•| supernatural creature |•
•••
humne aksar tumhari hi raahon mein
rukh kar apna hi intezar kiya hai
•••

Out of all the absurd things that could horrendously go wrong, Fidah hadn't once thought of all the rights despite how much Zarrar tried reassuring her.

So it came to her as a surprise when the Hamidi's welcomed her with open arms. Especially Ashraf Hamidi; Dada Jaan who appeared teary eyed as he placed a comforting hand over her head. He looked like he had been anticipating her visit, which was quite unsettling because Zarrar had requested a little time before revealing about their nikkah. Precisely after his cousin's wedding that was going to take place the following week. It reminded her about her father's letter. Did Dada Jaan get a letter as well? How was all this even related?

Fidah decided she wouldn't ponder over it too much. If she was meant to know the truth, she would and she wasn't really keen to willingly disrupt the peace she had procured over the last month.

Other than that, the family was buzzing with eccentricity and celebrations. Nothing quite like what Fidah had seen before. All the reluctance that she felt for coming here flew right out of the window on the first day itself when she was dragged around trialling pretty grand outfits and keeping up with the shenanigans that the family entailed. They didn't for a second make her feel like an outsider and it warmed her heart.

Like right now she was sitting in the kitchen, listening to the gossip of the older ladies of the household, almost like she was one of them.

"Pata hai Baji, wo Shagufta Aapa ke ghar ek nayi-naveli billi aayi hai. Saara din bas bhonkti rehti hai." The maid ranted.
(You know, in the neighbouring house a new cat has come, the entire day it keeps barking.)

"Billi kabse bhonke lagi, Gul." Dina's mother, Aunt Haseena, mused nibbling on cut fruits.
(From when did cat start barking?)

"Arey nahi, wo bhonkti hai, raat bhar bhonki hai. Maine suna hai usme jinn hai." The maid whispered the last part with a ghastly pale voice.

"Gul, chup kar—" before her ridiculous stories could be shut down, Yaseen sauntered inside the kitchen gasping like a fish out of water.

"How dare you all sit here and gossip without me? Jahannum milegi tum sab ko. Jahnannum." He yelped soon after as Dina slapped his hand that was trying to steal the samosas off her plate.

"Tameez karlo, Dina. He is just taking a samosa, not your kidney." Her mother reprimanded, a frown clouding her features.

"Kidney kya mai isse meri jutti bhi bheek mein na doon."

"Bus aap hi meri sagi hai, phupho. Baaki sab to bus churailain lagti hai." Yaseen mumbled, kissing her cheeks ignoring Dina's insults.

"What happened? You were on your way out to meet your friends, no?" Layla questioned, as she wiped the drool that was slipping from Izzah's mouth.

"I heard Mama on the phone speaking to Naila. She is coming to stay with us for the wedding." As soon the words left his mouth a series of distasteful grunts and sighs left everyone's mouth. Fidah was shocked to see Wardah and Little Izzah shaking their heads in annoyance as well.

"Why is Mama calling her?" Layla questioned first, mumbling curses under her breath.

"You know she is planning to bring Naila into the family as Zarrar's bride." Aunt Haseena repulsively piqued. But Fidah's body froze the moment she heard her husband's name linked with another woman's.

"Lala is never going to agree to this." Dina said giving her two cents. Nobody noticed Fidah's statued state as Layla worriedly looked on. She knew this was a mistake, her Lala was a total idiot.

"Lala can better die alone forever but I hope he never marries Naila." Yaseen added.

Fidah's eyes started filling with tears, her senses filling with utter humiliation. Suddenly, Wardah pulled her hand sensing the building tension.

"Play with me." She gave Fidah the perfect excuse to leave the suffocating discussion as she dragged her to the lawn.

"What do you want to play?" Fidah questioned with great difficulty, managing to form a smile. She was so beyond grateful to have been removed from the environment that discussed the possible marriage of her husband, but the thoughts still plagued her. It was like slow poison seeping into her system.

"Nothing." Wardah replied, shrugging her shoulders. "I don't like Naila Aunty, so does Mama, Izzah, Mamus and everyone. I figured you don't like her as well."

"I don't dislike her, Wardah. I don't have a reason to, do I?" Fidah replied ruefully cursing her fate.

"Sometimes you don't need a reason to dislike someone. Zarrar Mamu says some people give bad vibes and it's okay if you don't like them for it." The little girl replied as if she had the wisdom of a few decades.

"That's not a good thing to do, Wardah Jaan. We shouldn't be so judgmental."

"But Naila Aunty is not nice. Mama and Baba always fight whenever she is around."

"I am sure, it's not because of her." Fidah tried reasoning but her heart refused to not believe that this Naila woman was as evil as Wardah claimed for her to be.

"No, it is!" Wardah screamed losing her cool, but when Fidah stared at her wide eyed she smiled cheekily. "She can't marry Mamu. You are already married to him and I—I..you are very nice."

"Thank you, Wardah." Fidah smiled sadly, patting her hair down. Maybe she should have more faith in Zarrar. He had never given her a reason to think otherwise.

But her heart tinged with uncertainty. The fear of losing something that she had accepted as hers with the whole heart broke her to pieces. Zarrar Hamidi had unknowingly become an indispensable thing in her life and she knew she wouldn't survive till the end if things went south.

Her decision to come to this house began haunting her again. She was better off not knowing the ugly side of things. She hated being at the brink of losing everything all over again.

_____

The stars hung above in the velvety night sky as if strung in the air by invisible strings. It was quite possibly the prettiest the night had looked in a while. The air was perfectly breezy, a soft tinge of freshness inking the surroundings.

Zarrar stood up from his bed, stretching his stiff limbs in exhaustion as a tired yawn left past his lips. He nonchalantly eyed the unfinished paper documents scattered on his bed and then the low battery warning on his laptop. His hands itched to tidy everything up and doze off but his mind was just running with numerous pondering problems. He finally decided to go down to the kitchen to grab a shot of sugar infused caffeine not before plugging his laptop into charge. His sleeping pattern was beyond messed up and so was his appetite and at one point he didn't care. His concerns epicentre always being his wife, who he had only seen fleeting glances of since they had come here.

His eyes thirsted to have a proper look at her, hold her hands and reassure her of all the things that bothered her. He was contemplating his decision to reveal their nikkah after the wedding festivities. It felt too far, but he didn't want to burden her with more worries than she already had. Alas, he didn't want to overcomplicate matters more.

He slowly stepped inside the kitchen only to be met with the sight of a woman clad in black, she was facing the other side and was shaking at an abnormal speed. His eyes widened as he looked on at the peculiar sight in front of him.

Was it a burglar? A female burglar?

Zarrar could swear he also heard her sniffing. Yaseen's weird wayward stories of witches and demonic possessions crossed his mind like a movie playing in slides.

What if it was a jinn?

As much of a macho man he tried to be, he still believed in jinns. It was ordained so by Allah after-all. Suddenly the creature started giggling like a maniac, odd song lyrics leaving past its lips.

"Arre O Jumma meri jaaneman
Baahar nikal, aaj Jumma hai
Aaj ka waada hai, dekh main aa gaya
Tu bhi jaldi aa, mujhe mat aur tadpa "

(My beloved Come out, It's Friday today
You had made a promise for today .Look, I've come
You also come quickly, Don't torment me anymore )

Zarrar jerked back puzzled and a tad bit scared at the same time. Was he hallucinating? Delusional perhaps? Had the caffeine overdose finally gotten to his head after all these years?
He rubbed the heels of his palms against his eyes but the sight remained unchanged.

Was this jinn inviting her husband as well?

What the hell?

Zarrar gathered his guts composing himself with deep breaths, blood was pumping hard and fast in his veins and he could hear his heartbeat in his ears. Muttering the duas he blew over Fidah every night he started walking towards it, awaiting the confrontation, just then it broke out singing again.

"Aaj Jumma hai to aaja aaja
Aaja aaja aaja aaja hey."

( It's Friday , so come come
Come come come come hey.)

Zarrar was sweating bullets as he heard the sound of a knife cutting something against the counter. Constantly muttering the arabic verses under his breath, he took small steps towards the creature. Just then it turned around, he barely managed to stumble back in shock. There stood his wife. Dressed in black satin pajama set, a huge black hoodie covered her upper body and her head cocooned inside the hood.

Rubbing a hand against his chest, he cursed Yaseen for putting ridiculous thoughts in his head. Who would've thought the mighty Zarrar Hamidi would be scared shitless like this.

"Zarrar, are you okay?" She held a knife in her hand, her beautiful hazel eyes blood shot.

"Fidah.."Zarrar said, his voice not more than a whisper, "Fucking, Yaseen. I am going to kill that dumbfuck."

"Why are you cursing Yaseen?" She frowned, her cheeks puffing out from the confines of her hoodie. How had Zarrar out of everyone mistaken her for a jinn?

"It's because of his weird stories. I for a second thought you were possessed." He chuckled nervously, rubbing the nape of his neck.

Fidah's eyes widened as she advanced towards him with the knife raised high, Zarrar sinked back against the counter, all traces of humour vanishing from his body.

"Did you have dinner, Zarrar?"
He shook his head negatively, as his hand cautiously wrapped around her wrist, lowering the knife from within her fingers as he placed it on the counter far from her reach.

"Din mein to aap dikhte nahi hain, raat ko bhooton ki tarah nikal parte hain. Some audacity you have to think that I am possessed." She voiced out pointedly.
(You are not seen during the day , by night you roam around like ghosts)

Zarrar flinched at her tone, his hand still wrapped around her wrist. Her round doe-like eyes staring at him in accusation. The first time he had seen that emotion in her eyes and he didn't like it one bit.

" I am sorry. I was so wrapped up in the wedding preparations the entire day and then I had some important things to take care of because of my absence at the office." Zarrar exclaimed apologetically, "I did tell Layla and Wardah to never leave you alone. Did your day go fine?"

On hearing this Fidah became flushed, even in his absence he left no stone unturned to win her heart. She was always overwhelmed by his care and thoughtfulness.

"It was okay. Everyone is nice." Except the news of a certain someone potentially marrying you.

"Why are your eyes swollen? Did you cry?" He worriedly traced her puffed up under eyes with the pads of his fingers, causing her body to react in an agonising manner.

"I-I was chopping onions for making pasta. " Fidah answered, bowing her head down in embarrassment.

" And why were you singing?" Zarrar questioned amused, connecting the dots to why she was sniffing and trembling.

"Bus a-aese hi.." She mumbled cheeks tinting red as her chin dipped low in her chest.

"Bus aese hi gaa leti hai aap?" He teased, his finger looping down her chin and lifted it up to meet his eyes.

"Jee?"

"Ya Allah, kitni pyaari hai aap." He threw his head back and laughed out loud, his dimples on full display and Fidah could only help but marvel. Not because he was handsome or because he was laughing so openly for the first time, but because his face reflected all the adoration she felt for him. He looked like a mirror image of a man she had only imagined, he looked like the perfect man to fall in love with and Fidah was way too close to losing her heart and surrendering to his whim.

"Aap bhi bohot pyaare hai." She mumbled dazed, her eyes lighting up into fireworks.

He grinned cheekily like a teenage boy, his palms resting against her cheeks. She was so absolutely adorable he could just keep her in his arms and never let go.

"Chaliye sahi hai, humari pyaari si biwi ko ek pyaara sa shohar mil gaya." He traced her soft cheeks with his palms, his actions not betraying his emotions. "Why are you making pasta? Did you not have dinner?"

(It's good that my lovely wife has found a lovely husband then.)

"I had dinner but you didn't. I thought of making some for you." She replied like it meant nothing, like it was the most normal thing to do, but his heart  took a leap. It was so thoughtful of her. Nobody ever stayed up for him. They cared enough to ask him to eat but if he refused they didn't bother much knowing how he was. He had never been so dependent to seek someone's care but she made him needy.

He wordlessly leaned his forehead down to hers, eyes snapping shut as he breathed in her scent. She smelled like vanilla and honey. He was tangled up in emotions and longing, all wordless. He hoped, her touch could be his cure.

"You don't have to do anything for me, Fidah.." before she could protest he spoke again, "Just...let me be with you for as long as you will have me."

"Zarrar..kya ho gaya hai? Are you okay?" Fidah questioned, worried at the sudden change in his behaviour.

"I've never been better." He mumbled against her eyebrow, his lips slightly grazing her skin.

At that moment they didn't understand who needed whom more. For Fidah, he was the home that was   protecting her sanity from snapping and for Zarrar, she was his axis; keeping him grounded, she was bringing back bits of his existence he had long locked away.

They slowly moved away from each other, arms still tangled. Wordlessly they walked back to the stove where the ingredients for the pasta were already prepared by Fidah. Like a well oiled machine they worked, passing the ingredients back and forth, tasting and giggling up at mishaps. There was no awkwardness, the sheer monotony and comfort of the other person's presence made everything okay.

"Zarrar I wish I had met you earlier. I wish I had met you when we were kids." Fidah whispered as she giggled up at a joke her husband had cracked.

"I think we were meant to meet like this." Zarrar replied, a small smile on his lips as his finger swiped at the sauce that was on the corner of her cheeks before licking the same finger.

Fidah blushed crimson at the gesture as she averted her gaze looking at the open sky from the courtyard of the haveli. Her eyes drifting to the sight of the sky. She cherished these moments with Zarrar, all alone with nothing but conversations like this.

"Are you sure you don't have a saviour complex?"

"You are far from any damsel in distress, Fidah. You are so unbelievably strong to me. Time has tested you so much already and that's why I just want you to sit back and not stress over unnecessary things. For that if I need to build a saviour complex, I will." He replied, bumping his shoulder with hers.

Gosh. This man was hell-bent on melting her heart tonight. He was just describing the perfect princess treatment which caused Fidah to smile.
"Still..I would have loved meeting you when we were kids. I would've loved introducing you to Baba. I would've loved to marry you... more conventionally?"

"We can still get married conventionally, Fidah. Just  a few more days, I promise. I will fix everything." And he meant it. Normalcy was the least he could offer his wife. The decision to reveal everything as soon as possible solidified. He couldn't fulfil her former two wishes but this was something he could do and he would honestly be damned if he didn't.

Only if they knew, this very courtyard had witnessed their first meeting years back, their first hug in the very place they sat. Zarrar Hamdi had met Rashid Mahmoud and his daughter. The walls of the Villa had been a testament to all the pain and separation Fidah Mahmoud had endured and it seemed like the time was not far from when history would repeat itself all over again.

——
hi guyss!

How was the chapter?

Ik bohot lamba wait hogaya is baar but i was stuck in a terrific writers block, i had a completely different plot in mind for this chapter but i couldn't write it down only.

How is Zarrar and Fidah's chemistry though? Any better than last time?

I have also started a month long internship so i have no breathing space, please adjust this month because I will try being regular after that!

Please leave loads of comments if you want an update sooner!

okay bye, love you

~flawfully