HUMSAFAR

14~ Chaand Raat

MANNARA

Amreen and I sat in the living room engrossed in our conversation. We had developed a good bond over a short period of time.

Nazila passed by and Amreen asked her to join. I didn't want her to but well-

'I don't think tumhe ab meri zarurat hai..kyunki meri jagah toh Kisi aur ne le li hai'

She said looking at me. I felt awkward. Munawar entered the living room looking at his phone.

'Munawar!' I heard Nazila call him. He stopped and looked away from his phone. 'Lagta hai shadi ke baad tum toh hume bhul hi gaye'

'Aise kyun keh rahi ho?' He asked.

'Har saal mujhe aur Amreen ko eid ki shopping ke liye le jaate the...iss baar nahi le jaoge?' 

'I'm sorry..aaj nahi ho payega..ek important meeting hai. Tum log driver ke saath chale jao..'

How could Nazila ask something like that from him so comfortably when I as his wife hadn't asked him? Was she more important in his life? Are they that close? I thought looking at her.

'Aap fikr mat kare bhai main aur Nazila chale jayenge' Amreen said going towards him.

'Lekin har saal toh Munawar hi le jaata hai na hume ?' She said looking at me and I knew what she was trying to do.

'Toh iss baar hum dono chale jayenge.

'Bhai aur bhabhi ko aram se shopping karne dete hai.' Amreen said making Nazila annoyed.

Munawar and I looked at each other.

'Rehne do Amreen. Abhi kaha na inhone ke bohot busy hai..'

I said leaving the room while he looked at me going.

[NOON]

I picked up the phone and saw Munawar's name on the screen.

'Hello?' I said in a disinterested tone.

'Neeche aao mein gaadi mein intezaar kar raha hoon' 'Kya?' I said looking out the window.

'Haan, eid ki shopping nahi karni?'

'Par tum toh busy the..important meeting and all'

'Tumhare alawa koi aur cheez important hai mere liye?' 

My eyes widened.

'Ab jaldi aao mein bahar wait kar raha hun' 'Thik hai main tayyar hoke aati hoon'

MUNAWAR

I watched her get into the car.

'I'm sorry ke maine tumhe shopping ke liye nahi pucha I hope tumhe bura na laga ho.'

'Nahi!' She replied instantly.

'Mujhe iss baat se koi farq nahi padta. Infact..tumhe mere bajaye Nazila aur Amreen ko leke jaana chahiye tha. Waise bhi..Nazila ka zyada mann tha tumhare saath shopping pe jaane ka'

She said and looked out the window.

I felt a tinge of annoyance. What was the need to mention Nazila here?

'Main Tumhare liye apne saara kaam chod kar aaya hun aur tum itni na-shukriye ho?'

I said while driving.

'Koi bada ehsaan nahi kiya tumne. Ek baat batao yeh kya humesha kaam kaam laga ke rakha hai? Aisa kya kaam jisme family ko time dene se pehle bhi sochna pade? Aaj toh tumhare saare employees bhi shayad apni family ke saath time spend karna chahte honge lekin tum- '