Ek Nayaa Aaghaaz - A sequel to Yakeen ka safar

Chapter 14

It was finally 'D-Day' , The day of Asfandyar and Zubia's Nikaah. Zubia and her cousins had reached the parlour for their make-up at around 7am. Gaiti had joined them at the parlour as well. The Nikaah was scheduled for 10am that morning. It was around 9am now, and there was lots of hustle-bustle in the Khalil house, as everyone prepared to leave for the banquet hall where the Nikaah was to take place.

On the other hand, Asfandyar stood in front of the mirror in his hotel room, freshly showered, in a white kurta pyjama. Dr. Haroon and Dr. Shehroze were there too. Dr. Haroon helped Asfandyar put on his Sherwani and adjust it properly. Just as Asfandyar was done buttoning up the sherwani completely, Dr. Haroon spoke.

"Kya lag rahe hai aap, Dr. Asfandyar! MashaAllah! Kyun, Dr. Shehroze?", he exclaimed.

"I agree, ekdum Shehzaada lag rahe ho, Asfand!", Dr. Shehroze added and Asfandyar chuckled in response while he set his hair in place. He, who was usually confident, felt a little shy hearing these compliments from his colleague and mentor.

"Ek baat toh bataayein Dr. Asfandyar, Aaj apne Nikaah ke din kaisa feel kar rahe hai aap?", Dr. Haroon asked genuinely.

"Sach bataaun?", Asfand asked.

"Jee, bilkul!", Dr. Haroon said reassuringly.

"Thoda.. Thoda nervous feel kar raha hoon.. I'm really happy, but thoda dar lag raha hai. Zubia ne ab tak apni life mein bohot saari pareshaaniyaan dekhi hai, aur unn saari pareshaaniyon ka saamna akele kiya hai. Main uska ghum aur azziyatein baantna chahta hoon, usko itni khushiyaan dena chahta hoon, ki uska dard kam hote hote gaayab hi ho jaye, uska muhafız banna chahta hoon, I want to win her trust. Par kabhi kabhi I wonder whether I'll ever be able to any of this for her..." Asfand expressed while he sat down on the bed, lost in thought.

"Asfandyar.. Dekho, thoda nervous hona toh bilkul natural hai! Rahi baat trust ki, toh kya tumhe nahi lagta ki Zubia already tumhe trust karti hai? Shaadi ek bada step hota hai, and she has decided to take this step, this leap of faith with you! Haan shaayad you both will need some time to open upto each other in the true sense, but it will happen with time and effort, which I know you're both more than willing to put in! Shaayad shuru mein tumhe uski taraf chaar qadam badhaane honge, tabhi voh tumhaari taraf ek qadam badha payegi, but voh qadam badhaayegi zuroor!" Dr. Shehroze said reassuringly while he wrapped his arm around Asfand's shoulder.

"Ek baat bataaoon Dr. Asfandyar? Dr. Zubia bhi aapko utna hee chahti hai jitna aap unhe. Voh dikhaane se qatraati hai, keh nahi paati, par chaahti zuroor hai, unki aanknon mein saaf nazar aata hai!

Aap dono ki Mangni ke baad se kitne positive changes aaye hai unme! Itna muskuraate hoye maine unhe pichle poore saal mein nahi dekha, jitna inn teen hafton mein dekha hai! Apne emotions ko express bhi karne lag jayengi waqt ke saath, InshaAllah! Fikr bilkul bhi naa karein aap!", Dr. Haroon said in a poetic tone, with a wide smile.

"Vaise maan na padega Dr. Haroon, kabhi kabaar aap kaam ki baat bhi kar lete hai! Thank you!", Asfandyar said with a wide smile and Dr. Haroon winked in response.

"Chalein bhai! Dulha taiyaar hai ke nahi? Qaazi Sahaab aa gaye hai aur Dulhan bhi bas aane vali hai!", Usman said as he walked into the room with a light knock on the door.

"Jee baba, bas voh pagdi pehen raha tha..", Asfand responded.

"MashaAllah!"  Usman exclaimed as he caught a proper glimpse of his younger son dressed as a groom.

"I'm proud of you, my son! Tumhari aankno mein mujhe vahi jazba nazar aata hai, jo ek waqt par Daniyal ki aankho mein nazar aata tha! Tumne aur Daaniyal ne mera sar faqr se uuncha kar diya hai! Aur aaj tumhe dulhe ke roop mein dekhkar meri ek bohot ahem khwaish, ek arse ke intezaar ke baad poori hone jaa rahi hai. Par mujhe lagta hai ke yeh laazmi tha, Iss intezaar ka sawaab humein Zubia jaise heere ke roop mein mila hai!" ,Usman said with while adjusting Asfand's pagdi,with tears in his eyes.

"Baba, Aaj bhai ki bohot yaad aa rahi hai. Kaash voh aaj yahaan hote, Zubia se mil paate..", Asfand said with a wave of sadness on his face.

"Haan beta.. Daaniyal ki kami toh hum sabhi  ko mehsoos ho rahi hai, par voh humaare saath hee hai, tumhaare aur Zubia ke liye bohot khush hai, sab dekh raha hai aur tum dono par apni duaaein barsa raha hai!", Usman said while wiping his tears and attempting to smile!

"Ab chalein? Varna tumhaari maa hum dono par apni daant barsa degi!", Usman spoke again in an attempt to lighten the situation. While Asfandyar was on his way to the banquet hall, he picked up his phone to send a text.

Zubia's phone beeped when she was in the car, on her way to the banquet hall.

"Aapke deedaar ka intezaar hai, almost-begum-sahiba!, it was a text from Asfandyar, that had left a smiling Zubia, pink in the cheeks!

"Hmmm.. zaroor humaare Devar jee ka message hoga.. Hai na? Hai na? Suno, respond karne ka sochna bhi mat! Isko toh main bataati hoon!", Gaiti suddenly spoke as she caught a glimpse of a blushing Zubia and lowkey snatched the phone from her hands.

"Par bhabhi..", Zubia was interrupted even before she could complete her sentence.

"Bilkul nahi.. mujhe kuch nahi sunna!", Gaiti said while glaring at Zubia.

She quickly opened the text and started typing a response.

"I'll give you points for the rhyming, Devar jee a.k.a part-time shaayar!"  The text read.

Hey readers! 

I'm back with a new chapter after finally overcoming a writers block! I hope you enjoy this chapter that throws some light on Asfandyars emotions and insecurities! The next chapter will finally cover Asfiya's Nikah and many more cute Asfiya moments.

Stay tuned and keep supporting this book through your votes and comments. They keep me going!

Looking forward to your feedback!

Lots of love