•| closeness |•

•••
itna kareeb aa gayi thi tum mere,
main soch baitha tha ke tum meri hi ho
•••

"Ohh Allah, I am dying!" The voice of Yaseen Hamidi rang through the expanse of the parking lot, sending an unlikely echo.

"Thoda side mein hoke maroge tum? Unlike you, we have a lot of work to do." Dina Farooqi, his arch nemesis, the bane of his existence, retorted kicking him lightly in the ribs as she carried a blue coloured icebox towards the car.
(Can you more a little bit to the side and die?)

"Dina churail, apni in kaali kaali ankhon se mujhpar gandi nazar lagadi hai tumne. My stomach hurts so bad, somebody take me to the hospital."Yaseen cried out, as he leaned against a pillar.

"Yasi Mamu!! Do you also have a baby in your stomach? Mama was crying like you when Izzie was born." The curious Wardah peeked, touching her uncle's flat stomach.

"Wari, he is pregnant with beghairati and mango milkshakes." Dina mused, eyeing the duo who almost always steered up trouble.

"Will i become pregnant as well if i drink mango milkshakes?" The little girl questioned in horror, her big eyes widening.

"Of course not, Dah-dah. She is just jealous of our love for mango milkshakes. She knows we could never love her as much as them." Yaseen gathered her in his arms, whispering wicked plans to annoy Dina.

"What are you lunatics scheming now? And why were you crying, Yaseen?" Layla questioned entering the parking lot with baby Izzah in her arms, followed by Fidah who held a basket of snacks and sandwiches and Zarrar who had Izzah's stroller.

"Your brother is screaming his lungs out like he is about to give birth."

"Yasi Mamu is pregnant, Mama. Just like you."

Came Dina and Wardah's immediate replies causing the new audience to look at them in horror.

"Yaseen!"Layla screeched, glaring at her younger brother, who just squirmed in nervousness as he hugged his niece to his chest.

Once all the shenanigans subsided, all of them sat in the car, ready to head to their destination. The amusement park. It had been a few days since Layla and the kids were staying at Zarrar's penthouse and it was as lively and chaotic as it could've gotten.

Fidah loved having company, someone to talk to and enjoy things she hadn't done in her teenage years. Layla was the right combination of up tightly strict and hilariously merry, she treated her no different than a sister. While, Wardah was still wary of Fidah, she loved the yummy treats that were baked at her convenience. She hung around Fidah like a ghost each morning, gluttonously staring at her whisk up delicacies. Izzah was incredibly fond of her Mamu's wife as it is, as she drooled all over her cheeks and giggled everytime she was near.

In the last few days, they had built bed sheet forts, had sleepovers, over dosed on ice creams and junk food, held karaoke-movie nights and had luxury skin care dates. Zarrar like the doting man of the house he was, indulged them in all those quirks, seeing how happy it made his wife.

Today they had decided to take a trip to the amusement park as it was the weekend and Yaseen-Dina had decided to tag along. They however didn't know about Fidah and Zarrar's nikkah. To them she was Ibrahim Bhai's far off relative who had run away from her marriage and was living with Layla Aapi. They were after all the ones who had found her on the road with Zarrar so he couldn't entire conceal the truth.

"Yaseen don't." Zarrar grumbled swatting his brother's hand that was pairing his phone to the music stereo, as he drove through the highway that lead to the amusement park.

"Lala, aaj toh khadoosi chod dein." Yaseen whined, rubbing his hand to his chest.

"Shut up!"

"Laash hai aap. Laash. Wo bhi khadoos laash." Yaseen remorsefully mumbled under his breath.

"What did you just say?" Zarrar pinned him with a glare.

"Layli Aapi why is Lala even coming with us? He anyways doesn't like crowds." Yaseen quickly changed the topic, peering at his sister in the backseat.

"Lala doesn't like anything, Yaseen." Layla giggled, smacking the back of his head lightly.

It was true, Zarrar had no intention of going out with these monkeys, but one innocent pleading look from Fidah had him melting. She hadn't actually asked him anything, just her warm doe-like hazel eyes looking at him with so many expectations broke down his stone cold exterior.

"If you don't shut your mouth this instant I will literally kick you out of the car." He threatened, but Yaseen Hamidi was who he was if he didn't get on Zarrar Hamidi's nerves.

His next question was at Fidah who sat, in between Layla and Dina, Izzah on her lap.

"Fidah Baji, so what do you do for a living?"

"Wo koshish karti hai tum jaise logon ke mooh na lage." Dina retorted when she saw Fidah getting uncomfortable at the sudden question.

(She tries to not talk to people like you.)

Zarrar discreetly smirked looking at Dina proudly from the rear view mirror.

"Do you know what Dina does for a living?" Yaseen self proclaimed, as if trying to hide the embarrassment behind the insult. Before anyone could answer he answered himself.
"Wo mera khoon chusti hai."
(She drinks my blood.)

Dina pounced the next instant, pulling his hair and dragging his head over the seat. Wardah who sat in his arms giggled as she tickled her Yaseen Mamu's bent neck. Yaseen didn't know if he should cry from pain or laugh at the tickles so he did both. He let out dying penguin sounds and hippo giggles.

Zarrar and Layla remained unfazed while Fidah watched in abashment trying to cut off the fight. What even was wrong with these two? Soon, enough they reached the amusement park, Yaseen heaving down on his seat his face turned crimson from the assault.

"Ohh you poor thing." Fidah mused, handing him a bottle of water as they got down from the car, entering the amusement part once Zarrar had paid for the tickets.

"Fidah Baji, don't bring my financial status in this please." He replied, his eyes swirling with nothing but mischievousness.

Fidah let out a loud laugh, shaking her head as they walked side by side looking at the rides in awe.

"Aap pehle bhi itni haseen thi, ya waqt ne kiya koi haseen sitam?"Yaseen teased quoting the famous bollywood dialogue and it made Fidah laugh out again.
(a/n: was watching yjhd and my heart couldn't handle itt eeeeh!)

"Aapke layak toh Dina hai. Waise bhi mein ishq ke liye bani hoon Yaseen sahab, flirting ke liye nahi." Fidah giggled back playing along. Yaseen was such a gush of fresh air and meant no harm. That much she knew.
(For you Dina is best. Anyways I am not made for flirting, I am made for love.)

"Aysh! Mehfil loot li aap ne!" Yaseen beamed out, finally he had met someone who would vide with him on bollywood references but his eyes widened in fear when they caught sight of the sterling grey eyes that were glaring daggers in his direction.
"Shit! Shit! I'll see you around, Baji!"

Fidah shook her head at his weird antics as she started moving ahead with a confounded expression eyeing the various rides. She had never been to an amusement park as big as this one. Her eyes drifted towards a giant wheel in the far corner of the park and she wished desperately to get on it. Having no sense of direction she wandered towards it, but suddenly she felt her hand being pulled amidst the crowd she had entered. She froze in fear ready to attack whoever it was, but her husband's gruff voice eased her tension.

"Waise hi ek ho, kho jaogi to mera kya hoga?" She blushed deep red at his words, her sweaty palms easily slipping into his. There he stood in an olive green shirt that stretched deliciously over his broad shoulders and off white pants. His reading glasses were ditched for a pair of expensive brown rimmed sunglasses. On top on his shoulders sat Wardah as she clutched his already unruly curls like the mouse from Ratatouille.
(Already you are just one. If you get lost what will happen to me?)

"Hey!" Fidah smiled softly, leaning close to him. They hadn't interacted as much since Layla and co had come over. Just fleeting glances and faint smiles were exchanged. Now that Zarrar knew Fidah wasn't alone at home he came late from his office like before, while Fidah was preoccupied with the tiny family that he had bestowed upon her.

"Hello, Milady." Zarrar blessed her with the dimpled smile that he reserved just for her.

"Mamu! Let's go theree."Wardah yelped causing the couple to break eye contact.

"Don't you want to go on the rides, Wardah Jaan?" Zarrar questioned, his hand not leaving Fidah's dragging her with him.

"I want to buy butterfly earrings and cotton candy first." Upon her request now they headed towards the various stalls that lined the exterior parts of the park.

Wardah's eyes light up at the sight of the jewellery before her as she pointed up at all sorts of earrings but her Mamu was useless so she patted his head asking him to put her down. Once she was on the ground, she grabbed Fidah's hand and discussed the earrings, who was more than compliant to her wishes and picked out the best of pieces. Zarrar all the while stood behind the two ladies, shielding them from the heat and the anarchic crowd.

"The beetles are for Izzie, she can wear them when she grows up, strawberry ones are for Dins Khala, the sunflower ones are for Mama and these butterfly ones are for me!" Wardah jumped in glee, happy to have found the perfect match.

"Mamu pay up!" She ordered Zarrar who was amused but not shocked. This was a regular sighting for him, Wardah was the only one who knew how to get money out of Zarrar Hamidi's wallet.

"Well well, who are these rings and extra pairs of earrings for?"

"The mango ring is for Yasi Mamu, the ghost ring is for you and those cookies and donuts ones are for her." Wardah whispered the last part as she eyed Fidah who was lost looking at the various anklets in the corner of the shop.

"Why are you whispering?" He frowned, paying the shopkeeper.

"Because I don't know how to give it to her I wasn't very nice." Wardah meekly answered, causing Zarrar's heart to melt into a puddle.

"Why weren't you nice to her?"

"Because you have told me to never be nice to someone unless you actually like them." Yikes! Zarrar had indeed grumbled that to her a few months back. Why you ask? Simply because that's what he believed in.

"Does this mean that you like her now?" He questioned, biting his lower lip trying to conceal his smile.

"You like her as well don't you?" Wardah said, raising a perfect brow at him.

"I do, Wardah Jaan. I do." Zarrar grinned out wide, like the sun of the new dawn breaking free. His eyes twinkling towards his busy wife.

"Silly Mamu."

Soon they were moving away from the bustling shops, a stick wrapped in cotton candy was in Wardah's hand as she sat back on her Mamu's shoulders. Fidah on the other hand, had a serving of spicy masala fries. Sticking close to her husband they wandered around through the various rides. Zarrar devotedly shielded her from the overpowering crowd, buying anything and everything she touched because he knew she wouldn't ask him by herself. When they got on the roller coaster and the fast rides he let her hold onto his bicep, bruising it from fear. Whenever she shot the balloons on the game to win stuffed toys, he cheered out loud. He loved how comfortable she had gotten with him, her touch ignited a warmth in his heart that he had never known before.

Finally the day had come to a blissful end as the sun began to set in the sky, brushed upon the canvas of clouds, it resembled a work of art. Much like Fidah, Wardah and Yaseen were adamant on going on the Giant Wheel, so they decided to take the last ride. Zarrar, however had no intention of getting on the dead contraption. He always had an irrational fear that it would get stuck in the middle. But, seeing how his wife wanted to go with Yaseen and was giggling up plans, he smacked Yaseen and sent him away with Dina and Wardah, while he got on with Fidah in one of the cubicles. Layla and Izzah were left behind in the food court chatting up with Ibrahim on video call.

As the ride started slowly, Zarrar clenched his jaw, his eyes pinching close. This was such a miserable state to end up in. But when he felt a soft palm engulfing his, he calmed down a bit.

"It's okay..look how beautiful the sky is." Came Fidah's soothing voice as she created patterns on the back of his hand with her thumb.

Zarrar barely managed to shudder a breath as he eyed the surreal view beside him. Fidah Mahmoud with the backdrop of the evening hues, violet, yellow, orange and blue.

"Remember you asked me once if I prefer the moon or the stars? I think I have changed my answer."

Fidah hummed gazing at him fondly, her body basking in the newfound comfort that she found in his presence.
"I prefer you, over the moon, the stars, the sun, the night. Over everything."

Fidah simply smiled out wide, her heart slamming against the ribcage at his words. He was so soft with her. Even his tone with her was so different than everyone else. His words so sentimental and full of deep affection. He made her feel special.
"You are so cheesy, Zarrar."

"You love cheese, don't you?" He frowned, remembering how she always added extra cheese to every thing she ate. It was something he had keenly noticed since they had started having meals together. She would always ask Basim to grate extra cheese over her omelette, pasta, bread.

"Do I now?"

"Ched rahi hai mujhe?" Zarrar narrowed his eyes, like a petulant child.
(Are you teasing me now?)

"Jab pata hai ched rahi hoon, toh phir chid jao na." She replied back just as mischievously which delighted every fibre of his being. This was a new shade of his wife, something that he definitely enjoyed.
(When you know i am teasing you, then why are you not taking the bait?)

"Accha, Chid jaate hai phir." He smirked pulling their linked hands over his thighs. This elicited a laugh that he was dying to hear from her this entire day. Something just reserved for him.

"I like seeing you laugh. Tell me ways to make you laugh." He said, looking like the world didn't exist beyond her.

She giggled out again, her body going languid with ease as she leaned against his shoulder, looping her hands around his arm.

"Arey! I am serious, you never laugh freely with me. What nonsense does that gutter rat Yaseen spew to make you laugh like that?" Zarrar grumbled remembering that idiot brother of his.

"He is very funny, you guys just insult his talents to make people happy."

"Do you like him that much?" Zarrar questioned, his skin crawling with jealousy.

"I do."

"More than me?" He whispered to himself bitterly, not even hoping to voice it out loud, but she heard him nevertheless.

"Not more than you, Zarrar." That itself caused him to beam out wide as he leaned closer resting his head on top of hers.

"You know Yaseen calls you Khadoos Laash, because of how grumpy you are to him."

"Do I seem like a Khadoos Laash to you?" He expectantly questioned waiting for her response.

"No, to me you seem more like a coconut."

"A coconut?!"

Fidah grinned at his traumatic expression, moving away from his body.
"Yes, you are soft on the inside and tough on the outside."

When he just looked at her wide eyed, blinking innocently, she continued.
"Do you have a traumatic back story, that caused you to you drown yourself in work turning you arrogant and rude? A girl that broke your heart? Or perhaps an innate evil streak for sadism?"

"Woah, do you think I am some sort of villain that goes about ruining people's lives?" He frowned clearly offended at the thoughts his wife harboured about him.

"Come on, you don't have to hide your past from me. I am not judgemental." Fidah teased, very much tickled seeing her always composed husband rattled at the allegations.

"No! I am a very normal person who prefers silence over crude humour and work over people. Sorry to ambush your fantasy of having a psycho husband who has a past filled with devastating escapades." Zarrar grunted, turning his head away from her.

"So you were born grumpy?" Fidah could barely contain herself from guffawing in his face. Yaseen's presence had surely rubbed off on her.

Zarrar grunted again, folding his hands on his chest, not bothering to reply.

"Zarrar." Her smooth voice called out to him, she was so near and he knew it. Her warm breath was fanning the side of his neck. Her presence did interesting things to his body. All he wanted to do was pin her to himself and take her in all the sacrilegious ways his mind ordained him to.

"Hmm.."

"Won't you look at me?" It wasn't like he didn't want to, he did, Fucking Hell, he did. He knew if he looked at her, he would kiss her senseless and that would either make or break whatever they had built over the past few weeks.

Suddenly he felt her warm fingers right at his carotid pulse, pulling his face in her direction, drawing his eyes to meet hers. And before he could even react, she had placed her lips against his cheeks. Lingering them there a few seconds too long she drew back. Her hazel eyes glazed with emotions that were beyond his comprehension.

The kiss was so innocent, so naive but Zarrar had never understood desire like that before. To have her hands wrapped around his throat, her lips so sinful, so plump.

Fidah Mahmoud was going to end him. She was his undoing and he'd be damned if he didn't give in willingly.

——-

honestly i am having the time of my life rewriting this book lmao.
I love how their story is progressing and I hope you do too.

Yk now that i think of it, Yaseen was a character I wrote when i was incredibly unhinged just like him, now that i have matured a little i can't even pen down his dialogues without giggling to myself at his absurdity. Aah what fun times I had with his character. Something I cherish so much.

Anywaysss, let me know how you liked the chapter! Comment and vote you guyss
Love
~flawfully