Abeeda was in her room, talking to someone over phone.
"Mai sab samajh rhi hu. Lekin aap meri baat bhi toh samjhe. Mai jaanti hu abbu kabhi nhi maanenge. Koshish kri thi maine indirectly lekin wo sakht against hai love marriage ke."
There was silence for some time and she listened to what the person on the other side was saying. She closed her eyes in exhaustion.
"Haris mai aapki baat samajh rhi hu lekin aap-"
She was cut off by a knock on the door.
"Aapi? Andar aa skta hu?"
It was Danish. Her cousin.
"Baad mai baat krti hu."
She quickly disconnected the call and took a deep breath before allowing him in.
She smiled at him and asked.
"Kuch kaam tha Danish?"
He grinned and rubbed his neck.
"It's ok aapi. Aapko pretend krne ki zarurat nhi hai. Mujhe Haris bhaijaan ke baare mai pata hai."
Abeeda was shocked. How did he know? No one in the house did. Her question was answered by his defensive statement.
"Maine jaan kr nhi kia tha lekin jab do din pehle maine aapka laptop lia tha assignment send krne ke liye toh usme galti se aapki chats khuli hui thi. Lekin khuda kasam maine padhi nhi."
He quickly said pinching his throat in a swear. She looked at him for a minute and then blinked. She sighed and slumped in exhaustion.
"Waise bhaijaan handsome hai aapi."
He teased and she raised her eyebrow.
"Ye baat tumhe kaise pata ki wo handsome hai?"
"Dp dekhi na maine."
He said and then bit his tongue. She smiled and shook his head. Who would believe that this manchild had just turned 23.
Danish Malik was Abeeda's mamujaan's son. Her mamujaan and her mamijaan died in a car accident long back. Danish was just 5 years old when it happened and he had been living with them since then.
"Mai jaanta hu aap pareshan hai kyunki phuphajaan love marriage ke against hai aur aapko darr hai ki wo aapka aur Haris bhaijaan ka rishta accept krenge ya nhi. But aap tension mat lo aapi. Why fear when Danish is here!"
He boasted raising his collar and she chuckled. He always found a way to make her mood better.
"Kya krenge janab?"
"Wo toh sochna padega. Lekin kuch toh krenge."
He said confidently and she smiled.
It was a few days later that her mother came to her room with a very serious expression.
"Kaha thi tu?"
Abeeda was shocked at her mother's angry voice and replied.
"Umm-mai-"
"Kya jawab degi? Kya kar rhi thi Haris ke saath? Uski gaadi mai?"
Abeeda's eyes widened. She saw them.
"Ammi mai wo-darasal-"
"Ya Allah! Kya kr rhi hai tu Abeeda? Abbu ko khabar bhi hui na toh maar daalenge. Tujhe bhi aur uss Haris ko bhi."
"Lekin ammi mai pasand krti hu unhe. Aap please abbu se baat krein na."
"Dimag kharab hai tera. Katal krdenge tere abbu unse aisa kuch kaha bhi. Mai samjha rhi hu Abeeda. Jo kuch bhi hai khatam kro isse. Abbu tak khabar nhi pahuchni chahiye."
Abeeda pleaded and begged in front of her mother but she turned deaf ears. She in her heart knew her father will never agree to her and Haris.
"Mai baat kru phuphajaan se?"
Danish asked consoling a crying Abeeda. He felt bad seeing her cry.
"Nhi! Agar ye baat saamne aati bhi hai toh aapko kuch nhi pata tha Danish. Aap apna naam beech mai nhi daalenge. Waada kijiye. Mai nhi chahti abbu meri wajah se aapse khafa ho."
He nodded half-heartedly.
"Aap please rona band krein aapi. Mujhe achha nhi lagta aapko aise dekh kr."
He said wiping her tears making her smile.
"Haris bhut gusse mai hai. Kehte hai maine dhoka dia hai unhe. Mai kya kru Danish. Samajh nhi aa rha."
"Unhe mai handle kr lunga. Aap mujhe ye batayein aap kya chahti hai? Agar aap Haris bhaijaan se nikah krna chahti hai toh mai kuch tigdam (trick) lagata hu."
"Aap please khud ka naam mat kharab krein. Abbu kabhi nhi maanenge. Unhe waise hi iss gali ki ladke pasand nhi hai. Unhe lagta hai sab awara hai. Aur Haris toh khaaskar abbu ki aankhon mai hamesha se chubhe hai. Kisi aur ka phir bhi ek baar khayal kr lete lekin Haris ka naam sunte hi goli maar denge."
She sniffed and he frowned not knowing what to do to make her happy again.
Danish was very supportive to Abeeda and Haris. He even arranged secret meetings for them so that she could clear everything to him. But Haris was just too angry. And so Danish was always around her to make sure he doesn't try anything.
But all hell broke lose when Abeeda's father heard rumours of his daughter being seen around with Haris.
"Aaj ke baad hume uss awara ladke ke aas paas bhi na dikhe aap. Wajah chahe jo marzi rahi ho lekin ab aao unse baat nhi krengi. Samjhi aap?"
He asked in a slightly higher tone. Abeeda nodded meekly. She was thankful he didn't get to know about their relation or she would be dead.
"Shabd chahiye hume!"
"J-jee abbu."
"Aur aapke nikah ke liye ladke dekhne shuru kr denge hum aaj se."
She looked at him wide eyed.
"Abbu! Hum nhi krenge unse baat lekin please aisa na karein."
"Kyu? Kya aitraaz hai? Nikah toh krna hai na ek din. Aur 25 saal ki ho rhi hai aap. Kab tak intezaar krein hum? Aapke 50 saal ka hone ka?"
He said sarcastically making her bow her head. When he left the room she turned to her ammi who gave her a sympathetic look and left after her husband.
"Shh! It's okay! Sab thik ho jaayega aapi. Aap please rona band krein."
Danish said rubbing her back trying to console her as she sobbed on his shoulder. He wished he could do something.
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