Gradually | رفتہ رفتہ

"Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely."

– Roy T Bennet.

KHAN VILLA:

Knock!...Knock!

Slowly and reluctantly Faryal opened her eyes. A soft knock awoke her, and she blinked groggily.

"Uhh", She whimpered.

She blinked, closed her eyes again, and snuggled closer to Zahra. Her hand was placed around Zahra above Zohaib's hand.

Knock!...Knock!

She heard someone knocking on the door, again.

"Yaaaar", she muttered in annoyance and sat up as she had no other option. In this way, Zahra will wake up due to the continuous knocking. She took quick steps towards the door and opened it to see who was there.

"Assalam u alikum Azra baji", Faryal kept a hand on her mouth and yawned.

"Faryal bibi Amma jan told me to give you this", Azra baji said. Faryal quizzically looked at the things in Azra baji's hand.

"Zohaib sahb's mother sent these things for him", Azra baji explained.

She moved her gaze towards the wall clock which said "7:33". Her eyes widened with the realization.

"He is late", she mumbled worriedly.

She hastily took Zohaib's work attire and car keys from Azra baji and closed the door behind her.

"Zohaib..wake up", she bent slightly and said in a low voice.

"You are getting late for work", she lightly tapped on his arm but he didn't budge at all.

"ZOHAIB YOU ARE GETTING LATE FOR WORK", she whisper yelled but didn't saw any progress.

"Muje kehthay hain k mein ghorhay bech kar sothi hun apna haal dekhen zara (He calls me a deep sleeper, he should look at himself )" , she huffed.

She looked at the wall clock again and heaved a sigh. She couldn't use the traditional way to wake him up because throwing water on him would disturb Zahra's sleep as well. Suddenly an idea popped up into her mind.

"You asked for it by yourself Mr. Zohaib", She grabbed his hand, took his two fingers in her mouth, and bit them.

"Ahhh", Zohaib hissed and sat down spontaneously. He seemed terrified. He moved his eyes towards Faryal.

"What was that?", He narrowed his eyes.

She pursed her lips and cooly pointed her finger towards the wall clock. "Just look at the time", she said.

Dazed, he looked at the wall clock, it was 7:45. His eyes flew open.

"GOD", he muttered. He threw the comforted aside, picked up his work clothes, and ran towards the bathroom. Faryal sat down in his place, arranged the comforter over Zahra, and the pillows around her both sides. Zohaib opened the washroom door and came inside the room.

"I'm very late, I was supposed to reach the hospital at 8 o'clock", He picked up a tie in his hands.

"I"ll do that. In the meantime, you can wear your shoes", She offered. He handed her the tie without any tantrum, picked up his shoes, and sat down on the chair.

"Ap ghorhay bech kar jo sothay hain (You are a deep sleeper)", She said while tying the tie around his neck.

"Badla lay rahi ho (Are you taking a revenge)", He replied and buckled up his shoe.

"Uhhuu....why will I take the revenge?", she said, her eyes fixed on the tie. "I'm just stating the fact", she shrugged.

"It's the consequences of your bad influence",

Faryal looked at him seriously. She pushed the knot of the tie with a force, closer to his neck and left it.

He coughed and loosened the tie around his neck."Are you planning to kill me?",

"Yeah I'm a bad influence I can do anything, right?", she said and turned around. He chuckled.

He stood up from the chair, said "Allah hafiz" and left the room.

"Allah miyan, he called me a bad influence, baat nahi karun gi ab in say (I won't talk to him from now on)".She pouted. She turned around again. Her eyes fell on his wallet.

"Ohho", She took it and ran downstairs.

"ZOHAIB",

"ZOHAIBBB", she screamed his name while coming downstairs. He stopped at the front door of the house and came inside.

"What happened?", he asked.

"You left your wallet", she said, gasping for breath.

"Thanks",

Meesha and Amma jan were looking at both of them from the living area.

"Zohaib is going for work?", Amma jan asked in a high-pitched voice. Faryal and Zohaib both looked towards them and got to know about their presence.

"Ji Amma Jan (Yes)", Faryal replied.

"Allah Hafiz", Zohaib called out. He felt the piercing gaze of Meesha and knew what does it mean. He heaved a sigh.

"Jalad dekh rahi hai (The executioner is looking at us)", He whispered.

Faryal looked at Meesha and then back to Zohaib "I'll see you off then".

Both of them went outside together. Zohaib sat down in his car, Faryal waved him goodbye. He waved back at her and drove off in hurry.

"Allah Hafiz", she mumbled and smiled.

"Did I just smiled at him?", She groaned. "Fary idiot, you were supposed to stay mad at him".   She huffed and went inside the house again.

"Zohaib seemed in hurry", Amma jan stated.

"Yes Amma jan", Faryal replied.

"I told him to go back for sleep if he wants to after suhoor, but he kept listening to your Agha jan's never-ending stories. Your Agha jan sometimes behaves like a child. I knew Zohaib was sleepy but he still stayed with your Agha jan, such a nice boy he is", Amma jan applauded him. Faryal smiled.

"Come sit down us", Meesha said to Faryal.

"No, Zahra is sleeping. If she woke up and didn't find me or Zohaib she would get scared. I'll come down with her when she wakes up", Faryal replied.

"Okay, we can wait I guess", Meesha gave a tight-lipped smile.

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"Zahra come on beta, take a step forward", Baba jan insisted. Baba jan was holding her both hands in his hands. Zahra looked above and smiled shyly.

"Come Zahra", Faryal stretched her hand forward, she was sitting on the floor in front of her. Zahra took a reluctant step.

"Ma'Sha'Allah, that's my girl", Faryal cheered to encourage her. Zahra took few more steps towards Faryal, once she reached into her arms Faryal hugged her. Baba jan smiled.

"How old is she?", Meesha asked.

"10 months", Faryal replied.

"Did she start speaking anything?",

"She speaks her own gibberish which she is too shy to speak in front of all of you at the moment", Faryal laughed. "But I can understand her....soooo no complaints".

Baba jan went away and sat down on the sofa.

"I think we should go for our eid shopping, what do you say?", Meesha asked.

"Umm yeah, you are right. I was also thinking the same", Faryal stated.

Meesha's phone started ringing. She looked at the screen, it was her husband's call.

"Hi, you are home?", she asked.

"Hmm, how was your day?", she questioned again. Faryal was unintentionally listening to her one-sided conversation. She spoke with him for few minutes.

"Come Zahra, let's do the practice with your khala.", Meesha held Zahra's hands in her hands and made her stand up. Faryal smiled looking at Zahra's enthusiasm.

Faryal stood up from the floor and joined her baba Jan. She laid down on the sofa with her head on his lap. A slow smile worked its way across his face and into his eyes.

"Fary", he said, running a hand through her hair.

"Ji baba", she looked into his eyes.

"I wanted to tell you something", he paused for few seconds and cleared his throat." When I lost your Ammi and realized that I'll have to raise my child alone I didn't know what will happen. All my life I have always been scared....scared of not being able to raise you properly, scared of being not enough for you, scared of each and every imaginary bad possible scenario you name it and I'll accept it", Faryal took her baba Jan's hand in her hand and kissed it.

"But you know what Fary, yesterday I felt all my doubts suddenly vanished away. The way you have accepted each and every relationship. Your love and respect towards them, especially for Zahra and Ayza's parents swells my heart with pride and gratitude. Today I can proudly say that I have done a great job in raising you. On the behalf of your Ammi I can also claim that you have made us proud parents".

"Baba the person I'm today is just because of you. You were and always will be the best father ever", she spoke.

"Just remember one thing my child, I'll be always there for you no matter what. You will always be my little girl", Baba jan dipped down his head and kissed her forehead.

"I know baba", she smiled.

"I am happy, everyone understands me, takes care of me. They are nothing but kind and loving to me from the very beginning. You should relax as well baba. Stop worrying, your Fary is happy", She assured him.

"I know you are, I can feel it", He smiled. They both kept talking to each other, whereas Meesha was busy with Zahra.

After sometime Zohaib entered the house, his eyes fell on Faryal who was lying with her head in her baba Jan's lap. She was dramatically saying something and laughing while her baba jan was smiling.

"Assalam-u-alikum", Zohaib stated. Faryal stopped mid-sentence, she sat down and adjusted her dupatta.

"Walikum assalam, You got late today Amma jan told me. I'm really sorry for that Zohaib", baba jan replied.

"Yeah, I did actually but don't worry I managed it. You don't have to feel sorry at all ", Zohaib replied with a tight-lipped smile.

"Zahra?", he asked.

"She is with Meesha. You go upstairs I'll bring her there", Faryal stated. Zohaib nodded his head. He excused himself and went upstairs. Faryal searched For Zahra, she was playing with Meesha in Amma Jan's room.

"Zahra daddy is calling you, let's go", Faryal said lovingly and picked her up in her hands.

"Zohaib came home?", Amma jan questioned.

"Yes Amma jan",

"Say bye Zahra", Faryal said. She took Zahra's hand in her hand and waved a bye.

The moment they reached her room Zohaib was lying on the bed, dressed up in the baba jan's comfortable clothes she had given him last night. As usual Zahra's eyes brightened up seeing her daddy. She squealed and was throwing herself towards him. Faryal placed her on the bed and she hastily crawled, Zohaib sat down and took her into his hands.

"Always eager to meet your daddy, huh", Zohaib laughed. He poured down kisses over Zahra's face. She was chuckling as his beard was tickling her. There was a constant smile pestered over Faryal's face. She laid down on the bed and silently looked at them.

"Should I ask him?", she thought. "wouldn't it sound nosy?...no..why would it be? Meesha asked that as well".

"Umm how was your day?", She asked hesitantly.

"As usual, except for the first time I was late for work", Zohaib said nonchalantly, still playing with Zahra.

"As usual?", She thought. "I don't even know how he usually spends his day at work".

"Meesha said we should go for our eid shopping, can I go with her?",

This time he turned his face towards her and said with furrowed eyebrows, "Of course, you don't have to ask".

"You said yesterday_"

"I told you to just inform me about your whereabouts, apart from that do whatever you want to do".

"Thanks!",

Suddenly Zahra let out a sound from her mouth.

"Hayeee Zahra Ma'Sha'Allah", Faryal excitedly held her own hands together, intervened fingers of both hands with each other, and placed her chin on it.

"She said Mii....Oh she wanted to say Ammi", she gave a victory smile to Zohaib.

"Impossible", Zohaib shook his head. "She said Dy, she was trying to say, daddy".

"Ammi",

"Daddy",

"No", Faryal whined. "Zahra tell him you were saying Ammi".

"Zahra won't lie, she is a daddy's girl", he retorted.

"Huh, She is her Ammi's baby", she flipped her hair. Zahra was silently starring at both of them.

"Zohaib please don't cheat, she said Mi.", She pouted.

"Zahra prove her wrong beta", he said lovingly.

"Yes please I want to prove someone wrong, say it again Zahra", She cooed.

Both of them expectantly looked at Zahra. Zahra's eyes fluttered between her daddy and Ammi. Zahra uttered some incomprehensible sounds again and smiled shyly. Zohaib and Faryal burst into a peal of laughter.

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"I won", Zohaib smiled.

"Oh, God! Agha Jan lost the chess match", Meesha looked impressed. "It doesn't seem real".

Faryal clapped holding Zahra's hand in her hands.

"Fary, you are celebrating my defeat. Who's team you are in?", Agha Jan asked faking a hurt expression.

"Agha jan I'm supporting you", Faryal shrugged innocently. "It's just Zahra who is clapping for her daddy".

"Agha jan I have warned you already that Zohaib is a smart kid you would lose, lekin apko hi aram nahi tha haray baghair", Baba Jan laughed.

"Agha jan you did great, don't worry better luck next time", Zohaib said politely.

"I was kidding", Agha jan smiled and patted Zohaib's shoulder, Zohaib smiled back.

Zohaib took Zahra from Faryal. "It's Zahra's bedtime, excuse us please. Allah hafiz and shub-bakhair". Zohaib said.

"Allah hafiz", everyone replied.

Faryal sat there with everyone else. After some time they all left for their rooms because they were supposed to wake up early for suhoor.

Faryal entered her room carefully.

"They are asleep", she thought.

She looked at the bed and was lost in some thoughts, but little did she know Zohaib wasn't asleep but looking at her trying to decipher her actions. She took few steps towards the bed, she stopped and face palmed herself.

"Ammi will be waiting for me, I didn't talk to her yesterday. Not only yesterday, actually it's been days", she mumbled and went to the balcony attached with her room.

Zohaib picked up his cell phone to check the time.

"What's she doing outside at this time?", he thought.

He shifted his gaze towards Zahra who was sleeping above him. He cautiously placed Zahra on the bed, arranged the pillows around her, and went towards the balcony.

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Assalam-u-alikum/Namaste!❤

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