the biggest supporter to aunt ayeeza after that? she is her sister after all, Instead of turning her back on her, why did she left?" I scoffed.

"What can I say Ayesha, they should've understand, instead they broke all the relations and believed all the rumours." Mom says sadly.

"Bloody selfish people." Farhan's voice popped in my mind. He had a reasonable hate for them. But what I couldn't understand is why safina phupho did that.

"Even your bi jaan failed to amend their relations, so from that time whenever Bi jaan visits turkey she goes to meet them separately first antalya then she comes to istanbul."

"How sad. How easily can people turn their backs on their relatives." I said lowly.

I still didn't understand the reason behind safina phupho to cut her ties with her own sister.

"Hm, now you-" I heard baba calling her in background, "Coming, Okay I will call you later. Take care my love."

"Allahafiz mum." I say before ending the call and placed my phone in my lap and stared at the blue noon sky through the balcony railings.

I breathed a sigh pushing my hair away from my face.

Allah knows how much Farhan might have suffered. And how much of bad wife I am that I didn't even knew about my husband's life. I can't even imagine something happening to Murat, we might fight a lot, but I love him also.

My heart clenched at the thought. Uff what have Farhan has suffered all along.

A big brother is like having a invisible roof on your head, protecting you from every storm, every harsh rays and cruel winds.

And to have that roof suddenly taken away from you. God forbid from anyone to face that.

The cold, distant, longing look in Farhan's eyes started making sense now.

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A/N :-

I would've updated this chapter long ago if not for wattpad crashing for all iOS users.

Five days. Could you imagine? Wattpad was down on iOS for five days.😀

Anywho it's alright now. Thank god. And we updated.

So....how was it?

And do remember the story line for this book is 2015, and the latest iPhone then was the 6 one. Do keep it mind.

Also I might update the description again. Cause the scene which was previously there from this chapter, I thought it was too strong for A & F to behave as if right now. So please bear the half written description for a while.

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