Abeeda's father was sitting in the lawyer's office with a grim expression on his face. He had received his call in the morning saying he had something important to discuss regarding the property on Danish's name.
"Kya Danish iss baare mai jaanta hai?"
He asked and the lawyer shook his head.
"Jab unke walid ne ye wasiyat banayi thi tab Danish mehez ek saal ke the. Unhe iss baare m kuch nhi pata."
He nodded and said.
"Bhut shukriya hai aapka wakil sahab. Mai aapko kuch dino mai contact krta hu. Iss masla ka hal dhund kr. Bas Danish ko ye baat na pata chale."
The lawyer nodded and Abeeda's father left. He reached his home and entered his room where his wife was waiting.
"Kya bola wakil sahab ne? Kya dispute hai Danish ki property ka?"
He sighed and sat on the bed. He patted the space beside him and his wife sat beside him looking at him worried.
"Iqbal ne ek will banayi thi jab Danish kareeban ek saal ka tha. Wo property Danish ke naam pr tab tak hai jab tak uska nikah nhi ho jaata."
He said and his wife frowned.
"Aur nikah ke baad?"
"Uske nikah ke baad wo property Danish ke father-in-law ke naam chali jaayegi."
He revealed making her shocked. Why would her brother do such a thing?
"Lekin bhaijaan ne aisa clause daala hi kyu?"
"Yahi toh mere bhi samajh nhi aa rha. Uske itni saalo ki mehnat ka paisa tha iss zameen mai. Phir kyu usse aise hi kisi ke bhi paas jaane de dia? Lekin ab masla ye hai ki iss property ko Danish ke paas retain kaise rakhe."
He held his head not able to understand and his wife asked.
"Aur jo uss zameen pr hamari factory chal rhi hai. Uska kya?"
"Wo factory bhi toh Danish ke naam se hai. Sab kuch uske father-in-law ke naam chala jaayega."
"Ab kya krein?"
She asked worried and he looked at her.
"Ek raasta dikhai deta hai mujhe. Lekin kya aap mera saath dengi iss mai?"
He asked holding her hands in his and she smiled.
"Kabhi aapka saath chhoda hai? Kahiye kya raasta hai?"
"Danish ka nikah....Abeeda se kara de toh sab sort ho jaayega."
She looked at him shocked and pulled her hands back standing in shock.
"Ye kya keh rhe hai aap? Ye kaise mumkin hai? Abeeda umar mai badi hai Danish se."
"Mehez do saal begum. Isse koi farak nhi padta. Aur hamare paas koi dusra raasta bhi nhi hai."
She shook her head and said.
"Abeeda kabhi nhi maanegi. Bhai maanti hai wo Danish ko."
"Uske maanne se kya hota hai? Bhai hai toh nhi na. Hai toh aakhir cousin hi. Aur usse aap baat krna. Usse kehna ki ye hamare parivaar ki reet hai. Ki ghar ki beti ka nikah cousin se hi hota hai."
She got quite but then again turned to him and said.
"Abeeda ko ek baar ke liye mai mana lungi. Lekin Danish. Usse kya kahenge? Wo toh aapi kehta hai Abeeda ko."
"Danish ko mai handle kr lunga. Ab bas Abeeda se baat krein. Isse pehle ki Danish kisi aur ko pasand krke le aaye hume uska nikah Abeeda se krwana hoga."
She looked at him still in doubt and he sighed.
"Kya baat hai begum?"
"Kya wo iss nikah ko nibha bhi paayenge? Kaise adjust honge dono?"
She voiced out her worry and he cupped her face.
"Nikah ki takat nhi jaanti kya aap? Nikah mai itni takat hai ki patni pati na chahte huye bhi ek dusre ki taraf khhichte jaate hai. Ab hume hi dekh le. Nikah se shakht khilafat mai the hum. Lekin aapse mohabbat hote der nhi lagi hume."
He said with a mischevious smile pulling her closer. She looked at him wide eyes and blushed. She hit his chest lightly.
"Beti ki shaadi ki baat kr rhe hai lekin behayai nhi jaa rhi. Chhodiye mujhe. Dhatt!"
She reprimanded and left making him chuckle.
The same night she talked to Abeeda and told her the same thing her husband said.
"Ye kaunsi reet hai ammi? Maine toh kabhi nhi suni. Aur mai Danish se nikah hargiz nhi krungi. Ammi aapi kehte hai wo mujhe mai kaise unse-"
"Beta nikah ke baad sab sahi ho jaata hai. Aapi se jaan banne mai samay nhi lagta."
"Ammi!"
Abeeda was appalled. What happened to her shy mother? She chuckled and said.
"Sahi keh rhi hu. Danish achha ladka hai. Hamari hi parvarish hai. Aur phir tumhare kisi bhi aur cousin se lakh guna suljha hua hai."
Abeeda on the other hand was strictly against it. She gave her decision and her mother left sighing mentally praying her husband was successful in convincing Danish with whatever he had planned.
The next morning Danish came on the breakfast table with a grim expression. He looked at his phuphajaan straight in the eyes and said.
"Mai iss nikah ke liye taiyar hu phuphajaan."
Abeeda looked at him wide eyed. Had he lost his mind? She got up in anger and rushed behind him.
"Danish? Ye kya pagalpan hai? Nikah ke liye taiyar hai matlab? Do din pehle tak toh aap mujhe Haris se milwa rhe the, kl tak mai aapi thi aapki aur aaj nikah ke liye taiyar hai? Kya hua achanak? Imaan dol gaya aapka bhi?"
She chided and he turned to look at her with red, anger filled eyes.
"Mere mann mai aapke liye aaj bhi wahi izzat hai jo kal thi. Lekin agar ye nikah mere abbu ki aakhri icchha thi toh mai ye bhi krunga."
Abeeda was shocked. Last wish?
"Mumujaan ki aakhri icchha?"
"Jee! Kal phuphajaan aaye the mere paas. Ki abbu chahte the mai aur uski gudiya iss rishte mai rahe. Kaise mana kr du unki iss icchha ko mai? Aap hi batayein."
He had tears in his eyes and she too felt like crying. What was fate bringing upon them?
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