Chapter 15

Zayn and Hana were still talking by the car. Hana was sitting on the bonnet and Zayn was leaning with his back to the bonnet. Hina was the first one to get her mehndi done and a spot was free so Zayn pulled Hana down from the car and made her sit on the free seat.

“Bae meri behan ko b achi si mehndi laga dain! Baki sab say achi honi chahiye! Warna menay payment nhi krni! Main pehlay bata deta hn ye! (Please make some really good design of mehendi on my sister’s hand too! It should be better than everyone else or else I am not gonna pay! I am telly you!)” Zayn jokingly said to the mehndi artist. This made everyone laugh and hana also giggled shyly.

Hana’s heart was bursting with joy and happiness. It was the first time that one of her brother’s called her as their sister and this made her to tear up. But since her back was to Zayn and all the other boys so they were not able to see her cleaning her eyes.

All of them were done with the mehndi only hana was left. One side of her left hand was left while her right hand was getting done.

“Kitna or time lagna h bae? (How much more time is it gonna take!?)” Zarmeena asked from a little distance as she and everyone else was standing by Rayaan’s car and they were talking.

“Hana bohot late ho gaya h pehlay hi! Tm bas ab rehnay do dusra hath! (Hana, it is so late already! You should leave the last one for some other time and come!)” Saman said to hana.

“Kyun bae! Meri behan ka ab pura honay do! Baki sab nay lagva li hai na is liye meri bechari baby ko esay keh rahay ho tm sab! (Why! Now let my sister’s hands to be done too! You guys are done with your mehendi that’s why you guys are like that with my baby!)” Zayn said to the girls.

“Haan sahi to keh raha h! Wesay bhi thorha or late ho bhi jayain to koi masla nhi! Bachi ko lagvanay do! (Yes, he is correct! And anyways, some more time does not matter because we are late either way then why nt some more lateness! Let the kid be done with her mehendi!)” Rayaan also said which made them to groan but they remained silent.

“Oye! Hana yar tmhara mobile vibrate kr raha h 5 5 mint baad! (Hey! Hana, you mobile is vibrating from time to time!)” Zayn informed hana.

“Koi baat nhi! Me ghar ja kr check kr ln gi! Wishes aa rahi hn gi university or college fellows ki taraf say! (No problem! I will check them after getting back! They must be wishes from university and college fellows!)” Hana sofly replied that Zayn was barely able to catch what she was saying.

“Okay! Main reply kr deta hn tmhari jagah phir! (Okay! Then I’ll reply on your behalf!)” Zayn said.

“Ap rehnay dain or wesay b ap ko password nhi pata or meray hath me to mehndi lagi hain! (Don’t! And you also don’t know the password and my hand are covered in mehendi!)” Hana said hurriedly as if she was trying to hide something.

“okay! Okay! No need to get defensive!” Zayn said while raising his hands as if surrendering.

“Koi larkay wagaira ka chakar lag raha h mjhay! I’m sure it’s about a boy! Girls do tend to get boy crazy when they get in university. (It must be a boy! I’m sure it’s about a boy! Girls do tend to get boy crazy when they get in university!)” Humail said in a hushed tone.

“Yeah! It could be but we should not say anything until it’s not cleared!” Zarmeena said.

“Yes! It’s wrong to say something like that about her! She is just a child! And we should not talk about it here as it can ruin our family’s reputation!” Zaroon said to everyone.

Everyone remained quiet after that but Zamid and Zayn got worried. They were not believing it but doubt had taken birth in their heads.

Rayaan was neutral but he knew that it is not possible. He had observed hana enough to know that she is very religious. She does everything while keeping Islam as her main guide.

After hana was done, they got in their cars and made their way to a small mart as the girls wanted to get some Bangles. Hana was not a big fan of bangles so she just looked around the mart. All the boys were observing that so Zayn walked towards hana.

“Why are you not getting bangles?” Zayn asked softly.

“I don’t like bangles! I am not a big fan of them so..!” hana replied.

“Then what do you want?” Zayn asked to make her buy something.

“Nothing much! Actually nothing really!” Hana replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

“You have not bought any shoes from the mall so come on and let’s get you some shoes!” Zayn grabbed hana’s hand and dragged her to the Shoe side.

“Bhai, I have lots of shoes so I don’t need them!” Hana protested and tried to free her hand but Zayn was not taking any of it.

“No! You are buying a pair and that’s final! Wesay bhi (Anyways), It’s Eid so you should wear new things!” Zayn said with finality. Hana reluctantly agreed and both the siblings selected some matching shoes and Zayn decided a pair of shoes for hana. The shoes were of Zayn’s choice. They were a pair of gladiators in baby pink.

They got to the counter and Zayn asked Rayaan to pay which he did without any complain.

Hana was looking around the counter at the small ear studs while Rayaan was paying and Zayn was talking to Rayaan.

“Oh Hana Bachay! Main abhi apkay ghar hi anay wala tha! (Oh Hana dear! I was just gonna come to your place!)” An old man of late 60’s said from behind the counter. Hana looked up and smiled softly and said her Salaam.

“Kiya haal h bachay? Ghar pr sab kesay hain? (How are you, dear? And how is everyone at home?)” The old man asked smilingly.

“Sab theek hain uncle! (Everyone is fine, uncle!)” Hana replied sweetly.

“Ap kay studs tyaar hain tou menay socha main ghar hi pakra ata hn kyun k kal Eid hai to meri bachi ki Eid b achi guzar jaye! (You studs are ready so I thought of leaving them at your place as tomorrow is Eid and my daughter, hana should also enjoy it with those new studs!)” The old man said.

Rayaan and Zayn made their way towards hana when they saw her talking to a jewelry maker. They thought that she wanted to buy something from there so they made their way over to hana to pay for her again.

“Ap mjhay dikha dain gay please? (Can you show them to me please?)” Hana asked politely to the man.

“Zaroor beta! Ye ab saath lay bhi jana! Mera chakar nhi lagay ga na is tarah! (Yes, of course daughter! You should even take them with you. In this way, I would not have to go there!)” The man said to hana.

“Kis baray main baat ho rahi h? (What are you talking about!)” Zayn asked hana after the man went in a small room behind the counter.

“Woh mamma or baba nay meray liye white gold k Ear studs ka order diya tha! Yaha pr hi diya tha or ab uncle kah rahay thay k main sath lay jaon! (Actually, Mamma and Baba had given the order of ear studs made up of white gold! They ordered it here and now the jeweler was telling em that the studs are readya dn I should take them with me!) ” Hana replied.

“Oh okay!” Zayn said and both of them stayed with hana.

“Kuch lay lo lena hai to! (You can buy whatever you want from here!)” Rayaan said to hana while pointing towards the jewelry.

“Acha tou phir main ek ring lay loon? (Okay, then can I get a ring?)” Hana cutely asked to Rayaan with big eyes.

“Lay lo bae! Yahi to kaha hai menay! (You can buy them! I just said the same thing!)” Rayaan replied with a soft smile.

After that, they were looking at all the rings and Zayn was suggesting some to hana while pointing towards them from the glass. The old man was also back. He showed them the studs and there were three pairs of them.

“Why three pairs?” Zayn confusedly asked. The studs were very small. One pair was in aqua blue, second was in light pink and the last one was in light green.

“I got three piercings on each ear!” Hana said.

“Acha! Wah! Menay bhi dekhna h phir tou! (Really! Wow! I also want to see them then!)” Zayn said appraisingly.

“okay! Pr ghar ja kr! (Okay! But after reaching home!)” Hana replied.

Rayaan just silently observed them. He was also curious to see the piercings as he had never seen people with this many. But, he remained silent as he knew that hana will never show them to a non-mehram. Hana was a really pious girl and Rayaan liked that about her and respected her a lot for this.

After the girls were done with the shopping, Rayaan paid the bill and all of the cousins made their way to the cars. They dropped Humail, Hala, Hina and Zubair at their phuppo’s place and got lots of scolding for being late. Hana just silently laughed at the back of the group as she was outside of the front gate.

Hana was never invited to her relatives’ houses so she always made sure that she does not have to go to their places. She had only gone twice to her barhi phuppo’s place. It was the third time that she had gone to their place but still, she stood outside because they always made her feel like an outsider. But she never took it to the heart.

Afterward, they dropped Zaroon at their other phuppo’s place and again got lots of scolding for being late. This time, hana was dragged in the house by Zayn. It was the very first time that hana went to her second phuppo’s place. Hana was busy in looking around the house’s living room.

And finally they made it to their own place. Dadi jaan was waiting at the porch for the kids and all of them made their way to the living room together after helping their Dadi from the porch seat.

“Dadi jaan ab ap mat kuch kehna! Hum pehlay hi dono phuppos say achi khasi dant sun kr aye hain! (Grandma! You should not start scolding us now too! We have already had our share of scolding from both aunts!)” Daniyal said while slumping on the couch beside his Dadi jaan.

“Bohot besharam ho tm tou! (Very shameless, Are not you!)” Dadi jaan said to Daniyal while tugging on his ear.

Hana was behind Zamid and Zayn and she giggled but tried to cover it with a cough.

“Rayaan! Mjhay tm say ye umeed nahi thi! Time dekha h? 2 baj rahay hain raat k! Sab say barhay ho lekin phir bhi bachay ban jatay ho in nikammo k sath! In say dur raha karo kitni bar kaha h! Ek hi to mera kaam ka bacha h! (Rayaan! I did not expect this from you! Have you seen the time! It’s 2 in the morning! You are the pldest one amoung them but you become childish too with these stupid cousins of your! How many times I have to tell you to keep away from them! There is only one sensible amoung these stupids!)” Dadi jaan jokingly said which made everyone to protest and complain.

“Dadi jaan ap esa kesay keh sakti hain? Mera to dil hi todh diya ap nay! (Grandma! How can you say something like that! You just broke my heart!)” Zayn said with a fake hurt expression and a hand on his right side of chest.

“Dil waha nhi hota jaha hath rakha h! (Heart is not on that side!)” Dadi jaan said with a mock seriousness and everyone laughed at this.

“Aa gaye ye gadhay ghar! (These donkeys are finally home!)” Hana’s second taya said while coming downstairs.

“Sorry baba hum late ho gaye! (Sorry baba, we are late!)” Zarmeena said innocently to her father.

“Ye chalakiyan tmhari na! agli bar esa na ho ab! (These dramas of yours na! It should not happen again!)” Her second taya said adoringly to her daughter and her Dramas. Zarmeena was the only daughter of her Taya so her parents adored her a lot and she always took benefit from this. Zarmeena never took negative benefit but in these types of situations, she always took benefit.

Everyone chuckled at this and their dadi jaan dismissed them so they can sleep and get up early as they had to go for Eid prayer.

Hana also went to her room and slept peacefully. She wanted to talk to some people on her phone but she dismissed that idea as she did not wanted to wash her mehndi yet.