The soft tones of the country music were the first to hit his ears as Sheeraz walked in. The tone and notes being hit so perfectly, he felt spell bound. And then it hit him, his wife had asked him to stay at home. She had invited a friend over for lunch. Mesmerized by the way the music fell at his ears, he moved towards the sound as if pulled into a whirlpool. The way he moved, his eyes constantly trying to look at the face that played the paino.
Shehnaaz was wearing a low back silver blouse, her hair pulled along one side of her neck and she smelled so different, his heart starting to beat in an altered pattern.
"Hmm..Hmmm", he made a sound with his throat, his eyes stuck at her back.
The moment he made the sound, Shehnaaz extended her arm to the side of pallu, pulling it over her back, knowing that Sheeraz was there.
"Thats a beautiful note!" He spoke, walking ahead to where Lata stood ,holding Lata's hand, and looking at the woman.
"Thank you!" Shehnaaz spoke, getting up,and smiling at him.
Sheeraz looked at her, Shehnaaz. A sharp breath rose through his system. She was dazzling and fairy like to say the least. Her hair falling to one side of her neck, long and luxurious. The small circular bindi at her forehead, he felt tempted to have a better look at her. "Oh, no. Please continue. Miss" He spoke in a tone, projecting his familiarity with Shehnaaz.
"You guys know each other?" Lata spoke walking over to Shehnaaz and holding her over her waist," and here I was planning on surprise meeting with my friend!" She pouted.
"Well, there' nothing to be sad about. Even if I know your husband, it doesn't...." Shehnaaz was speaking when Sheeraz interrupted.
"She works with for Sibals, that's how I know her. " he spoke quickly making sure no more words were spoken in the regard. "Come!" He added, walking ahead towards the dining area as Shehnaaz followed.
Her gaze stuck at how Sheeraz held Lata at her waist, and how she leaned onto him as they walked.They were "perfectly happy " couple, she thought and then shrugged off the thought. She was relieved it wasn't her who and lied to Lata, Sheeraz wanted to hide things from his wife so she let it be.
The trio sat down at the dining table, enjoying the meal, as they talked about the work and movies, sports and fashion and a little bit of law.
"Mayank was mentored by the elder Sibal...." Shehnaaz and Sheeraz went in to talk and sooner entered the details of high profile cases that Mayank had worked on. Just as the duo did so, Lata kept on looking. She held the side of her pallu and played with its threads, her eyes moving from Shehnaaz to Sheeraz. Though both of them were being polite to her and hardly indulging in a detailed technical discussion, Lata for a moment felt a little less. She saw brilliantly Shehnaaz talked and how apt she was. Shehnaaz was a groomed woman, she was educated amongst the elite and probably had a higher IQ, after all she was surviving well in a male dominated profession. In the pace of that moment, Lata let her thoughts go astray as she thought of herself lesser than what her friend was. Shehnaaz was beautifu,more than her, she was better spoken,better dressed, better suited to life and she had an identity of herself. And what was she (Lata), Sheeraz's wife, just that.
"Lata yeh haath mujhe dede..." Shehnaaz spoke dramatically looking at Lata as she pulled her hand out. "I swear I haven't eaten such good food in years, honestly I have even forgotten what good food tastes like." Her words pulled Lata out of trance, as the woman looked at Shehnaaz and smiled.
"Oh, don't be dramatic. It Itna bhi sahi nahi hai. And plus I love to cook, thats what makes it taste so well."she was speaking when Sheeraz spoke, his eyes trying to catch every glimpse of Shehnaaz they could.
