HUMSAFAR

13~ Barsaat

[EVENING]

MUNAWAR

'Mannara? Tum ready ho?' I asked entering the room buttoning my suit.

My eyes immediately drawn to her as she came out from the walk-in closet. She is wearing a stunning black dress, adorned with silver jhumkas, and has minimal makeup on.

How does she manage to look so incredibly beautiful every single time?

'Chale?'

Her voice broke my reverie. I smiled and agreed.

We entered the beautifully decorated hall, filled with people.

I gathered the courage and whispered 'can I..hold your hand?' hesitantly.

She gave me a look. I didn't give up yet and extended my hand mouthing 'please?'. After a while she gently placed her hand in mine making me smile.

We made our way through the crowd, smiling and greeting everyone as all eyes fell on us. 'Mashallah, aap dono saath mein bohot acche lagte ho' A colleague said.

[ AT HOME]

Nazila talks to Needa on phone. 'pehle tum rona band karo..

'Isliye main keh rahi hun ke kuch din yaha Mumbai aa jao..kyun waha reh ke apne aap ko aziyat dena chahti ho?' Needa said to Nazila.

'Nahi maa, main nahi aaungi..main nahi chahti ke woh dono ek dusre ke aur qareeb aaye'

'Nazila, unki shadi hogayi hai..ab yeh sab sochna sahi nahi hai..tum please yaha aa jao..apni maa ko miss nahi karti kya?'

'Maa aap Waise bhi eid ke liye aayengi na, please mujhe waha aane ke liye force mat kijiye..main yahi rahungi' she said and cut the call.

MANNARA

I sat looking at the guests indulge in the party.The constant buzz around me seemed to drain me out. I usually was an extrovert but today I felt real tired after socialising with all of Munawar's colleagues and their wives

I glanced at my phone looking at the time hoping for the night to come to a close.

Munawar,who was talking to one of his clients, approached me,

'Kya hua? Are you tired?' We can go home if you want. He said sitting next to me.

'Tumhari office party hai aur agar tum hi nahi rahoge toh sab kya sochenge?'

'Aisa kuch nahi hai, agar tumhara dil nahi lag raha toh we can leave'

I agreed.

We walked towards the car parking and I stopped.

'Kya hua?'

'Main aur nahi chal sakti, mere pair bohot dukh rahe hai'

I said removing my heels.

'Toh ab kya kare?'

'Yeh pakdo' I said pointing towards the heels.

'Mein?'

'Aur kaun? Pakdo!! '

He lifted it and I tried walking barefoot.

'Waise tum kaho toh tumhe hi uthalu?' He said giving me his usual smile. I glared at him.

'Koi zarurat nahi hai!'

'Waise tumhari badi bezzati hojayegi Na, agar kisi ne tumhe aise dekh liye toh?' I said giggling as we walked forward.