Free Palestine 🇵🇸
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Hana had already brought dresses for Haris's wedding. Yeah, she was heartbroken. But that didn't mean she would wear a plain black saree to the wedding and resemble a virgin ghost.
She was choosing accessories from her jewelry box when Sasha barged into her room. Hana looked at her with a frown, “Why do you look so excited?”
Sasha sat down next to Hana and held her shoulders before announcing, “Haris and Zarmina's wedding got canceled!”
For first few seconds, there was no reaction at all. Hana was making sure that she heard what she heard and it's not her brain messing with her. And when the realization settled, Hana jumped out of the bed and rejoiced by jumping up and down like a kid.
Sasha laughed at Hana's reaction, “Aye, keep your excitement in check. Nadira aunty and Haris are downstairs, sharing their disappointment at Zarmina.”
“But what happened?” Hana asked while looking at her reflection in the mirror and setting her hair.
“You won't believe what happened. Zarmina and my cousin Zaraar know each other since Kindergarten days.”
“I know that.”
“So apparently Zarmina liked Zaraar since childhood. But her family shifted abroad before she could confess to him. Recently, they reconnected and Zarmina decided not to let circumstances dictate her life. She confessed and Zaraar was happy to say yes. Then both of them persuaded their families and then Zarmina apologized to Haris.”
“Hmm, even though I don't like her American accent at all, but Zarmina has got guts,” Hana was totally impressed.
“Now come downstairs. We should not let this golden opportunity slide. Nadira aunty should know that you like Haris. She will easily agree to the idea,” saying so Sasha went downstairs.
“But how can Zarmina choose that Zaraar over Haris? That's like choosing Bhindi over Shahi Paneer. There's no comparison. Whatever, my path is clear now,” Hana mumbled to herself with a smile, but then her gaze fell on the clothes she bought for Haris's wedding.
“Where will I wear them now? Oh, yeah! At Zarmina and Zaraar's wedding!”
✿ ✿ ✿
Haris resembled a depressed potato as he sat opposite his furious mother and endured her glares.
“I kept warning him that Zarmina is not sincere towards him. But he didn't listen to me!” Nadira spoke angrily. Haris silently listened to her angry rant.
Nadira looked at Abida, “Once I asked her what's Haris's favorite color. She said lavender!”
“But Haris's favorite color is sky blue,” Hana commented. She bet Haris didn't even know the difference between lavender and purple.
Nadira nodded, “She didn't even know his favorite dish. She said it's Matar Mushroom.”
“Oh, but it's Rajma Chawal with Dahi,” Hana added.
“Look, even Hana knows about Haris's likings. Hana appears more sincere than the girl he liked,” Nadira taunted her son, who was looking at Hana with suspiciously.
“Hana, which dog breed is my favorite?” He asked.
Hana narrowed her eyes, “But you are allergic to dog's fur.”
She really knew everything about him. But is it really what he thinks it is?
✿ ✿ ✿
Since Haris returned to India, every morning he went to jogging with Salaar in a park. They mostly discussed sports and politics, sometimes stock market too. But that morning, Haris was particularly interested in interrogating Salaar about how and why Hana knew Haris's likings so well.
It confused him because during their teenage years Hana had suddenly distanced herself from him. Now he was curious to know if that happened because Hana developed feelings for him. This reason made a lot more sense then the theories he cooked in his mind over the years.
Salaar was close to Haris just like Hana was close to Sasha. So he said the truth easily, “Hana has a crush on you.”
“Why didn't you tell me?” Haris asked.
“I fount out recently when you returned from America with Zarmina,” Salaar explained.
Haris nodded and got lost in deep thoughts as they jogged for two extra rounds.
Suddenly, Haris spoke up, “Salaar, you never loved Sasha but still had to marry her. Do you regret it or are you grateful?”
Salaar chuckled, “I'm dangling somewhere in the middle. I never wanted to marry Sasha because she is way too energetic for my liking. Sometimes she makes me laugh so much that my stomach starts hurting and sometimes she annoys the hell out of me and I want to push her off a cliff. So it's both.”
“Hana... is calm as compared to Sasha,” Haris added.
“Well, she is only one step behind Sasha. But she can eat fifty Gol Gappey without getting sick.”
Haris chuckled, “Can you... talk to your parents?”
“About you and Hana?” Salaar asked in confusion.
Haris nodded.
“Why now? It's only been a few days since Zarmina broke the engagement.”
“Amma is nagging me everyday that I should have gotten engaged to Hana. Actually... I would have taken her words seriously if I knew Hana liked me. I always thought she feels uncomfortable in my presence and intentionally talks less to me.”
“Hmm, I understand. I will talk to my family.” Saying so Salaar left for home.
✿ ✿ ✿
Hana was on cloud nine when she was asked by her parents if she would like to marry Haris. So much so that she nodded her head vigorously and left her parents dumbstruck. Only after interrogating Sasha, Abida found out that her daughter liked Haris for a long time. Well, destiny has it's way.
Salaar was a little doubtful about Haris and Hana's compatibility. Simply because they didn't interact much in the last few years. So he suggested that they should spend some time together and then take the next step.
So Sasha planned their first hangout, which included a Gol Gappa date. And by the way, Sasha and Salaar also tagged along.
“Did you plan this outing because you were craving Gol Gappey?” Salaar asked her in a whisper as they neared a stall.
“Salaar, don't doubt my pure intentions,” Sasha reacted dramatically.
“Don't eat more than ten Gol Gappey,” He instructed her.
Sasha frowned, “At least, make them twenty.”
“It's nine now,” Salaar added.
Sasha threw daggers at his handsome face, “You are so cruel.”
“It's you who was eager to marry me,” he mocked her.
“Both of you are arguing here too,” Hana complained.
“Sorry,” Sasha and Salaar said in unison.
Four of them reached a stall and began enjoying the Gol Gappey. Salaar was done after eating five. And he pushed Sasha to a corner after she ate her ninth Gol Gappa. Her face resembled a baby who was about to wail any time. But her gloomy expression had no effect on Salaar. He became immune to her dramatics, it seemed. Hana and Haris continued eating Gol Gappey.
“Haris, it's your fifteenth Gol Gappa now. You should stop,” Salaar advised.
Haris shook his head and continued eating. Hana was also confused at his behaviour. It appeared as if he was trying to match her speed. She stopped after eating twenty Gol Gappey, so did Haris.
Hana looked at him weirdly, “Since when you started liking Gol Gappey?”
Haris smiled, “Naah, I just started liking someone who likes them.”
His cheesy reply left her speechless. Did he just flirt with her? She didn't know Haris had this side too.
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