Qurbat

-09-

Isha entered the terrece while Osman followed behind her.

She stopped taking a deep breath. "Air." She let out closing her eyes smiling.

Her trance was cut off by Osman turning her around by grabbing her arm.

"What is happening?" Osman spoke trying really hard to keep his cool.

"Our wedding.....apparently." Isha spoke shrugging as if helping her class fellow.

'Is she mentally okay?'

"And..where did 'that' start?" Osman said running a hand over his stubble. She tested the peakest of the peak of his patience.

"Honestly, I have no idea myself." Isha replied shrugging again. Her hands rested on her hip as she looked at the blueish pinkish sky as asr time took over.

'How can she be so chill about it?!'

"Dekho. I am just going be straightforward." Osmna spoke putting off his thoughts. "Say no to this marriage." He had his arms crossed.

"Nope. I can't" Isha replied doing the same gesture as him.

His eyes widened not juat at the denial but a denial with attitude. "May I ask why?" He gritted his teeth with his sarcastic tone pouring.

"Well you may not!" Isha replied with a fake british accent. She couldn't help but laugh at her failed attempt of dad joke.

'So she does needs therapy.'

Noticing his glares Isha's laughs died down as she cleared her throat before speaking. "I can't say no to this marriage."

"What do you mean 'can't say no', are you happy with this alliance?!" Osman wasn't alright, mentally. Noone would be if they get to hear about their relationship they never knew they were in was turning into a marriage.

"I mean, Mujhe koi problem nhi hai." Isha said shrugging for the 3rd time. He noted.

" 'problem nhi hai?!' Are you joking??" His anxiety was was at its peak too now.

"Apka aur mera koi mazak hai?" Isha looked at him deadpan.

"No- what did you say?" The audacity she held shocked him every single time.

"Nothing." Isha spoke walking towards the Balustrade resting her back on it.

Osman had no choice but to follow her. He was failing to make her reject this alliance.

"Dekho, zindagi azaab kardonga. I'll make your life living hell." He said pointing his finger at her. This was the last thing he could use to scare her off.

Isha looked at him for a second before looking at his pointed finger. She looked up at his face again before squinting her eyes looking at him closely.

Osman's eyebrows furrowed as he backed his head. His eyes almost dropped out when Isha grabbed his collar pulling him close.

He gulped as she looked at him intensely. He couldn't help but look away. He had never been this close to a girl in his life.

Isha suddenly left his collar giving a sarcastic laugh. "You can't." She spoke.

Though he still hadn't processed but chose to reply. "Why? What makes you think you're so special?".

"Nothing's special. I just know you won't." Isha gave him a small smile. A true, trusted smile. Her eyes on his hand. More specifically that shining object on his finger.

Isha closed her eyes looking away before walking past him towards the enterence of the terrace.

Her feet came to halt at his voice.

"Suno."
She turned around at his words. His figure coming close to hers before he stopped just before her figure.

His hand went him his pocket as if searching for something. He slowly took it out handing it to her.

"Yeh kya hai?" She asked, her face held confusion.

"Take it. Use it for your therapy. You need it" He spoke walking past her while she stood still with her palm in front her with his credit card placed on it.
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Osman entered the drawing room as the conversation inside got louder and clearer.

"Mein to chahrhi hun k Sarah ki shaadi se pehle inka nikkah hojaye. Is mahine ke akhir tk."Abida spoke with a smile.

"Haan mujhe bhi yhi sahi lgta hai." Bi-jaan agreed.

Osman entered before sitting down on the same sofa he sat as before.

His eyes roamed around the room looking here and there trying to take the conversation between the elders.

He took the cup of coffee Hania handed him mumbling a small 'thanks'.

"What is going on?" Osman questioned aipping his coffee.

"Nothing. Just discussing your and Isha's nikkah." Sikandar sahab replied with a smile.

The sentence seemed to be simple but made Osman choke his coffee. He started coughing loudly as he covered his mouth.

Clearing his throat he spoke with a shock "What?!".

"Haan beta. What's wrong with that?" Dadu asked confused.

By this time Isha had entered again. She sat beside her dadu , on the arm rest of the sofa.

"What's wrong?" Isha questioned her dadu.

"Nothing's wrong. It's good actually." Dadu smiled at her. "Hum tumhari aur Osman ke nikkah ki date fix krrhe hain, Is mahine k akhir ki."

"What?!" Isha was in same shock as Osman.

"P-par kyun?" She lowered her voice whispering to her Dadu.

"Kyunke aise kaamon mein deri achi baat nhi hoti." Bi-jaan replied who seemed to hear.

"Aur hamariyan mangniyan achi nhi maani jaati. Jitni jaldi nikkah ho behtr hai." Abida spoke this time , explaining.

"Par itna zyaada jaldi?" Hajra spoke looking around with a convincing face. She wasn't happy with this, and she wasn't trying to hide it at all.

"Aare? Poora mahina hai. Isme deri kya?" Bi-jaan replied to Hajra making her quite down.

"Tou bs teh hai k is mahine ki akhri tareekh ko yeh nikkah hoga." Malik sahab spoke confirming. Everyone smiled congratulating eachother.

Now there was no going back. Especially for Isha. And Osman on the other hand was doomed. He wasn't planning on marriage, especially with such a troublesome , childish girl.

Now he only had a a month to end this wedding chapter from his sweet workloaded life.

'Zindagi mein waise hi itni tension hai jo yeh aik aur agyi.'

He shook his head at his thoughts.

The evening came to an end with lots of smiles , planning and excitement as the Sikandar family went home. While the dusk approached as the night took over and the stars shined with the illuminating moon.
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