Chapter 10
"This is our land....", Zaviyar said pointing towards the fields stretching far and wide. The greenery was quite soothing to the eyes.
Zaviyar had been asked by his mother, Riffat to show Zulekha and Safiya around the village. Khwaish and Kabir had tagged along to keep Safiya company.
Only Riffat knew how much pursuing it had taken for Zaviyar to agree to her.
Safiya stepped out of the other car along with Kabir and Khwaish. The cool breeze brushed past her, fanning her face and making her hair flowing in a cinematic way.
"Come on Aapi, let's walk ahead. The sunset from there is breathtaking, Khwaish said pulling Safiya along.
Safiya stopped when she felt a strong grip on her wrist and turned around to see Zulekha holding her hand.
"Wait-why are you not taking a dupatta? ", Zulekha asked her rudely.
" Why do I need to wear a dupatta exactly? ", Safiya asked her brows furrowing in confusion.
"This is a village. People here aren't used to seeing what you're wearing. ", Zulekha said, her voice laced with fake concern. " Ain't I right, Khan Sahab? ", she turned to Zaviyar who stared at her with indifference.
" Then they better get used to it-because this is what I'm comfortable in. ", Safiya shrugged before jerking Zulekha's hand off her wrist like it burned her skin through her clothes.
'Fuck off', that's what Safiya wanted to say had Zulekha not been Zaviyar's fiance.
" Why is your cousin so rude? Doesn't she know the village norms?", Zulekha turned to Zaviyar who had been quiet the entire time rolling his eyes at the drama that unfolded before his eyes.
" She's from the city. ", Zaviyar said simply before gesturing one of the bodyguards to follow the trio who were going down towards the crops.
"Girls from the city are all like this... arrogant and proud. She is really shamele- "
" Bas! ", Zaviyar's sudden sharp voice made Zulekha flinch as her eyes widened. She turned to look at him surprised by his sudden outburst but he had already walked past her towards the three monkeys who were already screaming about something.
Safiya and Khwaish giggled as they tied the picnic hat on Kabir's head. Now the three of them were matching. Safiya quickly fetched out her phone and clicked a snap with both Khwaish and Kabir's head attached to hers.
She giggled at how cute the photo had turned out. She sent the snap to her friends and turned towards the siblings who were arguing about who looked cuter in the picnic hat.
"Arey Ishu, mujhe na woh Kajol wala scene karna hai- kheton ke beech mein bhaagu aur mera lover mujhe yun baahon mein pakde.", she said animating the scene with her hands making Kabir smile mischievously and Zaviyar almost shout at her for mentioning that infront of his little sister.
(Ishu, I want to recreate that Kajol scene-running through the fields while my lover catches me in his arms.)
"Phir toh woh scarecrow aapka aashiq ban jaayega.", Kabir said pointing towards the hideous scarecrow making Khwaish laugh like a hyena.
(Then Safi Aapi, your lover will end up being that scarecrow!)
" Kabir teri touh esi ki tesi. Ab tu dekh beta ab tu dekh, teri aukaat mein tujhe dikhati hu. ", she said running after Kabir who dodged her attack and ran quickly hiding behind Zaviyar.
( Kabir, you're so done for! Just wait and watch, my boy - I'm about to show you your true place )
Safiya ran behind him failing to catch the human monkey. Kabir scared seeing Safiya's long nail extensions hud behind Zaviyar dodging her attacks. Zaviyar shook his head before catching Kabir and pulling him forward.
" Thank you. ", Safiya said smirking at Kabir who joined his hands crying hysterically on being betrayed by his elder brother.
Zaviyar bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling at how Safiya bullied Kabir.
Safiya's laugh stopped when she spotted a lady who was pulling a cart filled of water buckets stagger and fall. She gasped running towards the woman followed by the others.
Zulekha who was fanning herself with her handfan rolled her eyes. " What new drama are these people doing now? "
" Aunty, please get up... Kabir, bring some water from the car. ", Safiya said as Khwaish checked the woman's pulse and checked her airway.
Kabir ran back with the water bottle as Khwaish sprinkled it on her face.
" Thank you, dear. ", the woman said resting her back against the tree trunk. She froze when she saw the people who helped her. She lowered her head greeting Zaviyar, who bent down to her level and asked, " Are you okay? ", his voice was soft as he spoke to her.
" Aunty, think about your age. At a time when you should be resting at home, why are you pulling a cart here? ", Safiya said waving the handfan she had carried along providing some cool breeze to the old woman.
" What can a woman do when her own son has abandoned her in the village?", the woman said with her shaky voice smiling in gratitude to Zaviyar who offered her the cool bottle of water to drink and relax.
" You don't have any other children. ", safiya asked. The woman shook her head in melancholy, " My husband passed away last year. I'm alone with no- no one to earn and feed me. "
Safiya nodded, her heart constraining in pain as she witnessed the old woman's condition.
What kind of bullshit village is he operating when people are dying out of hunger?
Safiya rolled her eyes before digging her hands into her pocket to pull out her wallet.
" Alright, one minute... here, keep this money.", she said handing the woman all the cash that she had in her purse. The old woman's eyes widened at the amount of money. She couldn't even earn this much in an entire month and this girl wearing vulgar clothes was giving her this much money.
( Aunty ke pov se hain guys not from my pov ?? )
" I cannot take this money... It's too much. ", the old woman refused pushing Safiya's hand away gently.
" Think of me as your daughter and take it please. ", she said softly this time. She already funded several old age homes so it was no big deal for her to help some more people who needed help. Zaviyar got up to talk to the guards.
" Come to the big haveli tomorrow morning. " , she said after thinking hard making the old woman join her hands in front of her in gratitude.
Zaviyar who had gotten up had instructed his guards to help the old woman back to her home.
"Hey girl, what do you think you're doing?"
It was Zulekha who walked towards them. She frowned at Safiya and rolled her eyes at the old woman, covering her nose with her dupatta.
" You can't invite just anyone to the haveli? That's not your house. ", she said bitterly making Safiya glare at her. She was about to leave but Zulekha's grip on her arm stopped her.
She was about to argue back but her words were cut off by Kabir who snapped at Zulekha.
" Zulekha bhabhi, just so you know... that house belongs to Safiya too. More than it belongs to you. "
Zaviyar, who had been instructing the guards, paused mid-sentence as Kabir's sharp voice cut through the air. His brows drew together in a deep frown the moment he registered the rudeness in Kabir's tone toward Zulekha.
" What's the matter, Kabir? Why are you speaking to Zulekha like that?", Zaviyar asked sternly as his eyes landed on Zulekha's grip on Safiya's arm.
"Your cousin is inviting this beggar woman to the big haveli.", zulekha at once removed her hand from safiya's arm and strode towards Zaviyar and spoke meekly.
" Why? Is there some other problem? ", he asked his attention now towards Safiya.
" No, I just found out that her son abandoned her here... so I thought I'd help her a little.", Safiya said quietly glancing back at the lady who was talking to Kabir and Khwaish.
" What will you do? Just let her go to Ammi.", Zaviyar said.
" It's alright... Tayi Ammi is already very busy with the marriage preparations - I don't want to trouble her. ", she said witha confident smile. She looked up at Zaviyar who nodded at her understandingly.
" I'll take care of it, don't worry. ", she flashed him a smile before turning away and walking towards the lady.
I know you will.
°°°°°
It was a quiet Sunday morning, and Zaviyar had finally returned from the city after a long, grueling week of work.
His look was disheveled, shirt sleeves rolled up till his forearms, the top two buttons of his shirt open giving a glimpse of his chiseled chest and a few strands of his hair gently fell over his forehead.
But the calmness of the moment didn't last long. His brows instinctively furrowed as his gaze landed at the sight of the garden. specifically, on the familiar sight unfolding but with a different person.
A few women, dressed in vibrant shalwar kameezes, sat comfortably on the garden chairs, their laughter light and unbothered.
At the center of it all, as though she didn't belong there, sat Safiya.
Her posture was composed, her expression calm yet unreadable, as the women around her chatted animatedly.
The sight was oddly domestic, disturbingly casual and it unsettled him.
Safiya explained something to them as she tapped through a few slides on her iPad, pointing at the screen with effortless ease.
The women surrounding her-some elderly, some younger, a few with children in their laps-nodded attentively, their eyes following every movement of hers as if she held all the answers they had been searching for.
Zaviyar stood at the threshold of the living room, his attention unknowingly drifting from the hushed conversation he had been having with the guards. His gaze shifted to the garden, where the quiet hum of female chatter echoed like soft waves. His eyes narrowed slightly.
He had often seen his mother take part in such gatherings, listening to the village women talk about their troubles, sometimes helping them with household matters or health advice. It had always been his mother's domain as the rightful daughter in law of the Khan family.
But this was different.
This wasn't just a friendly get together. There was a sense of purpose in the way everyone sat, focused entirely on Safiya as if she wasn't just part of the circle but the center of it.
The role Safiya blended into now was no joke, the way she spoke with sheer confidence. The way she moved with grace and pride but still held a piece of morality and remained grounded.
The role she fitted into so perfectly now, was one traditionally held by the daughter in law of the Khan family.
His footsteps slowed, and he paused a few feet from the window, letting his eyes linger on the sight. What was she doing there? Why did it seem like they all revolved around her. As if this house, this garden, this very space belonged to her too?
He didn't like that thought. Not one bit.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed his mother, Riffat, enter the room with her usual gentle poise. Her eyes sparkled when she saw him standing there, and a smile curved her lips as she walked over.
Zaviyar greeted her with quiet respect, pressing a kiss to her palm, the way he always did. But even as he did, his eyes remained fixed outside, at the sight of the circle of women in the garden where laughter like the chirps of sparrows.
" What's going on, ammi? Why are so many women here when you're not even there? ", Zaviyar asked, pointing with a tilt of his chin toward the circle of women gathered under the shaded tree.
" Look dear, Safiya has won over everyone in the village in just a few days. She's been helping them through all sorts of government schemes. ", She said, her eyes following the same sight with an expression of admiration, almost maternal pride.
" Now she's even teaching them about agriculture and handicraft business techniques... ", Zaviyar nodded, his eyes narrowing just slightly as he caught the sight of Safiya lifting a little girl off the ground, twirling her around effortlessly. Her laughter rang out, infectiously innocent.
" Every time I look at her, it feels like this house, this village, these people-they've all been waiting for her for years. ", Riffat said, her voice low but tinged with something deeper.
Zaviyar's head snapped toward her, his brows furrowed. A cold wave passed through him at her words, like an unexpected gust of winter wind. He didn't know what was going through his mother's mind-what was she implying? Whatever it was, it made his skin crawl, a shudder crawling up his spine.
He stepped back slightly, his jaw tightening as he muttered a soft excuse and turned toward the hallway, making his way to his room.
But before disappearing around the corner, he glanced back once more at Safiya.
Her laughter still echoed faintly behind him, mixing with the breeze and the chirping birds.
Yet it wasn't her laugh that stayed with him.
It was his mother's words that haunted him even in the calm of his bedroom.
' These are the qualities of a true Nawab's wife. When she speaks, a hundred people listen. When she walks by, a thousand greet her. She doesn't just carry our name, Zaviyar... she carries our blood and legacy. '
Her voice was so calm, so certain. The words constantly replayed in his head again and again. Her silent whisper was like nails hammering down one by one on a coffin-
' She fits so perfectly into the place that is meant for someone else. '
" This concludes today's class. You all keep coming for the next week. I'll leave after your nawab sahab's wedding, but I'll make all the arrangements for you all before I go. ", she said looking at the women who nodded at her with smiles.
Safiya finally felt at peace after arriving here. She was already an activist and related to many NGOs and old age homes helping people.
She still wondered in what bullshit way Zaviyar was governing the village because she was almost shocked at the condition of the women's sanitation and rights.
She almost fainted when some women told her they didn't know what pads were.
Even though there was a school till class 10 but girls rarely attended the school.
The condition of the women here was horrible and it only made her stomach churn in disgust. She hadn't been able to help them much but she could if she somehow managed to connect these women to her NGO.
" You all have my number-just call if you ever need anything. ", she said to the woman pointing at her number on the board.
All the woman got up to leave but not before greeting Safiya one by one.
" God bless you, dear. Kaash Tum hamari chhoti nawab begum hoti ", one of the middle aged ladies said making her squint her one eyes in disgust.
Nawab begum? Wtf does that even mean?
And that's when realisation clicked, Zaviyar was the Nawab and his wife would probably be the begu-
Eww- eww- eww-
She almost puked at the thought. Like hell she would ever be his- utterly disgusting and rediculous.
Not even in a million fucking years.
"Chhoti bibi...", Safiya looked down when she felt a tug on the material of her sweatpants. She looked down to see a little girl with cute pigtails and doe eyes Staring up at her.
" me? ", she asked weirded out a little as it was the first time someone had called her with honorofics.
" My name is Safiya- Safiya Aapi for you... " she bent down to the little girl's level enough to meet her eyes and said softly.
" Now tell me what's going on in this little head of yours? ", she said ruffling her hair.
" I want to become a doctor... ", the little girl said fidgeting with her frock.
" Study well, cutie- you'll definitely become a doctor. ", she said with a warm smile.
" What's your name bachcha? ", the little girl looked up before saying, " Parizay. "
" A cute name for a cutie like you ", she said lifting the girl up in her arms and twirling her around.
" Forgive us, Safiya Bibi. We judged your nature and character by your clothes- but you proved us completely wrong. ", Safiya stopped twirling the little girl and turned towards a middle aged woman who spoke with her head lowered.
" My clothes are not my identity, Razia. But yes, I was thinking- why don't I try your style for a few days? what say Parizay", she said with a playful smile making Parizay scream in delight.
" You'll look like a princess! ", her cute comment made all the women giggle and Safiya kissed her cheek when she blushed due to everyone laughing at her.
°°°°°
"Come in," Safiya said at the persistent knocks on the door. She glanced up from her laptop, her brows lifting in surprise when she saw her mother walk in.
"Am I disturbing you, beta?" Rabiya asked gently, stepping into the room with a soft smile. She placed a tray with hot chocolate and neatly cut fruits on the bedside table.
Safiya shook her head and pushed her glasses up. "No, Mom. I was just looking up some ways to connect the village women here to my NGO."
Rabiya paused, watching her daughter for a beat before sitting at the edge of the bed. "Why are you doing all this, Safiya?"
"What do you mean?"
"This," she gestured vaguely with her hand, "getting involved with the women here... helping them."
Safiya gave a small shrug. "Because it's what I always do. It's not a big deal."
Rabiya's eyes softened, but there was a hint of concern in them. "Do you realise what this means? The consequences?"
Safiya looked at her, confused. "What consequences?"
"You'll be tied down here. You'll have to keep coming back to Azamgarh to support them."
Safiya smiled, brushing her hair back from her face. "Mom, it's not that deep. I'll do what I can, but it's not like I'll have to move here or anything."
Rabiya sighed, shaking her head slowly. "You're not the heroine of some drama, Safiya. Life's not that simple."
Safiya chuckled under her breath but her tone stayed firm. "I know. But if I can help someone, shouldn't I try? These women here are living in miserable conditions, and they're trying to learn from me mom. "
There was a brief silence before Rabiya spoke again, her voice a little lower. "Every four out of five people are struggling in one way or another. You can't carry everyone's burden."
Safiya looked away for a moment, her eyes fixed on the cup of hot chocolate now losing steam. Then she said quietly, " But if I can make it even a little easier for someone, shouldn't I at least try?"
Rabiya walked to the door but paused near the door frame, " It would be better if you stop associating yourself with people you're not going to be in touch with soon. Because this is not where you belong Safiya. "
The entire house buzzed like the local railway station. The staff carried baskets of sweets, clothes, jewelleries and auspicious tokens that had to be given to Zulekha.
Laughter echoed through the hallways, doors slammed open and shut, and the sweet scent of rosewater and turmeric floated through the air. The women of the Khan family were scattered around, each caught in her own whirlwind of last-minute chaos.
Yellow seemed to be the colour of the hour. The entire house was decorated prior to the wedding. Riffat stood in the middle of the hall fussing about the preparations as she instructed all the staff on their chores.
" Oh God, we're already so late, and all this stuff is still lying around...", Riffat said picking up the sweet boxes and inspecting them.
" Navid, get all these gifts loaded into the car... ", she instructed one of the male staff but almost shrieked when she found the gifts for the family members lying around.
" Kusum, you take this basket...", she instructed another female staff member and let out a sigh in relief when she spotted Safiya walking towards her.
" Safiya dear, I'm taking these boxes. Could you please take the ones on the centre table. ", Riffat said pointing towards her phone and purse on top of the centre table.
" Yes, tayi Ammi, you go ahead-I'm coming. ", she nodded taking the stuff and following her.
Riffat and Rabiya let out a deep sigh as they sank onto the sofa.
The house had finally quieted down after hours of running around.
Every arrangement was in place, the trays packed, the gifts sorted, and the cars waiting outside.
Now, all that was left was for everyone to get ready and head to the venue.
Riffat came down the stairs, fully dressed for the haldi ceremony, adjusting the end of her dupatta as she entered the living room.
Just then, the front door opened and Zaviyar walked in, his phone pressed to his ear and his brows tightly drawn together.
Waqas trailed behind him, looking slightly alarmed at the way Zaviyar was practically yelling into the call.
"Do you even understand timelines? I want it delivered today-no excuses," he snapped, before ending the call abruptly.
As he turned toward the woman sitting on the sofa, Riffat rose to greet him but stopped short, stepping back with a glare.
"Peeche hato! Mujhe samajh nahi aata, shaadi tumhari ho rahi hai ya meri. Banda thoda muskura hi leta hai.", Riffat said hufing out in anger. Khwaish and Kabir had also come down.
( Move aside! I don't understand-are you the one getting married or am I? A person could at least smile a little. )
"Tumne toh subah se aisi manhoos shakal banayi hui hai.", Riffat said sulking at Zaviyar's indifference to the marriage ceremonies.
( You've had that cursed look on your face since morning. )
Zaviyar opened his mouth to respond, but his attention shifted to Khwaish, who was awkwardly making her way across the room like an odd, waddling penguin.
"Khwaish, why are you walking like that?", he asked, brows furrowed.
"Kuch nahi bhai, bas Aapi ke jaise heels pehne ki koshish ki thi...", Khwaish scratched her neck as her cheeks got tinted in a red hue.
( Nothing, Bhai... I just tried wearing heels like Aapi... )
"Achhi height hai tumhari- pair tudwaane ki koi zarurat nahi hai.", Kabir said making Khwaish snap at him.
(You've got good height already-no need to break your legs for it.)
"You shut up," Khwaish shot back, annoyed.
Just then, Rabiya appeared at the top of the stairs and called out, "Safiya, hurry up! We're already running late!"
"Rabiya, come on, let's double-check the gifts. Khwaish beta, you come too. Kabir, stop standing around-help us out," Riffat instructed firmly as she stepped out toward the waiting cars. Kabir followed them reluctantly, his expression half annoyed.
"Why am I even helping? It's not like they're going to take me to the ceremony anyway," he mumbled under his breath, dragging his feet behind them.
Zaviyar stood silently near the foot of the grand staircase, his posture calm but his gaze fixed toward the entrance of the house.
From above, the hurried patter of footsteps echoed through the wide, marble-floored foyer.
Safiya came rushing down the stairs, visibly flustered.
Her pale organza dupatta was slipping off her shoulder, one hand clutching its embroidered edge while the other struggled to lift her flared lehenga that threatened to trip her at every step.
Her lips moved in hushed, annoyed murmurs, cursing her own clumsiness and also the person who had come up with the idea of organza dupatta. .
God she hated it.
She didn't look up, too distracted by the task at hand of not falling face firt on the floor and ending up breaking her teeth.
Just as her heel hit the final step, it slipped at an odd angle.
Time seemed to pause for a fraction of a second before she tumbled forward with a small yelp landing straight onto someone.
Zaviyar who turned around exactly at that moment almost shrieked when a sudden weight landed on him.
Her hands clutched onto his broad shoulders as she steadied herself. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Safiya clutching her eyes close and digging her fingers into his shoulder so her body doesn't crash against his.
Zaviyar stiffened curling his hands into fists at the unexpected weight, his shoulders tensing instinctively. He stood straight giving her time to adjust.
"Shit... sorry sorry sorry...!" she blurted out in a flurry of panic, immediately pushing herself away from him by exerting a little force on his shoulder. Zaviyar, obviously didn't flinch. .
He only shook his head in sheer disappointment. There was only one person who had the peculiar talent of falling on him or crashing into him from the first day that she arrived.
"Yeh teesri baar tum mere upar giri ho," he said dryly, folding his arms across his chest as his brows lifted in mock disapproval.
(This is the third time you've fallen on me!)
Safiya, who was now standing upright and adjusting her dupatta once again, simply grinned at him completely unfazed.
" Touh aapko kisne kha hain ese beech mein khamba banke khare rehne ke liye? " she replied with a roll of her eyes and a flick of her wrist as though shooing his complaint away.
(Then who asked you to stand in the middle like a lamppost?)
Zaviyar's eyes narrowed slightly at her audacity, but there was a glint of amusement behind the irritation.
"Agar sambhal nahi sakti toh heels pehenti kyun ho?"
(If you can't handle it, why do you wear heels?)
His tone was sharp, but not unkind, just laced with a kind of exasperated sarcasm that only came from knowing someone too well.
Safiya didn't even blink before tossing her hair over her shoulder like it was part of her response.
"I wear them because I can and when I do, I still turn more heads than I twist ankles."
Zaviyar scoffed under his breath, shaking his head slightly as if mentally preparing himself for yet another round of verbal sparring.
"Yeh zaruri hai ki tum mujhe hamesha ulte jawab do?", He took a step closer, their usual back-and-forth narrowing the space between them.
(Is it necessary for you to always give me a sarcastic comeback?)
Safiya's expression didn't waver. Her gaze locked with his as she glared back.
"Yeh zaruri hai ki aap mujhe hamesha taana maarein?"
(Is it necessary for you to always throw taunts at me?)
Her voice was calm but laced with subtle defiance, like she was daring him to challenge her again.
For a brief second, the tension hung in the air.
Zaviyar sighed, finally breaking eye contact as he glanced toward the open doorway again.
There was no point in arguing with her. Safiya's tongue was sharper than the edge of a katana sword and she knew the perfect technique on how to use it to make someone bleed within seconds.
"Go now. You all are getting late."
Safiya raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased with herself finally shutting his mouth, but she didn't press further. She stepped back, brushing her palms together like she had settled something important.
"Anyways, itni buri bhi nahi hoon..." she said in a singsong voice, already halfway to the door.
( anyways, I'm not as cruel as you think. )
"Tumhari fiancée ki photos lete hue aaungi. I bet she's looking really pretty and you would want to see her... Okie bye~"
( I'll bring you photos of your fiancée. I bet she looks stunning, and you'll definitely want a peek. Okie bye~)
With that, she spun on her heel and then disappeared out the door, leaving behind the faint scent of roses and vanilla, like she always did.
Zaviyar stood there for another moment, lips twitching, somewhere between frustration and reluctant amusement.
He was slowly getting used to her chaotic personality.