Khaani: Mera Dushman Mera Ishq

Smoke and mirrors part-1

Khaani frustratedly threw the file at the table. Ahmed had done as she asked. He got her all the information on Mir Hadi but there was nothing that could compel him to hand over the CCTV footage to her. All these files told her was that he was rich, spoilt and entitled. Your average Pakistani privileged man. Hardly something to blackmail someone over. Although there was one interesting detail: Hadi was something of a serial dater. He literally changed girlfriends the way people changed clothes. But his promiscuity will probably be treated in Pakistani media as a sign of his male hot-bloodedness, Khaani thought, rolling her eyes. He was currently dating a woman called Ayeza. Hadi was last seen with her at Ali's club two nights before he met Khaani.

Her phone buzzed. It was an unknown number. She answered. "Khaani...kaisi ho?", It was Mir Hadi's voice. "Tumhe mera number kaha se mila?", Khaani demanded. "Jab main tumhe mall mein track Kar sakta hu to tumhara number dhundna konsi badi baat hai. Batao...kaam hua mera?". Khaani replied,"Nahi...(sighing) mujhe waqt chahiye Sarim se baat karne ke liye. Tum bhi jaante ho yeh itna simple nahi hai.". Hadi replied sharply,"Itna mushkil bhi nahi hai tumhare liye. Usse baat Karo, samjhao...agar nahi maane to uss par goli chala lo.". Khaani ignored his jibe and replied,"Main Sarim se baat karlungi...abhi woh ghar pe nahi hai jab aayega main usse baat karungi...".
"Theek hai",Hadi said,"Magar zyada der nahi karna...warna aisa na ho ke main intezar karte karte thak jau aur video footage lekar seedha tumhare ghar pohoch jau.". Khaani replied,"Mere paas aur chhe din hai...tumne mujhe saat din ki mohlat di hai.". "Haan, di to hai", Hadi replied casually,"Magar mere mood ka koi bharosa nahi. Kya pata Maine achanak decide kar liya ke tumpe apna time barbaad karne se achcha main khud jaake Sarim ya tumhare Baba ko video footage dikhakar unse deal kar lu. So tumhare liye yahi achcha hoga ke tum time waste na karke kaam pe Lago ok?". Without waiting for any response Hadi cut the call.

Mir Hadi stretched on the sun bed next to his swimming pool. Sitting next to him was Ali, who noticed how his friend's mood had become visibly upbeat after talking to Khaani. "Hadi, mujhe abhi bhi samaj nahi aa rahi tu aisa kyu kar raha hai?", Ali asked curiously. "Kya kar raha hu?", Hadi asked. Ali replied,"Uss ladki ko blackmail karke apna time kyu waste kar raha hai...uss footage ko release karde... phir Sarim apne aap elections haar jaayega.". Hadi chuckled and replied,"Haa main aisa kar to sakta hu lekin uss mein koi maza nahi hoga...(looking at his phone) Iss ladki ki awaaz mein jo darr aur bebasi hai usse mujhe bohot sukoon milta hai...(laughing) ab yeh sukoon mujhe iske baap aur bhai se thodi milega.". "Agar woh apne bhai ko convince nahi kar paayi to phir tu kya karega?", Ali asked. Hadi shrugged and replied,"Video viral kar dunga aur kya karunga. Scenario chahe jo bhi ho, Mir Hadi ko yeh election jeetne se ab koi nahi rok sakta".

Just then Hadi's phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, he groaned and cut the call. It was Ayeza. "Yaar, yeh ladkiya itni desperate kyu hoti hai...matlab agar main last ek hafte se tumhara call ignore kar raha hu that means we are over! I am bored! Goodbye!". Ali chuckled and said,"Tu Ayeza ki baat kar raha hai na...ha usne mujhe bhi kaafi calls kiye puchh rahi thi ke tu kyu uska phone nahi utha raha...kab milega etc etc. Hadi tu kabhi apni girlfriends se clearly communicate kyu nahi karta ke you're breaking up with them?? Sab baad mein mujhe phone karke pareshaan karte hai.". "Haan to kya hua?", Hadi laughed and said,"Tu unhe mere se better handle karta hai(playfully punching Ali's arm). Bilkul unke bhai jaisa". "Ewwww!!", Ali said making a face before dissolving into laughter along with his friend.

Khaani stormed out of her room angrily recalling the conversation she had with Mir Hadi. Himmat kaise huyi uski mujhe iss tarah dhamki Dene ki! Samajhta kya hai woh apne aapko?! She grumbled to herself. Just then, she bumped into someone hurting her elbow. "Dekh kar nahi chal sakte!", she snapped. She saw it was Abul. She face turned grave. "Kya baat hai Khaani itne tashn mein kaha Jaa Rahi ho?",Abul asked giving her a once over. Without replying, Khaani turned to leave but he caught her elbow. "Arre kaha chali?Main baat kar raha hu na?". "How dare you? Haath chhoro mera!", Khaani said with gritted teeth, struggling to let go of her arm. Abul answered,"Chhor dunga itni jaldi bhi kya hai. Tumhe pata hai main kitna miss kar raha hu tumhe...aakar mujse tumne theek se baat bhi nahi ki.". "Kya?", Khaani asked disgusted,"Tumne mere saath jo bhi kiya uske baad tumne soch bhi kaise liya ke main tumse baat karungi?". "Kyu nahi baat karogi? In fact ab toh tumhe aur bhi baat karni chahiye...aakhir tumhare bhai ke political career ka sawaal hai.". After much struggle, Khaani was finally able to pull her arm out of his grip. "Tum kehna kya chahte ho?",she demanded. "Itni surprised kyu ho?", Abul asked,"Ab tum political campaign mein hissa le rahi ho, party office bhi aati jaati ho. Ab tak to tumhe andaza ho gaya hoga ke party mein...ghar mein daadi ke baad kiski chalti hai? Mere aur mere abbu ki.(pointing at his chest) Toh Sarim ki party mein jagah kiske haath hai? Mere haath mein. Aur main jab chahu uske career ko khatm kar sakta hu.". Khaani shook her head and replied,"Woh pehle ki baat thi...ab ghar ka bada beta hone ke hawale se party ke kursi pe Sarim ka haq hai.". "Ugh!",Abul let out a frustrated grunt and said,"Bilkul iss hi wajah se maine Baba se kaha tha ke tum logo ko zyada sir pe na charhaye. Ab dekho kya galat fehmi palkar rakhi hai. Sarim Party Chief banega? (laughing) Are you serious? Kam se Kam sapne to woh dekho jo aukaad ko suit karte ho.". Khaani fumed,"Agar aisi hi baat thi toh usse Balochistan ka ticket kyu diya?". Abul replied,"Balochistan jeetne ke liye. That's it. Dekho tumhara Bhai floods mein gaya...ussne logo ki madad ki..raaton raat national hero ban gaya usko aur humari family ko publicity mili...ho gaya tha na yaar! Uske baad usse US apne ghar wapas chale jana chahiye tha. Kya zarurat thi waha se aakar party join karne ki?Humne to usse nahi kaha tha party join karne ke liye...ab jab humne usse party mein aane diya hai toh usse humara ehsaan maan na chahiye. Na ki apni aukaad bhulkar party mein meri jagah chheen ne ka khwaab dekhna chahiye...waise tumhara Bhai samajdar lagta hai. I don't think woh aisa sochta hai...(sighing) magar tumhe apni soch ko badalni paregi otherwise Sarim ke liye party join karna bhari par sakta hai.". Saying this,Abul walked away. Leaving behind a flabbergasted Khaani in his wake.
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Two days later
Khaani was getting ready for bed when her phone buzzed. Bloody Hadi. Her caller ID read. She answered, "Hello". Hadi asked,"Kaam hua?". Khaani sighed and replied,"Maine Sarim se baat kar li woh maan gaya.".
"What?!",Hadi exclaimed,"Tum sach keh rahi ho?". "Ha", Khaani answered in a small voice,"Kaafi upset tha woh...uske Balochistan ko lekar bohot plans the..magar last mein woh meri baat maan gaya.". "Wait a minute?Main tumhare baat ka kaisa yaqeen karlu? Kya proof hai tumhare paas?", Hadi asked suspiciously. Khaani answered,"Tum news check Karo. Altaf Khan, humare Peshawar ka candidate Islamabad aaya huwa hai. Dad ne decide Kiya hai ke Sarim ke political career ki shuruwat Peshawar se honi chahiye taaki isse humara Pathan votebank strong rahe.". "Hmm", Hadi said thoughtfully,"Good decision.". "Tumne jo kaha maine bilkul waisa kiya", she appealed meekly,"Ab tum please mujhe woh video footage wapas kardo.". Hadi smiled, relishing the helplessness in her voice. "Kar dunga...Sarim ke official announcement ke baad. Woh apna nomination se withdrawal kab announce kar raha hai?". "Iss week ke end mein", she replied. "Very well",Hadi decided,"Tumhe bhi apna footage uss hi din mil jayega". "Theek hai", saying this Khaani abruptly hung up.

Half an hour later, Khaani's phone rang again. "Bloody Hadi", she muttered groggily as she answered the call. "Mujhe milna hai.",Hadi said. "Excuse me?", Khaani asked confused.
"Mujhe abhi tumse milna hai.",Hadi said. "Kyu?", Khaani asked. "Kya kyu?Tumne mujhe itni badi good news di hai, main election jeetne waala hu party karna to banta hai. Aur tumhari wajah se main jeetunga...to zaahir si baat hai ke tumhare saath hi to celebrate karunga.". "Mujhe kahi nahi jana.Bohot raat ho chuki hai...mujhe itni raat ko ghar se bahir jaane ki ijazat nahi.". Hadi chuckled at this and said,"Uss raat bhi toh ghar se baahir thi tab kaise ijaazat mil gayi?".
"Uss raat main apne cousin ke ghar ruki thi. Iss liye nightout pe gayi thi. Aaj ghar mein sab hai. Agar pakdi gayi to humari saari poll khul jaayega.". Khaani explained. Hadi paused for a minute before saying,"Kal apni cousin ke ghar night spend karne chali jaana. Main raat ko dus baje tumhe waha se pick karlunga.". He hung up.

Precap: Hadi's jaw dropped as he took in Khaani's appearance.