“Itni jaldi kyu hai tumhe nikkah ki?”

“Arre koi aur husband aayega tabhi toh aapse dhyan hatega na.”

She said as it was obvious and he looked at her. She looked determined and it scared him. Will she really get married to someone else just to move on from him?

But the main question here was, why was it affecting him? 

The next whole week Asif felt the changes in his own self. With the distance Zainab had started creating, he felt uneasy. He craved her attention. He craved her smiles and giggles. 

He was still unable to understand why imagining her with someone else unsettled him. Or well atleast he denied to understand.

“How can I have feelings for her? Mujhse 5 saal chhoti hai wo! And wasn't I supposed to like Amina? Ya Allah! Ye kya ho raha hai mere saath? Aise ajeeb ajeeb khayal kyu aa rhe hai uske baare mai. Astagfirullah!”

Over the next week, two proposals had come for Zainab and it made Asif see red. Amina’s would be husband’s own younger brother and cousin had both liked Zainab and expressed their wish to marry her. 

Thankfully her parents have put it on hold saying that Zainab was still studying. But that didn't mean they wouldn't accept it later on in future. He had to do something and do it fast. And for that he has to figure out his feelings first.

A few days later, he was scrolling through his phone when his gaze fell ok a quote.

‘The first step of love is not confession, it is accepting that you are in love.’

As if struck by lightning, Asif sat up straight. His heartbeat too fast as he processed it. Was he in love with Zainab? 

He did a Google search about signs of being in love. A laugh escaped past his lips as he finally realised that he was indeed in love with his Chanda.

“Dimag kharab ho gaya hai tumhara Asif. Mazak hai kya koi? Kal tum aaye the ki Amina pasand hai, usne mana kr dia toh aaj keh rhe ho ki Zainab se mohabbat hai. Khel hai kya koi?”

His mother scolded him and he sat with his head bent low.

“Mai jaanta hu ammi. Lekin uss waqt mujhe laga tha ki mujhe Amina se mohabbat hai. Pr shayad sirf attraction tha. Lekin Zainab ke saath maine wo jazbaat feel kiye hai ammi. Sach mai mohabbat krta hu usse.”

His mother did see the sincerity and love in his eyes. She sighed and massaged her forehead.

“Kya bolungi tumahre abbu ko? Bhut gussa krenge wo. Aur Zainab ki toh abhi padhai bhi khatam nhi hui.”

“Aap aaram se baat krna na. Aur aise kehna ki aap chahti hai ye rishta. Aur abhi sirf nikkah krenge na. Rukhsati uski graduation ke baad. Please ammi. Please please please!”

He begged like a little child and she sighed nodding.

“Thik hai. Dekhti hu.”

“Aur haan! Abbu se kehna pichhli baar ki tarah khaane ki table pr hi baat start na krde. Chachajaan se aaram se baat kre.”

With that he moved out and sighed dreamily imagining his marriage with her.

It had been a few days since Asif had the conversation with his mother. His mother told him that his father had agreed to talk to her father and he was impatiently waiting the word to pass on.

Zainab was in her room completing her assignments when the door to her room was opened and her mother barged inside.

“Soi nhi abhi tak?”

“Kuch assignments bache hue hai ammi. Wo hi complete kr rhi thi. Uske baad soungi.”

Her mother hummed and sat before her. She caressed her face and Zainab looked at her mother suspiciously.

“Kya masla hai ammi? Aaj itna pyaar kyu dikha rhi hai aap?”

“Kya matlab hai iss baat ka? Mai waise pyaar nhi dikhati tumhe?”

Zainab shook her head and said.

“Aap waise toh daanti rehti hai mujhe.”

She received a smack and Zainab scowled while rubbing her hand.

“Dekhiye! Abhi bhi maar rhi hai.”

“Achha wo sab chhodo. Zaruri baat krni thi tumse.”

Zainab raised her eyebrow in question and her mother got serious.

“Rishta aaya hai tumhare liye. Tumhare abbu ko manzoor hai. Tumse ye puchhna chahte hai ki koi hai jisse pasand krti ho ya abbu rishta pakka krde?”

Zainab was surprised. Her abbu had declined two other alliances because of her studies. Who was this guy her father was not able to decline?

“Pr meri padhai?”

“Kaun rok raha hai padhai se. Abhi sirf nikkah ke liye bola hai unhone. Rukhsati tumhari graduation ke baad hi hogi. Ye batao koi aur pasand hai?”

She couldn't say yes because Asif definitely didn't like her and she didn't want to say no but she had no other option.

“Nhi ammi koi pasand nhi hai. Aapko aur abbu jo thik lage.”

Her mother beamed and kissed her forehead.

“Allah tumhe khud khushiyan bakshe! Mujhe pura yakeen hai Asif tumhe khub khush rakhega.”

Zainab nodded with a faint smile until she realised what her mother said. Her head snapped up and she asked.

“K-kya naam liya aapne ammi?”

“Asif! Tumhare tayaabbu aur tayiammi ne rishta bhijwaya hai tumhare liye uska. Masha Allah! Khub jodi lagegi dono ki.”

Her mother gushed and Zainab froze. Asif? Her Asif? And her tayiammi had sent the alliance? It wasn't possible! It had to be Asif himself. She knew her tayiammi would not suggest this until she completed her studies. It had to be him.

After her mother left her room, she sprang up and ran towards his room. She was about to bang on his door until she realised the time and knocked softly instead.

Asif frowned hearing the knock. He was surprised to see Zainab standing there.

She fumed and pushed him while entering inside. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and huffed angrily.

“Kya hua hai? Itni der raat tum yaha? Sab thik hai na?”

“Ye baat mujhe puchhni chahiye! Dimag thik hai aapka? Chahte kya hai aap? Pehle aap mujhe reject krte hai ki aapne kabhi mujhe uss nazar se nhi dekha aur aap meri aapi ko pasand krte hai. Aur uske baad suddenly mujhe pata chalta hai ki aaj janab ne mere liye rishta bhijwaya hai. Ab ek dum se aapko realise hua ki aap mujhe nikkah krna chahte hai?”