غير مألو - Unfamiliar

Chapter 3

Darab Wadi finally had forgiven Zakir. He couldn't forgive him. Never. For what he did to his jewel. But it was Zohal who was able persuade him after 6 long months.

But they hadn't gone back to the normal days. The chatter in the house returned, but Zakir had become silent. He wouldn't associate much. He would always look at Zohal for half the time, before being warned by one of the boys.

In a flick of a hand, life had become a nightmare for both. The difference was, one was able to move on while the other remained in the dark, pondering over his decisions.

***

One fine morning, in the Wadi household, everyone had woken up for breakfast and joined at the dining hall.

The loud chatter from the couzins brightened the adults. They were all glad the house was going back to its original glory.

Though Zakir didn't involve himself much, Zohal was happily talking about the upcoming cricket match. She always had been a fan of it and this time, she dearly hoped Pakistan would kick in and grab the Cup. Infact, She was hoping to attend one match, which was scheduled to be in Abbottabad, in near future.

Darab was smiling warmly looking at them and listening to their talks, happy that everyone had decided to forget the dark incidents and had moved on. It warmed his old heart to see that his Jewel was talking animatedly about hoping to watch a match.

His Jewel had looked at him, a side glance, sheepishly, asking for his permission and when he had nodded subtly, she smiled at him warmly, knowing her Dada always pampered her.

But Darab actually had other plans in his mind. He looked at Samir's tired face. The dark circles surrounding his grey eyes were horrible to look at. He wanted his son to be at peace again.

After his beloved son and daughter in law's death, Samir had become the father of Zohal, Aman and Laeeq. Samir, in a way had always been a second father to them, when Mahera had decided to nurse his kids, during the tragic times of his wife's death. But when Samir took in the kids as his own, when Kabir Wadi and Mahera Wadi had left this world, he decided he would be their father until God deemed his end.

And Samir had spent enough days thinking about what he'd do about Zohal's future. And how he would answer to his Brother and Sister, above with God.

Darab Wadi knew time had gone by and everything was returning to normal, but he couldn't ward this off anymore. He desperately prayed to God, hoping what he was going to do was right.

He cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's attention and the chattering stopped immediately.

It was almost nostalgic. This situation seemed so familiar. Half an year ago, it was the same, he wondered.

"I need to talk about something important. I already talked with everyone. Your uncles and aunt included, along with all the others, and they agreed with me." He glanced at the adults in the table, for confirmation.

While some of the elders nodded, some looked down and some were lost in thought and were nervously glancing around, awaiting the storm.

"There has been a marriage proposal brought up by Fatih."

He started, knowing that the silence wouldn't last for long.

For it was the words, he would utter, that would crumble the bricks of all happiness one by one, in the next moment. But he had to do it.

"Between Zohal and their Grandson."

He dropped the bomb.

The youngsters' heads abruptly whipped towards Darab.