Jaan-e-Azlan❤

32

The next morning, the living room was filled with an unusual buzz. News had spread quickly that Azlan was planning to take Mantasha along with him on his business trip. Everyone was gathered there-his mother sitting gracefully with her tea, while his cousins Ghazan and Shamir lounged on the sofas. Mantasha sat quietly, her dupatta neatly pinned, trying to keep her composure as the teasing began.

"So, bhabi sahiba," Vazan said with a grin, "it seems you're going to see new places very soon. Lucky! While we'll be stuck here with the same boring routine."

Shamir leaned forward with a smirk. "Exactly. You'll get to enjoy while Azlan bhai has to do all the boring office work. Bechare bhai."

Mantasha's cheeks warmed, and she quickly lowered her gaze to her hands. "It's not like that..." she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother-in-law chuckled gently. "That's enough, you two. Don't trouble her. She's already shy enough."

But their smiles didn't fade. "We're not troubling her," Vazan said quickly. "We're just... curious. After all, it's her first time traveling with Azlan bhai, alone. Of course, it's special."

At that moment, Azlan walked into the room. His presence immediately brought a hush. He looked around, taking in the scene-the cousins' grins, his mother's amused smile, and Mantasha's shy face half-hidden in her dupatta.

"What's going on here?" he asked calmly, though his lips twitched slightly, betraying his amusement.

"Nothing, bhai," Shamir said innocently, though his eyes sparkled. "We were just saying Mani is lucky she'll get to travel while you'll be buried in files."

Azlan raised an eyebrow but didn't respond to the teasing. Instead, his eyes found Mantasha's for a brief moment. She immediately looked down, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her book. He let a small smile escape before speaking.

"Start preparing," he said simply, his tone directed at her. "We'll be leaving in two days."

Mantasha only gave a small nod, her heart beating faster at the thought. The room felt warmer, and the cousins exchanged looks, grinning silently at each other.

Mantasha's room looked like a storm had passed through it. Clothes were spread across the bed, her suitcase lay open, half-filled, and she sat cross-legged on the carpet, holding two dupattas in her hands, looking completely lost.

She sighed deeply. "Kaunsa le jaun... aur kaunsa chhor doon..." she whispered to herself, placing one down only to pick another one up. The thought of traveling with Azlan had already made her nervous, and now the packing was making her restless.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by it slowly creaking open. Shahmeer peeked his head in with his mischievous grin. "Assalamualaikum, Mani," he said, "Kya haal hai? Kya ladayi chal rahi hai kapron se?"

Before Mantasha could respond, Ghazan followed him in, arms folded, his eyes scanning the mess of the room. "Aray wah! Yeh packing hai ya dukaan khol li hai tumne?"

Mantasha's eyes widened, and she glared at him. "Bas... main dekh rahi hoon kya le kar jaun. Itna mushkil hai, Ghazi."

Shahmeer chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed, picking up a neatly folded shirt that had fallen. "Believe me, Mani, Azlan bhai won't even notice which dress you wear. He'll be too busy with his boring office files."

Mantasha's cheeks flushed at his words, and she whispered, "Meer... tum bhi na...maar naa khana mujh se abhi" almost like a soft protest.

Ghazan shook his head dramatically, pretending to be serious. "Shahmeer, stop teasing. Can't you see Mani is under pressure? Look at her face-itni fikar jaise poore mulk ki zimmedari iske kandhon pe ho."