HUMSAFAR

1~ Faisla

At Faruqui Mansion:

As I enter the dining, I see my whole family waiting for me for breakfast. I join them buttoning my suit and greet everyone.

'Assalam alaikum'

'Walaikum assalam, ao beta nashta kar lo.' Ammi said.

'Maine tumhare liye nashta laga diya hai..' Nazila said pushing my chair for me

Ugh how I wish she didn't try so hard.

'Tumhe banane ki kya zarurat thi..iske liye cook hai na?' I said in the most disinterested tone.

I greet chachu and we discuss about business

[Chachu handles the Mumbai branch and hence most of the times live there with Needa chachi. For few months they do come back here and spend time in Pune. Nazila lives with us since childhood]

'uh...Munawar..woh office jane se pehle mujhse milkar jaana mujhe tumse kuch zaruri baat karni hai'

Ammi said as we had breakfast. I agreed

.........

'Kya baat karni thi ammi?' Munawar asked her

'Aur kya baat hogi Munawar? Pichle 2 saal se ek baat puch rahi hun. Ki tumhari shadi.-'

Before she could finish Munawar interrupts her

'Please ammi baar baar ek hi baat mat chede.' Mumtaz gets irked.

'Munawar. Bohot hogaya. Kuch saal pehle jab pucha tha toh tumne kaha ke abhi mujhe apne career pe focus karna hai office sambhalna hai.. toh maine tumhe force nahi kiya. But now you are 29. And I have decided that before you turn 30 main tumhari shadi karwaungi.'

'I'm getting late for office.'  Munawar says trying to leave.

'Thik hai phir. Nazila se hi tumhari shadi tay kardeti hun..Waise bhi woh Needa yahi chahti hai.'

Hearing this Munawar took a pause turned back walking towards her.

'Maine aapko kitni baar kaha hai..ki mein usse shadi nahi karunga.. maine kabhi usko iss nazar se nahi dekha. Balki woh bilkul mere liye Amreen jaisi hai . on that thought..Amreen kaha hai? Breakfast ke liye bhi nahi aayi?'

'Usse jaldi college jaana tha toh woh pehle hi chali gayi..lekin tum baat ko mat badlo'

Mumtaz said in a stern tone making Munawar frown.

'Dekho tum Nazila se shadi nahi karna chahte. Aur main bhi nahi chahti ke tum usse shadi karo..isliye toh main tumhare liye ladki dhund rahi hun.'

'Ma—' Munawar tries to stop her there but she continues.

'Main kuch nahi sunungi! Mein tumhe kuch ladkiyon ki pics bhej rahi hu, Agar unme sey koi pasand aye toh mujhe shaam tak batadena. Okay?'

'Okay fine!..mein dekh lunga' He said to end the topic.

*********

At Aziz Mansion:

Mannara's peaceful slumber was interrupted by the sound of her mother's stern voice resonating through the four walls of her room. She groggily opened her eyes, only to be met with her mother's disapproving gaze.

"Good morning amma" Mannara as she woke up stretching and yawning. Zeenat stretched the curtain exposing sunlight.

"Good morning? Time dekha hai? 12 baj gaye hai"