8.9|Fidaa: Their Epilogue|

In the morning, Kauser opened the door of her bedroom. She was all set to go to the office. But as she stepped out of her room, her eyes fell on Marwaan. He was sleeping on the floor while leaning against the wall.

She frowned.

Why he was sleeping outside her room?

She bent down and caressed his forehead.

"Marwaan, utho."

She cupped his face, trying to wake him up.

"Hmm?" He opened his eyes as his sleep was disturbed by her.

"Mere kamre ke bahar zameen par kyun so rahe ho?"

Marwaan took in his surroundings, getting back to his senses and overcoming the sleepiness.

"Mai sari raat tumhara darwaza khatkhata raha tha, lekin tumne koi jawaab hi nahi diya. Kyun?"

He wasn't asking, he was accusing her.

For ignoring him.

"Arrey, mai toh kal raat Money Heist ka latest season dekh rahi thi."

Marwaan was confused how to react. She was watching some web show when he was pleading her to talk to him.

"Acha, kya wajah thi sari raat mere kamre ke bahar guzaarne ki?" She asked.

"Tumhara iqrar."

"Kya matlab?"

"Fida ne bataya ke tumne ghar ke bado'n ko keh diya ke tum mujhse nikaah ke liye taiyar ho."

"Haan."

Her simple Yes raised many questions in his mind. For years he was making himself believe that Kauser will never marry him, and now when it is happening, he was genuinely puzzled.

"Tumhein koi force toh nahi kar raha naa?" He asked her in a serious tone.

"Kisi mein himmat hai mujhe force karne ki? Aur tum khush nahi ho meri haan se?"

"Khush hona toh chahiye mujhe, par yakeen sa nahi ho raha."

"Kyun?"

"Mai tumse do saal chota hoon. Tum bachpan se mujhe kehti aayi ho ke mai tumhe Aapa kahun. Aur ab jab tum mujhse shadi ke liye maan gayi ho, obviously doubts toh honge."

"Marwaan, to be honest, pehle mai khafa thi iss baat se. Lekin phir jab thande dimaag se socha toh samajh aaya ke shayad tum hi mere liye ek ideal partner ho."

"Woh kaise?"

"Tum mein woh har quality hai jo mujhe apne husband mein chahiye thi. Jo mujhe apne baraabar rakhe. Jo aurat ki izzat karna jaanta ho. You are perfect for me." She smiled, making his heart blossom with happiness.

"Lekin tumhe mujhse mahobbat toh hai hi nahi." He grimmed.

"Toh ho jayegi naa. Shadi ke baad bhi toh pyar ho sakta hai. Aur as a cousin, mai tumse sabse zyada pyar karti hoon."

"Woh toh hai. Lekin mera tumse chota hona tumhare liye problem nahi hai?"

"Marwaan, are you serious? Age is just a number. Mujhe koi problem nahi hai tumhare mujhse chote hone par. Problem bas ye thi ke maine kabhi bhi tumhe ya Aziz ko as a marriage choice nahi dekha. I am not a fan of cousin marriage, jo ke tum achi tarah se jaante ho. Lekin iska matlab ye toh nahi ke mauka milne par mai tumhe as a life partner consider nahi karungi."

"You know what, mai duniya ka sabse bada gadha hoon."

For whole 25 years he kept thinking Kauser will never marry him but now she happily agreed to marry him.

Is it fortunate or ironical?

"Kauser, meri yeh tumse kehne ki kabhi himmat nahi huyi lekin... I love you." He smiled lovingly looking at her.

"Marwaan, tumhare liye meri feelings bohat hi mukhtalif hai. Mai tumse pyar karti hoon, but as a cousin aur as a friend. Par haan, yeh lafz sunkar bohat khushkismat mehsoos kar rahi hoon." She caressed his palms while saying so.

"Hmm, I hope bohat jald tumhare labo'n se bhi mai yeh alfaaz sunu. Tab tak ke liye mai apne ek tarfe pyar se kaam chala lunga." He held her hands gently.

"Nahi, thoda thoda pyar hone lag gaya hai tumse." She smiled shyly, making him laugh.

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"Aziz, aapne mujhe dhoondha kaise?" Fida asked while resting her head on Aziz's bare chest.

"Fida, shuruaat mein toh maine sab kuch police ko handle karne diya. Lekin jab laga ke woh kuch nahi kar payenge toh maine khud bhi koshish ki. Phir mujhe sex trafficking ke bare mein pehli baar pata chala. Kaise choti umar ki school, colleges jaane wali underage bachiyon ko kidnap kiya jata hai aur phir unhe bech dete hai un logo'n ko jo sex ka business chalate hai. Honestly, mai hairaan tha aur iss revelation ne mujhe mentally disturb kar diya tha. Aasaan nahi hai masoom ladkiyon ko uss jahanamm se bahar nikalna, tumhe dhoondhne mein mujhe paanch saal lag gaye. Kayi log toh zindagi bhar pata nahi laga pate ke aakhir unki behan-betiyan kaha gaayab ho gayi'n. Tumhare saath aur bhi ladkiyon ko uss jagah se bachaya gaya. But still bohat aur ladkiyan sex trafficking ki victim ban rahi hai aur shayad banti rahengi."

"Unn darindo'n mein bilkul bhi insaniyat nahi hai."

"Har burai ka ant zaroor hota hai, iska bhi hoga."

They fell into deep silence. Thinking about this another cruel face of humans.

"Aziz, thank you." Fida mumbled from his chest.

"Kis liye?"

"Mujhe har baar bachane ke liye. Jab meri apni maa mujhe maarna chahti thi, aapne meri jaan bachai. Jab mai jahanamm se battar zindagi jee rahi thi, aapne mujhe wahaan se bhi bachaya. Aapki mahobatt milna meri khushkismati hai, warna mai toh aapke kabil hi nahi hoon." She was true while saying the last sentence. Because she doubted if she loved him with the same intensity. His love was far more than just love. It couldn't be described, but yes, it could be felt. Some abstracts remain unnamed, his love for her was also unnamed.

She kissed on his heart, where her name was engraved with love. He smiled at her action.

"Fida, meri mahobatt ke kabil sirf tum ho. Sirf aur sirf tum. Tum naa hoti toh shayad mai pyar karna kabhi naa seekh pata."

"Aur agar aap naa hote toh mai hasna kabhi naa seekh pati."

"Bas aise hi khush rehna, hasti rehna."

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"Shafi!" Kaysan sat beside her on the wooden swing in the garden, again.

"Aap aaj bhi aa gaye! Mujhse bilkul bhi mahobatt nahi hai aapko. Hamari mangni tudwana chahte hai naa aap?" Shafaq was on high alert. What if Aziz again came?

"Meri Jaan, ek baar ko mai apni tangey tudwa lu, lekin hamari mangni naa todne doon kisi ko." Kaysan said in a flattering tone.

"Kaysan, itni uchi-uchi mat phekiye."

"Sach keh raha hoon, Shafi."

"Acha, toh mai bulau Aziz Bhaijaan ko aapki tangey todne ke liye?" She smirked.

"Mujhse bilkul bhi mahobatt nahi hai tumhe. Meri tangey tudwana chahti ho?" He mimicked her, but yes, he was himself a little afraid of Aziz.

"Arrey! Aap hi ne toh kaha tha abhi."

"Haan toh mai ye bhi kehta hoon ke tum bohat acha khana banati ho. Lekin hota toh tumhara khana zehar hi naa." And he immediately regretted what he just blurted out.

"Acha, toh mera khana zehar hota hai. Toh karlo kisi MasterChef se shadi. Kehdo teen baar talaq, mai chod dungi aapko." She resembled that dramatic heroine of a soap opera.

"Bewaqoof ladki, hamara nikaah nahi hua. Aur teen talaq illegal hai, maine teen saal ke liye andar nahi jaana."

"Toh kahiye mai bohat acha khana banati hoon." Shafaq demanded while smirking.

"Tum duniya ka sabse wahiyat khana banati ho, aur mai apni baat se nahi mukarne wala." Well, Kaysan could not lie when it comes to food.

"Toh mai abhi jaakar Aziz Bhaijaan se hamari mangni aur tumhari haddiyan todne ka kehti hoon." She threatened him.

"Arrey, meri jaan, meri Shafi. Tum toh naraaz ho gayi. Mai toh mazak kar raha tha. Tum bohat hi... lazeez khana banati ho. Itna lazeez ke bayaan hi nahi kar sakta." Well, Kaysan could lie when it comes to his life.

"Ye huyi naa ache mangetar wali baat. Chaliye, Kauser Aapi aur Marwaan Bhaijaan ka rishta pakka hone ki khushi mein mai aapke liye apni special dal makhani banati hoon." She held his arm and dragged him to the kitchen.

"Zaroor." He smiled grimly, thinking about how he will bear her cooking for the rest of their life.

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S E V E N Y E A R S L A T E R

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"Mama, Khizer Bhai aur Adaa Aapi phir ladne lage." A little five-year old Mawra complained to her Mama.

"Ya Allah! Yeh dono kab ladna band karenge." Kauser sighed.

"Khizer aur Adaa bilkul tumhare aur Aziz Bhaijaan jaise hai. Jab dekho ladte rehte hai." Marwaan chuckled at his own words.

For him it was really amusing. Looking at Khizer and Adaa fighting will remind him of his childhood when Kauser and Aziz would be finding ways to annoy each other. And he, just like innocent Mawra, would call his both Mumani Jaans.

"Marwaan, tumhe hasi aa rahi hai!"

"Cool down, meri sherni. Mawra beta, aap mama ke saath raho aur mai aapke Bhai aur Aapi ki jung rukwa ke aata hoon."

"Okay, Abbu." Mawra smiled. "Mama, mai aapko Twinkle Twinkle Little Star sunaoon?"

Kauser smiled noddingly.

And Mawra began singing her favourite rhyme.

While on the other side Marwaan marched into the battlefield where a war was going on between Prince Khizer Marwaan and Princess Adaa Irfani.

"Meri choti kyun kheechi?"

"Mujhe ullu kyun kaha?"

"Maine tujhe ullu kaha kyunki tune meri choti kheechi."

"Maine teri choti kheechi kyunki tune mujhe ullu kaha."

"O hello! Pehle tune meri choti kheechi."

"Chal jhoothi, pehle tune mujhe ullu kaha."

"Aye! Bacha Party! Agar bohat sari chocolates chahiye toh turant Kaysan Chacha ke kamre par attack karo." Marwaan announced while entering the hall and both the little warriors ran to their Kaysan Chachu's room.

Khizer and Adaa were born by the difference of six months, Khizer was six years old while Adaa was five years and six months old. So they were almost always together. They can't live without each other, yet they won't let live each other. They fight just like Aziz and Kauser. But their affection was similar to that of Aziz-Fida and Marwaan-Kauser. Means there are chances that in the future they won't be just some annoying cousins to each other, hopefully something more and special.

Khizer and Adaa barged into Kaysan's room, totally ruining newly-wed Kaysan and Shafaq's romantic moment. Well, Shafaq's Rukhsathi was yet to happen, which meant Shafaq had sneaked into Kaysan's room.

"Shafi phupho, Shafi phupho, aap bhi Kaysan Chachu se bohat sari chocolates lene aayi hai?" Adaa asked cutely spreading her hands in the air at the mention of "bohat sari chocolates".

"Haan, beta." Shafaq agreed, fearing if someone else saw her in Kaysan's room.

"Mamu, please humein bhi bohat saari chocolates dedo." Khizer requested to his Mamu.

"Beta, woh bohat sari chocolates toh aapki Shafi Phupho kha gayi." Kaysan made an excuse to make them leave the room, but it did exact opposite.

"Haw! Phupho, Abba kehte hai zyada chocolates khane se daant kharab ho jaate hai." Khizer started giving lecture to his Phupho.

"Haan, aur aapki shakal Jungle Book ke gandey Sher Khan jaisi ho jayegi." Adaa added.

"Phir Mamu aapko pyar bhi nahi karenge." Khizer added.

"Phir Chachu ek buri wali Chachi le ayenge." Adaa added.

"Beta, I am sorry. Aap Allah ji se please prayer karna ke mere daant kharab naa ho, naa hi mai Sher Khan jaisi dikhu aur naa hi aapke Chachu koi buri wali Chachi lekar aayein." Shafaq told them sweetly and ran away for her life.

"Mamu, khabardaar agar aap koi buri wali Mami laye toh. Mai aapki saari chocolates kha jaunga." Khizer gave a very serious warning to Kaysan.

Kaysan was so terrified of adorable Khizer that he began laughing while clutching his stomach.

While in the another corner of Irfani Haveli Aziz was dressing up his two-year-old second daughter Fiza.

"Baa baa baa." Fiza was talking animatedly in her baby language, maybe complaining to her Abbu that Khizer Bhai and Adaa Aapi disturbs her beauty naps by quarrelling around her.

"Yeh ho gayi hamari Fiza taiyar!" Aziz exclaimed.

Fida had just entered the room when she saw this scene.

"Arrey! Hamari Fiza kitni pyari lag rahi hai." She took Fiza in her arms and kissed her cheeks.

The next moment Khizer and Adaa entered their room.

"Aziz Mamu, Aziz Mamu." said Khizer.

"Haan, Khizer?"

"Shafi Phupho ne Kaysan Mamu ki bohat sari chocolates kha li." Khizer complained. Only he has right to eat bohat sari chocolates.

"Acha, toh yeh dono baaz nahi ayenge. Aaj shaam ko Rukhsathi hai phir bhi mil rahein hai. Mai abhi inki class lekar aaya." Aziz huffed in annoyance.

"Abbu, class toh teacher lete hai naa?," Intelligent Adaa asked.

Aziz smiled, "Jee, beta. Lekin kabhi kabhi bado'n ko choto'n ki class leni padti hai, unhe lessons sikhane ke liye."

"Hmm, toh aap hamari class bhi loge?" She again asked.

"Zarurat padi toh zaroor." Saying so he left.

"Acha, ab aap dono mere saath aayo. Aapne breakfast nahi kiya naa?" Fida spoke.

"Mama, maine dhoodh nahi peena." Adaa whined.

"Chocolate wala dhoodh bhi nahi?"

Both the kids had happy-happy expressions on their faces hearing the name of chocolate.

"Peena hai, peena hai." They said in a unison.

"Toh bhago dining table ki taraf." She said and they were already set to their destination.

There Mawra was already having her breakfast while sitting on Kauser's left. The scene made Khizer upset, he was a little jealous of Mawra. He thinks his Mama loves Mawra more than him.

"Khizer, idhar aao." Kauser beckoned him and Khizer walked to her with a cute pout on his face.

Kauser smiled and kissed his cheek, making him giggle. And made him sit on her right.

Adaa sat down with Fida who had Fiza in her lap all the time.

By then all the family members started joining them for the breakfast. First came Grandpa Irfani. Kids ran to him, to get their chocolates. Then came Ahmed Irfani and Ibrahim Irfani, who themselves gave candies to the kids. Then came Neelofer and Shahana who took their grandchildren's balayein like every normal morning.

Then came Marwaan with a file in his hand and sat where Mawra was seated previously, on Kauser's left. Kauser immediately pulled the file from his hold and put it at a side. Marwaan gave her a questioning look, but her one glare told him not to object her.

Then came Aziz, Kaysan and Shafaq were accompanying him. The newest couple looked as if someone scolded them, which was absolutely true.

Aziz sat beside Fida. While Kaysan and Shafaq sat with a distance of two chairs after the lesson they just got from Aziz. Already planning to not give chocolates to Khizer and Adaa for whole one day, this will be their punishment.

It was a very normal day.

Nawazuddin Irfani was smiling at his great-grandchildren.

Ahmed Irfani and Ibrahim Irfani were talking about their business as always.

Neelofer and Shahana were discussing about Shafaq's Rukhsati.

Marwaan was being nagged by Kauser for his reluctance towards his diet.

Kaysan and Shafaq were stealing glances of each other time to time.

Aziz and Fida were feeding themselves and little Fiza, in between finding ways to touch each other here and there without anyone noticing them.

It was a pretty normal day, after all.

Just a continuation, not an ending.

Because one story ends, another story starts. And the cycle goes on, till the time the one writing is willing to unleash his or her madness.

T H E E N D