Later that evening,

"Yesssss? " I asked when I heard a knock on my door.

I saw, the door opened a little and zubia bhabhi peeped inside and then entered.

"Are you busy? " She asked looking at all the books lying on my bed.

" Um, not really... Come.. " I quickly made the space on my bed for her.

She smiled and sat there... "Wow, You have a beautiful room" She said taking the view of the room.

"Thanks.. " I said while keeping the books on the table... And then I turned to her.

"So you are studying law? " She said looking at my group picture from college.

"Jee.. " I replied.. I was just replying and was not showing any interest in

Conversation and it was visible to her too. I think I should stop doing this, after all what has she done, I shouldn't be treating her such way.. What will she think of me.. No, I will cancel this rishta thing, but I should not misbehave with them, she came our house for the first time.. Stop, doing this arisha..

"Arisha.. Who is he? " She asked pointing at arsam in the picture, who was standing with me, making a 'v' sign on my head..

And I came back into senses.

"ye arsam hai..Mera bohot accha dost hai.. Dost nahi.. Balki bhai hai ye mera.." I smiled thinking of that monkey..

"Oh damn.. I can take arsam's help.. Yeah man..he will definitely help me "

"Accha.." She was looking at the pictures I framed on the wall.

"He surely is your best buddy, kaafi zyada pictures mein hai wo tumhare sath"

And I just gave a smile.

We talked for sometime when someone knocked the door, and it was daniyal, he entered with Ira..

"Bhabhi, ye ro rahi thi" He said while giving me a glance. Probably thinking about my behavior few hours ago.

"Aww my baby, come" Zubia bhabhi

said to Ira and she jumped in her mom arms..

"Mum mum.. " Ira said in her cute voice..

Daniyal turned to leave,

"Arey daniyal, tum arisha se toh mil lo..or At least stay here for sometime.. " Zubia bhabhi said with a laugh. And then looked at me..

I smiled fakely.

"No, I think I should leave." Daniyal said with a look at me and walked out.

"Isko kya hua? " Zubia bhabhi said

And I shrugged "may be thakan hogi safar ki" She added.

And then we talked for some more time and I got to know her better, She was very nice, she told me how she use to live before her marriage in Mumbai and the life she is living now.. She told, Faris Bhai And daniyal are very much alike in habits.. Basically, she was just telling me about daniyal because she was thinking that I am going to marry daniyal, but nope, that's not gonna happen..

After that, we came downstairs, tayaabbu and baba were discussing about politics, and badi mama and mama were in kitchen..

I looked for hania and minal, but they weren't there.. I asked mama about them and found that they are in the park near our house with faris bhai and daniyal.

So, zubia bhabhi and I decided to go there.

------

"Accha hua aa gai tum, Faris bhai humein ice-cream ke liye le jarhe hai.. " Hania said cheerfully..

And I gave her a glare.. She is not helping me, she is here chilling with daniyal instead, is she really my sister?

"Arey, zabardasti.. Maine kab kaha ye? " Faris bhai said

"Haan toh aap rehne dein...daniyal bhai le jaenge humein" Minal said. I looked at daniyal who was busy on his phone and was looking not interested in the conversation..

"Yep, he will take you guys out" Faris bhai said.

"Aap chup karein.. Aur humein le chalein kahi bahar" Zubia bhabhi said to her husband..

"Accha baba ,aur Ira baby ko bhi jaana hai mere sath? " Faris bhai said in baby voice and Ira jumped to her father...

"Mai ghar pe bata ke aau ke hum sab bahar ja rhe hai? " Minal asked

"Um, nahi..Tum log jao, mai bata dungi mama ko" I said.. " Mujhe thoda kaam bhi hai.. " I added and left from there.. They were trying to stop me.. But I don't want to spend time with that daniyal.. I don't know why, but he is just irritating me just by his existence.

Later that evening,

I was thinking about ways to stop all this.. I texted arsam, and he said I should talk to daniyal straight away about everything.. I don't know whether this is a good idea or not.. But, I think I have to talk to him before it get too late.

I was in kitchen preparing salad for dinner, when daniyal entered..

"Oh, I am sorry.. I was looking for mom actually" He said looking at me and was going to leave.

"Daniyal wait.. I need to talk to you"

He turned to look at me... " I am sorry for my earlier behavior .. Actually I was a little upset about something and... "

"It's okay.. It happens.. " He said and moved near the kitchen island..

"Thanks.. " I said.. "Look, daniyal you know.. I mean.. Our elders have fixed all this in our childhood.. we are adults now, and we can take our decisions... I mean, we should take our decisions.. Right? " I said all that in shaky voice.

"Arisha, I am not getting it, tell me clearly whatever you are trying to say" He said

I sighed,

"Arey ..i mean you are an adult, tumhari apni pasand napasand hogi, right? Tumhe nahi lagta, hamein apni pasand ya napasand zahir karne ka mauka milna chaiye"

He looked at me confused.. As if he still didn't get it..

"Urghh..Okay....Look, mai chahti hu ke tum is rishtey se inkaar kar do..wo bhi aaj hi....Now you got that?" I finally said pointing the knife I had in my hand towards him..

"Woah.. Woah.. Hold on.. " He raised his hands in defence.

"But why, are you into someone else? " He asked after a moment

"Well, that should not be your concern" I said. "Just Do as I say"

"Okay... And what if I won't do what you saying, then? " He asked.

"You will do this... Why would you even wanna marry a girl who is clearly telling that she is not interested"

"Okay.. I will think of it.. " He said..

"Daniyal.. Please.. "

~~~~~~

Next morning,

I was hell worried now, haadi is coming India tomorrow, and I am here stuck with this stupid Daniyal..

I told him to say no for this marriage, but he didn't said anything..why is he playing around..

"Arisha?.. " I heard zubia bhabhi..

"Ji, bhabhi" I replied

"Meri ek cousin ki wedding anniversary hai, mujhe uske liye shopping karni hai.. Tum chalogi mere sath" She asked lovingly.

I looked through the living room to find hania or minal, so that I can make them go with bhabhi, but I found no one.

" Yeah sure.. But bhabhi, have you seen hania? Subah se dikh hi nahi mujhe"

"Hania toh subah mom ke sath, kisi relative ki taraf gai hai"

"Oh..wo Badi mama ke sath gai hai..accha mai do minute mein ready ho ke aai.. Phir chalte hai aapki shopping ke liye" I said with a small smile

When I came back from my room, I saw bhabhi was waiting for me in the drawing room..

"Chalein ? " I asked..

"Haan.. Chalo.. " Daniyal said coming into the room..

I gave him a confused look.

"Wo actually I thought daniyal will drive us..." Bhabhi gave me the lamest excuse... I know what she was trying to do.

"Yeah.. I'll take you guys wherever you want.. I mean I am helping you guys otherwise I am very busy myself" Daniyal said looking at me.

"For your kind information Mr Daniyal Ahmad... I can drive myself, so thanks.. But we don't need your help" I said to him.. "Aaiye bhabhi.. I am waiting for you in the car" I said to bhabhi and walked out..

I was really fed up.. I clearly told him that I am not at all interested in marrying him, then why is he doing all this..

•••••

That evening,

I was walking by the study when,

I heard baba and tayaabbu planning about some get together...

"Aur phir, arisha aur daniyal ki rasam bhi kar denge kal hi" Tayaabbu suggested..

What?

"Haan kyun nahi...ye toh Bohot hi accha rahega.. "

"Bas phir, tay raha.. Kal sham hum arisha aur daniyal ki manghni kar denge" Tayaabbu said..

What the hell is happening?

I immediately looked for daniyal.. He was in the guest room with faris bhai and bhabhi.. When I walked into the room without knocking.. They looked at me confused.

"Mujhe tumse baat karni hai.. " I said looking at daniyal.. "Abhi.. " I added taking a pause.

"Kya baat hai arisha? Is everything alright? " Faris bhai asked.

"Jee.." I replied with a fake smile..

"Tum bahar aao, I want to talk to you.. " I again said looking at daniyal.. Who was now standing.. And then he followed me outside..

I took him to the terrace..

"What happen? " He asked..

"They are planning to get us engaged tomorrow" I told him.

"So? " He shrugged.

"What do you mean.. 'So? '... I clearly told you, that I am not interested.. And that you have to deny from this marriage" I nearly screamed.

"that's totally your problem... Why am I suppose to deny this and become a villian" Daniyal said.

"Dude, listen... Be a man and go and talk to your parents...We can't marry ok.. "

"But both our parents want this to happen, at least give me one valid reason, why do you want to break this"

"Because, I .... " I was about say it... " Because I am not ready for marriage, and moreover, I have never thought of you like that.. Please daniyal understand.. And talk to your parents.. Please don't let this happen..please " I thought I was gonna cry... But I controlled myself..

He looked at me for few seconds..

"Accha... Fine.. I'll talk to Dad.. Now don't worry.. " He said putting his hand on my back, comforting me.

"You will deny from this marriage na? " I asked to make sure.

"Yes.. I will.. " He said..

••••••