Responsibilty | ذمہ داري

HAPPY READ!

تو ہاتھوں میں تو ہے میرے

ہے کیوں نہیں لکیروں میں

یہ کیسا تیراعشق ہے

........سا جنا

(TU HATHO MEIN TOU HAY MERE,

HAIN Q NAHI LAKIRO MEIN,

YEH KESA TERA ISHQ HAI,

SAAJNAAA.....)

Faryal placed a baby dress on Zahra who was sitting in the stroller beside her and said to the sales girl with a smile, "I'll take this one as well, kindly pack it with the others".

"Okay ma'am you can collect your items packed at the counter", the salesgirl said politely and left the place.

Faryal moved her head and scanned the whole store with her eyes and finally found him standing at a counter with a stoic expression.

Zohaib being the man of his words came early home today so he can accompany Faryal as he has promised yesterday for which she was happy beyond words.

"Zahra let's go we are done with the shopping, daddy is waiting for us", Faryal said looking down at her and pushed the stroller along her towards the counter. She not only exchanged the sizes of the clothes she had bought yesterday but also bought new ones. She bought everything at which Zahra looked a little bit longer thinking she might like that.

"We are done", Faryal said to Zohaib and placed her credit card on the counter but before the sales boy could pick up the card Zohaib picked her credit card put it in his pocket, and handed his own credit card to the sales boy.

Faryal looked at him with furrowed eyebrows, she wanted to deny him but kept quiet because she did not want to create a scene in front of strangers. After some time the sales boy returned Zohaib's credit card and gave them their shopping bags. Zohaib moved forward, placed the shopping bags one by one in Zahra's stroller, and they left the store.

"Thanks for coming with me, I have told you it won't take long. Now we can go home.", She said with a smile looking in Zohaib's direction while he was pushing Zahra's stroller and looking straight.

"Don't you want to buy anything for yourself? If you want to you can", He offered.

"No, I already have everything.", She answered.

"Okay! I've to buy some stuff for Zahra from here", he said and entered a store followed by her.

She looked at him carefully whatever he was picking up trying to learn and know about the things Zahra uses and needs. He was buying diapers, formula milk, wet wipes, etc for Zahra, the usual things she had mostly seen him using for her but the thing which got her attention was when he picked up different boxes of cereals.

"This is for Zahra?", she asked curiously pointing at the boxes of different cereals.

"Yeah", he replied while looking at the shelves.

"She will start eating solid food now?", she asked further.

He paused, looked at her and said, "Zahra is growing up, milk is not enough for her now. It couldn't full her nutritional needs alone anymore. That's her time to start the intake of solid food".

"Do we need so many for her?", Faryal said trying to understand why did he pick up different types and brands of cereals.

"We have to first figure out what suits her the best", Zohaib replied.

Faryal nodded her in understanding and mentally noted his words.

"Perks of having a pediatrician as a father", Faryal muttered.

"When it comes to your own kid every parent is more than a pediatrician", He replied and looked at her which clearly meant he had heard what she thought she was muttering.

Faryal moved her head towards Zahra in embarrassment and mentally pace palmed herself, "You said it a loud Fary, idiot", She thought.

After buying the stuff they were going towards the exit of the shopping mall when a shriek coming from the distance stopped them.

"Faryy"

"Faryyy"

Both of them looked around and found Meesha who was standing on the escalator of the upper-storey of the shopping mall. Meesha waved her hand when she realized that she had gotten their attention.

"Thank God I caught you, I was running behind both of you since I have seen you from the upstairs", Meesha said panting heavily.

Faryal moved forward, hugged her, and said " Idiot you could have called me, what are these cell phones for".

"I forgot that", Meehsa replied and broke the hug.

"Assalam u Alikum Zohaib it's nice to see you", Meesha said with a tight-lipped smile.

"Walikum assalam Meesha, like wise." Zohaib responded.

"Here you are Meesha. I have searched for you everywhere, and My majesty you left your phone with me as well." Fahad Bhai said with an annoyed tone as he reached there.

"You found me Fahad that's what matters. Look whom I found here", Meesha said excitedly.

They all greeted each other still standing inside the shopping mall near the exit point.

"Let's go to the food courts, we can sit there and talk. I am famished also.", Meesha insisted.

Faryal moved her gaze hopefully towards Zohaib for an answer. She wanted to talk with Meesha because it feels like ages since the best friends have talked to each other in person but at the same time didn't want to make him stay unwillingly.

"Don't look at him. I'm not suggesting, I'm ordering. Denying is not an option", Meesha added seriously.

"Meeshaa... meri tou khair thi tumhe jhail raha tha ab auro ko b daroa gi", Fahad Bhai interrupted with a smirk.

"Once you come with me home I'll tell you Jhailna kisko kehthay hain sir-taj", Meesha replied while throwing daggers at her husband with a tight-lipped fake smile.

Faryal looked at them with a smile enjoying their cute arguments which reminded her of Zain and Huzaifa.

"Okay!", Zohaib said.

"Yayy let's go upstairs", Meesha said in a cheerful tone.

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They sat at a table, ordered the snacks, and started talking with each other. Fahad Bhai initiated a conversation with Zohaib about his business. Zohaib initially was listening more than talking but eventually started stating his opinions about the business world. Although Zohaib wasn't a businessman like his father and brother, but being an intelligent person he had knowledge of everything.

"Did you buy anything for yourself?", Meesha asked Faryal.

"I have everything, we needed to exchange and buy some clothes and stuff for Zahra", Faryal replied.

"As usual", Meesha rolled her eyes. "When will you change this theory of yours "I HAVE EVERYTHING", She continued emphasizing each word.

"Because I do have, Haina Zahra! tell your khala that Ammi will buy things when she needs them.", Faryal said looking at Zahra in her lap.

"I really doubt that you will ever think about yourself. I understand the fact that you are a pure soul Fary, It's very generous of you to take care of everyone around you but please take care of yourself as well", Meesha said with concern, taking Faryal's hand in hers. She knew the altruistic nature of her friend very well.

"I will Meeshuuu, you don't have to worry", Faryal stated assuringly tightening her hold on Meesha's hand.

"Don't tire yourself so much that at the end you don't have anything left for yourself", Meesha said with glassy eyes.

"I will take care of myself, Pakka", Faryal responded.

"By the way, hearing the word "Ammi" for you sounds lovely. You are going to be an amazing mother to our little Zahra", Meesha said sincerely to which Faryal smiled.

"I hope so, I'm just waiting for the day when she would call me Ammi from that little mouth of hers." Faryal voiced her wish in a hopeful tone.

"She will soon, In'Sha'Allah", Meesha guaranteed her with a smile.

"In'Sha'Allah," Faryal said.

They ate their snacks together, engrossed in their deep conversations, and in between enjoyed the cute bickering of Meesha and Fahad Bhai.

"Ma'Sha'Allah they look so in love", Faryal thought with her eyes fixed on them who were teasing each other and then laughing while holding Zahra. "And they are going to be amazing parents one day indeed". She shifted her gaze towards Zohaib who was silently sitting there and heaved a sigh.

After sometime Zohaib said, "I think we should leave now, It was a pleasure meeting you guys" and moved his eyes signaling her that it's time to take a leave, Faryal nodded her head in reply. Zohaib knew Meesha already as their parents are business partners but he talked in detail with Fahad Bhai for the first time.

"Come with us to our home, we can have dinner together", Meesha whined. "It's not fair, both of you have to go with us please."

"We will come together another time, mom and dad are not at home, Huzaifa and Zain would be waiting for us for dinner sorry we will have to go home now", Faryal said.

"Promise?", Meesha asked.

"Aray han baba, Promise", Faryal said and took her in a warm embrace.

"Anyways we are meeting tomorrow. Don't forget that, okay? pick me on time", Faryal added.

"Meeting tomorrow, For what?", Fahad Bhai asked with a raised eyebrows.

"It's personal, we won't tell you", Meesha said with a smirk knowing the curious nature of her husband she wanted to tease him.

Meesha kissed Zahra and placed her in the stroller. Zohaib and Fahad Bhai said good-bye to each other as well, and they went towards their own cars.

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Faryal organized Zahra's wardrobe and come out of the walk-in closet to Zohaib's room. Zohaib was lying beside a sleeping Zahra on the bed. Faryal silently walked towards the door.

"Wait", Zohaib said in a hushed tone.

Faryal nodded her head and went outside the room and waited for him. Whereas Zohaib stood up from bed carefully, took something out of his pocket and then from the drawer and went outside.

"Take this", Zohaib said handing a credit card to Faryal.

"I didn't insist you to accompany me for paying the bills, you misunderstood. I can pay for my daughter as well", Faryal heaved a sigh and took the card from him.

"I didn't judge you at all, I did what I felt I was supposed to do", He replied.

She realized that he has handed her two credit cards. "You have given me yours's too, mistakenly I guess", she said moving her hand forward to give him back the other one.

"No, Keep it. It's your now", He answered.

"But I don't need it, I have mine already", She said with narrowed eyes in confusion.

Zohaib silently stood there, Huziafa's words echoed in his mind "Bhai If you can not accept her as a wife at least consider her as your responsibility".

He looked into her eyes and said "You are my responsibility".

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