Awaiting | منتظر

Tu bhalay rah mei dewaar bana betha rahe,

Janay walay nay mere yaar, chalay jana hai.

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Faryal crossed off another date on the calendar. she looked at the encircled 18 and mumbled, "9 more days to go".

She felt a tug on her dupatta, she shifted her eyes on the floor Zahra was sitting near Ammi's feet.

"Zahra, you are sitting here silently", Faryal smiled. She bent down and picked up Zahra in her hands. Zahra struggled to take the calendar from her.

"Look", Faryal showed her calendar. "9 more days to go and you will be a big girl. Haina Zahra? but no matter how old you get, you will be Ammi's little girl forever", she said lovingly. Zahra gawked at her and then smiled.

"My good baby", Faryal smiled and kissed her. "Let's get you dressed. After all, it's your birthday month. You should look and feel perfect".

Faryal hid the calendar inside the closet. She picked out Zahra's red-colored floral summer frock and other accessories.

"Now Zahra will get ready", she said in a baby voice and placed her on the bed.

Faryal kept talking to Zahra, Zahra too kept blabbing in reply and giggle. Zahra tried to run away every now and then but Faryal would catch her.

"Sabr sabr...bus hogya Zahra (wait wait...it's almost done)", Faryal said as she put on Zahra's sandals. Zahra as usual got busy checking out her new outfit. Faryal took Zahra's face in her hand and looked at her with a mixture of emotions.

"That's the least I can do for you to make you feel special", Faryal said.

"Ammi", Zahra showed her the flowers on her dress

"Beautiful", Faryal smiled but her eyes twinkled with tears. Her heart ached to know Zahra's birthday was coming up but no one has spoken about it yet. Dressing up Zahra daily in new clothes and giving her the toys, mostly the ones Ayza had bought for her. These were the only things Ammi was doing for her since the birthday month had started.

"Ammi will make sure you always get the best. Always and forever". She kissed Zahra's head. "I promise".

She mentally noted to ask for her baba jan's advice this time.

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"Woah Zahraaa, you.are.looking.so.prettyyyyy", Zain said dramatically. "You got these Good looks from me". Zahra chortled.

Zain turned his head towards Faryal and said "Bhabhi don't you think so she got flattered".'Of course, she did. Zfter all, she is a Durrani", Faryal laughed. "Say this in front of her daddy".

"Daddy", Zahra said hearing it. Faryal mentally face palmed herself for reminding her.

"Daddyyy", Zahra shrieked.

Huzaifa came forward and took Zahra from Zain. He settled down Zahra on his neck with her feet on either side of his neck. "Hold me tightly Zahra", Huzaifa said.

Zahra was holding his hair tightly. Huzaifa winced but didn't stop her.

"Let's do the hoarse riding, chachu will be Zahra's hoarse", Huzaifa held Zahra tightly and started walking. In the beginning, Zahra looked scared but with the passage of time she started giggling and let out voices. Faryal heaved a sigh of relief.

"Did Zahra sleep well last night?", dadi jan questioned.

"Dadi jan she kept calling Zohaib, but then after convincing her for a while she fell asleep".

"Poor child, it must be hard for both of you but don't worry he will come back", Dadi jan lovingly placed her hand on Faryal's head.

Faryal smiled and nodded her head.

"Yeh sub kub tayar honge? (when will everyone get ready?)", Dadi phupho scowled.

"We are ready", Mom said.

Mahum entered the living area. Her eyes fell on Huzaifa, he was laughing and playing with Zahra. She averted her gaze and sat down beside dadi jan.

"Mahum why are you so silent beta, are you okay?", Dadi Jan frowned.

"I'm good dadi jan, please don't worry", Mahum gave a tight-lipped smile. Seeing Mahum silent was an extremely unusual thing.

Dadi jan took Mahum's hand in her hand. "Ya Allah, Mahum beta you are burning with fever".

Huzaifa paused as he heard that but didn't look back and kept playing with Zahra.

"Oho meri bachi (My child)", Tayi Ammi said worriedly and came forward. "I'll take her to the doctor".

"Mama I'm fine. Nothing to worry about. Don't change your plans for me please", Mahum assured her mother. Faryal got worried too looking at Mahum.

Tayi Ammi went to the kitchen and came back after few minutes.

"Eat something so you can take the medicine", Tayi Ammi said sternly. Mahum wriggled her eyebrows. "Mahum", Tayi Ammi warned her.

Mahum scrunched her nose but started eating.

"You skipped the dinner last night. Didn't come out of your room the entire day and fell sick. I don't know what's gotten into your father for sending you abroad. The mere thought of leaving you on yourself is scaring me", Tayi Ammi shook her head.

"Waqt k sath sub smjh jae gi (She will understand everything with the passage of time)", Dadi Jan said. "You can't keep your kid caged in the comfort of home. Let her learn how to survive on her own".

Huzaifa came back, he slightly bent and dropped Zahra on Faryal's lap.

"Mahum you can stay at home if you are not feeling well", Dadi phupho said.

"It's not needed dadi phupho, I would love to accompany all of you. Please just forget about it, I don't want to spoil such a happy occasion", she smiled.

Her words rived his heart into pieces.

"Huzaifa I think we should leave now", mom said.Huzaifa nodded. "Mom Zohaib Bhai told me to take Faryal to her baba's place", Huzaifa remembered.

"Yeah...I think it's best Zahra loves them. You can drop them at khan villa once we are done.

"Roshni's mother called me yesterday, she was inviting us for the lunch", Tayi Ammi said.

"Mama please wait for a few days, let Zohaib come back first. I mean he should be present beside me", Uzair said.

"Inkaar hi krne wali hai tou ghar pay bhula kar zaleel karvana zarori hai (She is going to say no, it was not needed to invite us to their home for the humiliation)", Uzair frowned.

"Everything is good between you and Roshni", Tayi Ammi asked.

"All Good", Uzair smiled.

"Only if you know", he stifled the giggle.

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"Inaya act lovey dovey around Huzaifa, understood?", Meesha instructed her sister-in-law.

"Bhabhi don't you think so it will be a bit over", Inaya frowned.

"Not at all", Meesha replied. "Bus Huzaifa ko bhai smjh k kar lo (Do it considering Huzaifa as your brother)", They laughed.

"Let's go, mama asked me to bring you there", Meesha said.

"God", Inaya groaned. "Let's go".

They walked inside the guest room.

"Best of luck", Meesha whispered.

"Assalam u alikum", Inaya called out. Everyone stopped talking and looked at her.

"Walikum Assalam", Dadi jan smiled. Inaya greeted everyone.

"She is so pretty. Haina Mahum baji?", Zain said in a low voice.

"She is", Mahum gave him a tight-lipped smile. She looked at Inaya intently, she indeed was a gorgeous girl.

Tayi Ammi told Inaya to sit beside Huzaifa.

"You don't have to feel shy, please communicate with each other because it's a lifetime decision", Dadi Jan stated.

While all the elders were engrossed with each other Inaya broke the ice and initiated the conversation. At first, Huzaifa wasn't talking much just giving her short replies but once he came to know that Inaya has graduated from the same university he took part in the conversation. They talked about their teachers and university days.

"How are you feeling. Why are you not eating anything", Faryal said, breaking Mahum's chain of thoughts.

"I'm completely fine. Don't worry Fary", she smiled. "I'll play with Zahra", Zahra was sitting in her lap. Meesha sat down beside them. Meesha talked to her, she was behaving herself now. Lively and talkative, that's how she was. She was concealing her heartache but her eyes, they said it all. Meesha and Faryal exchanged a worried look.

Mahum turned her head, her eyes met with Huzaifa.

"She is happy", Huziafa's blood boiled. He averted his gaze.

"Both of them are burning in the same fire", Meesha whispered. Faryal nodded.

After a while, they were standing outside the house to see off the Durranis. Meesha signaled Inaya to keep standing beside Huzaifa. Meesha smirked. She hurriedly walked past them, pushing Inaya over Huzaifa. Huzaifa quickly held her before she could fall over him.

Mahum's eye widened at the scenario happening in front of her. Her eyes were fixed on Huzaifa's hand in which he was holding Inaya's hand.

"Are you okay?", Huzaifa asked.

"Sorry", Inaya backed off. She mentally cursed Meesha for pulling this stunt. Mahum ignored them and directly settled down inside the car.

"Faryal come with me, I'll drop you at your baba's place", Huzaifa said. They settled down in the car. Huzaifa was silently driving.

"What do you think about Inaya?", Faryal asked.

"I'll leave it on mom", he replied honestly.

"What do you want Huzaifa?", Faryal questioned.

"Wo sirf sirab hai (It's a mere mirage)", he whispered but Faryal heard it.

"Are you and Zahra fine?", Huzaifa changed the topic. "Zohaib Bhai said I'm leaving two kids behind take care of them".

Faryal's cheeks flushed. "He was kidding".

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Two days later:

"Zahra daddy will come back soon beta", Faryal patted her back. She was walking to and fro across the room with Zahra in her hands. Her hands and feet were paining due to continuing repeating the same process for about an hour but Zahra wasn't ready to stop crying.

Faryal stopped. She sat down on the bed and settled down Zahra in her lap. Tears started falling from her eyes too.

"Zahra shhh, listen to me", She patted Zahra's tummy. Zahra looked at her with a tear-stained face.

"I know it's so hard for you Zahra. You want him near you but we can't do anything. If I could I would have taken you there or even call him so you can hear his voice, but I can't do anything", Faryal wiped Zahra's tears.

"We can only pray that he comes back soon",

Suddenly an idea popped up in her head. She picked up her cell phone, played, and replayed Zahra's videos in which Zohaib was present. Zahra carefully looked at the video.

Zahra looked up to Faryal and said "Daddy".

"Hmmm daddy", Faryal smiled.

Zahra leaned her head against Faryal, her eyes were getting droopy. In a few minutes, she fell asleep. Faryal carefully took the mobile from her hand, paused the video, and kept it aside. She laid down Zahra on the bed and covered her with the sheet.

Faryal mindlessly starred at the wall, then roamed her gaze across the room. He wasn't there but everything in his room screamed his existence. The flowers in the vase were worn out in his absence just like her.

"With every night, comes back the hope of your return. How do I say I miss you in a way that will make your heartache as mine does?", a lump formed in her throat. She grazed her hand on the butterfly pendant.

She picked up the notebook and stared at the page. There was so much she wanted to say but she didn't have words. The lump in her throat was getting bigger.

"Aj dil nahi likhne ko, aise kijyen khud smjh lijyen (I don't feel like writing today, understand it by yourself today)", Tears started falling from her eyes, trailing down her face onto the paper smudging the words. She sniffed.

She tore the page from the notebook and kept it inside the drawer with the other notes she has been writing every night.

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Mahum was sitting in the living area in front of the laptop writing important points on the notebook. She was doing preparation for her interview.

Huzaifa entered the living area, he looked at Mahum. She was engrossed in her studies.

He picked up the remote, laid down on the sofa, and switched on the t.v. Mahum turned around angrily towards the intruded. Huzaifa could feel her burning gaze but still ignored her. She took a deep breath and stood up from the chair to leave.

"Why would I leave, I came here first", she reminded herself. She sat down again.

"Can't you see I'm studying here", She stated. "Turn the volume down".

He reduced the volume, she smiled proudly but the next moment he increased the volume to a level that the living room was vibrating with the noise. She placed her palms on the ears.

"What's wrong with you? If you want to watch t.v go to your room, you have one there", she roared.

"If you want to study you can go back to your room. Can't you?", he sounded cool.

"I came here first", she replied.

"aur wese b ab tou amreeca ja rahi ho wahan parh lena (Anyways you are going to the States, you can study there)", he taunted.

"Okay, so you will taunt me for that now", she laughed ruefully. "Two more weeks and I'll be gone".

"Patah nahi kon budqismat hogi jiski tumhre sath shaddi hogi (I don't know who will be that unfortunate girl who is supposed to marry you)", she added sarcastically and turned around.

He got up angrily. He grabbed her hand and turned her around. She collided with his chest.

"Tumhe farq kyun nahi parhtha? Jis aag mein mein jul raha hum tum kyun nahi julthi (Why it doesn't matter to you? Why don't you burn in the fire in which I am burning)", he gritted his teeth. His hold was getting tight around her wrist.

She struggled to release her hand from his hold.

"You are hurting me, leave my hand", she said.

"Jo tum muje takleef de rahi ho uska kya (And the way you are hurting me, what about that?)", he questioned.

"Mein nay kya kiya hai? (What have I done?)", she looked into his eyes.

"That's the problem, you don't even understand that", he groaned.

She stomped her feet over his feet forcefully. For a moment his hold loosened around her wrist. She backed off.

"I"m hurting you, right? Now I'll make sure that I never come back so no one can hurt you and your wife", a lump formed in her throat.

"And I'll make sure to get married in these Two weeks so you can enjoy my wedding. Look I'm not that cruel after all", he replied with a blank face.

"Tum jeet gaye aur mein har gyi. Aj maan liya mein nay Huziafa. (You won and I lost. I am accepting that today)", She averted her eyes. She had never given up in her life especially when the opponent was Huzaifa but today she didn't have the courage. She silently collected her stuff and climbed the stairs with a heavy heart.

"Why would you come back when you have already planned to get settled there with that lover of yours", he threw the cushions on the floor.

"If it doesn't matter to you, It won't matter to me. Even if I've to accept someone else as my wife I'll do that. I'm going to marry Inaya that too within these two weeks".

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Zohaib walked out of the airport and settled down in the back passenger seat of the car.

"Sorry Saleem for disturbing you at this hour of the night, but I wasn't able to find a taxi here", Zohaib stated.

"It's completely fine Zohaib sahb", Saleem Bhai yawned and ignited the engine. Zohaib leaned against the seat and mindlessly looked at the passing roadside lights outside the window. It was past 3 a.m. The city was as silent as a feather in the wind.

"Barhi bibi said you will stay 7 days at the medical camp, but you came 3 days ago. Everything went well?", Saleem Bhai asked.

"Hmm I completed my work early", Zohaib replied.

"Zahra bibi will be happy to see you back, she was missing you", Saleem Bhai.

A smile crept across Zohaib's face hearing his daughter's name. He missed her too. After a few minutes of drive, Saleem Bhai parked the car on the car porch. Zohaib thanked him and hurriedly climbed the stairs. He silently tips toed inside the room.

The moment his eyes fell on Faryal and Zahra his restlessness vanished away. He first went towards Zahra, bent down, and kissed her lightly so she doesn't wake up. His eyes automatically shifted to Faryal's face. He walked up to the other side of the bed and sat down beside her. He pushed aside the hair from her face and stared at her. She was sleeping on his side of the bed.

He could feel the light entering into the darkest center of his being. Flowers were sprouting from every crack of his broken heart. The girl he has always considered a kid has brought a tsunami of emotions in his heart's world.

"You need to stop messing with my mind", he whispered.

What sort of yearning is this? why did I want to be close to you?

He bent down and dropped a lingering kiss on her cheek.

"I wonder if the things that remind me of you, remind you of me",

He fetched a deep breath, adjusted the cover on both of them, and went inside the washroom.

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Faryal's eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times and sat down. Her head ached due to all the crying. She grabbed her hair, started twisting them, and looked at Zahra.

She froze, "Zohaib".

"Allah Miyan now I'm seeing things", she averted her gaze, shook her head, and tucked her hair into a bun. She stood up from the bed and looked again at Zahra, she could still see him. Her heart sank. She hesitantly walked up to him. The hopes were rising in her heart with every step she took forward.

She touched him and her eyes flew open.

"I can't believe it", she mumbled and pinched him with full force.

"OUCH", Zohaib quickly sat down.

"Are you for real", she asked, for a moment she forgot to blink. He nodded.

She jumped over him, wrapped her hands around his neck, and placed her head above his shoulder. He smiled at her enthusiasm.

"Ahhh I can't believe it, you are back. You are finally back. Welcome home.", she bloomed. "I had to pinch you for that".

"When you don't believe anything you pinch yourself. I thought something has bitten me", he replied. She laughed. He wrapped his hand around her and laid down on the bed, with her on top of him.

"Zahra missed you so much", she said breaking the silence.

"Hmm", he was feeling light. "You didn't miss me?".

She shook her head. He released her hair from the bun and started playing with them.

"Theek hai, mein agli bar Zahra ko le kar jaun ga (Alright, next time I'll take Zahra with me)", he said playfully.

"No, Zahra goes where her Ammi goes", she said in her defense.

She thought for a moment.

"I MISSED YOU A LOT" she traced with her finger on his chest.

"You did?", he smiled. She nodded.

He grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"apko yeh nahi patah ap mere liye kithne zarori hain, aur muje yeh bi nahi patah mein apko kese bathaoun. (You don't know how important you are to me, And I don't know how to tell you this)", she thought.

"If you won't stop wearing my shirts what will I wear", he said looking at the T-shirt she was wearing.

"You can wear my dresses. I didn't stop you", she giggled.

"Aur meri jagah bi qabza akr li tumne (And you have occupied my place too)",  he stated.

"Yup I did", she shrugged. "I've occupied everything and you are just worried about that)",

"You are growing wings", he narrowed his eyes.

"Just the way you wanted me to", she replied.

"It's your punishment for leaving us alone. I'll wear your shirt every day from now on.", She looked up and their gaze met.

"Keep doing whatever you want, If Zahra wasn't asleep you would have seen your punishment", he said.

He nuzzled his nose on her neck. His beard was tickling her.

She quickly held his face and said, "No".

"I've just started", he replied. "Why are you so ticklish everywhere? Just one touch and you start jumping". He looked into her eyes intently.

"Bohut hi besharm hai ap, ab ap mera is tarh say mazak urhaen gay (You are very shameless, now you will make fun of me like that)", she narrowed her eyes. He turned her face towards him.

"Why are your eyes swollen? Did you cry?", his features tensed.

"Zahra was crying so much, I couldn't stop myself after seeing her like that", she said meekly.

"What I'm gonna do to both of you", he heaved a sigh.

"She is a kid, kids cry a lot. That doesn't mean you will join her in doing that Faryal", he frowned. She snuggled closer to him and hid her face in his chest. For a moment they stayed silent.

She tried to get up.

"Stay", He held her tightly.

"I woke up for fajr", she said.

"It's still dark outside", he murmured and closed his eye. "Let me sleep like this, I wasn't able to sleep back there".

"Hmm", she slightly turned her head to look at his face and smiled.

The feeling of being curled up in his arms, their fingers intervened, his heartbeat felt like a rhythm to her ears. His arms were wrapped around her tightly and in those arms, she felt home.

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Assalam u Alikum/Namaste, ❤

I hope everything is great at your side.

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