Kahi Ankahi

Chapter 7

Qirat's p.o.v.

I took out my white skinny jeans and a rose pink kurti from my wardrobe. I quickly changed my clothes and put on my pink flats that looked perfect with my kurti. She wanted to take me shopping for the engagement dress. She thought it'd be better if I chose a dress of my choice. Hussain is out of town right now. He flew to Karachi with Shehryaar for a business deal. They'll be back in a week, insha Allah. It is decided that the engagement ceremony will be held a day after they come back. Insha Allah. I jumped out of my thoughts. I picked up my mobile phone and walked out of my room. I went downstairs.

"Ammi I'm ready. Chalein?" I asked my mother.

"Haan beta, chalo." She smiled.

We walked out of the house and ammi told the driver to take us to Phuppo's place. We'll be picking her, Iqra and Sara from her place. Tai jaan had to go somewhere so she excused herself.

---

"Yeh wala kaisa hai?" I asked, holding out what seemed to be like the millionth dress, knowing that this was the one I'd buy. It was a beautiful dress. It was royal blue in colour with silver work on it.

"Wow. Kitna khoobsurat hai!" Iqra cheered. "Qirat baji! Bohat pyaara hai!" Sara exclaimed. Ammi and Phuppo loved the dress too.

"Yay! This is the engagement dress then!" I clapped my hands.

We bought the dress and then bought some jewellery, accessories and a stunning pair of heels to go with the dress. After hours of shopping, we decided to have dinner at a nice restaurant.

We had our dinner and then decided to head home. We drove to our place since everyone had agreed on staying at our home for a while, have chai and refresh and then return to their homes.

"Samaan andar laake rakhdein." Ammi told the driver and we walked inside.

We all got settled in the living room. Ammi's cell phone rang.

"Walaikum Assalam. Jee jee, hum bas abhi ghar pohchein hain. Aap bhi aajayein." She stated, smiling.

"Chalein. Achi baat hai." She said and ended the conversation.

"Shagufta ka phone tha. Woh bhi aarahi hain." Ammi told. She and Tai jaan have been close friends since their college days.

"Main change karke aati hoon." I announced, getting up.

"Main bhi." Iqra said and followed me.

We both ascended the staircase and went to my room.

"Qirat.." Iqra spoke while I was taking out some clothes for both of us.

"Hmmm.." I replied, without looking at her.

"Tu khush hai na iss rishte se?" She asked.

"Pata nahi konswi baar kehrahi hoon, but haan. Bohat khush hoon!" I chuckled. She chuckled lightly.

"Hussain khush hai? Baat hui tumhari usse koi?" She asked.

"Rishta pakka hone ke do din baad toh woh chala gaya. Meri koi baat nahi hui. Busy hoga." I replied. She nodded. "But obviously woh khush hi hai. Phuppo ne awein usse rai mashwara kiye baghair itna bada faisla toh nahi liya hoga na?" I added. She seemed to think for a second.

"Haan so toh hai." She smiled. "Tujhe andaaza bhi nahi ke main kitni khush hoon tere liye." She hugged me. She always knew about my interest in Hussain. I smiled, hugging her back.

We broke the hug and I handed her the clothes. We heard the bell ring which means Tai jaan has come. We changed one by one and walked back into the living room. As expected, Tai jaan had come.

"Assalam Alaikum." Both of us greeted her. She smiled and returned the greeting with 'Walaikum Assalam'.

We showed her the dress and other shopping and she loved all of it. I'd also bought dresses for everyone and i showed Tai jaan's dress to her. She loved that too.

We all had chai and snacks and talked about various things. We discussed how the engagement ceremony would be. Things were going just perfect.

-a week later-

"Qirat beta, Iqra aagayi hai. Jaldi parlour ke liye niklo tum dono." Ammi told entering my room as I gathered my dress, jewellery and other stuff.

"Haan, I'm ready to go, ammi." I replied, looking at her. I could see her eyes tearing up already.

"Chachi aap abhi se emotional horahi hain? Shaadi pe kya hoga phir?" Iqra said, entering the room and chuckled. Ammi chuckled lightly.

"Chal ab, der horahi hai." She told me, smiling. I nodded.

"Acha Chachi main humari shehzaadi ko tayyaar karwake laati hoon." Iqra said, laughing and earning a light elbow in her side. That made her laugh harder.

Ammi laughed and we bid goodbye to her.

We reached the beauty parlour in about twenty minutes.

Hussain's p.o.v.

Kyun yeh sab aaj ghalat nahi lagraha hai? I ran both my hands through my hair. Kyun achanak Qirat ke saath apni poori zindagi guzaarne ka ehsaas mujhe khushi deraha hai? Kyun mera dil kuch aur keh raha hai aur mera dimagh kuch aur? I ignored the thoughts. Pata nahi yeh kya horaha hai. Magar main Maya ko pasand karta hoon. My thoughts were interrupted by Shehryaar entering my room. He walked towards me and sat beside me.

"Kuch nahi samajh aaraha, Shehry." I stated out of the blue. I could see his expressions change.

"Kya samajh nahi aaraha?" He asked, his eyebrows creased.

"Nahi pata." I replied.

"Kya nahi pata?" He asked. His eyes were filled with concern.

"Yeh sab bohat jaldi toh nahi horaha na?" I asked. I don't know why I didn't tell him the truth.

"Hussain, mere bhai. Insha Allah sab theek hoga." He patted my shoulder, trying to explain to me. I nodded but it felt like I was determined to do something. Something that would change everything. Something that my mind said was wrong and my heart said was right.

"Main abhi aata hoon." I said, getting up.

"Kahan jaa raha hai?" He asked.

"Baahir thodi der khuli hawa lene jaaraha hoon." I replied and left the room.

I walked out in our garden. My mind continously stopped me from doing this but my heart kept pushing me to do it. I listened to my heart. I searched for my car keys in my pockets and luckily they were there. I sat in my car and drove off.