Munawar ran his fingers through his hair in deep thought. It was 1am.
Exhausted, he laid back on the reclining pool chair, thinking if he should get back to his room. He closed his eyes for a moment of respite.
Nazila walked out of her room to the balcony in distress and looked at Munawar sleeping in the garden. Her eyes widened as she tried to make sense of it. Why is Munawar sleeping outside that too on his wedding night? Nazila thought to herself, a grin spreading on her face.
NEXT MORNING:
Munawar's eyes fluttered open, gently adjusting to the morning light. He slowly rose to a sitting position, the realization hit him. He had fallen asleep in the garden, not in his room.
Fearing anyone would see this he immediately goes to his room to freshen up.
He entered his room and glanced at Mannara getting ready for the day. She turned to look at him, his hair messy he looked restless. Munawar walked towards the washroom to freshen up.
In the Dining Hall:
"Assalam alaikum" Mannara said hesitantly coming towards the dining.
"Walaikum Assalam." Mumtaz said and made her sit with her trying to make her comfortable. Seeing this Nazila turned towards Mannara and with a smile asking, "toh kaisi guzri raat Mannara?"
"Tumhe badi dilchasvi hai Nazila?" Amreen taunted as she entered.
Mumtaz looked at Nazila with a mix of frustration and annoyance, "yeh kaisi baat kar rahi ho?"
"Main isliye puch rahi hu badi ami kyunki kal raat Munawar apne kamre mein nahi bahir garden mein soya tha!"
Mumtaz and Amreen are shocked by Nazila's revelation.
"Kya bol rahi ho tum?" Mumtaz asked in disbelief.
"Maine apni aankhon se dekha badi ami, Aap khud soche, shadi ki pehli raat dulha garden mein soya hai iska kya matlab hai?"
Mannara looked down and stayed silent hearing all this.
"Tum hoti kaun ho aisi baat karne wali?" Munawar said entering the dining.
"Munawar..jo yeh keh rahi hai kya woh sach hai?"Mumtaz asked.
Munawar remained silent. He then said looking towards Mannara. "Nahi"
"Munawar..tum..jhoot kyun bol rahe ho maine dekha tha tumhe—" Nazila tried to explain.
"Aap jante hai na Nazila kaisi hai..yeh sab baatein chode." he said trying to end the topic. Nazila fell silent feeling humiliated.
"Khair yeh sab chodo Mannara, Munawar.. tum dono nashta karlo." Mumtaz said as Munawar got seated next to Mannara.
In MunAra's Room:
"Yeh kya harkat thi?" Mannara said storming into their room.
"Kaisi harkat?" Munawar asked in a calm tone wearing his watch.
"Yeh raat ko bahar jake sona..kya sabit karna chahte the ? Ki mein kitni buri hun? Kal raat jo maine kaha..uska badla lena chahte the?" She said angrily.
"Tumhara dimag thik hai?" Munawar fumed. "Agar mujhe aisa hi karna tha toh main sabke same tumhe defend kyu karta?" He sighed in disappointment and Mannara watched him leave
"Munawar!? Aaj bhi office ja rahe ho?" Mumtaz asked stopping Munawar.
"Maa important meeting hai.."
"Jo bhi ho aaj kyu? Aree bhai abhi shadi hui hai tumhari..thode din kaam se break le lo apni biwi ke saath waqt guzaaro..or aaj toh..tumhara waleema hai."
"Maa jaldi ajaunga don't worry. okay bye.." he said leaving without giving her a chance to say anything else.
She sighed and turned back to see Mannara standing behind her.
Mannara's POV:
"Aree..ao baitho mein tumse kuch baat karna chahti hu.." Munawar's mom said in the most appealing way.
"Beta tum comfortable ho na? Agar kisi bhi cheez ki zarurat ho toh mujhe ya Munawar ko batana.."
"Ji aunty.." I said hesitantly.
"Aunty? Tum ab bahu ho meri..aur Zeenat ki beti, matlab Meri bhi beti jaisi. Isliye aaj se tum mujhe maa bulaogi." She said with a smile. I agreed.
She was such a sweet soul. Her smile and talks made me feel so much better.
"Wese Mannara, Munawar bohot Accha hai..usse sirf pyar ki zarurat hai.." Maa said. "He has been through a lot in the past few months, so please uski koi baat ka bura mat maan na.. Tumhe pata hai..tum pehli ladki ho jiske liye usne foran haa kahan hai..warna Munawar toh shadi ke naam se hi bhagta tha. Woh bohot chahta hai tumhe. Tumhe Bohot khush rakhega." She says keeping her hand on my shoulder.
We talked for a while. I've always heard stories about terrible mother-in-law experiences, but mine... well, mine was quite the opposite.
EVENING:
Amreen stands in front of a full length mirror looking at her bhabhi getting ready.
The beautician set Mannara's hair. "Bhabhi idhar dekhein, mujhe aapki photo dalni hai story par"
"Honestly bhai bohot lucky hai, ke unke sade hue shakal ke Liye aap jaisi khoobsurat biwi mili hai."
Mannara gave a faint smile listening to her.
"Haa yeh baat toh sahi hai, pata nahi Kaise bardasht karte hai aap usse." Amreen chuckled. "apko bhi adat ho hi jayegi..akhir puri zindagi ap hi ne toh bardasht karna hai." Mannara remained silent.
Munawar entered the room talking to someone on the phone.
"Bhai aap ab arahe hai?" Amreen said to him before leaving the room along with the makeup artist. Munawar glanced over at Mannara. Mannara caught Munawar's reflection in the mirror
Their eyes lock.
Munawar's eyes still stuck on Mannara looking at her though the mirror while a knock on the door interrupts him.
His suit was here. He picked it and went inside the walk-in closet.
YOU ARE READING
HUMSAFAR
RomanceMannara Aziz, a 23 year old girl who has just completed her graduation. She is free spirited, optimistic, loud and talkative. Munawar Faruqui, a 28 years old business man. The CEO of Faruqui chain of companies. He is a reserved person. Mannara's dad...
