Chapter 43: Dinner.

*

"A humble man

knows not 

greed,

rather knows

the value 

of 

True Happiness"

-2am-

*

Aanabia was a nervous wreck. She tried her best to not show it but she was. She seriously was. Calm down. Her mind chanted the phrase like a mantra but nothing worked. Nahal was right beside her, holding her hand tightly in her own. She knew what her sister was going though. After all, this was Yahyah's house.

"As salaam Alaikum" she smiled at Qaidah and Zaiha who hugged their mother before hugging them tightly. Qaidah kissed the side of her head and smiled at her.

"My beautiful daughter-in-law" she said and Aanabia felt herself flushing bright. Right. Get used to it Aanabia.

"Come in" The girls followed their mother and Qaidah inside while Zaiha locked the doors. The living room was lively with the Zaeef's chatter and laughter. It immediately calmed down when Aanabia made an entrance. Grandmother Zaeef hugged the sisters and welcomed them before Kulthum and Amyrah whisked them outside to the backyard.

The backyard was brightly lit with lights (from the previous days) and the tents were still up. The brothers were outside there and when Aanabia saw Yazdan, she forgot how to breathe. He is so beautiful! He wore a black long sleeved shirt that had white vertical stripes on it paired with black pants. The sleeves were pushed up just below the elbows which displayed his arms. Oh holy vein of the arm- okay I should stop. She looked up and met his gray eyes which shone with mirth. He knew. He freaking knew. Aanabia grinned at him cheekily, completely forgetting that his older brother and younger siblings were around.

The boys eyed her with amusement as she grinned cheekily at their brother. Their heads turned to the said brother and watched his expression change to that of a small smile before it turned into a large grin. They looked at each other and grinned themselves. Their brother is whipped.

"Come on boys, meet your second bhabhi" called out Amyrah and Aanabia broke eye contact with Yazdan. She turned to Amyrah who grinned at her. The girls took seat in the large circle formed by the boys. Amyrah set beside Kayan followed by Karmaan, Safwah, Yazdan, Yahyah, Zul and Sahl respectively. Kulthum set beside Sahl while the sisters took seat in between Amyrah and Kulthum. Luckily there was a table in the middle which made it easier for them to form a circle.

Aanabia fidgeted with the loose ends of her dupatta.

"How did you two meet?" Aanabia turned to the twin who spoke. Apparently the out-spoken one. She wanted to laugh at his question. How did we meet again? Ah the school? The dinner? The incidents that followed? Maybe the library?

"Zul's school. I went to pick him up" they all simultaneously turned their heads to Yazdan. It was in such unison and their expressions were so identical that it made Aanabia question if they had rehearsed this or something before. Aanabia turned to Yazdan with a smirk who shrugged at his siblings.

"So who liked who first?" the twin questioned again and Aanabia blushed slightly before putting her hand up.

"Safwah!" reprimanded the oldest Zaeef which caused the twin, Safwah, to laugh.

"I know you all wanna know okay! I am just doing us a favor!" he sassed before turning to Aanabia. "Is that okay?" Aanabia shrugged. I guess so.

"I guess so?" it was more of a question, one that she looked up to Yazdan to answer. Yazdan smiled at her before nodding.

"Great! Who confessed?"

"Safwah!" this time it was Amyrah who was laughing like a maniac. She was glad Kayan was strict with them so they never questioned him or her during their time. Yazdan was the kind one hence their questions.

Aanabia held her hand up, laughing slightly. Her cheeks were tinted pink and the siblings were grinning like idiots.

"So you are the rose lady!" Safwah said and Aanabia frowned. Rose? Ah. Wait. How does- Yazdan hit his head slightly and Safwah winced. She turned to Yazdan with a raised eyebrow. You told them! He shook his head. He didn't. Then how do they know? He shrugged again. How is he able to understand me? Aanabia let out a small smile before joining the conversation.

"And when do you two want the nikah?" questioned Amyrah, turning to Yazdan. Yazdan nodded towards Aanabia whose eyes widened as all eyes focused on her.

"Uh.......... Anytime?" soon. Amyrah nodded.

"Then we return back soon, we can finalize the date for some time in a month?" said Kayan and Yazdan turned to his brother with a puppy eyes. Kayan let out a grin before turning to Amyrah.

"Amyrah, shall we go inside? I need to speak to mom about something" said Kayan and Amyrah nodded before getting up and walking inside with her husband.

"Bhabhi, why did you choose literature?"

-

The evening dragged on until it was dinner time and the youths were called inside. Aanabia walked in front of Yazdan before she halted. Yazdan halted and looked down at her. She is so beautiful. I cannot believe we are getting married.

Salh hit his back and he flinched slightly. His younger sibling, who was the last one in the line walking inside, took a step back and waited.

"What is it?"

"We need to talk" was all Aanabia said before she turned and walking away. Yazdan frowned at her retreating figure.

"What happened?" questioned Sahl and Yazdan shook his head.

"She said we need to talk but I don't know about what?"

"Did you talk to her about this whole marriage fiasco?" questioned Sahl and Yazdan thought about it. He didn't. He only told her about his feelings and family. Nothing more.

"Exactly" said his little brother before walking inside. Ahh.

Dinner went well. People talked, got to know each other and the elder Zaeef's were convinced that this woman would do well to their son. After dinner, Kulthum called dibs for frozen yogurt and thus began their fight of either frozen yogurt versus ice cream. Finally they settled for both when Zul suggested a place a few minutes near the park that served both. Thus the siblings along with Yahyah, Zul, Aanabia and Nahal decided to go see the place for themselves. Since Kayan was going, the elders let the rest go without much questions.

The place was called Froozan with two 'O's' and an 'A' instead of an e in the word frozen. It made Yazdan question what was the owner thinking when they opened the place. They walked into the small café and took their seats. Kayan smiled at Amyrah who grinned back at him. Their language was something that the siblings never understood. Yazdan turned to Aanabia and raised an eyebrow.

What do you want?

"Vanilla ice cream with caramel toppings and additional M & M's" she replied and Yazdan rolled his eyes at her. Typical sweet tooth. He turned to his siblings who were already walking towards the counter. He knew he had to pay for all of them today. When his turn came, he ordered one for her and a vanilla ice cream for himself before walking to the seats. They all waited until their order was called.

His eyes drifted to the lady seated with his siblings, almost like their own. A smile broke on his lips. A hand was placed on his shoulder and he turned to Kayan with a smile. Kayan's smile mirrored his own.

"I am glad you are happy" he said. Yazdan nodded at him before turning to his family.

I am too Bhai. I am too. 

****

Update! So anyone remembers the schedule I stated before July? Monday, Wednesday and Friday? I think I am going to stick to it. This way, you will get updates regularly and I will have time to actually write them. :) 

Thank you sooooo much for the comments on the last chapter. I honestly did not expect it. hahaa. I saw a few new ones, so WELCOME! 🙌

| R - C - V |

xx, 

Aalihha.