EPILOGUE
HAYAT POV:
"Ashar, when is your bhai going to come home?" I loudly asked Ashar on the call that was on speaker as I cooked biryani.
"I'll take him home by evening, don't worry, your surprise won't be ruined," he whispered on the call before he hung up, while I prepared Raita and Salad as a side dish for biryani.
Today it's our six-month anniversary, and I have decided to cook biryani for everyone while keeping the whole plan a secret between Ashar and me.
I have called everyone home, our friends and family. It's going to be a big celebration, "Ashar, why are you here, with this large box?" I asked as soon as I saw him moving towards the study room, he had just come out of nowhere at home.
"Wait, how are you even here now? I just had a chat with you 15 minutes ago." I was so confused, I moved towards him to help him carry the box upstairs, which looked too heavy for my liking to let him carry it upstairs.
He looked stiff to me, like a deer caught in headlights, I mean…uh, he looked at me stupefied, "I- I need to keep this box in the study room, bhai has sent some important documents and product samples with me, and I don't need your help? these are confidential," said Ashar shuttering as he moved towards the stairs… moved? He ran upstairs.
"Is that why the study room is locked today?" I asked the man who just saved himself from the trip down the stairs.
"Yeah!" He replied loudly as he just vanished into the thin air of the second floor. That's weird. Ahad has never kept things from me in these 6 months of our marriage.
He's more likely to tell me everything even if it's confidential, he always says, "I'm yours which means my empire is also yours, what's confidential in my company is confidential between both of us, there's no secret between us." he dotes on me a lot, and I would never complain… but right now I am!
All the preparations were done, and Ashar left an hour ago, hurriedly again, not answering my question. This man has the nerve to ignore me; let's see how he'll enjoy biryani when I won't serve him.
As I did the work, I decorated the place, not a lot, but just a few minimal pieces, and it was done. I had gotten his present in the garage, and I just hoped he'd love it. While everything was done, I made my way upstairs to get ready.
I'm so excited yet nervous since it's already 5:30 in the evening, I have made up my mind to wear the saree that Ahad wanted to see me wearing.
I freshened up, put on the saree, and set it by draping it over my shoulder, leaving the end to hang over my back, setting my hair open on my shoulder, and wearing my heels. I got all ready, I checked myself for the last time in the mirror, and I look good, I feel.
"Where are you guys now?" I called Ashar and asked him as soon as he picked up the call, annoyed at his behavior.
"Can't you greet me, huh, you stupid, give me some respect, I'm doing so much work today because of you and your husband!" Ashar whispered the words on my way, with his heavy breathing, as if he had run a hundred miles.
"Where are you running to?" I asked, guessing him to be running around, "Nowhere, we'll be there in an hour, you get everything done till then, I'll text you before I park the car outside your penthouse." he cut the call without further listening to me.
This is so dan bad…
AHAD POV
"Why do you want me to wear a black kurta instead of blue today?" I asked, as I came out of the changing room, I had been trying different colors of kurta, and I liked the blue one more, but he wanted me to wear the black one even though I knew she'd like me in blue too.
"Sometimes you should just listen to your younger siblings, they do want the best for you too… just sometimes," gruffed Ashar. He went through some more clothes to find the best one for me. What's cooking in his lunatic mind?
"Sometimes? Huh!" I questioned him, as he just looked at me, passing me another black set of clothes, "Try this one." I nodded my head and tried the one he passed me.
Well, I planned a surprise for Hayat today, it's our six-month anniversary, and I have gotten her a gift that I'm hoping she'll love. It'll arrive by 8 in the evening since I have given that time to the dealer.
I just want her to know how much I love and dote on her; she's too precious to me.
This kurta does look good on me, I thought to myself, and finalized it, "Bhai, a box was delivered at the office under your name…"
I looked at Ashar and passed him one of my mischievous smiles, "W-why are you looking at me like that- you are scaring me, Bhai!" Ashar stuttered a lot, moving backward, his gestures showed how scared he was, making me laugh inside… time for payback.
"Look, I can't go home right now, your sissy will find out about all of my surprises so you need to go home instead of me with the box, and video call me, and I'll tell you what to do next," I looked for a set of another suit just for him, from the corner of my eyes, I could see the horror in his eyes.
"You're so selfish, Bhai," he pointed his index finger towards me, giving me his famous betraying look.
"I know I'm mean, now you do the work… and what do you think about this suit, on your six-pack abs body?" his eyes shone suddenly as I gave him the proper instructions, kicking him out at last.
"I'll never do anything for you ever again, bhai!" I just laughed, knowing he'll do everything I tell him to do since he's my best brother… and I, as an older brother, can take advantage of him.
"Bhai, what now?" Said Ashar as he sat down on the couch in my home office.
"Look, there are some fairy lights in the box with some new books that I ordered, and there might be some scented candles in there too, you need to place them on the bookshelf as I tell you to do, while you're at it, unlock the cupboard behind my desk, and get all the books parcels out of there and set them too,"
I instructed him while working on my laptop, finding some very aesthetic ideas to work on from Pinterest, "Bhai! It's your surprise, you should do the work, why should I do it all?" He whined, looking annoyed.
"Look, I can't do that. Hayat is with me all the time, I can't leave her for 2 minutes, and I prepared everything though, you just need to assemble them, Ashar, can't you do it for your bhai?" I tried to trick him, but you know it's not so easy when the one in front of you has the same blood running through his body.
"Don't you try to manipulate me! I'm working just to make Hayat happy." I nodded my head and instructed him to do as I had the vision in my mind.
"Keep these in one row, it's a series," I said, pointing out as he was confused why 11 books have a single eye on them.
"Don't tell me Hayat read these," he looked at me in horror, and before I could defend her, he continued, "I could never read a book for my exams, and here she reads such a long series."
He tried to read inside the book when I stopped him, "These aren't for you to read, keep all the books on the side as I tell you, without reading anyone of them!" He nodded his head, working while humming a song.
For the last time, to get myself assured, I called the dealer to confirm, "It should be here by the time?" I questioned as we talked about the gift.
"Does this look like the vision you had in your mind, bhai?" Asked Ashar as he tiredly sat on the sofa, "Now get out of the study room, remember to lock it?" I said, the gratefulness in my voice hidden beneath the sarcasm. I got up to attend the meeting before we hung up the call.
AUTHOR POV
Neither of them knew they planned the surprise for each other, while Ashar was the middleman for both of them. He was enjoying how both of them were so excited to surprise each other, yet they were hiding everything from each other… Ashar wanted to share this with his friends as he texted the group.
Group chat: Gossipers without Ahad
Ashar: "Are you guys going to join the party?"
Hammad: "Yeah, why won't we? Sissy invited us." (attached duh gif)
Sahil: "I won't join, but do include me in a video call."
Samir: "Why aren't you going to the party? Dude, Sissy called us, not Ahad! You can't say no to her." (angry face emoji)
Sahil: "I got some matters to handle… sorry, guys." (sad face emoji)
Ashar: "Okay, bro, need any help, just ring me up, and guys, well, I got to share some news with you guys, I can't keep it to myself now!"
Hammad: ...?
Samir: "What's that?"
Sahil: "Did you do something again? Want us to cover up? Just send us the details!" (Wink emoji)
Ashar: "Thanks, Sahil bhai, but it's about your friend and my brother… Ahad bhai." (laughing emoji)
Hammad: "Tell us already, bastard! Don't create such drama." (eyes emoji)
Ashar: "YOUR FRIEND AKA, MY BROTHER IS CLEANED WHIPPED FOR HIS WIFE!"
Samir: "..."
Samir: "Tell us something new..." (gif of popcorn)
Hammad: "You found it just now???"
Sahil: "You are an idiot, dumb, and stupid, as Hayat says always! Couldn't you identify it when he dropped his dreamy idea of taking his wife home on his bike on their wedding day, yet he dropped the idea, just because Hayat had this dream to take her man in her car..."
Ashar: "Sahil bhai, how could you call me dumb, an idiot, and stupid? Do you even know how much Hayat teased me after finding out Ahad bhai calls me mannerless just like her" (crying emoji)
Samir: "Aw, Sahil, you're wrong..."
Ashar: "See, Samir bhai is on my side" (proud emoji)
Samir: "He's a whinny bastard too" (laughing emoji)
Admin removed Samir from the group chat
Admin removed Sahil from the group chat
Hammad: "Remove me and I'll tell Hayat about your bitchy behavior, bastard!"
Ashar: "Like I'm scared of her, duh!" (side eye emoji)
Admin removed Hammad from the group chat
Ashar was enjoying everything, yet was annoyed as he had to work for both of them without letting either of them know about the surprise. He couldn't help but let out an evil laugh, "I'm the main character of this story, even though they are the main lead, haha."
Hanging up the call with Hayat, Ashar got his Bhai to the car after getting ready himself too. "I'll go on my bike," said Ahad as he walked towards it, knowing Hayat's plan would be a flop if his brother rode his bike instead.
To think of an instant plan, he stopped his brother from behind, "Bhai, I want to get her a gift, and I need your help too, so why don't we go to the shop for something, and then move home?"
"But I didn't invite you to our home tonight, though." Ahad's sassy reply would have offended Ashar, but at this moment, he wanted to laugh out loud as he wanted to spit out, "You didn't, but your wife did, duh!" Trying not to smile at all and ruin her plan, he maintained an offended look.
"Okay, I won't go in, just help me get a gift, and you can pass it to her from my side." Ahad glared at him with narrowed eyes, like he knew something was damn fishy, before nodding his head and getting inside the car.
"How manipulative I am," Ashar mumbled proudly to himself, patting his shoulder.
"We are 15 minutes away from home, idiot," Ashar sent a text to Hayat as he got the gift pack from the shop.
"Let's go, it's 7 already!" Ahad said, being all grumpy now that his gift would be there by any minute and he was on his way home, parking the car outside the penthouse, Ahad got down, followed by Ashar, "You are not invited, Ashar!"
Ahad gave him an uninterested look. "Bhai, you know what, you should not say such things to me now, or else you'll hurt yourself," responded Ashar as he moved to unlock the door. Ignoring Ahad, who was glaring at his back.
As they got inside, they noticed the lights were off. "Hayat went somewhere?" Ahad mumbled a question to himself as he moved forward to turn the lights on.
Suddenly, the lights came back on, and in front of him stood Hayat, in the middle of the lounge. Ahad stood there, not knowing what to do anymore. He had seen his wife dressed up many times in different clothing styles, but never in a saree… a saree! He wanted to desperately see her; the black color complimented her skin so delicately, she was glowing, her smile radiant, the moon and stars in a clear night for him.
She took his breath away, like always. The breath was knocked out of her, too, as she saw her husband all dressed up, looking handsome as always. Her heartbeat was running a marathon as always.
She wanted to embrace him like always, she wanted to place a peck on his cheek like always, she wanted to mess his hair like always, she wanted to just adore him at this moment, knowing her whole family was here hiding behind, she took a deep breath as she moved towards him, controlling her undeniable emotions.
Ahad had just stood in the same place, gazing at his wife like a lost puppy. Hayat couldn't help but blush as his gaze was deep, looking directly at her. She came face to face, stood right in front of him, pinched his arm, her lips formed in a smile, whispered, "Happy 6th month anniversary, Hubby."
There Ahad was dumbfounded; he thought Hayat didn't remember today's date, and he was the only one planning for her, but now knowing she was also making this moment special in her way, his heart swelled up with love for her.
"Meri Jaan, you're looking dead drop gorgeous...." said Ahad as he placed his left hand on her waist, inching her closer to himself, placing his right hand on her cheek, caressing it softly.
Hayat smiled as she murmured a soft thank you, looking directly at his black eyes with her hazel eyes, showing her pure love and emotions to him.
"Do I look like yours, Jaan?" Ahad whisperingly asked as he rubbed his nose with hers, "Yes, like always, just mine." She whispered in reply, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch.
They were so into their moment that Hayat forgot about the audience they had, hearing a loud fake cough. Hayat, being too dazed at the moment, realized they were standing in the middle of the lounge with their family looking at them directly.
She didn't realize they were too affectionate in front of everyone. Ahad, who didn't know what was going on, looked at his surroundings just to find their family standing there; his mother and Hayat's Auntie were in awe as they were looking at them with teary eyes and beautiful smiles.
On the other side, his father and Hayat's Uncle looked at them proudly, like they were proud of how much they loved each other, like how much they healed and found themselves.
While Hammad and Samir were on one side, capturing videos on their mobile phones, Ashar looked at them like he was finally at ease and happy for them. Ahad smiled as he held Hayat's hand in his and realized what was going on…
He looked down at Hayat, who had he face was hidden in his chest. He raised his right brow, like questioning her about what was happening here. "I planned a surprise for you," Hayat whispered as their family came forward and hugged both of them.
"Always be happy, always be in love like this," expressed Ahad's father as he hugged Ahad.
Soon after that, the elders retreated to the sitting area nearby, leaving the couple with their friends.
"I won the bet, Samir, now you are obliged to send that painting to me at zero price," whispered Hammad to Samir, trying to go unnoticed by Ahad, who sat next to them after meeting Hayat.
"You said 15 minutes, and he looked at her for 15 minutes and 49 seconds, so technically you didn't win the bet," said Samir, trying to save his billion-dollar painting. Ahad, who sat next to them, confused, asked, "What bet are you guys talking about?"
The sudden voice and question of Ahad took them off guard. He looked at his buddies, who were now glancing at each other, debating whether they should tell him about the bet or not.
"Speak up, guys!" said Ashar, trying to extinguish the fire.
"We made a bet about how much longer Ahad could stare at Hayat. I said 15 minutes without speaking, while Samir said 10 minutes, so I won the bet now. Samir was trying to escape the scene. Ahad held Hammad by his collar, throwing punches at his face.
"You put a bet on me!" Ahad was beating Hammad as Hammad turned to back away, not wanting to kick or punch his best buddy and ruin the party… Ashar and Samir, near them, laughed, holding their stomach.
Everyone was sitting in the dining room, as Hayat asked them, Hayat came out with mouth-watering biryani cooked by her, and placed it in front of everyone.
She did taste it, and she liked it, and now she was hoping everyone would love it. Ahad tried to help her, but she stopped him, serving everyone herself with love. She sat down, and she tried to serve herself some food when Ahad placed his plate in front of her.
"Won't you eat with me like always, Jaan?" Ahad, cluelessly confused, asked Hayat.
"Everyone's here, Ahad, not now," Hayat whispered. She was shy as everyone was looking at them; of course, they would look at them. Once they both didn't want to marry, once they both were depressed, once they both were alone and lonely, once they both didn't love anyone after Eira… now, seeing them happy together, everyone around the table was in awe.
"No, Jaan, eat with me, please," he uttered, being stubborn; it was their way of spending time, and Ahad didn't want to miss this beautiful moment. He could persuade her, and maybe she'd agree.
"What happened?" asked Hayat's Chachu as he noticed them not eating but whisperingly bricking. "Nothing, Chachu," said Hayat, trying to serve herself some.
"My wife doesn't want to eat-" Hayat pinched Ahad on his thighs, stopping him from speaking further, "Nothing, Chachu, he's been a little grumpy since he doesn't like biryani even though I cooked it for the first time today."
Hayat looked at Ahad innocently as she blamed him. He couldn't help but shut up, earning a glare from his mother, as she sweetly scolded him, "Eat it, and your wife cooked it with so much love, be a grateful one, you didn't say this to me, or else your ear will have been somewhere else by now."
Ahad was not heartbroken, yet happy that his family took Hayat's side, even though he wasn't wrong here, shaking his head a little, he served Hayat some on her plate. Loving how tasty it was, he complimented, "Let me kiss your fingers, Jaan, your cooking is too good." Hayat shyly smiled as they continued to eat.
After the dinner was done, Ahad signaled Ashar to light up the candles in the study room, as he would surprise Hayat now, but before he could do it, Hayat came and stood in front of him.
"Ahad, you know we are here today together because of two things, one because of Eira and two because of the accident, even though we lost our precious little girl and our favorite vehicle, even though I know I can't get Eira back to us, I wanted to give you back something that you loved a lot, the last memory of Eira, I brought it back for you" Hayat eyes were glistering as well as Ahad, he hold onto her waist tighten as she took him towards the garage, his friends were behind them.
Opening the garage up, Ahad saw his bike, a Kawasaki Ninja H2R… all emotions bundled up together as all the memories stirred in his mind, and his hold on Hayat's hand tightened, he moved towards his bike, caressing the tank of his bike, he looked back at Hayat, and chuckled.
His gaze fixed on her he slowly and softly said, "Eira brought you into my life Hayat, you did bring back the bike I love the most but you're the only one I love with my whole heart, every fiber in me, every cell in me craves your love and attention, thank you so much Meri Jaan for making this day so beautiful for me." He placed a kiss on her forehead and hugged her tightly to him.
"Boohoo, waah, waah" Looking back they saw Ashar fake crying, placing his head on Samir's shoulder as Samir patted Ashar's back trying to comfort him, "Don't ruin their special moment you, sick brat," said Hammad trying to take them away from the place by holding Samir's and Ashar's shirt collar, irritated by their childish behavior.
"Ashar, go and do what I told you to." Ashar stopped his fake crying and looked at Ahad, nodding his head and heading back inside, "What's going on, Ahad?" Hayat asked, curiously, her hazel eyes all doe and confused. Ahad placed his hand on his heart and said, "This look, oh my, always takes my breath away, Jaan." Hayat smiled as she tried to head back inside when Ahad hugged her from behind and whispered, "You surprised me, and now it's my turn, darling," sending shivers down her body.
"But before we do that, let me tell you, we fell in love later, but destiny had its role beautifully by making us meet through an accident, changing our whole life, let's just say it's a FALLEN BY ACCIDENT." Ahad's words made Hayat turn toward him.
"Fallen by accident? I guess you are right this time, Mr. Mir." Winking at him, she smiled.
Ahad laughed before he continued, "Let's head to the study room, I need to show you something." Nodding her head, they moved towards the study room. Ahad met Ashar upstairs outside the room, saluting him like the work was done.
Holding Hayat's waist gently, he gestured for her to move inside. Just as they got inside, Hayat stopped right there, in front of her… something she never imagined. She couldn't believe what Ahad had done for her. She looked back up at Ahad and pointed her index finger at the front, asking if he did it.
Ahad chuckled and nodded his head, Hayat was in awe, the wall near the huge balcony window had the biggest wall shelf, covering the whole wall, once filled with Ahad's project materials now had her books, all new books, she has in her TBR were now in front of her, the shelves were covered with fairy lights and some amazing scented rose candles lightened up over some shelves.
"I know how much you love bookstore dates yet you won't go in a bookstore and be yourself, so I brought all your TBR books to a single place" Hayat couldn't think straight as she went towards the shelf caressing the books, letting out a laugh she said, "Mr. Mir, you arranged the shatter me series in a wrong order."
Taking the Shatter Me book out, she placed it first while putting the Imagine Me in its place, exchanging it with Believe Me. "Well, darling, Ashar set them like that," said Ahad, caressing his neck a little.
Hayat turned to look at him confused when Ashar finally butted in and said, "He just ordered me, I did place them all in the place, think of it as my surprise instead of his since I did the hard work" Hayat laughed as she shook her head, holding Ahad's hand firmly in hers she spoke, "Thank you, my love, I love it, especially the couch you placed near the window for me to be cozy on."
Ahad smiled as he shook his head and said, "This was just one percent of what I wanted to do for you, your actual gift is coming right here, but for that, we need to go outside," Hayat went out, holding Ahad's hand, behind them were Hammad and Samir who were whispering about what kind of gift he got her, while Ashar proudly walked behind them knowing what gift he got her.
All the lights were lit up on the lawn as Hayat looked at her surroundings, trying to find what Ahad had gotten her. "Calm down, little one," said Ahad as he looked at his impatient little wife, taking his phone out. Ahad called someone.
"Come inside," a sudden roar of car exhaust was heard in the surroundings, everyone looked at the gate as a car came inside… to be exact… Mercedes AMG GT.
Hayat's car, her black sports car, came inside, and she froze right there. "Meri Jaan, even though I don't know how much you value this car, it was what got us to be destined together, so I got it repaired and brought it back to you safely, hoping you will enjoy drifting your beautiful car again."
He hugged her from behind. Hayat was nowhere near understanding what was happening, so she swiftly turned around in his embrace and hugged him. The couple was so much in sync that they didn't even know that both of them were getting their loved ones their love back.
Hayat was too happy that moment, "To change this sentimental moment, let me tell you all, I was the middle man in these idiots' surprise, no one is going to appreciate how much I had to work hard and keep my precious mouth shut just so their secret won't get out, boohoo" said Ashar as everyone around him laughed a little, appreciating his efforts.
Hayat held his arm, looking up at him. She said, "Let's go for a ride, you on your bike and me in my car, let's see who's the best."
"Are you challenging me, my love? You know you'll lose, right?" Being confident, he smiled as Hayat looked at him with her doe eyes as she replied, "Won't you let me win, Bubba?"
There, Ahad looked at her, putting her hand on his heart. Slowly, "You won my heart, Meri Jaan, this race is nothing, win it and give me your whole heart, your gorgeous smile."
Hayat's eyes were fixed on him, "You were destined to me, through that accident, we fell in love by accident."
Smiling at her, Ahad placed a lingering kiss on her forehead and softly whispered, "Our story has started from here, and yes, we were destined to meet and be in love." he hugged her to himself…
The story of Ahad and Hayat started from here, their journey to love and cherish each other...