Ayesha's PoV

Today is the day when some of the men from our family decided to visit Fawad bhai's house; as a part of enquiring about the arrangements. Bapuji, uncles and also Zain is going. Zahra Aapa was both excited and nervous. We cousins had a great time teasing her.

"Aapa, do you have anything to inform your Fawad bhai?" Zain asked.

We laughed seeing a shy Zahra Aapa.

"Dont hesitate to tell me if any. Eventhough yours is an arranged marriage,  I don't mind playing a cupid between you two."he earned a playful smack from Zahra Aapa.

"Oh I know you are shy. Why can't you write a love letter then? I promise I will secretly give it to your man."he again started making Aapa blush.

"He may read it aloud for your groom. Beware about it."Shahina warned.

"Hey believe me. I wouldn't do that. May be I will handover the letter to Fawad bhai's father incase I couldn't meet him personally."Zain smirked and Aapa stood with an opened mouth.

"Zain please go. Or else you better dont go. You will spoil everything" Aapa shouted.

We all laughed together. I was silently enjoying all this.

"Aapa, you are going to be get teased more in the coming ceremonies. I can't imagine how you are gonna handle that if you are already shy now." Sana said making Aapa widen her eyes.

"Yes that's true. Better you dont marry. You still have time. Make a good decision this time. Should we go or not?"Zain asked making us wonder.

He waited for Aapa's reply for a while.

"Whatever your decision is, I don't care. I am gonna see him today. But if he seems to be not a match for you, I will definitely ask Bapuji to rethink about this decision. This is my word."he stated.

"Zain you are crossing the limits. She is already tensed and what are you doing to her? Now you please go. I think they all are ready and waiting for you" I said in order to stop him.

"Ok Ms. Ayesha Beegum. I am going."he said making me relieve. But he stopped exactly infront of me.

"What about your day?"he raised his eyebrows naughtily.

"My day?"I was confused.

"The day when you get married. I dont know how will you handle your so called groom. I hope he will be a better teaser than me. You may faint down on the wedding stage itself."he winked at me and I became all red.

Sure!!! May be or most probably I will faint down. That would be a sight worth watching for him.

He started laughing seeing my reaction. Suddenly I felt the urge to take whatever comes into my hand and throw at him. Unfortunately what I got is a small pencil that Hayaan was playing with. I threw it at him and he moved away escaping. He then grinned at me. I glared back.

"Doctor is angry. Patients are in danger."he chuckled and I turned my face away from him.

"Ok bhai. Your time is out now. Now go with baba and others."Hanah said and he excused us to go out.

Before leaving the room he once again approached me. I looked at him surprised.

"Ayesha, do you have anything to tell your future brother in law? Or do you want me to do that part on behalf of you?"

I blinked my eyes.

"I have only one request. Dont let him call off this marriage only because of your stupidity. They don't know the truth that Zahra Aapa have such a mad cousin." I said.

"Silly girl."he laughed while running outside the room. And then suddenly stopped on his track while turning his head towards me.

"I am waiting for your wedding day. I swear. I will tease you to the best of my ability then until you accept that I am not mad." With that he rushed out of the room.

Good for him.

I sat down on one of the corners of the bed. I don't know what is happening with me in his presence. With each passing day I am feeling more comfortable with him. For my surprise it's been two days I had that dream.

I think that prince also left after confusing me showing Zain's face.

"Ayesha Aapa, Ali uncle is not yet here. Can you please go to his room and check whether he is ready?"It was Hiba who asked me.

I simply nodded my head while making my way towards Ali uncle's room which is upstairs.

I was about to knock the door when I heard that voice from inside.

"Ayesha??? That girl. Are you mad Ali?"

I stopped in my tracks without having any clue how the hell did my name got a place in their conversation.

Is this really about me?

What was Asiya aunty saying about?

I stood there like a statue waiting for them to continue, completely forgetting the purpose why I am here.

"Shhhhh. Dont shout Asiya. This is not our home. "Ali uncle warned in an husky tone.

"I am sorry. I still can't believe that you came with her name."Asiya aunty spoke in a low tone.

"All I wanted is getting our son married before we leaves India. But what made you think that Ayesha would be a match for our Zain?"Asiya aunty continued stressing the last part.

It was not less than a shock for me.

Marriage?

With Zain?

What the hell?

What's going on here?

"It was just a suggestion from my side. Yes I did like her. The way she is behaving with everyone. She is a disciplined girl. And most importantly she owns a good heart which is rare for girls of her age now a days. She is a doctor too. I think...."Ali uncle couldn't complete his words. Before that Asiya aunty shouted making me shiver.

"I strictly oppose you. I am sorry to say this. But this is the truth. Yes she is a good girl. I agree. But I don't think they will make a good couple."she stopped for a while making me eager to know the rest.

"She is very reserved. Not smart like girls of her age. Dont even know to speak properly."

That broke my heart. I wish I wouldn't have came here now.

"Asiya, Please dont talk like this about a girl. Remember we too have a daughter." Ali uncle was firm. But it no longer can warm my heart.

"Ali, do you really think that Zain will agree to marry her? He is completely opposite what she is. I am her aunty, my brother's only daughter. Still I cant afford such a daughter in law."

Her words shattered me again. Its like piercing the same wound again and again.

Getting me married with Zain? What kinda idea is this?

Why people only interested in hurting me?

I didn't even think about being their daughter in law and here they are talking nasty about me.

Her words were not leaving my mind.

I know no one can afford me.

I am not smart.

I am reserved.

For God's sake I know what I am.

Why the hell they need to remember me all this when I am myself not interested in their son?

I didn't hurt them anyway. Then why this much hatred?

Why should they have to drag my name in unwanted conversations?

I remembered how much caring Asiya aunty was before. She behaved so nice with me from the time she came here. And suddenly all this happened. Everything faded away from my mind. The good memories with her.

"Its ok Asiya. It was just a suggestion. I already made it clear. Leave it. But remember one thing always."Ali uncle said calmly.
"Its not about how smart a girl is, every boy wants a wife who is loyal and loving."

Please uncle. Please dont.

Dont extend this conversation.

I hate for coming here.

"Listen dear husband. I didn't blame her. I was talking facts."Aunty again spoke making me numb.

"Zain is talkative and smart. Could you ever see that girl talking properly? From where did she get all these ranks and scholarships?"she continued.

It hurted again.  Made me broken.

"And did you ever notice how she is dressing? Such a careless girl"

You don't have any idea what you are doing with me aunty.

"Ali, tell me. Do you really think that they both are a match? If Zain would have been here, he would be laughing at your crazy idea."

That was enough.

I felt shame.

I didn't wait for one more second to ran away from there. I entered into my room and fall on the bed with an heavy heart. Asiya aunty's words were continuously ringing on my mind.

Zain?

Did he really laugh hearing what happened there?

Am I so creepy?

Am I so unworthy and useless?

Why this happens to me every time?

I didn't really take Ali uncle's idea of getting me married with Zain into my heart. But still it hurts me. Not only the words Asiya aunty used for me, but the thought that Zain would be laughing at all this made me restless. I cried my heart out hugging my pillow.

I start thinking about the relationship I am sharing with Zain. Suddenly out of nowhere this thought comes into my mind. This is the need of the hour now.

He was just a cousin before.

But now. A good friend.

He is the reason that makes me interested in this marriage ceremony. Earlier I thought it would be a boring function like all previous times. The reason is the same facts Asiya aunty talked about me. I am reserved and not smart. I cant fit into the crowd so easily. But Zain made me feel special. He didn't ignore me a single time. Even when he is busy talking with my cousins, he used to come to me leaving behind them on getting a mere view of me. Not a single time I felt suffocated within his company. That may be the reason why I got attached with him. Like I did with noone else till now.

My head started spinning and I wanted to vomit. I took two pillows and pressed it against my ears.

"Ayesha, what are you doing here?"I turned back to see mama standing beside the bed with an horrified face. She was shocked seeing me like this.

"Ayesha, dear..what happ..."
Before she completes I fall on to her chest and cried hugging her tightly. She patted my back while kissing my hairs.

"Mama, knowingly and unknowingly why everyone hurts me? I dont remember a single instance when I hurted them."I said sobbing.

She made me look straight into her eyes and cupped my face.

"Ayesha, I dont know who hurted you. But my daughter gets hurted due to some people who didn't realize your worth."she was more strong than I imagined.

"They don't know the real you. Then why do you care for their opinions? They are actually blind to realize how good my Ayesha is. You are the best and I am always proud of you."she kissed my forehead which unknowingly sent a wave of confidence in me.

"Believe me Ayesha. Those people who hurted you today, will change their opinion once they get to know the real you."she assured me.

"Mama. I am your daughter. You need to support me. You had to say this. I know. I am good for nothing. Not smart. Not interactive. I am not good enough to be a girl" I spoke like a kid complaining about her toy.

"Ayesha Listen to me. Do you know what I am praying everyday? To Allah?"she asked and I shook my head.

"If I am blessed to have another life, I want you as my daughter again. In fact in every life I have. The same Ayesha who cant hurt anyone in her life, but getting hurted bearing others' mistakes. I don't even want another kid."

I smiled in between tears. I know she loves me. But this side of her, it was new for me.

"Are you saying the truth?"I asked still in disbelief.

"Why should I lie? You are the treasure of my life. That's the reason why I am always possessive for you. Do you know why I didnt want to let you go to Banagalore when you got a seat there?"she asked.

I shook my head in amusement.

"Because I didn't want to stay away from you even for a minute. Your baba loved you a lot. You were my responsibility after he left us."she said making me sad.

"I wanted you to dress like other girls and behave the same way they are. But that doesnt mean I didnt love you. "She stopped staring at me.

"Then why did you always insist me to do things which I never wanted?"

"Because I was sure that you will eventually get hurted if you didn't behave like them. Like you are crying now. But I know you are a diamond. Noone can be my Ayesha."she wiped my tears away.

A mother's love. That has the power to
rejuvenate the dying soul inside you. Nothing else can.

"See, you are the most educated and brilliant one in our family. Dont cry for silly reasons. If something or someone hurts you, stay away from them. It will be their loss not yours. They don't even deserve you. Understand?"she asked for which I nodded my head.

"Dont be sad anymore. You are not living to impress anyone. You are here to achieve your dreams. Understand?"she asked making me smile.

"Yes mama."I hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. I became relaxed after having that talk with her.

"Ayesha. Now you smile."she demanded.

I smiled from my heart. She kissed my forehead.

"Did everyone go?"I asked.

"Yes. Now come with me. Dont be alone anymore. It won't solve any of your problems. It helps you only over thinking."she said.

I went along with her after washing my face.

I felt so relaxed and my mind was clear. She is right.

Why should I cry hearing someone's opinion about me who hardly know me for a week?

The people who loves me were the same one who stood with me in all my hard times. That's enough. And I will not let anyone hurt me anymore.

Smile for the people who loves you.

Dont be sad for those who hate you.

They simply dont deserve anything from you.
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Here is the next chapter. Looking forward to hear from you.