Chapter 48 #3
"...What happened?", he slightly squeezed Safiya's waist making her jolt up, and look at him, " Why is everyone staring? "
"Rajinikanth jaisi entry maaroge toh log aur kya hi karenge?" Safiya muttered under her breath, shaking her head as people continued stealing curious glances in Zaviyar's direction.
(If you're going to make an entrance like Rajinikanth, what else do you expect people to do?)
Before Zaviyar could respond, one of the ladies standing nearby smiled warmly at Safiya.
"Safiya, this is your husband, right?"
" yes," she replied with a smile before looking at the man beside her. "He's my husband."
"Mashallah. Bohot hi khoobsurat joda hai tum dono ki."
(Mashallah. The two of you make such a beautiful couple.)
Another woman, unable to contain her curiosity, leaned in slightly.
"Aur beta, naam kya hai aapka?"
(And son, what's your name?)
Zaviyar smiled politely.
"Assalamualaikum. Hamara naam Zaviyar Raza Khan hai... aur hum Safiya ke shohar hain.", Zaviyar answered politely.
(Peace be upon you. My name is Zaviyar Raza Khan... and I am Safiya's husband.)
"Wa Alaikum Assalam, beta. Kya karte ho?"
(And peace be upon you too, son. What do you do?)
"Ji... business."
"Kahan tak padhai ki hai?", another man asked.
(How far did you study?)
" I've completed my MBA. ", he answered.
"MBA? Kahan se?", another question was shot at him.
(An MBA? From where?)
" From IIM. ", the questions only seemed to multiply until Safiya's mother finally stepped in with an amused sigh.
"Bas bas... bechare ko saans toh lene do. Safiya, Zaviyar ko thoda aaram karne do. Itni door se aaya hai.", Zaviyar sighed in relief. Now he understood how weird Safiya felt when she was being asked all those questions after marrying him. It was like a rapid fire round in an interview.
(Alright, enough. Let the poor boy breathe. Safiya, let him get some rest. He has travelled all this way.)
"Okay, Ammi.", Safiya gently caught hold of Zaviyar's wrist.
"Zaviyar, chalo.", She had barely taken a step when her mother's voice stopped her.
(Come with me.)
"Safiya... beta thora pyaar se baat karo usse.", she whispered, loud enough only for Safiya to hear.
(Safiya... mind your manners.)
Safiya sighed dramatically before turning towards him with an exaggerated smile.
"Tashreef rakhiye, Nawab Sahab. Dekhiye... aapki khidmat mein phool bhi bichha diye gaye hain.", she said with a sarcastic smile.
(Please grace us with your presence, Your Highness. Look... flowers have even been laid out in your honour.)
A dangerous smile appeared on Zaviyar's face.
" Esi baatein ki na touh idhar hi sabke saamne godh mein utha lunga.", Safiya folded her arms, pretending she wasn't the least bit affected.
(I'll just pick you up in my arms right here in front of everyone.)
"Himmat hai aap mein?", she scoffed, " what about your image as the non-chalant businessman. So secretive that you even your wife doesn't know about it. "
(Do you really have the courage to do that?)
"Kya lagta hai, biwi?", She looked around at the crowd before smirking mischievously.
(What do you think, wife?)
"In sab logon ke saamne agar mujhe utha liya na... toh tum jo kahoge, main woh karungi.", His smile only widened.
(If you actually pick me up in front of everyone... I'll do whatever you ask.)
"Phir apni baat se mukarna mat."
(Then don't back out on your promise.)
Around them, conversations paused for a fraction of a second before everyone quietly pretended they hadn't witnessed anything.
[A/N: Kya matlab aas paas ke logon ne apni aankhon par patti baandh li hai? ??]
A group of ladies standing nearby couldn't help but watch the adorable exchange unfold.
"Arre... Safiya toh aaj bohot khush lag rahi hai.", a woman in her 30s said.
(Safiya looks so happy today.)
"Maine usse itna sharmaate hue kabhi nahi dekha.", another added.
(I've never seen her blush like this.)
"Tumne dekha kitne businessmen un dono se milne aa rahe the? Lagta hai inka kaafi bada business hai.", one of the youngest women in the group pointed.
(Did you notice how many businessmen came to greet them? Looks like he owns quite a renowned business.)
"Huh... businessman hi toh hai. Ismein kya badi baat hai?", Neelo shrugged.
(He's just another businessman. What's so special about that?)
"Paise se zyada zaroori baat yeh hai ke dono saath mein kitne khush lag rahe hain." , an.old lady sipped the tea.
(Money isn't the important part. They genuinely look happy together.)
"Kisi bhi shaadi ka asli haal teen-chaar saal baad pata chalta hai. Shuru shuru mein toh sab perfect hi lagta hai.", Neelo's friend added.
(You only know how a marriage is after three or four years. Everything seems perfect in the beginning.)
"Jis tarah unhone Safiya ka payal chupchaap apni pocket mein rakh liya... mujhe toh nahi lagta ladki kisi majboori mein uske saath hai, jesa bola jaa rha tha", one of the old woman's daughter in law reasoned.
(The way he quietly slipped Safiya's anklet into his pocket... I don't think she's with him because of any compulsion.)
"Haan... aur ladka padha-likha bhi hai. Jaaheel nhi hain. "
(True... and he's well educated too. He's not an illiterate. )
Just then another familiar face walked over.
"Mrs. Tyagi! Malaysia business trip se kab wapas aayi?", Neelo called over.
(Mrs. Tyagi! When did you return from your Malaysia business trip?)
"Bas... kuch din pehle.", Mrs Tyagi greeted them.
(Just a few days ago.)
"Aaiye na, hamare saath baithiye."
(Come, sit with us.)
"I'm so sorry. Mere husband aur mujhe Mr. Khan se milna hai. Unse appointment milna almost impossible hota hai. Please excuse us.", Mrs. Tyagi smiled apologetically.
(I'm so sorry. My husband and I need to speak with Mr. Khan. Getting an appointment with him is almost impossible. Please excuse us.)
As she walked away, confusion spread across the little circle.
"Sab Safiya ke husband ke peeche itne paagal kyun hue ja rahe hain?", Natasha frowned, she spotted Adeel stepping out of the smoking area.
(Why is everyone so desperate to talk to Safiya's husband?)
"Ruko... main pata karti hoon ke woh hai kaun.", a woman said before searching on Google..
(Wait... I'll find out who he actually is.)
"Maine kisi ko Al-Zahari ya kuch aisa bolte suna tha.", another peeked in.
(I heard someone mention Al-Zahari... or something like that.)
A few minutes later, the woman looked up. Her face had gone completely pale.
"No..."
"It can't be."
Her voice dropped to barely a whisper.
"Woh koi mamuli aadmi nahi hain. He is the founder of the Al-Zahari Group... the mysterious owner."
(He's not an ordinary man. He's the founder of the Al-Zahari Group... the mysterious owner.)
A collective gasp echoed around the table.
"And it's written here , that he's from some royal lineage... a direct descendant."
(And I've heard he's from some royal lineage... a direct descendant.)
One woman continued staring at the couple with her mouth hanging open.
"Neelo Aunty... muh band kar lijiye. Makkhi andar chali jayegi."
(Neelo Aunty... close your mouth before a fly goes inside.)
"H-Haan... main abhi aayi."
(Y-Yes... I'll be right back.)
"Kahan ja rahi ho, Neelo?"
(Where are you going, Neelo?)
Without answering, she hurried away until she spotted Rabiya.
"Rabiya... idhar aana."
(Rabiya... come here.)
"Ji?"
(Yes?)
"Woh Safiya ka shohar..."
(About Safiya's husband...)
"Haan?"
(Yes?)
"Mili main unse. Bohot hi shareef aur behtareen ladka hai. Maine suna hai woh Al-Zahari Group ke owner hain?", Neelo asked, her eyes shining.
(I met him. He's such a wonderful young man. I heard he's the owner of the Al-Zahari Group?)
"Unke kaafi saare businesses hain. Mujhe bhi sab nahi pata... Safiya ko shayad zyada maloom hoga.", Rabiya smiled politely.
(He owns quite a few businesses. Even I don't know all of them. Safiya probably knows more.)
"Dekho na... mera beta maheeno se wahan apply kar raha hai. Mashallah, tum logon ne itna hoshiyar ladka dhoonda hai Safiya ke liye. Itne saalon ki padosi hoon... agar tum mere bete ki job ki baat karwa do toh...", Neelo's expression immediately brightened.
(My son has been applying there for months. Mashallah, you've found such an intelligent boy for Safiya. We've been neighbours for so many years... if you could recommend my son for a job...)
"Neelo... yeh sab baatein phir kabhi karenge. Filhaal party enjoy kijiye.", Rabiya's smile remained perfectly polite.
(Neelo... we can discuss all this another time. For now, please enjoy the party.)
As soon as Rabiya walked away, someone couldn't resist commenting.
"Kya rang badalte hain log bhi."
(People really do change their colours quickly.)
"Neelo Aunty kabhi nahi sudhregi."
(Neelo Aunty is never going to change.)
"Puri ki puri Bigg Boss material hai."
(She's absolute Bigg Boss material.)
The formal part of the evening had long come to an end.
Dinner had been served, speeches had been exchanged, and the elders had slowly gathered into small circles, discussing politics, business and family. The younger crowd, however, wasn't ready to let the night end.
Someone dimmed the chandeliers. The warm lights glowed brighter. The dhol gave way to soft music as couples drifted towards the centre of the hall.
One by one, husbands offered their hands to their wives. Laughter softened into shy smiles. Even the loudest guests lowered their voices. Safiya watched them quietly.
For reasons she couldn't explain, her eyes searched for only one person.
Zaviyar stood a little away from the crowd, speaking to a few businessmen who had surrounded him after learning about Al-Zahari.
His expression remained composed, answering questions with the same quiet confidence that had built an empire.
He never once looked towards the dance floor. Because his eyes kept searching for Safiya in the crowd. He honestly hated Wajahat for bringing people to introduce him. He knew all Wajahat wanted was to boast in front of his circle.