"Assalamualaikum, Phufo.", Aiman greeted her aunt with a hesitant smile. After what happened she was still not over her fear.
"Walaikumassalam, beta. Khush raho.", Zehreen replied back open heartedly.
Doing greetings with everyone, they sat in living room. Snacks were served.
"Bhabi. Kaisi feeling aa rahi hai?", Shania teased Aiman.
Aiman smiled sadly, "Kaisi feeling aa sakti hai, Shayu. Dates tou fix hain hi phir bhi tum apni Ammi ko jaanti ho."
"Aap fizul mein hi fikr kar rahi hain ab kuch bura nahi hoga, aur waise bhi humlog hain na, kyun Nida?", Shania turned to Nida.
"Aur nahin tou kya! Par Shania Aapi, mujhe toh Aapa se kuch kehne mein darr lagta hai. Inhe zara bhi kuch keh do tou Shahzeb Bhai bigad jaate hain mujhpe.", Nida complaint because she knew how Shahzeb used to bark at her during their meetings at Khala's.
"Chup karo, Nida. Tumhein hi mere Aabis se shadeed chidh hai.", the brown haired girl scowled. Shania laughed hearing her.
"Sun rahi hain Shania Aapi.. inke Aabis se mujhe chidh hai. Haan haan jaise main hi tou - ", Nida forced on 'Aabis' but couldn't complete her sentence as she was cut by Uruj - "Tum phir shuru ho gayi? Kasam le lo Nida, mahaul dekh kar baat kiya karo."
"Aap bhi mujhe hi sunaiye! Yeh Aabis aur Amy ki possessiveness mein main hi pisti hoon.", Nida said.
"Aabi nahin hain na yahan pe isliye tumhari zubaan bhi zyada chal rahi hai.", Aiman smacked on her head and Nida looked at her angrily.
"Haan tou unhe aane se roka kisne tha. Yoon tou dono milte hi rehte ho aur woh bhi ghar ka chakkar laga hi lete hain, phir abhi kyun nahin aayein. Aa hi jaate, kami kyun chhorhi.", Nida angrily whispered.
"Unhe kaam bhi rehte hai aur tum na-", Aiman was about to say.
"Bas bhi karo ab aap dono.", Shania took charge of separating the ones who were ready to pull out each other's hair.
"Theek hai tou phir tay raha Bhai ji. Saare functions ka ho gaya. Baraat toh ghar pe aani hai. Walime ke liye hum hotel book kar lengey.", Zehreen's voice brought the siblings out of their world.
"Sunne bhi nahin diya ke kya finalize hua.", Aiman complaint.
"Shaadi aap ki hi hai Bhabi. Venues pe koi pahunche ya nahi aapko sabse pehle pahunchna hai.", Uruj winked at her.
"Dekh lena tumlog kal hi Shahzeb se keh kar Khala ke yahan meeting bulwani hai maine tum dono ke liye.", Aiman threatened them.
After finalizing the details of wedding, everyone moved towards dining table for dinner. Zehreen was ecstatic looking at her favourite dishes. Getting to know that Aiman herself had prepared all these for her, she gave her blessings and money in inaam. Everything was smooth until now when Zehreen asked Aiman to sit beside her while having tea.
Aiman sat beside her in fear of what was in the way when Zehreen asked, "Shaadi ki koi tension tou nahin hai na beta!"
"Na-nahin Phufo. Mujhe kya fikr hogi.", she replied with a fake smile.
"Humarey bachche jis lawn mein khelte mohabbat karte bade hue, wahin aapka dono nikaah hoga, isi aangan mein.", Zehreen said caressing her cheek. Aiman blushed.
"Tumhein kisi bhi tarah ki fikr nahin karni hai Aiman. Fikr se nikhaar dhal jayega humari beti ka, phir chaand si dulhan kaise lagegi. Humari banno ko dekh kar Shahzeb ke hosh udd jane chahiye.", she teased her.
"Phufo! Aap bhi.", Aiman turned red.
"Bhaijaan ke hosh tou yoon bhi ude hi rehte hain, Mamma.", Shania added.
"Uss din kahin dil na tham jaye.", Uruj chuckled.
"Astagfirullah. Fizul mat bolo, Uruj.", Aiman snapped at him forgetting the people around her.
"Main tou sirf mazak kar raha tha.", Uruj frowned and everyone laughed.
"Aiman. Main sach mein sharminda hoon apni kamaqli par. Yeh jaante hue bhi ki tum dono ek doosre se kitni mohabbat karte ho, maine woh bekaar baatein kar dali. Maine apni pyaari Aiman aur apne bete pe zulm hi kiya tha. Mujhe muaaf kar do beta!", Zehreen apologized by heart making the environment serious.
"Aap muaafi nahin maangein Phufo. Jo hua hum usey bhool jaate hain.", Aiman smiled for real this time and they hugged.
Aiman's heart was comforted by her mother-in-law's apology. Zehreen had always loved Aiman but as they say sometimes people stop valuing the precious gem they have in greed of gold. Herself was back to normal after the storm she had created in their lives.
Dinner was wrapped up in good note and Aiman told the youngsters to gather at Khala's home tomorrow in the evening. She was serious when she said she would complain to Shahzeb about them. She was Shahzeb's little sweetheart.
Shahzeb was five years older than Aiman. He had always treated her like a fragile doll. His jaan. His Amy. The love he had for her was obvious to everyone in family. He never hid his feelings for her from anyone. If anyone made Aiman a little sad, he would snap at them.
Once Aiman's parents had stopped her from going on a two day college summer trip. Aiman was sulky and called him. He had reached her home and fought with his Mamu and Mami to let Aiman go because his Amy is crying. Her parents had to gave up knowing Shahzeb's temper when it came to his Amy's tears and compromise. That's a different topic that he had called her every couple of hours to get her update.
They were known as 'the craziest couple' among their cousins. Once Shahzeb suffered typhoid, Aiman had also eaten only porridge for two weeks like him. Aiman had a fever, Shahzeb would stop eating too until she's fine. Aiman was sulky, Shahzeb would be barking at everyone. Aiman having mood swings, Shahzeb is suffering. Aiman couldn't sleep, Shahzeb is awake with her on call though he had to go office in the morning. As if someone had connected their emotions to feelings with each other.
*
What had Phufo done?
we should have a cousins union in next chapter, no?
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MAREEZ-E-ISHQ
RomanceMAREEZ-E-ISHQ ◉ Aiman Siddiqui and Shahzeb Aabis Alvie were betrothed to each other from childhood. To know the story of how these two get married or not, hop into this short sweet journey. a short story.
