preference delights

"Happiness is in acceptance "

Chapter 16

Salaar felt something strange in his washroom, as if someone had invaded his private space. But after finding everything untouched, he shook the unsettling thoughts from his mind. Wrapping a bathrobe around his lean body, he strolled towards his dressing room. The clothes Zubair had selected for him were neatly hung on the stand. After changing, Salaar walked back to his bedroom, where Zubair was already waiting. As he sat on the chair, Zubair quickly bent down to help him put on his socks and shoes. Salaar then combed his messy hair into a stylish look. With his slightly grown beard, he looked striking.

A uniformed butler brought breakfast-a cup of black coffee and poached eggs. To appease Zubair, Salaar took a few bites and finished his coffee in one go.

"Zubair, kindly tell the driver to prepare my car. I'm going to the university." He placed the empty cup on the tray and grabbed his leather jacket from the chair.

"Sir, I advise you to take the day off. You still need rest, and it's already very late," Zubair suggested, concerned about Salaar's health as he hadn't slept the previous night. Little did Zubair know that Salaar's solace wasn't here, but at the place where he was heading.

Suddenly, Salaar realized that the place he once disliked the most, which he considered an altar for his future ambitions, had now become his heaven-because of an ordinary girl. With this thought, a sudden revelation struck him, and he felt himself surrender completely. No matter how much he tried to deny it, his love for Zarmeena was destined and inevitable. Despite all his efforts to resist, her image never left his mind. He collapsed into the chair like a warrior defeated on his own battlefield.

"Salaar, you must join us for dinner at the Gondals. I don't want to hear no. It'll be a chance for you to get to know each other. I tell you, this girl is the best match for you," Warda said, entering his room, unaware of his internal turmoil.

"Mom, there's no need to go. I've changed my mind." Now certain of his next move, Salaar turned towards his mother. "Mom, I like a girl. Her name is Zarmeena. She's studying at my university. She might be below your standards, but I like her very much."

He finished his words and stormed out of the room, leaving Warda in a state of extreme shock.

Meanwhile, Zarmeena was talking to Ahmed when their aunt Majida, along with her son Farid, rushed into the ward. Majida hugged their unconscious grandmother and immediately started a dramatic scene.

"Oh, my dear mother, why didn't I die before seeing you like this, lying still in this bed? Amma, you haven't even seen Farid's wedding yet. Oh, how you wished to wear glittering clothes on Farid's big day. How will I endure life without you?" Majida began loudly showing her dismay.

Farid, Zarmeena, and Ahmed were amazed at her ability to turn a simple situation into high-voltage emotional drama.

"Amma, please open your eyes! Don't leave your innocent daughter alone in this cruel world," Majida continued, oblivious to the fact that they were in a hospital with serious patients around. A few women who were attending to patients came over to console her. She even rested her head on one of their shoulders, sobbing loudly.

"Ladies, please leave the ward. The patients are getting disturbed by the noise," a nurse noted, asking them to exit. But Majida took it personally.

"Hey, sister, don't you have a mother? At least show some humanity! Oh, Lord, look at this heartless woman, not even letting me mourn my mother properly," she wailed even louder.

The nurse, not expecting such a response, looked taken aback. "Amma, please, everyone's watching," Farid tried to calm his mother, reminding her of their surroundings, but she wasn't in the mood to listen.

"Oh, my son, you're too innocent. You won't understand their cleverness. She thinks she can suppress us and misuse her authority," Majida accused, now targeting the nurse.

"Listen, madam! Don't count us among the ordinary people. My son is a captain in the army. He knows how to put people like you in their place." Majida was now gearing up for an action sequence, and she seemed eager to involve Farid in it. Zarmeena and Ahmed watched all this with wide eyes and open mouths.

"Sorry, sister, I apologize on behalf of my mother," Farid said to the nurse, unable to control his mother.

"It's okay, sir. We've dealt with more hostile visitors than aunty," the nurse replied with a grin.

"See, now your tone has changed after finding out my son is a captain! Suddenly, I've become 'aunty'," Majida huffed. Her dramatic sobbing stopped abruptly when a frail voice broke the tension.

"Majida, finish this drama," Dadi said weakly.

"Amma, you're awake... I can't believe it! You cheated death, mother!" Majida started sobbing again, but Dadi cut her off.

"Farid, my son, take your mother home. I need rest," Dadi said, closing her eyes again.

"Okay, Dadi, I'm glad you regained consciousness. Don't worry, I'll be back after dropping her home," Farid said in a low voice. Dadi nodded without opening her eyes.

"Zarmeena, I've got a few days off. I can help share the hospital duties," Farid offered.

"Thank you, brother Farid. Ahmed has exams, so I'll take the night shifts and help with the fields," Zarmeena replied gratefully.

"Alright, mom, let's go. Nani needs to rest. You can visit again tomorrow," Farid urged his mother, knowing she'd cause more scenes if she stayed.

"Fine, but I'll be worrying about her. Call me from time to time and update me on her condition," Majida sighed, finally lowering her tone. Zarmeena quickly nodded, fearing Majida might change her mind and stay.

"Farid, let's stop for food on the way. I haven't had breakfast," Majida suddenly declared, leaving Farid stunned, as he knew she'd had a full meal before coming here, despite knowing about Dadi's condition.

With great effort, Majida finally lifted herself from the bench, but as she was leaving, she turned to Zarmeena. "Girl, where's your mother?" she asked.

"She's gone to the doctor's office to discuss Dadi's condition," Zarmeena replied, frowning slightly at being called 'girl.'

"Alright, Farid, my sugar level is dropping. Let's go eat," Majida finished quickly, rushing out. Finally, Zarmeena and Ahmed breathed a sigh of relief.

Salaar arrived at the university, but the gates were closed. Only a few students were wandering around; he was late. He gazed at the dark building, which had now become his place of solace. A beautiful smile touched his face as he felt a new wave of emotions. He was looking at his surroundings with a new perspective-everything around him seemed so fresh, as if God had just created the universe.

His eyes longed to see Zarmeena, who was no longer just an ordinary girl to him. He stayed there for a long time, even as the building emptied, leaving only the guards. Finally, he sighed and drove back, hoping to see his beloved the next day, though he didn't know how he would wait until morning.