"Kuch toh garbar hai guys...... Main note kar raha hun... Chachu kuch change change lag rhy hain.."
"Kya change hain? Waisey hi hain- Saru, daantne waley.." Lyba scoffed.
"Nhi yaar Lyba.. Tum ne notice nhi kiyaa! Chachu main kuch alag haii!"
"Kyaa alag hai??" She questioned Hadi confused.
He simply scratched his chin laying back against her cushions on the sofa in her room. The rest of the party perched on each corner of the bed.
"Waisey point hai Hadi bhai.." Lamiya piped in from her position on the floor. It was the afternoon nap time and the bacha party had stuffed themselves in Lyba's rooms with the air conditioner on 16 turning the room into the North pole.
"Subha se dekha tha? Kaisey smile kartey huye jaa rhy they?"
"Haannn! Exactly!" Hadi shot up in place snapping his finger.
"Or uper se achey bhi huye ve hain!! Matlb aaj tak! Aajj takkk kabhi bhi chachu ne mujhe sehri main laat marey baghair nhi uthaya! Yaa toh phir pani phenk dete they thanda thandaa! Or aaj pata kaise uthaya thaa? Chachu ne mujhe legit pyar kiyaa 'Hadi uth jaa sehri ka time ho gaya..' Or bsss .. Socho ab."
The rest let out hmm's in response, the little wheels in their heads going round and round.
"Han waisey kal park bhi leke gaye they.." Lyba added her eyes shifting to the girls exchanging quiet, narrow eyed looks.
"Bss... Mano naa mano.. Hadi kehta hai... Larki kaa chakr haai Babu bhaiyaa larki kaa chakr..."
"Hainnn????"
Smirking at their shocked gasps Hadi the king laid back in place without elaborating on his statement and closed his eyes waiting for them to start begging for more information.
Which of course he would only be sharing for things in return..
(Free main thori naa batayen ge top secrets? Kaam karwayen ge *insert evil laugh)
.....................
"Zubair?"
"Zubair??"
"Zubii!!!!!"
"Ji! ji?" Zubair blinked startled by his Apaa's call turning to face her placing his phone down.
"Kyaa chipke huye ho phone main jab se office se aye ho? Kyaa ker rhy ho?"
Facebook Stalking... *Ahem..*
"Kuch nhi kuch nhi woh.. Boss ka mail aya hua tha.." Roza Zubair Roza! No lies!!
*Cough cough..*
Zoha Appa rolled her eyes and placed the knife in her hand on the side before leaning in closer, "Arey choro do minute, baat suno meri.."
"Ji ji.. Boleyn.."
"Bohat acha rishta aya hai ek.. Meri Naand ke susral se.."
Zubair frowned looking down but slowly nodded.
"Maine kaha hai.. Baat kar ke jawab deti hun lekin haan hi hogi, Amma ko bhi koi masla nhi hogaa.. Larki zyada parhi likhi nhi hai.. Sadaa si hai.. Magr gori hai! Bohat khubsurat! Or unko larka C.A chahiye.."
"Per Appa maine toh khali B.Com kiya hai.." Zubair protested.
"Arey toh kyaa ho gaya?! Kon sa degree check ker rhy hain aa ke? Kartey toh Finance kaa hi kaam ho naa? Accounting Finance sab ek hi hai or B.Com ho yaa C.A koi farq nhi parta.. Ek dafa Shadi ho jaye gi phir baad main--"
Sighing Zubair stood up without letting his sister finish and tucked his chair in to indicate the end of the conversation.
Shocked and affronted by his reaction Zoha called after him from her place at the table,"Aareyy! Jaa kahan rahy hoo?! Baat kar rhi thi main! Ajeeb Batameez ho gaya hai yeh larka!! Baron kaa lihaz hi nhi hai?! Had ho gayi! In ke liye rishte dekh rhyn hain! Khuwaar ho rhy hain! Inke nakhrey dekhey koi!!"
Zubair rolled his eyes walking away to his spot on the couch in the lounge.
Zoha continued to yell after him, "Ameer log hain! Itna kuch den ge beti ko!! Gari bhi miley gi Zubair!! Bawley!! Kuch aqal karoo umer nikli jaa rhi haii! Chote se jhoot se kuch nhi bighar jaye gaa! Aye barey musalman!"
He kept ignoring her words though, listening from one ear letting it out from the next. Picking up his phone instead he resumed his failed stalking searching through the many many Muneeza's getting disappointed because each time it was someone else.
*Sigh...* Maybe some people were not as lucky as others.
And maybe he was some people.
................
.
.
.
"Aaj Falsey kaa Sherbet baney gaa?" Sawera asked excitedly looking at her mother taking out a basket full of Falsa's and pushing it under the tap on the sink.
"Hann.. Pee lena drame kiye baghair.."
"Nhi!!! Mera toh favorite hai mama!! Maine kab kiyaa drama! Sairaa karti hai!" Sawera pushed at Saira's shoulder standing at the kitchen counter, she was already making disgusted faces looking at the purple beady fruit.
"Mere glass main ek bhi seed nhi ana chahiye! Orr khatta hogaa toh bhi nhi piyun gi!" Saira complained.
"Haan mat peena tumhara bhi main pee lun gi!" Sawera grinned.
"Jaldi jaldi haanth chalaou ek kab se Alu cheel rahin hain khari ho ke! Pata nhi susral jaa ke kyaa haal hogaa! Koi kaam main speed hi nhi hai!! Dekho Lyba ko!" Zubiya smacked the side of her chattering daughters head.
Lyba who was peeling the shells of the hard boiled eggs grinned cheekily winking at her cousins after getting the appreciative comment.
"Hm.. Bohat kaam karti hai Lyba toh.." Sawera said dryly making a face.
"Jealous kyun ho rhi ho? Hain? Jealous kyun ho rhi ho?" Lyba teased.
Sawera rolled her eye sticking out her tongue.
......
.
.
.
"Yaar sirf iss masjid ki azaan itni dair se hoti hai! Baqi sab masjid ki azaaney ho jati! Main bataoun! Molvi sahab pehle aapna rozaa khol lete hain puri iftaari kartey hain phir Azaan dete hain!" Hadi groaned falling against Sameer, an almond filled date held in between his limp fingers as they waited for the call of Maghrib prayer to which they broke their fast.
"Hadi tum ko sab pata hota hai! Saari khabrein farishtey alag se tum ko hi toh laa ke dete hain naa?!"
"Arey tum log ko kuch nhi pata! Masoom bachey ho!" He said haughtily replying to Lyba.
"Haan bhaii.. Hadi toh bohaat bara ho gaya hai.. Ajeeb.. CNIC or Driver license kyaa ban gaya pata nhi khud ko president hi samajh bethey hain!"
"Un se bhi zyada pata hai mujhe!"
"Achaa! Bss Iftar pe dua maangtey hain! Larney kaa waaqt nhi hai!"
"Han!" Zoha agreed with Mahrosh as she scolded the two bickering children, "Apne liye bhi dua karo.. Or dua karo apne chachu ke liye.. Inko bhi aqal ajaye thori!"
Zubair looked up at the untimely mention and all eyes turned to him curiously.
His grit his teeth looking back down examining the date in his hands ignoring the gaze of the family boring holes into his skull.
Huff.. Every other day of his life.. He wished Ramzan would pass by without any family drama.
But of course not.
Where there was a family, there was drama.
"Allah Hu Akbar Allah Hu Akbar!"
Gasping in gratitude everyone began stuffing their parched mouths with juicy dates drowning it out with lots and lots of icy fresh falsa juice sprinkled with black salt forgetting all about Zubair and his aqal.
Perks of good food and hungry stomachs.
.......
.
.
.
.
"Chachu... Aaj.. Chaleyn ge park?" Afrah was sent as an ambassador for the bacha party in hopes that her baby face would convince their Uncle to take them out once again today.
Zubair who had just walked in from his Maghrib prayer took off the topi uncovering his head and scratched at the scalp thinking over her words.
"Chachu.. Chal len naa!!" Afrah called again pulling at his pants leg looking up through her lashes. At her small 4"2' the child barely reached his upper thigh.
Zubair sighed and bent down picki her up and slowly nodded, "Chalo.. Tyaar ho baqi sab ko bhi bulaao..."
"Yaaaaayyyyy!"
He snorted at her excited yell and the way she ran in announcing her victory. He really did envy their childish innocence and carefree life some times.
.......... ..
"Aaj pehley main bethun gi!!!" Lyba cried running over to grab the swing perching on the seat most instantly.
"Haan haan.. Beth jaou dramey baaz!" Hadi scoffed.
"Jhoolna toh ata nhi hai.. Ayi bari.." He scoffed again.
"Ataa hai!! Kyaa ho gaya!!!"
He quirked a brow and Lyba narrowed her eyes then pushing her leg began to push the swing forward.
It went a distance but didn't gain momentum becoming still as it came back to place.
Hadi pursed his lips walking away sitting on the grass.
The rest; Saira took the other pair of the swing set and Sameer was pushing her as the loyal brother that he was. Sawera was playing with the children.
"Hadi..."
No reply.
"Yar..... Hadi..."
"Hadi bhai nhi ho! Yaar Hadi yaar!!! Abdul-Hadi!!!"
"Kya hai?" He finally looked her way with an attitude.
"Yar jhoola de do.." Lyba pleaded.
Hadi gave her a crooked smile, "Tameez se. Izaat se bulaou.. Please Hadi Bhai.. Jhoola de den! Shabash!"
Lyba grit her teeth already feeling the bitter taste of the words of respect. But ...
(Kaam ke time ghadhey ko bhi baap bana na parta hai ...)
"Please Hadi bhai jhoola de den!!" She dragged and only then Abdul-Hadi got up.
Ugh!
..
"Terha kyun de rhy hooo!"
"Seedha diya thaa tum ne khud apni tangein chala ke terhaa kar liya!"
"Koi nhi! Bakwaas jhooley de rhy ho! Hadi!! Insan ki tarah dhakaa do gir jaoun gi main!! Pagal ho tum!!"
"Abey itni zor kaa nhii!!! Ahhh!!"
"Yaar Lyba utr hi jaou tum!! Jahil insan!"
"Chup karo tameez se jhoola do!!"
And the fight continued one yelling at the other after every push of the swing.
.......
The soft breeze carried forward faraway sounds to the end of the street yet still there was a deafening silence.
Illuminated by only a single street lamp the road was mostly filled with long shadows. One of which was of the lean figure of Zubair Rashid.
He wasn't really thinking about the house he passed by in his walk though, this time his brain was occupied by bigger questions.
Questions like, was it even worth it? Not lying and being completely honest with people in the world where it wasn't a big deal to cheat to achieve a set goal?
So what if lied he was a qualified Chartered Accountant when he was only a simple B.Com.
So what if he lied about his income?
What if he lied he could afford to buy his own property?
Would life be easier to live? Would people respect him more?
Would he find the girl of his dreams then?
A little lie... How much would it hurt?
.........
A low metal creak sounded in the distance and there was a shuffle of foot steps.
"Pata tha idher hi mandlaa rahy ho ge.. "
Giving out a low laugh through his nose Zubair dropped his head but didn't turned to look at the person who joined him.
Nodding with a small smile he kept walking forward and she didn't say anything further as she walked beside him.
"Iss gully ke ilawa gully nhi hai koi walk kerne ke liye.." Miss Muneeza asked randomly and he almost picked up a hint of teasing in her tone.
Zubair shook his head choosing to remain silent but his face still smiled.
"Log barey khamosh hain ajj.." Muneeza mused matching his steps.
"Log barey dostana bhi ho gaye aaj.." He quipped right back looking up then looking back down at his feet.
"Waisey mujhe koi shikayat nhi hai." He added after a while.
She breathed out a laugh sounding more like a scoff before, "Lag raha tha asaani se peechaa nhi chuttey ga.. Toh socha dosti kar ke dekhtey hain.. Waisey toh sharif lagtey ho.."
That made him laugh, "lagtey ho matlb? Hun main sharif.. "
"Sharif larkey iss tarah roz gully main walk kartey hain?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Nhi toh kyaa aap ke baba ki sadhak hai? Hum istemal nhi kar saktey?"
Miss Muneeza's shoulders shook with her soft laugh at his answer and she pressed her lips to keep from letting it out.
Zubair kicked a lonely pebble that came in his path angling his head side ways to glance at her profile before turning back again.
A little glimpse of her smiling face and his heart stuttered like he was a teenager in college staring at his first crush.
Heat rushed up his neck and he didn't turn again.
"Kartey kya ho?"
"Rishta bhijwana hai? Waisey pehle hi bata dun meri ab tak rejection ki half century puri ho chuki hai.."
Muneeza cracked a louder laugh this time, "tum ne kiya? Yaa tum huye ho?"
"Mix.. Kuch ko maine kiya. zyadatar ne mujhe."
"Kyun bhai? Aysi kyaa demands hain jo puri nhi huin?"
"Bhai? Ouch.." He turned briefly quirking a brow before looking away again. His tone completely dry.
"Yeh bhai wala bhai nhi tha.. Bhaeee wala bhai tha.. Conversational wala.." Muneeza's voice wobbled when she replied as if she was internally laughing.
"Dard same hi hota hai koi bhi bhai ho.. Hum larkey toh conversationally kisi ko behen nhi bulatey.. Unless woh waqi behen ho.." He argued.
"Uff Allah!" Muneeza shook her head waving a hand, "jo bhi! Rejection ki wajah bata rhy they shayad!"
Zubair shrugged and kicked another pebble, the breeze picking up ruffling his shirt and Muneeza's dupatta beside him. A light lemony fragrance floated his way.
He swallowed bowing his head.
"Bss...... Maine B.Com kiya hua hai privately.."
"Engineering karna chahta thaa, FSC. Ke marks bhi achey they but admission ke time pe Abu paralyze ho gaye.. Sarey paisey unkey ilaaj main chaley gaye...or phir unki death ho gayi do saal baad... Bhai jan ko apni bhi family paalni thi toh chote bhai ki parhayi pe paise zaya nhi kar sktey they.."
Muneeza listened so quietly that Zubair almost felt like he was talking to himself.
"Ab ek private Company keh finance department main job kar rha hun but pay koi bohat khaas nhi hai... Bike pe jata hun.. Apna ghar bhi nhi hai bhai keh sath rehta hun.. Ab ayse main koi rishta ataa hai toh unki sau demands hotin hain.. "
"Kisi ne kaha ghar damad ban jou.. Maine mana kiya rejected. Kisi ne kaha Bahir ke liye apply kar do hum help kar den ge Larki bhi bahir rehna chahti hai maine kaha mujhe Pakistan main rehna hai; rejected.. Aaj bhi apaa ek rishta layin.. Unko CA larka chahiye apaa ne bola jhoot bol do.. Maine mana kar diya.. Rejected..."
He paused and turned to Muneeza, " or iss tarah aaj half century puri ho gayi."
Zubair gave her a lopsided grin.
She shook her head restarting their stroll.
"Humarey yahan ghar waley samjhtey hain.. Ek baar shadi ho jaye gi toh zindagi asaan ho jaye gi... Shadi ke liye sau jhoot bol lo.. Bss shadi ho jaye.."
Zubair snorted in agreement.
"Pata hi nhi hai asal imtehaan toh baad main shuru hota hai." She completed.
"Bara experience hai aap ko.." Zubair joked to lighten the suddenly grave atmosphere.
She laughed throwing her head back and met his eyes for the first time of their encounter, "Bss.. Zindagi ne bohat kuch sikhaa diya mujhe.."
Lost in her powerful gaze his steps froze and they stood still just staring at the other.
The orange of the street light lit one side of her beautiful profile and the other was shadowed in mystery much like her personality.
Slowly his lips lifted up in a shy smile in response to hers.
"Kuch humeyn bhi sikha den.. " he teased.
"Kal anaa.. Kal sikhaa dun gi. Abhi thori dair aur ruki toh raat kaa khana kal sehri main miley gaa ghar walon ko."
Laughing he stepped back and she too began turning around.
Grinning to the darkness Zubair moved in the direction of the park when she called again,
"Suno!"
Turning around he looked back meeting her with a questioning glance.
"Naam kyaa hai tumhara?"
Haha.. Ab khayal aya haii?
"Zubair. Zubair Rashid."
Nodding she waved him off and turned back to go inside closing the gate of her house.
Zubair stayed a moment longer than began walking away.
His heart a little lighter than it was before Aftar. A fluttter in his stomach he never felt before
__________________________________
Dostiyan ho rhi hain....
Dil pighal rhy hain...
Har jagah milan hain.. Humari thandi zindagi ke siwaa 🤣