RAABTA : A collection of short stories

3

"Aaj Akhtar bhaisahab k salesahab aaye the daftar mein" Zubair sat on the bed and bent to open his shoes...

(Today Akhtar bhai's brother in law had come in the office)

"Kyun" Nafisa after keeping his coat in the wardrobe turned

(Why)

"Wo apne bete Shehryaar ke liye Hania ka haath maang rahe hain....."
(He is asking for Hania's hand for his son Shehryar)

"Kya"

"Haan....aur unka beta Hania ke hospital me hi kaam karta hai........mujhe lagta hai wo janti bhi hogi"

(Yes...and his son works in Hania's hospital only...I think she must be knowing him)

"Toh kya socha hai aapne"

(So what have you thought)

"Bhaisahab wahin par the...unhone unhe ghar par bulaya hai.......unka kehna hai...puri tarah pehle ladke ke baare me janenge"

(Bhai was there ... he had invited them home...he wants to know everyhing about the boy before taking a decision)

"Bilkul sahi kaha hai bhaisahab ne...hamari beti ki baat hai"

(He is right...it's about our daughter)

"Hmm...aise wo log sharif log hain.....khandaan acha hai.....lekin tum pehle Hania se is baare me baat karo" Zubair rested his back on the bed rest.

(They are good people...but you talk to Hania first)

The next day Nafisa talked to Hania about the matter and the twinkle in her eyes was almost successful in relating the actual story to her mother.

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"Suno kal kuch guests aa rahe hain ghar par....toh tum sab sharafat se ghar par rehna....." Iqbal warned the bunch of musketeers who nooded obediently

(Tomorrow some guests are coming..so you all should be present there)

"Aapi aap ye pehenna kal....jiju dekhte reh jayenge" Anaya was trying every dress on Hania in excitement which made Hania chuckle "Mujhe toh samajh me nahi aata tum apni shaadi par kya karogi......har ek "qubool hai" par ek lehenga change karne ka irada hai kya tumhara"

(Aapi....you wear this...Jiju will be impressed)

(I wonder what you will do on your wedding...you will be having a separate lehanga for every "I do" or what)

"Aisa kar sakte hain" Anaya questioned making Hania hit her head to stop the over dramatic crazy thoughts of his little sister...who if given a free hand would actually like to try that.

(Can we do this?)

So before Anaya could come up with a crazier thought, Hania zeroed in on a pastel pink colour chudidaar and called it a day.

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"Hume yeh rishta manzoor hai Anwar bhai........hume pura bharosa hai aapki family hamari Hania ko bahut khush rakhegi" Iqbal said making the two families congratulate each other...with hugs and sweets.

(We accept your proposal Anwar bhai....we have faith in your family that you all will keep our daughter happy)

Shehryar looked at Hania who averted her gaze in shyness

"Aapi....jiju ki taraf ek baar dekh lein...nahi to unki nazrein ...." Hania pinched Humeira's arm making her shut her mouth.

(Aapi Jiju is looking at you...give him a glance at least)