Kahi Ankahi

Chapter 9

It was all over. I sat on my bed, in my engagement dress, my brain still trying to process each word that had come out of Hussain's mouth.

"Shehryaar, tum ghar jao." I finally spoke after what seemed like ages.

"Qirat..." He began speaking but was cut short by me.

"Main thodi der akele rehna chahti hoon." I told.

"Mamu mami ka kya reaction hoga?" He asked, worried. "Ya Allah! Mujhe thoda sa bhi andaaza hota na ke yeh kameena aisa karega, main yeh sab kabhi nahi hone deta." He added, holding his head in his hands.

"Jo hona tha woh hogaya, Shehryaar." I said.

Shehryaar's p.o.v.

"Jo hona tha woh hogaya, Shehryaar." She said. Her face was blank. Emotionless.

I was about to say something when to door of her room opened.

"Yeh kya kardia Hussain ne?" Mami walked in, worried. She was in tears. "Shaadi nahi karni thi, na karta. Meri beti ke jazbaat ke khelne ka haq kisne diya usko?" She broke down. I went up to her and hugged her. "Shehryaar, tumhare mamu bohat gusse mein tumhare ghar gaye hain. Tum bhi wahan jao. Woh bohat gusse mein thay." She added, wiping her tears.

"Main jaaraha hoon, mami. Please khud ko sambhalein. Qirat ko sambhalein." I told her. She nodded, her eyes still filled with tears. "Main jaanta hoon isse kuch bhi sahi nahi hoga, magar main Hussain ki taraf se maaf maangta hoon. Main bohat sharminda hoon uski iss behaviour pe." I added, as a tear escaped my eye. She placed her hand on my cheek and gave me a faint smile. I walked out of Qirat's room and headed downstairs. I exited the place and sat in my car. I drove back home not knowing what would the situation be there.

I reached home and saw Maamu's car parked outside. Even Iqra's car was here which means theyre here too. Hussain's car was not parked inside. Is he not home yet? I ignored all the questions and walked inside. I heard Maamu shouting from the living room. I quickly walked towards the living room and saw maamu angrily shouting. I'd never seen maamu so angry before. I walked inside the living room. Ammi was sitting on the sofa, crying while Abbu and Maamu were both angry on Hussain. Pata nahi kyun kiya usne yeh. Kaash ke woh shaadi ke liye mana hi kardeta agar usse yeh rishta pasand nahi tha. Itna hungaama karne ki kya zaroorat thi. I stood in the living room not knowing what to say. Maamu was not wrong. He had every right to be angry right now.

"Usne pehle kyun nahi bola ke woh iss rishte se nakhush hai?" His tone calmed down. "Aaj jab meri bacchi apni mangni ke liye tayyaar baithi th-" He broke down. It killed me to see him cry like this. I walked up to him and hugged him. He hugged me back. Abbu looked at me, his eyes filled with tears. He certainly didn't expect Hussain to do something like this. Magar gaya kahan woh?

"Main Hussain ki taraf se aapse maafi maangta hoon. Usne jo bhi kiya bohat bura kiya. Pata nahi usne kiya kyun aisa.." I spoke.

"Main kabhi maaf nahi karoon ga uss ko." Dad spoke out of anger. "Aaj uski wajah se saare mehmaanon ke saamne kitni beizzati hui meri. Uski wajah se Zahir Bhai se nazrein nahi mila paa raha hoon main. Main Qirat ke saamne bohat sharminda hoon." He angrily said but soon his eyes began tearing up. "Keh ke gaya hai na ke meri zaroorat nahi hain na usse?" He added. What? Hussain yahan aaya tha? "Jaidaad se be dakhal kar raha hoon main usse." He continued. "Nafrat ho rahi hai mujhe usey apna beta kehte hue. Koi rishta nahi hai mera usse. Mar gaya Hus-" I cut his sentence short. Ammi's eyes widened.