Moment | لمحہ

(A/N: Since I completed the chapter before Sunday, I don't want to make you guys wait anymore.)

HAPPY READ!❤

"Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person's life."

– Jackie Chan

Faryal's eyelids slowly fluttered open, the soothing Azan-e-Fajar was feebly audible, the usual time she always wakes up. she blinked groggily and dragged her feet off the bed and was going to the washroom while rubbing her knuckles onto her eyes when she stumbled over something.

The room was dimly lighted so she carefully looked at the floor and realized it was a pillow. The last night memories flooded back into her mind. She moved her gaze towards the bed where Zahra and Zohaib were soundly asleep, and then to the floor in bewilderment.

"Did I sleepwalk?". She muttered with wide eyes.

"Not possible", She discarded her own speculation.

"Neend mein hi chali hongi mein wrna bed tuk kesi pohnchthi. Shukar hai kahin takur nahi mari mein nay", she face palmed herself and went to the washroom.

After some time Faryal came out of the washroom and silently tiptoed in the dimly lighted room. She proceeded towards the dressing table, pat dried her still wet dripping hair with a towel.

"Thank God I'm not late", Faryal whispered looking at the dark sky outside the room through the window.

She covered herself with her dupatta, spread the prayer mat, and offered the Fajar prayer. After offering the prayer she folded the prayer mate and placed it on the table. She unwrapped the dupatta from her head and let loose her wet hair.

"Let's skip the morning walk today. I'm still tired.", She said to herself looking at Zahra and Zohaib who were fast asleep. She carefully rolled onto her side and starred at Zahra. A smile crept on her face thinking about the way Zahra has brought colors to her life. For the first time in life, she was supposed to share the room with someone for a slightly longer time period but she was already loving it. She was tired of being alone.

Then she moved her gaze to Zohaib. His features were much softer in sleep, the lines that usually creased his brow replaced by the youthful appearance that matched those of others of his age. He looked peaceful.

She shifted her eyes towards the wall in front of her which was filled with Zohaib's and Ayza's pictures. In every picture they were smiling, the kind of smile which reaches one's eyes.

The flow of her thoughts suddenly stopped, an idea popped into her mind. She looked at Zohaib with a smirk and muttered "Mr. Zohaib Ahmed Durrani you owe me one".

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Faryal was coming downstairs while humming a happy song trying to stifle her giggles. Her eyes glowed with both delight and mischief.

"Kya baat hai aj tou Ma'Sha'Allah barhi cheh'cheha rahi hai hamari beti (What happened, today our daughter is looking very happy)", Dadi jan said in admiration.

Faryal stopped in her tracks and smiled looking at Dadi jan.

"Assalam-u-Alikum", Faryal said in cheerful tone and sat beside Dadi jan.

"Walikum Assalam, my beautiful child", Dadi jan cupped Faryal's face in her hands and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Dada jan cleared his throat, lowered down the newspaper in his hands, and adjusted his glasses.

"I think somebody has forgotten me", Dada jan said. Faryal rose up from her place, slightly bent down, and wrapped her hands around Dada jan's neck from the behind.

"I can never forget my Best friend", Faryal stated with a blooming smile.

"I know that, I just needed a little pampering as well", Dada jan chuckled.

"Faryal you woke up?", Tayi Ammi asked Faryal coming towards them with a tray in her hand.

"Yup Tayi jan, I can't sleep after Fajar. Let me help you", Faryal said taking the tray from Tayi Ammi. She handed cups of tea to Dada jan and Dadi jan.

"You did not bring tea for yourself Tayi Ammi", Faryal questioned.

"Saba is making coffee for me and herself, both of us like coffee in the morning", Tayi Ammi said. After some time one by one the family members started gathering in the living area.

"Faryal where are Zohaib and Zahra?", Taya Abu asked.

"Taya abu they are sleeping", Faryal replied.

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Zohaib woke up to the ringing of his cell phone. He looked at Zahra who whimpered and has also woken up due to the same reason.

"Assalam u Alikum Sir", Zohaib said in a hoarse voice. He sat down in the bed and took Zahra in his hands.

"Today?"

"Right sir", Zohaib was replying to the caller but his concentration was fixed on the Zahra. She was continuously whimpering with her eyes closed. He stood up from his bed hastily, to give Zahra to someone while giving brief replies.

"I'll manage it sir", He said and entered the living area of the house, which was crowded and practically vibrating from the cacophony of chatter.

"Hmm, I'll be there in an hour", He said and handed Zahra to mom. Everyone moved their gaze towards him as they heard his voice and stopped talking. They looked at him with wide eyes in stunned silence, an odd type of silence with their mouths agape.

"Ya Allah, ab tou mein gyi", Faryal muttered. She squeezed her eyes shut and covered her mouth with her both hands.

"Allah Hafiz", Zohaib said to the caller and looked in bewilderment at everyone, staring at him.

Hufaifa cleared his throat and said, "Bhai are you watching lots of movies these days?"

"Huh?" Zohaib said with wriggled eyebrows and scrunched nose.

"I mean your joker inspired look is mindblowing", He said trying to keep a straight face, but finally cracked up. By this time Zohaib heard a roar of laughter, confusing him even more. He looked over his shoulder at his reflection in the large mirror beside him and his eyes shot open.

His face was adorned with silver glitter and his nose with red color. He stared at his reflection and moved his gaze across the living area to catch the known culprit. He took quick steps towards Faryal and grasped her wrist with his one hand.

"No", Faryal screamed.

He tightened his grip on her wrist, pulled her behind himself to his room. He could hear the feeble protests of the elders which he clearly ignored.

"Zohaib leave me please", Faryal said while struggling to loosen his grip on her wrist.

"I won't do this again", She pleaded.

"You should have thought this before", He replied turning the knob of the door. Faryal finally unclasped her wrist from his hold and turned on her heels to walk away.

Zohaib caught her arm quickly, whirled her around, and pulled her into his room. He shut the door and cornered her against it.

"Not so fast huh", Zohaib smirked. Both of them were looking into each other's eyes.

Faryal observed him for a few seconds and burst into laughter.

"You ar..are looki..ng so cute", Faryal said in between her laughs and pulled his cheeks.

"If you are done with your laughing fits, will you care to explain your actions", Zohaib said in a composed tone trying to control his anger.

"That was your punishment", She shrugged and smiled nervously.

"Punishment, for what?", He asked with narrowed eyes.

"For making me sleep on the floor, technically it was my own choice but still you denied my offer. yeh tou acha hai mein raat ko neend mein chul kar khud oper so gyi wrna tou meri qamar ka bura haal ho jana tha", She blabbered on and on, and then covered her mouth with her both hands as she realized what she has just said.

"So you sleepwalked?" he asked. His expression changed from anger to amusement after hearing her chatter.

"Y..eah, I guess so", she stammered while avoiding his intense gaze. His lips curled up in delight.

"But it's happened to me for the first time. Pehle kabi aesa nahi kiya mein nay. I slept on the floor and woke up on the bed, can you believe it?", She said with her eyes fixed on her hands.

"Oh it's a very grave condition, you know", Zohaib said trying to stifle his chuckle. He was really enjoying her naive assumption.

"Which condition?", Faryal asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Sleepwalking", He replied.

He looked at her and finally, he burst into a peal of laughter. She starred at his face, a playful Zohaib was a delight to her eyes.

"Ahm janay den muje, I told you a very serious problem and you are laughing at me", Faryal pouted.

"I'm sorry", he said and controlled his laughter.

"It happens when you are sleeping uncomfortably, it can get worse if you did not control it at the moment", Zohaib said pretending to be serious again.

Faryal looked at him with wide eyes. She thought for a while, then cleared her throat and said confidently, " I've never heard this before, you are making a fool out of me".

"Who is a doctor? you or me?", He questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"You, but it never happened to me before, I promise.", She responded.

"I am a doctor and I know better than you, I don't need to make a fool out of you. If you will sleep on the floor every day you can hurt yourself by this sleepwalking habit of yours", Zohaib stated keeping a poker face.

"Yeah, I admit that you know better and won't sleep on the floor again. Happy? Now let me go please", She said trying to escape from him.

"Not so easily", He stated.

"coming back to our topic, I need an explanation", He added.

"I thought you will go to the washroom first and cleanup yourself like you do every day. I had no idea you will come downstairs like this today", She completed her sentence with a chuckle.

"Bohut hansi aa rahi han", Zohaib said with narrowed eyes.

He leaned forward and drew a deep breath. For a moment he simply gazed into her eyes and said in a low husky voice "Get ready for your punishment now".

She closed her eyes tightly in fear as he was getting closer to her. She fetched a deep breath and forgot to release it. He lowered his head and rubbed his both cheeks against hers and quickly moved back maintaining the safe distance between them and chuckled.

"Next time when you play your cards, make sure you have shuffled them very well Ms. Faryal Ismail Khan as I've heard nothing is impossible for you", Zohaib said in a hoarse voice. Faryal opened her eyes and stared at her hands as an embarrassed blush crept across her face. She knew he was repeating her words and referring to her last night's stubbornness.

"Now you look cute as well with...all these stupid glitters", He added with a victorious smile. She opened her eyes and touched her cheek with her fingers. Her fingers were covered with the specks of glitters.

"Zohaib, I'll have to get ready again because of you", She whined.

"Why are you so mean?" She huffed.

"Mean? Nah. We are even now", He chuckled and entered into the washroom.

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Faryal cleaned up her face, applied light makeup, and went downstairs. Everyone looked at her with an amused expression. She took Zahra from Huzaifa and sat down on a seat beside Mahum at the dining table.

"Thank god you are here bhabhi, we have been waiting for you and bhai to start our breakfast. Where is bhai? ", Zain said.

"He is coming", Faryal said avoiding everyone's gaze, and looked at Zahra.

"It will take time for him to get rid of those glitters, it ain't easy", Usman said with a chuckle.

"Mom did Zahra eat something?", Faryal asked mom.

"Yes. You don't have to worry Faryal, I've cleaned her up as well", Mom replied.

"Muje tou laga tha tum barhi masoom ho?" Mahum said in a low teasing tone and elbowed her.

Faryal ignored Mahum and looked at Zahra.

"I'm talking to you", Mahum elbowed her again. Faryal shifted her gaze to Mahum and her face turned into a tomato.

"Stop it Mahum", Faryal whisper yelled.

"Did Zohaib bhai take revenge?" Mahum asked smugly.

Mahum's question triggered and replayed the memories of Zohaib's punishment in slow motion.

"No", Faryal said, for some reason blushing and dropping her eyes.

"Awww someone is blushing", Mahum said mischievously.

"Madam, Saiyyan ji b agaye apke", Mahum winked when Zohaib came dressed up in formals and sat down in front of them. Few tiny specks of glitters were still present on his face.

"Let's start the breakfast my kids", Dada Jan announced.

"Zohaib are you going to the hospital today?", Dad asked.

"Yes Dad", Zohaib replied while pouring tea for himself.

"But it's Sunday", Taya Abu stated.

"Taya Abu we have an urgent meeting with the Health authorities today. They informed me in the morning.", Zohaib replied.

Usman, Huzaifa, and Zain were whispering to each other and grinning mischievously looking at Zohaib.

"What?", Zohaib asked with narrowed eyes. He got the idea that they were talking about him.

"Nothing Bhai, we were just saying that", Zain said but before he could lie Uzair dived in and completed his sentence " that Faryal has quite a great taste in arts".

Hearing Uzairs words the whole family cracked up except Zohaib and dadi phupho who were sitting with a stoic expression.

"Hehe, not funny" Zohaib reacted and rolled his eyes.

"Accept it or not, it is funny. Good job Faryal", Uzair said with an ear-to-ear smile.

Zohaib took the napkin and threw it on Uzair who quickly caught it. Zohaib was trying to conceal his embarrassment. He moved his eyes towards Faryal, she swiftly diverted her gaze.

"Enough of all this childish drama, let him eat peacefully. Instead of condemning such immature acts in the house, all of you are encouraging it. Afreen hai. ", Finally dadi phupho roared and shot daggers at Faryal.

"Sorry to interrupt dadi phupho, but It was just a simple prank. She did not have any bad intention", Huzaifa said courteously in Faryal's defense.

Zohaib looked at dadi phupho, she was fuming in anger. He cleared his throat and said " It's okay dadi phupho".

"It was just a prank. Take it easy Bushra. Bachay hain, yehi umar hai mastiyon ki", Dada Jan said to dadi phupho.

"I don't think so we need to interfere every time", Dadi Jan said and heaved a sigh.

"Keep encouraging her like that", Dadi phupho scoffed.

"I've messed it up Zahra", Faryal muttered looking at Zahra in her lap, with a lump in her throat, and tried to fight back tears. She kissed Zahra on her head and hugged her tightly, this time for her own peace.

Faryal did not eat anything she kept playing with the food on her plate.

"Faryal why are you not eating anything? Have your food my child", Mom said lovingly. She knew Faryal was upset.

Faryal nodded her head with her gaze fixed on Zahra but still didn't eat much, she was not hungry anymore.

After few minutes Zohaib stood up from his chair and said "I'll leave now".

He went towards Dada jan, dadi jan and dadi phupho first, they lovingly kissed him on his forehead and blew verses on him and then said bye to everyone and finally went towards Faryal.

He bent down and kissed Zahra's cheek and then her both hands and said " I'll be back soon Zahra"

He moved his eyes from Zahra to Faryal, her eyes were still fixed on Zahra.

"Allah hafiz", He whispered.

"Allah Hafiz", She replied.

He straightened up and left the house hastily.

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"Why are you so silent, you are not coming out of your room today as well. What's bothering you", Huzaifa asked Faryal in a concern filled voice.

"Nothing", Faryal replied with a tight-lipped smile.

"Is it Dadi phupho?..I mean are you upset because of her?", Zain asked. He sat in front of her and heaved a sigh.

"Please don't take her words to your heart", Huzaifa said encircling his hand around her.

Faryal placed her head on Huzaifa's shoulder and hummed.

"Dadi phupho is mad at me", She whispered.

"Doesn't matter", Huzaifa consoled her.

"I've made a mistake", She said.

"It was not a mistake. If someone is intolerant towards a small prank it's their fault", He replied.

"Will she punish me?", She questioned with a terror-filled voice.

"Hey relax! nobody can lay a finger on you", Huzaifa rubbed her back in a consoling way.

"Muje dur lughta hai dadi phupho say. I can't face her now. She didn't like me already and now I've done a blunder", She voiced her emotions meekly and tightened her grip on Huzaifa's arm.

"You don't have to get scared of anyone when your brother is around ", Huzaifa stated trying to soothe her emotions.

Zain looked at him with narrowed eyes and nudged him, "He means brothers".

"Bhai your grammar is a disaster, why do you use singular instead of the plural every time", Zain added with an annoyed expression.

Faryal looked at Zain and a light chuckle escaped her mouth. Huzaifa and Zain perfectly knew how to lighten her mood.

"Chalo ab sahi say hans k dikhayen bhabhi, hame sukoon milay  ga. ap ko aese pareshan nahi dekh sakthay", Zain said.

Faryal gave a tight-lipped smile.

"You call it a smile?" Huzaifa said with pursed lips and signaled Zain. Zain moved forward and started tickling her.

"Hah..Sto..p it...", Faryal said in between her laughs. Zain stopped his torture and looked at her.

"See I'm smiling", Faryal smiled showing her teeth.

"Very Good", Huzaifa said.

"You did not eat breakfast properly bhabhi, and didn't join us for the lunch as well. Mom is worried for you.", Zain said.

Faryal looked at the wall clock and said " I'll eat with Zohaib, he should be home shortly".

"Where is Zahra?", Faryal asked.

"She is getting pampered by mom and Tayi ammi", Huzaifa said with a smile.

"Can you please bring her back, It's her time to sleep already. She has not slept since morning", Faryal said.

"Yeah sure", Zain said and came back after few minutes with Zahra in his hands.

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Assalam u Alikum!❤

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