R A C I N G to the entrance of his home, Rizwan opened the door with a huge thud. He was eager to meet his father before he went into his bedroom. Rizwan ignored the racing of his heart as he finally crashed into his father.
"Rizwan beta itni teez kidhr ja rahay ho?" Rehman inquired, confused to see his son run a marathon.
"Abu a--a--aap sai baat karni thi," he placed his hands on his knees, taking deep breaths to stable himself.
"Han tou kaho na. Aao meray kamray mein, baat kartay hain," Rehman gestured to Rizwan to follow him inside.
Rizwan was sweating profusely. Trying to calm himself down before he spoke. He knew what he was about to say would potentially result in a huge fight amongst them. He had after all never brushed off his father's wishes. Always obeying him with a head bowed down. However, he could not let someone else chose for him. He was in love and that was that.
"Abu mujhe shaadi keh baray mein baat karni hai," Rizwan blurted.
"Ji sahabzade kia baat hai? Itnay daray huway kyun ho?" Rehman teased.
"Dekhein abu serious baat hai," he muttered.
"Acha neta. Ghabrao nahin batao kia baat hai?" He smiled.
Taking in deep breaths of air, Rizwan sat on his father's bed. Facing him. Holding his hands.
"Abu mein Hoor sai shaadi nahin kar sakta," he blurted out.
Rizwan felt like killing himself. He had planned everything to the t in his mind. How he would start off with a convincing debate. And in the moment he had done the complete opposite.
"KIA MATLAB?" Rehman asked in a loud voice.
"Haan abu. Mein saari zindagi kisi aisay insaan keh saath nahi guzar sakta jis ki meray saath koi understanding hi na ho," Rizwan tried to convince.
"Kia matlab understanding? Jis ki bhi arranged marriage hoti hai woh insaan shaadi keh baad he understanding paida karta hai". Rehman tried to explain.
Rizwan sighed. He did not know what to do. His father was someone he held close to his heart. But this was his life decision. He did not wish to base it on statistics and traditions.
"Abu aap apni jaga theek hain. Par mujhe uss mein kuch aisa nahi nazar aata jo mein apni future wife mein chahta hun," he stated, calmly.
"Aaj sai pehlay tou aap shaadi keh baray mein sochtay bhi na thay. Aaj achanak sai aap keh zehan mein "ideal wife" ka concept bhi aagay?" Rehman sahab said sarcastically.
"Please abu try to understand. Eventhough I had no plans of marrying just yet meray dil nai khwab tou dekhay hain na!" Rizwan was at the end of his wits.
His father was never a stubborn man. He could not comprehend what had gotten into him all of a sudden. To be so insincere about his feelings.
"Abu please. Aaj tak aapki maani hai. Aaj aap meri maan lein. Mujhe koi aur ladki pasand hai. Hoor nahin," Rizwan spoke on the verge of tears.
"Tou tumhein yeh sab pehlay kehna chahiye tha. Ab shaadi ki date rakhi ja chuki hai. Mein ab mana nahi kar sakta. Woh ladki jo bhi hai, uska khayal apnay dil sai nikal lo!" Rehman said sternly.
Seeing that there was no room for leniency, and his father was serious. Rizwan nodded his head in extreme sadness and left the room. He took soft steps to reach the top of the stairs. His heart ached at the thought of having a fight with his father. Was it not his right to decide for himself? It was not that late. It was not like be was leaving Hoor at the aisle. Instead he was talking two months before. Perhaps it was his crime to have never said "no" to his father. And now all of a sudden his father could just not accept it.
He fished out his phone. Texting the woman that he loved, Rizwan planned to meet him tomorrow. He would talk it out with her. And they would plan their next step from there.
The next morning, Rizwan woke up feeling dreadful. Taking a shower he hurriedly dressed into a black shalwar kameez. His mind racing whilst he did his morning routine.
The grey skies and roaring clouds, that shook the trees violently, was the exact picture of the turmoil inside of his heart. Never had he seen something portray his life so perfect. He wad seeing his future clouded with a darkness. One that was very heavy to lift.
Downstairs, he sat on the dining table, waiting for his breakfast to be served. Just then, Rehman walked in. Seeing his father, tears filled his eyes.
"Assalamualikum," Rizwan greeted.
"Waalikumassalam," Rehman sat down.
The two dug into their breakfast at the same time. Eating silently. Which was a stark contrast to their routines. The thick silence that surrounded them seemed to grow every few seconds. Things had never been so silent and bad between them. It wad unfortunate that their egos had come to play. Neither of them was ready to accept their mistakes.
Finishing off the last of his coffee, Rizwan stood up and said his goodbye.
"Raat ko dair sai aaon ga. Mera intezar mat karna," Rizwan smiled at his father, heading out of the house. Eager to meet his woman.
K A M A L H O U S E, D H A, LHR
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Mustafa wheeled himself to the large dinning table. It was after a very long time that Rizwan was taking a day off of work. And he could already feel the withdrawal symptoms of not having him near.
"Assalamualikum!" Mustafa said loudly.
A series of Waalikumassalam coursing through the room.
"Aao Mustafa jaldi sai nashta kar lo," his aunt, Munazza served turkey sausages and fried egg to him.
"Shukriya," Mustafa thanked her.
It was seldom that they did anything for him. But anytime they did, it made him feel warm.
"Chachi mein raat ko dair sai aun ga," Mustafa told his aunt.
Eventhough, none of them waited for him, he still liked to make sure they knew so that they would not worry themselves.
"Khair hai beta? Jummay ko tou jaldi aatay ho na?" Abdul Rehman asked.
"Ji chachu. Woh aaj Sajid uncle ki taraf khana hai mera. Isliye," he smiled.
To Mustafa it seemed as if they had finally started caring for him. Eventhough the rational side of him knew that that was not the case.
"Acha theek hai," Munazza gave him a smile. One that was full of secrets.
"Phir mein chlata hun. Shahrukh office time par ana. Allah Hafiz!" Mustafa spoke in a single breath and left.
It was after he had left that chaos ensued. All of them could not understand why did Sajid's family invite him over for dinner alone. They had asked for time on the proposal about Rumaisa, and yet had time to host dinners.
"Mama abu mujhe kuch kehna tha," Rumaisa uttered.
"Haan betay?" Abdul Rehman inquired.
"Baba mujhe eik larka pasand hai. Mein nahin chahti keh kisi ki zindagi kharab ho meri waja sai isliye mein Raees sai shaadi nahi karna chahti. Aur yeh mera akhri faisla hai," she looked at her mother with a fight in her eyes.
Daring her to go against her words.
"Par beta-" Munazza tried to reason.
"No mom please. I remember their family. They were very old minded. Mein shaadi keh baad kaid parinda nahin banna chahthi!" Uttering those words with no care for anyones feelings, Rumaisa left the home, shutting the main door with a loud thud.
She left easily, leaving her parents in deep thought. They were unable to comprehend her behaviour. Not understanding how all of a sudden she like a man. Although it was her complete right, Abdul Rehman had wanted her to marry Raees for some personal reasons. And now that she had outright rejected the notion, they could do nothing but accept.
"Abdul Rehman ab hum kia karein gai?" Munazza asked.
"Fiqr na karo. Koi rasta nikal hi lein gai. Par kisi bhi haal mein zabardasti shaadi nahi ho gi uski!" He said before leaving.
Munazza was confused. They had been looking for the perfect man for their daughter. Anytime an alliance came, she would reject it. And now that they had asked for a mans hand, she had again rejected. She knew that Rumaisa had been spoiled by them alot. And now they were reaping what they had sown.
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