Chapter 41: Eid Gathering. 

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"Maybe I love you. 

Maybe You love me. 

Maybe This is meant to be.

Maybe"

-2am-

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"News?"

The siblings waited for Qaidah, Grandmother Zaeef and Zaiha to make a grand entrance. Of course the older ladies of the Zaeef household had a habit of grand entrance. Typical. 

"Mom?" Amyrah asked her, tilting her head. Qaidah smiled at her.

"We are staying until this weekend before leaving. How does that sound?" questioned Qaidah and the siblings perked up. All except Karmaan. Yes!!! 

"I have school mom" he said, looking at his mother with an incredulous expression. His siblings rolled their eyes at his answer. 

"I can email the Dean and ask for official leave" his father told him, coming into the view. Grandfather Zaeef followed them out and walked towards the buffet table. Grandmother Zaeef walked behind him as the two of them picked up food to fill one plate.

"Ah. Umm why?" Karmaan asked and Yazdan rolled his eyes before walking over to stand beside his youngest brother. He leaned onto his shoulder.

"Dude. You get days off. Take it!" he whispered and Karmaan let out a small laugh.

"Bhaiyu. I have school and if she is holding me back for some family function I do not want to be part of, I am out" he whispered back and Yazdan hit the back of his head. Stupid fellow.

"That, we will discuss tonight. For now, Nahal and Aanabia, meet the grandparent Zaeef" Qaidah said, walking over to the two girls. Grandmother Zaeef immediately pulled Aanabia in a hug.

"Eid Mubarak darling. I did not see you two from there. These towering boys I tell you" she jested and the girls smiled at her. Grandfather Zaeef smiled at the two before fishing out change from his pocket and handing it to the girls with a laugh.

"Sorry girls. The boys were earlier so they emptied my pockets"

"It is alright. We got our share from them" grinned Nahal and Grandfather Zaeef patted their heads before walking away to take seat. Yazdan watched them with a smile. Thank you Allah. For making her get along with my family. Oh and she does look amazing in a Hijab.

He watched his father pat their heads and walk away to where his grandparents were seated, eating. His mother was with them along with Zaiha.

"Ah we need to head home." Said Nahal, looking at her watch. Aanabia nodded turning to Kulthum and Amyrah. She hugged them both with a smile.

"Come over when you have time. We can do a mini photoshoot" she said and the girls nodded before walking with them to the door. Yazdan turned to his family with a smile.

"I am going to change" he told the boys before walking into the house. Soon enough, the others followed. He entered Yahyah's room to find the said person already changing into a shirt and pants. Yazdan pulled out a navy blue shirt and paired it with the jeans he was already wearing. He changed and threw the thobe he had worn, into the hamper. His brothers had already changed by the time he exited the bathroom.

"Alright. So where are we going?" asked Karmaan, looking up from his phone.

"We........ don't have anywhere to go" said Safwah, looking around. Ah yes. We actually do not know anyone around here. Ah. The Islamic crew? ZAMA!

"Guys, Zamaairah is here" he said and the boys stopped doing whatever they were doing.

"Zamaairah as in Zama?" questioned Sahl and Yazdan nodded, face palming himself. I cannot believe I forgot to tell mum this! He walked out of the room towards the backyard where his family set.

"Mom?" he called out and his mother turned to him.

"What is it?"

"Zama is here too" he told her and the elders stilled again. Oh stop making it like a big deal! She is just a woman!

"Where? Is there a way we can meet her?" she asked him and Yazdan shook his head.

"I can check with the Islamic Society I guess"

"They have an Eid party today, at the mosque conference hall. Zama will be there" Yahyah said, walking into the scene. Qaidah smiled at them.

"I guess I need to meet my daughter-in-law" she said and Yazdan rolled his eyes.

"Mom. You know how Safwah feels about this" he told her and Qaidah let out a small laugh.

-

The day passed good until it was after Zuhr when the girls had to go to the mosque conference hall for the Eid Party. Of course it was a hectic work but they managed to pull it off. Nahal had baked numerous pastries while Aanabia made pot roast. It has to do.

"Ready?" they had changed out of their heavy outfits to a simple evening cotton dress and Hijab.

"I like wearing Hijab" said Nahal, walking towards the car. Hifzah told them to be safe and they kissed her cheeks.

"Love you mom!" they called out as they pulled out of the driveway. The drive to the mosque was a silent one, with only the radio playing in the background. Once they entered the conference hall, it was more lively; filled with the members of the Islamic society and their families. Aanabia had invited Hifzah but she declined since people would be coming over to their house and she needed to be there.

"As salaam alaikum!" Aanabia smiled Ayisha who replied to her salutation and pulled her into a hug. The girls had placed their things on the buffet table where a few people were catering.

"Eid Mubarak!" she said, letting her go and pulling Nahal into her arms. The girls exchanged a few words before Zamaairah walked over to them and hugged them both.

"Eid Mubarak Habibti's!" Soon, all they were hearing was 'Eid Mubarak' from every side. Aanabia and Zama were soon in a conversation about how people were ever changing and hate was something they needed to control.

"You should see their walls on social media. My god. We get cases every day!" said Zama and Aanabia shook her head in disdain.

"There is this wall at the end of the school where students vandalize. We call it the graffiti wall. The hate there! My god" she said and Zama nodded, sipping on her punch.

"This time around, I feel that teenagers face more issues than we did during our time. Honestly!" she said and Aanabia let out a small laugh.

"I agree" she replied. Zama was going to say something else when she stilled. Aanabia followed her eyes and they were locked on the Zaeef clan. She turned her head to Zama who looked like she was about to cry. She placed a hand on her shoulder and Zama snapped out of her reverie.

"I am sorry, I zoned out" she muttered, rapidly blinking her eyes. She has a past with them.

"You should go talk to them"

"They would hate me"

"Yazdan doesn't." she immediately replied and Zama raised an amused eyebrow at her causing her to blush.

"Go" she whispered and Zama smiled at her. She placed the punch on the table before grabbing Aanabia's hands and walking towards them. Aanabia tried to make her leave the hand but it was useless. She will get me in trouble. Soon the two stood in front of Qaidah and Aahil. Zama stared at Qaidah before she was pulled into a hug. Aanabia looked at Yazdan who smiled at her. She turned to the two in front of her and smiled.

"I missed you Zama" Qaidah said, wiping away her tears.

"I miss you more, mom" Aanabia's eyes widened. Mom? Yazdan's sibling? She turned to Yazdan with raised eyebrows. Yazdan shrugged before nodding towards the buffet table. Aanabia excused herself and walked over to the table, picking up a pineapple aimlessly.

"Salaam" she tilted her head to see Yazdan beside her with a smile. She smiled back with a slightly blush.

"Was salaam. Eid Mubarak" she said, picking up a watermelon piece and placing it on her plate.

"Eid Mubarak. Sorry I could not give you your Eidi" he said, looking down at her with a swooning look. Any sane person around them would know they were in love, just by one look.

Aanabia shrugged, walking a little ahead to pick up Samosa's.

"All good. I don't really need it anyway" she told him and he nodded, following her lead.

"Ah. Zama is not my sister by the way. She grew up with us though. Her mother and my mom were best of friends until she passed away. Zama's dad was in business with grandpa until he cheated on us and left taking Zama with them. Zama basically lived with us so it was hard on both her and our family. Mom is meeting her after around 10 years." He explained and Aanabia nodded. No wonder the tears.

"She was close to tears"

"We were her family"

"What about her real one?" Aanabia was curious. Yazdan let out a laugh at her questions. Such beautiful laughter. I swear I have repeated beautiful at least a hundred times today in regards to Yazdan.

"That is her story to tell. Now tell me something. Why did your sister reject Yahyah?" he asked her. Kulthum saw the looks some girls were giving her brother and Aanabia so she walked over to them and stood behind Aanabia and in between them. She grinned up at her brother before turning to Aanabia.

"I do not have your number, Aanabia Di" she told her and Aanabia nodded, holding out her phone.

"Save it. I have ketchup on my hands" said Aanabia, chuckling lightly. Yazdan took this as his time to leave and that was what he did. Kulthum and Aanabia walked over to the nearest table and took seat.

"Eat" Aanabia set the plate in between them and soon they dived in. Zama joined in a little later, before she too began eating from the same plate.

"Next refill is on you" Aanabia told Zama who laughed at her.

"So marriage?" questioned Kulthum, looking at both of them. The two girls shrugged. I would if your brother asked. Oh Allah. She blushed a deep shade of red when she realized what she thought. I need to tame my thoughts.

"Why are you blushing?" asked Zama with a smirk. Kulthum let out a laugh, almost chocking on the pineapple she was eating.

"I bet she thought something along the lines of my brother" replied Kulthum leaning towards the girls. Aanabia let out a small laugh and Zama grinned widely.

"The second one? Or is it Sahl?" Kulthum scoffed at Zama's question.

"Sahl and relationships? I won't be surprised if he settles down after Karmaan's children do"

"Karmaan?" Aanabia questioned with confusion.

"The youngest brother" replied Zama and Aanabia nodded, leaning onto her chair.

"Why aren't you married yet, Zama?" asked Kulthum. "If you don't mind telling us that is" she added. Zama shrugged with a small smile.

"I am too busy"

"Well, you should take time to fall in love. It is one of the most beautiful things you will experience" Aanabia told her and Zama smiled sadly at her hands. She then looked up to Kulthum and grinned. She is sad. Why?

"Why aren't you married?"

"Not bothered. Any boy to approach me, sees my surname and my list of brothers before he walks away" huffs Kulthum and the two girls let out a laugh. This feels refreshing.

It was after Magrib that the girls returned home. There were a few visitors from the other street at their place. The girls greeted and headed upstairs to change and sleep. They had work the following day. Aanabia was seated by the window seat, reading when her phone binged with a Viber message. She leaped up to the shelf where her phone was and grabbed it. Ninja bruh! She grinned in victory before resuming her position on the seat with Bed Of Roses.

Kulthum: Hey!! Done for the day? We did not even have that mini photoshoot! ☹

Aanabia let out a small smiled before replying.

Aanabia: Hey. Was salaam. Yesss! I was reading. Awh I realized it just now. Don't worry. We can do it some other time when we dress up like today. Hahaa.

Kulthum: Ooooo What book?

Aanabia: Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts.

Kulthum: I think I read it. I am not sure though. Anyway, see you tomorrow. Allah Hafiz. Good night and don't dream of my brother tonighty. 😉

Aanabia felt a blush creep up at the message.

Aanabia: I would never. Hahaha. Allah Hafiz. In sha Allah tomorrow.

She placed her phone on the sofa and went back to reading only to be interrupted again. This time it was her mother. She smiled at her mother who walked into the study. She took a seat in front of Aanabia and looked outside to the trees.

"Hey mama. What happened?" Aanabia asked her with a smile. Hifzah let out a small smile at her daughter. She placed a hand over her head and caressed her hair.

"I cannot believe you have grown up so much" she whispered to her and Aanabia frowned.

"What happened mom?" she asked her. She never talks like this. What is going on? Hifzah blinked away the tears and smiled brightly at her daughter. Just then, Nahal entered the room.

"You called mom?" Hifzah looked over to her and gestured for her to take a seat in front of them. Nahal pulled a large bean bag and took a seat on it.

"What's wrong mom?" Nahal questioned when she saw the worry etched to her mother's face. Aanabia squeezed Hifzah's hands.

"What is it?"

"Remember how Zaiha and Qaidah came today?" she said, looking at her daughters. Nahal frowned and Aanabia remembered something. I forgot the gift on the shelf! I did not even open it!

"Yeah?" Aanabia felt her mother tugging her hand for her attention. She looked up to meet her eyes. They were similar to her own.

"They brought forth a marriage proposal" said Hifzah and Aanabia frowned while Nahal gawked.

"For?"

"Aanabia" When Hifzah said that, Nahal grinned while Aanabia's eyes widened. Proposal? Qaidah aunty? Yazdan?

"Who's proposal?" Nahal questioned.

"Yazdan. They think that Aanabia is best for their son" Yazdan told them. Oh my god, He told them! No wonder the boys were asking for Eidi from me! Awwwwiiisshhhh! I can kill this man! He should have let me know at least!

"Aanabia?" her mother's voice snapped her out of her trance. Oh definitely kill him.

"Look, it is fine if you don't want to marry him" her mother said and Aanabia replied a no immediately before looking down at her hands, blushing bright. Hifzah smiled at her with amusement.

"Is there something I do not know, Aanabia Sadaf?" she asked her and Aanabia gave her a sheepish smile.

"I might like him?" she told her mother who rolled her eyes at her.

"You should have told me this! I would have agreed to this proposal immediately!" she said and Aanabia let out a laugh.

"No mom. Take your time. Do you want me to go in that household?" Hifzah thought for a moment before smiling at her.

"It is up to you. How you see things, how you do things and how you live with them. From what I know and have seen, they adore you Aanabia. You will be fine there. Plus Yazdan is a good person" she said and Aanabia nodded before pulling her mother for a hug.

"But I don't want to leave you" she whispered in her mother's arms, almost breaking down to tears. My mom will be all alone. Who will live with her then?

"Silly girl. Who said you'll leave me? You are just going to a new family. I will be right here for you" she replied and Aanabia nodded in her arms.

Nahal watched the two in fascination, feeling her heart break and clench. It felt as if something was pricking her heart muscles. She rubbed her left chest slightly wincing. Aanabia let her mom go and turned to Nahal with a smile. Nahal grinned back at her, hiding away any pain she felt just now.

"So this is a yes?"

"Why the hurry mom?" Nahal asked.

"Because they are coming tomorrow with the official proposal"

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As Salaam Alaikum Beautiful Panda's!

THIS CHAPTER IS UNEDITED.

I updated. But because this chapter was pre-written. haha. 

| R - C - V |

XOXO, 

-HopesSmile. :)