HUMSAFAR

28~ Heartfelt

Mannara wouldn't accept, but she had been waiting for Munawar's call since last night. But since he didn't reach out, she took out her phone and dialed his number.

Munawar didn't pick up the call, making her feel annoyed and upset. She called a few times before a sense of worry started to grow in her. He should've reached home by now? Is he still in the office?

She called Amreen to confirm, but to her disappointment, Amreen wasn't picking either. Zaid approached Mannara as she looked at her phone. "Kya kar rahi ho?"

Mannara looked up to see Zaid.

Before she could respond her phone rang and she quickly looked at it. "Amreen" she said to herself. Zaid's eyes slightly shifted.

"Hello? Amreen"

"Haan Mannara, sorry maine call nahi dekha" 

"Munawar office se aa gaye?"

" Haan woh..aaj bhai ki tabiyat thodi thik nahi thi, toh woh apne kamre mein araam kar rahe hai"

"Kya hua hai unhe?" Mannara asked concerned. "thoda bukhar hai bas, tum tension mat lo" 

"Dawai li unhone?"

"Haan ammi ne de di hogi"

As Mannara kept the call, she couldn't help but feel restless. She hadn't realised Munawar was unwell and wanted to be there with him.

"Kya hua? Sab theek hai?" Zaid asked looking at her worry.

"Munawar ki tabiyat kharab hai Zaid, mujhe waha jaana hai. Tum please mujhe ghar drop kar doge?"

*************

Zaid sat in the car, parked outside the Faruqui house, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within him.

Mannara got out of the car and thanked Zaid for dropping her. "Take care" he replied as she left.

He let out a sigh, lost in his thoughts. After a moment of hesitation, he finally picked his phone to dial Amreen's number.

Amreen looked at Zaid's name flash on her phone screen. She felt a pang of surprise and curiosity. She wasn't expecting him to reach out to her, especially at this hour, but a part of her couldn't help but feel happy at the sight of his call.

"Hello?" she said as she picked the call, her voice filled with a hint of uncertainty.

"Uh..Hi, I hope maine tumhe disturb nahi kiya" he said, his voice laced with a touch of nervousness.

Amreen's heart skipped a beat as she heard his voice. She was torn between wanting to distance herself from him and the undeniable connection that they had.

"Nahi, batao" she replied, trying to sound composed.

Zaid hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say, "agar tum free ho, toh hum kahi bahar mil sakte hai? Uhh..Chai peene?"

"main chai nahi peeti" she replied trying to sound dry.

"Coffee- bhi chalegi" he replied instantly as if trying to convince her to say yes. Amreen's heart fluttered at his words, her eyes widened and she smiled. "Thik hai" 

"Tum neeche aajao. Main..tumhare ghar ke bahar hi hu"

"Kya?" She asked her voice filled with a mix of excitement and belief as she got up and sat on her bed. "Mannara ko chodne aaya tha toh-"

"Oh okay, main..abhi aati hu" she replied ending the call. Her heart pounded with anticipation as she opened her closet trying to find a dress.

As Zaid kept the call, he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel letting out a breath. A slight smile playing on his lips.