"Assalam o alaikum mama!" I excitedly hugged mama as I entered my home.

"Mubarik ho daddi banne wali han..." I whispered in her ears.

She smiled and then hugged aunty.

"Mubarik ho ap ko bohat bohat!"

"Ap ko bhi naani banne par bohat bohat mubarik ho" mama said it all loud to aunty while I immediately said

"Shhhshhhshhh! Mama kia kar rahi han ap ahista bolai! Sheharyar ko nhi pata...ap ki bahu ne un ko surprise dena ha. " I told her and she shook her head.

"Ye bachay bhi na! Aiye ap baithiye. Aur tum jao Alia apne kamre mai hai mil ao" mama took aunty to the drawing room and Sheharyar was still outside as usual busy on his phone.

In ki shadi toh na in k mobile aur office k sath hi kara dety.

I moved upwards and saw zuhaib coming downstairs. He saw me and smiled nervously,

"Api! Ap.... kab ai....bataya bhi nahi..."

"Bataya bhi nahi k bachay! Tum ne konsa mujhe bata dia k mai pupho banne wali hun! Itni bari khabar chupa k rakhi. Mai tum se naraz hun bas!" I folded my hands and stood by the leaning over the realing of stairs.

"Nahi...api.... aisi baat nhi ha....ap

Ap naraz na hon...woh mai...mai na..."

"Kia mai mai laga k rakhi hui bakri ki tarha! Side par hato! Mujhe Alia se milna ha" I said while pushing him to a side and moving upwards.

I literally ran upstairs and saw alia coming out of her room. I hugged her and said laughing,

"Congratulations mommy-to-be"

She smiled and replied shyly.

"Thank you!"

"Chalo neechay chalai....everyone's waiting. " I took hold of her hand and started to move.

"Bhai aye han?" She asked

"Jee janab! Ap k bhaiya jee bhi aye han. Ab chalai neechay?"

She nodded.

---------

"Yeah! The investors are willing to deal with you sir. And they have asked for the meeting. "

Saira was informing me about the new deal.

"Okay then finalize the meeting what's the problem?" I asked.

"Sir! This is a huge project so I wanted to ask whether you'll handle this project or appoint someone to ...."

"No! I would be dealing it myself. Just set my meeting with them. " I told her.

"One more thing sir! They live in Toronto and want you to be there for the meeting...."

"Okay! It's fine...I'll be there. Inform me about the flights to Toronto in next week I'll then tell you which flight you may brought the tickets of, and also inform Zahid and raheel to be there with me. "

"Okay sir!"

"Anything else?"

"No sir! That's it for now. Thank you. "

I hung up the call and went inside. Everyone was in drawing room, chit chatting.

I was about to move towards the room but I saw Alia and Soha coming downstairs.

In the world of my two beautiful women, my mom and Alia....now there was another addition.... SOHA...

I smiled and looked at both of them. Alia saw me and ran to hug me.

"Aram se arammm see" I said when she ran too fast.

"I missed you so much bhai! Aaty hi nahi han ap! Ab kia shadi ho gai meri toh ap bhul gaye apni guriya ko?" She sounded a bit angry.

I smiled.

Hamesha yu jhoota mutha sa roo k hamesha apni zid manwa leti thi ye larki.... jab bhi mai kahi bahir se ata tha toh she was always standing at the main gate, not letting me go in till I'll show her what I bought and what she wished for.

"Mane toh kaha tha meri guriya bari ho gai hai.... " I said while soha was standing seeing us. She was smiling too but something was mischievous about her smile.

"Han...bari toh ho gai hai AP ki guriya....par ab us guriya ki ek guriya ane wali ha.... toh ab us ka kia karai gay? " Alia broke the hug and said while frowning.

I frowned too.

guriya ki ek guriya....

Confused I looked at soha and she was grinning. And then it clicked me...

No.... seriously! I... I mean Alia... REALLY?

"Would you please explain....." I said raising an eyebrow.

"Kaha tha na Alia....rehne do! Ye in k baas ka ka nahi!!

Jahan bhar k business deals kar le gay...ye ek paheli nahi bujhay gi in se"

They both smiled when soha commented on me.

Ab bohat zuban lag gai hai is ko.... raat ko toh yu chup lag gai thi jaisay koi saanp sungh gaya ho....

"Tum logo ki hansi mazaq band ho gaya toh mai ab ander jao. I am alot of work to...." I was going when Alia took hold of my hand and said something that brought tears in my eyes ,

"To-be-Maamu jee! Itna gussa nahi karty! "

I immediately turned around and saw Alia. She smiled and it was I who hugged her and my eyes were closed, tear felled off my left eye and when I was about to wipe it, I saw soha. I was hugging Alia and soha was standing at the back of alia and in front of me.

She smiled.

She is the one who saw my tears. Har ek ko hamesha gussa hi dikhata hun. And I hate the fact that she saw me crying.

"Phoolo ka taaro ka sab ka kehna ha

Ek hazaro mai meri behna hai...."

Haarib came from back.

"Idhar kia ho raha hai bhai?" He asked in the same singing way.

"Ap bhi aa jaiye to-be-maamu jee" soha exclaimed with a smile.

"Array....mamu.... woh.... nahi... mai...mamu...." he was blabbering while looking here and there.

"Array haarib miya! Itnay hawas kiu khoo baithay ho abhi bas mamu hi banne waly ho dulha nahi. " soha went near him and stood beside him and said while raising an eyebrow.

He didn't said anything just smiled and a tear fell from his eye that he immediately wiped off. He then came forward and hugged alia too.

I took out some money from my pocket and placed them on Alia's hand as a blessing.

She smiled and then we all went to sit in the room.

--------

A happy family with all my in laws. This was what I have always dreamed of.

Your heart always does a winky dinky dance when all your unsaid desires and wishes come true.

Life would take ups and downs ,I understand. But when you have companions who understands you, knows you well and helps you get out of problems then all the difficult times pass with ease.

I was arranging table for dinner with maid. Alia was there to help but I forced her to go and sit. She was now talking to zuhaib and smiling. I smiled too.

And my deary husband was with his other wife whose name was 'office'

I shook my head.

In ka kuch nahi ho sakta

Haarib came beside me when I went to kitchen for making salad.

"Umm....bhabiiii....ap itna kam kar rahi han...sath koi help karwane k liye bhula lena tha kisi ko. " he said while sitting on chair.

"Its not much work. Ho jaye ga sab. Plus alia ko kam nahi karne dena aur mane socha mama aur aunty bhi baatai kar lai thori. " I smiled and replied while cutting the cucumber.

"Nahi....kisi aur ko bhula lena tha.... " he said while leaning over the marble slab.

I narrowed my eyes and smirked.

"Aur ye 'kisi aur' mai kon shamil hai?" I asked with raised eyebrow.

"Koi bhi....like...jo ap ki help karwa saky....ap ki koi dost..."

He was playing with words and I knew how to handle him.

I hold the knife in my right hand and walked over the counter towards him leaving the cucumbers there.

"Beta! Sedha sedha batao chakar kia chal raha hai han? Ye tum dono jo khichri paka rahy ho na...sab samajh mai aa raha hai.... ab batao kia scene kia ha boss?" I said while showing him the knife.

"Bhaaaabhhiii.... ap...pehly issay side par rakhiye.... you shouldn't hold such dangerous devices. "

He smiled nervously.

I smiled too when he tried to hold the knife. I pulled my hand back and said,

"Pehly mere sawal ka jawab !"

"De raha hun na bhabi...woh.... mai.... mai ....ifra... bhabi woh..."

He was searching for the words. I purposely brought the knife a little near him and he spoke in one breath,

"Iloveifra!"

"Whhaaat!" I said loudly.

"Ahista boliye bhabi! Ap toh meri baat samjhiye.... us k bagair dil nahi lagta aur woh hai k mujhe friend-zoned kar k baithi hui ha.... ab koi banda nahi mil raha tha mujhe jis se mai baat karu.

Ab bhabi ap hi apni dost ko samjhaiye,

larka hai seedha sadha sa,

na hai saas na sasur ka rola,

bahir se aya hai

acha khasa kamata hai,

shakal surat se toh actor lagta hai...

Aur ...." he continued with his blabbering.

"Done with your being 'apne hi muu miya mitthu hona?'" I asked while laughing and going back to cutting the cucumbers.

"Bhabi! Ap mazaq samajh rahi hai...I am serious. Ab agar woh kharoos mera dost itniiii achi bhabi la sakta hai toh I should also bring a bhabi for him too na...." he came beside me and started begging.

I laughed, "tum pagal ho gaye ho!"

"Bhabi! Sunai naaa" he took the knife and cucumber from my hand and turned me around by holding me by my shoulders.

"I am really serious bhabi! I would do anything for her. Bas ap us se puchai if she aslo likes me or not....because mai us ki marzi k bagair baat agay nahi barhana chahta. " he was now in a serious tone.

"Aur agar mai kahu k she have someone who she loves and wants to marry soon toh?" I asked folding my arms. His hands were still on my shoulders.

"Nahi....aisa...." his expressions were as if a bomb was been exploded so badly on his heart.

I stopped myself from laughing. I was just testing him.

Ab bhala dost ka rishta dena hai... awai toh nahi na de du gi kisi ko bhi....

"Aheem ahemm..." someone from behind cleared his throat. I turned around and saw Sheharyar standing with stern expressions.

Inhai kia ho gaya? Phir se koi deal cancel ho gai ho gi... as usual.

"Water..." he said while looking strangely at us.

"Jee!" I moved towards the shelf to get the glass and filled it with water.

"Soha! We'll finish our talk later. " haarib said and went out of kitchen.

I laughed and shook my head.

Pagal !

"Here!" I gave Sheharyar the glass but he didn't seemed to pay attention. He was somewhere else.

I waved a hand in front of him.

He then saw upwards and took the glass and went.

Weirdo!

I returned to complete the work.

"Shazia ye sara kuch bahir table par set kro aur sab se kaho aa jaye khane k liye. " I said to shazia.

The dinner was served and everyone was eating. But haarib was pleading with his eyes about the task he have given me. I laughed and my eyes landed on Sheharyar who was looking at me with strange look.

In ko ho kia raha hai?

------

"Are you alright?"

We were now in car. Going back home. Aunty and haarib were in the other car and I and Sheharyar were in separate car.

"Yeah! What would have happened to me?" He said expressionlessly.

"Okay...."

-------

"I am going to Toronto next week. " Sheharyar said while I placed the prayer mat on its place after offering prayer.

He was busy with thw laptop as usual.

"Kitnay dino k liye?" I asked while sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Haven't decided yet! When the deal would gwt final. I'll be back. "

Again the rude language.

"Ap se ek baat puchu?" I asked.

He looked up from the screen towards me and I asked

"Ap ko aisi shakal banane k paise milty han ya wase hi ap ko normal rehna nahi ata?"

"I don't have time for your silliness"

He continued his work on laptop.

I moved forward and closed the lid of laptop.

And reminded him of yesterday promise.

Yesterday when he asked for the second chance of marriage, I just came up with a single answer that,

"We both really don't know each other and we would have want to know, to get a better life. And for being known to each other I guess we should be friends. Because mere khayal se dosti is the best way of starting a relationship and to know each other...

Aur jab humai lagy ga k ye dosti itni ghehri ho gai hai k we should take a step towards the marriage toh we'll do so....

And rules of being friends is just the simple, be honest, be free and say whatever its in your heart without any query. "

And he accepted everything.

"What did you decided yesterday? Of us being friends? So friends do this?"

I asked.

He placed the laptop to a side and crossed his legs and placed his elbows on knees and his chin on the interlinked fingers, bending a little forward.

"Acha toh friends aisa bhi nahi karty k apne friend ko chor k dosro k saath itnaa ghull mill jaye!"

I was confused at first and then it clicked my head.

And I smirked.

"Achaaa....toh hamare dost ! Jealous ho rahy han...hmmmmm" I said while facing him in the same position he was sitting in, With same expressions.

"Its not jealousy!" He roared.

"It is my sweetie!" I nudged his nose and he countered back.

"Hey! Don't do that!"

I laughed.

"So, whats going on with you and haarib?" He asked.

"Its a secret! You'll know later!" I said while standing up.

"Okaayy! "

He replied.

I came towards my side of bed and about to lay.

The most awkward thing was to lay beside him, the person who knows my deepest secret and whose secrets where known by me.

A fifty-fifty situation where both share the same thing.

The only thing he asked for yesterday was me sleeping with him on the bed and that too with my open hair. I asked the reason but he gave none.

And just said that its a wish of your friend.

I lay down but my back always faces him. I never slept with face towards him or his side.

"Umm.... soha!" He called me. I turned around and faced him.

Kia kar rahi hai soha! Be in the limits.

"Hmm?" I asked.

And his next words made me speechless.

"I was thinking.....if ....if you could come with me ...to Toronto...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well! As promised, I got some time and wrote this for you! I know it was a bit boring chapter. But next would be most probably romance.

;)

So, Toronto!

Are we suspecting a honeymoon....

Hahahahaha!

So what do you guys say? Should every relationship must start with a friendship?

Did Soha made a right decision ?

And what's with the love bird Haarib! Would he get his love?

Next update would be also a bit late.

Till then, take care.

With love,

Khushi.