That afternoon Dadi Jaan resembled a Dracula all ready to pounce on the girl sitting in front of her. The way her murderous eyes glared at the young girl in front of her eyes, it alarmed everyone present in the living area of the Haveli.

“Zahabia, tum toh kuch kha hi nahi rahi ho.” Parisa tried to distract a very nervous Zahabia getting intimidated by the old lady giving her angry looks.

Zahabia smiled and took a samosa from the platter Parisa offered.

“Hamare zamaane mein toh ladkiya buzurgo ke saamne sar dhak kar aur nazar jhuka kar rakhti thi.” Dadi Jaan taunted the poor girl.

“Aur hamare zamaane mein ye buddhiya laaj sharam ke taane maar maar kar hamari zindagi haraam kar ke rakhti hai.” Parisa thought to herself.

“Amma, zamaana ab badal chuka hai.” Akbar said a bit sternly, defending his son's choice.

“Aur apno ki fitrat bhi.” Dadi Jaan taunted him.

“Girgit ke muh se yeh baat shobha nahi deti.” Parisa thought.

“Zahabia beti, hum jald aapke ghar Alam ke liye aapka hath mangne aayenge. Aap apne ghar walo ko iqtila kar dijiyega.” Akbar told her with a fatherly smile.

“Jee, uncle.” Zahabia nodded smilingly.

“Abba, mai soch raha tha ke rukhsathi hum Dadi ke janaaze ke baad hi kare.” Well, Alam had a valid reason to say that. Dadi Jaan would definitely make Zahabia's life hell in her remaining life.

“Haaye Allah! Mere saamne mere marne ki baatein ho rahi hai. Yeh dinn dekhne se pehle mai mar kyun nahi gayi.” Dadi began beating her chest while yelling out loud.

“Koi baat nahi, Dadi Jaan. Do teen saal mein woh bhi ho jayega.” Parisa tried to console her, but of course her sharp tongue betrayed her.

Dadi glared at her as if she will eat her alive any given moment.

“Alam, acha kiya jo tune iss meesni ko talak de diya.”

“I know, Dadi. Mai musibat ko soongh kar pehchan leta hoon.” Alamgeer grinned at Parisa's beizzati.

“Insaan ka naak hai yaa kutte ka?” Parisa fired back.

“Zubaan hai yaa kainchi?” Alamgeer gave her an equal comeback.

“Ghar hai yaa paagal khana?” Zahabia thought to herself.

“Tum dono ka talaak ho chuka hai, miyaan biwi ki tarah ladne ki koyi zarurat nahi hai.” Akbar dismissed their silly argument.

Parisa was about to intervene when her phone rang. It was Zaviar. She was surprised to get a call from him. She quickly got up and moved to a corner to receive the call.

“Hello...” She started.

“Tumne mujhe bataya kyun nahi tumhara aur Alamgeer ka talaak ho chuka hai?” He asked a bit angrily.

“Aap toh mujhe dekhte hi apna raasta badal lete hai aur mera phone bhi nahi uthate, mai kaise batati aapko?” She asked back with equal anger.

“Acha, I am sorry naa. Tumne mujhe pehle kyun nahi bataya ke tum shadi shuda ho?” He asked softly.

“Zaviar, I had never imagined ke mujhe kabhi iss bachpan ki shadi se azadi milegi. And to be honest, I had never realised ke mujhe aapse pyar hai until that night of the party when I unknowingly uttered those words.” Parisa reasoned with much seriousness... and love.

“Acha theek hai, jo ho gaya so ho gaya. Tum abhi bhi Alamgeer ki family ke saath reh rahi ho?” He asked.

“Yes, they are the only family I've left. Ammi Abba ke baad unhone hi mujhe sambhala hai.” She mumbled.

“Mai kal tumhara haath mangne aa raha hoon, apne parents ke saath.” He disclosed with a smile. And she could feel his smile through his voice.

“Mai aapka intzaar karungi, Zaviar.” She smiled as well.

“I love you, Parisa.” He confessed.

“I love you too, Zaviar.” And she cut the call, overwhelmed by the emotions she felt in those moments of confession of his love.

🕊️🕊️🕊️

“Zaviar ko hamare talaak ke baare mein tumne bataya?” Parisa asked Alamgeer while entering the balcony.

“Haan.” He nodded.

“Kyun?” She inquired.

“Kyun nahi? I mean, you both like each other. Aur jaise tum Zahabia ko itna friendly treatment de rahi ho, mai bhi tumhari aur Zaviar ki help karna chahta tha.” He replied with a shrug.

“Thank you, Alamgeer. For agreeing to divorce. I mean, I had never expected you to be so open-minded about it.” She expressed her gratitude.

“Parisa, I understand ke divorce hamari society mein ek taboo ke jaise dekha jata hai, but that doesn't mean ke hum log kya kahenge ke chakkar mein apni zindagi aur khushiyon ke saath compromise kare.”

“You are right. Agar tum agree naa karte toh shayad mai kabhi apne liye stand naa leti.”

“But we did it.” He gave her a smile.

“Yes, we did it. Once again, thank you, Alamgeer. Chahe hamara talaak ho gaya hai, lakin hamari dosti ab kabhi nahi tutegi.” She grinned with happiness radiating off her.

“Of course, not. Abhi toh humne ek doosre ki shadiyon par dance bhi karna hai.” He said mischievously.

And they began laughing.

Sometimes happy endings are not about two people uniting, but two people letting go of each other.