Khaani: Mera Dushman Mera Ishq

Game on

The same night

In spite of herself, Khaani could not help but think about her date with Hadi. It was...interesting to say the least. Keeping the planning and plotting aside, Mir Hadi was attentive, easy to talk to and dare she say...sweet? Was he like this with all his girlfriends in the beginning? And once they fell for him and ready to do his bidding, then he showed his true colors? Aur nahi to kya, Khaani said dismissively, Purey waqt woh mere saath iss liye achcha bann raha tha kyuki woh mujhe haasil karna chahta hai, the image of Mir Hadi coming close to her hoping to kiss her darted in front of her eyes and oddly enough her heart skipped a beat.
Stop Khaani! She scolded herself, you have to focus. Ab jab yeh date wagera ho gaya hai tumhe  Hadi ka dhyaan elections mein laana hoga. After all, elections jeetne ke liye hi tum uske saath yeh pyaar ka natak kar rahi ho don't forget that! Just then Khaani's phone(the one gifted to her by Hadi) rang. She answered.

"Hi", Hadi said, his voice calm but only with a hint of nervousness.

"Hi", She replied gingerly, "Thik thak pohoch gaye?"

"Haan", Hadi replied, "Kya kar rahi ho?"

"Kuch nahi", Khaani replied, "Bas aise hi baithi hu."

"Waise main tumhe ek khaas kaam ke liye phone kiya hai.", Hadi said, "Karachi ke liye Abul ki strategy kya hone wali hai tum jaanti ho?"

Khaani sighed and replied, "Details to nahi maalum...bas itna janti hu ke woh tumhare uss footage aur party boy image ko use karega apne zimmedaar aur down-to-earth image(rolling her eyes) ko promote karne ke liye."

"Mujhe laga hi tha", Hadi said broodingly, "Tum aur kuch pata kar sakti ho?"

"Haan", Khaani replied, "Mujhe thoda waqt do...main kuch karti hu.".

"Thik hai", Hadi replied, "Waise kya tum sach mein ab Sarim ke liye campaigning nahi karogi?"

"Karungi", Khaani replied, "Waise mere ghar walo ne bohot rokne ki koshish ki magar Sarim ne unki ek nahi suni. Agle hafte ke AeP Foundation rally mein participate karungi."

"Achchi baat hai", Hadi replied, "Waise bhi ab tumhe saari zindagi yahi karna hai... abhi se aadat ho jayegi to achcha hai."

"Saari zindagi yahi karungi...matlab?", Khaani asked confused.

Hadi chuckled, "Naturally", said Hadi, "Jaise mere baba ke har rally mein meri mamma unhe support karne jati hai waise hi tum bhi toh jaogi mujhe rallies mein support karne..."

"Oh...haan", Khaani said hesitantly and then cleared her throat and feigned an upbeat tone, "Of course jaungi! Aur itna hi nahi tumhara har look bhi style karungi...jaise abhi Sarim ka karti hu."

"Ek baat batao...", Hadi asked curiously, "Tumne kabhi politician banne ka nahi socha?"

"No way!", Khaani said in a disgusted tone, "I hate politics! Iss hi politics ke wajah se meri family tooti hai. Trust me, jab Sarim ne kaha ke usse politics join karna hai maine bohot koshish usse rokne ki, magar usne meri ek nahi suni...iss liye mujhe bhi aana pada usse support karne ke liye warna maine toh soch liya tha iss ghar mein ab kabhi wapas nahi aaungi". The moment those words came out of Khaani's mouth, she mentally kicked herself.

"Kyu?", Hadi asked surprised, "Aisa kya hua tha tumhare aur tumhare gharwalo ke beech?"

Khaani quickly recovered,"Kuch nahi...main bas unse aur unke zyagtiyo se tanga chuki thi. Bachpan se lekar aaj tak meri daadi aur mere taaya-taayi ne mujhe aur Sarim ko aise treat kiya jaise ke hum laawaris ho. Apne last visit mein maine soch liya tha ke bas! Ab bohot ho gaya...ab main yeh sab aur nahi sahungi...agar dad aur apne beheno se milna hoga to unhe US bula lungi. Bas yahi baat hai."

Hadi smiled and replied, "Shukr hai Sarim ne politics join karne ka socha...warna na tum Pakistan aati aur na main tumse milta."

Khaani sighed at this, it was time to cut the call, she had enough of Mir Hadi 2.0 for one day, "Achcha main tumse baad mein baat karti hu, abhi bohot der ho chuki hai. Goodnight"

" 'Night", Hadi replied.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day 

Mir Hadi shook the old man's hand one last time before he was escorted out by his father out of their office. The old man, Aamir Hamid, was an old member of the PDP. A contemporary of Khani's grandfather who had retired when the Khans and Mirs were still on friendly terms.  

When Mir Shah returned to his seat, Hadi curiously asked him, "Waise baba, Hamid sahab ke baaton se toh yahi lag raha hai ke abhi bhi woh Khans se bohot close hai."

Mir Shah nodded and replied, "Naturally, after all unhone Salman aur Yusuf ko apne godh mein khilaya hai."

"Toh phir", Hadi asked,"Aapse unki achchi dosti kaise? Humne to Khans aur unke qaribi log o se humesha dushmani hi ki hai."

"Woh to unlogo se jinhone party se daga karke Khans ka saath diya hai ya to AeP banne ke baad  Khans support kiya hai. Hamid sahab chahe Khans ko jitna bhi pasand karte ho, magar woh aaj tak humare party ke khilaf nahi gaye aur humesha apna stand clear rakha. Iss liye aaj tak unke relations humse aur Khans se achche hai.", Mir Shah explained.

"Waise baba", Hadi started, "Its really strange jab Jalal Khan zinda the aapke aur Khans ke itne achche relations the magar unke inteqaal ke baad aapke unke beton ke saath rishte itne kharab kaise ho gaya?"

Mir Shah took a long drag of his pipe and replied pensively, "Kyuki Jalal Sahab ke baad uss khandan ke log siyasat bhool gaye. Yeh Pathan qaum jazbaati hoti hai maine suna tha tab dekh bhi liya. Sabse pehle unki bewa Shiasta begum apne hi shauhar ke janaze mein  apni chhoti bahu - matlab Salman ki pehli biwi ko sabke saamne zaleel kiya. Unhone toh yeh tak ke keh daala ki unki poti jo abhi abhi paida huyi thi woh apne dada ke maut ki zimmedar hai aur Salman ko unhe chhor dena chahiye. Aur phir hona kya tha...apni ma ke baat mein aake Salman ne chhor diya apni biwi ko. Phir party mein Khans ki manmaani! Hume majority mili thi, Jalal Sahab wazir-e-azam banne waley the...ab unke baad wazir-e-azam party Vice-President matlab  Siddiqui sahab ko banna tha lekin Shiasta Begum ne zid ki ke unka beta Yusuf banega agla Prime Minister aur zimmedaari mujhpar daali ke main party mein sabko razamand karu."

"Toh aapne kya kiya?",Hadi asked.

"Main Jalal sahab ko maanta tha, yeh sach hai", Mir Shah replied, "Lekin iska yeh matlab nahi ke main unke beton ki ghulami karunga. Tab Yousuf ne bas apna pehla election jeeta tha, uske paas koi experience nahi, koi strategy nahi aur waha Siddique sahab manjhey huye siyasat dan, woh party ke asset hai. Main unke muqabley Yousuf ko support karta? Itna bewakuf toh main nahi hu!"

"Aapne unn logo ko yeh baat samjhane ki koshish nahi ki?", Hadi wondered.

Mir Shah nodded and replied,"Ki thi, magar unn logo ne meri ek nahi suni. Upar se unn logo ne party ke naam mein dam kar rakha tha, sab pe apne walid ke khoon ka shaq kar rahe the. Na chahte huye mujhe party ke hith mein ek mushkil faisla karna pada. Agar unko party se nahi nikaalta to aaj party hi nahi rehti!" 

Hadi sighed and said,"Waise Khans ke hosle ko maan na parega, wapas shuru se apna party start karke usse national level tak lana is not an easy job."

"Haa, woh to hai", said Mir Shah carelessly,"Lekin agar tab akalmandi se kaam karte to party todne ki zarurat nahi hoti."

"Waise baba", Hadi asked curiously,"Aapne kabhi Khans se samjhauta karne ka nahi socha?"

Mir Shah scoffed and replied, "Mere sochne se kya hoga! Unn logo ne mujhe aur party ko apna dushman samaj liya hai. Aur tum toh jaante ho ke ek baar ek Pathan ne tumhe apna dushman samaj liya toh woh uss dushmani ko zindagi bhar nibhata hai. Aur sach kahu toh humari party unke bina hi achchi hai."

Hadi nodded but did not say anything. His father's disdain for the Khans was evident.  Convincing him for an alliance would not be an easy task. He needed to make a strong case for their alliance.

Precap: By the time Khaani understood what was going on, it was too late and a splash of black ink hit her face.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------