Kahi Ankahi

Chapter 27

Qirat's p.o.v.

It's been a day since Khaala and her family arrived and we have invited them at lunch today. The last meet was kinda short since they had to leave early.

It was about 12 noon and I was changing the cushion covers when I heard the doorbell.

"I'll get it." I told Ammi and quickly finished covering the cushion.

I walked towards the main door and opened it. I smiled as I saw Khaala, Khaaloo and Zaid standing there.

"Assalam Alaikum." I greeted them and they smiled, replying with 'Walaikum Assalam'

I gestured them to come inside and they walked in. Ammi met them and they were all more than happy. Zaid had the same bored look on his face. Pata nahi apne parents se kya masla hai isey.

We walked to the living room and soon I went to the kitchen to dish out the lunch that ammi had already made. I was about to make the raita when I heard someone clear their throat. I looked towards the kitchen door to find Zaid standing there, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Koi madad karoon aapki?" He asked.

"Hmmm... yeh lo, dahi phent do." I said while forwarding the bowl towards him.

"Okay!" He smiled, taking the bowl from my hands and started beating the yogurt.

I made the salad while he made the raita following my instructions. We talked about different things and I must say, he's very funny. We laughed a lot.

"Hey, tumhe Shehryaar yaad hai?" I asked him, as I suddenly remembered Shehry and my conversation from that day.

"Tumhara cousin?" He asked and I nodded. "Uss juggler ko kaise bhool sakta hoon." He said, bursting into laughter which made me laugh too.

We were soon done with the work so we went outside and served it.

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"Umeed karti hoon ke tum sab ko, khaas tor pe tumhe, Qirat, tohfe pasand aaye honge." Khaala said. She got me so many gifts, oh my! I smiled.

"Khaala jaan, I love the gifts! Thank you so much." I hugged her, sitting on the sofa arm and she kissed my cheek.

"Bohat pyaari bacchi hai, Masha Allah." She smiled, looking at me. I mirrored her expression.

"Agar khaala bhaanji ki pyaar bhari baatein khatam hogayi hain toh kya main bhaanji ke saath sheher ghumne jaa sakta hoon?" Zaid spoke in his typical irritated tone. We looked at him. "Whaaaat? I'm bored." He added, defending himself.

Khaala shook her head.

"I'll take that as a yes." He said, standing up. "Chalo, get ready. We're leaving in five, okay?" He asked me and I looked at ammi abbu. Abbu nodded, smiling and ammi smiled.

"Okay!" I told and got up.

"Toh aap log baatein karen, main isey sheher ghumaa ke laati hoon." I announced and walked towards the staircase. I ascended to my room and got it. I walked to my wardrobe and took out a red tshirt, a skinny jeans and a blue shawl to go with it. I changed my clothes and tied my hair up in a ponytail. I wore my converse and grabbing my mobile, I walked out of my room.

I went down the staircase and found Zaid standing at the main door, looking in his mobile. I walked over to him. My presence shifted his attention from his mobile phone to me.

"You look great!" He complimented.

"I know!" I smiled and he laughed.

"Chalo main ammi abbu aur khaala khaaloo ko bata ke aati hoon that we're leaving." I told him and he nodded.