A few weeks later....

He couldn't stop himself from thinking about her. His brain kept reminding him of those alluring brown eyes that would widened a fraction when they would meet his.

They were nothing to eachother, she was nothing but the daughter of Altamash's land lady. That's it. He couldn't understand his emotions. Firstly he was just teasing her but now he found himself lost in her thoughts and the glimmer of her beautiful smile.

He has been a charmer always but never in his life has he ever given this much attention to any girl. This little hijabi was something he was getting attached to and he tried to stop his thoughts from going anywhere near her but failed miserably when his thoughts only revolved around her. Around the movement of her jhumkas kissing her cheeks.

He thought if he'd keep himself busy in work he would forget about her like every other girl he has ever flirted with, but to his disappointment her thoughts, her big brown eyes, her soft quiet voice, her blushing cheeks everything was as if plastered in his memory.

It's been a weeks to their encounter and he still had that single pink bangle, that sat proudly on his dressing table ever since he had placed it there. Her picture still resided in his laptop but he didn't dare go anywhere near that file fearing that one look at her innocent face and he'd be running back to her doorstep like a lost puppy.

"Zayn beta you remember the girl I was talking about?" Faryal, his mother asked breaking his train of thoughts about her.

"W... What girl?" He asked clearing his throat which had dried as her smile and her soft features raked his mind. He looked upto his mother who stood near the stove.

"The girl I met at Hassan and Laiba's wedding." His mother mentioned. His thoughts went back to the girl he met there.

"Yeah what about her?" He asked shaking his head, trying to shoo her out of his mind.

"Well I guess we should go meet them today? I talked to Ruzina and she'll take us to their house" his mother said excitedly.

"Ammi I don't kn-" he was about to make an excuse but he was expertly cut off by his mother.

"Don't even try. I don't care if it's something important you have to work on or whatever excuse you might have. You're going with me and that's final" she concluded with a stern. Zayn sighed knowing well that if there's someone he can't win against it's his mother.

"But mom-" he tried his luck once again but immediately shut up when his mother slammed the wooden spoon on the Kitchen counter.

"Theek hai mat jao. Me tu jaaongi aur agar larki pasand agaye tu haan kardon gi tumse pooche bagair" she yelled. Zayn sighed at his mother's overdramatic antics.

(Fine don't go. I will go and if I like the girls I'll finalize the marriage)

"Acha theek hai I'll go with you" he said putting his hands up in the air in mock surrender.

(Fine)

His mother nodded her head going back to her work. Preparing the food she left it to cool down alittle to be warm enough to be eaten while she called Ruzina her friend.

"You remember the girl you introduced to me at the wedding?" Faryal asked on the phone. She remembered how the girl was running from here and there just to make her friends big day special.

In first sight she was fond of the girl, she was everything she ever wanted for her Zayn. Modest, beautiful, qualified, what's else was needed? She hadn't talked to her much from what she has heard from Ruzina she was like her second daughter and a very sweet girl.

"That'd be great. Can we go today itself I can't wait to meet her again" Faryal exclaimed in response to what Ruzina said.

"Ohh ok. Allah Hafiz" they bid their byes and ended the conversation.

Zayn felt anxious over the thought of meeting someone. It wasn't like it's the first time he was ever meeting a girl but for some odd reason he felt anxious and troubled about this whole ordeal.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

"Eshmal..." Her mother said coming inside her room.

She sat on the floor with her canvas and art supplies sprawled around her. Paint covered her hands and a little marked her face as she blended the colours together with a huff of annoyance as she still had so much to do. Her rich brown hair tied in a messy bun tangled to the point of no resolve.

"Jee Ammi?" She said still focusing on painting she was working on.

(yes?)

"Yeh kia halat banaye Hui hai aapne?" Her mother gasped in horror. Eshmal rolled her eyes at her mother's antics.

(What have you done to yourself?)

"What else do I do on a Sunday? Mere assignments khudse tu khatam hone se rahe" she said shrugging dipping her finger in paint she painted multiple stroked across the canvas.

(My assignments won't complete themselves)

"There are some people coming over in the evening. Get cleaned up. This paint won't come off quickly" her mother said sighing looking at her daughter's coloured hands.

"Who's coming and why do I have to get ready?" Eshmal asked raising her eyebrows.

"Is umar ab mujhe tu koi rishte ke liye dekhne aane se raha" Her mother said rolling her eye. Eshmal chocked on her saliva but soon smirked.

(Now at this age people won't be coming for my proposals)

"Kion? aapko dukh horaha hai? Fikar mat karen dhoondne niklen gi tu koi na koi uncle mil Jaye ga aapko". Eshmal chuckled dodging the paint bottle her mother threw her way with a dramatic gasp.

(Why? are you feeling sad? Don't worry even now if you go looking for someone you'll find some Uncle)

"Be ready by 6. And get this all sorted" her mother ordered while going out of her room to prepare for the refreshments.

The evening strolled in as hours slipped away. Eshmal got dressed in a white anarkali with light golden embroidery all over it. Tying her hair in a bun she set her dupatta on her head. She applied light makeup and gave herself a last looks before sitting down on her bed waiting for a few more minutes to head downstairs.

Stepping into her pumps she made her way to the floor length mirror in her room. Taking a look at herself she knew that she looked good. She felt as though she had over done it but then the image of her Ammi pampering her with her slipper made her shudder.

"Come down after a while they are here" saying this her mother went downstairs to greet them.

Zayn was shocked to park his car outside a very familiar house. He gulped down the lump that formed in his throat remembering who lives here.

"Here?" He asked making his mother nod while she set her hair in place. 

"Yes. Let's go" his mother said shaking him out of his trance. Nodding his head he followed behind his mother.

Ringing the bell he waited like he waited that day. His eyes went to the small window on th door, he expected her to open the door like that day but that didn't happen as a more grown voice asked from inside before opening the door.

Walking inside they were taken to the drawing room. The house was similar to Altamash's portion. He took his place on an armchair and looked around the room.

A small dinning table placed infront of a industrial mirror wall. Big french glass door that opened in the vaste living room gave a quick overview of how the house might look.

His mother and the lady he assumes was her mother were conversing while he initiated a conversation with her brother. He stopped when he heard soft footsteps. Looking up he felt his breath hitching looking at her walking inside so gracefully. She smiled at his mother paying her Salam, bending down letting his mother patt her head which was elegantly covered with her dupatta. She still hadn't looked at him, her beautiful pools of chocolate were looking at his mother as they conversed.

"Beta this is Zayn and Zayn this-" his mother introduced him making her look at his mother then in the direction she pointed at. Her sentence was cut off in the middle by him.

"Eshmal" he whispered her name making his mother look at him confused. His eyes gazed at her intently making her lower her gaze with her cheeks warming up.

"You know eachother?" His mother asked.

"No.. I heard you mention her name, it was a wild guess" he said clearing his throat. She rolled her eyes glancing at him scoffing silently.

A long conversation and snacks later Faryal looked at her son for his permission. Zayn looked at her who was now gazing at her hands that were placed in her lap. He thought about it for a second but then nodded his head. He didn't know why exactly but his heart was telling him to say yes and so he did.

Eshmal was asked the same question. Her eyes settled on Zayn's which were as dark as the midnight sky. She felt heat creeping up her neck feeling the heat of his gaze on her. She felt as if she should give her consent and so she did. Believing her gut feeling she said yes.

The ring was slipped in her ring finger by his mother and now she was supposedly his. Her eyes raised to his which were filled with such warmth that she felt her insides melting like ice in summer.

Four months later.....

It's been four months to their engagement. To her being now introduced around as Zayn khawar's fiance. Ever since then her thinking about him has taken a turn. She would be left feeling jittery even after just saying his name. She knew she was getting used to his name being put together with hers but tomorrow.. tomorrow it was going to happen for real. She knew she had a crush on her own future husband, maybe she had even fallen in love with him but she refused to confirm her feelings till she felt safe, so when he tried talking to her through phone calls she would make some excuse and get away with it. She had prayed to her Lord to show them the right path and help them to gain his blessings.

Zayn on the other hand couldn't stop gazing at her picture in his laptop. He knew it was still not right but ever since the engagement day he couldn't stop himself. He craved to hear her soft melodic voice but she would always make some excuse and dodge the question.

He couldn't wait to ease his aching heart and to call that little miss hijabi his. Maybe if not for his mother's stubbornness that day he wouldn't have gotten such a gem of a girl as his soon to be wife. He loved her modesty, her charm, her beauty which was impeccable. He didn't know when but he had started to adore her, love her and crave for her presence so much. For the past four months he has been praying to his Lord to pass the time fast so that he could have her in his arms and hold her till his heart desires and the world ends.....

Assalamualikum guys how are you all?

I'm fine alhumdulilah 💓.

Well here's another chapter how is it? I Don't have much to say so I'll just say tell me how was today's chapter I'll also be editing a few things here and there so I may move scenes from one chapter to another to make it more interesting I don't just a thought till now 😁..

Allah Hafiz ❤️💞

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Hafsa_tahir