"The unexpected turns of life"

***chapter 7: A New proposal and old teasings***

**"Nayi raahon ki baat hai, kuch nayi ummeedein hain,

Par purani yaadon ka saath hai, dil ke kuch dard bhi hain.

Rishton ki naye dastaan, shayad khushiyan le aayengi,

Lekin khushiyo ke saath, purani yaadon ke chingari bhi rahegi."**

**Translation:**

**"There are talks of new paths, new hopes to behold,

Yet old memories linger, with some pains still untold.

New tales of relationships might bring joy anew,

But with those joys, old memories and sparks will too."**

Ayesha sat in her room engrossed in a novel on her phone, as she often did to escape the mundanities of life. The story had her hooked, but her focus was interrupted when her mother entered the room.

"Ayesha, yeh kya har waqt kitab hi padhti rehti ho? Kuch kaam-wagarah kyun nahi karti?" (Ayesha, why are you always reading? Why don't you do something more productive?) her mother gently chided, though there was a fondness in her voice.

Ayesha smiled sheepishly, knowing her mother meant well. "Ammi, yeh kahaniyan bohot interesting hoti hain," (Mom, these stories are really interesting) she replied, trying to justify her habit.

Her mother sighed with a smile, shaking her head. "Achha, ek baat batani thi. Tumhare liye ek rishta aaya hai. Ahmed Rehman naam hai uska, achhi khandaan se hain," (Okay, I wanted to tell you something. A proposal has come for you. His name is Ahmed Rehman; he's from a good family) she informed Ayesha, praising the family.

Ayesha's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't thought much about her future in terms of marriage, especially after her recent heartbreak. She nodded, her voice soft, "Jo aapko theek lage, Ammi," (Whatever you think is best, Mom).

Just then, her sister Zara walked in, catching the end of their conversation. She grinned mischievously. "Jo aapko theek lage? Matlab hum tumhari shaadi kachre wale ke bete se bhi kar sakte hain?" (Whatever you think is best? So we could even marry you off to the garbage man's son?) she teased.

Ayesha frowned and whined, "Ammi, dekhiye na!" (Mom, look at her!)

Their mother laughed at the sibling banter, enjoying the light-hearted moment. "Tum dono bas karo ab. Ayesha, tumhein rishta dekhne ka mauka milega, tab apni raai dena," (You both stop it now. Ayesha, you'll have a chance to meet him, then you can give your opinion) she said, smiling warmly.

As her mother and Zara left the room, Ayesha tried to return to her novel, but her mind wandered to Ahmed Rehman. A sudden thought struck her, and she chuckled to herself. Her imaginary boyfriend from the novel "Mata-e-Jaan" was named Salar Ahmed Khan, and her potential fiancé's name was Ahmed Rehman. It felt like a strange twist of fate.

Lost in thought, she barely noticed her brother Sameer entering the room. He lightly smacked the back of her head, jolting her out of her reverie.

"Bhai, kya kar rahe ho? Mat satao," (Brother, what are you doing? Don't tease me) she protested, her tone a mix of irritation and affection.

Sameer laughed, "Suna hai koi rishta aaya tera? Ahmed Rehman, hai na?" (I heard a proposal has come for you? Ahmed Rehman, right?) he teased, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Ayesha glared at him, "Yahan se ja rahe ho ya nochu?" (Are you leaving or should I scratch you?) she threatened playfully.

Sameer chuckled, giving her a mock serious look, "Jangli billi," (Wild cat) he teased.

Zara joined in, laughing, "Haan, Ahmed ko bataana padega ke Ayesha waise toh seedhi hai, lekin jab gussa aaye toh phir...," (Yes, we'll have to tell Ahmed that Ayesha is usually sweet, but when she's angry...) she teased, making clawing gestures.

Ayesha rolled her eyes, "Bas karo tum dono!" (You both stop it!)

Despite their teasing, Ayesha felt a warmth in her heart. Her siblings' playful antics were a comfort, a reminder of the love and support around her.

Meanwhile, her family continued their inquiries about Ahmed and his family. After confirming that everything was in order, they decided to proceed with the proposal.

As Ayesha lay in bed that night, she couldn't help but think about the future. The teasing, the laughter, and the thought of meeting Ahmed Rehman all swirled in her mind. There was a sense of anticipation, but also a lingering uncertainty. She hoped, with a heart full of hope and a little fear, that whatever was to come would be a new and beautiful chapter in her life.