̳Baji, shall I do your room?' the maid, knocking at the door, asked
Imama.
̳No! Go away,' Imama waived her off. The maid, instead of leaving, shut
the door behind her and stood before Imama.
̳Did I not tell you to...... ?' Imama started, but choked on her words. The
maid produced a cell phone from her chader. Imama was taken by
surprise.
̳Baji, my mother has given me this. She said that your neighbor, Salar
Saab, has sent this for you.' She quickly held out the phone to Imama, who
snatched it. Her heart raced.
̳Listen, you're not to tell anyone that that you've brought me a phone or
anything,' Imama cautioned her.
̳No, Baji, don't worry—I won't tell anyone. In fact, if you want to send
something for Salar Saab, you can give it to me.'
̳No, I have nothing to send. You can leave,' she said, regaining her
composure.
Imama hastily locked the room as the maid left. With great trepidation,
she took out the phone from the drawer and began dialing Jalal's number, as she wanted to talk to him in detail. Jalal's mother picked up the phone. ̳Beta, I'm afraid Jalal's not home and he'll be back at night. You could
speak to Zainab. Shall I call her?'
̳No, thank you, Auntie! I'm in a bit of a rush, actually. I'll speak to Zainab
later. I'd asked Jalal for some books and I wanted to find out about them. I'll
call again,' Imama said as she hung up.
Imama did not eat that afternoon either. She was waiting for the night
when Jalal would be back home and she could speak to him. In the
evening, the maid informed her that there was a call from Asjad.
When she went down to the lounge, only Waseem was sitting there. She
totally ignored him and moved to the phone. As she picked up the phone,
she heard Asjad's voice at the other end. It made her blood boil, even
though she knew that her father, rather than Asjad, was instrumental in
arranging this match. Asjad was enquiring after her welfare.
She was furious. ̳Asjad, why have you deceived me?'
̳What deceit, Imama?'
̳Fixing the wedding date..........why didn't you speak to me?' she asked,
fuming.
̳Didn't Uncle talk to you about it?'
̳He did and I'd told him that I did not want to marry just now.'
̳Whatever, now it is too late.........and what difference does it make if you
get married now or some years later?' Asjad responded with some
indifference.
̳Asjad! Whether it affects you or not, it certainly makes a difference to
me. I don't want to get married till I've completed my studies.........And you
know this very well too.'
̳Yes, I know, but in this whole affair I'm nowhere involved. Let me tell
you that this whole marriage is being arranged at Uncle's insistence.'
̳You have it stopped.'
̳What are you saying, Imama. How can I have it stopped?' Asjad
exclaimed.
̳Asjad, please!'
̳Imama, I can't do it. Try to understand my position. Moreover, the
wedding cards have been printed, both the families are preparing for the
wedding and.......'
Imama abruptly banged down the receiver. Waseem had not interfered
in the whole conversation. He had quietly listened but when Imama broke
off, Waseem said, ̳You are quite unnecessarily making a terrible issue of
the whole thing. Eventually, you'll have to marry Asjad, then why are you
creating problems for yourself. As it is, Baba is very upset with you.' I did not ask for your opinion so mind your own business. You've hurtme enough!' Imama stormed back to her room.
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YOU ARE READING
PEER E KAMIL
Romanceshe fell first but he fell harder she waited 9 years for him she is innocent converted to islam he is far from islam he is bad boy converted to a good boy for him salar x imama
