HUMSAFAR

23~ Mumbai

[TIME SKIP] 

MUNAWAR

I stepped inside the room, the exhausting day at the office had drained me. My body felt heavy with weariness. The pounding in my head from the migraine seemed unbearable, and I rubbed my temples in a futile attempt to ease the pain.

Thoughts of the pending projects still lingered in my mind, but I felt a sense of relief knowing I was back home.

Mannara sat on the bed with a book in her hands. The soft glow of the reading lamp illuminated her face, her eyes lifted from the page and she noticed me.

I let out a deep, tired sigh and flopped onto the couch, feeling the weight of the day finally catching up to me.

"Kya hua?" She asked concerned.

"bas thoda thak gaya hoon"

"Main khana room mein hi le aaun?

"Nahi, it's fine mein fresh hoke aata hoon" I said walking towards the closet.

As we sat down for the dinner, Ammi asked me, "Suleman group of companies ke saath jo meeting thi..woh kaisi gayi?"

"It went good." I replied. "Parso Mumbai jaana hai ussi silsile mein."

"Uhh..Munawar..main bhi chalu tumhare saath?" I heard Nazila say and everyone looked towards her.

"Bohot din hogaye..mama se nahi mili..woh bhi chahti thi ki mein Mumbai aaun kuch din unke saath rahoon"

"Thik hai" I replied and noticed Mannara giving me this look, like she had something to say.

"Mannara..tum bhi jao na Munawar ke saath" I heard Ammi. Why didn't I think of this? Probably because I knew she'd refuse.

"Haan Mannara ko bhi jaana chahiye" Amreen added. I noticed Nazila's face fall. Mannara remained silent.

After dinner, I walked into the room and sat down on the couch. I closed my eyes and held my head, hoping to find some relief from the migraine.

I felt a gentle hand on my head. I turned to see Mannara. She softly asked me to turn around and as I did, I noticed a steaming cup of coffee placed on the table. She began to massage my head with her delicate touch, and all the exhaustion seemed to fade away. She told me to take the medicine to alleviate the pain.

As Mannara continued to massage my head, she broke the silence, "tum Nazila ko saath le jaane ke liye kyun maan gaye?"

"mana bhi toh nahi karsakta tha" I replied.

"Itne drivers toh hai ghar mein...usse tumhare saath hi kyun jaana hai" 

"Ab ek hi jagah jaa rahe hai toh saath jaane mein kya problem hai.." 

"tum aaogi waise?"

"Nahi.."

I sighed.

[NEXT DAY]

Munawar carefully folded his clothes and put it in the suitcase when Mannara tossed a few of her clothes on the bed. He looked at her surprised, his brows furrowed as he asked, "tum aa rahi ho?"

"Haan"

A playful smile played on Munawar's lips as she grabbed the suitcase.

"Tum iss liye aa rahi ho na kyunki Nazila mere saath aa rahi hai?

She glared at him.

"Tumhe koi problem hai mere aane se? Kahin mein tum dono ka trip disturb toh nahi kar rahi?"