|| S H A N Z E ||

I looked at my mom's lap where Mahira had put her head. They both were talking nonstop and wiping each other's tears.

"Go and join them," Dad's voice came as he stood beside and looked at them.

"Not now. Let her comfort Mahira," I told him, moving my eyes away from them with a small smile.

I could wait but not her. Mahira needed this more than me, after all what happened to her recently was due to me. I took a deep breath and walked back to check the dinner I was cooking with dad.

"Shanze, you both are our daughters. We hid this all in fear. And the reason why I and your mom never had any object in marrying you both in the family was also because of this. This is our own plan and no one has anything to do with this. Even Zeeshan tried to talk to us to let you know the truth but I denied–"

"I am not blaming him, dad," I told him softly, stirring the pot on the stove.

"Talk to him, Bache," He said with a sigh, taking the ladle from my hand.

I lowered my eyes and hummed, stepping back and letting him cook. Before dinner, I and Mahira returned to our parents house. I just took my phone and followed my parents, without glancing at Zeeshan. All honestly, I was a little scared of facing him. Even though I knew he loved me, there was a part of me that was scared.

And scared for more than one reason but in all this, I never blamed him. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive. He saved me when the people who gave birth to me were about to kill me and he saved me now when the people of the past wanted to kill me.

Luckily dad didn't dwell much in this matter and quickly cooked dinner. We both set the table then called mom and Mahira. During dinner, mom fed both of us with her own hands then tucked us in the bed in Mahira's bedroom.

Just like how we used to sleep by holding hands in childhood, right now we both slept holding hands while mom hummed a lullaby for us.

The next day when I woke up, I was alone in the room and the clock was striking 1 pm. I got up slowly and went to freshen up in the washroom.

"You are up on time. I made breakfast for you."

As I stepped back in the washroom, I found Mahira making the bed and informing me. I paused and looked at her for a few minutes, wanting to say so much but other than her name nothing could come out.

"...Mahira.."

She turned to me slowly with quilt slipping from her hands. Her eyes filled with tears and in a second, she stood in front of me, wrapping her arms around me and putting her head on my shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around her back and let my tears slip. There was so much I wanted to say but no word was forming. We both cried on each other's shoulders for a long time.

It wasn't until my heart calmed down a bit, I was able to whisper.

"I'm sorry, Mahira. Half of your life's misery is because of me," I closed my eyes as a sob escaped from my lips.

"No. It was all my own fault. I could have backed away first but I didn't and fell on that pit on my own. If not for you and Hasan, I wouldn't be saved," She pulled herself back and held my face gently in her hands.

"He approached you because of me and your marriage..," I trailed off while she wiped my tears with her thumb.

"Like I said, my own fault. And I don't mind marrying Hasan," She told me with a genuine smile.

She wiped my face then took me to the dining room. She made pancakes for me and sat beside me while I ate.

"Don't worry about me. You just focus on your family. Have you called your husband?" She asked me, putting another pancake on my plate.

"I.. I am pregnant, Mahira," I told her slowly, watching as the knife fell from her hand on the plate.

She looked at me with her wide eyes filled with surprise then she moved her eyes to my stomach.

"I am going to be khala," She smiled brightly then laughed with happy tears.

"Oh my God! Congratulations," She squealed and hugged me.

"But he doesn't know. I fear he will self blame himself. He didn't want to follow the plan but I forced him... I am scared, Mahira," I told her in a shaky voice, looking down at the plate in front of me.

She froze then sat beside again and silently stared at me.

"No one knows?" In a quiet voice, glancing here and there, she asked.

I shook my head, "Except you and Hasan."

She looked at me in confusion when I took Hasan's name.

"When Zeeshan stayed in the village for the aftermath and told Hasan to have my complete checkup in the city's hospital," I explained to her.

She nodded her head slowly then asked, "Now what will you do? You have to tell him."

If he blamed me, I would have told him but I knew he wouldn't blame me. Till now, he had lowered his head many times for me and it had made me realize that this time he would lower his head again and blamed only himself.

I finished the breakfast silently and watched as both mom and dad also joined us on the table. For two more days, we stayed here and at night us both sisters talked endlessly and the majority of topics were related to her unborn niece or nephew.

Mahira kept this news in her heart and didn't share it with our parents, for me. On the third day, I finally dialed Zeeshan's number.

No one said anything but deep down they had been worried knowing I was ignoring Zeeshan. I bit my lower lip as I put the phone against my ear. But on the first ring he answered like he had been waiting for this call.

No one made any sound other than my heart. I sat on the bed and looked out from the balcony door.

"When are you coming to take me home?" I asked him quietly, fidgeting with my dupatta nervously.

"..Tonight?" He sounded equally nervous like me.

"I'll wait for you," I closed my eyes and told him quickly before ending the call.

• • •

After I told everyone that Zeeshan was coming out, dad invited the whole family for dinner. I wanted to help mom in the kitchen but Mahira took that task and told me to rest.

The baby was so well behaved that I doubt every now and then that I was expecting a baby if not for the medical reports and Mahira's extra care now and then.

Instead I helped dad in the dining room, doing little labor then went to my room to get ready. I changed into a green trouser and kameez, with pale golden embroidery that began from the neckline to the waist. After combing my hair and letting them open, I applied a little makeup, foundation, blush and red lipstick.

Slowly everyone began to arrive. Grandparents, Rania Appi with her family, Yusma Phupho with Hasan following her who moved to stand beside Mahira after greeting everyone. Seeing my sister's having a good relationship, I felt my heart settle.

My eyes constantly moved to the door, waiting for Zeeshan. This wait was making me reckless as I realized not seeing him for three to four days were like years. When he went on a business trip, I wasn't like this but now things inside me were changing.

"His plaster hasn't been removed so it's most likely he'll arrive with Baran Mamu," Hasan's quiet voice came from behind me who I didn't know when arrived behind me.

"And you know how slow Taya Abu's driving. They'll be here in half an hour maximum. Till then sit and let your feet rest," Mahira was also standing behind me, adding quietly.

I turned to look at them and nodded slowly. Deep inside I was worrying about Zeeshan's arm and feeling like a bad wife who forgot her husband's injury.

This half hour passed so slowly for me. I was trying my best to mingle with everyone attentively but my attention was moving towards the door.

Finally what felt like a decade when a horn sounded ending my wait. I was about to stand up quickly but Mahira pressed my shoulders and didn't let me.

"Be careful," She scolded me quietly while sitting on the armrest of the sofa beside me.

I pouted but apologized quickly for making her worry about me. This time I stood up slowly and turned towards the door from where Taya Abu and Taiama entered. I greeted them with a smile and looked behind them but saw no one.

The smile was slowly slipping from my lips when I found no trace of him. I exhaled slowly then turned back.

"He didn't come...," I whispered to Mahira dejectedly.

"Look behind one again," She told me, pressing her smiling lips together and nodding behind me.

With a skip of heartbeat, I turned around and found myself unable to breath or blink. Here he was standing in front of me, in black salwar kameez with his hair neatly combed. His silver watch was shining brightly on his wrist and underneath I knew very well what it was that black string. But soon my eyes were drawn to his injured arm that was in the arm sling.

"It will be fine in a week or two," He told me when I didn't move my eyes away from his arm.

I nodded my head slowly and moved the strand of hair behind my ear.

In the living room, I sat beside him and held his hand secretly hiding behind my dupatta. He was talking with men while I was with females. My reckless heart was finally settled completely knowing he was beside me and from now on nothing would happen to us or anyone around us.

After dinner, I sneaked out with Zeeshan to the roof. I held his hand and looked at him under moonlight.

"I am sorry," I mumbled, looking into his eyes.

This apology was for everything, especially for his arm and his favorite car.

"I never felt wronged by you, instead it should be me asking for forgiveness. My intentions to marry you from the beginning were never pure," He told me, closing his eyes briefly with guilt in his voice.

"When I kicked you out of home, I realized what would happen if that wasn't an act. How terrible would you feel and how ruthless would I become," He opened his eyes slowly and stared into my eyes with self hate.

"But you didn't. Maybe your intentions weren't pure in the beginning but they were slowly. I am glad you saved me, Zeeshan. Otherwise how would I have met my stupid donkey," I joked at him at the end to lighten his mood and move my other hand on his cheek.

He chuckled and leaned in my touch, rubbing his face.

"You know falling in love with you was never on my agenda but it happened and now I can't stop myself from falling more for you. I love you, Shanze," He whispered lovingly and looked at me like I was his whole world.

My heart picked its beat and beat unevenly and my breath slowed down, blush rushing to my cheeks.

In front of my eyes, he moved down on his knee slowly and brought something out of his pocket.

"Can we start all over again with pure intentions this time?" He asked me, holding two gold bracelets in his hand.

I nodded my head and quickly moved my both hands in front of him. He put each on my both hands and stood, wrapping his arm around me and kissing on my head.

I rested my head on his chest and played with the strap of his arm sling.

"I'm pregnant, Zeeshan."

Suddenly, I felt something falling on me as I broke the news. I held him in my arms and watched as he fainted.

"Zeeshan!!!"

• • •

"And he fainted just from hearing this news?" Grandma confirmed once again while laughing.

I nodded my head slowly feeling shy and didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

"Congratulations, my Bache. Always be blessed and happy," Grandma gave me her blessings with a smile and patted my back.

After her everyone congratulated me then began to make plans for the baby who hadn't been born while its father was unconscious inside the room.

"Where... where is my wife...?"

Half an hour later, Zeeshan's trembling voice sounded as he looked around hastily. He stood up quickly and rushed to me, standing in front of me.

"Yo..u were-n't joking?" He stuttered, holding my hand.

"No, I wasn't. You are going to be a father," I told him slowly and squeezed his hand.

He looked at me for a second then fainted again.

"Zeeshan!!"

This time dad and Hasan caught him and put him back on the bed.

I put my hand on my forehead and sighed helplessly, feeling flustered inside. While everyone began to laugh again at Zeeshan. Puffing my cheeks, I sat back with the ladies feeling funny at my husband's behavior.

The second time he woke up, he was better and didn't faint but kept quiet while looking at me. My cheeks were constantly turning red due to his attention.

"Back to earth, Zeeshan," Grandpa patted his back forcefully, bringing him back.

"It's so much fun to see him like this now. Just imagine if he is like this then how will he behave once his child is born. Ahh! I can see my great grandchild taking our revenge on him. I have never forgotten how this reckless kid used to make my blood boil," Grandpa rubbed his hand and joked like he was enjoying seeing Zeeshan like this most.

I leaned against Taiama's shoulder, putting my head there, and glanced at Zeeshan shyly.

"Have you checked with the doctor?" Finally, he talked like a normal person and asked me.

Everyone stopped talking and joking then looked at me.

"At Peshawar. Doctor said the baby's fine and healthy like a miracle," I told him, knowing what he was worrying about.

He nodded his head and rubbed his hand on his face.

"I'll go and buy sweets," He stood up quickly then went out without waiting for anyone's response.

I bit my inner cheeks and just looked silently as Hasan and Osman Bhai, Rania Appi's husband, went behind him.

"Don't worry about him," Taiama patted my head and whispered.

I hummed then moved my eyes back to everyone. Later the three men returned with sweets. Everyone was having a good time, added with this good news and teasing Rania Appi's little daughter. Only he was a little silent and seemed absent.

When we were returning home in Taya Abu's car, I and Zeeshan sat in the backseat. Occasionally Taya Abu and Taiama talked, keeping the awkwardness away from the car.

"Zeeshan..."

I called him as we both entered our bedroom. I stepped forward and hugged him from behind.

"Don't blame yourself. Please. Didn't you say to start again. So let's forget all the past. Please. Nothing happened to me or the baby," I requested.

He turned around in my arms then put his arm around me with a sigh.

"Luckily nothing happened or I would never forgive myself," He kissed my head.

"I just noticed something you know," To change the mood, I shifted the topic.

"What?" He asked me as I moved back from his arms and went to sit on the bed.

"My husband is a Bangladeshi," I said, looking at him.

He looked at me in shock and confusion, forgetting his low mood momentarily.

"But I am–"

"Green with a tint of red," I smiled and added, putting my hand on my mouth as I watched him finally smiling.

"Thank God. She didn't call me Chinese," He mumbled, looking at me.

Now it was my turn to be confused.

"Huh!" I narrowed my eyes in confusion.

"Shuru hote hi khatam hojana or else I have to prove," He added with a smirk and gave me you know what I mean look.

(Ends as soon as begins or else I have to prove.)

I just looked at him silently then raised my eyebrows slowly, debating whether to tell that he just roasted himself or not. But before I made a choice, his eyes widened in realization.

"No- wait-... You know that's not how I am," He quickly defended himself, moving closer to me.

"It's ok. I understand." I controlled my smile and gave him an answer seriously in sympathy.

How didn't I realize my husband was really stupid but cute...

. . . . . . . . . .

If anyone is still thinking that this book has cousin marriage trope then please reread last two chapters. No couple has any blood relation with each other.

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