Yakeen Ka Safar: A Sequel

Chapter 14

Asfandyar looked at Zubia as he heard her question.

"Maybe" He replied nonchalantly.

That was a lie. Ever since discovering the big news, most of Asfandyar Ali Khan's free time had been spent thinking about it. He found his thoughts occupied more and more with the future than with the present. He would wonder about his unborn child, and the kind of father he hoped to be. Zubia was in the same situation but they hadn't really discussed this aspect yet. They were still trying to figure it out themselves.

"Bataen na" She continued, her tone laced slightly with excitement and curiosity.

"Larkon ke naam ya larkion ke?" He asked, scooting a little closer to her. He began playing with her fingers absent-mindedly.

"Larkion ke."

"Oh" He said, a little surprised. "Mujhe laga tum pehle larkon ke poocho gi."

"Nahi. Humein larkon ke naam discuss karne ki zaroorat bhi nahi pare gi. Agar larka hua toh maine usska naam decide kar lia hai" She told him softly.

"Acha?" Asfandyar said, slightly amused. "Don't I get to have a say in that?"

"Nahi" She said firmly.

"Aur agar mujhe naam na acha laga toh? Bacha mera bhi hai" He replied in a light tone.

"Aap fikar na karein. Aapko acha lage ga."

"Acha toh phir bataein mujhe yeh azeem naam jo aap soch chuki hain."

"Daniyal."

The room fell silent. Asfandyar looked at Zubia, his expression unreadable. She was staring back at him, her eyes filled with warmth. He felt a strange feeling in his chest. As if something has shifted inside of him. The same way he always felt when he heard that name. This thought had crossed his mind too but he had suppressed it because the image of a small 'Daniyal' running around the house had made him more emotional than he would have liked to admit.

Now, hearing Zubia say it he felt a surge of love towards her. She knows me too well, he thought. He had told her everything about Daniyal. It had been strangely comforting to discover that Zubia was the only one he felt he could freely talk to about his brother. He had stopped mentioning him to his parents and he tried not to talk about him in front of his bhabi for she didn't need to revisit old wounds when she had finally started a new life for herself.

Zubia's eyes were still on him as she tried to figure out what he was thinking. She didn't know whether she had done the right thing, discussing this so soon. But in her heart she knew if she had a son there would be no way he would be anyone but Daniyal.

Zubia had heard so much about her late brother-in-law from Asfi that she felt she had actually known him. And the more she learnt the more she admired him. She wished she could have met him for she knew they would have clicked instantly.

"Asfi?" She asked, after he still hadn't said anything. "Kya soch rahe hain?"

"Hmm?" He said, looking a little dazed. He blinked a few times. "Kuch nahi. I just miss him."

She squeezed his hand. She knew how it felt to lose a loved one. Nothing ever prepared you for it. And just because time heals wounds it doesn't mean it always erases the scars as well.

"Toh phir sahi hai na? Agar larka hua toh hum usska naam Daniyal rakhenge."

He nodded, his face crinkling into a smile. "Haan. It's perfect."