Chapter 5

Yashfeen

@Bhatakti_atma

The awkwardness was subsiding slowly but had not vanished. The two knew it was just a phase and soon they would be comfortable with one another but this phase seemed longer than ever.  Going to and coming from the office, having their lunch together was helping them bond while also giving them some space from each other.

Today Kashaf had decided to stay back home since Ghazala was feeling unwell. Ghazala had insisted that she should go to the office as she could handle things. But Kashaf was one person before whom she was always forced to put her guns down. 

"Nahi mummy aj to mujhe office me kuch khaas kam bhi nahi hai aur agar kuch hua toh main ghar se hi handle kar lungi ya Zaroon se keh dungi woh dekh lega. "

"Par Sara bhi to hai ghar par. Bilawajah tumhara waqt zaya hoga."

"Sara hai par mujhe phir bhi tension lagi rahegi. Apke pas hongi to mujhe itminan rahega. Aur dad se bhi maine puch liya hai unhe koi aitraz nahi hai."

"Jaise tum behtar samjho."

Ghazala smiled while sipping the hot ginger tea Kashaf had prepared for her cold. She shook her head thinking about her daughter-in-law's sweetness and her gestures that always brought her closer and allowed her to admire her even more. 

Zaroon, who was getting dressed for office, was wondering why Kashaf was out of sight. 

"Shayad woh aaj jaldi tayaar ho neeche chali gayi ho."

When he came downstairs his eyes couldn't help but search for Kashaf. Again, she was no where to be seen. Knitting his brows he moved towards the kitchen to ask Ghazala. 

"Maa apne Kashaf ko dekha hai? "

He entered while asking the question aloud.

Kashaf turned around to look at her husband.

"Chilla kyun rahe ho? Main yehi toh hoon. "

Kashaf said while going back to her work.

Zaroon stood there for a second and noticing that Kashaf was still not ready for office, he inquired picking up an apple for himself from the basket 

"Waise Maa kahan hai? Aur tum tayyar nahi huyi office ke liye dair hojayegi. Dad to already nikal chuke hai shayad."

"Mummy apne room me aram kar rahi hai. Unki tabyat kuch theek nahi hai. Cold and fever hai. "

"Tabyat kharab hai? Kal raat to bilkul theek thi. Main mil kar ata hoon unse."

"Abhi maine breakfast karwa kar dawai dedi hai unhe. So bhi gayi hai wo shayad. Tum dekh lo agar jagi huyi hai to mil lo unse."

"Nahi kahi disturb na hojaye. Main sham me mil lunga unse. Tum tayyar hojao toh phir nikalte hai."

"Main aaj office nahi jaungi tum chale jao. Main ghar se hi agar koi kam ho to coordinate kar lungi. Tum ja kar baith jao main. Tumhara nashta main laga deti hoon."

Zaroon didn't respond and simply seated himself at the breakfast table. He just wondered how thoughtful it was of her to stay back for his mother. In such a short span, she has done so many things that has just captured his heart. He smiled at his wife's efforts to treat his family as her own. 

During the day, Ghazala was feeling much better owing to the extra care that Kashaf was taking of her. Kashaf had just finished feeding her the soup and left the room. Sara received a call while she sat there watching what was happening in the room. 

"Yeh lijiye Zaroon ki call agayi. Dono miyan biwi apko aaj theek kar ke hi rahenge."

She said giggling. 

"Bas mazak sujhta hai tumhe. Receive to karo call."

Ghazala said while nodding her head in disbelief. 

"Hello kya baat hai aj meri yaad kaise agayi tumhe? Kahi galti se call to nahi laga diya tumne?"

Sara said while picking up the phone.

"Aisi galtiyan main avoid karta hoon. Mummy ki tabiyat kaisi hai?  jagi huyi hai kya? Agar hai to meri baat kara do unse."

"Mummy ki tabyat kafi behtar hai. Unki bahu unka itna khayal jo rakh rahi hai."

She said handing over the phone to Ghazala.

"Hello Maa. Apki tabiyat kaisi hai?"

"Bohot behtar hai. Sab Kashaf ka kamaal hai. Subah se mere peeche padi hai. Kabhi soup to kabhi hot steam to kabhi chai. Aise khayal rakh rahi hai jaise pata nahi cold aur fever nahi pata nahi kya hogya hua mujhe."

"Chalein koi to apka khayal rakh raha hai warna Sara aur maine to aisa kuch kiya nahi apke liye. Aaj apki wo ache farmabardar ehasas bacchon ki khwaish puri hogayi hai. "

He said laughing.

"Wo toh hai. Wo bahu hoke itna khayal kar rahi aur ek tum ho jo office me baithe ho aur dusri ye sara jo yaha baithi to hai par mazak ke siwa kuch nahi sujh raha hai ise. Waise Kashaf se baat huyi tumhari?"

"Baat to nahi huyi. Khair ghar akar hojayegi mulakat."

He said in a rather disappointed tone.

"Tumhe use call karni chahiye thi. Usse ehsas dilana chahiye tha ki uski care karte ho tum. Wo meri itni care kar rahi hai aur tum ho ke."

"Main kar leta par dhyaan hi nahi raha. Chalein main abhi ek meeting ke liye ja raha hoon. Ap apna khayal rakhein. Allah Hafiz."

"Khuda Hafiz"

Zaroon sat there for a second, thinking if he should have really called her up. He had thought of calling her instead of Sara but decided against it. He felt a little awkward. He was missing her for sure because he is to used to having his lunch with her and today he skipped it because she wasn't there.However, he failed to gather the courage to call her and ask about her day. He remembered how she would come barging in his room and say

"Lunch kar lein."

"Nahi. Filhal nahi. Main todha yeh report complete kar lun."

"Reports toh hote rahenge. Magar meals skip karna for work would be pretty careless."

She said making a face.

"Acha tum chalo main ata hoon cafeteria mein."

"Tum wrap up kar lo hum saath chalenge. Main wait kar lungi. Koi masla nahi hai."

She said smiling and sitting down on the chair opposite his.

He knew he couldn't delay it further. He immediately closed his laptop and said

"After you."

He bit his lip thinking of her caring nature. He couldn't wait to meet her and thank her for the good care she was taking of them. He had a lot to say but he wondered if he could spell them out in her presence.

After the brief meeting, he took an early leave from office and headed home. While on the way back, he brought some flowers and chocolates. He didn't know if she liked them. But then he decided to go with the trial and error method. Leaving the thank you tokens in the car itself, he directly headed to meet Ghazala. 

He knocked the door and entered upon hearing Junaid's voice.

"Are bhai wah. Aaj to apke sahabzade jaldi ghar agye hai. Pata nahi Suraj kaha se nikla hai."

Junaid said laughing.

"Suraj apni jagah se hi nikla hai. Mom ki tabyat kharab thi isliye main jaldi agaya.

Aur koi aisa khas kaam bhi nahi tha office mein. Aur zaroori nahi ki ap log meri har ek gesture ko criticise kare aur suspicion se dekhe."

He said sitting on the couch.

"Bhai hum to hazaron bar bimar pade hai par tum to na jaldi ghar aye kabhi na kabhi itni tawajoo di. Sach kaho apni Begum ko miss karne pe aye ho ya usne kaan anth tumhe bulaya hai."

Junaid said teasing his son.

Just then Kashaf entered the room with tea and some snacks. 

"Haan theek keh rahe hai ap. Apni Begum ke liye hi aya hoon. Par kaan nahi anthe usne mere. Uske example ko dekh kar aya hoon."

Kashaf looked at him and nodded her head negatively because she couldn't take the pretence. 

"Bade ehasas hogye ho. Chalo shadi ka ek faida to hua. Par abhi bhi tumhe bohot kuch sikhna baki hai Kashaf se."

Said Ghazala taking the tea Kashaf offered her. 

"Haan baki to hai bohot kuch seekhna. Waqt dein mujhe. "

He said laughing. 

They all had just finished their tea when Sara entered the room.

"Yaha kya koi party wagera chal rahi hai. Sab ekhatte baithe hai. Mera khayal kisi ko nahi aya."

Sara complained.

"Bina bulaye bhi tum agayi na toh phir kya dikkat hai."

Zaroon said placing his cup on the tray.

"Khair main ek kaam se ayi thi. Kashaf mujhe tumhari ek help chahiye. Mera kal assignment submission hai aur mujhe kuch aspects kaise approach karna hai bilkul samajh nahi arhe. Tum kya meri help karadogi."

She said with pleading eyes.

"Sara tumhe yeh cheezein pehle kyun nahi yaad ati? Abhi ain mauke pe assignment karna yaad ayi hai tumhe. Kashaf already bohot tired hogi. Ab use rest karna chahiye."

Ghazala said disappointed at her carelessness.

"Koi baat nahi mummy main karwa deti hoon. Kayi baar end moment pe changes karne padte hai. Uska assignment hi kuch behtar hojaye shayad isse."

Kashaf said while lifting the tray to move out. 

"Dekhein jinse help mangi hai use to koi masla nahi hai. Albatta ap gussa horahi hai."

Sara said making a face.

"Acha chalo jao waqt barbad na karo Kashaf ka. Jaldi se kar ke use farigh karo. Subah se lagi huyi hai."

Junaid said to not escalate the situation.

When Kashaf and Sara were done discussing the assignment, Kashaf decided to check on Ghazala before heading to her room. Ghazala and Junaid had already had her dinner and were about to sleep. Sara too had ordered dinner in her room. So now only Zaroon and Kashaf were left. Assuming that Zaroon was in the study, she moved towards their room first to freshen up. After having changed, she was about to head downstairs when she received a call.

"Kashaf tum zara terrace me aogi? Main upar aya tha to trip hogaya aur mere hath me kuch chot agayi hai. First aid kit leti ana please."

"Tum bhi na Zaroon bilkul hadh karte ho. Zada chot to nahi ayi? Main abhi ati hoon."

She said unable to believe his stupidity.

"Zada to nahi lagi aur itne sawal mat pucho upar ajao please ab. "

He requested.

She headed upstairs in disbelief. 

"Kaha ho Zaroon."

She called out unable to find him in the darkness.

"Chilla kyu rahi ho. Main yehi to hoon."

He said laughing. 

Realising he was enacting the morning conversation, she turned around to give him typical Kashaf look.  But what she saw left her a little confused.

"Ye sab kya hai?"

She asked as Zaroon lit the candles on the table that was set up. 

He didn't reply but instead came close to her and stretched his hand for her to hold it. She smiled a little still unable to understand what was actually going on and why. She followed him and he made her sit at the table. 

"Yeh itna kuch kya hai?"

She asked looking around the elegant decoration he had put together. The tiny lights, the scented candles and the smell of the food were playing with her emotions.

"Ye kya kya hai? Dinner ka table hai aur yeh flowers aur kuch chocolates tumhare liye aur kya?"

He said handing them over to her.

Kashaf couldn't help but smile and be in awe of her husband's efforts. She was a little embarrassed too and to hide it she kept nodding her head negatively to show her disbelief.

"I don't know tumhe yeh flowers aur chocolates pasand hai ya nahi par main phir bhi le aya."

"Yeh mere favourite hai par yeh sab karne ki kya zarurat thi?"

She asked in some what excited tone.

"Kya yeh zaroori hai ki hum har cheez zarurat padne par hi kare. Kya hum yunhi ek dusre ke saath kuch time spend nahi kar sakte kya?"

He said entwining their fingers. She hesitated a bit but was getting used to him holding her hand.

"Kar sakte hai magar maine yeh expect nahi kiya tha."

"Toh ab unexpected cheezein expect karna shuru kar do. Kyun ki tumhara shauhar intehai cheesy hai."

He said winking at her.

"Khair is baat ka toh mujhe khub pata hai."

She said mocking him.

"Khair main janta hoon tumhe cheese kitna pasand hai isliye maine tumhare liye apne cheesy self ko bahar nikala hai aur yeh extra cheesy Italian dinner khud prepare kiya hai."

He said opening the lids. 

She looked at him surprised and demanded an explanation.

"Acha chalo Farzana ki todhi help li thi. Magar majority maine banayi hai you can trust me."

He said serving the food.

"Yeh toh bohot achi bani hai Zaroon."

She said taking a bite.

"Shukriya."

He said smiling.

"Yeh sab tumne kaise arrange kiya? Mujhe to kuch pata hi nahi chala?"

"Woh maine ate hi Sara ko inform kar dia tha ki woh tumhe apne koi kaam mein engage kar le. Khasa masroof kar dia usne tumhe."

"Apne saath dusron se bhi jhut bulwate ho."

"Le to ab koi galat kaam ke liye jhut todhi bola tha jo tum khafa ho rahi ho."

"Khafa kyun hongi main. Main to tumhare is side ko dekh kar surprised ho rahi hoon."

"Waise buri cheez nahi hoti hai surprise."

After the dinner, Zaroon and Kashaf stood in the terrace. Cool breeze were blowing and the moon was casting enough light for them to see one another. 

"Kashaf sach kahun to aaj maine tumhe sahi maine me samjha hai."

He said holding her hand.

"Kya matlab hai is baat ka?"

She said turning towards him.

"Yehi ki ek ambitious, competitive ladki bhi aise feelings rakhti hai. Itna khayal karti hai apne logon ka. Mom aur dad bilkul sahi the tumhare bare me ki tum unhe sach much bohot mohabbat karti ho. Mujhe kabhi yeh tawakku nahi thi ki meri biwi aisi cheezein karegi. Kyu ki main khud kabhi shayad uske ghar walon ke liye aisi cheezein na kar paun. It would be fair if both of us didn't have to do all this. Society badi hypocrite hai. Aurat se sare sacrifies expect karti hai. Aur mard ko khulli chut de rakhi hai. I really hope main bhi tumhari family se close ho paun. Unke liye waise hi khada ho paun jaise tum humare sath khadi hoti ho. Jab tak main is jaisi cheezein nahi kar pa rahe main at least tumhare in gestures and

 love ko acknowledge karna chahta hoon.Thanks a lot Kashaf. It really means a lot. "

Kashaf looked at him with gleaming eyes and said

"Tumhe shukriya bolne ki kya zaroorat hai. Jab hum logon ko dil se apnate hai to in cheezon par gaur farmana chor dete hai. Aur waise maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki tum bhi humari society ko critically dekhte ho. But I am so glad you do. And I really hope that there will be a day when you will share the same space and love with my side of the family. It's does give a sense of fulfillment."

He looked at her warmly and wanted to hold her closer but resisted and tightened his grip on her hand instead.

"Waise ek aur baat jo main kehna chah raha tha."

"Kaho."

"I really missed you in the office Kashaf. I am afraid mujhe tumhari buri adat hoti ja rahi hai."

"Maine bhi tumhe miss kiya."

She said looking intently in his eyes.

Nothing was said further.Encouraged Zaroon wrapped his arm around her waist while she placed her head on his shoulder and both continued to look at the beautiful night sky.