CHAPTER 19
AHAD POV:
Spending time with Hayat has become my favorite part of the day, from fixing our marriage date together to her coming to cheer me up for my race today, to us texting each other every night. Everything is perfect and amazing.
The way she talked about her desire to arrange our wedding, the way she didn't think about anything, and said all at once… her hazel brown eyes were shining when she spoke about everything, and she continued to rant about all the stuff… I am not complaining!
After I asked her about her parents, her head turned to the other side, and she hid away from me. It made me realize how sensitive the topic is, that I should be careful while talking about it, and how much pain she had gone through to sadden her mood to this extent with just a simple question.
We had our meal in the car, and drove back to Do Darya… by the time I parked it at the side, and came out, I found Hayat coming out, too. I wanted to open the door for her, be the gentleman for my lady, but okay, let's wait till we get married…
She's actually "miss independent" while I'm "l know you can do it, but let me" guy… It's funny how I address it, cute.
We walked towards Ashar, who stood with his friends. I passed the paper bag of burgers to him and gestured my head to Hayat, indicating she got it for them.
His eyes scanned both of us, smiling, he came forward, wiggling his annoying eyebrows, and he spoke, "Bhai, you are the sweetest, and as much as I have loved you for years, it can be now equal to the love my manic is giving me… getting me food, hmm."
He wiggled his eyebrows towards her, teasing her, and she looked away… She is blushing, she is actually blushing at his talk! His! Why not mine?
Have you ever done anything to make her blush? I scolded myself and let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm going home now. I need to attend the office tomorrow and get my new bike home, too," I told my fiancé, who was talking to Zeeshan. I saw her fidgeting with her fingers.
"Can you send me not one but more like five to six chapters of voice notes per day, please?" I heard her and smiled.
She loves the audiobook chapters I share with her daily, even though there are official narrated audiobooks available online, still… she loves mine, I whispered to myself and smiled, "Alright, my lady."
She has become a part of my life without my knowledge...
After ordering Ashar to take care of Hayat and others, I drove back to the house...
Tonight, I didn't join them for the show and all since I had some paperwork to look at, but the tiredness was killing my body. I wanted to rest for some time, yet I started recording the voice notes of Peer-e-Kamil while reading the novel on my laptop.
Abruptly, I got a call from Ashar. I asked him about the sudden call while noting down the page I completed narrating, "Bhai, Hayat…"
"What happened to her, Ashar?" Hearing him panic, stutter, and say Hayat's name, I grew tense. I stood up from my seat and walked out of the study room. It was already midnight, and she didn't get home till now. I took my car keys and went out, trying to gather information from Ashar about everything.
"Bhai some new people around here taunt her and she is angry as she made a bet of drifting but not in her car but the one the other guy had and she doesn't know how to drift that car, bhai I'm trying to solve the issue but it's getting out of the hand, I was shooing them away but your girl is so daring, she isn't letting the matter go," hearing Ashar helplessness, I asked for the name and model of the car, "Bhai it's Civic Type R 2021, model."
"Wait till I get there, don't start the show without my permission,"
I hung up the phone, drove as fast as I could, and reached the place, searching for my family in the crowd.
I found her at last! Sitting on the passenger seat of her car while Ashar was speaking to her, damn, she looks angry...
"What's going on?" I asked as soon as Ashar came into my view, my eyes focused on Hayat. I saw her hiding her face in her palm… not giving me a reply.
"That bastard and his minion said Hayat has money, that is why she is getting all the attention from the Mir brothers, and there was someone in the crowd who talked badly about Hayat's past, and she had an outburst on them," Ashar spoke, glaring at the group in the back, standing in front of my fiancé, trying to protect Hayat… from me? He was standing in front of her, blocking my view of her.
Does he think I'll say anything to her, or what, why he's blocking my way?
"Step aside, Ashar, I want to talk to Hayat," I said calmly.
"NO. I'm not letting you near her; she's already like a mad, manic, and you don't know how hard she kicks and slaps. I don't want her to lose control and burst out on you, so I'll stand here. You talk." He argued back.
I looked at him, disbelieving what he just said... so he was trying to protect me from her. Yeah, I got it, my soon-to-be wifey is a wild cat... but she is my wild cat!
I can handle her, even if I can't, I can take all the beatings after all, she is my wife.
"Why would I say something to her when it's their fault you stupid, step aside Ashar!" This time, he stepped aside as I came in front of her.
"You want to win this bet?" I kneeled in front of her and asked as she looked up at me and nodded her head.
"Let's go then, I'll be your passenger today, I'll help you win the bet. You need to trust me and do as I say. Okay?" she nodded her head like a little kid…
I used to drive this car a year ago, I have some idea and confidence about drifting that today's going to help Hayat win the bet... I won't let my fiancé face any humiliation.
I can't imagine disrespecting her, so no one else is even allowed to think about it. I can solve this issue on my own, but it includes Hayat.
As much as I would love to kick those people out, I know Hayat would love to step on them, so let's do this simply.
"I'm joining you guys, too. I'll sit in the back seat. Nah, I'll stand there and enjoy the ride, I'll take a video too and won't disturb you guys, promise." Nodding my head, Ashar came to the car with excitement.
"After we win the bet, you won't come here ever again. Your people won't come either. If they did, they'll see the worst of me." I threatened, standing in front of the boy who now looked a little tense.
Front-wheel drive drift, I took the car keys from the guy and passed them to Hayat, as always, with confidence. She sat in the car while we both joined her, too.
Tightening the seat belt, I patiently told Hayat about the car... Starting the engine, we made our way to Shahrah-e-Faisal to round from there and come back to the main spot and start drifting.
Driving the car at the speed of 180 mph, listening to my instructions, Hayat focused straight on her target, coming back to our spot to see the middle of the road all clear as people started to hoot from the sides.
I spoke to Hayat, instructing her to accelerate under high revs, reduce the throttle to quickly decelerate, and throw the car's weight forward on the front springs, turning the steering wheel a quarter of a turn as the car shifts to 2.5 turns lock.
She listened to me clearly and smoothly did what I said, drifting, such cars aren't easy, but my soon-to-be wife is stubborn enough to handle all of it together. I felt proud as she listened to me and did the same...
After drifting for like fifteen minutes, we stopped and got out of the car The noise around us was way too loud; we found the opponents in front of us. Hayat came and stood in front of me, confidence radiant through her body.
"Now to answer your silly question, he, this man, standing next to me," she pointed her index finger at me and continued, "is my to-be husband, my man, my fiancé.
The way she pointed her index finger toward me, indicating me as her man, made me so proud and happy that I just wanted to hug her... twirl her around, and let the world know how much she meant to me.
"And the guy recording this all on his phone, standing right there," she pointed toward Ashar and continued, "Is my friend and brother-in-law. If you're jealous of me, then try to lick the ground I walk on; maybe then you can be like me. But I don't think you'll ever find the Mir Brothers anywhere."
Ashar was full of excitement; he roamed around the place in pride, screaming, "My bhabi," indicating he was talking about Hayat. The moment was whole; it gave the feeling of a real family. (Translation: Mt sister-in-law)
She glanced back at me and moved back to her car, and I, being all in awe of her, followed her like a little lost puppy. I have turned like this, and I don't know how or when.
"I'm sorry, Ahad, for the commotion, but I couldn't tolerate this kind of behavior, so..." her voice low, looking down, she whispered. No one could see her as she stood at the side.
"You did a great job, Hayat. I'm proud of you." My cheeks were hurting from smiling, but who cares? I'm happy after a long time, and I'm enjoying everything.
Standing beside her, I let her observe everything. She stayed silent, her eyes lost, looking at the view in front, "Are you alright?" I saw her fidgeting with her shirt.
She still didn't meet my eyes and let out a low hum.
"Romance, hmm, go somewhere else, guys, we singles are here too," said Ashar as he came towards us with a bottle of apple malt.
"Why? Are you jealous?" asked Hayat as she folded her hands together, looking at Ashar with her shiny eyes. Their bond is that of cats and dogs.
"Yes, I'm jealous, because I'm single." They were now about to fight as Ashar looked directly at Hayat, too.
"Then get a girl yourself, don't disturb us, we need some privacy, too," Hayat blew air on her nails. And I stood there, shocked. She didn't say anything when we were alone here, but then again, we do need privacy, even if we don't talk much.