It was once again that time of the year.
Exactly one year ago, Zavian had fallen unknowingly & completely for a girl who lived in the heart of India.
Now as the calendar silently flipped pages, the emotions returned with it but this time, stronger & deeper. Their first Ramzan together as husband & wife. The beautiful month of Ramzan was about to begin, a time of peace & prayer. Last Bakra-Eid had been their first Eid as husband & wife but Ramzan, this was different.
It was the last evening of Shaban, the sky was in soft hues of purple & blue as the Maghrib azan echoed through the city. Mahek was on her terrace, her dupatta gently moving with the breeze, her eyes were scanning the sky. She wasn't just looking for the moon. She was looking for a feeling, the start of Ramzan, her favorite month, now even more special because this time, she was a wife.
In India, the time was already a little ahead of Pakistan, a 30-minute lead that often turned into teasing in their groupchat, where friends from Pakistan, India & Bangladesh sent constant updates, memes, moon & food pictures.
The groupchat was buzzing & then came the most awaited message. Mahek clicked a photo of the ramzan moon & sent it with the caption.
"Ramzan Mubarak🌙✨" Right after that, the chat lit up with hearts & duas.
On the other side of the border, far away in Pakistan. Zavian was already on the roof of his house, with something he hadn't felt in years. After four years ramzan didn't feel heavy it felt hopeful & warm again.
He was wearing a white kurta, the breeze playing with its collar as he looked toward the horizon. The sky was a blend of orange & pink hues, painted like a soft dream. He was waiting. Not just for the moon but for that peace, that beginning.
And then as the maghrib azan echoed in the air, he saw it. A delicate crescent appeared in the glowing sky.
He clicked a pic of the crescent moon, the sky behind it glowing in soft hues of orange & purple, sent it first to his wife, his Mahek & then into the groupchat.
Mahek's reply came instantly:
"Zavian it's so beautiful. I wish I could see this daily"
Zavian smiled, his thumb hovering over the keyboard & he replied:
"I can click a picture of the moon daily for you if you want"
Mahek replied teasingly:
"Bs bs chomu laal, tumhein yad reh hi na jaye kahin"
(Okay okay Mr. silly, just don't forget about it later)
He smiled softly at her message, his eyes fixed on the glowing screen under the moonlit sky & then he typed:
"I love you, Mrs. Zavian"
Reading those words, Mahek's cheeks turned warm she bit her lower lip to stop the smile from spreading too wide but it was too late. She blushed hard, hugged her phone close to her chest & whispered to herself.
"I love you too, Zavian"
After Maghrib prayer, Mahek got busy in ramzan preparations with her mother. She quickly texted Zavian:
"I won't be able to come till late night, ramzan prep with amma"
On the other side, Zavian was getting ready for something different, taraweeh. He wore a fresh white kurta again.
He smiled while looking at Mahek's text & replied:
"It's okay begum, I'm going for taraweeh"
Taraweeh, the most beautiful thing about Ramzan. The streets echoed with the call to prayer, the masjid lit with lights, children running around playfully & Zavian quietly joining the rows of men standing shoulder to shoulder in prayer.
In India, ramzan hits different, different religions, different people, yet a beautiful harmony.
In that moment, across cities & towns, the houses of Indian Muslims were lit with soft fairy lights. Men had gone to the masjid for taraweeh, walking with prayer mats in hand.
Women were prepping sehri & checking their prayer lists, surrounded by love & tradition.
Even in the midst of a thousand sounds & beliefs, ramzan found its peace.
But on the other side, in Pakistan it felt different. A Muslim country where every street was alive with the happiness of Ramzan. Masjids bursting with worshippers, markets open till sehri, children chasing each other.
Here, Ramzan wasn't just a month. It was a season, a celebration.
After Taraweeh, Zavian came back home, a little tired. He changed into his night clothes, grabbed his phone & like always texted her.
"Begum?"
Mahek was done with the preps, now she was waiting for her husband's text, she saw it & replied:
"Agaye ap?" (You're back?)
Zavian was in good mood like always, he teased her:
"Lg toh esa hi rha hai" (Seems like it)
Mahek was done with this man, she replied:
"Roast nai kro mujhy Zavian Ubaid"
(Don't roast me, Zavian Ubaid)
Zavian smiled at her text & replied:
"Meri majaal?" (Would I dare?)
But Mahi was really not in a good mood, she typed
"Acha chup baitho aj mood pehly hi emotional hai"
(Okay just be quiet I'm already emotional today)
Zavian raised his eyebrows & asked:
"Kyun?" (Why?)
Mahi was typing with a pout on her cute face.
"Ramzan ka pehla din hai or hum sath nai hain"
(It's the first day of ramzan & we're not together)
He looked at her text, it made him upset as well but he tried to smile and texted to calm her:
"I know but InShaAllah next ramzan we'll be together"
Mahek smiled & replied:
"I hate you"
Zavian knew what she meant, he chuckled & typed:
"I love you more"
Mahi rolled her eyes & replied:
"Baat mat kro mujh sy" (Don't talk to me)
Zavian smiled,
"Miss kiya mujhy?" (Did you miss me?)
"Nai kiya" (No I didn't)
They both chuckled together, after a few more sleepy smiles & texts they both went to sleep.
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A few hours later, Zavian woke up. He rubbed his eyes. He looked at the window & there it was, he skipped the sehri & now it was 8 in the morning. He shook his head & got out of bed. After a quick shower, he got dressed for work in his usual shirt & pants.
Before heading out, he picked up his phone & saw Mahi's text waiting for him,
"Zavian??"
He smiled & replied:
"Yes begum? Uth gaya hun, office ja raha hun"
(Yes wifey? I'm up, heading to the office now)
Mahi was mad at him for not getting up in the sehri. He apologized & then headed to the office.
Mahi got busy with her usual ramzan routine prayers, Quran recitation, helping around the house. It was the first iftaar of ramzan & her heart was both excited and a little overwhelmed. The kitchen was buzzing, everyone was preparing for the special moment.
On the other side.
Zavian had wrapped up his office work early. He sat near the window, picked up his phone & texted:
"Begum I'm missing you"
After a few minutes, her reply came:
"I miss you too"
Zavian stared at the screen for a second, then typed:
"I want you here with me"
She smiled softly & replied:
"We'll be together Zav"
But he couldn't help himself,
"Mahi I'm missing you so much"
She read his text & chuckled gently at how babyish he was being. Her heart ached too but she masked it with her usual teasing:
"Toh ghar ajao na Zavian" (Then come home Zavian)
He smiled & replied:
"Ap toh nai ho na ghar py kya faida"
(You're not at home anyway what's the point?)
She giggled & texted:
"I can't trust you alone"
He raised his eyebrow teasingly & typed:
"I'm shareef" (I'm innocent)
She rolled her eyes from the other side, grinning at his typical drama.
She texted:
"Zavian it's almost iftaar time, ghar ajao"
(Zavian it's almost iftaar time come home)
He replied:
"Acha kya bna rhi ho?" (Okay what are you making?)
She smiled & said:
"Mai?? Kuch b nai"
(Me?? Nothing at all)
He chuckled & teased:
"Phr bula q rhi hain chef sahiba?"
(Then why are you calling me chef madam?)
It hit Mahek like a spark & she instantly rolled her eyes & typed:
"Mai muu tod du gi Zavian"
(I'll break your face Zavian)
He replied innocently:
"Mai ny kuch ghlt bola begum?"
(Did I say anything wrong?)
She said with full sass:
"Zavian Ubaid choty ho tum mujh s, bachay"
(Zavian Ubaid you're younger than me, kid)
And that hit the volcano inside Zavian. Without a pause, he replied:
"Bari ho k kya ukhad liya?"
(And what exactly have you achieved by being older?)
There was a deadly silence for a second. Then Mahek replied:
"Tum jesy bachon ko bardasht kr liya, is sy bari baat kya hogi?"
(I tolerated kids like you, what could be a bigger achievement than that?)
Zavian rolled his eyes & said,
"Blah blah blah"
Mahek burst out laughing on the other side, she replied:
"Maan lo tum mjh sy nai jeet skty Zavian Ubaid"
(Just admit it you can't win against me Zavian Ubaid)
He sent her a glare emoji & chuckled.
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After some time, Mahek went to the kitchen to help her mother with iftaar preparations. The house was filled with the aroma of fried items & the clinking of dishes.
On the other side, Zavian stepped out of his office, finally done with work for the day & drove home. The time difference between India & Pakistan was evident now. While Mahek's house in India was already immersed in the silence of post iftaar, in Pakistan, the preparations were still ongoing.
Because of Ramzan, Zavian's mother had called him with a firm tone to come back home & spend the holy month with his family. When Zavian reached home, he found his sisters busy in the kitchen. Without even bothering to change, he rolled up his sleeves & stepped inside. He washed his hands quickly at the sink, then looked around & asked casually,
"Kisi ko meri help chahiye?"
(Does anyone need my help?)
His sister, without any hesitation & with a cheeky smile, handed him a bowl filled with something & said,
"Yay lo isy fry kr do" (Here, fry this)
Zavian chuckled softly but didn't protest. It was ramzan after all, everyone pitching in was part of the tradition. Plus, secretly he enjoyed these small moments with family, even if it meant getting his hands a little messy.
Zavian started frying the bowl's contents carefully, the sizzling sound filling the kitchen. After a few minutes, he placed the bowl on the table & stepped out onto the balcony attached to the kitchen.
The moon was shining softly, casting a gentle glow over everything. He took out his phone, captured the moonlight & sent the picture to Mahi with a simple message:
"For you begum"
She saw the picture & replied,
"Allah Zavian tumhein yaad tha? Mujhy lga esy hi bol rhy thy"
(Oh God Zavian you actually remembered? I thought you were just saying it casually)
He smiled & replied,
"Ap sy related koi b cheez mai kesy bhool skta hun?"
(How could I ever forget anything related to you?)
Mahi smiled on the other side, then replied,
"Iftar time ho gaya apka"
(Your iftar time has started)
Zavian replied,
"Ji begum mai chalta hun phr"
(Yes wifey I'll go then)
Zavian kept his phone aside, went to the table & sat with his family for iftar.
After iftar, Zavian went to the masjid, prayed Maghrib & then came back home. As soon as he entered his room, he picked up his phone & texted his wife:
"Begum I'm home"
Mahek was already waiting for him. She replied within seconds. They both talked for a while soft, light talks. They told each other what they had for iftar, who made what at home & how the first roza felt.
Then Zavian told Mahi that he was so full he couldn't even breathe. Mahek laughed at him, imagining his dramatic face & after talking a little more, he went for Taraweeh.
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The update was late, I'm really sorry for that guys & thank you for your patience.
I'll try to update the next chapter as soon as possible. I hope you all enjoyed. Stay tuned for the next part...🤍📚
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