Pati patni aur woh

Raat Baaki

After a long week of setting up their new home, Sharjeena and Mustafa finally collapse onto their new but worn-out couch. The living room, though still in disarray with a makeshift sofa covered in new clothes, exuded warmth. The soft hum of the city outside fills the air, a gentle reminder that life continues beyond their little haven.

It's Friday night, a time for relaxation after a week of hard work. Sharjeena glances at the clock, a mix of exhaustion and excitement playing across her face. "Kya plan hai aaj raat?" she asks, her voice light with anticipation. Mustafa, leaning against the couch, stretches and grins, "Movie dekhte hain! Tumhe yaad hai, humne last month decide kiya tha Actor in Law sath dekhenge, aaj tumhe mein desi cinema introduce karwata hun."

After dinner, they gather their snacks—channa and chai—arranging them on the small table in front of them. Mustafa sets up the laptop, his fingers deftly navigating the familiar shortcuts. The screen flickers to life, displaying a playlist filled with the latest hits and old favorites.

As the opening credits begin to roll for Actor in Law, a sense of contentment envelops the room like a warm embrace. Sharjeena nestles closer to Mustafa on the couch, their shoulders brushing against each other. She smiles up at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and he returns the gesture, his heart swelling with affection.

Just as the first scene plays out, an unexpected blackout plunges them into darkness. The laptop screen fades, and for a moment, they sit in stunned silence, the absence of light wrapping around them like a blanket.

Mustafa fumbles with the laptop, tapping the keyboard in vain. "Yaar, laptop ki battery toh nahi hai! Ab kya karun?" he exclaims, frustration creeping into his voice.

Sharjeena leans closer, peering at the lifeless screen. "Tumhe toh pata hai ke iska battery issue hai. Plug nahi kiya toh yeh nahi chalega," she says, her tone gentle but pointed.

"I know, I know," he replies, running a hand over his face. "Mujhe laga ke kuch deir aur chalega. Hum movie toh puri dekh letein!"

Sharjeena chuckles softly, her eyes sparkling even in the dim light. "Koi nehi, hum aisa karte hain, mein tumhe apni kahaniya sunati hun, tum apni bachpan ki kahaniya mujhe sunana?"

Mustafa shrugs, trying to hide his disappointment. "Acha, chalo, Tum sunao kuch kahaniyan?"

"Pta hai kya hua tha," Sharjeena began, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Pichle hafte, humare office mein ek team meeting thi. Meri colleague Humza projector pe apna presentation de raha tha, aur achanak uski laptop mein koi aur hi file open hone lagi. Wo jitne baar use close karta, woh utne baar hi khuli ja rahi thi. Ekdam paranormal wali baat! Usne apna laptop restart kiya tab jaake uski problem solve hui... meeting toh puri waste ho gayi. Sab keh rahe the ke uski laptop mein bhoot chala gaya tha!"

She chuckled, looking at Mustafa, sensing that her story had stirred something in him.

"Yeh toh bohot interesting hai!" Mustafa said, a playful glint in his eyes. "Lekin kya tum sach mein paranormal mein believe karti ho?"

Sharjeena shook her head, her laughter ringing out. "Nahi, nahi! Kabhi kabhi dar lagta hai un stories se. Par main toh aise cheezon par bilkul bhi yakeen nahi karti."

Mustafa leaned back, a grin spreading across his face. "Acha, toh mein ek kissa sunata hun. Hamare purane mohalle mein ek purani haveli thi. Raat ko wahan se guzarne par, kabhi kabhi ghunghroo ki awaz sunayi deti thi. Log kehte the ke wahan ek ladki raha karti thi, jisse dance ka shauk tha. Woh apne baba se chupkar dance kiya karti thi, lekin jab uske baba ko pata chala, toh unhone usay mana kiya. Usne apne baba ko manane ki bohot koshish ki, lekin woh na mane. Woh larki udaas ho gayi aur aakhirkar, usne khudkushi kar li."

Sharjeena's eyes widened, caught in the web of his story. "Phir kya hua?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Log kehte hain, us ladki ki aatma ab tak us haveli mein bhatak rahi hai. Uss ghar ka koi bhi naya kirayadar ek saal se zyada nahi tik pata. Har baar, kisi na kisi parivar mein koi na koi buraayi hoti hai, jaise kisi ki tabiyat kharab ho jaye ya kuch aur bura ho jaye, jaise ki maut. Spooky hai, na?"

Mustafa watched her closely, enjoying the way her expressions shifted from curiosity to genuine fear. The shadows in the room seemed to deepen, and the moonlight added to the eerie atmosphere.

"Tumhe kya lagta hai, woh ladki ab bhi wahan hai?" Sharjeena asked, her curiosity piqued.

Mustafa leaned in closer, his voice low and teasing. "Agar woh yahan hui toh, tumhe dar toh nehi lagega? Socho, uski aatma tumhe dekh rahi ho!"

Just then, a flash of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a loud crash of thunder. A startled cat knocked over a small vase, the sound echoing in the quiet space. Sharjeena jumped, her heart racing as she instinctively leaped into Mustafa's lap, her arms wrapping around him tightly.

As Sharjeena clung to Mustafa, her heart raced, a mix of fear and exhilaration coursing through her veins. She could feel her pulse quicken, each sound from outside amplifying her anxiety. Yet, in that moment of vulnerability, she noticed the playful glint in Mustafa's eyes, and it made her both embarrassed and oddly comforted. He was clearly relishing her fear, his amusement evident as he watched her wide-eyed reaction to the storm outside. Why does he find this so funny? she thought, even as a smile tugged at her lips. There was something undeniably sweet about how he enjoyed this side of her, making her feel both cherished and playful amidst the fear.

"Dar gayi?" Mustafa chuckled, his arms encircling her waist protectively, their faces inches apart.

"Bas thoda sa!" she replied, her voice trembling between laughter and fear. The sudden closeness, mixed with the flickering candlelight, created an intimate bubble around them.

Mustafa smirked, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Agar tumhe dar lag raha hai, toh hum aur nehi discuss karenge. Raat bohot ho gyi hain, chalo sone chalte hain" he whispered into her ears.

Before she could protest, he gently scooped her up into his arms. Sharjeena's heart raced, both from the fright and the thrill of being so close to him.

"Mustafa!" she laughed, her cheeks flushing as he carried her through the dimly lit room, his warmth enveloping her.

"Don't worry, main tumhe nehi giraunga," he teased, the playful glint in his eyes making her smile. As he entered his room, he set her down softly, their faces still close, the tension in the air palpable.

The atmosphere crackled with electricity, the initial fright giving way to a thrilling anticipation. Outside, rain began to pour, the rhythmic patter on the window creating a soothing backdrop. As their eyes locked, an unspoken understanding passed between them, and Sharjeena's heart raced. She felt the warmth radiating from Mustafa, his presence enveloping her like a comforting embrace.

In a bold moment, Mustafa leaned in, brushing his lips softly against hers. The touch was tentative at first, igniting a spark that sent shivers down her spine. Her mind swirled with warmth and affection as she thought, *This is exactly where I belong.* She melted into him, her hands instinctively finding their way to the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

She could feel his warmth against her body, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat matching her own. Every lingering moment heightened the intimacy, making her pulse race faster. *How did I get so lucky?* she mused, a smile tugging at her lips as their kisses deepened.

When they finally pulled away, both breathless, Mustafa lay down on top of her, their laughter mingling with the sound of the rain. The air felt electric, charged with unspoken emotions, and Sharjeena admired the way his eyes sparkled in the dim light. The weight of him on her felt reassuring, a comforting pressure that made her feel safe and cherished.

"Dekha? Ab tumhe yahan koi bhoot nahi milega," he whispered, brushing a stray hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering just a moment longer. Sharjeena shivered at the touch, warmth spreading across her cheeks. She felt alive, every nerve ending tingling with awareness of him.

The storm outside echoed the whirlwind of feelings between them, and in that cozy intimacy, every heartbeat felt amplified. She couldn't help but think how right it felt to be there, wrapped in his arms, as if the universe had conspired to bring them to this very moment. All that mattered was the connection they shared, filled with promise and the thrill of being together.