I have never really been a morning person. This whole idea of waking up at five in the morning and going for a walk, making your own tea and breakfast is beyond me. Even when I was doing my college, I used to pull all nighters for studying. 

And this, boys & girls, is the reason why I only wake up when the sun literally summon me to do so by disturbing me with its light. I know, romantics would say that the mesmerizing sunrays infiltrate the room and play hide & seek, but who are we even kidding? It doesn't play hide & seek, it outrightly glares at you with its annoying heat. 

Usually I don't talk so much in the morning, because it's really hard to even remember my own name at this early hour of the day, but here we are! I am in a good mood, however, when I open my eyes & look around, the man who caused the good mood isn't within my sight. 

I guess, he is an early riser! Sighing, I get off the bed and make my way to the bathroom. After taking a warm shower, I towel dry myself and change into a beautiful maroon coloured suit while my damp hair are left open to dry.  

Standing in front of the mirror, I apply some kajal and gloss and my mind goes back to the bangles that he gifted me last night. An instant smile rushes to my mouth and in my defense, I try my best to cut it, and well, fail miserably. Smiling, I take the box out from the cupboard and take matching set of bangles out from the box. 

I can see how my cheeks turn a shade similar to my dress when I wear the bangles and they adorn my wrists perfectly, as if they are made for me. I was midway admiring them when there is a knock at the door. I walk towards the door and open it only to find Saad there. 

Our eyes meet and I blink them while he just watches. Takes me in. On its own accord, I bite the insides of my mouth when he doesn't say anything, that shy feeling returning again. 

S - Ammi se kehkar apna sadqa de dijiyega! - he then says and all I can do is to blink my eyes. 

Blood rushes to my cheeks and I am sure he can see that I'm flushing right now. As if to confirm what I already know, he chuckles a throaty laugh out before moving inside the bathroom of our room. 

What is happening? My heart is hammering. I've never behaved like this before. 

Not wanting to delve too much into this Saad-induced-haze, I quickly get ready and move out of the room towards the living room. Saad's parents - Mr. Haris Bahadur Qureshi & Mrs. Shireen Haris Qureshi, are sitting there as they sip on their morning tea. 

Shireen - Arre, kitni pyaari lag rhi ho, Beta! Come here, sit with us! - she says sweetly. 

Q - Salam, Aunty. Salam, Uncle. - I greet as I sit beside her. 

Shireen - Bete, ab Ammi-Abbu bol sakti ho! - she pets my hair lovingly.

H - Koi pressure nahi hai, Qaynaat. Beta, you can address us whatever way you want but just know that you'll always be a daughter to us, not a daughter in law. Tum Saad, Ayaan aur Gazal ke barabar ho iss ghar mein! - he says and I feel myself tearing up. 

Q - Ji, Abbu! Ammi, main breakfast bna dun? - I ask, smiling. 

Shireen - Nahi, Beta! Tum rest karo, shaadi ke functions se exhaustion ho gya hoga. Bas aaj tumhari pehli rasoi hai, toh lunch mein tum sirf koi sweet dish bna dena? If you're comfortable! - both of them are so sweet. Now I know where Saad gets it from.

Q - Okay. - I smile when she pours a cup of tea for me. 

We sit there for some time while I & Ammi talk about things and Abbu reads his newspaper, interjecting in between when Ammi asks him something. 

"Good morning, Bhabhijaan!" - an enthusiastic voice comes and I turn my head to look at the source. 

Ayaan. Saad's younger brother and a professional photographer. And besides him is Gazal, the youngest Qureshi sibling. She is studying graduation right now. 

Q - Good morning, Dever-sahab! - I say with a smile on my face. 

Ayaan sits on the floor with his back against the sofa where Ammi is sitting while Gazal sits on the armrest of the sofa where Abbu is sitting. 

A - Bhabhi, ab aap aa gyi hain toh hum bahot masti karenge. Woh Gazli toh Saad Bhai ki chamchi hai! Aapne meri team mein hona hai, deal hai? - I smile at the demand but before I can respond, Ammi beats me to it.

Shireen - Ayaan! Tang nahi karo meri bachi ko. Pura din sirf shaitaani sujhti hai isse! - she smacks his head lightly, earning a laugh from Gazal.

A - Ji ji Ammi! Saad Bhai toh aapke shehzaade hain, aur Gazal Abbu ki pyaari, mujhe aap log udhaar laye the? - he says dramatically and I can't stop my laugh at that. 

S - Ayaan, aise bhi mat bol ab! Tujhe udhaar nahi laaye the, bas...dargaah ke paas se uthaya tha! - Saad says with a straight face and that takes me by surprise. Man can do jokes as well?

A - Abbu! Dekhlein ab Bhai ko! - he whines, making all of us laugh more. Aap hans rahe hain? - he frowns now and I feel bad. 

Q - Mere devar ko tang nahi karein! - yes! ladies & gentleman, that's yours truly! I blink as a look at Saad and his expression of mirth transforms into that of surprise when he looks at me, with all his attention on me. 

A - Thankyou, Bhabhi! Khair hai! Koi hai toh jisme reham hai!  - he speaks dramatically and everyone smiles. Even Saad. He looks at me as if he never wants to look away. As if he doesn't have anything or anyone better to look at. I love his eyes!

Shireen - Chalo bachon, sab nashta karlo! Sabko kaam par bhi toh jaana hai phir. - she says as she gets up from the sofa. Aap bhi aa jayein! - Ammi says while looking at Abbu and he nods.

A - Chal oye, Gazli! Love birds ko thodi privacy toh dedein! - Ayaan says as he puts his arm around Gazal's shoulder and both of the younger siblings laugh while I just look down at my feet and I am sure Saad is giving them a hard glare right now.

S - Ayaan! Beta, Ammi ko pta nahi hai ke tumhare late night photoshoots kab khatam hote hain! Bta doon? - he speaks sweetly and the younger brother now has a horrified look on his face. 

A - Kya bhai? - he attempts to chuckle. Chal Gazal nashta karte hain. Badi bhookh lagi hai! - he says sweetly and waves us a bye. 

G - Kahan jaate ho photoshoots ka bolkar? - she asks her brother while they walk towards the dining table.

S - Nashta karlein, Saeba Qureshi? - he asks and I can spot a hint of tease in his voice. 

I only nod my head while blinking in an answer as I walk towards him. He holds his hand out & I slip mine into his. We walk towards the dining table and Gazal passes me a cheeky smile on seeing our intwined hands while Ayaan hoots slowly. Saad just rolls his eyes as we sit on our seats and the house-helper, Najma Khala serves us breakfast which is an affair of subtle teasing from Ayaan & Gazal while Ammi & Abbu just watch over with smiling faces. 

After breakfast, Abbu & Saad move to the study to discuss work while Ayaan, Gazal & I play some video games. It is near noon when Ammi makes her presence that I remember that its my pehli rasoi today. 

Shireen - Beta, continue with your game. It's fine! - she says, ruffling my hair softly. 

Q - Nahi, Ammi! In fact, main soch rahi thi ki khaana main bnati hun aaj! - I offer nervously. 

Shireen - There is no need, Beta! Sirf koi bhi sweet dish bna dena...ritual ho jayega! - she tells me.

Q - I really want to cook. - I assure. 

Shireen - Are you sure? - I smile at her frown.

Q - Yes! - I nod my head. 

Shireen - Okay! - she says before petting my head lovingly making me smile wider. 

I finally start working in the kitchen after much convincing that needed to be done to get Najma Khala & Ammi to get some rest.  

Taking out the vegetables from the fridge, I chop them and then marinate the paneer for preparing Paneer Tikka for starter and wash the babycorn for preparing crispy chilli babycorn. For main-course, I'm thinking to prepare something Thai as that's Saad's favourite apparently. No, I didn't stalk him or inquire about him. Gazal happened to slip up about his favourites and that's how I know that his favourite cuisine is Thai & South Indian, and I might as well know that he used to be a huge Marvel fan as a kid. Ayaan told me that.   

I get the ingredients ready for preparing pad thai noodles & honey-garlic glazed salmon. I put the rice noodles to boil before starting to marinate the salmon. 

S - Badi mehnat ho rahi hai, Saeba! - he says from behind and I jump at the sudden voice.

Q - Oh mere Allah! - I shriek when a spike of pain shoots through my fingers to the whole of my body. 

S - Qaynaat! - Saad's voice comes out panicked when he holds my hand & rushes me towards the sink. 

The blood keeps flowing from the finger where there was a cut when he places my hand under the tap water. 

S - I am so sorry, Qaynaat. I didn't know you were using a knife. I'm really sorry! - he says, the cut on my finger pains him. 

Q - Aap dabe-paanv kyun aate hain? - I say, a frown forming on my face on its own.

S - Main toh bas -he sighs. I am sorry! - he repeats again with the same genuineness. I bite on my lip to stop the smile from spreading across my mouth. Aap thik hain? - he asks with concern audible in his voice while he slowly dabs his handkerchief on my hand to dry it.

Q - Ji! - I say dramatically. Bilkul tan-durust hoon. - I speak while he looks at me with those eyes. My smile pulls out a small smile on his face too. Dekh nahi rahe hain khoon beh rha hai! - I then say with my brows scrunched and he blinks his eyes, half surprised and half concerned from my tantrum.     

S - Uh, I'll go get first aid. Just wait a second. - he says before making he way out of the kitchen. 

Bade bade vaade kardiye khaane banane ke! Ab kaise bnaungi main! 

Saad rushes towards me the next minute and holds my hand as he makes me sit on the chair that was placed at the corner of the kitchen. He crouches on his knees and slowly applies the ointment on my finger before wrapping it up with a bandage. 

Q - Mujhe lunch bhi prepare karna hai abhi! - I say & I'm sure my lower lip puckers out in reflex. 

Woman up, Qaynaat! Stop being a baby-gurl! You can do it, c'mon! Allah malik hai! 

S - Uh, Kya bna rahi ho? - he asks nervously. Main help kardun? - he asks & I stop myself from rolling my eyes. 

Q - Aapko khaana bnana aata hai? - I ask haughtily. A small smile graces his mouth as he simply nods. Firki le rahe hain meri? Hat'tein, main khud hi bna lungi! - I say as I move towards the platform. 

S - Aapko chot lagi hai, let me help you. Btayein, kya bnana hai? - he follows me.

Q - Saad, it's okay. Chhoti si chot hai, maine waise bhi Ammi ko promise kiya tha that I'll prepare lunch today. - I say and he smiles while looking at me. I frown, why is he smiling?

S - Acha lagta hai, jab aap unhe Ammi kehti hain! - uh, stop it! Why are you making me blush? I'm trying to be pissed at you! Aur ab, Saeba, aap baithe aur apne shauhar ko hukum dein! - he says. Okay, I don't think I can be pissed really! He's too cute. 

Q - Par maine vaada kiya tha! - I don't break my promises. 

S - Qaynaat, aisa thodi hai ki yeh aapka aakhri din hai yahan! Pehla hai! Aap kal bna dijiyega, when your finger gets better. Hm? - he explains slowly and I don't know anymore. My heart beats at an unusual speed, he makes me blush all the time.

Q - Okay. - I say. He's right, it's not my last day here. Aaah! Stop! I'm shy!

Saad smiles before he brings the chair closer to the platform and asks me to sit. 

S - Btayein, kya bnana hai? - he asks & I bite the insides of my lips. 

Q - Maine socha tha, starter ke liye paneer tikka aur crispy chilli babycorn banane. And, for main-course pad thai noodles and honey garlic salmon, aur dessert ke liye-

S - Saeba, humare nikkah ki daawat ho chuki hai! - he chuckles, making me flush again. 

However, refusing to show him my embarrassment, I give him a pointed look & that makes him turn towards the stove again. I watch as he starts preparing the food with confident & precise movements as if he knows what he is doing. The sleeves of his kurta are now rolled up to his elbow and his muscles flex every time he move his arms. Within an hour & a half, he is done with the starter & the main-course. 

S - Dessert ke liye kya bnana hai? - he asks while cleaning the slab.

Q - Kheer? - I suggest when he turns to look at me.

He smiles & nods before grabbing the container of rice to start preparing the kheer. 

Q - Saad? - I call him when he is busy stirring the rice in the milk at the stove.

S - Ji, Saeba? - he speaks distractedly.

Q - Thankyou. - I say honestly. He turns to look at me with a funny look on his face, as if what I say surprises and confuses him. 

S - You don't have to thank me! - he smiles and I feel my heart-beat fastening. Waise...aapne Thai bnaya, aapko pasand hai? - he asks, standing sideways, as he looks at me while still stirring the pot at the stove. His question pulls out a smile on my face and I shook my head in answer.

Q - Aapko pasand hai! - I say and there it is - that tinge of pink on his cheeks. 

He doesn't say anything, simply smiles and gets his focus back on the kheer. I watch him.

S - It's done. Aap ek baar sab taste krlein? - he says once he is done putting all the food in the trays and cleaning the slab. 

Q - You've even prepared thai cashew salad & green curry? - I'm actually surprised at how amazing the food looks & smells. My mouth is watering.

S - Ayaan & Gazal love the salad! - he tells, making me look up at him.

Q - You're very close to them? - I ask, a small smile on my face.

S - I am. - he smiles. Family se kaafi close hoon! - he tells me & it only widens my smile.

Q - That's - I notice something on his jaw. Probably some food he smudged. really sweet. - my hands reaches out to him as I rub off the curry stains off his jaw, in a complete reflex. I only realise what I am doing when his eyes find mine and he looks at me with an intensity I find myself squirming under.

I pull my hand back and my eyes lower down on their own while I can still feel his gaze on me. Those butterflies from last time return in multifolds and flap their wings in the pits of my stomach. 

Shireen - Qaynaat beta, can I come - Saad, tum yahan? - Ammi's voice break our trance as both of us snap our head towards her. 

S - Uh, ji Ammi, paani lene aaya tha! - he says smoothly and my neck turns towards him in such a speed I am afraid I sprained it.

Shireen - Acha! Arre waah, mashallah! The food smells nice. - she smiles at me and my heart thunders in my chest, because of fear this time. 

S - Ji, I was telling her the same! - I'm shocked at the way he is so smooth. My eyes blink in sheer horror. What if Ammi thinks I lied to her only to be in her good books?

Shireen - Qaynaat beta, go freshen up, I'll get it served and then we can all have lunch? - she says and I was about to open my mouth to tell her the truth, but fear takes over and I simply nod. 

Q - Ji, Ammi! - I say before taking hurried steps out of the kitchen.

I ask Najma Khala to rest as I serve the lunch to everybody. Hoping & praying at every moment, not to end up spilling something with my fidgety & sweaty hands. Ammi asks me to sit beside Saad once I'm done serving the starters to everyone. 

H - Bete, baaki sab hum khud lelenge, ya Najma Bee paros dengi. Aap baitho! - Abbu says and I reflexively look at Saad who blinks his eyes at me. 

I walk next to him and slip into the chair as he serves me food. My cheeks turn red as I watch him & then look around to find anyone looking at us, but thankfully no one says anything. Well, of course apart from Ayaan & Gazal, who give us teasing looks. 

H - Qaynaat! Beta, the food is really nice. Dil khush ho gya! - Abbu says and I feel my throat clogging up. My fingers grip the sides of my chair in cold fear & gnawing guilt when something warm brushes the back of my hand.

My gaze fall on my hand and I find Saad's hand brushing it softly. I look up at him and he blinks his eyes at me in an attempt to assure me that everything is okay, that its alright. 

Shireen - Haris Sahab, sirf taarif nahi karni hai. Tohfa dijiye bachi ko! - Ammi says. Beta, the food is amazing. - she smiles and I don't know if my attempt at returning her a smile was successful enough or not.

H - Beta, idhar aayein. Zara apna tohfa toh lelein! - Abbu smiles and Saad gives me a look of encouragement but I can't find it in myself to get up. 

Ayaan - Bhabhi, tohfa humne share karna hai! - he jokes but I don't know how to laugh.

Q - Abbu, Ammi woh, khaana maine nahi bnaya hai! - I finally let it out as my head lowers down in shame and eyes tear up. Mere haath mein chot lag gyi thi toh Saad ne bnaya tha khana! - I tell them & expect reactions of shock or anger, or may be disappointment, but neither comes. 

H - Bete chot kaise lagi aapko? - he asks softly, making me look up at him in confusion.

Q - Ji? - I find myself asking.

Shireen - Haath dikhao, Qaynaat. Jyada toh nahi lagi, Beta? - Ammi rushes up to me and stands next to me as she grabs my hands and analyses them. 

Q - Nahi, bas knife se cut lag gya tha! - I tell them. 

A - Bhabhi, aapko right hand mein lagi hai, aap khana khud kyun khaa rahi hain? It must burn?

G - Bhabhi, main aapko khaana khila dun? 

I don't know how to react. They are all so sweet. I mean I knew they were nice people but I didn't expect them to be so caring & sweet, that too in such short time. Back at home, I was cared for & looked after, but not like this. Growing up with two elder sisters and a younger brother, the attention of my parents was always divided. They are good parents, no doubts in that, but I was never the centre of everyone's attention or concern. I have strict parents, they don't like it when I'm being mischievous or don't do things as they like, and honestly, I was expecting the same here. But Qureshi Family is so warm & welcoming that my heart melts at their genuine concern and love that they shower on me. 

H - Qaynaat, idhar aayein! - Abbu calls me and I slowly turn to look at him. 

Saad gives a firm squeeze to my hand & that does do its bit to calm me down a little but I still feel anxious and nervous. I get up from the chair and slowly walk up to Abbu. 

H - Aapne koshish ki itna hi kaafi hai, Beta! Aur koi baat nahi agar khaana aaj aapne nahi bnaya toh, kabhi aur bna dijiyega! - he says and I nod my head slowly. Aur yeh tohfa rakhiye. - he says while holding out the velvet box for me to take. 

Q - Par Abbu maine toh-

H - Bete, hum aise hi apni beti toh tohfa nahi de sakte kya? - he speaks fondly and that somehow makes me feel at ease. I wipe my tears from the back of my hands and smile at him slowly.

Q - Ji, de sakte hain! - I say as I take the box from him and he pets my head in affection.

Shireen - Chalein bhai, ab jaldi se khaana khalein sab log warna thanda ho jayega. Qaynaat aao Beta! - Ammi ushes me to sit and I smile at her. Saad, Qaynaat ko khana khila do, usse chot lagi hai na! - she says and my eyes widen in shock. 

Q - Uh, Ammi, koi masla nahi hai! Main thik -

I don't get to complete that sentence when Saad brings a spoonful of salad in front of my mouth and looks at me. 

S - Khoon beh rha tha, Saeba! Aapko tan-durust hona hai na, chaliye khaiye! - he whispers to me and I can't help the reddening of my cheeks. 

I've been doing that a lot around him. Itna toh main apni puri zindagi mein nahi sharmayi hun jitna inke saamne ek din mein!

I simply eat the food as he feeds me and then himself takes a few bites in between. 

A - Bhabhi, zara yeh curry toh check karein! Namak zara kam-kam hai, nahi? - he teases & Saad simply gives him a look while I laugh at their little exchange.

In this moment, I know that life is going to be good. Probably, marriage wasn't not a bad idea after all. 

Actually, scratch that! Correction. Marriage with Sahab Saad Qureshi was a good idea! 

___________

A/N : Steady updates will start by the end of next month. (November'24)