Kahi Ankahi

Chapter 15

Shehryaar's p.o.v.

It's Qirat's birthday tomorrow and we've decided to surprise her. We're decorating our place and Iqra would bring her here at almost midnight. It's about 9 pm right now. The house was being decorated with balloons and flowers. She loves flowers. I completed the decorating the place and walked to the kitchen to get something to eat. It was almost 11 pm now. Iqra has been in the kitchen since evening, baking Qirat's birthday cake. Both of these girls are excellent bakers. Everything today is going to be homemade because Qirat likes it this way. For dinner, ammi made the birthday girl's favourite; chicken biryani, qorma, kabab and we'd get rotis from the nearby tandoor a few minutes before dinner.

"This looks amazing, Iqra!" I complimented, looking at the cake.

"I know right?" She said, proudly. I chuckled.

I quickly made a kabab sandwich for myself. "You want one?" I asked Iqra.

"Neki aur pooch pooch." She replied making me laugh again.

I prepared a sandwich for her too. She was almost done with the cake decoration. She finished it and placed the cake in the fridge. She then sat on the table with me to have her sandwich.

"Time kya hua hai?" She asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Gyaara baj rahe hain." I replied.

"I'll leave for her place at 11:30 and act all panicked and tell her ke Shehryaar ki marne wali haalat horahi hai." She simply said, taking another bite of her sandwich.

"Tauba hai. Allah na kare." I responded, widening my eyes. She just laughed.

"Whaaat? Usko ghar laane ka ek yeh hi tareeka hai." She said, still laughing.

"Fine." I gave up, realising that she had a point.

We had a conversation while we ate our sandwich.

"Chalo, I'll go and get her now." Iqra said, getting up. "You take care of all the arrangements here at home. I'll text you when we reach here." She added, walking towards the kitchen door.

"Yes ma'am." I replied and heard her laugh from outside the kitchen.

Qirat's p.o.v.

Its my birthday in a few minutes. Never has my birthday passed without Hussain at my place exactly at midnight. Every year, without fail, he'd bring me flowers, chocolates and gifts. I would be lying if I said I didnt miss those days; if i said I didnt miss him. I did... a lot. I brushed away the thoughts. I was currently home alone. Ammi and abbu had gone to a dinner party and were expected return till midnight. I walked to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water. After drinking, while I was keeping the bottle back in the fridge. I heard the doorbell ring. Must be ammi and abbu. I thought. I walked towards the main door and opened it. I was wrong. It was Iqra. She had a worried look on her face.

"Yaar Shehryaar ki haalat bohat buri hai." She panicked.

"Kya bakwas kar rahi hai?" I asked.

"Woh pata nahi kisse jhagar ke aaraha hai. He's badly injured. Ammi abbu toh out of town hain aur Phuppo Phuppa pata nahi kahan hain. Phone bhi nahi utha rahe." She almost cried, saying everything in one breath. "Tu mere saath abhi Phuppo ke ghar chal wahan se Shehry ko hospital leke chaleinge. Mujhe kuch nahi samajh aaraha." She added, running her hands through her hair.

I didn't know what to do. I stepped out of my home, locking the door behind me. I didnt even bother getting my mobile phone from my room. Iqra and I sat in Iqra's car and drove off. What's happening? Shehryaar is badly injured? He never fights. I felt my eyes well up. I blinked the tears. In a few minutes we reached Phuppo's place. I rushed out of the car and Iqra followed me. The main door was open ajar. I opened it completely. It was dark inside. Suddenly the place lit up with lights. I looked over at Iqra only to find her smiling. Suddenly I heard clapping and people singing 'happy birthday'. I looked up to my front again and everyone standing there. Ammi, abbu, Phuppo, Phuppa, Taya jaan, Tai jaan, Ayesha Baji and Ahmed Bhai, Sara and Shehryaar; everyone! I looked at Iqra again, this time with an angry look.

"Happy birthday, meri jaan." She said, hugging me. "I love you so so so so so much." She added. I could help but smile. "I love you more, actor." I replied. She laughed.

"Noooo. Me more!" She made an angry face. I chuckled, and she joined in.

We walked towards everyone else and they all wished me. Ammi and abbu told me that there was no 'dinner party' and they were here the whole time. Taya jaan and Tai jaan weren't out of town. Shehryaar was not injured and I found out that Iqra is an excellent actor. We all had and great laugh discussing that. I'm so blessed.

"Chalo chalo, cake time. It's 3 minutes to midnight." Iqra said, clapping her hands. She rushed to the kitchen and came back with a beautiful cake. She must've made it herself. She's an impeccable baker. "Maine apni jaan ke liye khud banaya hai." She said kissing on my cheek. I shook my head.

"Had hai, Iqra." I said, chuckling.

"Whaaaat? I love you!" She said making a kissy face.

"I love you too." I replied.

"Acha chal cake cut kar." She said.

Everyone counted down the last 10 seconds to midnight. I blew up the candles and cut the cake. I gave everyone a bite and in return everyone fed me the cake.

A few moments later, the main door opened. I looked up to see who it was. I didn't know how to react. It was Hussain. I picked up a tissue paper and cleaned my right hand which had some cake cream on it. I could see see my vision blurring as tears began to fill my eyes. Without saying a word, I walked towards the guestroom and entered, shutting the door behind me. I locked the door and sat on the bed. There was again a time in my life when I didn't know what I was feeling. The last was when Hussain left. Sitting on the bed, I let my tears flow. The reason behind my tears, I just didn't know.