Another Anarkali Story

Chapter 1

It was another of those hot days in Agra. The temperature was unbearable but with her face covered with a dupatta, Meenakshi rode her scooter to her dance institute with a serious look on her face. She was drowned in her numerous thoughts, but those thoughts weren't of some boyfriend issue or friend issue. She was engrossed in her worry about her mother forcing her to marry someone quickly.

She sounded her Scooter's horn couple of times, as the traffic was slower that day. It was a fuming temperature of 43 degree Celsius which was enough to irritate a person. Sweat trickled down from her head to her neck as she waited for the traffic to move on but it felt as if she was stuck in some slow motion black and white movie.

"Arey Bhai sahib (hey brother) move your auto that side" she screamed at an auto driver. The auto driver turned his face towards her with an irritated look. "Can't you hear me, move your auto. Your bloody auto is only blocking the way" she screamed at him again. "I know what to do. Don't think you are better than me just because you are riding a bike" he answered back in an angry tone. Meenakshi glared at the man with angry eyes. "Oye, my friend is telling the correct thing, move your auto, " a biker said. She turned her face towards the man who addressed her a friend. "Miraz!" she exclaimed in joy. He smirked at her. Hearing Miraz others also started shouting at the auto driver and finally the auto driver managed to move his auto.As he drove away, the traffic cleared out. The two friends started riding beside each other.

 "I thought you left already, " Meenakshi said as she smiled. "I did, but I had to return back home for my phone" he answered with his eyes on the front. "You are too careless, Mir" she stated and giggled. "Yeah, whatever. Today woke up with my ammi's thrashing. Of course, my mood and mind were nowhere near normal" he said in a cool tone as if it was a normal thing. 

"Don't blame your ammi. She is a good lady, you must have only done something" she said. Both of them stopped their bikes near a small two storey building. "My ammi Jaan loves you, not me, Meena darling," he said and grinned at her."That's not true, she loves you and your brother as well" she argued as she placed her helmet on the scooter. He laughed at her. She watched his handsome face.

 "Why don't you shave all this beard and this freaking mustache," she asked in an irritated voice as she stepped closer to him. "If these two things are gone, no girl will like me", he said and opened the entrance door of the building. "You are already handsome Miraz. You don't need to do styling to get girls" she said in a calm tone as she walked with him to their dance room. "Yeah, I know that. My Abu advised me to grow them that's why I am" he said and walked in the room.

All the girls in the room stared at the couple who had just walked in, well more specifically they were staring at the handsome Miraz. "Bloody stupid girls" he whispered in a low tone to himself. Meenakshi heard him and giggled.

All the girls watched him with dreamy eyes and the other guys just gave him irritated looks. They both placed their bags in the locker. "Oye Miraz!" Sarfaraz called. He walked to him leaving Meenakshi alone. "Asalam Alaikum my brother" Miraz greeted him. "Wailuku asalam" Sarfaraz greeted back. "Did you propose Meenakshi yet?" Sarfaraz whispered in his ear. "No" he answered. All the boys gathered at one place.

"Why? You said you will propose her on her 21st birthday!" he said. "I did, but I don't think she sees me in that sense. We both have always remained best friends. I have this fear that if I propose her then I will loose her friendship" he answered in a sad tone and then sighed. Two boys who were hearing their conversation smiled at the answer. "What if some another guy proposes her and she accepts?" he asked him with a mischievous grin. "I will break his bones" he answered back with gritted teeth. "That's too rough my brother," Sarfaraz said. "Why?" he asked not understanding him.