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Fan Creations
Originally posted by: octaverider
Beautiful updates! So gracefully penned. Love your urdu/hindi.
Word Count: 1
Chapter 22 ~ Naya Aghaaz
A/N. Hi guys. So glad that this story has been received with open arms and so much positive remarks. But with a heavy heart I have to say that this story is slowly coming to an end. Only a couple more chapters are left. Every good thing has to eventually meet it's end and this one is slowly nearing to it. But In Sha Allah, we will start anew with another story of them. Coz, I'm not done with Yakeen Ka Safar yet, and therefore I plan to write more. Sounds good?
So, why don't we get ahead with this one, aye?
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Zubiya startled and woke up from her dream, panting heavily. She felt almost as if she had completed an entire marathon. She rubbed her chest to soothe the panic attack she felt arising.
Quickly pouring a glass of water from the jug on her side table, she gulped it ravenously.
Feeling calm once she finished drinking the entire glass, she slowly got up from her side of the bed. Wrapping her dupatta around her arms and grabbing another shawl - thinking she might get cold later, she slowly walked out of the room without making much noise.
She walked out of the building and slowly crept up the stairs that led to the rooftop.
She sighed with relief once she sat on her favorite seat and rubbed her face as she tried to remember her dream.
What she saw in her dreams chilled her to the bones and she dipped further into the shawl thinking,
I should have just brought the sweater, dammit.
The dream, it consisted of a girl - a small girl, probably few months old wailing loudly as she laid on the ground covered by a mere blanket outside the gate.
Outside her house.
Where she had sat crying; begging years back.
It chilled her to the core mostly because it wasn't herself that she saw in her dream but the baby that was actually taken into their hospital the previous night, malnourished and very weak.
The baby was found in a nearby alley on the ground, crying weakly. A baby-girl, merely 6 months old.
Zubiya was about to head back home from the hospital with Asfand when the baby was brought in. They had just completed their 36-hours shift. Since it was their own hospital, Asfand had slightly put most of her duty shifts similar to his own schedules.
Zubiya, who hadn't encountered such a case had immediately decided to help the other doctors. Asfand had also joined her.
Trying to not think about the situation she engrossed herself in helping the doctors.
They had figured out that the baby had been left outside for almost more than 24 hours and had been wailing loudly until she was hoarse and weak with hunger, shivering in the cold and had eventually succumbed to a fitful sleep.
After the baby was taken into the pediatric section and IV drip had been injected to her small little arm, providing her with the glucose, which was required to get her back to her original health; the doctors had stepped out of the room to discuss.
They had decided to keep her under observation for 2 days straight while also looking for her parents. They were unsure to involve the police, but Asfand finally rooted out that he would ask Daniyal bhai first and then take the next step.
Zubiya had returned to the room in which the baby had been kept in observation, while Asfand was busy discussing the situation with the rest doctors.
She slowly walked to the cot and gazed down at the small baby - who laid all alone.
She is so beautiful.
Her fingers shook as she softly caressed the baby's head and carefully put a fore-finger inside her small hand. She felt the baby-girl grip her finger tightly.
A lump formed at her throat. She tried to stop them, but eventually tears spilled from her eyes. Biting her lip tightly to contain her sobs, she covered her mouth with her free hand.
A hand covered her shoulder, startling her. She turned to her right and found her husband, Asfand standing next to her as he too gazed at the baby-girl.
"Asfi-" She whispered, tearfully.
Asfand looked up at her and nodded at her, as he too whispered, "I know."
After another half-hour, at 11pm, they reluctantly decided to leave the room and home.
Zubiya while leaving, weirdly felt incomplete while leaving the hospital. Even though she knew she didn't forget anything that was hers.
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Zubiya feeling furious, stood from her seat and was about to slam her enclosed fist against something when it was suddenly covered by another pair of hands.
"Khud ko zakham pohocha kar kya faayda? Kya tum us bacchi ke liye kuch kar paaogi? Nahi. Mujhe to nai lagta. (Will hurting yourself benefit you in any way? Will you be able to do anything for that girl, then? No. I don't think so you can.)" Asfand said as he turned her towards himself.
"Tum uth kaise gaye? Tum to so rahe the.. na? (How are you up? I thought you were sleeping, right?)" Zubiya softly asked, as she tried to look away from him. She didn't want him to see her like this.
To see her as crazy.
Crazy enough to dream about a baby that she had just laid eyes on only a few hours back.
"Teen saal hone ko aaya hain humari shaadi ko.. tumhe khayaal hota hain ki mujhe tumhare bagair neend aayegi? Neend aa jaati to main humari night duties ek saath nahi karta.. (It's going to be three years since our wedding. Do you think I'll be able to sleep without you next to me? If I would've been capable, then I wouldn't have scheduled our night duties together..)" Asfand said as he slightly rolled his eyes at her.
"Hmm.." Zubiya said non-committedly.
"Zubiya, mujhe pata hain tum topic change kar rahi ho.. Please, kuch to trust kiya karo mujhpar! Mujhse share karo.. jo koi bhi baat hain.. Agar tum aaj ki nayi case ko le kar pareshan ho to- (Zubiya, I know you're trying to change the topic. Please, at least trust me. Share with me.. whatever is it.. If you're worried about the new case, then..)"
"I saw her in my dream." Zubiya interrupted, stopping him short from saying anything further.
"You what?" Asfand whisper-asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"I said- I saw her in my dream. Right now. I saw her. Wrapped in just a thin blanket, laying on the cold ground. Wailing loudly. Right outside of a main gate of a house. Of my house." Zubiya whispered hoarsely, not meeting his eyes.
There was only silence between them.
Asfand opened his mouth numerous times before closing again.
"Mujhe pata hain tum kya soch rahe ho.. Ki main paagal hun. Haan. Mujhe bhi yehi lagta hain. Matlab- main us bacchi ko kaise mere ghar ke saamne dekh sakti hun? Ye kaise possible hain? Aur usi jagah pe jaha almost 10 saal pehle main baithi hui thi - mere ghar ke baahir, roti hui.. How? Asfi, ye kaise ho sakta hain? (I know what you're thinking. That maybe I've gone crazy. Yes. Even I think so myself. I mean- how can I see her in front of my house? How is that possible? And that too at the exact place where almost 10 years back, I had been sitting, crying. How? Asfi, how is it possible?)" Zubiya asked as she looked at him for an answer.
"Nai. First of all mujhe ye bilkul nahi lag raha hai ki tum paagal ho. Tum shaayad use apni jagah is liye dekh rahi ho kyunki 10 saal pehle tum bhi uski jagah pe thi. Tumhare gharwalo ne nikaal diya tha aur isiliye tum shaayad us bacchi ko khud ke saath connect kar rahi ho. (No. First of all I don't think you've gone crazy. I think you saw that baby in front your house probably because 10 years back you yourself had been in her place. Your family had kicked you out of the house, left you for the dead. Which is why maybe you're connecting yourself with her.)" Asfand said as he wrapped both his arms around her waist and held her in-between.
Zubiya nodded her head as she laid it down against Asfand's chest while she wrapped her arms around him.
"Asfi- log kaise itne be-rehem ho sakte hain? Unhe thoda bhi guilt mehsoos nahi hua- uski apni maa ko is bacchi ko beech sadak chodte hue kuch mehsoos nahi hua? Agar kuch is bacche ko ho jata to? Unhe thodi bhi parwa nahi hain? Allah bhi hume kaise kaarname dikhate hain, na? Jinhe bacche ki khuwaish hoti hain unhe is khushi se khokla kar dete hain aur jise ye khushi chahiye hi nahi unki jholi bhar bhar ke daal dete hain. Ye kaha ka insaaf hai, Asfi? Hume hi dekh lo.. hum ek saal se ek bacche ke liye taras rahe hain aur yaha jise ye naymat mili hain - use koi parwa hi nahi hain! Mujhe to bas ye sochkar khoon khaul raha hain ki kaise ek ma apni bacchi ko aise chod sakti hain - itni thand me? Kya Allah ne unke dil ko itna sakht bana diya hain? Agar wo mujhe kabhi ek din samne nazar aayegi to mujhe pata nayi main uska kya hashar kardungi. Allah ki kasam. (Asfi, how can people be so heartless? Didn't they feel anything when they left the baby in the alley in this cold weather? Didn't her mother feel anything? What if- what if something worse would have happened to the baby? How could she not feel anything? It's so unbelievable, right? The one who craves for a child, is unable to receive this happiness whereas those who don't want and don't deserve get to receive it! How is this fair, Asfi? Just look at us - we have been trying for a child for almost a year and here, those who have been blessed with this happiness don't even care for it. My blood is boiling just by thinking about how a mother can leave her child like this?! Is her heart so cold? I swear by god, Asfi, if by chance - ever - she comes in front of me, I will hurt her in the worst way ever.)
"Acha. Tumhe jo theek lage tum woh kar lena. Main bhi tumhe nahi rokunga. I promise. Mujhe bhi bara shauk hai ki main tumhe cat fight karte hue dekhu. Ab chalo, mujhe yaha bohot thand lag rahi hain. Mujhe humare garam bistar ki bohot yaad aa rahi hai. Mujhe mehsoos ho raha ki wo hume is waqt bula raha hain. Is liye hume ab waapas chalna chaahiye. (Okay. You do what you think is right, I won't stop you. I promise. Even I want to see you get in a cat fight. Now please let's go back. I am already missing our warm bed. I can literally feel it calling out to us. And thus, we should return back to our bed.)" Asfand said as he hugged her and rocked her sideways rhythmically.
"Asfi! Main yaha kuch serious baatein kar rahi hun aur aapko yaha mazaaq soojh raha hain. Aapko apni garam bistar ki padi hain aap jaaiyen! Mujhe to filhaal neend nahi aa rahi. Main yahi par rahungi. (Asfi! Here I am talking about something really serious, and you are busy cracking up jokes. If you are so worried about your warm bed then you can leave. I am not feeling sleepy yet and hence I am going to stay here a bit longer.)" Zubiya said, as she turned her back to Asfand and folded her arms.
"Acha, baba. I am sorry. Main to sirf tumhe hasaane ki koshish kar raha tha. Mujhe tum mayoos bilkul pasand nahi ho. Main tumhe humesha haste, muskurate hue dekhna chahta hun. Mujhe khayaal hain ki tumhe ab kaisa mehsoos ho raha hain. Hum us bacchi ke liye jitna kar paayenge hum karenge. In sha allah, wo besahara to nahi rahegi. Humare darwaaze par agar Allah ne phirse kisi ko madad ke liye bheja hain to hum use madad kiye bagair waapas nahi bhejenge. Ye mera tumse waada hain. (Okay. I am sorry. I just wanted to bring a smile on your face. I really don't like to see you sad and depressed. I want to see you laughing, smiling all the time. I know how you're feeling right now. We'll do as much as we can for that child. And In sha allah, she won't be helpless. If Allah has sent another person asking for help, we won't send her back without one. I promise you that.)
Zubiya smiled proudly at her husband, "Chalna nahi hain aapko? Mujhe to ab bohot neend aa rahi hain! (Don't you want to head back? I am feeling very sleepy now!)"
Asfand shook his head at her and whispered in her ear, "Chalo.. chalte hain. (Yes... Let's go back to our room.)"
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PS: Did you like it? Yes? No? Pleaaase do review! It means soo much to me.
If you did like it then please don't forget to like, comment and share with your friends.
Love!
Chapter 23 - Yaqeen (Trust)
A/N: Hey there. Here's the next chapter!
Hope you are ready for some cheesiness.
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"Kya karu main inka? Saare room ka kya haal bana ke rakha hua hain! Mujhe biwi bana ke ghar laaye the ya apni assistant? Socha hoga shaadi karlunga to muft me ek assistant bhi mil jaayegi. Arre! main bhi to kaam ke liye jaati hun- kamre ka ye haal to nai banati na! Sadiyal kahi ka! (Oh god, what do I do about this man? Look at what he has done to the room! I am unsure he brought me home as his wife. He probably thought 'Marriage will get him a free assistant, so I shall marry now!' Useless!)" Zubiya ranted as she picked up the clothes that were strewn all around the room. "Is bande ko to dekho! Apne kapro ko lekar kitna picky hain aur aise saj sawar ke jaata hain ke jaise hospital me unhe koi nihaar ne wala hain. (Just look at him! The way he is so picky about his clothes and looks... its as if someone at the hospital is going to ogle at his looks instead of doing their work!)".
The reason Zubiya was extra-perturbed by her husband's carelessness was because of the above-sweetly-mentioned person's new assistant who had joined their hospital the previous month.
How much ever she tried to solace herself while looking at the new assistant ogling coyly at her husband, she felt a sudden urge to growl at her (with all the bared-teeth) and put her hand over Asfand's chest while claiming aloud - Mine.
She didn't realize but she stood still in her position in the middle of the bedroom with her glaring vindictively down at Asfand's shirt that was tightly crumbled between her fingers. She mindlessly twisted imagining it was her head.
Asfand tiredly entered his and Zubiya's room but stopped short. He blinked a few times as he confusedly stared at Zubiya who stood in front of him twisting his shirt.
What on earth-?
He was about to ask her when he noticed the expression on her face. He was caught off-guard because he - in two years of their marriage, five years of courtship and another two years of acquaintance - had never seen his wife look so... so vile. He had to pinch himself to check if this was another nightmare of his. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
Was she possessed?
He gulped.
God, Asfand. This is not the time to fear your wife. If something happens I'll just call for mum. Yes. Mum's the word.
Reassuring himself, he slowly walked towards Zubiya. His hand shook slightly as he covered her tight fists with his palm.
Zubiya jumped slightly as felt a hand cover her fists. As she came to her senses her eyes fell into those of her worried husband. She felt all the anger vanished from inside her at that very moment.
This is her husband. Her best-friend. Her savior. Her guard-angel.
Her everything.
Her lips curved into a soft smile, eyes crinkling at the corner.
Asfand let out a sigh of relief and finally smiled at her widely. He was seeing her almost 12 hours. His wide smile slowly turned into a grin and he slowly started to chuckle out loud which quickly turned into a full-out belly laugh. He bent at his knees as continued laughing while Zubiya looked at him bewilderedly.
"Tumhe kya ho gaya hain? Mujhe dekhkar tumhe hasi kyun aa rahi hain?! Main kya itni buri lag rahi hun tumhe? (What's wrong with you?! Why are you laughing after looking at me - Am I looking funny to you?!)" Zubiya exclaimed as she confusedly checked her reflection on the wall-mirror beside her.
Asfand shook his head as continued to laugh much to Zubiya's annoyance. She narrowed her eyes at him and folded her arms as she waited for him to explain.
"Wo- wo main jab andar aaya to mujhe tumhare chehra ko dekhkar ye laga ki tumhare upar koi asar hua hain! (When I turned the room and saw you- no, not you. The expression on your face! I thought that you were possessed!)" Asfand gasped out through his chuckles.
Zubiya stared at him disbelievingly but didn't say anything in reply.
As Asfand's hilarious moment died down he pulled Zubiya with him as he sat with a soft thump on his bed.
Zubiya reluctantly followed and huffed as she sat beside him.
"Ab mujhe ye batao ki tum aise mun pe baara bajaakar kyun khadi thi waha? (Now, please tell me why were you standing over there with that expression on your face?)" Asfand asked as he wrapped an arm around Zubiya.
Zubiya frowned again as the new assistant's face clouded her vision. "Tum hasoge. (You'll laugh.)"
"Acha? Hasne ki baat hain to phir please jaldi se batao.. kyunki aaj main bohot dino baad itna hasaan hun. (Really? If it's funny then, please do tell. Because today, I've laughed after a very long time. I won't mind another laugh.)" Asfand said as he chuckled at her.
"Mujhe tumhari assistant bilkul achi nahi lagti. (I don't like your new assistant.)" Zubiya stated.
"What? But why? She does her work perfectly-" Asfand exclaimed, as he looked at her confusedly.
"Arre wah. Aap ko to bohot ache tarah se pata hain. Wo kaunse kaam ache se karti hain- (Oh, wow. You know so much about her good works. Which ones she does perfectly-)" Zubiya ranted as she narrowed her eyes again at him.
Asfand interrupted her as he exclaimed, "Haan. Kyunki main usay supervise karta hun. Agar woh kisi aur ke under training kar rahi hoti to shaayad na bataa paata! (Yes. Because I am the one who supervise her. If she would have been training under someone other doctor I doubt I would be knowing anything about her!)"
"I really don't like the way she looks at you!" Zubiya blurted out and covered her face in her hands.
Asfand's eyebrows rose as he blinked his eyes at her. He then pulled her hands away from her face and lifter her chin as he tried to meet her gaze.
"Mere taraf dekho, Zubiya. To tum ab usse jealous ho rahi ho. (Look at me, Zubiya. So you're jealous of her now.)" Asfand plainly stated.
Zubiya lost in his gaze that bore into her with a certain weight, she almost felt as if he was looking right into her soul, blinked a couple of times before shifting her eyes away from him.
Zubiya huffed slightly.
"Mujhe jealous hone ki koi reason nahi hain. Tum mere shauhar ho. Aur mujhe yaqeen hai ki tum kisi ke taraf aise aankh utha kar bhi nahi dekhoge. (There is no reason for me to be jealous of her. You are my husband. And I have total trust in you that you will not look at another female person in such manner. Trust me. I know you like the back of my hand.) Dus saal se jaanti hun main tumhe. Agar mujhe un paanch saalo me tum par yaqeen na karne ki koi wajah nahi mili to ab kyun hogi? (I have known you for about ten years. If I didn't have any reason to doubt you in those five years then I will have now?)" Zubiya asked back as she looked back right into his eyes.
"Which is exactly why I'm really honored to be your husband." Asfand said as he pulled her in for a hug.
Zubiya smiled as she rested her head against his chest, silently listening to his heart beating which always helped her calm down in many ways that she couldn't explain herself.
"Waise.. main ye soch raha tha ki koi hume agle ek ghante me yaad to nai karega na.. (Well.. I was thinking if anyone is going to miss us in the next one hour..)" Asfand asked as he broke their hug and smiled impishly at her.
Zubiya slowly shook her head negatively.
"Agle ek ghante? Nai.. mujhe to nai lagta. Lekin aap ye kyun pooch rahe hain? (The next one hour? No.. I don't think so anyone's going to call for us. But, why do you ask?)" Zubiya asked confusedly as she watched Asfand walk to the door and lock the knob.
Asfand turned his back to the door and gazed at her. Her breath hitched as she watched the way he gazed at her, so... so passionate.. it nearly made her go crumbling at her knees. She shyly looked away, not able to withstand his stare lest she actually crumbles down to the ground.
"Main tumhe abhi batata hun. (Let me explain it to you.)" Asfand said slowly as he walked towards her and pulled her swiftly to him by her waist.
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"Suno. Ek good news hain tumhare liye. Wo bacchi jo humare hospital me laayi gayi thi.. Doctor Shehroze aur unke biwi usse adopt karne ka soch rahe hain. Sabkuch final ho chuka hain.. court se permission bhi le li hain. Ab wo bacchi zyada din aur hospital me nahi rahegi. In Sha Allah. (Listen. There is a good news for you. It's about the baby-girl that was taken into our hospital.. Dr. Shehroze and his wife is actually thinking of adopting her. Everything has been finalized.. they have also taken permission from the court. It's not long before she is out of the hospital and in her new home. In Sha Allah.)" Asfand said as he sipped his tea one morning.
Zubiya, who was sipping her own cup of tea, sighed happily.
"Main bohot khush hun. Us bacchi ke liye bhi aur Dr. Shehroze aur unki biwi ke liye bhi. Unse behtar us bacchi ke liye aur koi haqdar nahi ho sakta. (I am so glad to hear this. I am not only happy for the baby but Dr. Shehroze and his wife as well. No one deserves that baby girl more than them.)" Zubiya said and gave him a wide smile.
"Main bhi. (Me too.)" Asfand replied as he smiled back just as widely and held her right hand on the table with his.
"Mama, dekhe! Chachu phirse Chachi ke saath romance kar rahe hain! (Mama, look! Uncle is again romancing with aunty!)" Their beautiful moment was interrupted by none other their niece, Muskaan. Muskaan who had slowly crept next to her uncle and tried to dip her biscuit in his tea had quickly noticed him holding her aunt's hand.
She had once loudly complained to her uncle that boys shouldn't touch girls' hands. Because she had learnt in her pre-school that it wasn't allowed! (Eek!)
When he didn't listen to her (hmph!) she had warned him with both her hands on her hips that she will tell on him if he did not listen to her.
And that's exactly what she did.
Asfand closed his eyes annoyingly and face-palmed with his other free hand, much to Zubiya's amusement. She bit her lip as she withheld her giggles and enjoyed the stare-off between her niece and her husband.
She knew exactly who was going to win.
She stepped on Asfand's foot lightly making him jump and lose eye-contact with his niece. Asfand glared at her as Muskaan jumped up and down, squealing loudly, "I won! I won!"
Asfand nodded slowly at his niece as he slowly said, " I won ki bacchi! Main dekhta hun kaun jeetega ab. (Oh, really? Now, let me see who wins.)"
Asfand tries to grab for his niece. But she was quick enough to run away from him and off to the lawn as she squealed loudly with Asfand right behind her.
Zubiya laughed loudly as she watched her husband chase behind Muskaan. As she watched them, she realized she really couldn't wait to give Asfand her surprise. It definitely couldn't wait till his birthday.
No. It couldn't.
She thought, as she watched him lift Muskaan off the ground and turn her around in his arms.
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PS: Did you like it? Yes? No? Comment please and don't forget to hit the star button!
Love!
Originally posted by: DeewaniMastaani
Zubiya lost in his gaze that bore into her with a certain weight,
So good!
Khushkhabri...wonder what it can be? I know.
Wonderful update Deewani! You rock.
Originally posted by: octaverider
So good!
Khushkhabri...wonder what it can be? I know.
Wonderful update Deewani! You rock.
Chapter 24 - Pal (Moments)
AN: Okay. So, the next chapter is here!
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Asfand sighed in relief as he entered his room but was disappointed to not find Zubiya inside.
As he removed his watch and kept it on the dressing table, he found a folded sheet over it with his name written atop in red.
He unfolded the paper quickly and found it was a message to him from his wife.
Meet me at the terrace at 12.
~Zubiya
At 12? What is she doing up there at this time? He looked up at the clock and realized only 20 minutes were remaining before it struck 12. 20-minutes were enough for him to change out of his scrubs and take a shower.
He quickly grabbed a fresh set of black kurta-shalwar and headed to the shower.
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As he climbed up the staircase he noticed the golden lantern hanging at the entrance.
It wasn't there before.
He slowed down his pace, not sure what he was going to find up there. Curious, to what Zubiya has been up to he climbed the rest of the stairs quickly but stopped short as soon as he reached the top.
He smiled softly at the vision in front of him.
Zubiya was asleep on the mattress that was laid at the centre, with just his brown shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
How on earth did she even get this mattress up here?
As he walked towards her he noticed that there was another lantern hanging just above the mattress and a couple of other strings wrapped with fairy lights hanging from it which was attached to the top shade above them.
She definitely had help.
Zubiya looked so ethereal with all the soft golden glow surrounding her.. she almost seemed as if she was an out-of-the-world goddess.
To his amazement he noticed photos clicked in polaroid camera hanging from the white strings.
His smile spread wilde as he read the caption below them. When Everything started; Engagement; Dating; Shaadi; Haldi; Walima; Pehli Saalgira -
"Aapne to mere surprise par pura paana hi pher diya. Aapko andaaza bhi kitni mehnat lagi hain ye sab karne me? (You just ruined my entire surprise! Do you realize how much trouble it has taken me to prepare all of this?)" Zubiya softly asked as she slowly sat up from her reclined position.
"Haan to kisne kaha tha itni mehnat karne? Aur surprise? Kaisa surprise?Aaj to mera birthday bhi nahi hain. (But who told you to take so much trouble to do all of this? And surprise? What surprise? It's not even my birthday today.)" Asfand asked her as he continued to look at the photos. He chuckled when he saw some really funny ones like the one where he was holding little Muskaan. But he was grimacing at the camera as Muskaan had just peed on him for the very first time.
"Har birthday ya event to zaroori nahi hain surprises ke liye. Aise bhi to diya ja sakta hain apne mohabbat karne walo ko. (It's not necessary to give give surprises to your loved ones only on their birthdays or special events. It can be given at any time.)" Zubiya stated to him.
"Acha ji? (Really?)" Asfand asked raising his eyebrows at her.
"Haan ji. Ab yaha aao. Mere paas. (Yes. Now, get down here. Next to me.)" Zubiya said as she pulled Asfand by his right hand.
"Ji hukum. Farmaiyein, meri begum. (Alright, my lady. As you wish.)" Asfand said as he sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her.
"Acha- acha. Bas karo. Itne nakhre na dikhao. Ye batao.. meri decoration tumhe kaisi lagi. (Okay- okay. Enough. No more attitudes, please. Now, tell me this. How did you like my decorations?)" Zubiya asked as she looked up at him expectantly.
"Hmm. Achi hain... (Hmm.. It's good.. for a beginner..)" Asfand said thoughtfully.
"Kya?! Ye meri pehli dafa nai hain. Main tumhe bataadun tumhare saare birthdays pe- (What?! This is not my first time! For your information let me tell you in all your birthdays- )" Zubiya ranted furiously as she tried to remove his hand around her.
"Okay! Okay! I am kidding! Gussa lagta hain tumhare naak pe har waqt chada rehta hain. Haath to na hatao. (You always get so fired up quickly. At least let me keep my hand around you.)" Asfand said as he tried to hold his furious wife in his arms.
"Wah. Tum mujhe chiraate rahoge aur main gussa bhi na karu? (Wow. You expect me to not get angry while you constantly keep on irritating me. Now, that's very fair.)" Zubiya grumbled as she folded her arms.
"Okay! I am sorry. To tum kya bataa rahi thi? Waise tumhari decorations bohot achi hain. Ye tasweerein main bohot dino baad dekh raha hun. Mujhe ye tak yaad nahi maine inhe last kab dekha tha. (So, you were saying? Your decorations are really beautiful by the way. I am seeing these photos after many days. I don't even remember when I went through them the last time.)" Asfand said wistfully as he looked at the rest of the hanging photos.
"Isiliye to maine ye sab kiya hain. Apne saare ache.. bure palon ko yaad karne ke liye. Warna jaise hi hum zindagi me aage badte jaayenge apne puraane palon ko bhulte jaayenge. ( Which is why I planned all of this. To reminisce all good and worse moments of our lives. Or else as we will go ahead in our lives we will forget our past moments.)" Zubiya said.
"Idea bura nai hain waise. (Not a bad idea, huh.)" Asfand said as he nodded his head at her to which he recieved nothing but an eye roll.
"Acha woh dekho! Yaad hain ye pic? Meri first birthday jo maine tum logon ke saath celebrate ki thi... Aur tumne mujhe meri first polaroid camera gift ki thi. Main kitni excited ho gayi thi.. Main shaayad instructions pad rahi thi aur tum bata rahe the ki main ye baad me bhi pad sakti hun. Aur Gaiti bhabi ne camera start bhi kar liya tha aur ye humari first pic hain ek saath waali. Unhone mujhe ye picture agle din dikhaya tha. (Okay, look at this one. Our first ever photo together. This was taken on my first birthday that celebrated with you people and you had gifted me this polaroid camera. I think I was reading the instructions and you were telling me to leave it. In between all this Gaiti bhabi had already clicked a photo of us. This is the first photo of us together which she later showed me the next day.)" Zubiya described as she pointed at a photo while Asfand smiled wistfully.
It's already been a decade.
"Aur ye dekho.. ye humari engagement ki hain. Yaar, tumhare expression ko dekho zara. Itne guilty kyun lag rahe ho? Wait... Ohh - hah! Faryal! Faryal ne tumhe achanak se hug ki thi aur tum ghabra rahe the ki mujhe bura laga ya nahi! (And look at this. This is from our engagement. Look at your expression - why do you seem so guilty? Wait... Ohh - yeah! Faryal! Faryal had hugged you suddenly and you were scared if I minded!)" Zubiya said as she chuckled. Asfand joined her soon after.
After reminiscing through all the photos of their dating period; after Muskaan's birth; their wedding, honeymoon and other photos till now for another half-an-hour they both cuddled into each other, covering themselves in a light blanket as they became lost in their own thoughts.
"We need more films for my camera. I have finished all in these few years. We need to get a new refill to capture moments of the new generation." Zubiya said softly.
Asfand turned to her confusedly. "But there are still 50 or so left. And Muskaan isn't that fond of taking photos."
"Yes. Which is why I'm talking about our baby. He or she has to be photogenic with me clicking their pictures, right?" Zubiya askied him back with a shy smile.
"What? Are you just telling me that you are- " Asfand almost whispered back, staring at her amazedly.
"Uh-huh." Zubiya whispered back as she nervously nodded her head at him.
"Uh-huh?! Kab- kaise? Mera matlab hain, tumhe kab maloom hua is baat ka? (Uh-huh?! How- When? I mean, when did you get to know about this?)" Asfand exclaimed as he was still in a shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had imagined this moment numerous times but witnessing it happening and actually living it was really surreal for him.
"Kuch hi din pehle. Yaad hain maine bohot saal pehle kaha tha ki Gaiti bhabi ko kaise bhi sabkuch maloom ho jata hain? Unhone hi mujhe bola ki mujhe check karwa leni chahiye. (Just a few days ago. Remember I told you years back that Gaiti bhabi somehow comes to know about everything? She was the one who suggested that I should probably get it checked.)" Zubiya said, laughing softly.
"Agar tumhe kuch din pehle pata chala to tum mujhe ab kyun bata rahi ho? Pehle kyun nahi bataaya? (If you came to know a few days back why are you telling me now? Why didn't you tell me as soon as possible?)" Asfand asked shaking his head.
"Main aapko surprise dena chahti thi aapke birthday par. Lekin main aapse koi baat chupa nahi sakti. Mujhe laga ki ye sahi nahi hain ki main ye baat aapse chupaun. Waise aap khush hain na? (I actually wanted to give you a surprise on your birthday. But I can't hide anything from you. Morever I didn't feel comfortable hiding this from you. You deserve to know just as me. Are you happy, though?)" Zubiya asked nervously.
"Khush? Main aaj bohot khush hun! Mujhe ab aisa mehsoos ho raha hain jaise ab saath aasmano ke upar pohoch gaya hun. Tumhe nai lagta, Zubiya ki yeh ehsaas... kuch aur hi hain? Ek ehsaas jo main labzon me kabhi bayaan nahi kar paaunga. (Happy? Are you crazy? I will be the most happiest person you will find today. I feel as if I've already reached heaven. Don't you feel the same, Zubiya? This feeling is totally out of the world. A feeling that I just can't express in words.)" Asfand asked Zubiya with an amazed look on his face.
"Bilkul. Mujhe bhi jab pata chala.. mujhe yaqeen nahi ho raha tha. Par jab maine results ko gaur se dekha to.. Asfand, main bohot khush hun. Bohot. (Yes. When I got to know.. I couldn't believe it. But when I saw the results... Asfand, I am so happy. So much that I can't tell you.)" Zubiya said and hugged Asfand tightly close to her.
"Main bhi, Zubiya. Main bhi. Shukriya. (Me too, Zubiya. Me too. Thank you.)
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Zubiya held a camera in front of her and shouted, "Muskaan, please. Say cheese!"
"Zubi chachi! Ye aakhri baar. Bas. Aur nai. (Aunty, please. This is the last. No more photos.)" Muskaan pouted.
"Muskaan, tum aaj gyara saal ki ho gayi ho. Har koi ko ye mauka har roz nahi milta samjhi. Harry Potter ko apni eleventh birthday pe Hogwarts ki letter mili thi. Lekin hum muggles hain na.. isliye hume nahi milega. (Muskaan, today you have turned eleven years old. No one turns eleven everyday. Harry Potter recieved his Hogwarts letter on his eleventh birthday. But since we are muggles we didn't recieve one.)" Zubiya said as she put in a new film to take another shot.
"My dear Zubi chachi, Harry Potter is just a story! It doesn't really exist!" Muskaan exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
"Muskaan sahi keh rahi hain, you know. Aur maine tumse kya kaha tha- (Muskaan is right you know. And what did I tell you- )" Asfand said as he stopped beside her.
"Yehi ki mujhe zyaada der khare rehna allowed nahi hain? (That I'm not supposed to stand for long?)" Zubiya replied back.
"Ji. Ab chalo kahi baithte hain. (Yes. Now, let's go and sit somewhere.)" Asfand stated as he put his arm around her shoulders and tried to walk her around towards the near seats.
"Lekin mujhe photo kheenchni hain. (But, I want to take some more photos.)" Zubiya pouted.
"Suno, Muskaan bhi tired hain tumhari photoshoot se. Use thodi der uski doston ke saath khelne dete hain aur hum thoda rest lete hain. Theek hain. (Listen, Muskaan is also tired with your photo session. Lets leave her for a while to play with her friends. And in the meanwhile why don't we take some rest?)" Asfand suggested, as he slowly turned his wife towards the seats.
"Hum? Kaun hum? Aapko to koi rest ki zarurat nahi hain. (We? Who we? You don't need any rest.)" Zubiya grumbled as she slowly sat down with Asfand's assistance.
Asfand rolled his eyes as he sat next to her.
"Hum matlab hum. (By 'we' I meant us.)" Asfand repeated again as he softly laid his palm on her huge baby bump.
Zubiya shook her head as she tried to hide her soft smile.
~The End~
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PS: This is the end people. I really hope this was up to your expectations. I know it was quick and all. But I am leaving BD for two weeks and didn't want to leave you people hanging. I hope you will like it. I might write some future shots once I return.
Love!
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