Meenu and Nofil OS

Saath aur Safar

'Aray badaal kiyun diya, chalnay dejiye na'

'Main ne socha k apni nai naweli dulhan ko ghazalain suna kar bore na hi karun toh acha hai. Koi acha sa romantic gaa'na chala deta hun'

'Ap yahi chalnay dejiye na'

He switched back to the ghazal that he had just skipped after recognizing the tune, not knowing that she too not just recognized it but also adored it.

'Neyat E Shauk Bhar Na Jaye Kaheen' she said while identifying the tune as the tune started playing again, as if it was a vivid part of her memory.

'Ghazal hai Nasir Qazmi Ki aur Dhunn Tarteeb Di Hai Ustaad Nazaar Hussain ne'

Now he was surprised.

She could tell by the mix of confusion and surprise on his face that she owed him an explanation.

'Apko pata hai, hamaray ghar main TV pehli baar Naulakhi bhabi k jahaiz k sath aya tha. Lalay Ameer Muhammad ne ghar ki saari khawateen k TV dekhnay par pabandi laga rakhi thi lakkin khud vo jab bhi ghar pe hota tha toh TV ki awaz full kaar k tikk k uss k samnay baitha rehta tha.' She told him with a chuckle.

'Ghar se nikalnay se pehlay lala hamesha TV ka antenna gira kaar jaya karta tha. Aur phir wapis atay hi kitni kitni dair usaay set karnay main laga rehta tha.'

'Jab main aur Roshan baray huvay toh hum ne lalay se chupp chupp kar TV dekhna shuru kaar dia. Jesay hi Lala ghar se bahir nikalta tha us ka thikana hum donu sambhal letay thay aur hamari sahulatkari karti thi - AMMA.'

'Jesay hi meray bhaiun main se koi ghar main qadam rakhta tha amma saihan main uncha uncha khansna shuru kaar derti thi' both of them shared a laugh.
'Ab main kabhi kabhi sochti hun k Roshan ka dehaan shuru se hi mauseeki ki taraf tha. PTV par shaam saat bajay ki kabrun se pehlay ek music program laga karta tha. Hum bohat shauk se vo program sunna kartay thay. Aur dair raat mai filmi geetun aur ghazlun ka program aya karta tha. Uss time pe Lala TV k samnay daira jamma k baitha rehta tha. Unn programs main asay hi har geet aur har ghazal ka mukamal taruf dia jata tha.'

Nofil did not need a reminder that his wife had a remarkably good memory and that was why she knew all the details about the ghazal that was still playing in the background as they drove towards Kaisar Kalan for their first visits to Meenu's family after their marriage.

'Roshan ko har geet ka ek ek bol yaad hua karta tha'.

'Raat aath bajay ka drama hum Lalay k janay k baad subah 11 bajay repeat main dekha kartay thay.' She was clearly lost in the trails of her memories.

'Lalay ne dukaan daali toh TV utha k udhar le gaya.'

A silence prevailed and both of them got lost in the ghazal.

Aaj dekha hai tujh ko der ke baad...
Aaj ka din guzar na jaye kahien...

'Tumhara taruf abbu ki record player se toh nahi hua na?!'

She had no idea what he was talking about so he proceeded to explain, 'Abbu k paas ek record player hai. Jo unhain un ki jaan se bhi zyada azeez hai. Itni ehtayaat vo apni sehat ki nahi kartay jitni ab tak us record player aur uskay records ki kartay hain. Youtube pe apnay pasandeeda naghmay aur ghazlain sun'na zarror seekh lia hai unhon ne, lakin abb bhi jab kabhi maujj main hotay hain toh record player chala kar hi mauseeki se mehzooz hotay hain.'

'Main un k sath un ka pasandeeda music suntay barra hua hun. Kab unn ki playlist meri playlist bann gai pata hi nahi chala.'

'Kabhi Kabhi main ye sochta hun k ye geet aur ghazalain mujhay khud pasand hain ya mujhay iss liye pasand hain k ye unhain pasand hain?' he had a smile on his face.

Once again both of them got lost in the ghazal. This time Meenu was humming along.

Niyat-e-shauq bhar na jaye kahin...
Tu bhi dil se utar na jaye kahin...
Aaj dekha hai tujhe der k bad...
Aaj ka din guzar na jaye kahin...

* >> https://youtube.com/shorts/rDyRoorfOeQ?si=-W5g6Rcg2Ja9jG52

That was when Nofil discovered another talent of his beautiful wife. He did not know she had such a melodious voice.

'Tum ne kabhi bataya nahi tumhari awaz itni khoobsurat hai.'

'Ap ne kabhi puch hi nah.' She turned the table around with a quick jab.

Of course. He knew he'll have to practically beg her to hear her sing again. So he did.

'Ek shartt par'

'Ap ko bhi mujhay kuch sunana paray ga.'

'Meri awaz itni achi hoti toh zaroor sunata.'

'Soch lain. Ap ko mujh se kuch sun'na hai k nahi?!'

'Acha bhae. Lakin main pehlay se bata raha hun k meri awaz kuch khas achi nahi.'

'Vo faisala ap mujh par chorh dain.'

'Acha theek hai lakin pehlay toh tumhain hi kuch sunana paray ga'

'kya sunaun'

'kuch bhi suna do'

Just when she was contemplating on which song to sing, the music in the background shifted to a familiar tune of piano.

'Yahi suna dun'

'Haann!! Jesay tumhari marzi.'

Mujhe tum nazar se gira to rahe ho...
mujhe tum kabhi bhi bhula na sako gay...
na'jaane mujhe kyun yaqeen ho chala hai...
mere pyaar ko tum mita na sako gay...

* >> https://youtu.be/Ni7fxWGRaX8?si=P6dfZByS1SsAIUsn

'Ab app ki baari hai'

'Main ne tumhain pehlay bhi bataya hai, meri awaz itni achi hargizz nahi hai.'

'Lakin gana toh apko paray ga'

'Acha theek hai'

'UmmHmm..' *clears his throat*

Kiya hai jo pyar to paray ga nibhana...
Rakh diya qadmon mein dil nazrana...
Qabool kar lo...
Hai hai qabool kar lo...
Aaye ga na laut ke samma ye suhana...
Rakh diya qadmon mein dil nazrana...
Qabool kar lo...

* >> https://youtube.com/shorts/PSQ_754lbLg?si=gp6L28k3CeNwFjcS

'Acha khasa to gaa letay hain. Khamkhawa itnay nakhray dekha rahay thay'

'Aray kahaan. Main toh bas uun hi kabhi bathroom main gaa leta hun.'

"Albatah tumhari awaz bohat khoobsurat hai. Main toh tumhari awaz ka fan ho gaya hun.'

'Aap bhi kuch burra nahi gatay.'

They had almost reached Kaisar Kalan by then.

Nofil requesting Meenu to sing few stanzas from his favorite ghazals every time they were traveling became a ritual for them. Her only condition would be that he would have to join her. Her personal favorite ghazal to sing to him was 'Hamari saanson mein aaj tak woh heena ki khushbhoo mehak rahi hai'. She loved to see his cheeks turn pink as she sang, 'Woh mere nazdeek aate aate hayaa se ek din simat gaye thay...Mere khayalon mein aaj tak woh badan ki daali lachak rahi hai'. Domestic riddles.

Old songs, ghazals and singing together in joy. That's what their drives together looked like.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*I've added YouTube links to these songs in Sajal and Hamza's voices just in case you want to hear them sing.