Riwayat- Pt 6

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Zaahira had her eyes closed in relaxation. The adventurous day and the hyped roaming had surrendered her body and mind to exhaustion. It was a little past Isha, one that she had prayed with Ruqayyah when Dilawar was with his father. The couch she was seated on seemed like an odd item amongst the traditional decor and the charpai in the corner.

She would have fallen into a blissful sleep if not for the sudden commotion from just outside the room she was seated in. Scrunching her nose in confusion, she opened her eyes to gaze at the hallway that looked empty but was surrounded by hushed and slightly agitated whispers.

If not for the humane sounds, she would have feared that jins were having a party around.

Zaahira controlled her urge to go and have a look at what was going on but knowing that it might be a family matter, she remained put. Only when a worked up looking Ruqayyah entered the room did she allow her curiosity to turn into worry.

The older woman held a hesitant look in her eyes along with the an inkling of fear. Ruqayyah had just had a talk with her husband who seemed hell bent to carry on with the decision he had taken.

Without the consent of anyone apart from his own self.

"Aunty, sab theek toh hai na?"

Zaahira couldn't help but ask. Getting up from her position, she walked up to Ruqayyah who was looking on the verge of fainting with how pale her face looked.

And her expression just sparked Zaahira's wish to know what had the commotion been all about?

Ruqayyah stared at the young lady for a good few seconds before gulping in restraint and giving a curt nod. The words of Mushtak rang in her ears and so did Dilawar's heavy protest against it but she was tied by a vow to support her husband.

"W-woh," Ruqayyah paused for a second, taking in Zaahira's form but more specifically, peering deep into her eyes. The action helped anxiety to seep through Zaahira's mind as she tried to avoid the eye contact while being least disrespectful.

Taking a bated breath, Ruqayyah seemed to have convinced herself about something before she took hold of Zaahira's palm in hers, making the younger lady flinch at the sudden touch before surrendering to it.

"Bacha, kuch baat karni thi aapse, suno gi na?"

Such emotional talks always left Zaahira on the edge and by the look and tone in Ruqayyah's voice, Zaahira wasn't very sure if she'd like wherever this conversation was heading.

Trying not to show her urge to turn away and ignore the talk, Zaahira anyhow gave a reluctant nod to the old woman.

"Attaullah sahab, woh jo budhe aadmi Dilawar ke saath aye the, yaad hai?"

She nodded, a confused look mearing her features.

"Humara gaon bahot chota hai bache. Yaha ek baat ko zaban se nikle aur failne mein zyada der nahi lagti, khas kar agar baat kisi ke izzat aur aabruh hi ho."

Zaahira stilled, finally getting a hint of where all this was going and needless to say, she wasn't pleased, not even in the slightest.

"Aunty, main aur Dilawar-"

"Ghar ke log maan jayenge, lekin yeh jo aas paas ke hai unka kya? Naam bol bol kar aur taane mar mar kar zindagi haram kar denge. Duniya ka shawk ban chuka hai logo ki izzat ke saath khelna. Aur h-hum apne kh-khnadaan ki yeh halat hote nahi dekh sakte."

Her voice cracked towards the end. The severity of the situation finally spiralled in Zaahira's head and assumptions as such whispered in her ears like voices she had never heard and most likely, ones that didn't exist.

A young girl and a man, alone at night?

Hand in hand, her wrapped in his shawl?

Goodness, what has the world come to?

Have they no shame or respect?

Zaahira remembered vaguely the time she had decided on being a travel blogger. The news elated her family members but the same couldn't be said about the people or her distant relatives who found it easy to judge rather than understand.

"Akeli ladki, anjaan jagah mein?"

"Khuda, aise waise kaam karne lagi toh?"

"Yeh traveller blogger hota kya hai? Aaj kal ki ladkiyon ko toh sirf bahane chahiye aiyashi karne ke liye."

"Agar kisi ladke ke saath bhaag gayi thi? Izzat le dube gi ye!"

The words were not said loud but she had heard them, registered the stares and the words that were depicted in their eyes. She had even thought of letting her dreams go if not for her parents and her taya abbu and ammi. Her confidence may have dwindled by the society's gaze but the foundation of her existence and the trust that they had in her was stronger than her own faith in herself.

"Haath jod rahi hu tumhare aage beta, nikah karlo mere Dilawar se."

And the world came crashing down on her.

Zaahira stumbled back, pulling her hand away from Ruqayyah. A horrified expression took over her face as she tried to get her breathing stable. The recollections of the past words and Ruqayyah's pleas set her soul on fire, something that didn't physically hurt but had started burning ever so slowly.

"A-aap k-kya.."

Her words were unable to flow. Shaking her head, Zaahira took a few steps back and watched as Ruqayyah's face fell.

Taking a few deep breaths, Zaahira tried to reason with the old woman.

"A-aap meri baat sune. Main aaj hi chali jaungi yaha se, phir kya baatein. Kuch din mein log bhul bhi jayenge is baat ko. A-aap-"

"Agar kisi aam ghar se hote toh shayad jo tum bhol rahi ho woh ho jaata lekin yeh is gaon ke nawab ka ghar hai bache. Siyasi baatein agar zor daal kar boli jaye toh unpe yakeen karna mushkil nahi hota. Ek galat baat, aur pura Kazim khandaan kisi mazak se kam nahi rahega."

"Siyasi baatein? Should've known."

Zaahira whispered the last part to herself, finally realising that it was all just a part of power play.

"Aunty, bura na maane, lekin mera is sab se koi rishta nahi hai. Mujhe siyasi khel mein nahi padna aur na hi kise se nikah karna hai. Khuda ke vaaste samjhe meri baat ko."

Zaahira pleaded with an agitated look. This was getting too intense for her liking. Too many expectations and assumptions and the last thing she'd want for herself is to be thrown into a mess of politics and rumours and a marriage with a person who was not even past the line of a stranger.

"Lekin-"

"Amma."

The rough voice sounded eerily familiar. Zaahira didn't bother looking at him, having an idea of what his expressions might be of.

Ruqayyah looked away from the young female and towards her son. Her eyes held a defeated aura and Dilawar never had been punched so hard in the guts.

He was against this too but a mother was capable of making anything possible.

Gently gripping Ruqayyah's upper arms, he offered her an assuring look and said in the most calm and collected tone.

"Amma, aap jaye abba ko dekhe. Mujhe Zaahira se kuch baat karni hai."

The one addressed had to dig the soles of her feet on the ground to not sprint away. She kept her lips sealed, afraid that a violent 'no' would be blurted out without her permission.

Ruqayyah seemed hesitant, more so with an inkling of fear but knowing her son, she gave a firm pat on his shoulder and left with a last look towards Zaahira.

Dilawar waited for his mother to be out of sight and once she was, he turned towards the woman who had unintentionally moved his life to a different orbit.

Zaahira avoided her gaze from him, moving them from the soft carpet to the walls and again to the carpet. Goodness, when had it all turned so awkward?

Dilawar cleared his throat and put on a neutral face. His gaze assessed Zaahira once, taking in her fumbling fingers and nervous eyes. He felt his lips begging to be pulled into a smile but he knew it wasn't the time.

"Amma ne baat kar li?"

A scowl appeared on her face on sensing the casual tone in his voice. Looking up from her feet, she narrowed her eyes at him and gave a curt nod in reply.

"Aur tumne mana kar diya."

It wasn't a question, but rather a statement. Zaahira felt her tense muscles relaxing a little, knowing well that he must have the same thoughts. Shrugging lightly, she nodded again even though he already knew the answer.

"Lekin Dada jaan tumhe yaha se bina tumhara nikah karwaye nahi jaane denge."

Cold air swept the air, enveloping Zaahira without her consent. The fear of what he was applying to made fury rage through her veins and before she knew, Zaahira was glaring holes at him.

"Dara rahe hai mujhe?"

She crossed her arms across the torso, a posture of defense. Raising an eyebrow at him, Zaahira almost smacked his head when she saw amusement lurking behind the cocoa brown eyes.

Coughing a few times, he cleared his throat and shook his head. A subtle smile lingered on his lips before fading in the shadows as he stared at the woman in front of him.

"Nahi, bas ek mashwara dena chahta tha. Angrezi mein, a proposition."

Zaahira uncrossed her arms and tilted her head a little. Her eyes squinted as she took in his expressions as she repeated his words,

"A proposition? Aur woh kya hai?"

"Baat seedhi si hai, nikah na tumhe karna hai, na mujhe, lekin humari sunne wala is waqt koi nahi hai. Agar kaho, toh nikah kar hi lete hai."

"KYA?!"

She screeched loudly at his obvious tone. Dilawar winced at the sheer sharpness in her voice, rubbing the edge of his ears slightly, he gave her an annoyed scowl.

"Pura toh suno ladki."

He scolded lightly, earning a sheepish smile from the female. Rolling his eyes, he leaned in a little and watched as she leaned back. Biting back another smile, he gave her a serious look and glanced over his shoulder to make sure there were no unwanted ears around.

"Abhi ke liye nikah kar lete hai, phir main tumhe jaane dunga, hmm? Tum chali jana wapas apne ghar aur main yaha baki sab sambhal lunga. Theek?"

To say she was stunned would be the best. Her eyes widened at his idea and her agape mouth looked ready to catch a fly.

"L-lekin, y-yeh, huh?"

Zaahira shook her head almost instantly. An agonised expression took over her face and she stumbled back.

"Nikah hai Dilawar, mazak nahi! Sun bhi rahe ho khud ko?"

Dilawar's jaw ticked in vexation. Closing his eyes, he cursed Yazan for his stupid idea. Taking in a sharp breath, Dilawar tried not to turn back on his feet and throw Yazan to oblivion.

But the way she reacted to his- Yazan's idea- tugged his heart in what he could call respect. The girl knew her boundaries and importance of relations and their names.

And that was more than enough for him to admire a person.

"Theek hai phir, kar lo nikah mujhse."

He gritted the words out and opened his eyes which instantly widened in surprise and shock on seeing tears welling in the hazel brown orbs.

"Y-yeh,"

He couldn't form the right words on seeing her in such a state. Zaahira bit the insides of her cheek to stop herself from crying out loud in front of a stranger nonetheless. Cursing her tear glands for working without her permission, she averted her gaze to the floor and rubbed her hands together to calm her rising worries.

"Zaahira, yaha dekho."

The gentleness with which he addressed her was surprising. The guy was more bipolar than a woman during her pregnancy and for once, Zaahira patted herself on the back mentally, successfully calming down her urge to cry.

Gulping down her tears, she casually rubbed her eyes to dry her tears that were on the verge of falling. Looking up, she pursed her lips together when she found herself staring right into the man's eyes- eyes that seemed to be holding the darkest of skies and light of the twinkling stars in a serene night.

"Rone-"

"I am not crying."

She gritted the words with determination, eliciting a chuckle from him.

The sound just confirmed Zaahira's suspicions of him being on his man periods.

Dilawar coughed a few times before finally putting on the shoes of seriousness again.

"Zaahira-"

His words were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Dilawar leisurely took a few steps back and so did Zaahira. His gaze wandered back to her with an expression that clearly looked conflicted while she resembled a mouse upon seeing a hungry cat.

Mushtak gazed between Dilawar and Zaahira, a frown appeared on his features which he covered quickly. Following him was a worked up looking Ruqayyah and before the people in the room could comprehend, Mushtak's voice broke the once tense silence.

"Qazi sahab kuch der mein aate hi honge. Dono jald se jald tayyar ho jao toh behtar."

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I know you guys are annoyed by the long gaps between the updates but the issue is, my new academic year has just started face-to-face, which means, I have very less time to type down the chapter. The exhaustion from it all slows down my brain and I end up staring at the screen rather than typing anything down...

I'm trying to make time for it all. Not wanting to lack behind my studies along with making sure I don't leave you guys hanging in the middle.

Enough of me crying over my busy schedule, the chapter was mostly boring but the next one will be a blast! Hopefully! *fingers crossed*...

I am set to get back on track with Riwayat and ah oh, I can already see the tragedy- more like nikah- taking place!!

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