Short Serene Tales [A Collection Of Desi Short Stories]

Gul- E -Nayab

Wind was howling outside the Khan villa, it was probably a signal, that maybe something bad was going to happen. Everyone inside the Khan villa was standing in the living room with frowns etched on their faces, the atmosphere around was quite thick and very suffocating. A girl was sitting on the marble floor, a laptop was placed on the coffee table in front of her and everyone was surrounding that girl, their disappointed gazes burning holes in her body. 

A lady in her mid forties was standing next to her and she was literally  fuming. When she couldn't control herself anymore, took off her chappal and hit on her arm, making her cry.

"Ammi!" She cried out.

[Mom!]

"Aaj toh maar maar kr iska chapli kebab bna dun gi!" She was about to hit her again when one of cousins came forward and stopped her.

[Today I will beat you so hard and make kebabs out of you!]

"Chachi, chode na mat maarein bechari ko. Sab ne daant toh liya hai isse." He grabbed the chappal from her hand, placing it on the marble floor.

[Chachi, Leave the poor girl. Everyone has already scolded enough.]

"Nahi, Hamza! Aaj toh isko zibba kr ke choddo gi. Dheet kahin ki phir se fail ho gy? Koi baat hai? Mein toh kehti choddo pardhai aur shaadi karo iss niqami ki." Her voice rose an octave.

[No, Hamza! Today I will slaughter her. This stubborn girl failed once again? Seriously? I say, leave studies and marry off this useless girl.]

"Hain? Waqai?" She chirped looking up at her Ammi with a twinkle in her eyes.

[Huh? Really?]

Youngsters in the house looked at each other in utter amusement hardly stopping themselves from laughing.

"Safaid besharam hai! Baap bhai ke saamne shaadi ki baat krti hai,  sharam kr le Gul! Kyun mere haatho qeema kerwana hai apna." Shahana beghum slapped on her head, Gul-E-Nayab pouted rubbing on her head.

[She's a true shameless! Talks about marriage in front of brothers and dad, Have some shame, Gul! Why do you want me to make hash out of you.]

"Lagta hai aaj chachi ka waise hi mutton gosht khane ko dil kr rha hai." Ramza snickered, whispering in Ramsha's ear who laughed along nodding her head.

[I think Aunty is really craving mutton today.]

"Ammi! Khudi toh aap ne shaadi ka bola, ab mujhe kyun maara?" Gul-E-Nayab stood up from the marble floor, folding her arms over her chest.

[Mom! You yourself talked about marriage then why did you hit me?]

"Gul ki bachi kyun shaheed hona hai aaj tu ne?" Hamza gritted near her, she clicked her tongue and put her hands on her hips.

[Gul, why do you wish to die today?]

"Bhaijaan, yahan haq ki baat ho rhi hai. Beech mein na parein. Hain Ammi, shaadi ka bol kr, umeedein dila kr ab muqr rahi hain?" Shahana beghum rolled her sleeves up, ready to beat the crap out of her.

[Brother, we're talking about rights here. Don't meddle in. Huh Mom, after talking about marriage, giving me hopes and now you're denying?]

"Chachi, Chachi! Rehne dein na abhi bachi hai." Gaitee quickly stepped forward to her rescue and stood in front of Gul- E -Nayab like a shield.

[Aunty, Aunty! Leave her, she's just a little girl.]

"Besharam eik toh phir se fail ho kr baith gy aur upr se zabaan chlati hai? Zubair Sahab ab toh apni laadli ko kuch boliye." Zubair Sahab was tongue tied and just shrugged his shoulders, Zubair Sahab who never once scolded her in his whole life then what was he going to say now?