18 Chapter 16 : Convocation Ceremony
Finally the day has came for which Zehra was preparing from last few years of her life and she was nervous would be an understatement, she was shaking due to nervousness.
She was sitting in front raw you can say courtesy of being topper, and her family members were sitting where the family's sitting arrangement was done.
She was wearing peach color long knee length kurti with white cigarette pants and peach and white colored hijab. She has matched it with white colored platform heels sandals. She was wearing black coat and her degree cap with her favorite pink colored Michael kors watch.
Currently she was waiting for her name to be called out , it will take time as she will be called last as being topper. Being topper has some cons also.
Names were being called in front of her on stage with that her heart picking up more pace and thudding into her rib cage could have been heard if loudspeaker wouldn't be there. Her hands were being sweaty, and fiddling of fingers can be taken as sigh being nervous.
And then the names started with 3rd ranker, minutes after 2nd ranker and she closed her eyes.
"I am really proud and happy to call on the stage Dr. Zehra Farukh Shaikh First ranker, who had only topped in college but her university as well.Please come on the stage Dr. Zehra Farukh Shaikh." Host announced.
She opened her eyes, straightened her posture and took confident steps towards the stage, hooting of crowd behind her was the only noise to be heard except thudding of her heart to her.
She reached on stage and shook her hand with her principal who made her wear medal, passed her trophy and her degree. Her eyes filled with tears watching the degree in her hands. She wanted to cry out loud for her achievement but she couldn't do it right now. She looked straight where her family was sitting and as expected they were still standing and clapping for her.
She looked at her father and he had tears in his eyes whereas her mother was crying silently looking at her. Her father side hugged her mother to calm her down. Her father looked at her and she gave a little nod with a bright smile.
"Zehra would you like to say something on your big achievement?" Host asked her.
she nodded her head and walked towards mic.
She took a deep breath and looked at her parents.
"First of all Alhamdulillah, i would like to thank almighty allah, i would like to give my credit to my parents. Because wherever i am today is because of them. Mama, papa this is yours" she said while raising her degree.
"And i am very thankful to you guys that you have trusted me and motivated me, and i would like to thank my family members and friends whom were constant support system for me. Thank you my teachers and professors who taught me all these years. Who have taught me academic as well as life lessons. Thank you all." She said and left stage.
After that there was arrangement for group picture. After group pictures they throw their caps in air and hooted loudly. Then everyone was coming and congratulating her but she was restless to go towards her family.
After nodding to everyone she rushed towards her family. She came towards them and stood in front of her father. She removed her cap and made him wear it. He smiled at her with teary eyed.
"Papa" her voice was choked in her throat due to emotions.
"You made me proud beta, i am very proud of you." He said in whisper, that was the last straw for zehra.
To hear these words from her father was great deal. She was working hard for this moment, to see proud and happiness in her parents eyes because of her. A sob left out from her mouth and she hugged him tightly while crying.
She felt she achieved the world today. She got what she wanted, her parents were feeling proud on her, her parents were happy because of her.
What she felt at that moment, she couldn't describe it in words. She felt ecstatic. She felt she was over the moon.
She broke the hug and her father kissed her forehead, when she heard a click of camera and she turned around to come face to face with none other than Zaroon. She wanted to go hug him and tell him how happy she is. But she can't really do that right now.
It looked like that Zaroon understood her situation as he gave her a big appreciative smile and slowly nodded his head.
It's unbelievable how he understood her very easily, how they communicate very easily without even using words. It was unexplainable thing to her but she was happy to have it that way.
She went towards her mother and removed her medal , made her wear it. Her mother started crying again. She restrained herself from crying in front of her mother as she would cry more.
She handed her trophy, her mother kissed her forehead. She hugged her mother.
She went ahead when she met with her Dadaji, bade abba, Badi ammi and lastly Shaan bhai. They all hugged her and kissed her forehead or temple in return.
Then Afi came and squealed and hugged her tightly. Both were crying silently. Afi knew how much she waited for this day. Both were overwhelmed.
After meeting everyone, they all were walking towards parking lot when Zaroon called her in whisper.She turned around to look at him.
He was wearing white button up shirt with grey pants and blue blazer. He has matched it with brown boots and blue dialed watch.
Masha allah! He has amazing fashion sense.and he is looking..Zehra stop your stupid thoughts he is in front of you.
Zehra forcefully averted her eyes, closed it and mumbled Astagfirullah, then slowly opened her eyes.
He was standing beside her and gave her his handkerchief.
Zehra took it from her and wiped remnants of tears from her face.
They started walking towards the direction of parking lot.
"Congratulations Dr.Zehra Farukh Shaikh" he said, playfulness evident in his voice.
Soon Dr.Zehra Zaroon khan. In sha allah.
But guess he talked aloud his thoughts as he seen her smiling.
"Thank you!" She replied and turned towards other direction but her rosy cheeks gave away the thought of her blushing to him.
"How come you are here?" She asked him to change the topic.
"Shaan bhai has called me and invited to join them." Even he was shocked when shaan called him to join them for ceremony but how could he leave such opportunity, so he immediately said him yes.
"Shaan bhai has called you?" She asked for confirmation as she remember how much tantrums he was showing everyone during the time of her alliance.
"Yeah, are you upset that I joined without asking?" He asked as he thought may be she mind it that he interfered in their family time or something.
"Why would i mind it? In fact i am" she was going to say that she is happy that he joined but controlled it and said " i meant to say i am not upset or anything."
They reached to their place and bid their bye to each other.They parted their ways with a thought of joining them in one very soon for this life and after life.
Hopefully now when they will meet they would have every right on each other as husband and wife.
~*~
Zaroon's POV :
I reached at the venue and met everyone in her family. Shaan bhai hugged me as I greeted him, i was taken by surprise but I returned the hug. He made me sit beside him.
I looked around and see her sitting in first raw, she was very nervous I could sense it. When her name was being called she took confident steps towards stage.
They gave her medal, trophy and degree. She walked towards mic and said.
"First of all Alhamdulillah, i would like to thank almighty Allah, i would like to give my credit to my parents. Because wherever i am today is because of them. Mama, papa this is yours, And i am very thankful to you guys, that you have trusted me and motivated me, i would like to thank my family members and friends whom were constant support system for me. Thank you my teachers and professors who taught me all these years.Who have taught me academic as well as life lessons, Thank you all."
She said and went for group pictures. I took a video recording of everything from her being called out till she left stage.
This girl has made me proud so much today. I want to laugh with joy that she is going to become my wife, my life partner, my better half in 7 days. I couldn't express my happiness in words. If i am feeling like these i can understand how her parents are feeling right now or most importantly how she is feeling right now.
She came towards her father and made him wear her graduation cap and hugged him and started crying. I wanted to go there, embrace her, console her but right now I can't do it.
She turned around and looked at me, her eyes went little wide, she was feeling so emotional right now, i know it by looking at her, but I can't do anything about it. So i gave her a appreciative smile and nodded at her.
Then she met with everyone else. When everyone started to walk towards parking lot, I called her and gave her handkerchief because her face was still wet with her precious tear drops which i hate.
We soon parted our ways. I sat in my car And looked towards her car which started to vanish from my eye sight.
"Soon, Zehra very soon we will have all rights. We will become halal, just 7 days to go!" He said and smiled at his own thought.
~*~
Dadaji - Grand father
Bade abba - Uncle
Badi ammi - Aunt
Shaan bhai - Shaan brother
Alhamdulillah - All praises to god
Masha allah - what god has willed (used to show joy,happiness or praise someone)
Astagfirullah - i seek forgiveness in god
Halal - Righteous
