"You're going to be my present and my future. You're going to hold all my babies because I'm going to be the lucky man to marry you. You're going to love me again, Maryam Khan. Slowly and then all together. And I will watch you as you do."
Imran and...
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I sat in the far corner of the couch curled into a ball all by myself. With me sat both the couples of our house. Mummy and daddy on my left, Saira baji, and Fahad bhaiya on my right. Mummy had her head leaning on daddy's shoulder, his arm draped around her frame. While baji's feet were propped on bhaiya's lap, his hand gently massaging it. The four of them had a conversation going on about their own, not caring for me, the only single soul left in the house or even between them.
I let out a dejected sigh, feeling as lonely as ever. Aur kuch ho na ho, bande ki shaadi jaldi hojani chahiyea. At least he won't feel like a third wheel. More like the fifth wheel here in my case.
I clear my throat which was supposed to grab attention but; given the two different bubbles my parents and my brother and his wife were in, it failed to serve its purpose. Another sigh leaves my mouth and I shake my head.
Aakhir kab tak?! I mentally asked Allah miya, shooting a glance upward.
I call each of their names one after the other. And when I had their undivided attention, I start. "Arz kiya hai,"
"Irshaad, irshaad," Baji prompts, already smiling at my untold shayari.
"Chote hai din, lambi hai raat."
"Wah, wah! Wah, wah!"
"Chote hai din, lambi hai raat Where is my shareek-e-hayat?" I grin, earning hearty chuckles from all except one.
"Woh joke tha?" Bhaiya deadpans.
"Nahi. Wo mere dil ki awaaz thi. My bichara, broken, not broken broken but lonely wala broken heart's cry which you mistake it to be a joke."
"How is your heart lonely broken, chote miya?" Daddy amused.
"Kabhi soche aap mere bhi haath peele karne ki?"
"What?" Mummy snorts, moving to sit up straight in her place after hearing my question.
"I don't think boys ke haath peele hote. Isn't that a thing referred to henna?" Baji prods, pursing her lips in thought. "Oh wait, peeley as in yellow, as in haldi ceremony. Is that what you meant?"
"Well, not exactly. But you're close."
"Your dewar is implying he wants to get married," Bhaiya uttered in a bored tone.
"Sahi pakre hai! Kabhi soche applogan, meko kitna lonely aur kitna out of the place feel hota jab, aap sab apne apne partners me busy rehte. Especially in times like these," I gesture around us with a wave of my hand. "Not that I'm asking y'all to stop being lovey dovey around me. Mashallah, Allah aaplogon ka pyaar zindagi bhar qayam rakhe. Lekin, hum ghareeb ka bhi koi sochlo."
