"And we created you in pairs."

"Are we really created in pairs dadajaan?" A 7-year old boy asked his grandfather with a curious look in his eyes. His sister and cousin brother, Abu Bakar, looked between the two, sitting in a circle around their grandfather who was reading Quran to them.

"Yes Aazir Jaan, we indeed are created in pairs. It is written in our holy Quran and we can't doubt it for it is the book of our Lord, Allah and He is All-Knowing." Little Aazir pondered on it for a minute and nodded. Noor-din Khan smiled at his grandson and said, "One day you all will meet your destined one, the one written for you by Allah in shaa Allah."

"Dadajaan, when will I meet my destined one?" Irsia, Aazir's 5-year old sister, asked her grandfather with a huge grin on her face. He smiled down at his brown eyed beauty and placed her in his lap. "Soon my dear, soon in shaa Allah."

"Asalamualaikum bade dadajaan." Noor-din Khan looked towards the origin of voice and met the smiling faces of his brother and his elder grandson.

"Walaikumasalam Sibtain. How are you my child? Come and give your bade dadajaan a hug." Sibtain, a 9-year old boy, came running towards him and stopped when he saw Irsia who was looking shyly at him from her grandfather's lap. Noor-din patted his right leg and Sibtain sat on it and hugged him tightly. Noor-din kissed his forehead and then placed both the children down, closed the Quran and stood up to hug his brother who was hugging Aazir and holding Abu Bakar's hand, who also happened to be his grandson.

"Asalamualaikum bhaijaan." Rehamtullah Khan greeted his elder brother who greeted him back with "walaikumasalam."

"How are you and how is everyone? Where are they?" Noor-din asked looking towards the door.

"Good alhamdulillah. Hamzah and Safa are talking to Baneen and Manahil, and Shahzain is sleeping. How are you bhaijaan?"

"Oh I'm good. Just keeping myself busy with these children." Noor-din looked lovingly at his grandchildren.

Rehamtullah Khan looked at Irsia who was standing with her brother and cousin.

"Is this our little Irsia?" Rehamtullah Khan walked towards her and she hid behind her brother.

"Irsia, he is your chotey dadajaan. Say salam to him," Noor-din said. Irsia held her brother's hand and walked towards Rehamtullah Khan and extended her hand.

"Asalamualaikum chotey dadajaan." Rehamtullah Khan lifted her in his arms and kissed her forehead.

"Walaikumasalam Irsia Jaan. How is my princess?"

"I'm good."

"Come Rehamtullah, let's go to the drawing room and meet others as well."
Sibtain held his grandfather's  hand and they walked towards the drawing room where Hamzah, a 35-year old man with honey brown eyes just like Sibtain's and black hair, was talking to his sister, Manahil, while holding his sleeping baby nephew in his arms.

"Hamzah?" Noor-din called his nephew. He turned around and smiled at his uncle. He greeted his uncle who greeted him back.

"How are you son?"

"Alhamdulillah. What about you uncle?"

"I'm doing good."

Hamzah greeted his nephew, Abu Bakar, and the two children while introducing himself to them. "I'm your uncle. You children don't remember me but we have met before when Irsia and Abu Bakar were born. Aazir you have grown so much since then. You were only two that time and you used to play with Sibtain and Shahzain."

"Who is Shahzain?" Irsia asked innocently.

"He is my brother," Sibtain said a bit rudely emphasizing on 'my'.

"Sibtain she is your little cousin. Behave nicely and say sorry to her," Hamzah ordered his son. Sibtain huffed but muttered a little sorry.

"Shahzain is my younger son. He is of Aazir's age."

"Where is he?" Abu Bakar asked.

"He is sleeping right now but once he wakes up he will play with all of you." Irsia and Abu Bakar smiled and nodded their head.

This lovely reunion of uncle and his nephews and niece was interrupted by a female voice greeting Noor-din Khan.

"Asalamualaikum chacha Jaan." Noor-din Khan turned around and saw a smiling face of 34 year old woman clad in blue hijab.

"Walaikumasalam Safa. How are you?"

"I'm good chacha Jaan. How are you? How is your health?" She inquired.

"I'm as fit as I can be at this age. Did you put Shahzain to bed?"

"Yes. I also went to meet Chachi Jaan in her room but she was sleeping. She was looking very weak."

"Yes Zeba keeps ill most of the time now. May Allah grant her good health. Why are you still standing? Have a seat."

They all sat on a chocolate brown Irani carpet which complimented the cream colored walls of the room and walnut-wood almirahs and began talking about their lives in America and Kashmir.