Ek baar phir

4. Weddings

Although Asif was drinking chai with his father and grandparents, his mind was somewhere else. Every time he closed his eyes, Zahria's thought found him.

Right now, she was sleeping in Mahria's room since the both of them needed to have a girl's night. But Asif knew Zahria probably fell asleep, and Mahria had shortly after followed her too.

“We have lost him.” He heard his father exclaim. “What?” He turned towards the elder, who were all smirking towards him.

“Aashiq ka beta hai, uss pe hi gaya hoga.” (He's your son, he got it from you.) Dadi said to her son. What the hell they were talking about.

“Chachu used to say that Abu used to follow you like a lost puppy.” His father told Dadi. Dada slapped him on his head, calling him Besharam. Asif laughed.

“What happened?” Asif asked them.

“Nothing, beta. We were just commenting about your love life. Could you be more desperate?” His Dadi asked him. Asif's jaw was on the floor.

“Don't yell at him. It's in his genes.” Dada stood up for Asif.

“That's not true. I am not like that.” Asif's father exclaimed, offended. No one believed him.

“Asif Rehman!” And speaking of his mother, there she was, walking towards the group, angry.

“Ji, Ami?” He put on his most innocent face. “That face won't work with me. Tell me, is Ishaan getting married?” Asif nodded. The news came to him last night. Apparently, Ishaan and Kamari talked and decided to get married.

“You knew and didn't tell your mother? I'm Ishaan's Phupho, and when I am informed? The day of the wedding!” She exclaimed, frustrated. Asif moved towards his Dadi, not wanting to get hit.

“Ishaan is getting what?” Another stridulent voice asked. Asif saw Mahria running towards them. He didn't care much since Zahria was also walking calmly towards them.

He adjusted his posture and left his Dadi side. He didn't want her to think of a coward. ‘She knows you since you were a kid’, a voice inside told the truth, but Asif chose to ignore that.

“He is getting married. Wait, till I call Bhai and speak to him. How dare they inform me now?” His mother left with Dadi, Abu, and Mahria trailing back.

Only Asif, Zahria, and Dada left behind.
“I'll go check on my wife.” Dada picked his newspaper and gave Asif a warning look before leaving. Asif gave himself a mental note to thank him later.

Now, there were just Zahria and Asif. It was enough. She was still wearing last night's clothes, but now had loose hair.

“Congratulations. Your bhai is getting married.” He thanked her.

“I'll go now, but congratulate bhai for me.” She started to leave, but he stopped her.
“Why don't you say it yourself?” She turned towards him. “What?”

“I, uh, wanted to ask you to come with me.” He scratched the back of his neck. Since when was he so awkward?

“Will that be okay?” She asked. “They have invited the whole world. One more person won't hurt. Besides, you aren't anyone. You are my… wife.”
He noticed her being taken back. Was it the statement? What if she also wanted divorce?

“Uh, I'll ask Mom and then tell you.” She sprinted away. Did she realize that she is an adult and married? He shrugged it off and hoped for her to accept.

At the appointed time, he was waiting for her on the porch of his house. Well, he didn’t know if she was coming, but still hoped.

“Why are you sitting on the floor?” A smile formed on his lips as he heard her voice. He turned around just to be captivated by her beauty.