“Thank you, Aunty,” Zayran said.

But Zoya didn’t reply. She just kept staring ahead, lost in thought.

“But Aunty, you never told me why you wanted Bhai to marry Ayeda. Samad was your son… and you said you’d explain after the nikkah. So?” Zayran asked.

He had been waiting for this answer ever since Zoya had come to him for help five days before the wedding.

Zoya slowly turned to him, her eyes calm yet heavy.

“Zayran, apko pata hai… nikkah ko zindagi bhar chalane ke liye sirf do cheezein bohot zaroori hoti hain. Do you know what they are?”

Zayran gave a little laugh. “Sorry aunty, mera abhi nikkah nahi hua… So I don't know.”

For the first time, Zoya smiled faintly.

“Izzat aur mohabbat,” she said softly.

“Agar in dono mein se ek bhi cheez kam ho jaye na… toh nikkah ko bojh bante der nahi lagti.”

Zayran didn’t say anything, just nodded slowly.

Zoya’s voice trembled with emotion. “Mujhe dono bache barabar azeez hain Samad bhi, Ayeda bhi. Woh dono shaadi ke liye razi toh ho gaye the, lekin…  unke beech dosti ke alawa kuch tha hi nahi. Aur apko pata hai, jab baat aage badhi toh mera beta Ayeda se kya poochta hai?”

A small, almost bitter laugh escaped her.

“He said… ‘Do you like someone else? If there is, I’ll help you.’”

Zayran’s lips parted in shock, but he stayed quiet.

“Us waqt mujhe yaqeen ho gaya,” Zoya continued, her voice low.

“Samad kabhi Ayeda se mohabbat nahi kar sakta. Kyunki jo waqai mohabbat karta hai na, woh apne mehboob ko dusre ke hawale karne ke khayal se bhi toot jaata hai.”

There was a long silence before Zayran finally whispered, “But aunty… why Zarian bhai? How were you so sure he could keep her happier than Samad?”

Zoya’s eyes softened. She stayed quiet for a few seconds, then spoke in almost a whisper.

“Mainne apke bhai ki baatein suni thi… masjid mein kisi se keh rahe the. Unse poocha gaya, ‘Tumhe gussa nahi aata us ladki par?’ pata hai kya kaha tha apke bhai ne?”

Zarian shook his head.

Her lips curved into a tender smile.

“Apke  bhai ka jawab tha…

‘Woh… woh toh main kabhi kar hi nahi sakta. Maine mohabbat ki hai unse poori sachaii or emandari ke sath. Aur meri mohabbat itni kamzor nahi ke apne naseeb ki saza unhe doon.’”

Zoya’s eyes glistened as she looked at Zayran.

“Jab woh apni mohabbat ki baat karta hain na, Zayran… uske aankhon ki chamak khud gawahi deti hai. Woh sirf mohabbat nahi… ishq karta hain.”

"Ok, but why did you contact me for help and not directly Zarian bhai?” Zayran asked, his tone curious.

Zoya smiled faintly before replying, “Mere jawab se gussa mat hona, beta.”

Zayran chuckled. “Nahi hoga, aunty.”

Zoya sighed and said, “Apka bhai…  bohot shareef hai. Aur mujhe ek baat yaad hai, kisi ne kaha tha, ‘Shareefon ke khandan mein ek sanki zaroor hota hai. Aur Malik khandan mein woh sanki Zayran hai… jo apne family ke liye jaan le bhi sakta hai aur jaan de bhi sakta hai.’”

Listening to her, Zayran laughed warmly.

“Don’t worry about anything now, aunty. Samad will reach US by tomorrow morning. I must say, he’s really talented. His video games are loved by them, it’s one of the best companies, aunty.”

Zoya only nodded, but her expression grew serious. She looked straight at him and said firmly,

“Meri beti ki aankhon mein ek bhi aansoon nahi aana chahiye. Agar main apni beti ki khushi ke liye apne khud ke bete ko shaadi se bhaga sakti hoon… toh usse rulane walon ke saath bohot kuch kar sakti hoon. Umeed hai, shikayat ka moka nahi doge.”

For a moment, Zayran just stared at her. Then a small smile spread across his face.

“Agr main aapka damad hota toh yeh dhamki banti bhi thi, aunty. Jaisa aapne kaha, main sanki hoon. Lekin yeh Zarian bhai hain… woh apki beti ko takleef dene se pehle khud ko takleef dena pasand karenge.”

Saying this, Zayran quietly moved towards his family, leaving Zoya standing still in her thoughts.

At first, Zoya herself hadn’t been sure about this decision. But when Ayeda had spoken to her, when she had shared everything about Mr. Khan.

Zoya had noticed something. Ayeda’s smile was brighter than usual. Her words carried a softness, almost like poetry, as she praised him. She spoke as if she could write a book just about him. That was the true reason Zoya’s heart tilted towards this decision.

And yet… one question still gnawed at her.

“Did my son really leave Ayeda waiting for him… just for a job offer? Kya uske liye Ayeda ki izzat se zyada apna career zaroori tha?

Or there is someone which neither zayran nor zoya knows?

.

.

.

Now it was time for rukhsati. The Khan family was deeply emotional; this was never their plan, to let their daughter leave her home and go into another. Iqbal’s eyes glistened with tears, his heart heavy with the weight of the moment.

Ayeda too was crying, for she had not imagined leaving her family behind and stepping into a completely new house. She went to each family member, hugged them tightly, and wept.

Finally, it was time to face her father. The moment she hugged Iqbal, she broke down completely, her sobs uncontrollable. Seeing his daughter in such pain, Iqbal’s own tears fell freely.

Zarian stood silently behind Ayeda, his presence strong yet respectful. When Ayeda and Iqbal broke their embrace, Iqbal kissed her forehead and whispered with trembling lips,

“Kabhi yaad aaya ya dil na lagye wapis aajana. Yeh tumhara hi ghar hai, hmm.”

Ayeda could only nod through her tears.

Then Iqbal turned to Zarian, pulling him into a firm embrace. His voice broke as he whispered, “I know you’ll take care of my daughter, but still… please, take extra care of her. She is very precious to me.”

Zarian, his tone respectful yet full of emotion, replied,

“I know uncle, she is precious to me too. Aapse behtar toh nahi, par ap jaisa khayal rakhne ki poori koshish karunga.”

He paused, then added with sincerity,

“Mai apki beti se apko dur nahi kar raha ho uncle. Apko jab bhi yaad aaye, aap aajaiye. Ya mujhe ek call kardijiye, mai khud unhe yahan le aunga.”

Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Iqbal’s tear-stained face.

Then Zarian leaned closer and whispered a line that sealed his place in Iqbal’s heart:

“I will never forget before being my wife, she is your daughter.”

Those words reassured Iqbal more than anything else. He was certain now—no one could ever care for Ayeda the way Zarian would. He was meant to be hers.

With that, Zarian gently looked at Ayeda—his wife now. His heart was overflowing with happiness, yet when his eyes fell on Ayeda’s tear-streaked face, something within him ached. He made a silent vow, “I will not let you cry after this. I promise.”

He slowly extended his hand towards her, but the thought of holding her for the very first time, of touching her with the weight of love and respect, made his heartbeat quicken. Taking in a shaky breath, his hand slightly trembling moved closer.

Ayeda noticed his trembling hands. Her eyes softened as she glanced at his face. Without hesitation, she reached forward, slipped her delicate fingers into his, and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Her thumb traced soothing circles over his palm, a silent reassurance like she will hold him before he falls and could hide his weakness from the world by protectively holding him. 

Zarian lowered his gaze to their interlocked hands. Her hand was so small compared to his, yet in that fragile grasp, she was shielding his trembling heart. When he looked back at her, his lips curved into a smile—a smile that held gratitude, love, and a quiet promise of forever.

“He thought today would be his last glimpse of her—until God said Kun, and made her his forever.”

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