CHAPTER 12

“Asif I wanted to discuss something…. Its been long that I wanted to talk to you about this” Saba said she was looking very serious Shehry, Hussain and Maha were going to wall street and they were alone at home Saba thought it was the right time to talk to her husband about that

“han Kaho na what's wrong?” He asked

“Asif its about Shehry and Maryam”

“What about them?”

“I like her and I think Shehry likes her too, She is a decent girl we should talk to aqeel Bhai… what do you think?” Saba explained

“Hmm han achi Bachi hea but don’t you think k its too early to take such step for both of them… Shehry has just got a job in fact, few of his credits are still left in Uni and Maryam has recently been through so much… am not saying that it’s a bad idea but it's about right time Saba” Asif said and Saba remained silent

“Did you talk to Shehry?” Asif asked

“I asked him and I think his reply was positive, asif umer to yei sai hoti hea isi umer mein kisi ka ho jana kisi ko apna lena asaan hota hea bad mein jese jese umer barhti hea masle berhte hen, hamari bhi to aese he hui thi kia hujm khush nai? Or perhai to hoti rahe gi Jahan tak Maryam ki bat hea to Asif she deserves happiness and love doesn't matter what happened to her it wasn’t her fault if it written in her destiny” Saba said and asif nodded

“Hmm, you are right, I like her too Chalo let me talk to Aqeel about this… but Saba its very important to know what Maryam thinks about her future, so I guess you should better talk to her in person first” Asif said

“Yeah, okay I will, what about call them over to dinner or lunch we can talk then” Saba proposed

“Yeah, that will be good… okay, I will call and inform Aqeel” Asif said and Saba smiled.

“What are you thinking bro?” Hussain was deep in thoughts when shehry poked him

“Bollywood” hussain said dreamingly and Shehry laughed loud

“Wow bro! Why laughed? Ek din ay ga jab mere bhi ye bare bare poster lage gen, cinema house full ho Jaya Karen Ge, autographs… photographs” Hussain said dramatically and Shehry laughed again but this time Hussain threw a pillow at him angrily

“Man there is absolutely no doubt in all this I believe, but seriously dude, you need to do something about all this… what about feroz khan’s offer?” Shehry got serious he knew how solemn Hussain was about all this Bollywood

“Hmm, I don't know yarr m not sure about that” Hussain said worriedly

“I think you should think about this more seriously Hussain” Shehry said and Hussain nodded

“Shehry beta I need to talk to you” Saba entered into their room and asked “ Hussain beta Maha was calling you” Hussain got that he was no more needed there so he didn’t say anything and went out

“Yup, mom… what's that?” Shehry looked at her

“I hope I didn’t disturb you two?” Saba sat near him and asked politely

“c’mon mom kesi baten ker rai hen…..” Shehry felt embarrassed

“Beta me and your dad was talking about your future… I mean your wedding” Saba said and waited to see his expressions he was dumbfounded

“wedding????” Shehry asked, confused

“beta humein tumhare liye Maryam buhat pasand hea… buhat achi larki hea phir Aqeel bhai ki dekhi bhali hea ub to woi guardian hen us ke… we thought of talking to him but tum se poochna pehle banta tha…” Saba told him he kept silent didn’t say anything

“But Mom…. Do you think Maryam wont have any issues with all this?...I mean after her divorce and all that she must be hating this marriage thing” Shehry said seriously

“Hmm beta we thought about all that too, your dad said that he will talk to Aqeel and discuss everything but beta Maryam is still just a 20 year old girl she is really naïve and innocent she may be hate to get married now, but she doesn't know life is a long journey she won't be able to lead it all on her own… one day she would be needing a life partner” Saba explained and Shehry nodded

“What if she doesn't like me?” Shehry said hesitantly and Saba chuckled on his expressions she took his hand in hers and smiled at him

“Bet you are my hero… my ever loving, obedient son who is excellent at anything… everything, you are just perfect for any girl Shehry and as far as liking is concern she likes you I think and so do you… right?….” Saba said and Shehry looked at her in a shocking way

“Ummm… how do you know that mom?” Shehry asked, looking down

“well maa hoon tumhari beta mere sari rat bethne se to theek hue nai Maryam k kaarhe foran asar dikha diya….hmmm?..wese kaarhe ka he kamal tha ya kuch or???” Saba teased him and he chuckled at her

“That kaarha was so Yukkiiii mom” Shehry said and rolled his eyes

“hahaha that means kamal Maryam ka tha us k aane se theek ho gaye janab?” Saba said and Shehry smiled

“chalo phir kal sham ko hum unhen khane pe bula rae hen tab he bat Karen ge” she said and got up and Shehry got shocked again

“Kal?....itna jaldi?” He asked

“Well, dunno about you, but I seriously can't wait to bring my Bahu home” Saba said and went out of the room Shehry was smiling ear to ear when he felt a hard punch in his stomach

“Ooowww…. That hurt man!...Are you mad?” Shehry hold his stomach while Hussain was glaring at him angrily

“Who… what? If you are hungry bro go eat something from the fridge not me” Shehry rolled his eyes

“You didn’t tell me about all this…… itna sab ho Gaya and I didn’t know anything” hussain complaint

“I didn’t know, mom dad are thinking like this… she just told me now” Shehry said innocently

“okay okay….jao maaf kiya,,,wese dil mein to ladoo photo rae hon ge naaw…hea naw …hea naw!” Hussain jumped to his side of the bed and smiled ear to ear

“aeeewaeen…koi laddo shadoo nai” Shehry made a face

“But I like her…. as my bhabi;)” Hussain said seriously and Shehry smiled at him…. He was indeed his best friend best brother and companion

“But am afraid she would say no, ” shehry said after thinking something

“ohooo nai sochte aesa dekh lena she will say a YES” Hussain said firmly and hugged him tightly

Next evening Aqeel along with the trio were at Shehry’s place, Aqeel and Asif were discussing in the hall Saba and the girls along with hussain were in the kitchen busy in giving final touches to the dishes Saba had made, while shehry, Waqas and Atif were in the room playing X-box.

“So man…. You made a sixer han but I don’t like this how can you get married before me?” Waqas complaint inbetween racing on the X-box

“hahaha nai nai am not getting married before you bro definitely will wait till your band baja” shehry said smilling

“wese its good you know this will give Waqas a kick” atif smirked at Waqas

“Kick???” Shehry asked

“to or? Salman khana ki kick nai dekhi? Jab tak teri nai hoti na mangni shangni waqas ne thande bethe rehna tha” atif explained and they laughed

“Bro, I was kidding…. You get married and stay happy and there is no way am getting married any time soon” Waqas said

“leh!...ye q? tu gay hea?”  Shehry winked at him

“Yeah, yeah very funny….. beta filhal tu apne pe concentrate ker, baki ko chor” waqas said and Shehry smiled

“Hey! Where is Hussein?” atif suddenly asked

“He is in the kitchen….. Cracking his stupid jokes ever” Shehry said and they all laughed

“Wow aunty you are best cook… seriously, this pudding is yummy” Mehroo tasted the mango pudding and complimented Saba, she smiled, they were busy in taking out food in dishes and arranging them on the buffet table in the hall

“My mom is the best around the globe” hussain kissed her cheek and smiled

“beta Hussain go call waqas and all khana thanda ho jae ga” Saba said and Hussain went out of the kitchen

“Maryam beta, please put these bowls on the table and these platters as well” Saba handled her the things she held all of them her both hands were engaged into things when she came out and bumped into something hard

“Ooww…..” Shehry hold his stomach as the platters crashed into him, but at the same time he managed to save them from falling down

“Oh! Sorry…. laga to nai?” Maryam asked

“Ummm, no am fine, that’s okay… tum theek ho?” He asked, confused what to say

“Yeah… am okay” Maryam smiled they kept silent for a minute neither of them moved Maryam waited for him to get aside so that she could go out to the hall but he kept standing there staring her saying nothing

“oye majnoooo….” They were in their thoughts when suddenly Waqas patted shehry’s head and Maryam turned red Shehry got aside and she quickly ran to the hall

“kia hea yarrr…kia masla hea tumhara” shehry said irritated

“kia begerteez ho rai then ye?” waqas asked to copy Shehry’s style and Shehry rolled his eyes on him

“teri timming bhi kamal hea bhai” Shery made a face to him and Waqas chuckled

Dinner went excellent everyone enjoyed the food

“bhabi your food always reminds me of Asia… what excellent taste you have in your hands… asif yar you are a lucky man” aqeel said during eating and they all laughed at the end remark while Saba just smiled

“mein to kehta hoon meri in do nakara betion ko apni shagirdigi mein le lejiye….kuch bhala ho jae ga mera or in k hone wale miyaaon ka”

“Dad……” Aqeel said and mehru rolled her eyes at him

“And you know what dad..now we don’t have to learn all this maryam hea na she is just a perfect cook is k hath k khane khane k bad ap ko hamare hath ka to kachra lage ga” nabeeha said and Maryam smiled

“Yeah, I remember the kaarha…. That was damn yummy” shehry looked sideways to Maryam and said and she turned all red

“han han bhai to kaarhe ki tareef ker ker nai ruk rae thy us din” hussain smirked at him and Shehry showed him the knife he was holding in his hand

“ basically maryam is jack of all kind of a person…knows it all you know” mehru winked at her

“Stop discussing me….” Maryam gave her deadly look and she laughed

After dinner Mehru, nabi and Maryam went to make coffee and green tea to everyone while the boys took the platters off the table and put them into the Hoover….

“shabash shabash kam karo kam……future mein bari madad kare ga tumhari” waqas said to Hussain who was arranging the platters in the hoover and he made a face at him

“Yah yah but it goes for you too Waqas…. Shadi ka plan nai kia?” nabi said and they all laughed

“na bhai……mein nai kerni shadi wadi filhal to buss Shehry ki shadi mein naachne ka plan hea…..” waqas put his hand around Shehry’s neck and said

“dekh ker le shadi…ye na ho kal ko tere bache tujhe baba ki bajae dada dada kahen…..” Shehry smiled and said

“Dude right now you should be worrying about your kids…. Meron ko Bhool ja” waqas said firmly and shehry blushed

“oye hoy……. Shehry you are blushing… My God!” Mehru looked closely at him and laughed

“Ummm, who wants coffee? And who wants green tea?” They were talking when Maryam came and asked

“Well the elders want green tea, we all want coffee and Shehry would love to have kaarrhaaa” Waqas explained and at the end winked at shehry who stabbed a fork in his tommy…. Maryam smiled at them and went straight to the kitchen

“kaarha kaarha kaarha….pata nai q banaya tha mein ne wo kaarha”

“Mom, we all are going to grab some ice cream you all want to come?” hussain came inside the hall where the elders were talking in a grave serious tone

“Ummm, no beta you go and have fun…..” Saba smiled at him and he said okay

“Mahaaa…. C’mon, we are going to have ice cream come down lets go!” Shehry yelled Maha was in her room

“So what do you think aqeel?” Asif asked as all of them were gone

“Well, I think it’s a very good idea, and it's for their good I mean they hardly got time for discussing anything amongst us so they must go out and try to get to know each other” Aqeel remarked

“ So done! I will talk to Shehry about this” Saba got excited

“You look too happy bhabi” Aqeel smiled

“Aqeel Bhai you won't believe how happy I am, I just want Maryam as my bahu I just can't wait  to bring her home” Saba said and Asif and Aqeel smiled and nodded their heads

Next day Aqeel called maryam to his study she made his favorite adrak wali chae  and went to see him

“chachoo you wanted to talk?”

“Yup… come sit” aqeel said and she sat near him on the couch many files were placed here and there on the table, study was quite big having different shelves covered with books, aqeel removed his specs and looked softly but deeply towards her

“What happened chachoo you look quite serious is there anything wrong?” Maryam searched his face

“beta jab betion ki shadi ki umer ho jati hea to baap ko sanjeeda hona perta hea na” Aqeel said

“So you are worried about Nabi and Mehroo?” Maryam asked

“nops am worried about my elder daughter…..am talking about you beta” aqeel explained and maryam got shocked

“beta you got a very good proposal” aqeel told her

“But…. chachoo… how can this be possible, I can't marry” Maryam said confused

“Why? Why you can't marry?” aqeel asked

“chachoo you know the reason… I.. I am a divorce chachoo and above that I don’t want to marry again” Maryam said, looking down at the rug tears spool in her eyes

“Maryam beta I am not buying your excuse…..Beta you can't spend your life alone right now you are young independent, but a day will come in your life when you will crave for a life partner…. Beta nobody can live alone” Aqeeel took her face in his hands and wiped away her tears

“But… chachoo I can live alone… ap bhi to rahe hen na akele  why didn’t you get married?...You know exactly how difficult it is then how can you ask me to do this?” Maryam said in between her sobs

“Beta I wasn’t all alone… I had Mehru and Nabi they were perfectly enough for me and secondly I was afraid to bring a step mom for them…. But it's different for you” Aqeel explained

“Okay… then even I am not all alone, I have you, Mehru and Nabi and I don’t want anyone else in my life” Maryam said firmly but Aqeel smiled

“You are such a child Maryam…..Beta there is no doubt that we all are with you, but one day Mehru and Nabi would get married and I will be gone from your lives…. Then that day you will be needing someone…. Someone who could hold your hand” aqeel tried to convince her

“But chachoo I can't marry again…. Please!” Maryam pleaded

“Beta he is the best person I know him even you know him” Aqeel said and Maryam looked at his face

“Who?”

“Shehryaar…..”

“Who… what? Shehryaar…. No chachoo please” Maryam said and got up

“Beta asif and Saba put this proposal in front of me…. they have no issues with your past beta agar unhen koi masla hota to wo kehte he na…… and I think Shehry likes you as well” Aqeel got up as well and said Maryam who was leaving the room stopped in her tracks

“They put the proposal?....but why chachooo…..Shehryaar can get better girl much better than me… then why a divorce?” Maryam asked

“Hmm, why don’t you ask him yourself?” Aqeel smiled at her

“What do you mean?”

“Beta I think you two should go out spend some time together and then decide what you want”

“And…. And I don’t want to hear a NO…” Aqeel told her and when he saw her arguing he firmly instruct her and smiled cutely at her

“chachoo that’s not fair” Maryam made a face and headed towards the door to leave 

“You both already knew this, right?” Maryam came to her room and saw Mehru and Nabi smiling ear to ear at her

“Yup!....” Nabi said proudly

“But you all know…. I can't marry again” Maryam said helplessly and sat on the bed

“Maryam, we know you….. And your feelings too, but please try to understand its about your whole life… and honestly, you can't live alone, nobody can, and above all Shehry is too good for you I know you both got feelings for each other” Mehru said and winked at her at the end

“No…. Absolutely no… I don’t feel anything for him” Maryam said firmly and crossed her arms at her chest

“okay baba man liya…man liaya  you don’t feel anything for him…but you know that HE DOES”  mehru said  almost loosing her temper

“So?.....What can I do for that?” Maryam behaved like a total idiot

“You can do a lot…. You can give him a chance, you can give life another chance…. You can be happy again Maryam, that moron was not worth ruining your life for” Nabi put a hand on her shoulder

“Shehry Is such a good person Maryam you know this too….tum ne he kaha than a k won a hota to tum aj yahan na hoteen” mehru reminded her

“I know he is good…. In fact he is too good to be mine Mehru, he deserves someone far better than me, I am just not good for him…. I am a divorce, why don’t you all understand this?” Maryam said and took her head in her hands Nabi and Mehru looked at each other in a worried way

“This is all you are thinking Maryam…. May be shehry aesa soch he na raha ho, maybe all this Rohan episode doesn't matter to him…. Don't decide everything on your own at least go meet him and then finally decide” Mehru took her face in her palms and said softly

“Please Maryam give him a chance…. Just once, maybe it works” Nabi said and Maryam weakly nodded at them.

“That’s like our strong Maryam, I know God has something hidden for you...something far better than you even think” Mehru smiled and Maryam smiled too