Enjoy!!!

"Yes?" She asked softly. Not having a heart to deny him.

"Were you serious about living in hostel after Mirha's wedding?"

Not knowing from where to start he said still looking ahead.

She looked at him with straight expression as if she knew what was he about to ask.

"What do you think?" She asked him. "Apka or hmara mazak kab se hai infact apka or hmara to salam dua bhi nhi hai."

He went silent on her words. Knowing very well that she was right.

"Please don't go because of me. I know I never made you feel at home but I...I..." He again went silent not knowing how to say it.

"You what Zaydan?" His name was sounding beautiful for the first time. He stopped the car near the gate and looked at her whose eyes was begging him to complete his sentence.

"I am sorry Hooriya. I know a mere sorry is not the justification of my actions but please don't leave."

Her face went rigid on his plead.

"You havn't done anything to apologise to me. It is your house you can decide who to welcome who to not. And I am not leaving because of you so don't feel guilty. Just for your assurance I myself can't live here anymore and don't force me to if I won't leave from here I will die slowly from inside." With that said she opened the door and disappeared inside the house.

××××××××××××

Her words were like a knife cutting through his heart. Did she also felt like this when he insulted her. His mind was not working properly. Her words were echoing in his mind. With a heavy heart he laid down on his bed.

The night was surely very long.

Hoor entered her room and not wanting to think about him she immediately went to freshen up. Coming out of the bathroom she sat infront of dressing table and looked at herself in the mirror. The once happy go lucky girl was now only a facade infront of everyone. She could see through her hollow soul.

It wouldn't have happen if she would have denied staying here in first place. Than she thought about her parents, how happy they were that she wouldn't have to live in hostel. She was going to crush there happiness with her own selfish reason. She was blaming herself for the havoc created in her life but she didn't knew that it was just a hardship from the Almighty. 'With every hardship there is ease.'

She was crying desperately. Oh how much she want her mother to embrace her in life long hug away from the cruelty of the world. How much she wished that her father would be here to assure her that everything will be fine. How much she missed her family. How much she missed her siblings and her nephew that little cute thing which had her heart from the time he stepped in this world an year ago. He must have started talking till now. How much she was desperate to here him calling her names.

She cried, cried in exhaustion tired of everything wanting to just runaway in her parent's arms. How much strong her desire was to just fly away to her house which she could call home. But all this was imppssible as for now.

She slid down in sitting position by her bed's foot. No matter how much she was tired she couldn't sleep. She knew she was drifting awat to insomnia little by little. But no one was here to listen to her misery. Suddenly a sentence ringed in her ears.

"No one besides Allah can rescue a soul from hardship" (Quran 53:58)

A sentence said once by her father was reasonating in her ears. Then she remembered she didn't prayed Isha salah. She at once stood up and went for ablution. Coming out she started praying Isha although it was around 2 am now.

In her miseries how can she forget that Allah was, is and will always be there for her no matter what. She should be happy and thank Allah. Instead of crying on her miseries she should cry in front of Allah who loved her more than 70 mothers. Allah must have better in store for her. How can he leave her even if she was away from her parents. Only Allah's loved once are tested by him and if it was her test she will give her 100% to it. After crying her heart out in sujood she got up and laid on bed feeling content. Sleep was more peacefull than ever tonight. Indeed it wasn't that long night.

×××××××××

Next morning came with a new freshness in her. She took off from college and decided to spend sometime alone as she had an off from her job. She slept after fajar again. When she woke up everyone was done with their breakfast as it was already 10 am.

She did her morning routine and went downstairs for grabbing some snacks. Entering the kitchen she saw her khala making lunch with other ladies. All the kids were off to college or work.

"Khalaaaaaa" yelling her name she embraced her khala from behind on which Nusrat flinched hearing her voice. Rukhsar and Sumayya (youngest daughter in law) began to laugh at her while Rasheda just made a face on her.

"Badtameez." Nusrat lovingly smacked her head still in Hoor's hug. "Kya baat hai aj khala par bhot pyar aaraha hai." Sumayya teased her.

"Aree pyar to roz ata hai aunty lekin khala ko khalujan se fursat mile to moqa mile na hame pyar batane ka." Hoor teased her khaala pinching her cheeks.

"Chal hutt badtameez." Nusrat smacked her again detaching herself not wanting her neiece to notice her red cheeks.

Hoor just pouted in return making a fake crying face.

"Hayee yha to pyar ki koi kadar hi nhi." She wiped her fake tears. And said keeping her forehead on Sumayya's shoulder.

"Koi baat nhi beta hota hai hota hai sabhi k sath hota hai." Sumayya patted her head as if consoling her. Loud laughter echoed in the kitchen on their drama.

"Waise aj itne jaldi lunch ban raha hai." Hoor asked them looking confused when Rukhsar took out her favourite chicken chilli in a plate for her to taste and ravish.

"Aree aj designer aane wala hai dopahar me isliye jaldi jaldi kam karna hai." Rukhsar replied handing her the plate. She just hummed in response.

Taking the plate excitedly from her she took a fork from dining table and sat on the free platform near Rukhsar dangling her legs.

She moaned ravishing its taste and gestured wow with her fingers. Rukhsar just smiled at her and continued her work.

××××××××××××

All the youngsters came back by 2 pm and after enjoying lunch all the boys went to play cricket and all the ladies were gathered in living room for selecting dresses.

"Mirha tum jaldi jaldi dresses decide karo or jo function k liye nhi samaj araha hai uska design banwa ne dedo." Rukhsar looked at her and said.

Hooriya sat with them and started helping the girls with their dresses.

"Hooriya ye kaisa rahega haldi k liye." Fajar asked her showing a beautiful yellow garara with green top. Hooriya looked at her and nodded her head when an idea strucked her mind.

"Kyu na haldi par sab 1 jaise pehne. You know just for fun." She exclaimed excitedly.

"Kuch bhi." Naimal said disgustingly. Hoor's smile turned upside down.

"Yeh to bhot acha idea hai." Mirha said getting up taking the dress from Fajar. "Dekho garare or dupatta yellow color ke and tops multicolor." She also put forth her idea.

"I am in." Fajar.

"Me too." Safiya.

"No way." Naimal.

"Thik hai beta jisko 1 jaise banwane hai wo log color or measurement dedo."

They started deciding colors for themselves except Hooriya who didn't wanted to be an intruder in their family wedding and of course Naimal.

Hoor eyes stuck at a beautiful pink gown with sequins at the top and a big border at bottom. She picked up that dress and started examining its soft velvet cloth but got startled when Rasheda snatched away the dress from her hands.

"Tumhari bas ki bat nhi hai itne mehenge dress kharidna. Lao idhar. Koi sasti dukan me jakar apne baap k paiso se kuch lelena."

Everyone went silent on her words.

"Hm chai bana kar late hai." Gulping down the insult thrown at her face she got up hurriedly and ran to the kitchen.

Stopping near the kitchen island she breathed heavily. She shouldn't let her words effect her, but how many times and this time insult was directly thrown at her father. They surely belong to middle class family but her father fullfilled her every single wish before coming out of her mouth. No matter what world say she knew their reality and it was the main reason she started job while studying she didn't wanted her father to take her expense anymore she had cleared it to him when she got a suitable job in his friend's company but still he used to send her money and other necessities.

Shaking her head to clear her mind she started making tea for everyone.

Taking out the tea she took the tray and came to the living room to serve it but halted in her tracks when saw Zaydan sitting near his mother. Thinking that she will just keep the tray and go to her room she carried away with her journey.

As soon as she got up to go feeling his intense gaze on her Rukhsar called her to sit beside her. Zaydan was already sitting on sofa kept perpendicular on her one side while she passed him and sat on other side of his mother now Zaydan could clearly see her. Zaydan inhaled her scent which lasted only for a second when she passed by him.

"Dekho ye kitna pyara lag raha hai meri beti par." Rukhsar kept a red color dupatta on her shoulder. Zaydan who was already looking at her mumbled a small 'masha allah' which was only audible to his mother as she smiled whole heartedly still looking at Hoor.

"Nhi aunty iski zarurat nhi hai. Hamari shopping mamma already kar chuki hai." Hoor said refusing her politely.

"Lekin betaa..." Rukhsar tried to say something but was cut off by Hoor.

"Nhi aunty ap log ne pehle hi bhot kuch kiya hai. Ap hmko beti keh rahi hai na to fir ap hmko force nhi karegi. Please. Khala samjhaena." Hoor easily blackmailed her lastly looking at her khala pleadingly.

"Achi tarah samajte hai ham tumhari blackmailing." Mirha tried to ease the situation smacking her playfully.

"Ouch aunty boleee na apni beti ko." Rukhsar just shook her head at her antics when Zaydan interrupted them.

"Ammi wo shadi ki theme or menu decide kar lijiye. Mai aj kal me wedding planner k paas jaunga."

"Lo wedding planner ki kya zarurat hai apni Hoor hai na." Hoor who was busy in discussing some designs with Safiya, startled at Shahana begum's voice.

"Huh. Ham?" She asked as if she didn't heard her name.

"Ha vaise bhi Hoor ki pasand bhi achi hai. Uske experience k liye bhi acha hai." Mirha also agreed with them.

"Lekin hamne kal hi hmara first project kiya hai." Hoor tried to make them see some sense.

"Jo k bhot acha hua." It was her khala now.

"Khala ap bhi?" She looked at her khala as if she betrayed her.

"Ham nhi karne wale yeh." Hoor declared when she saw how adamant they were on this.

"Tum hame inkar kar rahi ho?" Shahana begum asked with authority.

Hoor bit her lips nervously thinking of the way to get out of the situation. Zaydan gaze went to her lips which were looking as soft as rose petals. He looked at her eyes when she spoke again.

"Dado please." She pleaded her calling her nickname. "Ap chahe to hum decoration or baki sab chose karne me help karege lekin pehli baat to hamare paas team nhi hai dusri baat hamare office wale directly hamko wedding ka contract nhi dege or tisri baat hm shaadi enjoy nhi kar sakege." She completed counting on her fingers and wiggling it as if proud that she came up with three excuses.

"Sahi keh rahi hai Dado yeh. Force nhi kare." She looked at Zaydan who took her side for the first time but blushed when she realised he also called her Dado which was the name given by her.

Rukhsar grinned ear to ear seeing Zaydan taking Hoor's side. And eyed her mother in law to agree with him.

Author's note:

Assalamualaikum everyone.

I am back with the update.

Do comment your thoughts about it.

Rasheda is annoying, isn't she?

How was the chapter?

Want to ship Zaydan & Hooriya? Suggest in comments section.

Vote, comment & share if you like the chapter.

Bye bye👋👋 till the next update.