Chapter 2

Yashfeen

@Bhatakti_atma

"Kashaf main soch raha tha ki humne yeh faisla to le liya hai par kis wajah se liya hai. Kya sirf pressure mein liya hai ya hum ek dusre ke saath apna future dekhte hai? Agar tum mujhse pucho toh main hume ek chance dena chahta hoon. Is rishte ko ek chance dena chahta hoon. Maazi ki baatein bhool kar ek haseen kal dekhna chahta hoon. Yeh itna asaan nahi hai par mushkil bhi nahi hai. Humne itna bada faisla agar liya hai toh kuch sochkar hi kiya hoga. Main cheezein normal rakhna chahta hoon. Bohot si arranged marriages hoti hai yeh koi pehli nahi hai. Haan humara case kuch ajeeb hai. College ekhatte guzaare hai humne par kuch woh kuch khas yaadein nahi hai. Unhe bhul kar age badhna hi humare liye acha hoga. Kya tum isme mera saath dogi?"

"Shaadi saath chorne ke liye to nahi ki hai."

Kashaf said looking deep into eyes,which now had a kind of spark in them. 

"Par hume waqt chahye hoga. Ek dusre ko samjhne ke liye, ek dusre ke saath comfortable hone ke liye. Office me saath kaam kar ke humari kaafi saari differences door hogayi hai. Par abhi bhi kuch cheezein hai jaha hum agree nahi kar pate."

Kashaf said while trying to figure out how they are going to make this work.

" Aur shayad kabhi Kar bhi nahi payenge kyun ki hum do mukhtalif log hai. Alag soch, alag pasand ke adi. Par in sab ke beech bhi hum kaise apni rah banayenge yehi to important hai."

Kashaf nodded while smiling a bit. She had never liked Zaroon but she knew deep down that he was a gem of a person. In college they had difference of opinions but that difference never really had to do with anything they did outside class. Kashaf had always been an introvert and Zaroon was the exact opposite. Outside class, they never really bothered about one another and believed that not everyone can be friends and some people are better off when they maintain a distance.Sometimes they would burst at one another but it was simply because they were two strong opinionated persons and wanted people to be convinced with them. Office, however, had changed things for the better. They worked together and were hardly at loggerheads. They had started respecting each other for their dedication and sincerity. With maturity things had changed. And now with the marriage they wondered what next was on it's way.

Kashaf was still looking at him for behaving so mature, something she had never really expected from him. She suddenly was looking at him in a different light. Looking at his affirming smile, she knew she could do this and she silently admitted that she wanted this. She always knew that she would be married soon and would be tied with someone she had no idea about and would have to compromise in life just like her mother to make things work with no cooperation from the other side. But here the two knew each other, they were indeed at the same place in life , with similar feelings. There was no rush,a bit of understanding and willingness. As a young girl, she had always wanted a man who would reciprocate the feelings she held for him. She had always admired how her parents could never be tired of each other, how caring they were towards the other and the love they had for one another. She had always wanted a family, a loving and caring husband and children. But her marriage with Zaroon had shattered a lot of hopes. She was doubtful if she could ever have what her parents had because they are such different people. But she had accepted it as her destiny. But today this little conversation had given her a lot of hope, a lot of her dreams had come back and a kind of satisfaction emerged,easing the awkwardness between the two. She prayed silently for the best and lowered her eyes not wanting to make things awkward.

Zaroon,on the other hand,kept looking at her. He knew they wanted this somewhere. He was a believer of companionship and now that they were married,willingly or unwillingly, he felt that it was necessary for them to accept each other. He too would see himself married one day with children, spending some lazy Sundays with them and going on some fun adventure trips. If he wanted all this to come his way then why not with Kashaf he wondered, after all he knew he would have his parents arrange his marriage. Yes, they are two completely different people but with a bit of understanding and compromise, things could turn out well and if not,he would at least know that he tried and not gave up. 

There was a knocking on the door, bringing the two back to reality. The two looked at the door and Zaroon offered to open it.

"Ap log itni jaldi uth Gaye? Mujhe to laga tha aaj subah kuch late hone wali hai ap logo ke liye."

Sidra said with a mischievous smile on her face while Sara could not help but giggle at his brother and Kashaf's embarrassment. 

"Subah to khair apki late huyi hai. Hum to kab ke uth chuke hai aur ab lunch ki tayyari me hai."

Zaroon said looking at his watch and trying to ease the awkwardness.

"Sidra inke to Kya kehne hai. Aisa couple maine apni zindagi me pehli baar dekha hoga."

Sara said making herself comfortable in the seat next to Kashaf

"Subah subah dono office ki tayyariyon me lage the. Office walo ko bhi shock lag jata."

"Shayad office me sabko hairan kar romance ka mood ho."

Sidra said while suppressing her laughter.

"Haan yeh to humne socha hi nahi."

Sara added.

Zaroon and Kashaf looked at one another for a brief second. Sensing the awkwardness, Sara said

"Hum chalte hai mujhe Sidra ko kuch dikhana hai. Lunch par milenge tab tak carry on. Hum disturb nahi karenge."

"Shukriya."

Zaroon said rolling his eyes while Kashaf offered to go along with them but Sidra and Sara gladly refused to make her a party of their conversation. Kashaf gasped at them while Zaroon simply looked at the two girls with astonishment. 

"Yeh nahi sudhrenge."

He mouthed while Kashaf simply smiled at him.