Chapter-11 Friends Forever

Zuby's POV

Looking at the time I realized it was almost 4 in the evening, we had two more hours before we close for the day. A few more customers came in and all in all it was a good day for my business. I guess I should check with Sagarika if she can pick me in the evening, I just can't wait to start with all the fun we are going to have over the weekend. I guess we will also have a horror movie marathon. I dialed Sagarika but she told me she will be a little late, so I decided to take a cab to the supermarket near her house and buy our junk and munch stock for tonight. She will pick me from there and then we will buy some DVDs on our way home.

As decided once I closed the boutique I booked a cab and it was there within 10 minutes. I reached the supermarket in almost half an hour and messaged Sagarika. She replied me back that she will join me in the next 20-25 minutes max. I did my shopping and bought our favorite stuff, the two of us can get really crazy sometimes and a sugar rush adds up to our craziness. To help us with the madness I bought a lot of chocolates. I don't know why but I was in a very good mood, well usually whenever I am with Sagarika I am in my best mood but today I can feel something more. Whatever it is I love it, by the time I was done with the billing Sagarika called me and told me that she was in the parking lot. I walked out and found her close to the exit point. Dumping all the packets in the back seat I settled in the passenger seat and Sagarika started towards the DVD shop. We bought around 5 DVDs; two were Bollywood movies and three Hollywood. And for a change today I told Sagarika to buy two of the recent romantic movies. Sagarika made fun of me saying that I am already falling for my would-be husband that's why I am behaving like this. I laughed along with her as I know I am nowhere even thinking about Sahil. But I didn't disagree that I was in a different mood today. I tried to think about my whole day, the people I met then one face flashed before my eyes 'Ayaan'. No…he can't be the reason for this change in my mood. I hardly know the guy, but I guess it was because of Zoya as I love to make brides happy with my designs. And Zoya was definitely happy and satisfied with her shopping spree at my boutique. 'Whatever lets you sleep at night' mocked my inner voice but I totally ignored it. We finally reached Sagarika's home around 9 at night, aunty was happy to see me again today. Sagarika and I went straight to her bedroom and placed all our stuff there then changed in our PJs. I had to say my last prayers for the day so I picked up my prayer mat and said my prayers at the usual spot. Yes one of my prayer mats is always in Sagarika's room for me to use whenever I am here. This was something very special in our relationship, we might have different faith and follow different religions but we respected each other's' belief. We never questioned each other regarding our prayer methods, we are friends because we like each other as people and following different religions never became a hindrance. So once I was done with my prayers I folded the prayer mat and my long prayer stole and kept it back on the same place. Aunty had ordered pizza for us and it had already arrived, me and Sagarika jumped on her bed and had our dinner. We forgot getting cold drink but thankfully Aunty had ordered a meal so the cold drink came along with the pizza. Once we were done Sagarika played the first movie and both of us settled on the floor with all the pillows around us. We were really sleepy as both of us had a really busy day so instead of watching all the movies we just watched one. We got up and lied on the bed and decided to talk till we fall asleep.

Sagarika asked me about my feelings towards getting married and I honestly told her that I have no feelings at all…

"To be honest Sagarika I don't know how to react, should I be happy? I actually don't feel any different; I have agreed to marry a man I don't even know. In fact I have not even seen him in person and I wonder if I will get to see him before my marriage. If anything I am more scared now, what if he is worse than my Uncle and Aunt? What if he has any bad habits? I wonder if I will be ever loved…" I take a deep breath and continue…

"I don't know why Sagu but I can't be happy even if I want to be, or should I admit I am scared to be happy. In such situations I really wish my parents were still alive. I am pretty sure my life would have been different and I might have been in love with the guy they would have selected for me, just because I know my parents would have selected the best guy for me. But I know Uncle Jawwad and Aunt Sara; they won't try to get me the best guy. If possible they would marry me off to the worst man alive. Why aren't you saying anything Sagu?" I turned to look at Sagarika and she was already asleep. I smiled at her innocent face, she was definitely tired. She was a beautiful girl with dark skin and sharp features, her hair were silky soft and black in color. I loved her smile the most and about her personality I loved the fact that she is an optimistic person, so full of life. She is also a great swimmer, and me her best friend is scared of even hanging my legs in the pool. She really tried many times to motivate me to swim but I just couldn't do it. I really wonder why I am so scared of swimming, or going near a pool or sea for that matter. Taking a deep breath I decided to stop thinking about everything and sleep, since I was already tired I quickly fell in deep slumber.

My alarm for the Morning Prayer woke me up but today I decided to sleep after saying my prayers. After that when I woke up it was quite late. I checked the time and it was already 11 in the morning and my dear bestie was still asleep. I woke her up and went to the bathroom; I finished with my morning routines and had a bath. We had not yet decided what to do for today but I wore a simple orange color churidar and kurta (traditional Indian dress). It had cream color embroidery so I wore a cream color headscarf. Once I was ready I tried to wake Sagarika again and this time she finally woke, she went to the bathroom and I went out to check on her mom. As I stepped in the kitchen I could smell her tasty pancakes, she was the only woman in my life nearest to a mother figure. I wished her good morning and saw that she had prepared one of my favorite breakfast, pancakes and cheese omelets. I hugged her and thanked her, I couldn't resist so I started eating in the kitchen itself. While having my breakfast I saw Sagar coming from his room, he was ready for the day and I raised an eye brow at him…"What?" he asked me and I replied…

"If you think you are having any of your alone plans today then you better cancel them because you are hanging out with us." He gave me a confused look and spoke…

"You guys should have told me in advance I already have plans man!"

"First thing I am not a man and second thing you should have used your brain that if I am staying then you have to spend time with me as well. Because last time I checked you are my best friend as well." I huffed and turned away from him. I heard him take a deep breath and then he came and stood beside me and said…

"Alright now don't give me that silent treatment, I will call up the guy I was going to meet and tell him that I can't come today. Make whatever plan you both want to I will tag along." I turned and saw him having a soft smile; he was more of a brother to me than just my best friend. I gave him my 100 watt smile and offered him a bite of pancake. He took the bite and then walked out of the kitchen I guess to make a call and change his plans. Just then Sagarika was out and she had already taken a bath and joined me for breakfast. Once both of us finished our breakfast we decided to go for some shopping and then watch a movie in the multiplex then have lunch together. Poor Sagar was fine with the rest of the plan but shopping with me and Sagarika was like a death sentence for him. Well we will try to go easy on him. Full of excitement we all headed out to Sagarika's favorite mall, it was going to be a long day but I was not complaining.