#12

Aasif sat by the couch beside his father anxiously waiting for his mother so he would deliver his talk, his leg slightly tapping the floor with his palm doing the same on his knee, beads of sweat forming on his forehead openly

Saad stared at his son who didn't even notice his father's eyes on him, and all he noticed was a nervous and anxious young man who is almost scare to death. Then after a long wait Zurekha walked in after they waited for her for something that felt almost like forever

"ooh sorry I'm late son.. I was doing namaz... !" muttered Zulekha who sat beside Aasif smiling at him as warm as always

"don't worry sweetheart.... Men are bound to wait for their women always!" teased Saad
"as long as it's for your woman,,, yes!"

Then after a slight short joke Aasif cleared his throat indirectly requesting for the attention that was given instantly, he grabbed his mother's palm slightly pecking it then turned to his dad giving him a manly look

"aanh.. i.. you know.. as it is,, I'm aging,, like I'm getting older then how I was back then!" he paused hardly collecting himself

"so... I thought about the thing of settling down!" he added after a minute of rethinking
"I found a girl.. and I would like to settle with her!" he finalized

"mmh!.. I saw where this was going from the very beginning!" teased Saad
"aww.... My son even chose his own bride she might be an ideal one isn't it?"
"for sure... she is!" Aasif smiled uncontrollably blissfully

"mmh Zurekha... look at how your crazy son is smiling just at the mention of her.... Your little fatso is in love Zurekha... I just know that for sure!" he winked

"so... who is the girl,.. do we know her.... Where does she live... what does she do... her parents... what do they do?" Zurekha shot the questions at him excitedly

"Sabr darling sabr!" he muttered seriously teasing
"okay.. you know the girl already... she... isn't a stranger at all to you all!" Muttered Aasif and that earned him a complete focus from his parents,

Zurekha shifted a bit from her previous posture turning her whole gaze on him while Saad stared attentively waiting for the announcement

"Anaya!" he finally announced the name that it's mention alone brightened his face with a slight twitch down to his heart

"I knew it for sure...!" Mouthed Saad blissfully "there have been signs everywhere!" he added proudly like it was some sort of a flex

"when did you find out?"
Saad smirked " long ago...I have been noticing your behaviors for so long!" he winked playfully

"this family is full of detectives"
all the time Zulekha has been quiet, not even a word escaped her

"Anaya!" she finally let out the name felt heavy and bitter on her tongue

"is that the name you said or I didn't hear you properly?" she asked Aasif nodded excitedly

Zurekha chuckled not louder, not blissfully but confusedly "this same Anaya I know... Seema's daughter?" she asked again hoping that would change the answer but it was still the same and it would still be even if she asked ten times more

"mmh.. you,, are joking right?" she chuckled sarcastically taking his hand off hers
"wait... why.. I mean...!"

"a maid's daughter... Aasif... a maid and that's too.... Out maid.... Of all women in lahore couldn't you find an educated girl... you are bringing that dirty girl as my daughter in-law.. this doesn't sound serious please tell me it's a joke!" she muttered disgustedly

"mom..... don't call her that... sh-she isn't any dirty woman!" he muttered hardly swallowing his anger and letting his politeness guide him, he blinked once before diverting his gaze back to his mother

"mmh... she is the maid's daughter,,,, Aasif a maid... she is unemployed... uneducated.... She got nothing beneficial with her,,, and you want to make her your wife?"

"Zurekha... what kind of words are you saying!" muttered Saad hardly containing his anger

"so you are with him in this... Saad... you educated this son of yours.. for him to marry a maid?" she stood straight half raged half controlling

"I never educated my son for anything in return Zurekha!" he almost yelled

"but I raised him for something better at the end" she shot back "not anything less... or anything lacking!" she added furiously standing straight

"Zurekhaaaa!" he yelled but his furious wife didn't give a dime about that
"ooh now I remember... that crazy girl is involved in this huh?... she talked to seema about this huh!"

"mom Zahra isn't to be blamed.... She was just helping me!"
"helping you in what,..... in getting married to the maid's daughter!"

"mom please... stop addressing Anaya like that... she is the woman I love!" his tone soft as if he was pleading for bis life while fighting something inside him

"I said no.... I'm not agreeing with this marriage... never!" with that she stormed out of the room furiously slamming the door behind her

"subh-haana-Allah1" Saad's hand went to his mouth for sure he never thought he would have to witness such thing one day, he never thought his love, his woman would speak that bad about another woman right before him carelessly

he knew his wife had some types of shortcomings just as everyone is but he never thought it would turn out this bad

Aasif lowered his head, broken in and out, his palm hid his face like letting the world seeing it would be his end, he felt that chocking liquid threatening at the corner of his eyes but wanted to blink them back

he thought it was over when Zahra convinced Seema, but no, there is another side of the coin, his family and that part is taken by his mom how si he going to manage convincing her that she agrees

'son!" called out Saad his tone lower than his toes this time
"mmh!" he groaned still hiding his face
"look at me!"

Aasif raised his face to his father, his eyes were red and almost watery but no he wouldn't shed tears before his father this would break him too

"I love her.... I love her a lot dad... so much that I can't imagine my situation under her absence" he explained himself without being asked,

Saad shook his head slightly agreeing with him before he promised to have a talk with his mother and convince her

he nodded words to be said disappeared at that moment
"okay.. I will give you some space now!" muttered Saad as he went on his feet before storming out of the room

---

The silent but stormy night hit Aasif's heart like a hot dagger, his heart was breaking roughly and mercilessly and the one breaking it was the woman he spent his whole life time loving, understanding and obeying

The ache in his heart was undefined, she pain in Anaya's tone when the news reached her was enough to destroy him completely

As the night darkened and went silent than usual, the Lahore soft hums hit his unslept soul, the silent city reminded him of where his soul should be his tired body went upright his legs slowly pulling him to the bathroom

"As HE always helped me HE will help me out this time too.. YAA ALLAH"

Few minutes later he came back, his skin wet from the ablution water, he slide into his thobe before spreading his prayer mat, then his hands raised before he muttered
----

Yaa Allah... for sure you know my weak and lost soul more than the way I can identify myself, please guide me... help me Yaa Rab... from sins... keep my lustful soul away from zinaa!" muttered Waqas his hands raised seating on his prayer mat facing the qibla as he is supposed to

"Yaa Rab... if it's just lust for her then erase it from my soul... but if it's love then strengthen it... make it true and real Yaa Rab.... And give me the strength to ask for her hand in the right way!"

"if she is the one in my destiny please bring plenty of love in my heart for her... and if she is not then please give her the happiness she deserves Yaa Allah... and give me strength and Sabr from losing her!" his last statement tested bitter than he thought it would

"I saw her in tears Yaa Allah... and Wallahi my heart ached so bad Yaa Rab... whatever she is going through... please help her through it... heal her.. give her peace and happiness she deserves!"

Even he didn't know how but soul woke up for Tahajjud again but not for himself this time he didn't mention his name or his family again, But her name that was heard repeatedly in his supplications, with his hands raised above the air, her name was all he mentioned Zahra

The girl he barely knew, yet his heart rhythmed under her name

His soul pictured her smile every now and then
His mind replayed the view of her face, her beautiful eyes he claimed as his ocean

His lips whispered, mentioned her name in every supplication he made in that night
His heart ached the memories of her shading tears

And with that he knew she was no longer a stranger anymore, she was more than his fate, than his desire, than his love ... she was his solace, and for some reasons he didn't want to lose her even though he haven't have her yet

---

After a long day at school with her lamenting to Naysal on how Nawaz confessed then the way she boldly turned him down,

then again her friend congratulating her then again she started hissing over Nawaz's name shaming him under his absence while Naysal hardly tried calming her and before they realized it the day ended like that with them doing nothing except getting angrier

And finally it was time to get back home again after a long day of doing absolutely nothing, and the only thing her body needed was to wash away the anger off her body
she walked out of the bathroom, got dressed and before she settled Zahra got startled by the sudden open of door to her room

No knocking,, no invitation just a mannerless entry, Then there she was her aunt,

"mumaani?... Assalaamu aleykum!" she greeted warmly though she didn't feel it
"mmh!... waaleykumussalaam Zahraa.... The match maker!" she muttered evilly with a sarcastic smile tagging along

Zurekha sat on the edge of the neat made bed, "come sit here!" she patted at the spot beside her, gently bold

And that was enough to make Zahra feel the upcoming storm, this woman has never been good to her unless there is definitely something behind
"come Zahra,,, don't be scared!" she smiled wider this time yet not warmly

Zahra walked slowly hoping she doesn't reach there but the distance deceived her
she sat beside her aunt as instructed to

"so... you are behind this thing Aasif told me huh?" she asked politely but Zahra didn't feel it
Zahra swallowed hard, fear caught over her throat "wh... what... what thing aunt!" she stuttered

"mmh... you know I hate this type of thing you are dong right now!" said Zurekha almost furious "I will ask again!... straight forward this time maybe you will understand!.. did you connect Aasif to that filthy maid daughter?" she asked firm and strict enough this time

"it... he.... I just talked to aunty Seema to let him and Anaya get married.. that's it!"

"why.... Why would you do that?" she questioned coldly focused on her, and the look I her eyes intimidated Zahra because she knew what was coming then

"He... Aasif bhai... loves Anaya a lot... so I ... I was just helping out!"

"helping out huh!" she muttered sharply "helping out?" she yelled holding Zahra by her hair flipping her head backward

"aanh... aunt.. it hurts!"
"that's what I intend it to!" she shot back mercilessly locking eyes with Zahra
"But.... Aunt... he.. he loves her!"

"shut up!" she pulled harder " I decide what happens in my son's life.... Not you!" she yelled

"his choice of making you his closest sister was already a worst choice of his life... I won't let him make any crazy choice again!" she muttered seriously meaning it

"now you listen.... This is my family... advices and choices come from me... not you!" she paused " you get it?" she asked furiously

Zahra nodded but the pain of her held head or maybe hair pressed over her action

"for the decisions.... That are made in this house,,,,, I want you to keep your mouth shut!"

Zahra nodded again, despite the pain, she wanted to scream and break down but NO! not before her

"good girl!" she let her go while smiling evilly
"bye then!" she added before walking out of Zahra's room like she did absolutely nothing

"uuhhhh!" she held her mouth to suppress the sobbing sounds, as tears escaped her eyes as soon as Zurekha left the room as if they were waiting for her to leave

Her sobbing filled the room, despite the hard press on her lips still the sound managed to escape

"is it just me?.. or everyone else living in their relative's home goes through this?"
the words sat on her throat and mind but didn't dare come out, not even for a moment

---

Waqas walked inside his home in a white thobe coming from the mosque for ishaa namaz with a soft and silence remembrance of Allah

His eyes drifted to the figure by the couch, at the parlor,, he walked up to her then placed himself beside her
"Assalaamu aleykum again waleeda!" he muttered before realizing she was doing dhikr too, she just nodded while kept on with her dhikr

He rested his head on her shoulder his hands rounding her single hand like a little baby

"becoming a child again?" she asked after finalizing her dhikr
"I never grew up... and will never!" he shot back

"crazy boy!" she smirked sweetly
"Did you make dua for me too?"
"yes I did... I prayed that you find an eternal happiness...!" she shot back confidently teasing

"do you know what that means?" she added
he slightly shook his head that was still resting on her shoulder

"it means a flower... a flower that will make your heart flip when you remember about it... the one that will make your eyes lit when you see it... a flower that will be your soft home and safe space..... a flower that will turn your garden it's own and adorn it with plenty of love!"

Her words bought a smile on Waqas, he knew for sure what his mom was talking about, and that.... That made him think of her again

The woman his heart wants to protect. His soul want to love and own so bad, the woman he keeps following behind every day in the name of 'protecting from distant'

ZAHRA....... His Zahra...

"but that sounds like it's your own benefit... as someone will have to take this clingy son away from you! He teased

"a double win.... I get a daughter too!"
"seems you gain much that the owner of the garden... waleeda!" he raised his head off her shoulder, Hania groaned seriously joking

"by the way where are the girls?"
"With their father ...he went to pick them up from college today.. and they are not back till now!" she explained
"you know father and daughters things!" she added

"mmh sounds great... at least we even got some mother-son time then! without those two cats interfering huh?" he teased pulling his brows up as if waiting for

"calling my girls cats...?" she asked unseriously angry
"what else should I call them!"

A lovely but soothing chitchat between mother and son prevailed until they got interfered by a greeting mighty voice, louder and majestic enough to grab their attentions greeting them like it truly mattered and didn't have no grudge in it, the girls followed behind him greeting their brother and mother warmly

"how is it in here?" asked Yazid unloading the shopping bags from his hands
"I see you had a shopping with the girls!" muttered Hania

"mmh!... princess treatments starts from maternal home first!" she shot back
"How was your day!" muttered Waqas his tone lower as if he didn't want to be heard

"mmh,,,, good as you can see!" muttered Yazid sarcastically "did you expect it to be bad?" he added
"Yazid!" muttered Hania
"don't start it already.... It was just a question.. just as he asked!" he snapped

"I will be in my room waleeda!" he muttered placing a soft kiss on her forehead before walking to the girls

"girls.... Good night!" he muttered patting each of them on their shoulders
"likewise bhai!" muttered Khayra
"you too!" said out Kaynaat
"goodnight" said Waqas to Yazid "Abbaa!" it couldn't come out loud

Yazid nodded, he didn't respond, just a slight forced nod and that was it
Waqas walked away quietly but broken, Yazid's gaze followed him briefly as if he wanted to say something, to stop him yet he didn't

everyone had finally departed to their rooms except for Hania and Yazid who sat at the parlor under the uncomfortable silence before Yazid finally started a talk

"how is he?" muttered Yazid sitting beside his wife
"you should ask him!" she shot back
"you were with him... you are the best option!"

"he is doing good.... But not fine!" she paused "You are breaking my son Yazid!" she muttered sadly "what is it.... That he did... for him to deserve this?"

"nothing... wallahi he did nothing!" he swallowed his guilty back
"then why?.."
"Hania... I'm adjusting!"

"Adjusting for twenty five years?... huh... you never loved him since he was born Yazid.... You are still adjusting till now!"
"I never said I don't love him!"
"but you are showing!"

"Ha...!" his hand reached to hers but she pulled away
"he never deserved this.... He never did Yazid.... Not even once.... He have always been a good boy maybe... just maybe you would love him at least once but no... you never did!" she muttered angrily

"he is acting okay... but I'm his mother.. I can see through his acts!" she added before going on her feet

"And now I don't know if he never deserved you as a father.... Or if you never deserved to have such a good son!" her last words hanged in air minutes later after she left to her room

Leaving Yazid quite, guilty and maybe broken
"I never deserved him... I know that!" a smirk escaped his lips but didn't reach his eyes nor his soul

"But I don't hate him... I swear I don't!... I just.... Uuh... I think I'm the worst father ever!" his tone filled with guilty

"I wish I was a father to you just once Waqas... once ... maybe that would melt the
mountain of burned I carried in my heart for years now!"

He spoke to his inner self, breaking his own soul with his own visible truth that pierced through each nerve in his body painfully bleeding his flesh