Chapter 50
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Author's POV
By the time they reached the house, Zaviyar looked less like someone returning from grocery shopping and more like someone transporting half the supermarket.
Large shopping bags hung from both hands. A sack of rice rested against one shoulder. A carton of juice was tucked beneath his arm.
Safiya unlocked the front door before stepping inside, with Zaviyar following close behind. She carried the snacks packets, the rest was carried by Zaviyar.
The moment Rabiya looked up from the living room, her eyes widened.
"Safiya... tum snacks lene gayi thi.", Her gaze slowly travelled over the mountain of groceries.
(Safiya... you went to buy snacks.)
"Yeh sab...?", Safiya only shrugged.
(What's all this...?)
"Maine socha thoda pantry ke liye samaan khareed loon.", Rabiya sighed before looking at Zaviyar.
(I thought I'd restock the pantry a little.)
"Woh sab theek hai, beta... par Zaviyar ko kyun uthwane diya?", she reprimanded Safiya who was helping Zaviyar keep the groceries down.
(That's alright, dear... but why did you make Zaviyar carry all of this?)
"Mumma, main khud hi lene wali thi.", Safiya pointed at her husband.
(Mom, I was going to carry it myself.)
"Woh mujhe lene hi nahi de rahe the."
(He simply wouldn't let me carry anything.)
Then she added innocently,
"Aur poore raste toh scooty pe aaye hain.", she reasoned
(And we came on the scooty the whole way. He only helped me while loading everything.)
The words had barely left her mouth when realization dawned on her. Oops. She probably wasn't supposed to mention the scooty. Rabiya slowly closed her eyes.
"Bano.", the house help immediately looked up.
"Jaao, Zaviyar ke liye thanda paani le aao."
(Go bring some cold water for Zaviyar.)
"Bichara itni garmi mein itna sab utha ke laaya hai.", Rabiya said. Bano nodded and hurried toward the kitchen.
(Poor thing carried all of this in such heat.)
"Usse aadat hai, Ammi.", Safiya waved a dismissive hand.
(He's used to it, Mom.)
"He spends his day roaming around the village wearing that shawl. This is nothing for him."
Before anyone could respond, another voice joined in.
"Haan, Aunty.", Adira walked out of the kitchen carrying a jug of fresh lemonade.
"Safiya ne sahi kaha."
(Safiya is right.)
"Jeeju ko aadat hai.", She looked at Zaviyar before dramatically pointing toward Safiya.
(Brother-in-law is used to all this.)
"Aakhir is bhais ko roz jo uthate hain.", a mischievous grin spread across her face.
(After all, he lifts this buffalo every day.)
"Kal raat bhi ek hi baar mein utha liya tha isse.", Safiya's jaw dropped.
(Didn't you see? He picked her up in one go last night.)
"Adira!", Her face burned crimson while Adira burst into laughter. Only then did Safiya notice another familiar face.
"Tum dono kab aaye?", She looked toward the dining table where Ahaan sat leisurely peeling peas into a steel bowl, occasionally tossing one into his mouth.
(When did you two come?)
"Thodi der pehle.", He popped another pea into his mouth before continuing,
(A little while ago.)
"Socha ek dinner toh yahan banta hai." , Rabiya, however, had returned to the earlier revelation.
(Thought we deserved at least one dinner here.)
"Safiya..." ,She looked at her daughter with narrowed eyes.
"Hmm?"
"Tum Zaviyar ko apni scooty pe leke gayi thi?",
(You took Zaviyar on your scooty?)
"Haan.", Safiya beamed proudly.
"Maza aaya.", Rabiya pinched the bridge of her nose before turning toward Zaviyar with the expression of a helpless mother.
(It was fun.)
"Beta... yeh jo bhi bole, sab karne ki zarurat nahi hai.", across the room, Adira snorted into her glass.
(... you don't have to agree to everything she tells you to do.)
Ahaan quietly looked away, already trying not to laugh. And Zaviyar simply glanced at Safiya. Then, without the slightest hint of regret, he smiled. As if he'd happily ride that tiny scooty with matching bear-ear helmets all over again. The smile on Zaviyar's face softened, gentle and unforced.
"Koi baat nahi, chachi.", Rabiya sighed dramatically before reaching over and twisting Safiya's ear.
(It's alright, aunt.)
"Aur tum... itna kyun pareshan karti ho bechare ko?" she scolded, unable to hide the amusement in her eyes.
(And you... why do you trouble the poor boy so much?)
"Ammi!" Safiya winced, immediately rubbing her ear before turning accusing eyes towards her husband.
"Maine pareshan kiya tumhe?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes at Zaviyar.
(Have I troubled you?)
For a split second, Zaviyar froze. He looked from Safiya to Rabiya and then back again, as though carefully calculating which answer would keep him alive.
"N-Nahi... bilkul bhi nahi." He shook his head so quickly that everyone burst into laughter.
(N-No... not at all.)
Rabiya only smiled knowingly. She had seen enough of the two to understand exactly who held the power in this marriage.
"Dar ka mahaul hai.", Ahaan walked over, patting Zaviyar's shoulder with exaggerated sympathy.
(There's an atmosphere of fear here.)
"Chup ho ja... warna yeh muli seedha tumhare muh mein thoos dungi.", Safiya shot him a warning look.
(Be quiet... or I'll shove this radish straight into your mouth.)
Ahaan immediately raised both hands in surrender. Before Safiya could continue glaring at him, she suddenly felt a familiar warmth around her waist.
Zaviyar had quietly slipped an arm around her, gently pulling her a step back as if to stop her from marching towards Ahaan.
There wasn't any force in his hold. Only an easy familiarity. The kind that had become second nature without either of them realizing it. Safiya looked up at him for a brief second before her attention drifted around the house. Her brows knitted together.
"Baba ghar par nahi hain?" she asked.
(Dad isn't home?)
"Nahi. Kuch kaam se bahar gaye hain.", Rabiya shook her head.
(No. He had to go out for some work.)
The answer was simple. Yet Zaviyar's fingers unconsciously stiffened around Safiya's waist. His gaze instinctively shifted towards Rabiya. For a fleeting second, their eyes met. Rabiya gave him the faintest nod. A silent reassurance. A wordless reminder that everything was under control.
Whatever uneasiness had crossed his mind settled just enough for him to breathe normally again. Not wanting the atmosphere to grow heavy, Rabiya clapped her hands together.
"Chalo, aaj terrace par lunch karte hain."
(Come on, let's have lunch on the terrace today.
Everyone agreed almost instantly. Soon the kitchen turned into cheerful chaos.
Serving bowls were covered, glasses were gathered, and everyone picked up something to carry upstairs.
Safiya bent down to lift a stack of plates.
Before her fingers could even curl around them, another hand reached first.
She looked up. Zaviyar was already holding them.
"Tum chalo. Main sab le aata hoon." He smiled at her. Safiya instinctively reached for the plates.
(You go ahead. I'll bring everything.)
"Main help kar deti hoon.", He simply moved them slightly out of her reach.
(I'll help you.)
"Jab tum mere ghar mein meri Ammi ki madad kar sakti ho..." he said softly, looking straight at her, "...toh main yahan kyun nahi kar sakta?", A small smile settled on his lips.
(When you can help my mother in my house... then why can't I help here?)
There was no grand declaration. No dramatic romance. Just a simple sentence. Yet somehow... It landed directly in her heart.
Safiya stood rooted to the spot as he walked ahead carrying the plates. Her heartbeat suddenly felt louder than the chatter echoing around the house. She followed him upstairs almost absentmindedly.
On the terrace, beneath the shaded lounge, Zaviyar placed everything carefully before immediately helping Rabiya arrange the dishes across the table.
Safiya watched him quietly from a distance. Almost unconsciously, her hand rose to rest against her chest. She rubbed it lightly, trying to steady the strange warmth spreading inside.
He really had changed. The man standing before her looked nothing like the arrogant Nawab she had first met. Somewhere along the way... He had become gentle, patient and thoughtful. She hadn't even noticed when the change had happened.
Adira quietly walked up beside her, following her line of sight. A knowing smile appeared on her lips. She leaned closer before nudging Safiya's shoulder.
"Yaar..." she whispered. "Kabhi Jeeju ko appreciate bhi kar liya kar."
(Come on... appreciate brother-in-law once in a while too.)
Safiya looked at her. Adira continued.
"Dekh na... kitne pyaar se baat karte hain tumse.", She paused before adding more gently
(Just look at him... the way he speaks to you with so much affection.)
"Main yeh nahi keh rahi ki tum buri ho...", Her eyes softened, "...bas kabhi kabhi unhe bhi yeh mehsoos hone diya karo ki woh tumhare liye important hain."
(I'm not saying you're a bad person...but sometimes let him feel that he's important to you too.)
Safiya's gaze instinctively returned to Zaviyar. How did one make someone feel important? How did she show care when she had spent months convincing herself not to? Before she could stop them, memories began surfacing one after another.
Zaviyar standing in front of the entire village, shielding her from every accusation.
Handing over the NGO to her without demanding anything in return.
Taking her to the old farmhouse because she had mentioned once about going on a picnic.
Coming to her parents' house despite knowing he couldn't stand her father.
Yes...
He had hurt her. But he had apologized too. He had changed. Even if the change had come so suddenly that she still struggled to understand it.
And wasn't she just as guilty? She had kept him at arm's length for so long.
Maybe...
Far longer than he deserved. Her voice came out quieter than she intended.