In The Pursuit Of Love

Delectable and Miserable

'Indeed what is to come is better than what has gone by. Verily your Lord will soon grant you what will please you most.' – 93:4-5

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"Nargis beta can you help me with something?" Nargis saw Zeeshan's mother peeping from outside the door. She had just finished her Isha salah and was doing some dhikr while Mehreen took her place on the prayer mat.

"Sure aunty" she immediately stepped down the bed and followed her. Not to forget how awkward she was feeling. She was led into the kitchen, and as soon as she stepped inside, the beautiful aroma of food wafted through her nose, making her inhale a little more unconsciously. She found the kitchen empty, except for the many bowls of food decorated on to the kitchen top.

"Can you help me in making the salad?" she gestured towards the various vegetables spread over the kitchen top. Before she could readily agree, Aamina spoke again rather flushed.

"I am sorry I had to ask you, I went to ask Mehreen, but she was praying and dinner is already late considering the cook didn't come today. As for the other ladies, they are all engrossed in the preparations of the Henna function tomorrow"

"Aunty, why are you saying sorry, I can at least do this much after what you all are doing for me-" she bit her lip at what she had uttered, and looking at the frown on Aamina's face, she knew it didn't go unnoticed by her. Gulping she changed the direction, their conversation was going into.

"I can make salad pretty well aunty, if that's what you are scared of" she smirked making Aamina chuckle, "And, Mehreen needs to take rest, and not be standing in the kitchen. Its her wedding after all. So from now on, you'll ask me to do anything without hesitation. Okay" she made a circle with her index finger and her thumb. Aamina chuckled and imitated her action.

She was happy. For once she was. And for once in her lifetime, she was feeling normal. Well normal than her ever on-edge life. Maybe this was their normal. But she couldn't help but feel at ease. For once she didn't think about struggling to live another day, for once she didn't had the fear of bumping into those men, for once she didn't thought about being murdered in broad daylight. And for once she had the thought of living her life, the way she had spend her day.

Was she getting too greedy?

She knew she was. Because this was just a matter of a day or two. And she had to return to her good old days.

Her train of thoughts was broken by the voice of Aamina calling her again and again. Nargis just shook her head when she was asked if she was okay. She had to get hold on her thoughts. After all she wouldn't want herself coming out weird to these people.

Aamina started chopping the vegetables when she was stopped by Nargis.

"Aunty I will do it. You take rest now. You seem tired" she said softly making her smile. Aamina stepped forward and patted her cheek lovingly, her eyes crinkling and shining with something akin to adoration. Suddenly she felt like she wanted to cry. The warmth that Aamina's touch made her feel was something she could die for. Tears sprang up in her eyes, but she immediately blinked them away.

Turning, she focused on her work. She could feel the women's gaze on her. But she didn't really acknowledge it. A few seconds later, Aamina moved her eyes away from her.

"Well, then I'll just set the dining table" she moved and began to dish out the food into the serving bowls. The aroma once again hit her nose and she looked at Aamina only to be decorating the dishes beautifully.

"It looks amazing aunty. And so delicious"

"You wanna taste it" Aamina didn't wait for her to answer and taking out a spoon she extended the food filled spoon to her mouth indicating her to open her mouth. Too surprised to react, she imitated Aamina and the next second, she felt the flavors of the curry burst into her taste buds. Her eyes widened and she almost moaned.

"Oh my Allah! Aunty is this chicken curry?" she couldn't contain her excitement. And it was beyond her surprise how something as simple as a chicken curry can taste so..heavenly. And after that, she was fed with all the other dishes prepared and to say she was impressed was an understatement.

"Did you cook all of these?" a simple nod from the women and she gasped.

"Aunty will you teach me how to cook this type of chicken curry?" she asked hesitatingly.

Nargis was always interested in cooking. It was therapeutic for her. She remembered how she sneaked into the orphanage mess whenever she was beaten up badly, either by the warden or her so called friends. Back at her single room, which didn't even had a kitchen; she only had a one burner stove. She did cook, but even if she put all her efforts into it, it never turned the way Aamina's food was. Because she never had all the ingredients, and so she never knew how to cook that perfect curry. And since it was only her and her finances were meager, she rarely cooked such delicacies. It was mostly something simple and easy to cook. Not to forget the times when she had the fear whether she'll get the next meal or not. Well that was immediately after she came out of the orphanage, but still.

"Of course, my child. Well it would be a bit difficult till the nikah, but I'll definitely teach you after the marriage."

Nargis' smile faltered for a second, but she was again back to her smiling face.

"T-thank you aunty" she wasn't going to be here after the nikah. For all she can guess, she may even leave tomorrow. She had to.

She returned back to the room and saw Mehreen reading the Quran. Looking up, she smiled at Nargis and resumed her recitation. Nargis sat next to her and resting her head on the headboard, closed her eyes. The recitation was doing wonders to her heart and she felt calm.

"Which surah were you reciting?" she asked once her voice stopped.

"Surah Al-Mulk. Reciting it before we go to sleep every night protects us from the punishment of the grave"

"Really?" Mehreen nodded with a smile and Nargis swore in her heart that she would do the same.

"Come, lets go. Aunty called us for dinner"

Zeeshan was again not present at the dinner table and Nargis wondered if he didn't eat at all. Halfway through the dinner, Zeeshan entered the dining room and saying his salams, looked around the table for a seat. There was none. Not realizing what she was doing, she suddenly stood up, "I am almost done. You can have a seat"

"Uhumm..Bhai can sit here. You have your food Nargis" Mehreen said stressing on her name and she looked around the table. Everyone was looking at her.

"Both of you sit down. Zeeshan can sit anywhere. Its his fault that he came late" his father spoke and Mehreen sat back down dragging Nargis down with her.

"Umm.. Yeah, please don't bother. I-I already ate actually." Zeeshan cleared his throat and went away. Nargis noticed how gloomy Zeeshan's face was when he left. Not only Nargis but everyone at the table noticed it. Everyone but his father.

"Zeeshan-" his mother's words died down in her throat when he didn't stop.

"Bhai sahab, he went out to meet the decorator. You don't have to be so rude all the time to him." One of the uncles spoke softly, clearly showing the respect for Zeeshan's father.

"He must be loitering around with his friends after that" his father scoffed and no one uttered anything after that.

While Nargis wondered what all that was about.

Sorry for the late update.. :(

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