ISHQIYA

Dard-e-Ishq III

"Hamid, I want to talk to Mahnoor" Heera said in a stern voice again as Hamid didn't budge.

Hamid looked at her with disbelief written on his face, then he shook his head "No, ammi, please, I...."

"I will not say anything that will hurt her, Hamid, go" Heera patted his head.

But Hamid didn't want to go because he knew if Heera and Mahnoor are in the same room then Mahnoor is surely gonna cry over Heera's hurtful words and that is the last thing he wants in his whole life.

"Hamid, trust me" Heera pleaded with him.

Hamid was unsure about her words but still he left from there.

"Mahnoor" Heera called out for her, knocking on her door.

Soon the door opened and a sad Mahnoor was standing in front of Heera.

The atmosphere was stifling between them, nervousness was knotting Mahnoor' stomach waiting for Heera to say something.

Heera moved forward to Mahnoor and said "Listen, I know you don't like my son, but he is best for you, he loves you a lot, he will keep you happy. Have you ever thought what will happen to you if baba jaan..... Hamid will keep you safe, he will keep you happy, then I will also become happy, I may don't like you, but I don't hate you and my dislike for you is not greater than my son's love."

After Heera's speech finished, Mahnoor sniffed a little and whispered a complaint "But he doesn't love me, he just likes to order me around."

Heera smiled a little at 15 years old Mahnoor's observation and said further "No, he loves you, I can see in his eyes, same love Rehman have for me, same love baba jaan had for ammi jaan, same love for your father......... no he was a b*****d, he didn't take any more time marrying some other woman."

"You said you will not hurt me" Mahnoor said looking here and there in the room on the harsh words for her father.

"I didn't say anything that will hurt you" Heera raised her eyebrows.

Mahnoor looked up to with accusation in her eyes "You said, about my father"

Heera closed her eyes at her words then shrugged "It's a true Mahnoor, and don't feel hurt because of him, he is not the person for whom you could feel anything, your family is us, whether they dislike, you are my family, and not as Hamid's mother, but as your family I can see that he is a right suitor for you, trust me."

"But I don't like him, what about my choices" Mahnoor asked her.

Heera grinned at her, this was the first time where Mahnoor was seeing a motherly smile on her face, Safiya said "Oh, Okay, so why do you feel jealous when you see him with his classmates."

"I don't feel jealous" Mahnoor pouted, her chin trembling in anger which she can't show in front of Heera.

Heera rolled her eyes at her obvious behavior and said further "And you always go to his room late at night to turn off his lights, because his eyes feel itchy whenever he sleeps with the light on. And you even make sure that nerdy son of mine don't get distress to much with his studies"

Mahnoor blankly looked at the edge of her bed, analyzing if Heera was telling the truth or not, well, she does all those things, Mahnoor is not that bad, means "I...I..." she then stuttered with her new found feelings.

Heera gave her a satisfactory look and whispered sweetly "These little things are called care and in love we care about others, whether you say it or not I can tell that I have seen the same love in your eyes that I had seen in his."

Heera then turned to go out of her room but again she turned and said with love in her eyes "Think about it, hmm."

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After three days Hamid and Mahnoor were sitting beside each other.

Hamid had worn an orange and color kurta matching Mahnoor who was wearing a yellow color lehenga with yellow color long blouse and orange color dupatta over it.

Anybody can say that today Hamid is smitten by her beauty.

The engagement was a small family affair, Farhan, her nana jaan, Rehman, her mamu jaan and only Heera were present there. They called their father's side but no one showed their interest, not even her own father.

"Mahi, give me your hand" Hamid said softly to the beauty beside her. Rolling her eyes at him she gave him her hand.

Hamid takes Mahnoor's shivering hand in his and squeezed it to reassure her and slid a ring.

After he made him wear the ring Imran patted Mahnoor's head and said "Baccha make him wear the ring."

Mahnoor took his hand and slid the ring in his fingers, making him smile with immense happiness, he took hold of her hand again and whispered "I promise, that I will never leave your hand."

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Hamid was outside Mahnoor's room, battling with his inner self whether to go inside or not.

He is scared because Mahnoor is not like before, her innocence, her naughtiness seems to be lost somewhere.

She didn't do any prank on him for 4 days.

He was in inner turmoil when Mahnoor's door opened on its own and Hamid's foot unconsciously inside her room. He smiled at their understanding, she understood he is outside without him knocking on the door and he understood that her heart wants him inside.

Looking at her face, Hamid's smile faltered a little, she was still sulking, but composing himself he whispered to her "You are still sad, hey see what I have brought for you" he said hoping she will look at him.

Not getting any glance he again said "You wanted these anklet na."