Eid

Eid...

Everyone had gone to offer they Eid-ul-fitr namaaz at morning. Elnaz, Firdaus, Jannat, Sumaiya and the other maids went to offer namaaz after the sheer-khurma was ready. After namaaz all the ladies while hugging each other wished 'Eid Mubarak'.

Elnaz and Firdaus rushed to get ready for the festival. Whereas Jannat too was getting ready. Men's and guests had started coming on such festive occasion. Even Asad and his father had returned after offering their salah. Everyone had shown their presence except these two girls. Zayn went in to his room only to see his wife wearing a maroon suit and was setting her scarf on her head.

Still so beautiful. He thought.

Moving towards her he hugged her from back and huskily whispered 'Eid Mubarak.' In her ears to which equally she responded with a heavily blushing. He was trailing kisses on her shoulder when Jannat stopped him with a look 'what are you doing?'.

Asad was having sheer-khurma sitting on the recliner with one of his school mates Zuber. Every now and then some new guest or people and he would stop his conversation and greet them.

Where is my family? He thought.

Just then his parents made their appearance and got busy instantly wishing everybody. After a while when he thought that his parents where free then he made his way to them.

"Ammi (mom), Eid Mubarak." He expressed joyously and hugged his mom.

"Eid Mubarak to you to beta (child)." She replied and kissed his forehead.

"Ammi (mom) you look beautiful as always." He complimented and kissed her hand.

"Actua-" he was about to speak something when he heard his sisters voice.

"Ammi please come over here Firdaus Appi is having some problem over here with adjusting her dupatta (stole)" Elnaz yelled from her room.

"Asad see you in a while beta." Jannat said as she left to her daughter's room.

******

"Offo why is this dupatta so heavy. Because of Its pearl work and heavy embroidery, it is not adjusting in proper plates." Elnaz complained as she again tried for the last time to do it for Firdaus who was standing in front of the mirror feeling irritated with the dupatta (stole).

"Let me do it Elnaz. I am here for it." Jannat said as she started draping it over Firdaus's shoulder.

Lastly after few efforts it was done with adjusting two plates and the rest of the dupatta (stole) was left to flow down.

"Thanks a lot aunty." Firdaus thanked her to which she patted her head saying "your welcome child. By the way you look lovely."

Firdaus later on quickly slipped on her bangles and earring and soon draped her matching scarf over her head.

******

Asad was talking to one his dad's friend and was having the sheer-korma. It was certainly about work and family. At times his gaze would drift towards Firdaus's bedroom door in the hope of seeing her. He was waiting from past an hour to meet her and wish her Eid Mubarak. He even had bought a gift for her to give it to her as her Eid's gift.

"Bhai." He heard his sisters voice from behind to which he turned only to be crushed in a sisterly hug.

"Eid Mubarak Bhai." She said as he patted her back and wished her the same.

"So, Bhai where is my..." he was listening to her when Firdaus stepped out of her room. He was so mesmerized by her appearance that he didn't even paid any attention to the ramblings of his sister. Her pink lehenga (skirt) propped in her delicate fingers and it seemed as she was searching something or someone. Her dupatta (stole) flew as she passed one of the windows. Her forehead was creased as she watched her surroundings. Suddenly she looked in my direction, her eyes making a direct contact with his. He saw a flickering hesitation in them as she made her way towards him.

"BHAI!" Elnaz screamed as she slapped his shoulder.

"Huh?" He looked at her dumb founded.

"From when I am asking you for my eiddi (gift). And you are not paying any attention to me." She quirked.

"Oh! Sorry. Here it is." He searched his pockets and acted as if he has got something for her. On the other hand, his sister was looking at him with an expectant and hopeful eye as he pulled out his hand and showed his hands in front of her which were closed in fists. She expectantly tapped on both of his fists only to find it empty. She was disappointed at that and stomped her feet towards Firdaus. Firdaus and Asad were smiling at her childish act.

"I hate you Bhai!" She told him puffing out the air from her checks as a sign of her anger to which he added fuel to it by laughing hard. Firdaus on the other hand was watching this scene amusingly with a big smile etched on her face. It reminded her of her childhood where Elnaz would always get angry or frustrated. She saw the same Asad of olden times standing in front of him. It was all the same but the time had changed. Thinking had changed. Perception had changed. And mostly their friendship had changed.

"Come here Ellie-bellie." He called his sister as he took out a small bag from the nearest drawer. Seeing the bag his sister's eyes shone out but she stood adamantly not moving and letting go the sister-brotherly jokes.

"Ohk baba sorry." He said as he stood near her and handed her the bag. She acted a little as if not listening to him then smiled and gave him another hug.

"At least you could have stopped teasing your sister on Eid."

"Now that's too much to ask!" He exclaimed, as he turned to see Firdaus smiling with unshed tears in her eyes. He was perplexed suddenly that why would she have tears then she bowed her head and wiped them away.

"Wow!" Elnaz screamed happily as she discovered the bracelet under the bag.

"Isn't it beautiful Appi?" She asked Firdaus to which she nodded her head in a positive way.

"Thanks, a lot Bhai. I will be back after showing this to Ammi and Abbu." And saying this Elnaz walked away.

" hmm...I... Eid Mubarak." Asad said looking at his lovely wife who had still not looked up to him.

"Thanks, and Eid Mubarak to you too." She replied and tried to get away.

"Wait." He told as he blocked her path.

"What is it now Asad?" She questioned looking miserable through his constant barging.

"Ohh come on wifey is it the way to talk to your husband and that to when he has bought a gift for you." He replied, smirking whereas angst was visible in his eyes.

"Huh? I am not your wife." She answered him back.

"Ohh come on now is your memory somewhere loose or you have fallen on your head or something? Did you forgot that we got married 4 years back?" He asked her, as he took menacing steps towards her to which she retorted by taking each step backwards and answered him with silence. She was not aware of this Asad in front of her. Then back she knew was a boy but now was a man standing in front of her. His whole aura screamed that one should not cross him.

"Tell me" he asked again cornering her towards the wall.

"N-No" she replied as her back hit the wall as she gasped.

"Then? How come are you not my wife?" He asked her keeping his gaze directed in her's.

She tried to move away but he caged her by putting both of his hands on the wall near her head.

"No! First answer me." He shook his head at her useless attempts of running away.

"What do you want? Why are you behaving like this she yelled in irritation as she tried to push him away?

"Y-" he was intervened in between as he heard his mother's voice. He turned around and saw his family standing there. Shocked written on their face. They were standing so close. It looked different from their side. As if they were kissing each other.

"What is going on?" Asked Jannat again watching both of them as they had still not moved away.

"Aunty I-" but he intervened her off with his next words.

"Mom ask Rehan uncle to do the ruksati (where bride is sent from her maternal home to her husband's house after marriage) soon." With that he stormed out of the hall.

*******