HUMSAFAR

18~ Aitbaar

[FARUQUI HOUSE]

"Mannara! Mannara!" Nazila's voice echoed through the hallway as she entered. Mumtaz looks at her.

"Kya hua hai Nazila? Kyun chilla rahi ho. Mannara so rahi hai..maine bataya na uski tabiyat thik nahi thi..baat kya hai?" Mumtaz said, Her tone dripping with irritation.

"Badi ami ek baar woh aa jaye..Phir main aapko apki bahu ki asliyat dikhaungi"

MANNARA

I made my way down the stairs, I felt heavy, the sickness clinging to every inch of my body. I was feeling a little better after resting but the tiredness had not gone completely. Each step felt like a burden. I could hear Nazila calling out my name repeatedly. What does she want from me now? Why can't she leave me alone.

I reached the bottom of the stairs,

"Oh toh aa gayi tum" a smug expression etched upon her face.

"Tum bataogi bhi ki hua kya hai?" Maa asked her.

"Badi ami yeh ladki.." she said pointing towards me. "Jis ko aapne itna sar pe chadha kar rakha hai. Meri jagah- jis se aap ne Munawar ki shadi karwayi...iss ladki ka shadi se pehle kisi aur ke saath rishta tha"

I could'nt believe what I was hearing.

"Yeh kya bol rahi ho tum? Bolne se pehle sochti bhi ho? Maana ke tumhe Mannara na-pasand hai..lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ke tum uss par aise ilzaam lagao" Maa said defending me.

"Mujhay pata tha badi ami, ke aap meri baat par yakeen nahi karengi..lekin yeh main khud inke ghar walo ke muh se sunkar aayi hoon. Iska kisi aur ke saath chakkar tha..aur jab iske ghar walo ko pata chala..tab unhone iski shadi humare Munawar se karadi"

I was dumbfounded. Why and how did Nazila know all this? The room fell silent and Maa looked at me, her eyes filled with questions. I knew no matter what I say now everything was not going to be the same. My chest hurt with the accusations put at me.

My eyes welled up with tears. "Yeh jhoot hai.." I managed to speak. I didn't know how else to defend myself and how I could prove this was just a misunderstanding.

"Tum toh chup hi raho! Aur inke ghar wale? Unhone bhi humse yeh baat chupayi.." 

"dekh liya badi ami? Meri jagah aapne aisi beghai-"

"Yeh kya horaha hai yahaan?" I heard a familiar voice at the door. My eyes were blurred with tears, I looked towards the door. It was Munawar.

He came towards us and looked at me.

"Maa..kya chal raha hai?"

"Main batati hun Munawar" Nazila said.

"Tumhe pata tha tumhari biwi ke affair ke baare mein?" His eyes widened.

"Shadi se pehle kisi aur ke saath-"

"Yeh sacch nahi hai" I interrupted and looked at him.

"Iski baat kya sunoge..yeh hai hi-"

"Bas!!" His strong voice resonated through the room, demanding silence. "Jab Mannara keh rahi hai..ke yeh sacch nahi hai..toh yeh sacch nahi hai!!" I felt a glimmer of hope looking at him. He trusted me.

"Mu-nawar..mein" Nazila continued.

"Aur agar yeh sacch bhi hota, tab bhi tumhe koi haq nahi ke tum kisi ke personal matters ko aise discuss karo."

Nazila fell silent and looked down.

"Apologise!"

She looked at him. "Mannara se maafi maango"