Maya woke up with unusual excitement today and dressed up accordingly in her unusual style today. She wore kameez shalwar! She was more of a shirt type normally, but today, was especial. She was to meet with the supposed groom today and hell, she really just wanted to have a good start of life without the interference of her bad past.

After getting ready, she went downstairs and saw all men sitting inside the living room having the loud chat. While the women were in the kitchen. She was thinking of so many things about last night and one of them was her learning to cook something.

She went in the kitchen and looked for her mother and surprisingly maha was alone in the kitchen. She went towards her and said " aj ap akele kam karrahi hain?" (you are working alone today?) on which her mother smiled and said" nahi meri jan, baki sab bhi the. Bas abhi gae hain. Jao ap bhi dining table par jao. Garmi horahi hai kitchen mai" (no baby, others were here too, they just went away, you go to dining table too. Its hot in the kitchen)

Maya cleared her throat with blushing cheeks and hesitantly said "n-nhi...actually... Mai soch rahi thi k...khana banana seekh lunn.. you know" maha looked at maya with amusement and astonishment.
( Noo, actually.. I was thinking that, I should learn to cook....you know)

Humming teasingly she nudge her daughter's arm and said"uh-hann... Preparing for future... Remember meri jan very good idea, all men way to heart is from their stomach.. And that's how your abbu is tied to my pinky" maha spoke and laughed at her own joke.

Maya whined, " acha ye bataen.. mai paratha Banau baba k lie" (okay, tell me, should I make Pratha for baba?) maha looked at her daughter with numbness in her eyes. " Agar ap bana len to jesi apki marzi, mai dekh kar ati hun abbu ko apke okay" saying she patted Maya's shoulder and left. (If you wants to than go ahead, I'll look for your baba)

Maha went towards Rayyan, who was coming inside from outside, and smiled upon seeing his wife that turned quickly in a frown when he saw her wet eyes. " Meri jan, kya hua hai" (my love, what happened) maha sniffed. "Maya... She's asking me to teach her how to cook food" Rayyan smiled and pulled maha closer" ye to achi bat hai na why are you emotional" (that's a good thing)

He asked looking at his wife, the same way he did thirty years ago, when he newly married her. With the same love and adoration" wohi to. She's learning to make her husband food, the same way I did for you Rayyan....meri bachi abhi itni bari nhi hui hai... Dekho na, kal mai banaya karti thi aj wo sekh rahi hai... "( My daughter isn't that grown up, look I was the one preparing food for you and today she is learning)

Rayyan also sighed, getting emotional with the mention of his Aikloti beti. " We were at the same age as she is... Im sure she will handle it meri jan... Maya's a good girl right... She also said yes and aj larke se mil lete hain. Agar wo mujhe thora bhi pasand nhi aya, ya maya ko. Hum force nhi karenge ok" (let's meet the boy today, If I or maya wont like him, we will not force her) maha sigh but nodded with the same pout, making him steal a kiss hurriedly.

She gasped and hit him on the chest before looking around to see if anyone saw them. ".beti ki shadi ki bat chal rahi thi... Kitne besharam hai ap" making him laugh out loud....( We were talking about our daughters wedding, how shameless you are)
_____________

Fawad nervously rubbed his hands against the fabric of his kameez, He was looking handsome in his pure Pakistani wear. He was wearing bosky black pathani that complimented his well build body, deliciously.

Today was supposed to be the day, when he will get to meet the girl. After his talk with Noor, he performed istikhara as well and the result that he got, there wasn't any chance of him to say No to the proposal and deny meeting the girl.

His family was in great rush, they all had landed in lahore, the place where the family reside of the girl. They were supposed to meet them at 5 pm and it was only 3 pm when his family started rushing because of the traffic in lahore.

They were worried that they wouldn't be able to reach on time. The boxes of mithai, the gulaab jamun and kaju katli boxes were already placed on the back seat of their car's. The Arsalan and faizan's family were going, with his Rimhsa phuppo only. The other's had decided to stay at home.

Noor-Ul-Ain was the only baby girl of the family, had to be present there. Surprisingly he wasn't feeling bad anymore looking at her as he did some days ago. Maybe the love for his shareek-e- hayat was already building up inside him.

Noor-Ul-Ain was dressed in ankle length frock, black colour that suited well on her different coloured eye. Her hair were straighten and opened on her back while she did the minimum sparkly makeup on her eyes and pink gloss on her lips.

She, today as well was looking the most beautiful girl. Noor-Ul-Ain was blessed with the features of her mother and father combined. The beauty she was!

"Okay, now fawad, bache ap faizan and alia go in your car okay. While we rest are coming behind and oe khotte! Aram se, laal hua para hai nervousness mai" ( oh donkey,  calm down, you are red from nervousness) Arsalan's voice boomed in the gateway of the hotel, they were staying in making all of them laugh at Fawad while he, himself was embarrassed and they started their journey...

Reaching outside the villa, that look modern compared to them, They all got out of their cars in awe, the shah's haveli was beautiful but this one was a mansion. So royal and so aesthetic for them.
They all were let in by the guards and by the door stood Rayyan Khan himself to welcome his guest with his brother's by his side.

Looking at the four tall and fit men with papper grey hair, fawad gulped in nervousness while Arsalan and Faizan matched the same confidence and same grey postures. Ofcourse they weren't young anymore.

Arsalan and Rayyan were the first to meet, they all hugged each other with the women's just meeting them modestly. Faizan and mahid were great friend's of each other. Both of them were working by their brothers on the great business in Pakistan.

Maya was in her room, putting final touches when she got to know about the arrival of guest, she nervously and slowly made her way downstairs.

She looked beautiful in the peach colored kameez shalwar that almost matched with the colour of her skin.
Her mother was the first one to saw her when she reached the guest hall, where all of them were already sitting on the couches with the boxes of gifts and sweet's on the table.

Maha stood up and held blushing maya with her "ye agai. Meri beti Maya"( here comes my daughter)  Maya said salam, on which they all responded affirmatively. Alia stood up, maya looked at the fit and young looking women and immediately felt impressed.

"Mashallah, kitni piyari hai na rubaab" (mashallah, look how beautiful she is  looking rubaab) she said astonishingly to Rubaab, who was also impressed by maya.

"G, api... Bithao na maya ko" ( yes api, made maya sit)  she said and made maya sit beside her and like that they all had great conversation. Rayyan khan was hesitant but seeing the confidence and modesty of faizan and Arsalan, he felt relax and seeing fawad, he was at ease too because he could sense the look of admiration for his daughter by him.

Fawad was also talking confidently with them not letting them sense his nervousness. The women too asked maya about some questions while the youngsters, as Noor-Ul-Ain, abeer and ayaan and other's too had great bonding.

The family was shocked to see Noor-Ul-Ain double coloured eye and beauty but stayed in their limits and not gaze her to make her uncomfortable.
"I think, hame donon ko bat karne deni chahiye" ( I think, they Both should talk) and the moment came which he was waiting for.

They both went towards the lawn outside and silently walked beside each other. For some time there wasn't any talk but fawad initiated"umm.. do you like this proposal" maya looked up at him through her lashes and said " I, actually had done istikhara and the result came out good ..." He noded and he told her he did too.

Both of them had talked about some other things, as each other likings and passion. " Maya, you seems like a good girl. Dekho, mai wada nhi karskata k duniya kadmo mai lakar rakhunga, lekin ye wada hai k agar ap meri biwi hogi to apni poori koshish karunga k ap ko khush rakhun. Hamari larai hongi... Lekin jo bhi galti meri hogi mai usko sahi karunga... Hum sahi karenge"
(Look, I won't promise you that I will put world in your feet, but I promise that If you will be my wife than I will try all my best to keep you happy,. We will fight, but whatever mistake will be mine, I will make it right, we will make it right)

Maya looked up at him with admiration and said" mai bhi wada karti hun, kai typical biwi nhi banungi or apko samjhungi... Or mujhe lagta hai, k hum waqai acha and understanding couple banaenge" ( I also promise you that I wont be typical wife, and I will understand you, and I think we will indeed make a good and understanding couple). fawad laughed and said yes and before they could talk more, they were called back, he gently grabbed her wrist and said while gently caressing it, making her heart beat at abnormal pace , her cheek's red" mashallah, ap itni haseen hai, andar or bahar donon se k mujhe lagta pyar hone mai time nhi lagega" ( Mashallah you look so beautiful, from inside out, that I think I may fall soon)

Maya shyly smiled and removed his hand, and ran away inside hurriedly but her cheeks and shyness indicated to him that she liked it. He also liked her. He thought and smiled like a foool...