"Tum uske saath Jaa kyu Rahi ho, K?Usse manaa kyu nahi karti?", came Anjum's frustrated appeal. Her cousin who was getting ready in front of the mirror said,"I tried Anji. Maine aaj usse phirse baat karne ki koshish ki magar woh nahi maana...keh raha tha agar main nahi aayi to woh Milne aayega mujhse Khan Mansion mein. Ab aise mein mere paas aur koi option nahi tha uske baat maan ne ke alaava. But you don't worry, maine sare precautions le liye hai...tumne apne classfellow se baat ki, woh Ayeza ki cousin?". Anjum nodded and said,"Haa, usne kaha ke woh Ayeza se baat karegi. Par tum karna kya chahti ho?
Khaani replied,"I think Hadi ne usse breakup kar liya hai. Kayi dino se woh dono ek saath dikhe bhi nahi. Ek baar uski cousin yeh baat confirm karle to main usse approach karungi Hadi aur uske relationship ke bare mein baat karne ke liye.". Anjum appeared confused and replied,"Usse tumhe kya fayda hoga?". Khaani explained,"Maine Mir Hadi ke past ka pata lagaya hai. Yeh banda kabhi ek ladki ke saath ke zyada der nahi rehta. Almost har week girlfriend badalta hai. I am sure isne Ayeza ke saath bhi yahi Kiya hoga. Mera plan yeh hai ke main Ayeza se uske aur Hadi ke relationship ke baare mein baat karte huye record kardungi. Aur phir main Hadi ko usko release karne ki dhamki dungi agar usne mujhe woh CCTV waala footage nahi lautaya toh.".
"Matlab Sarim ke nomination se naam withdraw karni waali baat jhuti thi.", Anjum concluded. Khaani nodded as she carefully put her gun inside her purse. "Uss Mir Hadi ko kya laga tha?", Khaani said bitterly,"Woh mujhe blackmail karega...mujhe dhamki dega aur main darr jaungi? Hmmph! Bewakoof! Woh yeh samaj raha hai ke public scandal ke darr se Maine apne Bhai ke future ka sauda kar liya...yeh nahi jaanta ke Khaani khud ruswa ho jaayegi lekin Sarim pe kabhi koi aanch nahi aane degi". Just then her phone buzzed. It was a text from Hadi saying he was waiting outside the Bungalow. "I have to go.", Khaani said,"Khala aur Khalu?". "Apne room mein hai.", Anjum replied,"Don't worry. Maine mom se kaha hai ke tumhari tabiyat theek nahi hai tum so rahi ho. Tum please mujhe apna live location bhejo aur agar tumhe lage kuch theek nahi hai to mujhe foran call karna.Ok?". Khaani nodded.
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Mir Hadi impatiently tapped on the steering wheel as he waited for Khaani. He checked his watch. Khaani was ten minutes late. He wasn't used to this. With his girlfriends it was always the other way round: he was the one to make them wait for hours before picking them up on dates. But then again, his mind reasoned, this wasn't a date. Technically. Truth be told, he himself didn't know why he asked her to go out with him in the first place. She did as he asked. Pretty soon, Sarim will announce his withdrawal from nominations. Then what was the need of all this? Deep down, Hadi knew he couldn't just trust her word. He needed to meet Khaani and talk to her to ascertain what she claimed was actually true. On the other hand, if indeed what she said was true he'd be sorely disappointed in her. Yes, he wanted to control her and make her do his bidding. But she gave up too quickly, spoiling all fun. He had anticipated- almost looked forward to- getting a tough fight from her.
Hadi's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the window of the passenger seat. Expecting Khaani, he turned and was disappointed. It was some woman in a burqa. Her face completely covered except her eyes. He continued to ignore her until she knocked a next time. This time louder. He simply stared ahead. Mithal, along with his guards, were in the car behind him. Surely, they would tend to her. But before Mithal could intervene. The woman walked right in front of the car, where Hadi was looking and lifted her veil. It was Khaani. Hadi's jaw dropped as he took in Khaani's appearance. She was clad from head to toe in a plain black burqa. Now that she finally had Hadi's attention, Khaani walked towards the passenger seat. This time, she didn't have to knock. Hadi unlocked the door for her. Once she was settled, Hadi finally spoke up. "Yeh kya hai?", Was all he could say. Khaani gave him a death glare before finally saying,"Mir Hadi, manaa ke tum mujhe blackmail kar rahe ho magar iska yeh matlab nahi ke main tumhare ishare pe nachungi. Tumne mujhe aane ko kaha main aa gayi. Ab isse zyada mujse umeed nahi rakhna.". Hadi replied, trying to make her see reason,"Yeh kapde club ke liye thik nahi hai.". Khaani rolled her eyes and said,"Oh please! Club tumhare dost ka hai tumhe andar aane se kaun rokega? Secondly, tum shayad bhul rahe ho ke main kaun hu. Agar kisine hume ek saath dekh liya to tumhara to pata nahi lekin mujhe zindagi bhar ke liye mere Dad ghar mein qaid karke rakh denge. Oh! Ek aur cheez...zara yaha dekhna(raising her phone)". To Hadi's surprise, Khaani took a selfie of both of them and forwarded it to someone. Surprised, he said,"Abhi to tum keh rahi thi ke tum nahi chahti koi hume ek saath dekhe...toh phir?". Khaani said,"Yeh maine apni cousin ko forward Kiya hai. Agar main dedh baje tak wapas nahi aayi ya mera phone usse out of reach mila to woh tumhare khilaaf police mein complaint kardegi". Hadi was scowled at her words. He wasn't used to being treated like some cheapster who girls needed protection from. Raising his eyebrows, he challenged her,"Do you think agar mera tumhe lekar koi galat intention hai to yeh sab mujhe rokne ke liye kaafi hoga?"he whispered. Khaani replied evenly,"Shayad nahi...lekin tumhare aur tumhari family ka naam mitti mein zarur mil jayega agar media mein yeh baat aa gayi ke tumne apne rival ke behen ko kidnap kiya hai. Iss liye tumhare liye behtar yahi hoga ke tum thik dedh baje mujhe sahi salamat yaha chhod do.". Starting his car, Hadi said,
"Apne cousin ko bolo do baje ke baad police ko ittela karde. Mera adha ghanta to tumne yahi pe waste kar diya."
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As Hadi and Khaani entered Ali's club, they were greeted with curious stares. The club was a regular haunt of his friends and acquaintances. Everybody knew Mir Hadi and were aware of his recent break-up with his girlfriend, Ayeza. Him walking in with a burqa-clad women set their tongues wagging. Mir Hadi ignored all of them as he led Khaani to the first floor.
The first floor of the club was opulent yet cosy semi-private alcoves. Hadi led Khaani to his regular spot where Ali was waiting for him. Hadi introduced him to Khaani, who raised his eyebrows in surprise at her appearance but didn't say anything. "Toh finally I get to meet the famous Khaani.", Ali said. Khaani merely nodded and shook his hand and took her seat. Later, when she and Hadi were by themselves, he finally got to business. "Toh Khaani", he drawled, "Batao tumne apne bhai se aisa kya kaha ke woh apni jeeti huyi seat chhorkar ek naye constituency se elections ladne ko taiyyar ho gaya?". Khaani braced herself, she knew he had called her to interrogate her tonight. With a defeated sigh, she said,"Baba to pehle se hi chahte the ke Sarim apne political career ki shuruwat Peshawar se kare...Sarim hi chahta tha Balochistan se election ladna.".
"Toh woh ab kyu maana?", Hadi asked. Khaani replied,"Sarim mujhe bohot maanta hai. Maine usse samjhaya ke family ka bada beta aur party ke future head hone ke hasiyat se usko apne career ki shuruwat Peshawar se hi karni chahiye taaki humare Pathan voters ko yeh na lage ke Sarim ko unki fikar nahi.".
"Sirf yahi wajah hai?", Hadi asked again. Khaani answered quietly,"Agar Sarim Peshawar se ladega to usse Nayeema aunty ke Papa se funding milegi.". Hadi asked confused,"Nayeema aunty...matlab tumhare Dad ki second wife?". Khaani nodded. "Magar woh apne beti ke sautele bete ko funding kyu denge?",Hadi questioned. "Dad ne unse vaada kiya hai ke agar Sarim Jeet gaya to woh unhe Commerce Chamber ka Chairman bana denge.", Khaani said. Hadi finally leaned back satisfied with her explanation. Khaani looked down at her hands secretly smiling to herself, he bought her lie. Now all she needed to do was to get to Ayeza and Mir Hadi won't know what hit him.
Precap: Khaani stood frozen to the ground as Hadi advanced towards her, his face dark with rage.
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Khaani: Mera Dushman Mera Ishq
RomanceIf there was one thing Mir Hadi enjoyed it was the terror his name inspired in people. If that didn't work (an exception) a gun would be enough to make them do his bidding. It was a tried and tested formula. So you can imagine his shock when the gir...
