Ittefaq Say (MeeraSim FF)

18 - Afareen

Noori had dictated for a tea party to be arranged in her play room. With expert hands, she lay down a pink checkered cloth for a dastarkhwan, and arranged her soft toys along one side- an array of bunnies, teddies and unicorns. In fluffy pinks, suede whites and woolly browns. It felt as though their beady eyes were looking in at Meerab as the newcomer.

'Aur chainak kahan hai?' Noori asked into the thin air whilst she rummaging around in her toy box- and as if on cue, her hand reached for a pink platic teapot, decorated in scribbly stars and hearts. (Where is the tea pot?)

Then she took her seat, legs crossing with her little yellow frock splaying over her lap. Her Moomoo, Murtasim was sitting on one side, and Meerab to the other, when she looked up ask, 'Chai kaun daley ga?' Her tone was serious, as though choosing the pourer was a matter of upmost importance. (Who'll pour the tea?)

'Meerab daaley gi,' Murtasim announced whilst glancing over to her, remembering how expertly she had poured his tea in the train- as though it was second nature. (Meerab will.)

Her eyebrows raised in amusement. 'Mehmaano say kaam karatey hou?,' she quipped, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. (You are making your guests so chores?)

'Mehmaan tou nahi lagti mujhey,' he remarked, her glance flickering back over to Noori as she hurried in arranging teacups into their saucers and neatly arranging them infront of each of her toys. (You don't look like a guest to me.)

'Acha?' She scoffed. 'Kya lagti hou?' She asked rhetorically. (Oh, so what do I look like?)

He was very tempted to say Noori ki mami, but didn't want to scare the girl away. 'Tea party expert lag rahi hou,' he said, a cheeky grin forming on his face at the set up. (A tea party expert.)

'Woh kahan say?,' Meerab asked in a lilt of confusion she adjusted her pink dress neatly, splaying around her like a puddle. (How so?)

'Noori, tumhein patta hai kay maine aur Meero ney train mai bhe tea party karri thi?' Murtasim teased.(Noori, did you know meero and I had a tea party in train?)

Truthfully, that one had a completely different vibe. They sat opposite to each other again, but this time, there was a blooming friendship between them. Rather than strangers, they're now house-mates.

Noori shot up at hearing his words, eyes wide in horror. There was a clear look of betrayal at her face. 'Mere beghair?' She asked, her lower lip wobbling at hearing of fun that she wasn't invited to. (Without me?)

Their hearts plummeted at her response- it was supposed to be a tease for Meerab, not a body slam for Noori.

'Agli baar ley jaunga!' He assured quickly, trying to lessen the blow. His hand came the tug her into his lap, but Noori shrugged him away. Heart and friendship shattered in a single sentence, the atmosphere dulling around them. (I'll take you next time.)

'Rone waali kaunsi baat hai?,' he asked with empty arms, biting his tongue for the joke what backfired. (Why are you crying?)

Noori's ego was bitterly fractured, as though she had been replaced in their favourite game- tears welling in her eyes at the nightmare of an idea.

'Woh chai gandi thi,' Murtasim added to make it seem as though she didn't miss out on anything. Unrelaxed, his hands reached out in yearning to ease the heart break. But then he added, 'daalne waali nahi,' as though to not offend Meerab too. (That tea was bad, not the tea pourer though.)

Meerab clicked her tongue at his cheeky words, and his inability to console his beloved niece. In a jiffy, she held out her hands, and Noori tumbled into her lap- as though Meerab didn't accompany Murtasim at the tea party that caused the heart break.