Lost in wonder | محوحیرت

Unedited:

Woh jo gheet tum nay sunna nahi,

meri umer bhur ka riyaz tha.

Mere dard ki thi daastan,

jise tum hansi mein urha gye.

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Zahra took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes. She glanced around, her parents were asleep with their hands wrapped around her. She straightened her head from the crook of her daddy's neck and tried to sit down.

"Zahra sleep beta", Zohaib said in a hoarse voice. Zahra squeaked in reply.

"Shhh Zahra, your Ammi is sleeping", Zohaib cautiously removed Faryal's hand from Zahra, she mumbled something in her sleep.

Zahra sat down. He encircled his hand around Zahra, placed his head in her tiny lap to limit her movement, and closed his eyes. Zahra pulled cum squeezed his ear first and then started nibbling it. He hissed because her teeth were sharp but didn't stop her.

Zahra was giggling and speaking her gibberish in between.

Zahra stopped and frowned. She turned her head and called out "Ammi". She was trying to crawl towards Faryal. Zohaib stopped her and she started crying. Faryal woke up when she heard Zahra's cries.

"Why are you crying love?", Faryal said. Zohaib removed his hand and she went towards her Ammi.

"Good morning Zahra", Faryal pampered her with kisses. She blew raspberries on Zahra's tummy, Zahra held her face in her hands and chortled

"She woke up too early than her usual timing", Faryal said.

"Because she slept early last night", Zohaib replied. He closed his eyes. Zahra turned her eyes towards him and went towards him to wake him up. She pulled his eyelids. Zohaib didn't budge. She pulled his eyelids again, this time forcefully, and started nibbling his ear.

"Zahra, no. Bad manners", Faryal shook her head and pulled her back. Zohaib's ear was already red. "Your daddy will get hurt".

"It's okay", Zohaib mumbled.

"Go kiss your daddy", Faryal instructed her. She starred her Ammi.

"Go Zahra", Faryal said softly. Zahra moved forward and kissed his left cheek and looked back at her Ammi. Faryal signaled her to kiss his right cheek and then his lips and she did exactly what she told her. Zohaib smiled.

"These were apology kisses, Zahra won't bother you again daddy", Faryal said in a baby voice and placed Zahra on her lap.

"Then I'm always ready for these kinds of apologies", he chuckled.

"You won't get these kisses every day, they are limited. Haina Zahra?", Faryal replied

"Let see how limited they are", he raised an eyebrow.

They were busy with Zahra when they heard a knock on the door. Zohaib went to open the door.

"Heyy", Meesha said.

"Hey, Meesha", Zohaib replied.

"Glad to see you too Zohaib", Meesha said and walked past him into the room.

"Meeshu", Faryal quickly got up from the bed and hugged her tightly. "I thought you were seriously not coming".

Meesha broke the hug and said, "Fary will call me and I won't come, impossible". They both smiled. Meesha turned her head towards Zahra.

"Zahraaa, my baby", Meesha sat down beside her and took her into her lap. Faryal settled down beside them on the bed. Zahra seemed happy to see her Meeshu khala. Zohaib went inside the washroom.

"I was coming yesterday but Ayza's parents were supposed to come today, they had some work so uncle (Faryal's baba) said that I and Fahad should accompany them", Meesha said.

"Uncle aunty came too?", Faryal questioned.

"Yup",

"Oh, I should go and meet them", Faryal stood up quickly put on the slippers, looked at her clothes, and after a few seconds sat down again.

"What?", Meesha raised an eyebrow.

"I can't go like this downstairs", Faryal replied. Meesha observed her, she was wearing an oversized maroon sweatshirt with black tights.

Faryal cleared her throat and said, "I was feeling cold in my night pajamas so Zohaib gave me his sweatshirt".

"Your husband's clothes suit you", Meesha smiled.

Faryal's heart skipped a beat hearing the word husband used for Zohaib. She smiled too.

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"I've talked to Roshni's parents about Uzair, they seemed interested", Aunty (Ayza's mother) took a sip of tea.

"That's great", Tayi Ammi smiled.

"When will we go to ask her hand for marriage, I've been waiting for this moment for so long I'm so excited", Mahum cheered.

"I've invited them here, I hope Amma Jan you won't mind this because I didn't ask for your permission", Aunty said to Faryal's Amma Jan.

"Aray beta it's completely fine, Uzair is our child too", Amma Jan said.

"Does it mean they are coming to see Uzair bhai? Roshni will be coming too?", Mahum frowned.

"Yeah", Aunty replied.

"That's absurd", Dadi phupho scoffed. "How can a girl's family do this".

"Bushra we can not keep forcing our archaic believes on our children. If the boy is getting married the girl is getting married too, both the families have equal rights to figure out what's best for them. How the kids are meeting, where they are meeting should be our least of interest. If the world is changing for the better we should encourage it instead of criticizing it. Let the kids negotiate if they see a future together or not. You already know how difficultly Uzair agreed for all this", Dadi jan very politely tried to explain her point to the Dadi phupho.

"Umm yeah, I think it's better this way, the meeting will be casual for the kids.", Mom agreed.

"Hmmm", Dadi phupho hummed but her facial expression showed her displeasure.

"When are they coming?", Dadi Jan asked aunty.

"Tomorrow", Aunty stated.

"I'm so happy", Mahum said to Faryal.

"Me too", Faryal smiled.

"I think we should start preparations for lunch. It's the time already", Tayi Ammi said to mom.

"Tell me the menu I'll manage everything", Nadia baji said.

"No Nadia, you are here for the holidays. You and Azra (Faryal's baba house help) will just relax and enjoy. The caretakers are here to assist us anyways", Mom said.

"I'll help you too", Aunty said.

"These women are literally goals, haina?", Meesha said.

"They are", Faryal agreed.

"What should we cook?", Tayi Ammi asked for everyone's opinion.

"Mom can you help me to cook something today?", Faryal asked looking at Mom.

"Sure, why not. What do you want to cook Fary?", Mom asked.

"Hmmm Daal makhani", Faryal replied hesitantly.

"Daal makhani", Mom repeated her words, and a smile crept across her face. Faryal nodded.

"Hainn? From when did you start eating pulses?", Meesha scrunched her eyebrows.

"I never said I don't like pulses", Faryal said in her defense.

"You would never touch it forget about liking it", Meesha replied. "Amma jan can tell us who is right".

"Priorities can change after marriage and that's totally fine Meesha beta. If Faryal wants to cook daal makhani I'll help her.", Aunty said.

"Thank you aunty", Faryal smiled.

"By the way, I won't tell Zohaib Bhai that someone has a surprise for him", Mahum whispered. Faryal's face flushed. Mahum knew it.

"Zohaib likes it...Oooooo", Meesha elbowed Faryal. "Now I got it".

"It's not what you both are thinking...I'm cooking it for myself", Faryal tried to mask it but the evident blush proclaimed her embarrassment. " Believe me or not I always wanted baba Jan to taste something I've cooked".

"We will believe the last part though", Mahum winked.

"Yeah sure. Go, cook it for yourself our very own Master chief", Meesha and Mahum laughed.

Faryal went to the kitchen with Tayi Ammi, aunty, Mom, and Meesha.

Aunty gathered the ingredients and cut the onions and tomatoes. She instructed Faryal step by step. Huzaifa came inside the kitchen to drink the water.

"You are cooking something?", he asked Faryal.

"Yes", Faryal smiled.

"Okay, it means I'll have to keep my stomach empty till then because I'm going to eat a lot today", he smiled.

"Hopefully it will be edible", she said nervously.

"It will be", he assured her. He looked at Zahra, she was sitting on the table, playing with the fruits.

"I'll take out Zahra from here", he picked up Zahra.

"She might be hungry", Faryal glanced at the wall clock. "Tayi ammi is making porridge for her".

"I'll send it, once it cools down. You can take her out Huzaifa", Tayi Ammi stated.

"Ji Tayi Ammi (yes)", He said and left the kitchen.

After some time Mahum came inside the kitchen and sat down on the kitchen island. She picked up an apple from the fruit basket and started munching on it.

"Mahum go feed this to Zahra", Tayi ammi said giving her the bowl.

"Sure mama.", she got up from the kitchen island and asked"mama do you know where is Zahra?",

"She is with Huzaifa", Meesha said nonchalantly.

"Oh I was thinking to help you in the kitchen please ask Faryal to feed Zahra", Mahum said quickly.

"Can't you see she is busy here", Tayi ammi replied.

"Then Meesha can feed Zahra", Mahum stated.

"Mahum", Tayi Ammi gave her a stern look.

"Achaa (okay)", she scrunched her nose. "Mama please ab aesi qatilana nazro say na dekhen, ja rahi hun ( Mama please don't give these murderous looks, I'm going).

She strode out of the kitchen disheartedly. "Here I got scolded by mama, now I'll have to bear his tantrums. Waah Mahum, what a fortune", she blew out the air from her mouth.

She looked around for them and spotted them after a few minutes on the balcony. He looked at her questioningly.

"Mama told me to feed Zahra", She said.

He didn't say anything and made Zahra sit on his lap. Mahum dragged a chair for her and sat down near them.

A lighter fell from his pocket. She looked at the lighter and her eyes shot open.

"Huzaifa do you smoke?", she gasped.

"What?", he frowned.

"How can you smoke knowing it's injurious to health? Oh My God",

"What are you sayi...",

she didn't let him complete his sentence.

"Does anyone know about it...I'll tell them. CHACHI JA....", he placed his hand on her mouth to muffle her screams.

"Why are you screaming? have you gone nuts?", he whispered angrily.

"Mmm", she was trying to speak.

"chatter patter krthi rehthi ho samne walay ko mouka tou do baat krne ka (You keep speaking non-stop, at least give a chance to another person to speak)", he shook his head.

"By the way, I don't need to justify myself to you", he said.

She struggled to remove his hand. "I'm removing my hand but no screaming this time, got it?",

She nodded. He removed his hand from her mouth. She took a deep breath and asked "It's injurious to health, how can you do that to yourself?", she asked softly this time.

"Tum b tou mera khoon peethi ho dimagh khathi ho uska kya? wo nuqsaan deh nahi hai seht k leye. (You suck my blood and screw my mind, about it? Isn't it injurious for health?)", he questioned.

"I've never done anything like this. It's you who keep bothering me", she shrugged. She started feeding Zahra again. They both remained silent, this time it was only Zahra who was talking in her own language.

"And I don't smoke", he said out of the blue.

"You are not lying?", she glanced at him doubly.

"I don't need to lie", he rolled his eyes.

She took a spoonful of porridge and extended it towards Zahra's mouth, and asked, "Then why are you having a lighter in your pocket?",

"Lighter?", he wriggled his eyebrows. She signaled him to look on the floor.

"Oh so all this fuss was because of this lighter", he heaved an audible sigh "I took it from the kitchen to light up the heater".

"Oh",

Zahra was throwing most of the food out of her mouth with her tongue. Huzaifa was cleaning Zahra's mouth with tissue paper every now and then. Mahum was observing him.

"You like kids?", She asked.

He glanced at her and nodded his head.

"Oh I love kids too, you know whenever I see Zahra and Faryal together I just want to get married have kids but dad....he keeps refusing marriage proposals saying I need to do Masters first. Who will tell him that I don't want to do masters I've other plans", she laughed.

He stopped and looked at her with wide eyes. Mahum kept blabbering until their eyes met. She froze and covered her mouth with her hand. She placed the almost empty bowl on the table and ran away from there.

"Ya Allah what have I done?", she thought. "Why can't I keep quiet ufff".

Huzaifa starred at her retrieving figure and chuckled. He picked up the bowl in his hand and mumbled, "She is unpredictable".

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Everyone settled down on the floor to have their lunch.

"Today's meal is very special for me because our daughter has cooked something for all of us", Mom kissed Faryal.

"Tabhi tou mein kaho aj khanay ki khusbho hi alug hai (That's why I was wondering why the food smells so different today", Baba jan said happily.

"I just hope you all will like it Baba jan", Faryal said.

"Don't worry dear, go sit down. I know it will be great", Mom said. Faryal sat down beside Zohaib. Zohaib was trying to control Zahra from going towards the food pots.

"Come Zahra", She took Zahra from him and placed her on his lap. She picked up an empty plate and spoon and gave her to Zahra to distract her. Zahra started playing with it.

"Give me the daal Makhni Faryal has cooked", Mahum said.

Zohaib looked at Faryal and raised an eyebrow. She smiled and looked away. Everyone appraised Faryal.

"Mmm It's so yummy Haina Zohaib?", Meesha said in a low voice. She was sitting beside him.

"Yeah", he nodded.

"Hath bi choomay ja sakthen hai wese (You can kiss her hands too)", she whispered. Zohaib choked on his food. Mahum and Meesha laughed. Faryal looked at them questioningly and handed a glass of water to Zohaib.

"What?", Faryal frowned.

"Nothing", Mahum shrugged.

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Faryal was lying on the bed beside Zahra. Zahra was deep asleep. Faryal picked up her mobile and went through Zahra's photos and videos. She realized Zahra was growing up so fast without her being realizing it. The Zahra she met for the first time was so small and here she is going to be 1 year old in less than a month. Whoever said that time flies, it really does.

She kept flipping through the pictures and suddenly stopped when Zohaib's picture came. It was not the normal one. Zohaib's face was adorned with silver glitter, his nose with red colo and he was asleep. She remembered that day and her lips twitched up into a smile.

Zohaib silently tiptoed in the room. He bent down to speak to her but stopped when his eyes fell on the screen of her mobile. He snatched it from her hand. She quickly sat down on the bed.

"You captured it that day?", he asked in a low surprise-filled voice.

"I...", She tried to take it from his hand but he backed off.

"Delete it", he stated and went away.

"No way", Faryal gathered the pillow around Zahra and followed him.

"Okay let me see it", she said. He handed her the cell phone. She went through the gallery and ran away from the room once his eyes shifted from her. He strode out of the room following her. She was running in the corridor.

"Faryal you cheated", he said loudly.

"I didn't say I was going to delete it", She giggled, glanced back, and ran down the stairs. He started running too and in no time he was near her.

"Ahhh nooo", she shrieked. "Mommm". She stood behind a sofa.

"Zohaib why are you bothering her", mom said.

"I'm not bothering her, she is bothering me",

"Please I'm not giving it to you", she whined.

He jumped over the sofa and snatched the mobile from her. She whooped. He gave her a full-bloomed smile.

"Give it back to me, it's mine", She tried to grab it from him but he stretched his hand upward. She jumped but couldn't reach it.

"Tch tch you are small", his eyes twinkled with amusement.

"I'm tall but you are a giant", she jumped again.

"Fary let it be betay", Baba jan said.

"Babaa", she whined. "I want it back".

Huzaifa silently went towards him, snatched the mobile, and threw it towards Faryal.

"Faryal come on, run", Huzaifa stated. She quickly ran away.

"Huzaifa", Zohaib turned around. Huzaifa shrugged.

"I'll deal with you later Huzaifa", Zohaib said and went after her.

He looked for her but she was nowhere.

"Where did she go?" he mumbled. He heard her feeble chuckle. He turned around and saw the corner of her dupatta behind the door. He smiled and carefully went there.

"Hey" he whispered.

She dodged him and started going backward, her hands crossed behind her back. He took one step forward she would take one backward.

"Faryal stop", he said when he realized there was a swimming pool behind her.

"I won't delete it, it's mine", she stuck out her tongue. He stopped but she kept going back.

"Don't delete it, just stop. I was teasing you. You will fall in...." before he could complete his sentence she fell into the water with a splash. She screamed so loudly that everyone rushed towards them.

"Faryal", Zohaib dived into the swimming pool. The water was extremely cold. He took her into his hands and came out of the swimming pool.

"She is unconscious", Zain said worriedly.

"Take her to the room", Amma jan said. Her baba panicked.

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Faryal dropped to the floor in front of the fireplace and crossed her legs. She streched her hands towards the heater, she was terribly shivering. Zohaib wrapped his jacket on her shoulders from behind and sat beside her on the floor. Zahra was also there, lost in her rhymes playing on the t.v.

In a few minutes her body warmed up and she stopped shivering. Zohaib was looking at her with an amused expression. The scenario played in in front of his eyes again, he tried so hard to stifle his laughter but couldn't stop himself and burst into a fit of laughter.

She snapped her head towards him and looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Sor..sorry...haha", Zohaib said in between his laughter attack. He laughed so much that tears formed in his eyes. He wiped the tears at the brink of his eyes and blew out air from his mouth.

"Hogya apka? (Are you done?)", Faryal asked in a serious tone. Zohaib paused, he cleared his throat. He knew she was mad at him. His lips twitched into an awkward half-smile.

She got up from the floor, went towards Zahra and picked her up in her hands. He frowned.

"Zahra we won't sleep here tonight", she said loud and clear, and took steps towards the door. His eyes shot up and he quickly got up from the floor.

"Wait, what do you mean?", he stood in front of her, stoping her in her tracks.

"I fell in the ice-cold water and you are making fun of me", she wriggled her eyebrows and pouted.

"No, you can't leave", He moved his hand forward to take Zahra from her.

"Zohaib don't even think of touching my daughter. Mein bohut ghussay mein hun hathen hamre aagay say ap (I'm very angry, get aside.)", she stated.

He raised his hands in the air. "I'm not touching, just don't go", he said. He thought for a moment and said "It's cold outside where will you both go".

"The lamest excuse", she mumbled and rolled her eyes. "We are going to sleep with baba jan. Good night". She said and strode forward leaving him standing in the middle of the room. She placed her hand on the door handle but before she could turn it Zohaib came and pushed the door.

"Get a side Zohaib", she said looking at him.

He shook his head and stood in front of the door with his back pressed to the door. He folded his hands across his chest and stared at her.

She blew the air from her mouth and said "Zahra tell him we won't stay here".

"Zahra tell her if you both are going I'm accompanying you too", he replied.

"Zahra tell him to have some shame. Why would we take him along when we are upset.", She said.

"Zahra tell her keep standing there I won't let her open that door", he replied cooly.

"You can't do this to us", she turned her head towards him.

"I can", he smirked. She tried to pull the door but it didn't move even a bit. The funny thing was that Zohaib was not even applying much force.

"If you are stubborn I am stubborn too", she said and kept standing there. Zahra kept looking at the t.v over her Ammi's shoulder.

"Fine", An amused smile crept across his face.

Seconds turned into minutes but none of them were ready to back off. She was tired of standing there, as she was holding Zahra as well. She fetched a deep breath.

"Don't tire yourself Faryal. Go back you know I won't let you go", He said.

She didn't reply and sat down on the floor, with her back pressed to the wall. She surely was tired.

He shook his head and sat down beside her.

"Are you mad at me?", he asked in a low voice.

She nodded, her eyes were fixed on the Zahra who was sitting on her lap.

"Why is Zahra mad at me?",

"Because her Ammi is mad at you", she whispered.

"Manaya ja saktha hai Zahra ki Ammi ko? (Can I appease Zahra's mother?)",

Finally she moved her head, looked into his eye and said "Kaan pakarhnay hongay (You'll have to hold ears)".

"Not a big deal", He moved back, held Faryal's ear in his hands, and said "Look, it's done".

"Zohaibbb", she gasped in disbelieve and elbowed him. "I'm serious, hold your ears not mine",

He faked a hurt expression, placed his hands on his chest where her elbow just touched him and said "Uff now you will torture me physically. tch tch sangdil aurat ( Merciless woman)".

She looked at him with a stoic expression. Zahra crawled out of her lap and went back to the place where she was sitting earlier.

He held his ear in his hands. "Ab khush? (Happy?)". He looked at her hopefully.

She removed his hands from his ears and held them in her hands. She slightly bent towards his direction and whispered into his ears "What if I tell you I wasn't mad?".

He snapped his head and caught her eyes. "You were acting?", he asked in bewilderment. She nodded and smiled mischievously.

"From where are you learning all this?", he narrowed his eyes.

"Aap say (from you)", she shrugged.

"Woah, great", he said and started tickling her.

"N..oo..sto..p....stopp plz", she said in between her laughter.

"You are ticklish", he stopped tickling her.

She took deep breaths and said "Very".

"I thought you were seriously leaving me here alone", he said huskily and went near her.

"I knew how stubborn you are", she whispered back.

"Zohaib I won't delete that picture", she said. He moved back and said, "If you don't want to then don't do it. I promise I was just teasing you. I had no intention of deleting it".

"I fell in the swimming pool just because of your teasing. Thank God my cell phone didn't fell into the water but its screen is cracked", she pouted.

"You are not the only one who can act", he laughed. He mentally noted to buy her a new phone.

She thought for a moment, stared at her hands, and gulped. She glanced back at him, his eyes were already fixed on her. She gathered her wits and covered his eyes with her hands. She moved forward, pecked his cheek, and quickly moved back.

A smile appeared on his face. Her sudden move caught him off guard. She could feel warm blush creeping across her face. She turned her face away from his eye. He side hugged her and placed his head on her shoulder.

He took her hand, placed a kiss on it, and said, "Thanks for the Daal makhni, it was delicious". She smiled.

"You liked it?", she asked.

"I loved it", he replied.

I feel love when I look into your eyes,

I believe if you move out from my side,

I'll be losin'

I'll be losin'

grip on you, grip on you.🎶

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Assalam u Alikum/Namaste, ❤

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