Love at first sight

Haris sir! we have little to no grocery left and Ms. Leena- the cook is sick

please if you could go to.... " Zearra asked hesitantly

"Oof! Zearra ,You know I have never been to those markets before ,I don't even know what to buy also ..can’t you go ?" Haris said rubbing his eyes

"Sorry sir to trouble you but my daughter in law is in labor ..please sir I am the only one for her as my son is out of town" but Haris was still thinking his options ,Zearra quickly grabbed the grocery list tucked in her apron and handed it to Haris.

"Sir it will help you ,

I have prepared a list of items ."

"So no other option left ?" Haris said

Zearra denies

" Just send our gardener Rauf "

"he left early Sir "

"Can’t I just go to Karim bhai hotel and eat there?" Haris playfully nudged Zearra to agree

"You have a bad digestion sir "

"Ohk then"

Haris lazily stood up to change in his white kurta and blue pants.

"Thanks you sir you are such a kind hearted person" Zearra beamed

"No need after all I am the one who has to eat " Haris said stretching up his arms.

Haris (POV)

Sweet family -happy family ,her son got married at the age of 20 , she became a grandmother just in her 40’s and I am still the bachelor owner of the house .

it was quite common in a small town like Jafrabad to get married at a young age that explains why people laugh at me and look at me like I have erectile dysfunction or something.

Me being bachelor at 35 was something strange for them but that was entirely not my fault .

My father passed away when I was just 17 , My other uncles saw that as an opportunity to acquire our land . At one time we were called as the most prestigious family of Badarpur but after my father's death and my uncle continuous threats to my mother ,mother decided that it was better for us if we leave the town and shift somewhere else ,Zearra was one of our oldest cook ,she suggested us that Jafrabad was a good town to settle in and also it was only 7 km away from Badarpur and I could easily take care of my land in Badarpur while living in Jafrabad.

So everyday I go to Badarpur in the afternoon and return in the evening. I was my father's only son so all the responsibility was on me, but in this long journey I just forgot what it's like to live for yourself.

In life my first priority was to give my mother a comfortable life and protect my father's possession. then comes my best friend Aslam.

I still remember that day when we both were young and in our last year of school, I had a crush on a girl ,She was the only girl in our class as girls were not allowed to go to schools 20 years back but because she was the only daughter of a reputed army officer our principle allowed her to attend the school .The only condition was that she should wear Burkha and Hijab to hide her face. Aslam proposed to her one day after class .He told me she said yes .

I did not feel sad because before I could feel anything ,the girl's father came to school one day and complained to the principal that A boy in 12th grade was spreading false rumors that he was having an affair with my daughter .

Aslam was suspended for 2 weeks from the school and also got a tight slap from his father. Sad ! But satisfying .

He cried that whole night while resting his head on my shoulder ,the next day he was good but my shoulder got cramps and till now I taunt him with the girl's name and he always escapes by saying "atleast I used to have a girlfriend and I swear that was not a rumor . "

We still had a great friendship but after the 1957 riots Aslam left India and moved to Pakistan but from last 1 year . I haven't got any letters from him previously he used to send a bunch of those every week but now I have not heard from him ,I was furious when Rashid uncle told me that Aslam got married with a girl in Jafrabad and he didn't even came to take her because her gold digger mother didn't get enough dowry from the girl's parents

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Rashid uncle requested me to not to tell anyone about Aslam unexpected disappearance and the secret intention of his mother to get him another bride.

I pity the girl who married him ,my best friend was never like that but I guess time changes every person.

Markets were really busy. It seems like the whole town was shopping today . It seems awkward as there were only ladies who were buying vegetables and fruits but I later became comfortable when I noticed all vendors were males.

"Woah!! So this is the market ...ladies favorite place! but god there are so many things .. where to start and where was the goddamn list "

I was searching my pockets for the list when my eyes caught an innocent face . A lady with the most adorable eyes was standing in front of me , She was adjusting her dupatta on her head when I noticed her chestnut hair which well complemented with her brown irises, her honey soft lips was something I can't explain in words ,she was looking so sweet and innocent in navy blue simple kurti and matching salwar ,she bought apples and put them in her huge cloth bag that left me stunned.

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