Still engrossed in her dream Irsia was jolted back to reality by the honk of her father's car.
"They are here!" Exclaimed Irsia while rushing to comb her still tangled hair.
"Irsia come downstairs quickly. They are here," Baneen said with a slight knock on the door.
"I'll be there in five minutes mama."
"Be quick."

Rehamtullah Khan visited them almost every year, always accompanied by one of his family members but this time the whole family was visiting. Shahzain had accompanied his grandfather five to six times and he had developed a very close friendship with Abu Bakar and Irsia. Sibtain had accompanied three times and the last time was six years ago. Sibtain, as always, had been a bit distant. He seldom talked to Irsia but had developed great friendship with Aazir.

Every year Irsia would pray that Shahzain accompany his grandfather and this year her prayer was granted. She quickly covered her head with hijab and ran downstairs. She took a deep breath and entered the drawing room where the guests were seated. The room looked the same as it was nineteen years ago except the change in the carpet which was caramel color now instead of chocolate brown and the people in the room, nineteen years of time evident on their faces.

In the span of eighteen years Noor-din Khan had lost his wife, Zeba, and her loss had effected his health. His hair and beard had turned snow white and he walked with the help of a cane. His face had wrinkles that held the tales of lifetime. Rehamtullah Khan had also grown old over the period of time.

"Asalamualaikum." Irsia greeted the guests once she entered. They all stopped talking to each other and looked in her direction. Her eyes met Shahzain's and he gave her a bright smile which was returned by Irsia. Shahzain had transformed from a chubby beautiful little boy into a handsome, tall and extremely good looking young man. His brown hair was styled slightly backwards.

"Walaikumasalam. How is my darling Irsia?" Rehamtullah Khan inquired with a smile.

"I'm good chotey dadajaan. How are you?"

"I'm good alhamdulillah," he replied while placing his hand on her head.

Irsia hugged Safa followed by Hamzah. When she reached Shahzain who was sitting besides his father, he extended his hand towards her.

"Hey Irsi. How have you been?"

"I've been great. What about you?" Irsia answered eyeing his hand suspiciously.

"I'm waiting," he said while waving his extended hand.

"I'm not gonna shake your hand. As always you'll give it a tight squeeze and I'm not going to take the risk."

He chuckled." C'mon little baby I won't. I promise."

"That's what you said last year as well."

"This time I promise I won't." Finally giving up she placed her hand in his reluctantly.

"I won't bite," he said with a mischievous smile and gave her hand a slight squeeze.

"You promised," Irsia said tugging her hand free from his grasp. Everyone laughed watching their childish behavior.

"I promised I won't squeeze tightly." She scowled and walked out of the room.

"Little baby." He shouted after her.

"They'll never grow up," Manahil said ruffling Shahzain's hair.

Irsia joined her mother and cousin in the kitchen. "Help Zahra and put the biscuits on this plate," Baneen said passing the white bone china plate to Irsia.

"Okay."

Irsia went into the room with a tray full of biscuits and other eatables while her cousin held the tray containing cups and saucers. Her mother laid the dastarkhan.

"Zahra pass the teapot," Manahil said to her daughter. Baneen poured the tea in the cups and Manahil passed them along.
"Asalamualaikum," came a voice from the door and everyone looked at Aazir who was standing there. Anyone who looked at Aazir could easily say that he was Irsia's brother. They shared the same hair color, had same almond shaped dark brown eyes and same face cut. Aazir had turned into handsome young man with slightly muscular build and dark brown beard.
"Walaikumasalam." He was greeted back by everyone.
"Where is Sibtain?" was his first question after receiving the hugs from his guests.
"He is still back home," Shahzain answered.
"Why? He told me he was also visiting this time."
"Yeah he was all set to join us but he got last minute call from an important client so he had to stay back. You know how crazy he is with his work. Workaholic!"
"How is his business doing?" Ali Akbar asked.
"Alhamdulillah it is flourishing with each passing day," Hamzah answered.
"May Allah grant him success in every field of his life." Noor-din Khan prayed for Sibtain.
"When will he join us then?" Zahra asked. "I miss him."
"Don't know yet," answered Safa.

Irsia was listening quietly to all this. She remembered the last time Sibtain visited them. She had thought him a bit aloof. He had talked to her two or three times during his fifteen days stay. But this time a part of her wanted to meet him, may be just to check if he still was as arrogant as he had been six years ago or was he really caring and sweet and not to forget extremely good looking as Zahra had described him to be.

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Dastarkhan: traditional table cloth which is spread on ground or floor and is used as a sanitary surface for food. Part of Central Asian cuisine. Also called table cloth or great spread.