Posted:
8 years ago
Prologue :
In Delhi, the Farooqui family was a very well respected family. Anwar Farooqui, a 47 years old man who started with nothing was now the CEO of Farooqui Buildings.
Along with being a businessman, Anwar was also a family man. Married to Zeenat Farooqui, they had together a son and two daughters. The eldest was Waqar Farooqui at 27 years old, then Zoya Farooqui at 24 years old and the last but not the least, Najma Farooqui at 20 years old.
Waqar worked along with his father in the family business. Both, father and son had quite a bond with both being the only men against four women. Four because Waqar was married to a very nice girl, Mehreen, since two years. Waqar could be considered as a role modele, he was a caring son, dutiful husband and protective of his sisters.
Najma Farooqui was a happy-go-lucky girl, who always saw the best in people. Always wanting the best for her family, and being the youngest everybody's laadli.
Zeenat Farooqui, a caring mother, a loving wife, even if she isn't always expressing her love fo her children, her love is very much seen in her actions.
And lastly, Zoya Farooqui, a sweet and happy girl who is the kind of girl who only dreams of having a life partner that will love her. But along with that, she is a very independant girl who can't tolerate inequality between a man and a woman.
************
That day, in Farooqui Mansion, saying that the servants were running a marathon wouldn't be totally wrong because Zeenat was keeping them on their toes. For the slight imperfection about a trivial matter, she would start yelling because the stress was making her restless.
When Anwar came down in the hall, he frowned seeing the servants running around and he could hear Zeenat scolding a servant for not having cleaned the chandler.
Anwar tilted his head up to the roof and saw the chandler shining crystal clearly. He shook his head in amusement at his wife's antics who was being once again OCD by being in a stressful position.
"Abbu, now you only help these poor people..." Mehreen giggled while handing him his cup of coffee.
Anwar chuckled, "Thank you Beta. You go and wake up Zoya and Najma or else your Ammi...", he said blowing out a breath and making his way towards the kitchen while Mehreen nodded and went upstairs.
When he entered the kitchen, Zeenat's back was facing him while she was scolding a servant. The servant looked at him while he gestured for him to get out of the room, he nodded and left immediately while Zeenat was still scolding him.
"Hey ! Where are you going ?! I was talking to you !" She scolded then looked over her shoulders at her husband, "Oh ! I get it ! It's you ! It's because of you that these guys are being so lazy ! There is so mu-"
Zeenat was cut off by Anwar when he started laughing, "Zeenat, relax, it's ok, it's only the boy's family coming to look at Zoya not the wedding in itself, just breath !"
Zeenat put her hands on her hips, "Of course, of course ! You don't know how much there is to do, that's why you are saying that ! And on top of that it's such a good alliance, we have to make a good impression, the boy is came from New-York just last night and is going back tomorrow morning, he's here only for the weekend because he didn't get a leave so we have to make it worth it ! Poor boy must be exhausted, we have to make him see that he didn't come for nothing !" She finished breathless.
Anwar frowned, "I agree about the good impression, but what is the difference about cleaning, our house is always clean and you make sure of that every morning. I don't see any other thing to do except for making more food..." He said putting his hands on her shoulders, trying to relax her but in vain.
"What about Zoya ? That girl must still be sleeping as if nothing is happening ! When will this girl understand ?! She has to get ready prop-"
"Everything will be fine ! Just relax ! Mehreen went to wake her up, she'll get her ready so stop stressing over everything !" Anwar sighed in amusement.
Zeenat sighed and shook her head knowing that Anwar would never understand what she was going through. Even though there already had been a marriage in their family, Waqar was a man, hence wouldn't be leaving their home. But Zoya was their first daughter hence their first responsability and it was their duty to find her a good family and a good husband. Khuda na Khaasta if not... No, she prefered to not even think about if not.
Waqar entered the kitchen and stood next to Anwar to show him some files but when Zeenat saw him, she gasped and they both looked at her. "Waqar, you are not even dressed yet ?! Ladke waale aate hi honge aur tum abhi tak raat ke kapre pehn ke ghum rahe ho ?!" She pointed to his kurta suit, she facepalmed, "Ya Allah !"
Anwar and Waqar tried not to roll their eyes because at each event, each party, that's how Zeenat reacted to it, stress eating her and she wouldn't calm down until the guests had left.
Before Waqar could reply, Anwar closed the file and sent him upstairs to dress up or else Zeenat would all over again.
**********
In her room, Zoya was dressed in a beautiful pink and white Anarkali suit while Najma was fussing over her make-up and Mehreen over her jewelry.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she stopped the hands of both girls and got up and went over the door to hold it open for them to get out.
"Aapi, what are you doing there ?! We still have to do your eye make-up and there is more jewelry that Bhabhi has to make you wear !" Najma said annoyed that her sister had gotten up.
"There's no way i'll be meeting that family like this or more dressed up than this ! I'm looking like a damn Christmas tree and i bet that even a Christmas tree isn't that gawdy !" Zoya said in disgust, "So please, Bhabhi and Tamatar, get out of this room and let me get ready on my own ! It's already a big deal that i agreed to see the family so if i get ready, i'll get ready on my own !" Zoya said determinedly and Mehreen and Najma sighed knowing that Zoya wouldn't change her decision.
As both exited the room, Zoya shut the door and slumped against it while sliding to the floor. It wasn't true taht Zoya was being forced to see the family because she knew that she had to get married one day or the other. It was just that like any other bride, even she was scared. Firstly, because she would have to leave her family and also because she was scared of the unknown, of what her in-laws would be like.
Zoya shook her head, she knew that she didn't have time for self-pity. So she got up and took a make-up wipe to remove all traces of make-up, removed all the garland like jewelry she had on herself and started to get ready properly.
Taking her long waist-length hair, she made a bun on top of her head. With some khol in her eyes, some mascara and pink gloss, she looked like a natural beauty. Instead of wearing tons of jewelry, she wore danglind pink jhumke and a small but beautiful 'Allah' locket and some chudhiyaan. To finish, she fixed her dupatta on top of her head, past the bun.
As she finished getting ready, a knock sounded on her door. She rolled her eyes and went to open it, thinking that it was Najma again but she was surprised seeing her brother.
Zoya crossed her arms on her chest and looked at him warily, "Hey Bhai, ready to get rid of me ?" She asked crossly because Waqar knew very well what she was going through. Even though he was a guy, she was closer to him than to Najma and had already shared her worries with him.
"Shut up Zoya, don't worry it's not your Nikkah yet, they have come only to see you, if the boy is a good one then we'll see furth-"
Before he could finish, Zoya had thrown herself against his chest and started sobbing. He hugged her back and rubbed her back.
"Sshhh... Hey calm down, you think we'll just give you to anybody coming from that door, no ways ! You know very well that that guy will have to face me first. Shhh..." His words gave her some hope. He pulled back and wiped her cheeks, "Now stop crying or else with that make-up, you'll look like a racoon !" She made an effort to smile.
And at that moment, a servant came and informed them of the boy's and his family's arrival. As soon as the servant said those words, her smile vanished.
The boy's family weren't just any family, they were the Khan family from Bhopal. A very respectable family that lived in Bhopal, Rashid Ahmed Khan was a well-known businessman who had founded his company and named his business by his wife's name, Dilshad Constructions. Their son Asad Ahmed Khan had been sent in his childhood to New-York in a boarding school in order to study because even though Asad would be succeeding Rashid, his father wanted him to be a self-made man. Rashid and Dilshad also had a daughter, Nikhat who was in the age of marriage.
At least, that's what she did know of the family but well, a person can't say anything before meeting the people in themselves.
Waqar pecked the top of her head, "Go in your room, the girls will come to get you later."
She nodded.
*************
Downstairs, the Khan family had come and were warmly welcomed by the Farooqui family.
A sense of respect formed in Rashid and Dilshad's heart for these people because most of the time the first impression is of what people are and they both were very good at reading people and they could say that these were good people.
After being served refreshments, Dilshad spoke, "Zeenat Aapa, all this is really good and thank you so much even though it wasn't really needed. But now we would like to see your daughter, Zoya..." She smiled but could feel Asad by her side stiffening.
Mehreen and Najma got up and went upstairs to bring Zoya down.
Asad didn't look at the girl while she was coming down the stairs because it felt too much like he was a voyeur by staring at a girl in front of their family. But he heard Nikhat whisper a 'wow'. He shook his head knowing that Nikhat was anyways always impressed over the smallest of the things.
But when he knew that the girl was seated, he finally glanced over at the beauty sitting in front of him. She was beautiful and he could see the innocence in her posture. But he shook his head to come back to reality knowing that appearances are only appearances. He also noticed that she didn't even once looked up, be it at him or anybody else.
While his father kept making conversations with the other family, Dilshad reminded him discreetly, "Asad, when you two will be alone to talk, i don't want any of your dramas, this is a good family, a beautiful bride and you are twenty-nine. I don't care that you don't want to get married, you'll behave yourself, be the good man i raised and won't scare this girl off like you did with others, and this is not a request but an order..."
Asad tried not to roll his eyes.
After a few minutes, Zoya and Asad were sent in the backyard to talk. They walked side by side to go there but Zoya didn't look at him or any other not by shyness but knowing that her eyes were red. No matter what she thought, she didn't want her parents to be seemed like people who were forcing their daughter to get married against her will. Once outside, she showed him to a bench and when he sat, she hesitantly sat but far away from him.
"I don't bite, you know ?" She heard him say and knowing that it was an opening, she took it. She didn't want to disappoint her parents.
"I know..." She said not knowing what else to say, but knew that it was better to say this rather than nothing. "That's what i keep telling myself..." She realized that she had been rude. He hadn't done anything to her and she was being rude. "I'm sorry, i didn't mean it, it's just that i'm a little nervous..."
"And shy ?" He guessed.
She shook her head, "Definitely not shy..." She chuckled and looked up at him for the first time and her breath got caught in her throat.
He was beautiful, but what caught her attention was the harsh expression in his eyes behind the teasing glance. She blinked and when she didn't see it again, she thought that she was only seeing things.
"Isn't that a crime for Indian women not to be shy ?" He teased.
"I think you watched too much old bollywood movies..." She teased back.
"You got me, i have a secret passion for old movies like Khuda Gavah, Don and Sooryavansham..." He said turning a little red and Zoya couldn't control the burst of laughter at his cheesiness.
"I bet that the passion isn't about the movies being old but them starring Sridevi. Can this situation get any cheesier ?" Zoya couldn't help but laugh seeing him turning redder. "Well, i do have an obsession about Salman Khan, so... I'll stop laughing..." And he chuckled at that.
"So ? What do you think about marriage life ?" Zoya asked him after a moment of silence.
"Well i don't know, i have never been married before !" He teased her and she smiled.
"I think that a the base of a marriage should be on sincerity because if there are lies, it's like putting egg shells in a cake, the taste will be bitter..." Zoya said truthfully but didn't notice Asad shifting uncomfortably.
"I agree... So, if we get married, we'll be living in New-York since i live there and have a job there, etc. And i guess that someone as educated as you wouldn't want to be sitting iddle at home so would you like to work after marriage ?"
Zoya thought about it, "Yeah sure, i'm not the kind of girl to sit at home and whose job is to be pretty and handling kids even though children would be most welcome, after all children are Allah's gifts..."
This time when Asad shifted uncomfortably, Zoya noticed, "About that, i don't think that i'm ready to have kids as of now. We are both young and we should wait for..." 'Never', he thought inwardly but continued, "...a while."
Zoya forced a smile, and replied reluctantly, "Yeah i guess you are right..."
Asad forced a smile, "See, we're not even married but are already planning our future together, how wonderful is that ?"
Zoya smiled genuinely, she didn't even realize when nervousness had left her. In an odd kind of way, he had made her comfortable.
"I guess we should exchange numbers, you know, to get to know each other and all before we decide..." She agreed and they exchanged numbers, "Even though from my side, it's a yes, i would love to have you as my wife..."
Zoya smiled and replied, "But what remains to be seen is if i would like to have you as my husband and if you are worth leaving my parents and coming to you in a whole new country for a whole new beginning..." She teased but Asad heard the honesty in her words and tried to make his smile look genuine rather than a fake which it was.
They both went back inside, Asad with the relief that he had pleased Zoya even though she didn't say it out loud, he could see it in her eyes that she was imagining their married life together where he was her perfect and prince charming type husband. He shook his head at her stupidity.
And unfortunately, Asad was right, Zoya was doing exactly that, unaware of what she was agreeing to be a part of.
Appearances are something very dangerous, because they look real but are not but can destroy lives...
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A/N : so ? What do u think ? Is it good ? Those who are worrying over the ending of this story, it will be a happy ending for sure. But i'm eager to know what u think of this one. Should i start writing the next part or just leave it ? Please leave comments for me to know 😳 for the people who r wondering if it's even a romantic SS/FF, it will have its romance in time 😆Edited by Miss-Appy - 8 years ago