HUMDUM- Laiba & Fahad

12| Ice cream date

LAIBA
I stormed into the kitchen where I saw maa instructing the cook about today's iftari..
I took a deep breath trying to regain composure.

'Main help kardu?'  I asked to which she smiled.
'Uski koi zarurat nahi hai beta..tum jaake baitho khaana bas taiyaar ho raha hai'

'Please?' I insisted. She agreed.
'Main Jiya aur Sana ko bulake aati hun..pata nahi kamre mein kya kar rahi hai dono' she said and made her way out of the kitchen.

'Fahad!! Aaj jaldi aa gaye?' I heard Maa and looked at him. we exchanged a tense eye contact.
As she left from there, Fahad came inside and I ignorantly stirred the pot of boiling curry.

He asked the cook to leave.
'Laiba..please talk to me' 
I slammed the pot on the counter and tried to leave but he grabbed my wrist.

'Mera haath chodo Fahad!' I said sternly.
But he wrapped both of his hands around mine.

'Laiba, I'm so sorry.Aaj subah mujhe tumse aise baat nahi karna chahiye tha. Main kabhi tumhe hurt karna nahi chahta. Office ke kaam se..I was really tensed.I'm sorry yaar..mujhse aise naraz mat rehna please'

I kept looking into his eyes and my anger slowly faded away.

'Ahem' I heard Jiya cough deliberately entering the kitchen.
Hayee, kya kar rahe ho tum dono. Maa said closing her eyes. I freed my hand from his.

'Ammi kuch aisa nahi kiya humne!' Fahad said clearly sounding annoyed.
He stormed out of the kitchen but Jiya continued to tease me. I was so embarrassed.

FAHAD
The savoury aroma of the iftari wafted through the air as I entered the dining. All I wanted to do now was make things right with Laiba. I didn't want her to be upset with me. Everything was going to be alright but that Jiya interrupted us in the kitchen.

I called Laiba pushing the chair next to me for her to sit. But she went and sat next to Jiya.
Seeing this Sana came and sat next to me.
What is happening? Why is she still upset?

[TERRACE]
LAIBA
'Kya ab bhi baat nahi karogi?' I turned to look at Fahad standing. I stayed silent.

'Laiba..Main aisa kya karu ke tum mujhe maaf kardo?'

'Ice cream' I replied.
'Huh?' He asked looking confused.

'Mujhe ice cream khaani hai..bahir le Chalo'

'Iss waqt?' He replied and I tried to leave annoyed.

'Okay..Fine..Main gaadi main hoon tum..aa jao' he said leaving from there and I smiled slightly.
..................................

FAHAD
I brought the ice cream cups to the car as she eagerly settled into the passenger seat her eyes gleaming with excitement.

I sat in my seat and took a spoon of my ice cream. She leaned to look at my cup.

'Vanilla? Seriously?' She said with a judgey look.
'Kyun? Isme kya bura hai?'

Mujhe na samajh jaana chahiye tha ke tumhari choices bhi tumhari tarah hi honge. Boring.

'Tumhe pata hai..aise hi sab log vanilla ko ek plain aur boring flavour keh ke nazar andaaz kar dete hai. Lekin trust me..jo taste Vanilla mein hai na..Woh kisi aur flavour mein nahi!'

'Woh isliye kyunki shayad tumne koi aur flavour try hi nahi kiya'

I chuckled.
'Yeh try karo, double Belgian chocolate chip'
She said extending her hand.

I looked at her. My eyes widened and my cheeks flushed.

'Have it'
I agreed.
'Kaisi hai?' She asked lifting her eye brows.
'Uh..'
I stammered still not over the fact that she shared her spoon with me.

'Tum kuch bhi kaho yaar. Chocolate is going to be superior' she said.
I smiled at her.

After a pause she turned to me.
'Fahaad?'
' Hmm?'
You know my name sounds so good when she says it.

'I'm sorry'
'Meri wajah se tumhare important papers kharab hogaye hai'

'Woh papers zaruri the, lekin tumse zyada nahi'
Ab Chale? I asked
She nods.

[KHAN HOUSE]
We exchanged a smile as we came inside the house.

'Kaha gaye the tum dono?' We heard Sana

'Tum kyun puch rahi ho?' I replied
'Fahad..itni raat ko tum dono gayab the..toh hume fikr hogi na..'

Kyun? Laiba asked.
Agar miyan biwi kahi bahir jaye to kisi ko kya problem hogi? Aur tum kya hamari chaukidar ho?

Miya biwi?? Did she just say Miya biwi? I watched Sana's face falls clearly annoyed.

Chalo Fahad! She said pulling my hand.
Was she jealous? I thought and smirked.

[ROOM]
Yeh kya tha? I asked

'Woh Sana kyun humesha aise jatati hai jaise Woh tumhe own karti ho'

Aisa kuch nahi hai tum- I tried convincing her.

'Tum dono ke beech kuch tha kya?'
'Kya bol rahi ho tum?' I replied

'You know tumhari mangni bhi hui thi..aur tum dono cousins ho..ek hi ghar mein rehte ho..shayad Woh tumhe pasand karti hai'

'Mujhe koi farq nahi padta ke kon mujhe pasand karta hai..Kyunki main toh sirf tumhe pasand karta hoon' her eyes widened hearing this.

'Hogaya?' She asked and went towards the bed.

********************************************

TIME SKIP [ 7 days later]

FAHAD
the air was filled with a sense of serenity and tranquility.The soft glow of the sun caressed the room. I noticed Laiba, in the corner, offering her prayer.

Her radiant face was gently framed by the hijab she wore, adding an ethereal touch to her already captivating beauty. The sight of her devotion took my breath away, and in that moment, I fell in love with her all over again.
The way she stood there, her hands raised in supplication, her eyes closed in deep reflection, was a sight to behold.

She finished her prayer, raising her hand
She turned towards me. Her eyes opened meeting mine in a moment that transcended time itself.

Joh bhi faisla hai tera woh mujhko bata de
Joh naseeb mein hai likha us shakhs se mila de, mila de, mila de, mila de
Main dua ke baad jab bhi aankhon ko kholu
Mere humnava ka mujhe chehra dikha de, chehra dikha de

I watched her intently as she folded her mat and removed the dupatta.

Tum yaha? Iss waqt?

Haan woh..kuch puchna tha.

'Haan pucho..' she replied

'Meray office colleagues ne iftari party organise kiya hai.and you know..everyone is going to come with their wives..Aur Kyunki tum meri..wife ho..toh tumhe bhi invite kiya hai..
I mean Woh log bohot insist kar rahe hai kyunki hamari shadi recently hui aur woh tumse milna chahte hai..so if you have no problem..kya aaj shaam ko tum meray saath aaogi?'
I asked hesitantly and waited for her response.

'Okay.' She replied
I smiled.