Urooj (Pakistani Short Stories)

Raqs|II|

"You can't be serious Ami Jaan." Hadeed stated as soon as he walked into his grandmother's sitting room. Momina was hot on his heels.

"Oh I'm quite serious. And don't worry. This time I chose, and so of course, I chose quite well." Ami Jaan, or Inayat, was quite ruthless when it came to being honest or providing an opinion. Right now she was doing a bit of both.

"Ami Jaan, I don't want to remarry." Hadeed ignored the envelope Momina tried giving him that held a picture of the girl. He had no want to look at it.

Inayat leaned forward off her rocking chair. "I don't ask for a lot, child. You'll meet her once for your old grandmother won't you?"

Hadeed's shoulders sunk as he looked between his sister who was giving him puppy dog eyes and his grandmother who he owed so much too.

"One time. That's it."

Momina cheered, running out of the sitting room as she shouted what color lengha she wanted and how she and their cousin Nina would match.

"I've told your father and he's agreed as well. It's time you settled."

He sat in a chair adjacent to Inayat, his eprieicng gaze finding hers. "And if I mess it up again?"

Inayat clasped his hand. "Get it through to you Hadeed, that you didn't solely ruin your relationship with Amna. It was never meant to be but you both forced fate's hands. Maybe this is a chance to correct that."

He didn't want to think of it that way. "What if I hurt this girl."

Inayat snorted, her rosy cheeks looking healthier with the prospect of her first grandchild's second shot at happiness. "You couldn't hurt a fly, dear."

He opened his mouth to protest again but Inayat cut him off. "Trust me on this. You're going to love her."

///

At exactly 10 past 12, Sunehri slipped into a seat at the cafe her mother had texted her. She wasn't nervous, albeit a bit shocked. Not much could faze Sunehri anymore. She was used to some sort of abandonment or rejection. When Momina's brother would do it, it would just be another day in the life.

Now she had no idea that one of her customers would end up bringing a proposal to her house. She was contemplating getting over her ego and signing the job as a professor for Medieval Arts and Literature so she could avoid working the shop when the seat in front of her became occupied.

Big. Broad shoulders. Light skin and oh. Blue eyes. A cerulean she'd never seen before contrasted by short hair the color between brown and black. A strong angular jaw and thick, long brows. Her Khala Roshni could paint this man in all his beauty.

"Asalam o Alaikum." He spoke, a small smile on his face, and she realized how much she liked it on him. It fit his features so well. Giving him a soft look to break out all the harsh lines that gave him an intimidating aura.

"Wa Alaikum Asalam." She replied, smiling awkwardly. She wished she had ordered something so she could have busied her hands with her food, but for now she's stick to playing with the chiffon of her red black kameez.

"I'm Hadeed, I think we met briefly before." He began, and she wondered to herself, did he always make such intense eye contact?

"I remember. Sunehri."

"It's nice to meet you Sunehri. I'm sure this is a surprise to you as well." He looked down for a second, as if embarrassed by the idea of the proposal. She could relate.

"It is. But I'm sure a very normal one." She traced the edges to the table.

He looked up at her again, his eyes softening. "I'm not sure I'm ready to be remarried. My previous marriage wasn't the best experience."