Laal Ishq

16|Tune Jo Na Kaha

" Mahnoor Ahad Baig "

The students standing in the open yard clapped as Mahnoor graciously accepted her degree with her name written out in perfect cursive.

Shahzain clicks pictures as she smiles wife for him, easily spotting him in hundreds of students and attendees.

As she walks down the short flight of 4 steps, her friends hug her tightly and a warm feeling spread all over Shahzain seeing her eyes beaming with happiness.

" Dude we are finally lawyers ! Woohoo ! "

They cheered around and hugged each other and Shahzain kept looking at her with a smile on his face. As soon as she found the chance to get out of the crowd, Mahnoor rushed to him and threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

And in that one second, time seemed to have stopped for Shahzain. His hands moved on their own before he could pay much thought and he found himself holding her by her waist.

" I did it Zain ! I did it. I'm a lawyer. "

Her voice was wavering with emotions and the tears in her eyes fell on his crisp black jacket.

" Mai ban gayi lawyer, jaise baba aur ammi chahte the. "

Shahzain cupped her face in an attempt to calm her down. Her heart was beating strangely fast.

" I'm proud of you Maha ! Aur uncle aur aunty bhi bohot khush honge. "

He had noticed how she hadn't called him by his name but Shahzain and the way this small gesture had him feeling goosebumps all over himself was dangerous for his heart.

" Jao, get the pictures clicked. Mai yahi hun, and I also have a gift for you. "

Before she could evoke him, her friends were there for her.

•|•

" Aaj Nehmat ke dil ko sukoon mila hoga. "

Maha smiled, playing with the edge of her dress. She was here with Shahzain, at her khala's for dinner.

And while she was really exhausted, having dinner with these people didn't seem like a burden. Because where Hassans had ensured that she never felt like an outsider in their home, her khala had supported her a lot in her college life here.

" Sab kuchh tumhari pasand ka hai, Shahzain tum bhi khao. Jab se aaye ho bas Maha par hi nazar hai tumhari. "

Hearing these words from her uncle had Maha widening her eyes as she choked on a piece of fish and immediately felt Shahzain rubbing her back.

" Aaram se, khane pe dhyaan diya karo maha ! "

Rifat, her khala poured a glass of water which she drank and smiled apologetically to others.

" Ab kya socha hai tumne, yahi rukne ka irada hai ya waapas India jaogi ? "

Salar, her cousin asked giving her a brownie after dinner.

" I'll go back, kuchh internships karungi then I'll see kaha posting karani hai. "

Her words caused an immediate rush of panic all over Zain's body and he asked her a bit too loudly,

" Posting ? I thought tum Hyderabad me hi continue karogi. "

She took a bite of the brownie and smiled as if she was in heaven but he was having none of it. The bare thought of her not being in his home anymore had been enough to completely kill his appetite.

" Shuru me ek do saal tak toh wahi rahungi. But I have to build my life Shahzain. "

He didn't like how she indicated that she wasn't happy with his family back in India and was already planning on how to fix that but what he disliked the most about this conversation was the fact that she called him Shahzain. He did not like that name on her tongue.

He would much rather her call him Zain the way she did back at the graduation ceremony.

" Achcha hai, par phone karke kabhi haal poochh liya karo. Bilkul hi ignore kar deti ho yaar. "

Her cousin commented making Maha laugh. It was true, she tends to read messages from the notifications and then completely forgetting about replying to those messages.

•|•

All the anger and frustration he had felt earlier slowly disipated when he saw how innocent she looked as she slept with her head against his arm in th backseat of the car.

Her lashes kissed her red stained cheeks and he was suddenly envious of them. He patted her shoulders lightly and a softly spoke,

" Mahnoor ! Utho. We've reached. "

He almost froze when he snuggled her face more into his chest and put her arms around his waist.

" Sone do Shahzain. "

She grumbled, Shahzain could barely breathe with her body pressed against his and shaking his head decided that he should be waking her up.

" Utho Mahnoor "

After four to five tries, she raised her head from his chest and blinked rapidly.

" Pohonch gaye ham ? "

She asked massaging her head and he hummed as aa response.

" Leta get in. "

She got out of the car and he paid for it. They entered the elevator and suddenly Mahnoor turned to him and asked,

" Where's my gift ? "

He rolled his eyes seeing the sudden burst of energy in her.

" Mujhe laga tha ki tum thak gayi hogi. Gift ke liye itni excitement hai tumhe ! "

" Haan ! Thakaan apni jagah aaur gifts apni jagah. "

He laughed and led her to his room saying that the gift is in his room.

" Ok I didn't know what to give you so I've got you two gifts. "

He placed the bag in front of her and she squealed when she realised it was the YSL heels latest collection.

" Thank you so much. Oh god I love this. "

He smiled seeing her go crazy over those heels as he was aware of how much she loved heels and bags.

" Aur ye tumhara dusra gift hai. "

He gave her a neatly wrapped box. She was quick to year through the paper and opened the box only to feel her tears blocking her vision.

It was a framed picture of Mahnoor with her parents and along with it was a silk dupatta they had bought for her when they were out with Zeenat a few years back.

She was quick to hug him and he rubbed her back allowing her to cry.

" Thank you. This is the best gift I've ever recieved. "

•••

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