Chapter 36
Both mrs.rizvi and dua were in the kitchen. Mrs.rizvi being the coach and dua being the player. Mrs.rizvi was kind off training dua. Speaking of dua's skill she wasn't completely immature nor she was Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen. She was just fine.
"Yes. Now add the chicken." Mrs.rizvi said stirring the pot. As soon as she orders dua runs to get the chicken.
After few more instructions and dua running right and left. The biryani was let to cook in it's steam.
"Now we have to wait half an hour for it, to cook." mrs.rizvi said to dua as both of them exited the kitchen together.
Both of them sat on the swing in the lawn. One of the maid came with fresh lemonade for them. It was perfect to have it on a day where the temperature was just humid. Not complet hot nor cold to say. "Dua" mrs.rizvi said taking a sip from the glass which contains lemonade and mint leaves in it.
Dua just "hmm" in response.
Mrs.rizvi smiled at her daughter-in-law as she said. "Don't get me wrong but I always wanted to ask you so many questions to you."
"Of course ammi. You can." Dua said clearing the clouds of thought that were forming in front of mr.rizvi. but deep down she was worried what she would ask cause dua won't lie. Whatever the thing may be. "Your father. Salaam bhai. His always know for throwing parties amongst all. And honestly I didn't attend much of them... but whenever I did...I only saw you once. But your sister ayesha she was always there with her friends there. Where you not into it... or.." mrs.rizvi asked.
Dua's face was evident that she wasn't looking for a question like that. And being a quick reflex mrs.rizvi face had regret asking it.
Dua swallowed the lump in her throat and began to speak.
"It's true that I never liked all that parties... but the main reason was that ayesha and her mother they kind of didn't liked me in or my presence there." She said with a sadness laced in her voice.
"You might not know dua but the women at the party sure wanted you to make there daughter-in-law when they first saw you. At ayesha's mother's birthday party." Mrs.rizvi dua said remembering the event of that day.
Dua smiled at her reaction.
"You know armaan is very lucky to have you." Mrs.rizvi said as she continued further absent mindedly " at first i like ayesha more for being social and friendly but when armaan told about her I realized all the I judge her too soon without knowing anything." Dua kept looking at mrs.rizvi as she spoke. It wasn't like she was enjoying listening ill about ayesha but armaan knows about ayesha and what exactly he knows and how.
"That's why from the beginning I wanted you for armman but Ahmed sahab was very convinced for ayesha. But when you got engaged to armaan I was very happy and mr.rizvi was also happy about it later." Mrs.rizvi said.
A moment of silence settled between them. Until mrs.rizvi spoke again.
"Dua, if you fell alright to answer this question then do. If not then it's alright. I'm not asking you out of my curiosity but I feel you have kept it all to yourself self." Mrs.rizvi said. After a pause she continued. "Did your father got married again because you're mother was sick."
Dua hated it. She looked at mrs.rizvi. she was wearing a simple brown dress but still was looking beautiful. Her eyes always shined like stars at night. Dua began to wonder if it's what it feels to be with your mother beside.
"Ammi" dua said with a smile. "No. He didn't. He cheated on her. My ammi left him. But later she had cancer. She didn't wanted me to be without a father figure so she gave me to him and went." Dua said. "I always felt myself mother less. Always. I wonder if she could scold me for getting up late. And always being on your phone. Or forcing me in the kitchen. But today I felt like me being with my mother." She said with a tear in her eyes. She hugged mrs.rizvi still crying. They were like that for a minute.
"Oww. You girl you making me cry. Let's go and have a look at the biryani." Mrs.rizvi said.
Everyone enjoyed the biryani. And everyone pleased dua for it. Rest of the day dua was busy with her mother-in-law chatting and watching dua's and armaan's wedding photo album. While armaan and mr.rizvi were busy face timing an international client.
Currently all were sitting in the hall after having dinner.
"Okay ammi and abba I bought you guy's gifts from japan." Armaan said and asked one of the maids to bring back the luggage bag that they bought with them. One by one armaan emptied the whole bag. He sat on the floor between foot of mrs.rizvi and dua who were sitting on the couch.
He bought a many Japanese green tea packages.
"Abba it's specially for you. Now you don't have to have that ginger tea. It's tasty with many flavors. You'll enjoy it." He said handing it to mr.rizvi.
He bought his ammi a cute looking ocean blue color tea set along. He bought many sensu folding fans of different designs and colors.
"These is lovely tea set for my lovely ammi. And this fan I don't what they call it and I don't know why I bought it but I bought it anyway" he said digging for next item.
He had bought Many boxes of wagashi candies.
"These are Japanese special candies. They are called wagashi candies." He said breaking the seal and removing out some and offering it to everyone.
He took out five black color Randoseru bags and A kendama toy.
Dua quickly pulled the toy out of armaan's hand and began to play. She played it completely fine. Everyone in the room watched her play. After a while she handed it back to armaan.
Dua was attending a call from her work they were calling her for some files deeply speaking about the attendance record. She returned back to her room armaan who.was sitting on the couch on his phone but who knew he was planning on something.
Dua sat beside him. "Uff" she said. "I am tired. You have work." She asked him. He just nodded. Dua began to get up but armaan pulled her hand bringing her back on her seat.
She raised an eyebrow at him. " wait for a while." He said and got up. She watched him going through his luggage which practical had nothing. He came back with a shopping bag. It was the same bag that he had forgotten before sitting in the car.
He takes a seat beside her. Removing a jewelry case from it.
Dua smiled when he opened the case. Her eyes were reflecting the shine. More then the jewellery piece in the front.
It was a beautiful flower pendant with a gold chain. It's colour was unique and nor a deep pink nor a light color. Just perfect color. It's shape was like a flower. With it's center of a tiny gold. It was beyond perfect. She liked it very much. After all it was her first gift from armaan. His husband.
Dua looked up to meet armaan's eyes which were doubting her likeness for it.
All the doubt jumped out of the window after seeing dua's smiling face.
"You know. It's a Camellia Flower. In Japan it stands for infinite love and togetherness." Armaan said softly with affection in his voice.
He took it out of the case. Dua turned and pulled all her hairs to one side giving him full access. He closed the distance between them and clasped it around her neck swiftly.
Dua pulled her hairs back and turned to face him. He smiled looking at the jewellery around her neck.
Both of them realized how close they were. But none up them trying to move away.
'This is it armaan. Jump for the opportunity.' Armaan cheered himself up.
'Shit. what now.' Dua chanted in her mind.
Armaan moved his hand and placed it on her cheek. Dua closed her eyes. There breaths were getting entangled with each other. Armaan looked up at dua whose eyes were shot open. He looked at them and her lips.
A smile appeared on both of there faces as there lips attached to each other.
Fireworks erupted in dua's stomach as armaan moved his lips against her. He pulled her closer deepening their kiss. both lost in each other to find themselves.
They both pulled apart breathing heavily. A smile played on dua's face which was reflecting on armaan's face.
It was their first kiss.