Sincerity | اخلاص

ویسے انمول ہیں کۂی پتھر

اسکے دل کا مگر جواب نہی

(Wese anmool hain kayi phathur

Uske dil ka magar jawab nahi)

"Huzaifa do you think this dress would fit Zahra?", Faryal said showing a beautiful summer dress to him.

Huzaifa looked at the dress carefully and said "I guess it would".

"Bhabhi I think you have bought enough dresses and toys for Zahra already I can't hold anymore stop going into the kid's stores now, concentrate on the things we came here to buy," Zain said pointing towards the two huge shopping bags in his hands.

"You would never understand the fact that girls never have enough clothes, EVER", Faryal said with a chuckle.

"Uffff", Zain whined.

Tomorrow is Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary. Faryal, Huzaifa, and Zain went together for shopping to buy gifts for them. Faryal and Zain came with Saleem Bhai while Huzaifa joined them during his lunch break from the company.

"Why don't we buy gifts for them collectively, It would be easier", Huzaifa stated.

"Yeah that's a good idea", Faryal agreed.

After some time they found suitable gifts for mom and dad, purchased a cake and candles as well. Faryal wanted to pay the bill but the Durrani brothers didn't allow her to do that even for once. Zain and Faryal went back to Durrani house whereas Huzaifa returned to the office.

DURRANI HOUSE:

"Nadia baji please hide this cake in the refrigerator, they don't go to the kitchen often but still we have to be careful Kahin surprise kharab na ho jae", Faryal said.

"Ji Faryal bibi ap befikr rahay", Nadia baji replied assuringly.

"If Nadia baji is telling you to not worry, you should worry more. She is sometimes a trouble maker, unintentionally.", Zain said playfully reminding himself of Nadia baji's blunders, especially the most recent one which happened a few days ago, causing havoc between Faryal and Zohaib.

"Zain, don't say that", Faryal said shaking her head.

"Should I inform Zohaib bhai?" Zain asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"No don't need to disturb him now, we will inform him once he is home. He will be busy in the hospital", Faryal answered.

"Okay so when are we going to wish mom and dad", Zain asked curiously.

"At mid-night", Faryal replied while picking up the gifts from the table.

"I'm so excited, no one has ever been surprised in Durrani house like this. This mid-night type of surprise is a new thing for us. Girls are too dramatic", Zain laughed.

"It's called being excited and making them feel special Mr. Zain Ahmad Durrani, not dramatic", Faryal replied while playfully slapping him.

"Oh Allah, violence on an innocent small kid", Zain said dramatically.

"Zain come here, and help me to bring these things to my room", She added.

"Ap ka hukam sir ankho pur madam", Zain said and slightly bowed in front of her to which she giggled. He picked up the shopping bags from the table and followed her.

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Faryal was sitting on the prayer mat after offering her Maghrib prayer when she heard the sound of the closing of the door.

"Zohaib and Zahra have arrived", Faryal muttered to herself.

She completed her dua, folded the prayer mat, and placed it in the cupboard. She undraped her dupatta from her head and left her wet hair open. She waited for some time so they can get fresh.

"I'll show Zahra her things now", She said to herself with a smile, picked up the shopping bags, and marched towards his room.

Knock!.. Knock!

She knocked at the door after placing one shopping bag on the floor. After some time the door opened. Zohaib was standing in front of her wearing his tracksuit, water droplets falling from his wet hair.

"Umm, Hi!.. Can I meet Zahra", She said.

Zohaib starred at her and the stuff she had carried with herself for few seconds and then slightly moved backward so she can enter the room.

She picked up the shopping bags and entered his room while Zohaib closed the door and sat down on the chair.

"Zahraaa, look what I have brought for you", Faryal said to Zahra in a cheerful tone who was sitting on the bed surrounded by pillows. Her back was also supported with pillows as she could not sit by herself.

Faryal unpacked her dresses one by one to check the size excitedly.

"Yeh b pora nahi hai, don't worry Zahra your Ammi has bought so many for you", Faryal said with a pout convincing herself more than Zahra after opening the fourth dress, either the dresses were too small or too big for Zahra. She placed another dress on Zahra which looked small as well.

"Oh Allah, What have I done, not even one dress fitted you Zahra. What will we do now?", Faryal whined looking at the pile of clothes placed on the bed beside them. Zohaib was using his mobile but he was also well aware of what was happening in the room.

Zahra started playing with the toys Faryal has brought for her. "Thank God! you like them, Zahra. At least I have done something right." Faryal added sadly.

"I'll have to go again and buy clothes for her", She whispered.

"Can I take Zahra with me for shopping?", Faryal said moving her head towards Zohaib.

"Hmm?" He hummed in response as he didn't hear her properly.

"I said can I take Zahra with me for shopping, She doesn't have many clothes for summer and I have bought the clothes which barely fits her", She said.

"You can't handle her alone", Zohaib replied still looking at the mobile in his hands. She knew he was stating the fact, handling Zahra without Zohaib these days is impossible. She would be comfortable with anyone as long as her daddy is around.

Faryal took Zahra in her lap and said while sadly looking at the pile of clothes beside her, "You can accompany us too, It will take a maximum of 1 hour".

"We just need to exchange the size", she continued, shifting her gaze towards him.

"Okay", Zohaib shifted his eyes towards them and replied after thinking for a few minutes, which brought a smile to her face.

"Tomorrow? if it's okay with you because I'm afraid that they won't exchange it after passing many days." Faryal said.

Zohaib nodded his head.

"Yayyy Zahra, we will bring new clothes for you. Masla hul hogya", Faryal said excitedly.

After spending some time with Zahra, Faryal left his room so both of them can take some rest.

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"I'll light up the candles, we don't have much time", Huzaifa said looking at his wristwatch.

"Huzaifa Bhai have you informed Zohaib Bhai", Zain asked.

"Yeah, he said he will be there", Huzaifa replied while putting the candles on the cake.

"They are here!" Faryal said when she saw Zohaib and Zahra coming in their direction.

"Zain you go and call Mom and dad", Faryal said.

Zain went to call them. Huzaifa switched off the lights, the lounge was slightly lit up by the light of candles. Suddenly Zahra started talking in her own language, maybe she was liking the candles.

"haha Zahra is enjoying", Faryal said in a low tone more like a whisper.

"Shh Zahra beta, don't make noise. We have to surprise Dada Abu and Dadi ma", Zohaib said in a hushed tone to which Zahra giggled.

"Mom dad please come fast, I have to show you something", Zain said. Everyone in the lounge became silent after hearing his voice

"Phir say huzaifa k sath jhagrha kr liya kya Zain, tum dono nay patah nahi kub barha hona hai", Mom said in a sleepy tone.

Mom and Dad stopped in their tracks when they saw the dim light of candles.

" Happy wedding anniversary", Faryal and Huzaifa called out loudly, Zain turned on the light while Zohaib was silently standing there holding Zahra.

Mom and Dad looked flabbergasted.

"Ahan surprise, I have forgotten that", Dad said with a sheepish smile.

Mom glared at him and said, "As usual".

"Come here both of you now cut the cake please", Huzaifa said.

"Zahra is still up?", Mom said taking Zahra from Zohaib.

"I guess she wanted to attend the late-night party, I tried so hard but she was not ready to sleep", Zohaib said.

"Koe nahi she is the chief guest, without her who would cut the cake huh?", Dad said. Mom took Zahra's hand in her hand and cut the cake with dad. After that, they fed their kids one by one.

"These are your gifts from Zain, Huzaifa, and my side", Faryal said handing them the gifts they have bought together. Zohaib looked at them and realized he had brought nothing with himself to gift his parents.

"And this one is from Zahra and Zohaib", She said giving them another one. She had expected that already, that's why she bought a gift from his side so he won't feel left out and awkward. Zohaib moved his eyes towards her. She could feel his gaze but didn't have the courage to look back at him.

"Aww that's so sweet of you my kids", Mom said emotionally.

"Hold your tears mom!", Zain said dramatically, "Picture abhi baki hai", he added with a wink making everyone laugh.

Huzaifa moved forward and handed an envelope to his mom.

"What is this now?", Dad said with narrowed eyes.

"Dad these are movie tickets and a reservation of dinner at Monal", Huzaifa said with an ear-to-ear smile.

(Monal is a famous restaurant in Islamabad situated in Margala hills, which has an amazing view)

"Ab iski kya zarorat thi, hum dono bhorha bhorhi is umar mein achay lagay gay yeh sub kr k", Mom said.

"It was Bhabi's idea", Zain stated.

"You are not old mom, Just enjoy yourself both of you. We wanted you to relive your memories," Faryal said kissing mom's cheek.

Faryal remembered once mom told her about how she and dad had enjoyed watching movies in the cinema and dining outs during their youth days.

After some time they retired to their own rooms with a smile pestered on their face ready for a tiring busy day ahead.

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Assalam u Alikum/ Namaste❤

How was today's update?

I hope you are liking the changing dynamics of their relationship. I want to construct their relationship rationally because in such circumstances no one can go gaga over another person suddenly. I believe falling in love is a process. If not, it would be materialistic, shallow, and would lose its abstract nature. (It's my opinion you can disagree as well❤ ).

What do you think love is?

P.S: My story is trending for the past few days in (Pakistan and Pakistani category) despite having fewer reads and votes compared to the others and my mediocre writing skills . I don't know how it works but Thanks to all of you for pouring in so much love.❤ :)