Chapter 48 #6
She shivered when she felt his fingers trace her back, before he slowly, knotted the dori of the lehenga blouse. Once done, he slowly bent down and placed a kiss on the mole on her shoulder blade before he whispered into her ear, " Go... "
Safiya walked out followed by Zaviyar, who didn't listen to her and walked behind closely to her.
Suddenly, Zaviyar was matching her pace and before she could comprehend what had happened, Zaviyar suddenly forwarded his foot, making Safiya suddenly trip and he immediately held up.
The people saw her falling and immediately panicked.
Then Zaviyar picked her up, bridal style making her eyes widen. She was shocked as everything happened in a flash.
" Kya kar rahe ho, utaro. ", Safiya's hands immediately wrapped around his neck.
( What are you doing? Put me down. )
" I win, jaan. ", Zaviyar smirked at her before carrying her towards a table which was empty. All the people stopped for a moment seeing them. A few even shared glances.
Her eyes widened, shock evident on her face.
'Yeh kitna haraamkhor pati mila hai mujhe.' Safiya grumbled inwardly, glaring at the man responsible for her current predicament.
The smugness dancing in Zaviyar's eyes made it painfully obvious that he was thoroughly enjoying every second of this.
Without paying the slightest attention to her murderous glare, he carefully carried her through the crowd before gently placing her down on a nearby chair.
The sudden commotion immediately drew everyone's attention.
People abandoned their conversations and hurried towards them, concern evident on their faces.
Zaviyar lowered himself onto one knee in front of her, carefully lifting her foot into his hands. His fingers gently pressed around her ankle, checking for any swelling while his brows knitted together in concentration.
"What happened? Is she alright?", Rabiya asked anxiously, her eyes darting between Safiya and Zaviyar.
"I think she slipped for a moment and twisted her ankle a little. The floor's quite slippery... and these heels aren't helping either.",
(I think she slipped for a moment and twisted her ankle a little. The floor's quite slippery... and these heels aren't helping either.)
His voice remained calm as he gently massaged her ankle, making sure she hadn't seriously hurt herself.
Safiya, on the other hand, could only stare at him.
'Oscar milna chahiye is aadmi ko.'
If anyone hadn't witnessed what had actually happened, they'd genuinely believe she had injured herself.
"Mummy, aap ek kaam kijiye. Dinner serve karwa dijiye. Guests bhi intezaar kar rahe hain.", Safiya said, not wanting to draw attention.
(Mom, why don't you have dinner served? The guests have been waiting as well.)
Rabiya nodded before the couple excused themselves to attend to the rest of the guests.
After making sure she was fine, Zaviyar rose to his feet.
"Please look after her. Aur inhe uthne mat dijiye. Main inke liye khaana lekar aata hoon.", Zaviyar said to Adira who stood beside.
(Please look after her. And don't let her get up. I'll bring her food.)
Before he could even take a step, Waqas walked over carrying a plate already piled high with food.
"Hum sab khaana lene jaa rahe hain. Aap hi apni biwi ko khila dijiye.", Ahaan and pulled Adira..
(We're all going to get our food. You feed your wife yourself.)
Zaviyar accepted the plate with a grateful smile.
"Shukriya."
(Thank you.)
Ahaan clicked his tongue seeing Waqas still standing near them, " Oi tum bhi chalo, apne sir ka pichha choro. Meri bestie ke employed saut. "
( You also come with us. Why are you always following your sir, do you plan to steal my bestie's husband huh )
Rabiya approached the couple, and said.
"Zaviyar beta, main tumhare liye bhi ek plate lagwa deti hoon.", He shook his head politely.
(Zaviyar, dear, I'll have someone bring you a plate as well.)
"Main aur Safiya ek hi plate se kha lenge."
(Safiya and I will eat from the same plate.)
A small smile tugged at Rabiya's lips, as she left.
The moment they were finally alone, Safiya narrowed her eyes at him.
"I can't believe tum jeetne ke liye itna dirty play kar sakte ho. Aur upar se dekho... main abhi bhi yahan baithi hoon aur tum mujhe khana bhi khila rahe ho.", Zaviyar looked entirely unapologetic.
(I can't believe you actually played this dirty just to win. And on top of that... here I am, letting you feed me.)
"Anything for my wife.", He held the spoon in front of her lips. Safiya rolled her eyes before taking a bite.
"Zara roast chicken taste karwao.", He nodded before feeding it to her, and then stole a bite for himself.
(Let me taste the roast chicken.)
From somewhere across the lawn, Ahaan's voice echoed loudly enough for half the guests to hear.
"Oho... love birds! Ek hi spoon se kha rahe ho?", Safiya immediately lowered her head, cheeks glowing crimson.
(Oho... love birds! You're even sharing the same spoon?)
Meanwhile, Zaviyar looked completely unaffected, occasionally stealing a bite for himself before feeding her another spoonful.
After a while, Safiya frowned.
"Tum itna kam kyun kha rahe ho?", She picked up a piece of crispy chilli baby corn before feeding it to him herself. He accepted it without protest.
(Why are you eating so little?)
"Gotta save some space for dessert tonight, love.", A slow smirk appeared on his face. Safiya's eyes instantly lit up.
"Haan! Dessert mein pistachio saffron cake hai. Mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha tumhe bhi woh pasand hai.", She excitedly scooped up a spoonful before holding it towards him.
(Oh yes! They're serving pistachio saffron cake for dessert. I didn't know you liked it too.)
"Lo... taste karo."
(Here... have a bite.)
Instead of opening his mouth, Zaviyar simply watched her with an affectionate smile.
"Aap hi kha lijiye.", She happily finished the spoon herself before pausing.
(You eat it.)
"Par agar tumhe yeh dessert nahi chahiye... toh phir kis dessert ki baat kar rahe the?"
(But if you don't want this dessert... then which dessert were you talking about?)
Without saying a word, Zaviyar leaned closer. Close enough that only she could hear him.
"Aap."
(You.)
His voice dropped another octave.
"Aaj ki meri dessert... aap hain."
(You're my dessert for tonight.)
Safiya froze. Every embarrassing memory from earlier flashed through her mind in rapid succession. She shut her eyes tightly before smacking his arm.
"Sudhar jaaiye."
(Please behave yourself.)
Despite her words, the smile threatening to escape completely betrayed her. Trying to distract herself, she once again held out the spoon.
"Bas thoda sa taste kar louh.", This time he obliged.
(Just taste a little.)
Only to frown dramatically.
"Thoda feeka nahi hai?", he said.
(Isn't it a little bland?)
"Kya? Aapko achha nahi laga?", she asked, dejected.
(What? You didn't like it?)
Instead of answering, Zaviyar reached forward.
His thumb gently brushed against the corner of her lips where a tiny smear of frosting remained.
Making sure no one was looking. He brought his thumb to his own lips. And licked the frosting off. Safiya's eyes widened. She immediately smacked his bicep.
"Kya kar rahe ho?", He looked thoroughly pleased with himself.
(What are you doing?)
"Ab meetha lag raha hai.", Safiya hid her face in her palm, her heart beating fast. Before she always thought, all this was cringe. But now, her view points had drastically changed.
(Now it tastes sweet.)
Across from them, Ahaan watched the entire exchange unfold.
"Aadu... mujhe lagta hai Jeeju ko diabetes hai."
(Aadu... I think brother-in-law has diabetes.)
Adira looked up from the mountain of Italian pasta she was enthusiastically attacking.
"Hein? Kyun?", Ahaan pointed discreetly towards the couple.
(Huh? Why?)
"Sugar alternatives dhoondh rahe hain na.", Adira stared blankly for two seconds.
(Because he's clearly looking for alternative sources of sugar.)
Then realization struck.
"Ohhhhh...", Ahaan cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Safiya! Zara sambhal ke rehna!"
(Safiya! Be careful!)
safiya looked up in confusion.
"Tum aajkal bohot meethi ho gayi ho. Kahin cheentiyan tumhe utha ke le gayi na... toh Jeeju ko unka sugar alternative kahaan se milega?", Safiya threw him the deadliest glare she could manage.
(You've become so sweet lately. If ants carry you away... where will brother-in-law find his sugar substitute?)
"Aise chutiye aur haraami dost ho... toh dushmanon ki zarurat hi kya hai?", Ahaan only laughed harder.
(When someone has idiotic, shameless friends like you... who even needs enemies?)
Ahaan only laughed harder.
"Oho... tumhe toh bohot maza aa raha hai.", Safiya pointed a warning finger at him.
(Looks like you're really enjoying this.)
"Ruk! Main ek ghanta kya... ek rupiya bhi invest nahi kar rahi teri company mein. Bhaag yahan se.", Safiya said, Ahaan clutched his chest.
(Forget an hour-I won't invest even a single rupee in your company. Now get lost.)
"Arre! Mere paanch paanch bachchon ke future ka toh soch.", Safiya didn't miss a beat.
(At least think about the future of my five children.)
"Unka future soch ke hi invest nahi kar rahi."
(It's because I'm thinking about their future that I'm not investing.)
Adira shook her head at the two bickering.
Zaviyar looked at her, amused.
"Tum usse aise baat karti ho?", Safiya shrugged as though it were the most normal thing in the world.
(You really talk to him like that?)
"Arre... woh toh mere bhai jaisa hai. Usse kya respect dena?", Zaviyar looked towards Ahaan, who was still busy arguing with Adira over imaginary future children.
(He's practically like my brother. Why would I be formal with him?)
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"And here I was... getting jealous of him.", t.he laughter, teasing, and conversations slowly dissolved into the rhythm of the evening.
By the time the celebrations came to an end, guests had found themselves discussing only one thing-
Safiya and Zaviyar.