Nearly fifteen years passed, but nothing changed at Ahmed's house. The house, which Aqeela Begum decorated with love and care. After her death, her daughter-in-law; Badia Hussain took care of it just like Aqeela Begum used to did.

Huge windows open in lounge room allowed evening gleam of sun in, soft cream coloured curtains were drawn out, and the sunray warmed the pale blue wall, making lounge's environment calm and relaxing. Yet, the young man sitting on sofa was edgy.

Zimraan Ahmed was seated opposite him, and his dark eyes piercing through the young man's body.

Who would guess, that Zain Malik, a powerful businessman, who made his opposition nervous, can be scared of anything.

And the reason behind his fear is none other than his own Mamu

"Zu _ " Zain started talking, but when Zimraan raised his brow, he quickly changed the topic. "Mami kaha hain?"

(Where is Mami?)

"Kitchen mein," Zimraan still hadn't took his eyes off from his nephew, his evening newspaper stayed unfold in front of him on the wooden table.

(In the kitchen.)

In the mention of her name, Badia entered the lounge, breaking the intense eye contact between uncle-nephew duo. Badia Hussain who looked like in her mid thirties, age did her well all these years.

"Assalamualaikum, Mami!" In her presence, Zain took a relief breath.

"Walekum-Assalam! Kaise Hain aap?" Placing the tray on the table, Badia asked, happily.

(How are you?)

"Theek toh dikh raha Hai," Zimraan answered on behalf of Zain.

(He is looking fine.)

Badia sharply looked at Zimraan

"Yeh Zubi ab Tak aayi nahi?" She looked at the stairs, which lead to first floor of house, also where Zubi's room is.

(Where is Zubi?)

"Jaiye dekhke aaiye, Zain aap coffee lijiye na." Badia said to Zimraan in flat tone then turned to Zain, and lovingly told him.

(Go and see where she is, Zain have coffee.)

"Ji!" Zain picked the coffee mug, but he could still feel Zimraan's eyes on him, as he left to call Zabail.

(Yes!)

"Mami!" As soon as Zimraan left, Zain placed the mug on table and called Badia

"Mamu aise to nahi the, I mean mujhe yaad Hai bachpan mein to main sari baatei'n Mamu se share karta tha aur apne dosto se bolta Tha ki mere Mamu sabse cool Hain, ab Kya hua? Mamu har waqt itna gusse mein kyu rehte Hain?" An innocent complained came from his side. Zain Malik wasn't scared of his own father, but his Mamu sure knows how to keep him in place.

(Mamu wasn't like this before, I mean, I remember in childhood, I used to share everything with Mamu and I always told my friends that my Mamu is the coolest. Now what happened? Why he is always angry with me?)

"Arey kuch nahi, bas budhape ka asar hai." Zain looked amuse at Badia's answer

(Old age offent make people angry.)

"Mamu ko Batau aap Kya keh rahi hain." Zain couldn't help, but tease her.

(What if Mamu hear you?)

"Usme Kya, hum toh Roz kehte Hain unhe ki woh ab budhe ho rahe Hain." Badia's words made him laugh.

(So? I always tell him that he is now getting old.)

Their conversation didn't last as Zabail Ahmed walked in with her father.

"Chale'n?" Zabail asked. She was ready in blue denim jeans with a t-shirt on it a panda was dabbing, her hair open, which reached just below her shoulder, and a shoulder bag on her shoulder. In her simplicity, she looked mesmerizing.

(Shall we?)

"Haan," Zain quickly got up.

(We shall.)

"Coffee?"

"5:00pm Tak ajana." Both Badia and Zimraan said at same time, but different questions.

(Drop her home at 5:00pm.)

"5:00pm?" But Zain only listened Zimraan's voice, and looked at his wrist watch which shows 4:29pm.

"Papa?" Zabail only heard Zimraan's words and asked, disbelief was written on her face. "Mamma!" She turned to her mother, her only saviour.

"Aram se jaiye aur ayega," Badia glare at her husband then told them, giving them freedom of coming whenever they want.

(Don't worry, take as much time as you want.)

"Thori derr ruk jao, Anu ati hogi woh bhi chali jayegi sath mein." Zimraan again said.

(Wait for Anu, she'll also go with you.)

"Anu Kal apne dosto ke sath gayi thi." Badia remind him,

(Anu went there with her friends yesterday day.)

"You guys have fun." Then gesture them to go.

When they left, it was Zimraan's time to glare at Badia, which she casually looked at him and leave the lounge

•••

"Waise batana chahiye Tha ki hum kisi meeting mein ja rahe the, mujhe laga fun fair ja rahe Hain isliye casual pehna...." putting seatbelt on, Zabail taunt Zain's formal attire.

(You should have told me that we are going to attend a meeting, I wore casual because I thought we are going to fun fair....)

In a navy blue crisp Armani suit, he looked like he just walked out from a board meeting.

"Tum janti ho mere pass casual clothes nahi Hain,..." Giving her a sheepish smile, he said

(You know I don't have casual clothes.)

That Zabail really knows. After his teenage, she never saw him wearing casual, even in university, he used to wear shirt with pants or jeans. He stopped wearing t-shirts or sweatshirts.

And now when he is a businessman, she thinks he even sleep in formal suit.

•••

"Kya Hai?" Badia looked at Zimraan, who was following her like a lost puppy wherever she goes.

(What happened?)

"Kyu Jane diya dono ko akele? Anu bhi chali jati na,..." leaning his shoulder on the doorway of kitchen, he asked

(Why did you let them go alone? Anu would have also go with them....)

"Offo! Anu Kal gayi thi apne dosto ke sath fun fair, aur phir Zain aur Zubi ke sath woh Kya karti." She put the knife down and said

(Anu went there with her friends yesterday, and what was she supposed to do with Zain and Zubi.)

"Zain aur Zubi bhi to akele bore hi honge, was bhi fun fair wagera mein jitne log itna hi maza ata Hai,..."

(Zain and Zubi will get bore, more people means more fun.)

"Hum dekh rahe Hain ki kuch dino se Zain se bohot rukhe andaaz mein mil rahe Hain aap, Zain aur Zubi toh bachpan se sath Hai, dost Hain. Kai baar ek dusre ke sath bahar ghoomne jate Hain. ab aap achanak se kyu itne possessive ho rahe Hain Zubi Jo leke?"

(I'm noticing how rude you are with Zain, both Zain and Zubi are friends since childhood, they have went out together alot, now why are you being so possessive?)

Badia asked the most vulnerable question.

Few months ago, Zimraan heard Zain's grandmother that Zabail has grown up into a really beautiful girl

He didn't wanted to believe his little girl is growing up, and in few years she will left him.

To him, it looked like yesterday when he held her for the first time, or when she said papa for the first time, or the first time she took her first step forward him. She is still a baby. His heart refused to accept that she is growing up.

Zabail has always been close to Zimraan more than she was with Badia.

Everyone thought being Badia's daughter, she must be just like her. But, Zabail took after her father. Calm, reserved, only speak when needed or if she is comfortable. She reflects her father's personality.

Anabia was copy of Badia.

Changing of Zimraan's expression answered Badia's question

"Aaj nahi toh Kal yeh toh apko accept Karna hi hoga that your girl is growing up. Aur apko na khush hona chahiye that it's Zain, the boy whom you know from childhood, whom you have saw growing up, whom you know inside out, Zain se achha ladka koi nahi hai Zubi ke liye."

(Today or tomorrow you have to accept that you little girl isn't little anymore, and you should be happy.)

Going to him, she put her hand on his heart and explained him in gentle tone

"Dil nahi manta." Zimraan told her, Badia opened her mouth to say something but the sound of car honk interrupted her

(I don't want to accept it.)

"Anu agayi shayad," Badia said

(Anu is here.)

Zimraan eyes furrowed in confusion

Anabia doesn't drive car, she is just a school girl, still have to reach her eighteen

Going to main door to receive his youngest daughter he saw her getting down from Zaryab's car

In her uniform with two side braid she waved Zaryab bye as he drove off and came to her house

"Hey Papa," greeting him, she went inside

"Khana laga Doon?" Badia asked her

(Should I serve the food?)

"Mamma, Mann nahi Hai, Zaryab ke sath pizza kha liye the," she told Badia and went upstairs to her room that she shares with Zabail

(I'm full actually I had pizza with Zaryab.)

Badia and Zimraan decorated her room beside Zabail's, but Anabia have nyctophobia, fear of darkness or night, that's why she shifted in Zabail's room.

"Yeh Zaryab ke sath kyu aai Hai?" Zimraan asked Badia, who just looked at him then left, while shaking her head on him.

(Zaryab picked her from school?)

<><><>

"What's that?" Zabail asked Zain, while pointing at the stall where a middle age man was standing with thread and needles

The man's clothes didn't looked like he was from here, he was dressed in Rajasthani style

Zain shrugged his shoulder and went to that stall to see what it is.

There he got to know the man craved patterns or names in piece of clothes from colourful threads

"Can you write Zabail in it?" Taking his handkerchief out, Zain asked, the man took it from him

After he was done, he gave it to Zain. Zain payed him and went back to Zabail

Smiling, he put his handkerchief forward for her

•••

•••

So here come the first chapter of tumse milke

Do vote and comment about your thoughts on first chapter.

If there is any new reader who hadn't read it's first book then it's okay, this book can be read stand alone

I think

I'm not sure🙈

But if you find any confusion then just ask me😁

-Ufaq