Munawar sits alone at a long table, glancing around the empty dining hall. He taps his fingers on the table while looking at his phone, waiting for the others to arrive.
Mannara slams a tray of food onto the table, startling Munawar
He looks at her standing there with a straight face her dupatta tied, her hair tousled. He kept his phone aside. And bent forward as Mannara turned his plate.
"Aaj khaana aapne banaya hai?"
He asked in the most appealing way.
"Zyada khush hone ki zarurat nahi hai. Majbooran banana pada"
"Majbooran?" He asked disappointed.
"Mera matlab..Woh kuch kheer banane ki rasam thi toh maine saath main bana diya sabke liye, warna mujhe koi shouq nahi..ke main tumhare liye khana banaun."
"Khair.." he said trying to not look disappointed.
"Main apne aap ko bohot khush kismat samajhta hun, ke mujhe apke haath ka bana khana khaane ko mila hai." He said dramatically.
"Haa toh khao."
"Pehle sab aa jaye..phir saath mein khayenge.." He replied
"Tum khana shuru karo woh aa jayenge", Mannara said serving him food, which surprised Munawar.
"Kuch milaya toh nahi isme?"
"Kya matlab?" Mannara replied looking at him.
"I mean...aaj itne pyaar se baat kar rahi ho..Waise toh tumhe main itna na-pasand hun. Yeh shadi bhi tumhari marzi ke khilaf hui..toh mujhe laga shayad-" He said jokingly but stopped, looking at her face turn red with anger.
"Ab lag raha hai..milana chahiye tha! Kyun ki tum na-" she said going towards him.
"Good morning!" Mannara and Munawar were interrupted. They turned to look at Mumtaz greeting them. Soon Amreen and Nazila joined.
........
Amreen and Mumtaz praise her cooking.
"Munawar tum batao kaise bani hai." Mumtaz asked.
(He fake coughs and clears his throat)
"Uh, it's good. Bohot Accha hai." Mannara raises an eye brow looking at his reaction while he silently giggles.
*****
Munawar, sits behind his desk in his office, engrossed in paperwork when there's a knock on the door.
"Aaj itni subah mere office mein? Kya baat hai?.." Munawar said looking at Aman.
"Main Dubai ke liye nikal raha hun. toh socha jaane se Pehle tumse mil loon"
"Kitne Dino ke liye?" Munawar asked.
"Yahi ek ya do mahine shayad."
"What about Ah-"
"Don't worry. Maine sab dekh liya hai." Aman replied.
"Aur ek baat adhuri reh gayi hai. Jab wapis aaunga toh karenge." Aman said to Munawar.
"abhi batado?"
"Nahi yaar yeh baat mein araam se karna chahta hun." Munawar's PA Sana knocked on the door interrupting them. "Sir aapki meeting ka time hogya hai."
"Yeah just a minute."
"Munawar..I'll get going now." Aman said as he hugged him.
..........
Amreen along her friends walk out of their college when Amreen's gaze shifts towards a nearby parking lot. She spots Zaid.
Amreen's friend notice her sudden distraction and follow her gaze.
"Main abhi aayi.." Amreen said running towards Zaid who was standing outside his car engrossed in his phone.
"Hi.."
Zaid looked up to see Amreen smiling at him. He looks confused.
"Hum mere bhai ki waleeme pe mile the..? Aap bhabhi ke cousin hai na?"
"Oh haa..Amreen?" He replied
"Aapko mera naam yaad hai?" She said and her face lit up.
"Aap.. yaha kya kar rahe hai?"
"Main issi college se hun. Masters ke final year exams chal rahe hai."
"Aap mere college se ho?" She said in excitement.
One of her friend comes towards them. "Yeh kon hai Amreen?? Tumne to hume bataya hi nahi?"
Amreen signs her to stop. "Yeh kya bakwas kar rahi ho", she said trying to laugh it off while Zaid gave them a strange stare.
"Hum chalte hai..okay bye." She said dragging her friend with her.
"kya yar tum bhi.." Amreen scolded her friend.
"Amreen, yeh wohi hai na tumhara wedding crush?" Amreen smiled.
"Yeh toh hamare senior hai..aur mujhe aaj pata chala."
"Ab kya fayda kuch hi din mein yeh college se chale bhi jayenge..." her friend said Amreen looked at her.
"Aur tum konsa seniors se baat karti ho. Chalo ab."
Amreen reminisces seeing him the first time at Mannara and Munawar's wedding.
******
Mannara's Pov:
I walked around the house, a wave of boredom washed over me. The empty rooms echoed with silence, Mumtaz maa wasn't home and I longed for some form of entertainment. My eyes wandered around the unfamiliar surroundings until they landed on a dusty album sitting on a shelf.
Curiosity piqued and reached out and pulled it towards me.
Opening the album, I saw pics of a 5 year old boy celebrating his birthday. I think it was Munawar. The face looked quite similar.
Maa, holding his hand, she looked so young and beautiful. Not to mention she still is. Each page was filled with faded photographs.
Munawar's school annual functions, his sport tournaments. He looked so much small then.. and well cute too.
As I flipped through the pages, I saw Amreen's baby pics too.
Among these pictures there was one which looked very recent than the others. I could tell it was from a few years back.
It was a photo of Nazila, Amreen and Munawar standing together closely and smiling but why was Nazila standing so close to him?
"Kya dekh rahi ho", I heard a voice behind me.
I quickly closed the album and turned to see Nazila. She smirked, taking the album from my hand.
"Main aur Munawar Kitne acche lag rahe hai na saath main."
I rolled my eyes
"Tumhe pata hai college ke time roz woh hi mujhe drop karta tha, hum bachpan se hi bohot qareeb the. Bohot chahta tha woh mujhe."
I smiled
"Haa bilkul, Main na wahi dekh rahi thi ki Munawar apni dono behno ke saath kitna Accha lag raha hai. How cute." Her smile faded and she left from there annoyed.
Why does she always try to act like she owns him? I don't like the way she is with him. Or the way she talks with me. Ughh
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...
