Kahi Ankahi

Chapter 6

It almost felt like my mind couldn't process what Ammi was saying. Phuppo asked my hand in marriage for Hussain?

"Ammi.." was all that escaped my mouth.

"Jee meri jaan. Tumhe andaaza bhi nahi main kitni khush hui thi jab tumhare Phuppo aur Phuppa ne yeh baat ki." She spoke. I could see the happiness in her eyes.

A smile spread across my face. Hussain and me? After all those years of secretly praying for him to be mine, he's finally going to be mine.

"Qirat, beta tum iss faisle se khush toh ho na?" Ammi asked with a concerned look on her face.

"Ji ammi. Main bohat khush hoon." I gave her a genuinely assuring smile. Of course, I was happy. I've always loved Hussain. Ammi smiled back at me and placed her hand on my cheek.

"Acha meri jaan. It's late now." She said referring to the time. It was 11 pm.

"But I'm not sleepy." I whined. "Can you, abbu and I have a movie night?" I asked. "Please please please." I requested, like a little child.

"Acha, theek hai." Ammi chuckled. "Main jaake tumhare abbu ko tumhare plan ke baare mein batati hoon." She said, getting up.

"Aur main jaake popcorn aur chips ka bandobast karti hoon!" I stated.

Soon the three of us got seated in our home movie theatre. I sat in between Ammi and Abbu. It had been a while since we watched a movie together. We watched a nice comedy film.

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I woke up at 11 am. The movie ended almost 2 in the morning. I got up and went straight to the bathroom. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I changed my clothes. I still cannot believe that Phuppo asked my hand in marriage for Hussain. It still feels like a dream. Does this mean he's interested in me too? Obviously. Phuppo wouldn't just talk to ammi and abbu without asking Hussain his opinion. I dragged myself out of my thoughts and stepped out of the bathroom. I walked downstairs to the dining room where ammi and abbu were seated.

"Assalam Alaikum." I greeted them, kissing their cheeks.

"Walaikum Assalam." They both replied, smiling.

"Saleema, Qirat ke liye naashta le aaiye." Mom called out to Saleema, who works for us.

"Jee bibi ji. Abhi laai." She replied.

She brought my breakfast in a few minutes and I had my super late breakfast.

The landline started ringing and I went to answer it. It was Phuppo.

"Assalam Alaikum, Phuppo." I greeted her, walking towards the dining room.

"Walaikum Assalam, meri beti." She replied. "Kaisi ho?" She asked

"Main bilkul theek, Alhumdulillah. Aap?" I replied.

"Main bhi theek hoon, Alhumdulillah." She answered. "Beta bhabhi se baat ho sakti hai?" She asked.

"Jee haan." I said, handing over the cordless phone to ammi.

"Jee Assalam Alaikum." Ammi spoke.

I left the dining room with the breakfast dishes and walked to the kitchen. I washed the dishes and dried them with a kitchen towel. I placed the plates, spoons and mugs at their respective places and walked out of the kitchen. I saw ammi and abbu talking about something. I walked towards them.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Haan beta... its just.." Ammi paused.

"Beta, tumhari Phuppo mangni ki rasam karna chah rahi hain." Abbu completed the sentence for ammi. "Do hafte baad." He added.