RAABTA : A collection of short stories

ULFAT

"Aa jaein"

Hearing a faint sound, Maham entered the room with a bated breath....her whole form could make anybody guess her state of trepidation.
She was scared..nervous all at the same time.

Reaching the huge mahogany table, she made a sound which as expected did not emanate any response.
She encouraged herself to increase the frequency of her pitch, which only earned her a "Hmmm" this time from the other side

"Mujhe baahar jaana hai"

"Kahaan"

Her one sentence was returned with a monosyllable

"Wo...meri friend ke ghar assignment complete karne"

"Group assignment hai?"

"Ji..ji nahin"

"Phir"

Maham stood with her head hung low when a paper was passed to her...."Padho ise"

A frown sat on her face when her eyes met some financial terms..
"Ji..ji...mujhe der ho rahi hai"

"What will I do with this girl" The man rubbed his face in irritation which made Maham a little restless...."M..mai jaaoon"

"Shaam tak waapas aa jaana"

"Ji..."

And with that Maham was out of the room which according to her was JINKHAANA.

"Kya musibat hai..." She muttered pulling her dupatta down from her head and started running down the stairs in jet speed.

"Aaraam se....kahaan ki sawaari chhoot rahi hai"

"Ammi aap rehne hi dein...aapke kehne par mujhe baar baar Jinkhaana jaana padta hai"

"Mahi Izzat se"

"Haan aap bolein to sar par bitha lun aapke Shehzaade ko" Maham huffed crossing her arms
"Kitni khush thi mai jab Dadajaan ne bola tha unhone mere liye ladka dhoond liya hai....maine kitne sapne sajaaye the par unhone ne apne damaag me in sahabzaade ko baitha rakha tha ... mujhe zara bhi ilm hota na mai ghar se bhaag jaati" Mahaam took a pause and then again started

"Ye aadmi toh mere zehan me hi nahin tha...kitni mushkil se 7 saalon se chhutkara mila hua tha........Mujhe laga tha abroad wala banda hai kisi gori mem se shaadi karega....lekin nayi ise yahin aa kar apne haath peele karne the"

"Maham ... bhulo mat shauhar hai wo tumhara"

"Aap bhulne dein toh mai bhuloon na Ammi....subah se le kar shaam tak kuch bhi kaam ke liye unki permission lene bol deti hain...ab toh mai soch rahi hun saans bhi unse puch kar liya karun..........aur wo banda aadha ghanta toh hmmm hummm me nikaal deta hai...."

Zeenat was just shaking her head over her daughter's ramblings

"Aur gham bas isi baat ka hai ki meri zabaan jo sabke saamne kaichi ki tarah chalti hai unke saamne jang laga ke baith jaati hai.....itna dar lagta hai mujhe..pata nahin kis atom bomb ko mere gale me baandh diya"

"Mujhe toh suhaag raat par heart attack aa jaana hai..."

"Kya bakwaas kar rahi ho" Zeenat hit her daughter's head

"Bakwaas nahin hai...mai abhi se bata rahin hun mai rukhsati nahi karungi"

"Abhi kaun bol raha hai...kuch saal ke baad kar denge" Zeenat smiled at her daughter.

"Kuch saal baad bhi mera dil yahin rahega...." Maham exasperated "Dadajaan apni aakhiri saans nahi le rahe hote na toh maine gunpoint par bhi Qubool Hai nahi bolna tha"