Widow

31. WALIMA

Walima:
The next day was the Walima ceremony (the ceremony held by the groom after the wedding day). Everybody was getting ready in the villa except Zain and Hashim. They both were at Zain's apartment. Moona was in her room when Khadija entered.
"Are you ready?" She asked. She was wearing a light pink dress.
"Yes," Moona smiled at her, coming out of the bathroom. She was wearing a beautiful white saree. Her golden hair was curled in loose curls. With slight make-up on her face, she looked elegant.
"Oh my God, Moona!! Where did you get this saree," Khadija said while coming towards her.
"It's a gift from Taimoor," Moona said.
"You look amazing!" Khadija told her. Moona just nodded and turned to the bed where Haniya was sitting. She was also wearing a white frock with a white band in her small golden hair.
"Alright then, come on. Everybody is waiting downstairs." Khadija said.
"Has Zain come in yet?" Moona asked her, holding Haniya in her arms and clutching her small white clutch from the bed.
"Yes, he is also downstairs." Khadija stopped for a moment and then answered.
"Okay let's go." Moona smiled and came out of her room. Voices were coming from the lounge. Khadija held Haniya so that Moona could easily cross the stairs.
"Hello everybody!" Moona exclaimed as she stepped on the floor of the lounge. Khalil, Yumna, Zain, Assad, and Usman were present in the lounge. They all turned towards them.
"Oh my God! You look so amazing." Yumna shrieked. She was wearing a blue gown.
"Haniya is looking more beautiful than her mother." Zain smiled as he reached over to hold Haniya in his arms. He was wearing a black dinner suit as promised at the dinner. Everybody laughed at his comment.
"Where is Hashim?" Moona asked.
"He is outside with Saud and Shanzay," Usman told her.
"Okay, everybody is ready. I think we should leave now." Khalil said and went out in the lounge. When they all had gone, Zain motioned Moona to the door.
"I have no words to describe your beauty right now." Zain murmured, looking straight as Moona walked beside him.
"You look handsome too, Mr. Zain." She smiled brightly also looking straight. Zain chuckled. Everybody was adjusting themselves in cars. He opened the door of the passenger seat for her. When she had sat in, he leaned inwards and adjusted Haniya in her lap.
"Can we come with you guys? Everywhere else is full." Khadija's voice came from behind. Zain stood up and turned to them. Khadija and Shanzay were standing there.
"Of course," He smiled and opened the back door for them. Once they were seated, Zain came towards Khalil and the other boys.
"Okay, so here we go." Khalil smiled.
"Will anybody again tell me where this marque is?" Zain asked.
'Just follow us." Hashim clasped his shoulder and went to his car. Soon they were leaving the villa behind.
..........................
Everybody has reached the marque except Zain and the members in his car.
"Hashim, call him and ask him, where is he?" Khalil said as they all sat down around a table. Hashim nodded and took out his mobile.
"Everything will be okay," Usman assured them.
"Hello, Zain, where are you?" Hashim was on the call. "Alright, tell me about the location. I'll be there... Give the phone to Moona." He stood up from his place and motioned Usman to follow him.
"What happened?" Khalil asked.
"His car broke down and he doesn't even know on which road he is." Hashim gritted and went outside. Usman quickly followed him. Once outside, he opened the door of his car. Hashim sat in the passenger seat listening to Moona who was telling him the location. He motioned Usman to start the car and turn to left. After a few moments, he hung up.
"Where are they?" Usman asked.
"Shaukat Aziz Road," Hashim said. Usman nodded. After ten minutes they were parking the car in front of Zain's car.
"You should have called me, immediately." Hashim scolded Zain who was standing on the road. Then turned to the window by Moona's side.
"You all go ahead with Usman. We will come when it's done." He said. Moona nodded and they all came out of the car. After sending them with Usman, Hashim turned to Zain.
"Now tell me what is the problem?"
"Nothing, the car broke down. I am not lying." He said.
"I cannot believe you." Hashim sighed and picked up the bonnet.
"I tried everything. It's not working. We need to get this to the workshop." Zain said.
"Just sit in the car." Hashim shoved him behind the steering wheel. He rolled his sleeves and bent down on the engine again. After about half an hour of examination, he was able to start the car.
"How did you do that?" Zain came out of the car, dazed.
"In some aspects, I am smarter than you Mr. Zain!" Hashim said with a smirk on his face as he put the bonnet down. Zain just smiled and gave him a cloth from the car to wipe his hands. Hashim took it gracefully and motioned him towards the car. Zain smiled and opened the door as Hashim sat with him in the passenger seat.
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When they both reached the marque, they saw everybody around the table. Dinner was being served.
"Thank God, we are on time," Hashim said. Zain chuckled and pulled a chair beside Khadija.
"Where is Humna?" He asked looking around.
"She is not here yet," Yumna replied.
"Why? It's her function." Hashim asked.
"They both have gone for the photoshoot. They will be here anytime soon." Khalil told them.
"Is there anything you need?" Sehar's voice made them turn around.
"Yes, please bring my sister here as soon as possible. I want to see her." Yumna said.
"Yumna!!" A mixture of voices rose around the table as Sehar laughed at her answer.
"I am as much eager to see her as you are." She smiled and patted her shoulder. Yumna huffed and started eating from her plate.
"What was that?" Salma glared at her when Sehar had gone.
"It's okay. She just expressed what she felt. We all are waiting for them here anyway." Khadija quickly defended her niece.
"Anyway. Pull yourself together. Humna is going with us. You can spend as much time with her as you want." Salma said.
"Can we eat in silence please?" Khalil raised his brow Salma glared at him and started eating her food. There was an exchange of smiles over the table.
After some time, Usman stood up from the table and went away. He was dialing a number on his phone.
"Excuse me." Asad excused himself and went behind him. Moona stared at Zain who just nodded back. No one has noticed what had happened because that was the same time when Humna and Haris had arrived.
"Finally!!" Yumna sighed, hugging her sister who was wearing a beautiful sky-blue maxi.
"We are not late that much." Humna smiled.
"You are very late but we will forgive you because this is your day." Hashim smiled. Assad had come back. He made a thumbs-up gesture to Zain who nodded and looked around. Usman was coming towards them.
"I am very sorry. I have to go." He said as he reached them.
"What happened?" Zain asked.
"It's my sister, Mr. Zain. She is not feeling well." Usman said.
"Alright, Take care." Zain nodded.
"His sister?" Shanzay asked when he had gone.
"Yes, she is a cancer patient," Zain said.
"But he never told us." Moona frowned.
"He doesn't like to talk about her very much." Zain sighed. "Anyway, I have to leave also. Humna I am so sorry but I'll meet you tonight at the villa." he came out quickly to avoid any questions from the family. Outside the marque, he saw Usman's car going ahead of him on the road. He quickly opened the door of his car and started the engine. Soon he was chasing Usman who must have been driving for ten minutes when he saw the first car stopping in front of a house. He stopped his car at a pretty good distance and waited for Usman to go inside. When he had gone, Zain came out of his car and held his pistol in his hands. He came in front of the house.
"So, your sister lives here." He mocked and pulled the main gate. It was closed as he had expected. He quickly glanced around to find a way in and smiled when he saw a window opened in the garden.
"Get ready Usman. Here I come." He smiled and climbed the window. Once inside, he took his mobile out and left a voice note for one of his team members about his location. Just in case. He thought and switched his mobile to the silent mode. Then holding his pistol in his hands, he looked around. He was standing in a bedroom and there was a door in front of him. He quietly reached the door and opened it. It opened in the lounge and there he saw Usman sitting with a man in a black overcoat and hat.
"I cannot believe this." Zain's eyes were wide open with sorrow as he saw Usman giving the details to the man.
"After that attack, I think there is something bad going to happen with the family," Usman said. Zain held his pistol and came out of the room. Both subjects of the room were sitting with their backs to Zain so they were unaware of the situation.
"Give me your weapons. Both of you." Zain said in a cold voice as he put the pistol on the back of the man with Usman. They both turned around.
"Mr. Zain!!" Usman said. But Zain was not looking at him. He was looking at the man. His eyes were wide open with simultaneously terror and surprise.
"You!" These were the only words that came out of his mouth as the pistol dropped from his hands.
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