Chapter 1

Yashfeen

@Bhatakti_atma

The next morning everyone was at the table for breakfast except for Zaroon.

"Where is Zaroon?"

Mr.Junaid asked Kashaf while looking a bit impatient. 

"Uh..I guess he is getting ready."

Honestly, Kashaf had no idea about Zaroon. She had left the room while he was asleep to avoid any confrontation in the morning and engaged herself in the kitchen with Ghazala, who kept insisting her to return to her room.

"Kashaf please you don't have to work in the kitchen, especially on your first day in this house."

"Mrs. Junaid please."

At this, Ghazala glared at her and said

"Kashaf I have told you this already but now I am saying this for the last time. I am no longer Mrs.Junaid for you. I am your mom just like Zaroon and Sara's. And Junaid he is your father. Call him dad. I swear he will appreciate it more than my Gajar ka halwa."

She said handing Kashaf the bowl while Kashaf smiled wholeheartedly for the first time since the talks of her wedding with Zaroon- Zaroon Junaid had started.

Kashaf was an employee of Junaid industries. She had joined the company immediately after her Mba. She had the Calibre everyone knew but to have joined such a big company on her first try was commendable. Moreover, Ghazala and Junaid were extremely fond of her because of her ways- the way she carried herself,the way she was handling her success and how she had started to seem like a family member to them. 

Interestingly she was also Zaroon's classmate and God knew how they had spent their years in University together. People would dread the thought of them coming together. 

In class,the discussions would always turn into discussions only between the two and people could bet that the sun would have to rise from the West for them to agree with one another on something. Yet, they were together here, bound in a relation of a life time. 

Zaroon and Kashaf could not believe their ears when this proposal had come their way. Zaroon and Kashaf had been on at least talking terms since they had started working together. The hatred had slowly faded but sure enough they could never even imagine getting married to one another. But no one can go against destiny. 

With enough of emotional blackmailing the two agreed, believing that it was better to marry someone they knew at least.

While they all were sitting at the table, Zaroon came down speaking on the phone. After he was done, Mr.Junaid inquired looking at his attire

"Why are you all dressed up?"

"Office?"

Zaroon spoke as if he was stating the obvious.

"Office? Today? "

Questioned Ghazala while Kashaf only bothered to glance at him.

"Yes."

He said applying butter on his toast.

"You are not going anywhere."

Stated Junaid.

"I have a very important meeting dad."

"I'll handle everything. "

"But.."

"No ifs and buts here Zaroon. I said I'll take care of everything. I am not asking but telling you that the two of you are not going to office and you two are not even going to receive calls from office until next week. It's an order. If I see any of you doing anything related to office you will have to bear the consequences."

Kashaf slowly nodded while Zaroon looked all flustered. Office,the two had thought was the only way things could get a bit normal for them. Kashaf slowly bit her lip thinking about being around him all day long while Zaroon concentrated on his breakfast,for he knew he could hardly do anything when his father had given an order.

Ghazala and Junaid had taken this decision because they knew how much they needed to be together at the dawn of this relationship. The two had agreed under pressure but they indeed were a perfect match,which they would realise soon they knew.

Kashaf decided to remain with Ghazala after the breakfast while Zaroon headed towards the bedroom. Kashaf was simply sitting next to Ghazala,who was busy talking to someone on the phone. After keeping the phone, Ghazala informed Kashaf

"I think the two of you may have to visit Mrs.Ahmed tomorrow. She was insisting that the two of you go to her place for dinner and I couldn't really say no. I hope it's fine with you."

"it is. "

Kashaf said while smiling.

"You know these things are going to continue for a while until people finally forget that they attended your wedding. I have always hated these formalities but one has to bear with all this."

Kashaf simply nodded and smiled at her. 

"I'll just go and ask Zaroon. "

"Sure."

Said Kashaf. 

On returning she found Kashaf in the same position, looking a bit awkward 

"Kashaf please go to your room and take a bit of rest . "

"Mom I am fine here."

Kashaf insisted.

"No you are not. You need to rest. I am going out for a while but I'll join the two of you at lunch. I guess Sidra is coming too. But now I want you to rest in your room. Alright?"

Kashaf simply nodded and bidding her good bye headed towards their bedroom.

She closed her eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath opened the door. Her eyes were searching for him but he wasn't there in the room. She wondered where he might be but then finding his absence better she sat on the sofa. She grabbed the book kept in front which read 'The Palace of Illusions" and was reading something from it when she heard the door click. She knew who it could be so she simply straightened herself trying to act as normal as possible and concentrating on the book. 

Zaroon glanced at her and quietly sat next to her.

"You must have read this book."

He said clearing his throat.

"Yeah..it's one of my favourites.A completely different take on Mahabharata."

"The world is indeed different from a woman's point of view. Who could have thought that Mahabharata could be narrated in this fashion."

"I agree. Har nazariya alag hai aur har nazariya sahi bhi aur galat bhi. Bas dekhne aur samjhane ki baat hai. Kabhi kabhi hum cheez saaf dekh lete hai par kabhi kabhi cheezein saaf hone par bhi hum nahi dekh pate. It's because of our socialization that we could never really think of how the world looked at that point of time from a woman's eyes. Khair yeh to hum aaj bhi karne se chuk jate hai."

Kashaf said keeping the book on the table.

Zaroon turned a bit more towards her now looking into her deep,brown eyes. 

"Kashaf actually I wanted to talk to you about something."

She looked at him more intently and nodded. Taking her nod as an affirmation, Zaroon continued

" Kashaf Kal tum mujhse puch rahi thi ki Kya humne yeah sahi decision liya hai ya nahi. Kal main kuch keh nahi paya ya kehna nahi chahta tha par aaj main tumse yeh baat karna chahta hoon. Pata nahi tum Kya sochogi, kis tarah meri baat ko perceive karogi. Par main Jo tumse keh raha hoon please dhyaan se sunna and consider it,if you can."

"Aisi kya baat hai?"

Kashaf asked looking a bit tensed.