Finding Love

Chapter 4

The crack of dawn brought with it the promise of new beginnings. The horizon shone with hope anew.

Ayat was up well before sunrise. She hadn't slept much at all, for she was awake till late the night before too. Preoccupied, she skipped down the stairs, and into the living room. Her wandering gaze was met with her father's surprised one. He didn't expect her to be up at this ungodly hour.

She took in his countenance, the flicker of a smile creeping its way onto his lips. His tired face streaked with lines of long exuded authority and regality, seemed much brighter than the night before. She took in the details of how his features were much more calmer, and how his silence was not crippling, for once.

Walking towards her father, she knelt before him, and held his large warm hand in her dainty one, as her big brown orbs stared into his deep set black ones, searching for any emotion that coursed through them. She knew her father too well to judge him. She knew he was now relieved of a stress unknown to her. But she couldn't pinpoint what it was, that had eased her father's worries. Her silence was questioning.

"I've delayed your wedding by two months", Razaak spoke, looking down at his palm, after a painfully long silence. He looked up, to meet his daughter's gaze, and learn the effect of his statement on her. Satisfied with her expression of shock, surprise, and joy, he continued, "I decided last night that things don't necessarily have to be done with quickly. You're my daughter. The gem of this family. The light of our house. Why would I do something that would upset my darling daughter? I think two months is long enough...." He paused, trying to frame the next few words into coherent sentences. He didn't know where exactly Ayat found a cause of disdain. And he would have to tread carefully, to know what ached her.

"I still do believe that Asif is the best match for you, and I agree, that three weeks was too short a duration before the wedding. Ayat, you can freely talk to me, like you and Jannat always did. Tell me where the worry is. How will I know otherwise? Beta, are you fine with two months for the nikah?" His tone was soft and endearing. He didn't want to be shut out of her life, or her mind. He needed to know. He couldn't lose her to the same folly. In an impulse, he pulled her into a warm, heartfelt embrace, after a very long time, and didn't let go soon.

For once, after a long time, the dawn witnessed heartfelt confessions and conversations between a father and his beloved daughter, and felt good to see them that way. Three years was a time long enough. They needed to bare their feeling, fears, emotions, and worries, to help themselves, as well as the other.

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Amaar paced across the drawing room, lost in pensive thought. He was worried sick for Noorjahan since the last two weeks. She hadn't even spoken to him properly. There was no way he was going to let her stay all by herself in her huge mansion. He had hence spoken to Kabir, and they had decided that Noorie was to stay with them. She was more than family to them. Especially to Kabir.

When his son had brought Noorie home, from the hospital, on the wheelchair, Amaar's heart had sunken under the weight of his sorrow and empathy for this struggling child, who had grown up right before his eyes. Noorjahan Khalid Hayaat, was his best friend's daughter. She and Kabir had grown up together, went to the same schools, and graduated from the same university. They were childhood best friends. Each cared for the other immensely. They knew each other like the back of their hands. Every minute detail of their lives, they would share with each other. When Noorie had fallen in love with Shahid, Kabir was the one who had spoken to him about Noorie's feelings. He was the happiest, the day they got engaged, leaving everyone surprised, for all had thought that these two would end up getting married to each other in the future. But they didn't want to spoil their beautiful friendship by doing anything of that sort. They had always been there for each other during happy times, and only grew stronger, when either was in a phase of struggle. When Shahid had died in that plane crash, it was Kabir, who was informed first. He was the one to break the painful news to Noorie that evening. Then there was the fateful day of 19th September, 1983, when... His thoughts were interrupted by Kabir's sudden frustrated yell. His voice came from Noorie's room. Amaar raced through the hall and across the staircase, barging into Noorie's room....

*A/N: suspense is the spice to one's life!*