Qurbat

-08-

It was post lunch now. Everyone sat in the drawing room again enjoying tea as it was almost 5 now. Except the girls who were in the kitchen cleaning. Maham decided to join and give them moral support.

"Isha baji. Apko bari baji andr bula rhi hain." The maid spoke holding empty tray that previously held Osman's coffee.

"Ok." Isha left the cloth she was using to wipe the clean dishes before making her way inside the drawing room.

Maham shared a look with Sarah and Hania which went unnoticed by Isha , following behind her.

Isha cleared her throat gaining everyone's attention before she looked at her mother. "Ammi , you called-".

Isha's words were cut off by her dadu. "Haan beta. We called." He smiled motioning with his hand for her to come inside.

"Beta tum aik kaam karo-" Dadu spoke looking here and there. "Saahil! Utho waha se! Chalo" he motioned with his finger for him to get up.

"Udhar us sofa pr baitho." He smiled at Isha pointed at the the single sofa beside Osman's.

Isha gulped before hesitantly making her way there sitting down.

Now all eyes were on Isha and Osman. They almost felt like they were being investigated.

Osman and Isha couldn't help but share a look helplessly. They were the only ones on eachother's team.

Some eyes sent chill through there spine like Rehaan's for Osman and Hajra's for Isha.

While some eyes held adoration like bi-jaan's ,Dadu's ,Abida's and Sikandar sahab's.

Some eyes held support which at the moment seemed almost useless like Maham's , Sarah's and Manahil's.

Some eyes looked at them as if they were some comedy show like Saahil's , Hania's and Azaan's.

While Malik sahab and Zahid sahab gave off the most cliche desi dad looks. That everyone could imagine but noone knew the meaning behind it.

Finally Bi-jaan cleared her throat before hitting them with his next words. Quite a bit too literally.

Thier eyes fell wide as their mouth hung wider with the words that fell out of Gul bano's mouth.

"Jaldi karo rings lao!" Gul bano said looking at where Maham was standing.

Maham quickly nodded before running out the room with Hania.

Osman and Isha exchanged a look before Osman cleared his throat speaking. "Yeh kis liye rings mangwai jarahi hain?".

"Tumhari aur Isha ki mangni ke liye." Bi-jaan answered with a smile.

"WHAT?!" Osman and Isha said in union jolting up from thier seats.

"Haan. Itna shock kyun horhe ho?" Abida asked looking at them with forrowed eyebrows.

"Because these things are not kept as a surprise amma!" Isha answered her mom.

"Isme surprise kya? Tumlogon ko pehle se andaza nhi tha kya? Aisi baatien zyaada der tk chupti nhi hain." Bi-jaan spoke in a smiley-teasing tone.

"Kaisi baatien?!"Osman spoke this time.

"Aare? Ab yeh baatien khulke bolien kya hum?" Hajra spoke with a judgemental look.

"Like what?!" Osman's anger was getting out of control.

"Ke tum log aik dosre ko pasand krte ho!" Abida spoke getting up.

"WHAT?!" The second shocker hit the poor souls.

"Aap bhi?-" Isha's eyes widen as she looked at him.

'My aditiya imagines me as his geet too?'

"What do you mean aap 'bhi'?!" He answered Isha. His thoughts were cut off by Maham and Hania entering with rings.

'How and when did they even arrange rings?!'
Nobody could answer Osman's thoughts.

Maham came with a velvet box having two rings.

Maham passed them the rings to exchange.

Isha and Osman shared a look before Osman cleared his throat.

"Umm..mein is se pehle Isha se kuch zaroori baat krna chahta hun."

"To ring pehnake krlena. Aisi konsi zaroori baat hai." Bi-jaan said motioning him to put the ring on her finger.

"But-"
"Aare hoti rahengi yeh baatien chalo jaldi karo." Bi-jaan motioned Maham to make Isha wear the ring.

Maham nudged him to make her wear the rings. Osman sighed , frustrated before harshly grabbing on the ring and forwarding his hand for Isha's .

Isha on the other , had her eyes softened. Watching her Dadu so happy. He was smiling ear to ear, as if he was relaxed and satisfied. Her father who was always worried about her looked relieved too.

It definitely had something to do with that secret meeting in dadu's bedroom.

Her eyes met with her father who smiled at her and mentioned her make Osman wear the ring.

She couldn't deny those eyes. She liked Osman, she agreed. But Osman's dislike towards it made her mentally ready to deny. Not for her happiness but for Osman's.

But seeing her two ideal figures so happy she couldn't. Their happiness meant the world to her even if it meant saying yes to this marriage just to get hated by her crush.

Looking down Isha held the ring between her thumb and index finger passing her left hand to Osman.

Osman's eyes held fire as he looked at her . She gulped as she felt shivers running down her spine as hers met his.

Isha quickly looked down sliding the ring into his ring finger. Everyone clapped as small smile came to their faces.

Osman did the same harshly as a small hiss escaped her lips. His eyes immediately lifted looking at her in worry as he gently rubbed his thumb where her ring was.

Small hootings of the cousins surrounded the room . Maham hugged Isha with an excited face while the males came towards Osman congratulating him while he replied to them with a fake smile.

The celebration came to an end and everyone sat down.

"Now can we....talk?" Osman spoke loudly glaring at his bi-jaan which did nothing to her. She chuckled before answering. "Haan haan jao. Ab hum nhi rok rhe tum dono ko." She laughed with a teasing smile making everyone laugh too. Except Hajra, Rehaan, saahil and the newly engaged couple.

"Isha beta jao." Abida spoke with a smile making Isha nod as she got up looking at him before leading him out the drawing room.

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