khan Mansion
As the Maliks left, Ibrahim glanced at Zoya. She gave him a silent nod.

He turned to Iqbal and said gently, “Soch lijiye ek baar aur,(Think once again) Iqbal. Zarian is a very good boy. Ayeda will be happy with him, InshaAllah. As Samad’s parents, we can admit, he’s still not as mature."

Zoya added calmly, “Main bhi yahi kehna chahti hoon. (I also want to say the same) Zarian is settled, responsible, and respectful. Aap consider zaroor kariye.”

Aliyah cut in, her tone firm. “Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha aap dono ko ho kya gaya hai. Rishta humne pehle hi fix kar diya hai. Malik khandaan bhi acha hai, Zarian bhi acha hai but why would I marry my daughter into another house when she’s already getting in-laws like you both? Aur samad? He’ll mature when he has responsibilities.”

Iqbal nodded in agreement. “Aliyah bilkul sahi keh rahi hai, bhai. Yeh baat yahan khatam karte hain. Aur yeh discussion phir kabhi nahi hoga na Ayeda ke saamne, na Samad ke saamne.”
(Aliyah is absolutely right, brother. Let's end this matter here. And this discussion will never happen again—neither in front of Ayeda nor in front of Samad.)

Just then, a voice echoed from the hallway.

“Aap kya keh rahe hai, Abbu?”
(What are you saying, abbu)

It was Ayeda. She and Samad had just entered, shopping bags in their hands.

“Nothing important beta,” Iqbal said quickly. “Bas tum logon ki shopping dekhni thi. Kya laye ho?”
(I just wanted to see what you guys shopped. What did you bring?)

Both of them began showing their purchases. Ayeda had brought snacks and a few books. Samad, as usual, had bought shoes and video games.

After a while, Iqbal cleared his throat and looked at them.

“Ayeda, Samad... hum soch rahe the, tumlog ka nikkah ek-do mahine mein kar leni chahiye.”
(Ayeda, Samad... we were thinking that your nikkah should take place within a month or two.

Both of them froze.

“What?” they asked in unison.

Aliyah smiled, brushing off their reaction. “Itni badi baat nahi hai. Tum dono ko pehle se toh pata hai na, ek din shaadi honi hi hai?”
(It's not such a big deal. You both already know, right? One day you’re going to get married anyway?)

“Yes chachi... but this soon?” Samad asked, still stunned.

Iqbal replied, “We’re not rushing anything. Ayeda ka final year khatam ho gaya hai, aur tumhari degree bhi complete hai. Shaadi ke baad bhi business aur padhai dono chal sakti hain. Koi rukawat nahi hai.”
(Ayeda has finished her final year, and your degree is also complete. Both business and studies can continue after marriage. There’s no obstacle.)

Ayeda simply nodded. “Okay, Abbu.”

She didn’t object. She never did. She had no crushes, no past, no expectations. Samad was her cousin, her best friend, her childhood companion. Their marriage had always been assumed, something everyone knew would happen eventually. So she had no reason to resist.

After a while, both Ayeda and Samad left the room.

Zoya turned to Iqbal and asked, concern lining her voice,

“Hum sach mein jaldi toh nahi kar rahe?”
(Are we really not rushing into this?)

Before Iqbal could respond, Aliyah stepped in confidently,

"Are we really not rushing into this?"

Before Iqbal could respond, Aliyah stepped in confidently,

“Bhabhi, sab kuch theek hai. Dono ek dusre ke saath comfortable hain. Aap tension mat lijiye. Ab tayariyan shuru karte hain.”
(Bhabhi, everything is fine. Both of them are comfortable with each other. You don’t need to worry. Let’s start the preparations now.

Ayeda's Room.
Ayeda was sitting at her study table, flipping through her notes, but her focus was miles away. After trying to concentrate for a while, she shut the book and dropped her head on the table in frustration.

Just then, the door creaked open slightly and a teasing voice called out,

“Phir se kitaabein khol ke baith gayi ho? Kitabi keeda!”
(Back to your books again? Such a bookworm!

It was Samad.

“Kya hai yaar…” she muttered, annoyed.

He walked in casually and dropped himself onto the sofa.

“Mujh pe kyun chid rahi ho? Agar kuch kehna tha toh wahan kehna chahiye tha na, tum toh bas ‘okay abbu’ bolke uth aayi.”
(Why are you snapping at me? If you had something to say, you should’ve said it there. But you just said ‘Okay, Abbu’ and walked away.

Ayeda lifted her head and looked at him.

“Aur kya kehti? Jab sabko pehle se pata hai ek na ek din yeh hona hi hai, toh mana karke kya hota?”
(And what else could I have said? When everyone already knows that this was bound to happen one day, what’s the point of saying no?)

Samad’s tone turned serious, his smile softening.

“But seriously... do you like someone? Agar aisa kuch hai, just tell me. You know I’ll support you.”

“I know,” she said, nodding.

“But you also know I don’t like anyone. Aur agar hota bhi, tujhe toh waise bhi sab pehle bata deti.”
(But you also know I don’t like anyone. And even if I did, you’re the first person I would’ve told anyway.

He chuckled.

“Pasand toh chhodo, tumne toh kabhi ek male  friend bhi nahi rakha.”
(Forget liking someone, you’ve never even had a male friend.)

Ayeda smirked,

“Tum ho na?”

“Haan, woh toh hoon,” he grinned. Then asked,

“But sach mein… tumhe mujhse shaadi karni hai?”
(But seriously... You want to marry me?)

She paused, then replied honestly,

“There’s nothing uncomfortable that makes me want to say no. Sabse achi baat yeh hai ke mujhe doosre ghar nahi jaana padega. Taya abbu aur taya ammi already treat me like their daughter. Mujhe toh lagta hai woh tumse zyada mujhe pyaar karte hain.” She smiled.

“Aur tum… tumhe toh bachpan se jhel rahi hoon. Ab toh aadat si ho gayi hai.”

(There’s nothing uncomfortable that makes me want to say no. The best part is that I won’t have to go to a new house. Taya Abbu and Taya Ammi already treat me like their daughter. Honestly, I feel like they love me more than they love you.
And you… I’ve been putting up with you since childhood. By now, I’ve kind of gotten used to it.)

Samad rolled his eyes and said dramatically,

“Mere baare mein bhi socho zara. Ek bandariya ko bachpan se jhel raha hoon… ab puri zindagi bhi wahi likhi gayi hai. Allah meri hifaazat kare.”
(Spare a thought for me too. I’ve been putting up with a little monkey since childhood… and now it seems I’m destined to do it for the rest of my life. May Allah protect me.)

“Kya kaha?! Bandariya?” Ayeda stood up with mock anger.
(What did you say? Monkey?)

“Ruko zara… abhi batati hoon!”
(Wait, let me show you)

And with that, she started chasing him around the room while he laughed and dodged her.

After a few minutes, both of them were out of breath. Ayeda collapsed on the bed, and Samad leaned back into the beanbag.

Still catching her breath, she asked,

“Waise… woh game ka kya hua jo tumne pitch kiya tha?”
(By the way… what happened with that game you pitched?)

Samad shrugged,

“Abhi tak unki taraf se koi reply nahi aayi. Let’s see what happens.”
(Still haven’t received any reply from their side yet. Let’s see what happens.)

“InshaAllah sab acha hoga. Kab batana hai abbu aur taya abbu ko?” she asked.
(InshaAllah, everything will go well. When do we tell Abbu and Taya Abbu?)

“Jab kuch ban jaaye tab. InshaAllah. But tujhe sabse pehle bataunga, tu meri best friend hai.” he smiled.
(Once something actually works out, then we’ll tell them. InshaAllah.
But you’ll be the first to know—you’re my best friend.)

“I know,” she said softly. Then added,

“Chalo ab jao. Presentation ki tayari karni hai. If I win, I’ll get the internship under the best doctors.”

“Who can beat you, kitabi keeda? Of course you’re gonna win.” Samad said proudly as he walked out.

Ayeda gave a soft smile and whispered,

“InshaAllah.”

But inside, a wave of nervousness gripped her. This presentation mattered more than anyone knew. Maybe because it was her only escape, the one thing she could still control in a life where most decisions were already made for her.

Khan Mansion.

The next morning, the Malik mansion felt unusually quiet.

Everyone was seated at the breakfast table, but no one was talking. Not even Daniyal or Maliha. The air was thick not with tension, but with a kind of thoughtful silence.

Zarian looked up from his plate, glanced at everyone, and finally spoke.

“Kya ho gaya hai aakhir aap logon ko? Mujhe humara ghar itna khamosh bilkul pasand nahi.”
(What’s wrong with all of you? I really don’t like our house being this quiet.)

Zayran nodded in agreement.

“Sach mein. Yeh dono toh aise chup baithhe hain jaise aaj inka result aane wala ho.”
(Seriously. These two are sitting so quietly like they’re about to get their exam results today.)

Daniyal widened his eyes and clutched his chest dramatically.

“Astagfirullah bhai! Aise manhoos din yaad mat dilao. Heartbeat tez ho jaati hai sochte hi.”
(Astagfirullah, bhai! Don’t remind me of such cursed days. My heartbeat speeds up just thinking about it.)

Maliha chuckled, tossing a grape into her mouth.

“Main toh hamesha top karti hoon. Toh mere liye result ka din scary nahi hota.”
(I always top, so result day is never scary for me.)

Everyone smiled faintly, the atmosphere lightening just a little.

After breakfast, Zubair set his cup down and looked at Zarian.

“Zarian, aaj medical college mein ek event hai. Chief Guest ban kar mujhe jaana tha, par aapki ammi ko hospital le jaa raha hoon routine checkup ke liye. Tum chale jao, okay?”
(Zarian, there’s an event at the medical college today. I was supposed to go as the Chief Guest, but I’m taking your mother to the hospital for her routine checkup. You go instead, okay?)

Zarian paused, then nodded.

“Ji Abbu.”

Zubair added,

“Yeh event important hai. Jo students jeetenge unko acchi opportunities milengi. Performances achhe se dekhna. Bas phone mein mat ghuse rehna.”
(This event is important. The students who win will get good opportunities. Watch the performances properly, don’t just stay buried in your phone.)

Zarian gave a soft smile.

“Fikr mat karein, Abbu. I won’t disappoint you.”

Zubair patted his shoulder with pride.

“I know, beta.”

Zarian soon left, the car engine humming quietly as he made his way to the venue.

He didn’t know… that at that very event, he would come face to face with the one person he had begged to forget.

The roads ahead were calm.

But fate was already brewing a storm.

One, unaware of the storm she carries within someone’s heart.

The other, begging heaven every night to forget her name.

And destiny… quietly waiting for them to meet again.

Another chapter closed, but destiny had just opened a new page.

__________________________________________