Iztiraar

48.

The moment Aurad's eyes landed on Juman. He was stiffened with different emotions. Her presence was giving him chills. He sucked a deep breath and turned to leave. Finding the situation dark and horrible for his brother in law. Arain caught his arm. "Ap kaha ja rahe h? Abhi toh bhot kuch hona h" He says making Aurad's face turn white.

He knew if Juman any how comes to know that he was here for his 2nd marriage she will lovingly remove his eyeballs, cut his mental piece into fine slices. He gulped nervously when he found Juman giving him a gentle smile. Which was not so gentle. But a warning.

On the other hand, Zumra squealed seeing her after soo long, she rushed pulling her into a bear hug. Flooded with emotions, zumra hugged her like not tomorrow.

"Ap kesi hain? Kab aayi? Ghar kyu nhi aayi? Mamma bhot miss karti thi apko" zumra says in one go. Juman smiled lovingly. "Aram se saans lo zumi, relax me thik hu" Juman says breathing out. Life was not easy.

Aurad's mother eyes shined with proud. She was aware of Juman's each activity. She passed a smile to beejan. Beejan smiled back saying proudly, "humare kharkhane ko bachane me iss ladki ka bhot bada hath h, humne toh kabhi haar maan li thi" she says proudly.

"Humari Juman h hi aesi, Jaha jati h waha rehmat or khushiya lati h" says Aurad's mother with happy tears.

Beejan welcomed them inside. Everyone sat comfortably, while Aurad was still in dilemma. "Beejan ladki ko bulaye hume iss nek kaam me deri nhi karni" says his mother.

Beejan gave a nod, turning to Juman she gave a small nod. Juman stood up understanding, marching upstairs with a heavy heart. She called Alizey. Who was all ready in simple jora. Juman's heart skipped a beat. Was not this her place. "Hum thik toh lag rhe hena?" Alizey asked being nervous. "Achi lag rahi ho" Juman said with a fake smile. She can't break Alizey's heart. She was innocent and pure.

As both came downstairs, Aurad's eyes were only on her. While others thought he was looking at someone else. His heart skipped beats. He clenched his jaw and fisted his fists. Alizey's eyes widened with pure horror. It was no one but her boss. Alizey sat beside her beejan. Juman felt unwanted and uncomfortable so she went to prepare snacks for everyone with her heavy heart. In no minutes, she prepared numerous snacks. While here Aurad's mother Beejan talked randomly. Shafaq was throwing tantrums to go into the small garden. To which beejan said, "Alizey jao sabko bagicha dikhao" Alizey timidly stood up.

Aurad too stood up after receiving his mother's sharp glare. They all walked out, Arain and zumra excused with running shafaq here and there.

Alizey stood there with Aurad, fidgeting her fingers. He was in deep thoughts when he heard her small voice. "Sir ap mana kar dijye" she says in a small voice. He narrowed his eyes asking, "tumne kyu mana nhi kiya?" He asked shoving his hands in pockets. "Family pressure sir" she says looking down. "Same" he says giving a nod. "Toh ab?" "Me kisi ko chahta hu" he says in a whisper. Alizey smiles ear to ear. "Sachi? Hum abhi maana karke aate h" as she was about to go, Aurad caught her dupptta making her flinch.

"Mind nhi krna, dost smjh kr pakra apka dupatta, darsal me jise chahta hu, woh apke ghar hi mojuud h, apko ek chota natak karna hoga mere liye? Apne dost ko mana toh nhi karengi?" Aurad says with hopeful eyes. Alizey fixes her glasses and gave a small nod.
"Lekin karna kya h? Or kon h woh?" She asked confusingly. While here Juman saw all this from kitchen's small window. Her heart sanked. Shaking away her thoughts she focused on herself.

"Woh dekho bhai kese usKe pallu pakad rhe abhi se! Arain sir ap kuch toh kare!" Zumra says pouting. She liked Alizey but not as her bhabi. "Zumra me professor hu koi rishte karwane wali aunty nhi" he says rolling his eyes. She pouted making him shake his head. "Unhe ignore kro Juman hena, tum btao nikkah ke jore me koi fitting wagera toh nhi karani?" He asked diverted her mind. She blushed and nodded in no. Little shafaq pouted. "Dad" she calls. Arain turns to her. "Ji mera bacha" "mere liye ek chota dulha le ana" she says making Arain's eyes widened. Zumra gasped and giggled. "Shafaq!" Hearing his warning like voice. Shafaq giggled and hugged his soon to be wife. His eyes soften at the two. This two were his world now. He had waited alot for zumi. Ever since childhood. The more the time passes the more he yearns to make her his. But he was expert hiding his emotions or else it would create problems for his beloved Zumi.

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Sobbing for straight 1 hour. Rumana was in deep slumber, when Jibran enters her room. Placing the food packs on the side table. He softly called her, "Rumana, get up" stiring in her sleep. She hummed. "Bss thodi der or khala" she says in deep slumber.

Jibran rolled his eyes at her words. He held her arm pulling her with a jerk. Making her gasp, "its not anyone else but your husband!" He says gritting his teeths. Her sleep vanished into thin air. Being too harsh on her. He found tears forming in her eyes. It was not her mistake it was the situations getting tangled. He sighed heavily and left her arm. She looked away rubbing her arm.

"Ap muje isse acha maar hi kyu nhi lete? Roz roz ki taano se ek baar hi fariq kyu nhi ho jaye mujse?" She questioned making his eyes widened

"Why would I do that?" He says confusingly.

"You hate me right, you hate just because Aurad bhai spoiled me alot, more than taht you hate me coz you think I misunderstood you for 5 years? Right?" She says softly asking making him sigh. "And despite of all this have you ever tried to talk to me genuinely? I tried to built up a conversation soo many times but did you didn't even bothered to look at me! It hurts Rumana" he says with painful voice. "Me? It was you who left me! You shifted to warehouse!" She says glaring at him.

He chuckled at her words making her go all confuse. "Kyuki mamma ko lagta tha me tumare sath kuch galat na kardo, she said humari umar kam h, she feared our closeness" he says shaking his head.

Rumana went quite for a minute. Deep down she knew what this words mean. He sighed rubbing his face, "have your dinner" he says and left. She gazes at his disappearing figure. Wiping her tears harshly she clenched her jaw. "You can't hate me, no one can hate me! No one!" She says glaring at his back.

While here, Juman mentally flinched she heard the mubaraqas echoed in the house. As Their alliance was fixed. Zumra was soo angry and done, she stomped her feet and went out, with Arain following her. Aurad gave a small smile to Juman who standing in a corner. She narrowed her eyes at him, she stiffened when he took steps towards her. Everyone's head snapped towards them. "Ap yaha akele kyu khadi h? Meethayi nhi li apne? Lijye" he says forwarding the moti chur ka laddo. Beejan and his mother muffled their laughter. Juman's face turned red and she landed a tight slap on his face. Which made him chuckle.

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To be continued 🤍