Hamraaz- Pt 4

*****

Zamurad looked at the dining table that was being swarmed with delicacies. His wide eyes looked at his mother who was still looking deep in thought about whether something was missing or not. Azra smiled with mirth to herself as she saw her brother gulping down the horrified lump that had formed in his throat, knowing very well what was about to come.

Chuckling nervously, Zamurad rubbed the back of his neck, looking at his father who sat at the head of the table looking at his wife with an adoration filled smile. Zamurad instantly scrunched his nose and looked away as to not gag at his father who was lost in his own world and narrowed his eyes at Azra who was having a hard time controlling herself from bursting into peels of laughter.

"Mama, isn't this all a little...too much?"

Aashna gave her son a look as she sat down on the left side of her husband who was now thankfully back from his marital dreams.

"Too much? Dekh rahe ho khudko? Did you even sit and have a meal in peace for the past 5 months ya phir do-do din bhuke hi reh rahe the?"

"Mama, yaar, you're exaggerating."

"I agree!"

Azra mumbled as she munched on the butter chicken and tandoori naan. Zamurad rolled his eyes at his younger sister while his mother didn't look even the least bit pleased.

"No I'm not. Ab jaldi se sab finish karo. We have something important to discuss with you."

Sensing the seriousness in his mother's tone, Zamurad sighed dejectedly and bit by bit took a little from everything to his liking. The Radwans' ate in silence while Zamurad's head just tried thinking of what they had to discuss with him.

20 minutes later, Zamurad found himself seated in the living room, his parents in front of him and Azra being busy trying to look for the right movie to watch. Smacking his younger sister's head just to annoy her, he smiled in triumph when she glared back at him before dismissing her to-be-the-bali-ka-bakra brother and putting on jumanji at a not so loud volume.

"Zamurad?"

Looking away from his frustrating sister, Zamurad gave his full attention to what his mother had to say. Aashna Radwan had a wide 400 volt smile on her face while his father just seemed out of place and a little doubtful.

Those were two completely different reactions and Zamurad now felt a little alarmed. Which one was trustworthy?

"Baat ko gol gol nahi ghumana mujhe, so let's get to the point. You are 28 years old and I am getting no younger- wait, that was a typical sentence but ignoring that fact, just like every woman even I want to see my son getting married. And seeing that you already have an official affair with your uniform, there is no point in asking whether you like someone or not, hence, your baba and I have looked for the right girl for you whom you'll be meeting tomorrow for a 20-questions game."

Aashna Radwan took a deep breath as she finished her part of the conversation. Her eyes looked at her son who was shunned with silence. His eyes wide, mouth agape and frozen form made Aashna roll her eyes before smacking his forehead softly.

"Zamurad, faisla tumhara hi hoga but if you do like someone, bata do mujhe. Your happiness is all that I want."

Her words were soft and assuring and for once, Zamurad had almost let a 'yes' slip from his lips but before that could happen, the same expressive brown eyes that resembled the raw colour of the nature which were making him restless since the first day he gazed at them, he quickly shook his head lightly and smiled- a smile of conflict- at his mother.

"Mama, I'll see."

His tired whisper made Aashna rethink her decision but before she could say something else, Zamurad got up and walked out of the living room. With steps that were not controlled by his consciousness, he entered his room and shut the door behind him softly.

His room was lit, the door of the balcony left open for fresh air to calm his senses. Living in the midst of trees and mountains always made him feel free and hence, when he was away from them, he felt a tad bit suffocated.

Walking up to the balcony, he gently placed his hands on the railing, the passing of the wintry breeze and the coming of spring felt fresh around as he inhaled deeply, his body trying to embrace the essence of peace that came with being in contact with nature.

"Pagal hu na main bilkul? Going crazy over a girl I had never known or seen until for a few seconds a month back. Dil toh jaise rat laga kar baitha hai ki aankhe band karu toh bas wahi dekhai degi aur dimaag- dimaag toh siren pe siren bajaye ja raha hai."

He chuckled to himself as he shared his dilemma with the soft winds that caressed his skin, as if soothing his worries in the best way they could.

"Kya karu ab? Dil ki nadaan zid ko bhul kar ammi ki baat sunu ya phir-"

He swallowed down his words, not having the heart nor the energy to think of what his future held. Sighing in the midst of the eerie silence, he looked up at the starless sky. The dark night prevailed all while the moon lay reflecting its light for the wanderers of the street.

*****

Darya looked back at her reflection in a daze. Zaahira beside her gushed over how ethereal she looked but nothing enticed her mind. She had said 'yes' to meeting Aashna Radwan's son and hence here she was, preparing for a small talk with him in the presence of her sibling and cousins who wouldn't be too close to eavesdrop neither too far to not see what's happening between the two.

Adorned in a crystal blue simple and minimalistic looking frock but classy and posh nonetheless, Darya looked a vision of maturity and confidence- only from the outside.

From the inside, her insides were waging a war. Her thoughts clashed with her feelings- feelings she didn't know what to call and the constant replay of the same eyes in her head again and again were now frustrating her to no end. She was confused, conflicted, worried and doubtful.

"Darya, you are okay with all this, hai na?"

Zaahira asked her cousin softly. She could clearly see the agitation and the emotional build up in Darya's eyes and seeing her cousin sister whom she treated like her own so torn, made Zaahira restless.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

Darya laughed lightly towards the end, as if trying to assure herself more than the one who asked the question. Zaahira tried to suppress the worry but the gnawing feeling of something being wrong didn't leave her conscience.

"Theek hai phir. Chale?"

Daray gave a nod to her and Zaahira quickly walked out to fetch her phone and purse while Darya stayed seated at the dressing table, a little sad but also a little hopeful.

The sadness was not justified for she didn't know who he was, how he looked- apart from his hauntingly beautiful eyes that resemble the rough surface of a tree trunk but with an underlying softness of that of the soil.

And hopeful for maybe the one that awaited her today at the restaurant was a better option and the one for her. One that would replace the month back incidents by his presence in her heart and mind.

Picking her purse and phone, she walked out of the room with a small smile, trying to suppress the unwanted memories and whispers of her heart. Zameer, Murad and Zaahira too came shortly and the four left after bidding a goodbye to their parents who were just as nervous for their daughter.

"Appi?"

Zameer called out to his elder sister who was lost in her thoughts throughout the ride. The concern that glistened in his eyes for her was clear as day as he looked at her with a frown.

Darya shook her head and looked at her brother who was gazing at her with worry. She finally realized that the car had come to a halt and they were parked just before the restaurant- the restaurant where he awaited her.

"Hmm, you guys are coming, right?"

Darya asked, trying to distract herself as she set her dupatta in place. The three of the Malik kids nodded their heads, each confused and concerned about her closed off behaviour but none pointed it out, thinking of it to be the result of the big step that she had taken.

Darya left the car with hesitant steps. Stepping into the bustling restaurant, she thought over her decision to step in the crowded place again. Her nerves were already reaching their peak and seeing these many people around her didn't help her at all. Rubbing a hand over the back of her left palm, she sat on the seat in the corner that overlooked the whole place. The table that he had booked was away from public eyes and for once, Darya found herself sighing in relief.

Though the relief was short lived after which she heard the sounds of thundering footsteps heading to the table she sat at. Her breathing picked as she took deep breaths, her hair that was left open curtained her face that was slightly angled in a way that she was staring at her lap.

As she saw the clean and black shoes standing just beside her table, she finally mustered up the courage she had left and looked up only to be gobsmacked.

And maybe, the expressions were the same from both sides.

"I-"

She couldn't form the right words as she stared into the eyes of the same colour, same texture and ferocity that had been the cause of her late night expenditures with just her and the silence around. The same mocha brown that burned like the woods in fire yet seemed so serene standing in place and unharmed like a tree that had seen ages pass by.

Was it- Was he-

The question and assumptions seemed baseless, ridiculous but what could she do? Or was it her mind that made her see things the way she wanted them to be rather than how they actually were?

"Assalamu alaikum."

His deep voice seemed to be filled with disbelief or maybe she was too deep in her thoughts to have recognized the emotion.

"Wa-walaikum assalam."

She replied back quickly, collecting herself and her wandering thoughts. Sitting up straight, she offered him a small smile as he took a seat ahead of her. His eyes were still gleaming with an emotion Darya found hard to recognize. His body posture seemed more stiff than laid back.

"Darya?"

Her name rolled off his tongue in a dazed tone and Darya smiled curiously at him before giving him a nod.

"Zamurad Radwan."

He introduced himself as if it were a business deal he had come to sort and not a meeting to get to know his potential life partner. Darya yet again gave him a nod while Zamurad tried hard to not stare at her like a fool.

Was he still in bed?

Was the first thought that crossed his mind when he had come face to face to the beauty that had clouded his sane mind for so many days. But it wasn't just the facial features-no, it was something more, something he couldn't pinpoint or name.

Zamurad had thought of many scenarios when he had said 'yes' to his mother in regards to meeting Miss. Malik, but the thought of Miss. Malik resembling her was something he couldn't imagine even in his wildest dreams.

"Would you like to order or-"

"Order please."

Darya replied immediately, hoping that the food might calm her racing thoughts. Zamurad nodded silently to her words and called for a waiter. The two ordered light food since the way the meeting had started wouldn't let them digest anything at the moment.

The food was eaten in silence, a silence anything but uncomfortable. The two were lost in their own thoughts, their own inner battles that seemed to be getting more aggressive.

Once the meal was done, Darya cleared her throat and glanced at him. Zamurad smiled softly at her, encouraging her to say what she wanted to and Darya felt her heart warming at the understanding that he had.

"I have no idea how to start the conversation. Forgive me if it gets awkward. I am not really good at introductions and conversing with new people and-"

"Darya, relax. Just breathe in and out. It's all fine."

Zamurad coaxed her softly. The way the words rolled off her tongue in nervousness amused Zamurad to no end but seeing her almost frustrating herself just because she didn't know the right way to start a conversation didn't settle well with him.

"Sorry."

Darya said sheepishly as light hues of red occupied her cheeks along with a smile. Zamurad chuckled lightly at her and in no time, the environment was filled with light hearted conversation and a few laughs being shared here and there.

"Aap kya karte hai?"

Her question was filled with curiosity and nothing else. Zamurad smiled in glee, and then chuckled to himself while Darya just gave him another curious look as to what was so funny?

"Nothing of high status. Just a military man standing stiff by the country's border."

His voice held amusement and a laid back tone while Darya just stayed stunned in her place. She could have been mistaken. After all, the eye colour was common but were the emotions common too? The emotions that she felt when she gazed in them, back then and even-

She hastily stopped the train of her thoughts. Looking up, she saw Zamurad looking at him with a smile that seemed to be hiding many secrets. She knew she was looking too much into this but, why then was her heart not ready to accept?

The meeting lasted for about another half an hour and by the time they had come to a close of their meeting for the day, Zamurad couldn't bring it in himself to end the moment, just yet.

Seeing the woman that he thought would be nothing but a fascination sitting in front of him was definitely a shocker and the fact that he didn't miss the way she was trying to read his smiles that were filled with secrets that only his heart knew, amused him further.

"Thank you so much for today. It was a pleasure meeting you."

Darya said softly as she stood to bid her goodbye. Zamurad half heartedly followed suit and the two walked out of the restaurant with small steps, both trying to delay the moment further without their conscious knowing.

"Sune?"

Zamurad called out as Darya started walking away from him and towards her car which awaited her at a distance of few steps. She stopped in her tracks and looked at him as he tried to speak a few times before taking deep breaths and looking into her eyes.

Eyes that gleamed with innocence and a sweet essence of warmth that he had searched for when away from the mountains that had etched themselves in his soul.

"Meri taraf se jo jawab jayega woh toh shayad aapko pata hi hoga. I hope I didn't give you any reason to say anything otherwise."

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Oho, humare Zamurad miya ko toh eid ka chand dikh gaya- more like mil gaya!

It's not long before we hear shehnaiya and mubaraka from both the sides! A wedding invitation in advance has been extended from your generous author to all the readers!

(Khali haath nahi aana. Bring about lots of your votes and comments in shagun!)

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