Chapter 50 #2
"Kya karun... importance dikhane ke liye?", Adira blinked before laughing.
(What do I do... to make him feel important?)
"Mujhe kya pata?" she shrugged dramatically. "Mera wala toh ek flying kiss mein hi mere kadmon mein aa jaata hai."
(How would I know? Mine is at my feet with just one flying kiss.)
Safiya couldn't help rolling her eyes. Adira grinned before becoming serious again.
" Figure it out. ", She folded her arms.
"Adeel ke liye toh tum flowers bhejti thi, cake bhejti thi...", She shrugged.
(You used to send flowers and cakes for Adeel...)
"Lekin hum dono jaante hain woh sirf ek transaction tha. Isiliye maine kabhi kuch nahi kaha.", Her gaze shifted towards Zaviyar, who was laughing with Ahaan while helping Rabiya.
Then she looked back at Safiya.
(But we both know that relationship was only a transaction. That's why I never said anything.)
"Lekin unke saath..." she said quietly, "...jo hai na... woh sach hai.", A faint smile touched her lips.
(But with him... whatever this is... it's real.)
"Toh itna hold back karna band kar.", With that, Adira gave her shoulder one last squeeze before walking towards the table.
(So stop holding yourself back so much.)
Safiya remained where she was. Her eyes never leaving the man arranging plates with her mother as though he had belonged in this family all along.
For the first time... She genuinely wondered what she could do to make him smile the way he had unknowingly made her heart smile every single day.
Determined to finally make an effort, Safiya quietly walked over and stopped beside Zaviyar. The moment he noticed her standing there, he turned towards her almost instinctively.
There was a small piece of chicken popcorn pinched between his fingers. Without saying anything, he held it out towards her. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Try it.", Safiya looked at the piece for a second before leaning forward and taking a bite. The crisp coating gave way to juicy chicken, perfectly seasoned. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise.
"It is good." a satisfied smile appeared on Zaviyar's face, as though he'd personally cooked it himself.
She took the empty seat beside him. Soon everyone settled around the table, conversations flowing as naturally as the evening breeze.
For the first time in a long while, Zaviyar felt completely... at ease. Ahaan's endless jokes had everyone laughing every few minutes.
Rabiya, despite repeatedly being told not to fuss, continued filling Zaviyar's plate every time she noticed it becoming even slightly empty. He couldn't remember the last time he had experienced something this ordinary.
Or this warm.
Perhaps...
Never.
Lost in her food, Safiya reached for another bite before speaking absent-mindedly.
"Baby... woh salt dena zara." , The words slipped out so naturally that she didn't even realize what she had said.
(Baby... can you pass me the salt?)
Several seconds passed. No response. Frowning slightly, she looked up.
Zaviyar hadn't moved. He was simply staring at her. Completely stunned. His eyes were wide with disbelief. Safiya blinked. Her own words replayed inside her head.
Baby.
'Ya Allah... Did I seriously just call him that? Baby? In front of everyone? I never called him with names and the first time I do- i called him baby. Oh God... that's so embarrassing.'
Heat rushed to her cheeks so quickly that she lowered her head in defeat, wishing the earth would kindly open up and swallow her whole. She couldn't even bring herself to look at anyone.
A smile spread across Zaviyar's face. As though someone had handed him the entire world in a single word. Without saying anything, he quietly picked up the salt shaker and placed it in front of her. Across the table, Rabiya noticed the silent exchange.
A knowing smile flickered across her lips before she deliberately cleared her throat.
"Sab kofte bhi try karo.", the conversation immediately shifted, saving Safiya from dying of embarrassment.
(Everyone, try the koftas too.)
A light tap landed on her shoulder. She turned.
"Kya hua?" she whispered to Adira.
(What happened?)
Adira looked as though she was trying very hard not to burst into laughter..She leaned closer.
"Chhe foot ke aadmi ko 'baby' bula rahi hai..." she whispered dramatically. "Kuch toh baat hai tum mein."
(You're calling a six-foot man 'baby'... you've got some confidence.)
Safiya's face somehow turned an even deeper shade of red. She shot Adira the deadliest glare she could manage.
Unfortunately... It only made Adira laugh harder. Zaviyar, completely unaware of what Adira had whispered, frowned in concern.
"Kya hua?" he asked, gently touching Safiya's arm. "Itni laal kyun ho gayi?"
(What happened? Why have you suddenly turned so red?)
He placed the back of his hand against her forehead.
"Tabiyat toh theek hai?", Safiya nodded far
too quickly.
(Are you feeling alright?)
Just then he caught a glimpse of something. Without making a fuss, he quietly picked up the boneless piece from his own plate and placed it onto hers before exchanging it with the one she had.Safiya looked at him, confused.
"What are you doing?", He answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Tumhe bony pieces pasand nahi hain." He shrugged lightly. "Bas exchange kar diya."
(You don't like bony pieces. So I just exchanged them.)
Safiya stared at him for a moment before smiling to herself. These were the little gestures Adira had been talking about.
Not grand surprises, not expensive gifts. Just remembering tiny things. Tiny things that somehow meant everything.
By the time lunch ended, the afternoon sun had mellowed into a pleasant golden glow. Rabiya excused herself to rest. Ahaan had to drop Adira home before it got late, so the four of them settled outside in the lounge for one last cup of tea. Everyone lazily scrolled through their phones.
The silence was peaceful. Safiya glanced sideways, Adira had that expression. The one that usually meant trouble. Immediately suspicious, Safiya looked back at her phone.
A second later-
"Safiya.", She didn't even bother looking up.
"No.", Adira blinked. She knew her ideas always scared her friend. "Tumhe toh pata bhi nahi main kya bolne wali hoon."
(You don't even know what I'm about to say.)
Safiya finally looked at her, "Main tumhe jaanti hoon."
(I know you.)
"You remember that trend you always wanted to do.", Adira's grin widened. Safiya frowned, not being to recall.
"Which trend?", Adira rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Wahi... jo tum mujhe pehle dikhati thi.", Recognition slowly dawned on Safiya's face
(The one you used to show me years ago.)
"Adira, com'on.. theres no way I'm doing that now", Her warning went completely ignored.
"Tum hamesha kehti thi na..." Adira continued innocently, "...ki shaadi ke baad apne husband ke saath karogi."
(You always used to say you'd do it with your husband after getting married.)
Safiya froze at Adira's words, She had wanted to.
What if Zaviyar thought it was childish?
Or worse... Cringe? Her phone slowly lowered onto her lap as she stared silently at her best friend.
"Maine sirf ek baar mention kiya tha. How do you still remember that? ", Adira scoffed at her words.
(I only mentioned it once.)
"Ek baar?", She held up all ten fingers dramatically, "Kam se kam sau baar kha hain tumne", Safiya narrowed her eyes.
(You mentioned it at least a hundred times.)
"Theek hai... paanch chhe baar.", Adira corrected herself, seeing Safiya's raised brow.
(Fine... maybe five or six times.)
" But you were extremely passionate about it. Why not do it now? You have a husband now who's more than willing to do it with you? "
, Safiya groaned dramatically before hiding her face behind a cushion.
It was ridiculous. She could confidently argue before judges and senior advocates without her voice trembling once.
Yet the idea of asking her own husband to do one harmless social media trend had reduced her into this.
"I'm not doing it..", Adira folded her arms, nudging her.
"But you wanted to.", Adira argued. "Wanted." Safiya stressed the word, "Past tense.", Adira snorted.
"I bet you still have the video saved on your phone.", Safiya immediately looked away. That was answer enough., "W-Woh pehle ki baat thi." she muttered. "Main tab na?ve thi."
(That was before. I was na?ve back then.)
"Coward. ", Adira smirked. She crossed her arms.
"Agar Zaviyar ko bologi na... woh maan jayenge."
(If you ask Zaviyar... he'll agree.)
Almost on cue, "Main kis baat ke liye maan jaunga?"
(Agree to what?)
Both the girls jumped on their seats, Zaviyar and Ahaan had returned. Safiya immediately shook her head.
" N-Nothing. ", Adira, however, was incapable of keeping secrets.
"Actually..." she smiled sweetly, "Safiya hamesha se ek trend karna chahti thi. Lekin isse lagta hai aap mana kar denge.", Zaviyar looked at Safiya and smiled warmly.
(Actually, Safiya has always wanted to do a trend, but she thinks you'll refuse.)
"Agar main kar sakta hoon..." he shrugged, "...toh zaroor karunga.",Adira clapped excitedly. She quickly walked over and patted Zaviyar's shoulder.
(If it's something I can do... then of course I will.)
"Perfect, Jeeju.", She waved her phone.
" Mene video already aapko bhej diya hai.", Safiya's eyes widened.
(I've already sent you the video.)
"Adira!", ignoring the glare being directed at her, Adira simply grabbed Ahaan's hand.
"Chalo."
With one final mischievous wink, the two disappeared through the gate. That night, something felt different. Safiya had barely spoken through dinner. Twice, Zaviyar caught her smiling at her phone.
Both times, she immediately locked the screen the moment she realized he was looking. He didn't ask then. But once they were inside their room, with the door closed behind them, he finally walked over to her.