CHAPTER 44- MEMORIES ~ Farhan 💀

F A R H A N : -

I tap my feet against the carpeted floor, checking the time again, I sighed looking down at my shiny shoes.

"I hate this part." Murat mutters beside me, "Despise it actually."

"I think I am getting used to it." I reply, pointing at our fathers who were seated on the couch opposite to us, all suited up and ready,

"Need to get that experience."

"But why the experience in waiting tho?" Murat wonders, "Would there be a day when woman would automatically start getting ready on time, or god forbid before all the men."

I think for a while, "Actually no. I mean imagine all the women waiting like this for their husbands, would they be alive after that?"

Murat clicks his fingers, "Absolutely, because they might kill us, so let's just follow the flow of nature."

"True." I reply.

We both arrived at the hotel we were staying by late morning, it was no way I was going to stay at Durrani villa, I had sacrificed my enough self respect by travelling to Izmir and attending this damn party, there was no way in hell I would lose it all by staying there.

The moment I thought I would get some alone time with my wife, my sister barges on our door later afternoon and drags my wife away, to get ready.

And it is evening now to say and I haven't seen my wife since.

According to that dumb party's invitation, the event starts by seven and it's almost six thirty now and still no signs of the ladies, not even bi jaan.

So from the past thirty minutes, me, Murat, baba, mamu, are waiting in the hotel lobby for them to arrive so we could get going.

The elevator dings, and I quickly look up, eager to find a glimpse of my wife, I see Mina step out with bi jaan, then it was mama, and then Ayesha's mom...and that's it, no one else.

"Ah finally." Murat cheers getting up from beside me, dusting off his pants, "It's been ages."

"Oh my god, what are all of you doing? We are already running late, let's go!" Mina snaps, taking bi jaan along with her,

"Gira math dey mujhe!" [ don't make me fall!] Bi jaan exclaims, holding on to Mina's arm.

Murat chuckles grabbing bi jaan's other hand,

"This way my kind lady,"

Bi jaan gives him a look, "Who are you?"

I suppress my cackle and Mina laughs, "Bi jaan this is your grandson, your son hamza's son, Murat."

Bi jaan's eyes widen, "Huh? Murat? Him?" She takes a look at a sour faced Murat, "Weren't you in school?"

Murat shakes his head, "No bi jaan, I am not in school, I am a lawyer."

A look of realisation passes her face, "I know, I remember."

"Let's go, what are we waiting for?" Mamu asks stepping towards us,

"Ayesha?" Murat asks my unasked question.

"Yeah, where is she?" Baba asks looking back at the elevator,

"She said she will be down in five minutes, and said to start leaving, we are already late. Farhan bring her with you in your car, let's start leaving." Mama says ushering everyone out,

Murat and Mina helped bi jaan to walk out and both the parents walked with them,

Mama turned around and patted my cheek, "Whatever happens, you know you are strong."

I nod and she gave one last nod before walking out of the hotel's entrance door,

I look at the mirror on my right and adjusted the collar of my turtleneck. As much as I wanted to attend this function for bi jaan, I want to bail out of it right now.

The city, the house, the people, it is getting suffocating enough, but I need to go through this just for bi jaan's sake, no one wants to see their children separated, my worries and feelings cannot be compared to bi jaan's.

The ding of elevator made me snap my neck towards it, and when I did, my breathing hitched.

She walked out of the elevator, looking down adjusting her saree, enveloped in red resembling like a fresh bloomed rose, her hands full with her clutch and coat, she looked up and her eyes searching around and stopped on me, a smile formed on her red painted lips,

I didn't realise I was smiling until I saw her walking towards me, she didn't needed any extra makeup, she was naturally beautiful, but the makeup she did, enhanced her beauty even more.

I extended my hand and she placed her hand on mine, her eyes widen when I pulled her forward,

"Farhan," she whispered frantically looking around, "What are you doing?"

"Appreciating a beauty." I reply caressing her knuckles.

"I am looking centre of attraction enough in red, now I feel everyone is looking only at me." She whispers, looking at her outfit. "I did not wanted to wear this, all the ladies forced me to, because as they said, I am a new bride."

"Well they weren't wrong." I shrug, "Stop worrying about others, you look gorgeous."

Her eyes sparkled, "Really?"

I nod, giving her a once over, "Magnificent."

She looks away, her cheeks coating pink, "Okay, enough I got it. Now let's go." She moves back and wears her coat.

I wear mine over my blazer and move aside gesturing her to walk forward, "After you,"

She smiles shaking her head and grabs my arm, "Not before or after, with you."

I nod and we both walk out of the hotel entrance, towards my car. I open the door for her to which she mocked an impressed face, and sat inside.

Rounding the car, I put on the location Murat send me on google maps before driving off from the parking to the main road.

As the time on the screen kept decreasing, I could feel the nausea creeping up, unconsciously my leg kept bouncing up while I kept driving, I didn't realised it until I felt Ayesha putting her hand on my knee.

"Relax. Take a deep breath, it's going to be okay." She assures,

I try to breath in, "I am trying to," I reply taking the right turn, my gut churning with anxiety, "I don't want to be here."

"Farhan," she calls out, I glance at her, "We've come this far, don't let your fears over take you. You know you are stronger than that, and if you don't feel right, we could always leave from there."

I grab her hand which was on my knee ans give it a squeeze. "Just be with me?" I ask, as I see the lights from an known villa coming in my view.

"I am always with you." I heard my wife before we stopped near the gates of the villa, a valet came by and took the keys from me, stepping out of the car, I felt the air around me constrict when I looked up at the garden in front of me,

I looked around the garden, the benches, the light lamps, everything was the same. The memories still lingered in my mind, for a moment, I am transported back to all those years, where I stood at the same spot, with my brother, laughing with him, joking with him, teasing him. Then the reality set in, he is gone, and here I am at the same spot, with so many different things in my life.

I felt my hand being grabbed, I looked at my left to see my wife giving me a warm smile,

"Ready when you are."

I took a deep breath and squeezed her hand, "Let's go."

We both walked in the garden to the main door, where the party was being held inside, at the entrance there was a reception where we kept our coats and I took the coupon with me.

"I forgot how bougie they are." Ayesha mutters, adjusting her hijab around her neck.

"Right, got even more over the years," I saw looking around the front porch, which looked newly renovated with expensive flooring and art pieces.

We both stepped inside the living room, where the party already began and a buzz of people rushing around in the party,

The last we were here for Fahad bhai's engagement, they went all overboard the same, this time it was the same over board but with a slight difference of the occasion.

"Oh my god, look who is here." I heard a voice saying and my feet momentarily froze, we both turn around to see Mrs. Safina Durrani grinning at us,

I stayed quiet clenching my jaw, all the memories of her accusing my brother rushed through my mind, here she was grinning at us like none of it happened and the simmer of anger was coarsening in me.

Ayesha squeezed my hand and smiled at her,

"Salam phupho." She greeted, the lady stepped forward and gave my wife a hug, if it were up to me I would've liked to separate my wife from such a vile woman.

"Farhan, my child." She gushed breaking from the hug and stepping towards me,

I stepped back, and greeted stiffly, "Salam."

Her grin faltered but she maintained her facade, "You both look so beautiful together, I am really happy for both of you."

Ayesha says a thanks but only I could understand the envy and jealousy underlining in her tone.

"Congratulations on your anniversary, phupho." Ayesha says giving her the gift bag which mama told us to give her.

"Oh it was no need of it," Mrs. Durrani immediately takes the bag from her seeing the jewellery brand name on it.

Some people can't have everything despite having so much money.

"Please join the party, Heer and your friends are there you can meet them." She says pointing back,

Before my wife could exchange any pleasantries, I grabbed her hand and started walking towards where our family was seated.

"Farhan relax." Ayesha says,

"I am more than relaxed." I reply, "Don't you worry."

There were couches aligned at every corner of the living room and our family was seated on of them, chatting to themselves.

Ayesha sat beside her mother and I sat beside at the seat empty next to Murat,

"So much for a party." Murat mutters dryly.

"Seriously, I've never felt so out of place in my whole life." Mina says who was seated beside Murat,

"I feel like I would strangle the next fake person I could see." I mutter looking around the hall, the chatting, the talks, the loud laughs, so fake.

"I was thinking the same." Murat scoffs, "Like come on man, there is more fakeness than any Indian soaps creativity could come up with."

"Or any desi dramas in general." Mina adds,

"Welcome to the life Durrani's, could beat the kardashians." I say and Murat and Mina look at me before bursting out laughing.

"My man got jokes." Murat laughs patting my shoulder and I shook my head suppressing a chuckle.

"It is an insult for kardashians." Mina chuckles.

Before Murat could say anything, we heard another fake voice through a mike, resonating around the whole hall.

"Hello everyone and thank you so much for joining on our celebration." I didn't even had to turn around to see the owner of that annoying voice.

"Ah, my poor ears." Murat groans,

"As you know today the lovely couple, my parents have completed thirty years of their marriage, woah! Let's give them a round of applause."

No one clapped on our couch.

"I've never been so proud to be your daughter, happy anniversary you guys! Let's begin this beautiful evening, and make it an memorable event of our lives, I hope you all enjoy it too!" The mike cuts off and the public claps again.

"Worst one minute of my life." Mina mutters, she looks around and her eyes widen, "Is that a live baklava counter? And it is not rushed?"

"Deserted maybe? What say partner?" Murat asks and they both without a word skip towards the counter,

"Why don't we join them?" Ayesha asks looking at me,

"Not in a mood to eat." I reply, she stands up and walks over to me,

"But I am," she grabs my hand, urging me to stand, "let's go please."

"Yes, you both should go around and enjoy yourself," mama says smiling at us,

"You should definitely, we all would be fine here." Ayesha's mom says,

Reluctantly getting up, I followed her to a table where Murat and Mina were standing, eating sweets.

"Any good?" Ayesha asks as we approach them,

Murat places his half eaten sweet back on the plate and wipes his hands with tissue, "I don't want to blame food but the food here is as good as the hosts."

Mina agrees, "Yes, it's an insult to turkish baklava."

A waiter comes by and collects the empty plates and asks for any drinks to which we all denied.

"The sweets were bad enough couldn't risk anything else." Mina shudders.

"Oh come on don't say that, the other things might be good?" Ayesha asks positively.

"They only spent money on bougie things, the reception, the waiters, the music band but no food." Murat chuckles and gives me a high-five.

"You both are evil." Ayesha chuckles.

"Look at us, the only lively table at this bland event." Mina chuckles gushing at our table.

"They even took bi jaan to sit with them, as if they care about her." I scoff looking at my grandmother who looked bored and irritated by being seated at a table with Mrs. Durrani.

"Sometimes I feel bad for justice Aswad Durrani, man doesn't have his own life, just being controlled by his wife and daughter." Murat sighs,

"Murat come on now don't say about him like that, whatever it is he is our elder." Ayesha says smacking Murat's arm,

"Right, sorry teacher." Murat mocks,

Before Ayesha could reply, we heard the annoying voice previously from mike behind me,

"How are my lovely cousins enjoying?"

My nose itched when a strong scent of perfume whooshed beside me, and I stiffen.

A silence fell on the table as Heer Durrani stepped in between me and Murat.

"Nice party." Mina says mockingly.

"Thanks my little Mina." The witch chuckles, "Oh my god I am meeting you all after so long, Murat, Farhan, Mina and of course Ayesha."

"Nice to see you too heer." Ayesha says, smiling kindly.

I didn't bother looking at her, but I saw how she crept up her hands to mine and Murat's arm,

We both share a look and he had widen eyes,

His phone rang and he took it out of his coat, he smiled widely looking at the screen and showed it to heer,

"Oh look, my beautiful fiancée is calling me, if you could excuse me," he chuckles effectively moving out of her grip and walking away from us, happily talking on his phone.

"He got engaged?" Heer mutters, "When?"

"Last month." Ayesha replies, "To my best friend, she's really beautiful as he said."

"Aw and I heard it was love too, how cute." Mina gushes and winks discreetly at Ayesha.

"Just like my bhai and bhabhi, I mean look at them," mina blows a kiss, "Goals, actual goals."

"Right," I say stepping away and go on Ayesha's side, making her stand beside that witch and I placed my arm around her back,

"My lovely wife."

Now that I saw her completely, she was the same, the same prissy attitude and envious eyes. She was eyeing my wife with evident jealousy seeing her arm around me,

Ayesha chuckles awkwardly, "Ah um you look lovely by the way." She says gesturing at her bland red outfit, which looked ugly in front of my wife's dressing.

"Thanks." She replies curtly, "You don't look too bad yourself."

Ayesha's smile faltered but she maintained a neutral expression.

"Too bad?" Mina scoffs, "Are you kidding me? She looks drop-dead gorgeous."

I bit my lip to hide my smirk, when heer's face hardened, "I meant the same." She smiled sweetly and turned towards me, "So how are you Farhan? I see the years have treated you well." She grins, eyeing me up.

I raise an eyebrow, "And I see the audacity has treated you well over the years."

She laughs, Ayesha grabs my hand,

"Oh he still jokes." The witch laughs,

"I was not." I reply dryly, "If you hadn't already gotten the message, allow me, we don't want to talk to you. Take the hint and walk away," I add, "To your news studio maybe, you are prime time reporter after all."

She fumes in anger and glares at us before leaving our table.

"As much I want to say you were wrong, she deserved it." Ayesha says after she leaves.

"She got even more irritating." Mina rolls her eyes. "Witch."

Murat walks back to our table and grins excitedly, "Guys look who entered the party, the real drama is about to blow up."

"Someone more prestigious than madam Heer?" Mina chuckles,

"See it for yourself." Murat says and I turn around to where he was pointing at, my eyes widen when I saw Fanaa baji greeting my mom and hugging her tightly.

"She came?" I heard Ayesha gasp.

"The last time I heard, she left this house." Mina asks, her voice equally shocked.

"She was my childhood crush." We all turn back to look at Murat, who was looking dreamily at her, "She got even more pretty."

"Don't you have a fiancée?" I ask amused,

"I do." Murat nods, "But you know, I just remembered my childhood crush, she was our best cousin, remember?"

"Yes, I remember." Ayesha agrees, "Every children loved her."

"I used to think she was a real life fairy." Mina gushes, "She doesn't deserve this family."

"You are right," I agree, "She is the only sane person in this house."

"Act normal she's walking over here." Murat sets his hairs, "Why does it feel like I am cheating on Safa?"

"Stop overreacting. You need to tone down your Indian soaps." Ayesha chimes smacking his shoulder with her clutch.

"Respect your brother." Murat hisses, and Ayesha mocks him.

"Salam everyone." We hear a kind voice near us. I turn around to look it was the same woman, who last time here was a bride.

"Fanaa baji!" Mina exclaims and rushes her into a hug, Ayesha steps forward and hugs her after Mina.

Looking at her all I could remember was my brother, the way they both used to be awkward around each other, the way I used to tease them, she looks still the same, the same kind eyes, the hairstyle which covers her birthmark.

But there was no spark in her eyes like it used to, it is true, one person's death effected so many that I didn't realised it.

"Look at you," she gushes looking at Ayesha, "You look so pretty, Masha'Allah."

"Thank you baji." Ayesha smiles.

She turned towards me and I gave her a nod, "Salam bh- baji." I clear my throat looking away.

I almost called her bhabhi, what's wrong with me? I hope she didn't catch on it.

"Walaikumaslam, Farhan. How are you?" She asks giving a smile,

"Good and you?" I ask, tapping my fingers on the table.

"Good." She replies and turn to Murat who looked like he would pass out in a minute, "Murat? Allah, you grew up so much."

"I did?" Murat chuckles, "So did you." He shakes his head, "I meant you look great."

Fanaa baji chuckles, "Still the same." She says to Ayesha who laughs with her,

"Oh I almost forgot," she says passing a gift bag to Ayesha, "Your marriage gift, I am sorry I couldn't attend your wedding."

"There was no need of it." Ayesha denies, "We are happy we met you."

"No uh, you are not doing this," Fanaa baji warns, "Farhan tell her."

I raise my hands up, "What the captain says."

"Oh ho." She chuckles, "It is like that now huh?"

"Well it's reality." Ayesha shrugs and we all share a laugh.

"Alright, but you are taking it." Fanaa baji says giving the bag to Ayesha, "And I am not hearing no, taking it as my love."

Ayesha visibly melts and glances at me, I give her a nod and she accepts it, "Thank you." She says giving her a hug. "I missed you."

"Me too," Fanaa baji sighs, and looks at both of us, "I remember those two kids who couldn't stand each other, now look at you two, all grown up and married, I am so happy to look at both of you." She smiles genuinely.

"Thank you but you still did not needed to do this." Ayesha says keeping the bag on the table, "Your presence really made me happy."

"Bhabhi is right, seeing you after so long really made us happy." Mina says grabbing Fanaa Baji's hand.

She looks around the table and smiles, "I can't believe you all are the same children who used to play in front of me, I know I wasn't in contact all these years, but I really prayed for all of you." She looks at me and Murat, "I feel like I am meeting my children."

Mina chuckles wrapping her hand around Fanaa's arm, "We wouldn't mind you as our mom."

"Where are you nowadays, baji?" Ayesha asks,

"I shifted to Ankara a year back, before that I was in Antalya." She replies,

"What?" Murat gasps, "You have been in our city for a year and we didn't knew about it?" He smacks his hand on the table, "That's it, it is going to change now."

"Yes it will." Ayesha agrees, "Give us your number, and you have to visit us some day baji."

"Ayesha is right, you should." I say looking at her who just smiles nodding,

"Alright, I will." She nods.

"So Murat, I heard you got engaged? Congratulations." She turns to Murat who nods his head eagerly and takes out his phone to show her photos.

We all look at the stage when the sound of mike goes on again, "A party isn't complete without a dance, so I request all the couples to join us on the dance floor." The witch says and the light around the hall dims and soft music starts playing.

"Why is she walking here?" Mina asks confused.

"Mina hide me please." Murat says trying to hide under the table.

The witch walks towards us, "My dear cousins why don't one of you join me on the dance floor?"

We stare at her in silence.

"Murat?" She asks looking at him,

Murat looks up and shows his phone screen, with the photo with his fiancée, "My dances are reserved."

She rolls her eyes and turn to look at me, "You?"

I scoff, "You like getting insulted in your own house?"

From my peripheral vision, I could see Mina and Murat trying not to cackle on her face,

Heer purses her lips into a thin line, her eyes drift behind my shoulder, and she shrugs,

"Not with me but you could with your wife, right?"

I stay silent, letting Ayesha answer.

"Thank you for asking, but we are not comfortable dancing over here, if you don't mind." She declines her, before heer could burst out like a pressure cooker, her sister calls her,

"Salam Heer, how are you?" She calls with a hopeful glint.

Heer looks at her and raises her eyebrows, "So you came?"

"Yes." Fanaa baji's smile falter, "You look great."

Heer rolls her eyes, "Thanks." and with that she leaves our table walking over to a random boy and forcefully dragged him to the dance floor.

I scoff internally at her reaction, like I said, Fanaa baji was the only sane and kind here.

"That was very rude." Murat says glaring at heer,

"If I'd had a sister like Fanaa baji, I would've protect her from the world." Mina scoffs,

Fanaa baji chuckles, hurt evident on her face,

"You are too kind Mina."

I clear my throat, "Should we rescue bi jaan from there?" I ask pointing at bi jaan, who glared at everyone, she might not want to express but the people around her was making her uncomfortable.

Ayesha nods, grabbing my arm, "Let's go team." She says excitedly and everyone chuckle.

****

I swipe the card on the holder and close the door behind me.

Walking towards the bed, I removed my coat and blazer, sighing tiredly.

"Never hated an event like this one." I sit on the bed, looking at my wife who was removing her bangles from her wrists.

"You are right," she says removing her heels out, "But I don't want to say something bad about them after attending their party."

"Or lack thereof." I scoff, kicking my shoes off, I get up and take my shoes to keep it back on the suitcase, when my eyes caught my wife again.

She opened her hijab and free her hairs out, she ran her fingers through her open hair and it fall down her face, making her look even more beautiful.

I take one rose from the vase beside the suitcase table and walk behind her, she caught my gaze through the mirror and raised her eyebrows,

I pluck out the thorn from the stem and place it behind her ear, placing my hands on either side of her, I leaned closer to her ear, "Did I told you how gorgeous you looked tonight?"

Her cheeks flush red and she looked down, "Y-you did already."

I move few hair strands away from her face and move my hands to her arm, sliding it down to her hands, "Not enough."

I intwine my fingers through hers and turned her towards me, lifting her chin I made her eyes connect with mine,

"Let's give this look a justice, Hm?" I ask walking backwards with her hands in mine,

"How?" She whispers walking with me.

I stop near the large French windows of our hotel room, where the light of the moon fell directly on us. The sound of waves crashing could be heard from hear.

I step back and letting her arms fall back, she looks at me confused, when I bring one hand forward,

"May I have this dance with you?" I ask, she looks at my hand and me, slowly nodding she slid her hand in mine.

I grab both of her hands and place them on my shoulders,

Sliding my arms through her waist, I bring her closer to me, making her gasp in surprise.

"T-there's no music." Her voice low, I lift her chin up with my fingers,

"There is," I say, "Your heartbeat, mine heartbeat, the sound of the sea below us, could it be more perfect?"

She smiles shaking her head, "This is perfect." I sway her in my arms.

I grab her hand and twirl her around, making her back crash with my chest, placing my chin on her shoulder, I closed my eyes and moved on the beats of our breaths.

"This is the best dance anyone could have," she says leaning back on me.

"Obviously." I reply, "Remember how we met on that garden all those years ago?" I chuckle at our memory.

She nods, a smile on her face. "I do, I never thought that the next time I would be there, that dork would be my husband."

I hum, turning her back towards me, she placed her hands back on my shoulders and I raise my eyebrows, "I was a dork, huh?"

She chuckles, "Yes you were and you couldn't deny it."

I nod mockingly, "Kind of ironic how the dork got married to the nerdy girl."

"Oh are we playing now?" She chuckles,

"If you want to." I shrug. "But look at us now, six years later, married, dancing under the moon, all alone."

"I wouldn't change it for the world." She says placing her forehead on mine as I grab her waist and sway her in my arms.

"Me too." I whisper. Lost in her, her presence, her fragrance, her words, her, her, her and her.

Ayesha looks up at me and caress my cheek with her hands softly, her eyes drop down and she looked up at me before leaning closer,

I met her halfway and the world around me stopped, no sound made sense when my lips met hers.

Like a deep fire in the woods, my heart raced the same when our lips move together. This feeling would never get old, the feelings joined with one kiss with her will never get old.

We moved back when I felt her getting out of breath, I looked down at her, her breaths uneven, and lips swollen.

Not being able to resist, I pulled her closer to me bringing her into another kiss,

Swooping her in my arms, I carried her to the bed, not breaking the kiss.

And that night, I realised I was utterly, dangerously and amazingly in love with her.

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A/N:-

NEED ME A HUSBAND LIKE FARHAN

WHEN IT WILL BE OUR TURN BESTIES? WHEN?😭

Also sorry for so many mistakes in the previous chapter, I swear my grammar isn't so bad, I was just sleepy while typing it.

Get ready for some ☕️ 🍿 in the next chapter!

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