PART 13. FROM BARKAT VILLA TO BARKAT ROYALE
Zain smiled as he stared at Aaliya while hiding behind a pillar. She was standing few steps ahead of him talking to Nafisa, both the girls giggling over something. As Zain stared at Aaliya, he mused over the last two months. Two months had passed since the day he realised that he was in love with Aaliya. The next morning when he had woken up, he had taken the decision to stop fighting with Aaliya and try to behave civilly with her. After all, where was the fun in giving stress to the person you loved the most? But then he got a surprise when he got ready for his Office and walked out of his room. He saw his whole family standing by the stairs discussing something seriously. When enquired, Zain was shocked to know that Aaliya had locked herself into her room and refused to come out. Zain was not surprised. The whole evening she must have been in shock and now that the shock had worn off the trauma must have been showing its effects. He assured his worried father and crying mother that he will talk to Aaliya and stormed off to her room. As he neared her room, he heard faint sobs coming from the room and sighed as he realised that his beloved Aaliya was crying.
Zain smiled and shook his head as he remembered the way he had cajoled Aaliya in his softest voice to come out of the room that day.
"Aaliya! Darwaaja kholo!"
"Aaliya! Dekho mom ro rahi hai!"
"Aaliya! Dad bahut pareshaan hai! Please darwaaza kholo!"
"Aaliya! Dekho! Sab theek ho jaayega! Bas tumhein kuch waqt ki jaroorat hai!"
"Aaliya! Please darwaza kholo! I promise main sab kuch theek kar dunga!"
But nothing had worked that day and Zain's annoyance slowly mounted up. Zain's promise of not fighting with her went into smoke as his impatience took over and he banged the door of Aaliya's room.
"Aaliya! Darwaza kholo warna main darwaza tod dunga!"
And yet when Aaliya did not come out, Zain's impatience reached its peak and he blurted out the next words which he would never have said if he was not angry.
"Aaliya! Mujhe pehle hi pata tha ki tum thodi buddhu ho par itni bewakoof aur itni darpok ho, yeh mujhe bilkul nahi pata tha!"
What Zain did not know at that time was that this was exactly what Aaliya had needed; a jolt of reality, a reality where while rest of the family might pity her, Zain would always treat her the way he normally did, by fighting.
Outside by then Usman and Suraiya had arrived by Aaliya's door wanting to scold Zain for his harsh words. But before they could rebuke Zain, Aaliya had opened the door and glared at Zain.
"Kya kahaa? Main aur bewakoof?"
"Aur nahi toh kya? Agar kal main nahi aata toh kya hota?", Zain scolded her.
"Mr. Zain Usman Abdullah! Tumhein yaad nahi toh main tumhein yaad dila deti hoon ki woh main thi jisne turant tumhein call kiya tha! Kal tumne meri jaan nahi bachaayi thi! Meri jaan maine khud apne tez dimaag ki wajah se bachaayi thi, Samjhe?"
And soon they were back to their regular fighting. After a while, Usman realised that Aaliya was alright and shaking his head he dragged Suraiya away while whispering to her, "Ab Aaliya ki aap fikar chod dijiye, Suraiya begum! Zain haina! Woh Aaliya ko normal kar dega!"
Zain shook his head to forget those memories and turned to walk away from there before anyone noticed him staring at Aaliya. As he walked away, his mind went back to the last two months. After that fight, Zain's plan to talk to Aaliya civilly went right out of window and he continued to fight with her daily. And when he was not fighting with her, he was hiding in some place nearby staring at her. Yes! You read it right! Zain Usman Abdullah had found a new hobby in the last two months; staring at Aaliya! He observed her so much that nowadays he could tell what she would next say just by observing her expressions. He could tell you her daily routine, her favorite songs, foods she hated and many more! And yes! He knew that what he was doing was borderline stalking but you cannot fault a guy who is in love, right? I mean everything is fair in love and war, right? Whether you consider it fair or not, Zain did not care. For him, everything is definitely allowed in love and stalking comes under that allowance as far as he was concerned.
As Zain continued to walk away, he remembered how Fahad had to stop Zain from smashing the jaw of that weirdo Zeeshaan. Fahad had kept his promise and put the crazy guy in jail while Zain was all for beating the life out of the guy. Of course, when Aaliya heard that Zeeshaan was in jail, she had hugged Fahad so many times while thanking him profusely, that Zain was red with jealousy. This was the second time Zain was jealous of his own brother. Bhai ne Zeeshaan ko jail mein daala, toh unko itna saara hugs? Aur maine jo iski jaan bachaayi, mujhe ek chota waala hug bhi nahi? Zain's heart had cribbed for hours on this matter.
As Zain walked away, he heard something which stopped his heart for a second.
"Haan Bhabhi! Abbu chaahte hain ki main ghar waapis aa jaaun!", Aaliya informed Nafisa morosely.
Zain turned around and looked at Aaliya in horror as Aaliya continued, "Ab jo meri padhai hogayi hai unhein lagta hai ki meri shaadi ka time aagaya hai! Aur isliye woh mujhe ghar bula rahe hain!"
Both girls looked as helpless as Zain felt at that moment as he stumbled towards his room in daze. Aaliya! Jaa rahi hai? Mujhe chodke? Zain felt as if someone had taken his heart out of his chest and stomped on it. Aise kaise jaa sakti hai woh? Nahi! Woh nahi jaa sakti! Now he regretted his decision to wait and enjoy the feeling of love. Main hi ullu ka pattha hoon! Tabhi I Love You bol diya hota toh ab tak hum dono ki shaadi bhi hogayi hoti! He huffed in anger as he sat on his bed. Lekin I Love You bolne se shaadi toh nahi ho jaati? Agar woh mujhse pyaar na karti toh? He worriedly looked around hoping to see some solution. Problem sirf yeh hi nahi ki woh ghar chodke jaa rahi hai lekin problem yeh bhi hai ki Phoophaji uski shaadi ke baare mein soch rahe hain! Ab main kya karun? His mind alternated between worry at loosing Aaliya to some other guy and anger at himself for wasting time instead of proposing to her.
Ek minute! Zain sat straight. Phoophaji uski shaadi hi karwaana chaahte haina? Aur obviously woh ek arrange marriage hoga! Toh kyun na main hi dulha ban jaaun? Jaake Mom se boldunga that I Love Aaliya! Problem solved! Phoophaji apne Bhateeje ka rishta toh nahi thukraayenge? Aur jahaan Phoops ke bhai bhi rehti hai us ghar mein Aaliya ka rishta karwaane se Phoops hichkichaayegi bhi nahi? Aur agar Aaliya usi ladke se shaadi karegi jisko uske parivar waale chunenge toh use mujhse aitraaz bhi nahi hoga? Haan! Use kuch dino ke liye mujhse door jaana hoga lekin bahut jald zindagi bhar ke liye meri ho jaayegi! Yes! Dono problem solved! Zain stared into distance as he went through his plan. As a prankster, Zain always made sure that all his plans were fullproof and here also he applied his calculative mind, and wondered whether there were any flaws in his plan! Finding none, Zain got up with excitement. Bas ab Mom ke paas jaana hai aur apne pyaar ka izhaar karna hai!
Zain nodded and walked off towards the door wanting to talk to his Mom as soon as possible when suddenly a memory floating through his mind came onto the fore.
"Tumhaari behen bata rahi thi ki tumhein padhne ke baad job karna hai?"
"Mujhe koi bada insaan nahi banna hai! Mujhe bas apne pairon pe khade hona hai! Independent banna hai! Padhai khatam karke ek job join karlun phir mujhe aur kuch nahi chaahiye zindagi se!"
Zain stopped walking as Aaliya's words echoed in his mind. Nahi! Main Aaliya ke sapnon ko apne pyaar ke liye kuchal nahi sakta! He took few steps back. Nahi! Agar aaj main aage badha toh Aaliya bhale hi mujhe apna le lekin woh kabhi khush nahi rahegi! Nahi! Zain took a deep breath. Mujhe pehle Aaliya ke sapne ko poora karna hoga! Phir mere sapne ki baari! Zain sat on the bed again and thought for a while. Toh problem yeh nahi hai ki Aaliya mujhe chodke jaa rahi hai! Problem yeh hai ki Aaliya agar idhar se gayi toh woh apne sapne se door chali jaayegi! Mujhe aisa hone se rokna hoga! Par kaise?
While Zain was wondering about how to ensure that Aaliya's dream comes true, in Suraiya and Usman's room, Nafisa watched as Suraiya paced the floor in annoyance looking quite like a vamp from hindi serials. After few seconds, Nafisa who seemed quite intimidated by Suraiya's vamp avatar, whispered softly, "Lekin Mom mujhe yeh samajh nahi aa raha ki aap Aaliya ke jaane ki khabar sunke itne pareshaan kyun hai?"
Suraiya stopped pacing and faced Nafisa, "Nafisa! Aise kaise hum jaane de humaari bahu ko is ghar se?"
"Bahu?", Nafisa questioned in confusion.
At the same time, Fahad, who was passing by the room, stopped in shock. Bahu? Ghar se jaane dein? Kahin Mom Nafisa ko kahin bhej toh nahi rahi hai? Oh no! Meri Nafisa! He hid behind the door and listened to the conversation.
Nafisa rushed to assure Suraiya, "Lekin Mom main kahaan jaa rahi hoon? Main toh yahin hoon!"
Suraiya shook her head, "Hum aapki nahi Aaliya ki baat kar rahe hain!"
Nafisa blinked in confusion, "Aaliya?"
Outside of the room, Fahad was also blinking in confusion. Aaliya? Woh kabse iss ghar ki bahu ban gayi? But Fahad knew his mother enough to know how her brain worked. Calling Aaliya Bahu meant... Oh no! Oh no! His eyes widened in shock as he realised Suraiya's wish. He listened as Suraiya confirmed his guess.
Suraiya smiled at Nafisa, "Haan! Aaliya! Humne Zain ke liye Aaliya ko chuna hai, unke biwi ke taur par!"
Nafisa's eyes brightened and she smiled, "Aaliya! Aur Zain ki Biwi?" She went towards Suraiya and hugged her tightly. Nafisa had grown fond of Aaliya in last few years.
While Nafisa was happy to hear this news, Fahad was not at all happy. He shook his head all the while muttering in horror, "Zain khush nahi hoga yeh sab jaankar! Zain kabhi khush nahi hoga yeh sab jaankar!" He cringed as he remembered his brother's pranks. "Zain definitely khush nahi hoga yeh sab jaankar!"
It seemed that right at the same time Zain's retaliating pranks passed through Nafisa's mind as right at that moment she squeaked, "Lekin Mom! Zain..."
Suraiya cut her off with her hand raised, "Zain ki tum fikar mat karo! Jab sahi waqt aayega toh hum use Aaliya se shaadi karne ko kahenge aur woh maan bhi lega! Humein ab yeh sochna hoga ki Aaliya ko iss ghar se jaane se kaise rokein?"
Meanwhile outside Fahad rolled his eyes. Zain? Aur aapki baat sunke shaadi kar lega? No way! Just because usne aapki baat sunke Aaliya ko College drop aur pick up kiya uska matlab yeh nahi ki aapki sunke Aaliya se shaadi bhi karlega! He shook his head. He had to inform his brother about this plan! He can't let his brother get married to Aaliya just because their mom wanted it to happen. While Fahad would have been happy that Aaliya was the girl their mom had chosen for his brother, Fahad also wanted Zain to experience love the way he experienced with Nafisa. Sorry Mom! Lekin main nahi chaahta ki mere chote bhai ki arrange marriage ho! I want him to fall in love and get married to the girl he loves! Aur mujhe poora yakeen ki ek din Zain ko pyaar jaroor hoga! Aur tab tak main aapke har plan ke saamne khada rahunga Mom! Fahad nodded and marched off to inform Zain about Suraiya's plan to get him married to Aaliya!
Nafisa looked at Suraiya in confusion as she sat back on the bed, "Par Mom aap itni pareshaan kyun hai? Haan! Aaliya iss ghar se jaa rahi hai! Lekin jaise hi aap Zain ka rishta lekar Phoophaji ke paas jaayenge, Aaliya aur Zain ka rishta pakka ho jaayega! Phir sirf kuch din ki doori aur phir Aaliya is ghar mein aayegi aapki bahu banke!"
Suraiya huffed and sat beside her, "Nafisa! Tum humaare pareshaani samajh nahi rahi hai!"
Nafisa frowned and Suraiya explained, "Tumhein pata nahi lekin Zain ko Aaliya se pyaar hogaya hai!"
Nafisa gasped in shock and Suraiya nodded, "Aur isliye hum Aaliya ko rokna chaahte hain! Kyunki hum Zain ko achchi tarah jaante hain! Use ab tak nahi pata ki woh Aaliya se pyaar karta hain! Jab pata chalega toh Zain humesha ki tarah apne ehsaason se door bhaagega! Use is ehsaas ko samajhne aur apnaane mein waqt lagega aur uske baad hi woh Aaliya ki taraf apne kadam badhaayega! Aur iske liye use waqt chaahiye! Isliye hum chaahte hain ki Aaliya aur kuch din yahi rahe! Warna Zain kabhi apne pyaar ko qubool nahi karega!"
Nafsia was in shock. Zain loved Aaliya? And according to Suraiya, he needed time to accept them and till then Aaliya had to be here! Ab kya karein? Suddenly, both ladies looked at each other, nodded, stood up and started pacing the room trying to think about a solution.
While Nafisa and Suraiya paced, Fahad entered his brother's room in hurry, "ZAIN ZAIN!"
Zain, who was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands, wondering on how to stop Aaliya from going away, looked up in confusion, "Bhai!" He stood up in worry. Kahin Mom ya Dad ko kuch ho toh nahi gaya?
Fahad reached him and grabbed his arms, "Bhaag jaa Zain! Bhaag jaa! Mom teri hasti khelti zindagi mein aag lagaane pe tuli hai! Unse bachke bhaag jaa!"
"Kya?", Zain looked at Fahad as if Fahad was an alien. Yeh Bhai ko kya hogaya hai? Kahin bukhar toh nahi? He pressed the back of his hand on Fahad's forehead when Fahad grabbed the hand with both hands tightly and pleaded with his brother, "Zain! Baat ko samjho! Mom tumhari shaadi karwaane pe tuli hai!"
"Kya?", Zain snatched his hand from Fahad's grasp and stumbled few steps. He walked to the window and looked out in horror.
Fahad nodded, "Haan Zain!" Then he continued to narrate everything he heard in Suraiya and Usman's room.
As Zain heard Fahad's words, his lips bloomed into smile. Iska matlab Mom aur main ek jaise hi sochte hain! Aaliya ko rokne ke liye hum dono ne meri shaadi ke baare mein socha! But then he frowned. Lekin agar Mom Phoophaji ke paas rishta leke pahunch gayi toh? Phir Aaliya ke sapnon ka kya hoga? Zain closed his eyes in worry. Mujhe kuch karna hoga!
Meanwhile Fahad concluded his narration, "But Zain, I don't want you to have arrange marriage! I want you to fall in love and be happy as I am! Isliye main yahaan aaya tumhein yeh sab bataane!"
Zain smiled sadly, "Thanks Bhai! Lekin ab hum kya kar sakte hain?"
Fahad continued to speak, "I tell you Zain! Yeh sab Phoophaji ke wajah se hua hai! Agar unhonein Aaliya ko ghar waapis bulaaya na hota toh Mom yeh sab nahi sochti! I wish there was another way to make sure Aaliya remains here! Saari problem hi khatam hojaati!"
Zain's eyes snapped open as he realised that Fahad had just offered the solution to all his problems. He turned and stormed towards Fahad, "Bhai! Aapne toh saari problem hi solve kardi!" Fahad blinked twice, "Maine? Achcha! Kaise?"
Zain smirked, "Mom chahti hai ki Aaliya yahin rahe, right?" Fahad nodded eagerly.
"Toh agar hum Aaliya ko yahaan rokne ka bahaana dhoondle toh?", Zain spoke eagerly.
Fahad nodded, "Toh humaari problem solved! But roke kaise?"
Zain smiled smugly, "Barkat Royale mein ek Accountant ki post khaali hai, right? I am sure Aaliya won't mind working there! After all, she is a Commerce Graduate! And humaari apni company hai toh Phoophaji ko bhi koi problem nahi hogi! Aur agar Mom ya Dad baat karenge toh Phoophaji Aaliya ke job karne pe aitraaz bhi nahi karenge! Aur Aaliya humaare ghar mein rahegi toh Mom, Dad aur Bhabhi bhi khush!"
Fahad smiled happily, "Zain! Tum toh genius ho! Main abhi jaata hoon aur Aaliya ko woh post offer karta hoon! Ek baar woh haan kehde phir dinner pe sabko bhi bata denge!"
Zain approved his plan and Fahad walked off to meet Aaliya.
As Fahad went off, Zain smiled and fell on his bed. Bhai! Tumhein kya laga yeh idea maine Mom ko rokne ke liye diya hai? Is mein meri bhi kaee faayde hain! After all, Aaliya ka kaam karne ka sapna jo poora hoga! Phir uske aur mere pyaar ke beech koi problems nahi! Aur added bonus yeh hai ki main jab chaahun Aaliya ko dekh sakta hoon! Bas kuch din aur! Phir Aaliya ghar mein hi nahi, Office mein bhi mere saamne hogi! Aur kuch waqt ke liye yeh shaadi ka tension bhi sar se hat jaayega! Aur kya pata iss waqt mein main Aaliya se apne dil ki baat bhi keh doon! Aur kya pata use bhi mujhse pyaar ho jaaye! Zain took a deep breath and got lost in daydreams of Aaliya!
When in the evening, Fahad announced to the family that Aaliya is joining Barkat Royale, everyone was happy for her and when Fahad wondered about Phoophaji, Usman announced that he will talk to him.
As they congratulated Aaliya, the only thoughts going through Suraiya and Nafisa's head was that, Now Aaliya won't go away for a while!'
Fahad smiled as he thought to himself, Atleast ab mera chota bhai is shaadi ke changul se bach gaya!'
Zain smiled as he looked at his family. Everything was okay now. Aaliya was not going anywhere. Mom, Dad, Nafisa and Fahad were happy, of course due to different reasons, but they were happy! And he? He was the happiest because his love, his Aaliya was with him, right where he wanted her to be. Soon, she would be in his Office where of course he will call her into his Office for every silly reason possible. She will fight with him, he will fight with her, they will fight at home, they will fight at Office and maybe in between all this fighting he will win her heart over and maybe when he would pop up the question, she will accept his marriage proposal. Yes! Zain Usman Abdullah smirked, Life was just perfect!
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Thanks, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
P.S. As usual, I read your reviews daily, but they will be liked or liked and replied slowly!
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