C A R S zoomed on the main street of the infamous X - Block in DHA. The grey coloured home stood still, a stark contrast to the hullabaloo of the road. Expensive cars moved effortlessly, occasionally honking at an unexpected motorcycle that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Inside the house an old man awaited the arrival of his only child. Worried about his whereabouts.
Around twelve thirty am, a black Civic rolled into the property. The white lights casting a spotlight on the huge wooden door. The man stepped out, locking the door and entering silently. In order to not wake up his elderly father.
"Aagai nawab sahab?"
[So you have arrived mister noble sir?]
Rehman questioned to his son who was making his way to the marble staircase, unaware of the fact that the man he was hiding from was well awake.
"Han aba. Sorry thodi si der ho gai,"
[Yes father. Sorry I got a bit late.]
Rizwan turned around. Looking like a deer caught in headlights.
"Ji ji pakray janay par sab yahi kehtay hain. Zara living room mein aao, baat karni hai". Rehman walked away, not caring for a reply.
[Yes yes everyone that's caught says this. Come into the living room, I have to talk to you.]
The grand living room featured Persian rugs and a beautiful mauve couch. As well as two chairs, made of the finest oakwood. A glass coffee table acted as the perfect touch to the area.
Rehman had saved all his salaries and sent his son Rizwan to the best schools. Overtime he under the guidance of his employer, Rehman began to invest his money. And as soon as Rizwan joined the company due to his achievements, the two had began to make a load of money. Up until a few days ago they still lived with the Kamal family. However, Rehman decided it was time for them to move out just because he wanted his son to get married and it was not a good idea to bring a daughter in law in a paraya home.
(Foreign)
"Ji aba kia baat hai?"
[Yes father what is it?]
Rizwan sat in the feet of his father. Using a fluffy floor pillow as his seat.
"Beta tumhari umar ab kaafi ho gai hai," Rehman began slowly, observing any changes in his facial expressions.
[Child you have gotten very old.]
"Ji aba. Waisay itni bhi nahi huwi!" Rizwan joked. Still not understanding his father's purpose for mentioning his age.
[Yes father. I'm not that old right now!]
"Mein sara din ghar mein akela mehsoos karta hun," the elderly man again hinted.
[I feel alone all day at home.]
"Par aba mein office sai roz chutti nahi-" Rizwan was still a bit confused.
[But father I can not take a day off from office every—]
"Dekho bwta tum Jamal sahab ko jantay ho. Unki beti Hoor waqai Hoor hai. Mein chahta hun tum kal usse milo. Uss sai achi ladki tumhari zindagi mein kabhi nahi aasakti".
[See child you know Jamal sahab. His daughter Hoor is truly a Hoor. I want you to meet her tomorrow. You won't find a girl better than her ever.]
The father in him unable to talk in circles, resulted in him speaking out his purpose clearly.
"Aba aap jantay hain mein Mustafa ki care karta hun. Mein kisi ko apni first priority nahi bana sakta," Rizwan once again spoke the lines he had repeated hundred of times by now.
[Father you know I take care of Mustafa. I can not make anyone my first priority.]
"For god's sake Rizwan. Bohat waqt guzar gaya hai! Hum uskay liye koi acha sa male nurse hire kar lein gai. Par ab tum yeh sab band karo. Achay rishtay baar baar nahi atay!"
[For god's sake Rizwan. A lot of time has passed! We will hire a good male nurse for him. But you stop all of this now. Good relationships do not come again and again!]
Rehman spoke furiously. To him Mustafa and Rizwan were equal. Apple of his eyes, which was why he could not stand the thought of one of them ruining their future for the other.
"Aba koi male nurse uss sai itni hamdardi-" Rizwan was yet again cut off by his father.
[Father no male nurse will treat him that humanely—]
"Mein janta hun meri jaan. Hum Mustafa ko chod nahin rahay. Sirf tum shaadi kar rahay ho. Sara din ussi keh saath raho gai, bas raat ko jaldi aao gai apni biwi keh saath time spend karne keh liye. Iss mein mushkil hi kiya hai?" Rehman looked at his son.
[I know my life. We can not leave Mustafa alone. Only you are getting married. Youll spend you day with him, just at night you'll return to her. What is difficult in that?]
Rizwan had lost his mother at a young and tender age. All his life, his father had acted like both the mother and father. His marriage was the only topic the two could never agree on. Rizwan's father had never asked for anything from him. Even when he began making money, his father never asked for anything from him. Finally Rizwan's heart caved in. Perhaps it was time to really think about it.
"Acha--- acha theek hai mein Hoor sai mil lun ga. Aur kuch?" Rizwan reluctantly agreed to his father's request.
"Shukriya meri jaan. Aaj tumne mera dil kush kar diya hai!" His father murmured ecstatically. Bending forward to kiss his forehead and run hands full of love and affection over his lush hair.
"Aba ab khana dein na," Rizwan requested. And as if waiting for him to say those words, his stomach began to rumble.
"Aao Rizwan, aaj Jamal sahab keh ghar sai khana laya hun. Hoor nai banaya hai". Winking at his son, Rehman led him to their modern, Italian kitchen.
Rehman placed a ceramic plate infront of him. It was filled with the brightly coloured rice, a piece of chicken drumstick sitting on top.
"Yeh lo raita. Bartan sink mein rakh dena," Rehman placed a bowl of mint yoghurt on the kitchen island and moved to his bedroom. Staying up for this long was not his cup of tea.
Rizwan enjoyed the flavourful rice, each morsel better than the previous. Truthfully he had never eaten a Biryani this good. Even the infamous Dogar biryani felt subpar in front of this plate that seemed to have flown down directly from heaven. On finishing the rice, Rizwan placed the yoghurt in the large fridge and his dirty utensils in the deep stainless steel sink.
He walked upstairs into his bedroom. Plugging his phone into the charger, Rizwan walked into his lavish bathroom to take a quick shower. The warm water loosened the knots in his back, he lathered shampoo onto his hair, ensuring all the soap had flown out before heading out to his closet.
Grabbing black pyjama trousers, Rizwan sat on his comfortable bed. That had a memory foam mattress which ensured his back would not hurt after he had worked so hard the entire day. Rizwan turned the lights off and grabbed his Mac laptop from the bedside table. Opening Netflix, he played the show Peaky Blinders quickly becoming invested in the show.
All his concentration was on the show when his phone began to ring. He grabbed it, a quick smile making its way onto his face seeing the caller identity.
"Wah bhai hummay kaisay yaad kar liya?" Rizwan smiled as he teased the person on the other side.
"Sirf aap ko hi yaad kartay hain!" The cheeky reply that came from the person caused Rizwan to grin.
"Haye jaan aisi baatun ka hi tou nateja hai keh tum sai mohabbat huwi hai!" Rizwan flattered the young woman.
"Jhute. Agar itna hi hota tou abhi tak rishta laa chukay hotay!" The girl huffed, her hazel eyes popping out and ears becoming red due to frustration.
"Kal mein eik ladki sai milnay ja raha hun. Abbu ka dil jo rakhna hai. Promise aakar humaray baray mein baat karun ga!" Rizwan promised. Sending her a flying kiss.
The two talked most of the night away, enjoying each others company. Before falling asleep at around five am. Rizwan heard the sound of Fajar as he turned his phone off to sleep. His conscious pushed him to stand in prostration. To pray for what he desired. And yet once again, the shaitan in his heart won once again. As he turned his back to the call of their Lord. Letting the excuse of tomorrow soothe his worries.
Meanwhile, Rehman prayed on the mat, crying to Allah to make his son happy and give him what he deserved. It was true when they said that a parent cared for their child's future more than the child cared for their future. To his Lord, Rehman lowered his head, praying that Mustafa would get the happiness that ye knew the wonderful man was worth of.
K A M A L M A N S I O N, DHA LHR
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Mustafa was wheeled out of his bedroom by Rizwan. Rizwan had told him about him visiting a potential wife's home. This had caused Mustafa to feel immense happiness. He knew his friend deserved it all. And he knew any woman would be lucky to have him in his life.
His mood was soon ruined however. As he encountered the man he least wished to.
"Shahrukh? Tum meray kamray ki taraf kyun ja rahay ho?" Mustafa inquired.
"Woh kaam keh baray mein-" Sharukh tried to give justification for his actions.
"Tumhein kaam ki kitni fiqr hai mujhe pata hai! Kal tumne office mein khana order karne keh ilawa kuch nahi kiya. Agar yahi rahay tareeka raha tou kaam sai farigh ho jao gai!" Mustafa sternly replied.
Signalling for Rizwan to wheel him away from Shahrukh. He was utterly disappointed and knew that his stern actions would do little to make him better. As long as his mother blindly pampered him, he would never notice his mistakes.
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