"Kubra, jaldi karo late ho raha hoon." Tapping his finger on dining table, Shahzaib shouted.
(Kubra, hurry up.)
"Zyada late ho rahe ho?" Hayder, who was reading newspaper, put it down and asked, sarcastically.
(You are getting late?)
"Nahi, bhai, bas office late jana achhi baat nahi na." Fixing his tie, Shahzaib said. Shahzaib has recently joined office.
(No, bhai, I just didn't want to go to office late.)
"Tum mere sath hi office jate ho." Hayder reminds him.
(You go to office with me.)
Shahzaib shut his mouth tightly. Same time, Kubra came there with breakfast.
"Kitna kaam karti ho, Kubra. Kitni baar kaha hai cook rakh lete hain." Hayder said to his sister.
(Why do you work so much, Kubra. How many times I've told you to hire a cook.)
"Bhai, cook ke hath ka khana nahi pasand mujhe." Kubra waved her hand and said, while serving Shahzaib and Hayder.
(I don't like the food cook makes.)
"Haan, lekin agar apko mera kaam asan karna hai toh..." Dragging her words, Kubra sat down. "Mere liye bhabhi kyu nahi le atey." Putting her chin on her palm, she said, teasingly.
(But if you really don't like me working so much, why don't you bring bhabhi for me?)
"Arey nahi nahi, mera abhi shadi ka plan nahi." Before Hayder could say anything, Shahzaib said, bashfully.
(Oh no no, I don't wanna marry so early.)
"Main tumhari shadi ki baat nahi kar rahi, tum omelette khao. Main Hayder bhai se baat kar rahi thi."
(I was not talking about you. Just eat your breakfast. I was talking to Hayder bhai.)
"Subah subah baba ki tarah shuru na ho jao. Pehle tum dono settle ho fir main apna sochunga." Buttering the toast, Hayder told her.
(Don't start this conversation now. I want both of you to settle down first then I will think about myself.)
Kubra mentally rolled her eyes on her brother.
"Koi Baba ko toh bula lo." Hayder suddenly said, when realized Hanif Mirza was missing.
(Someone call Baba for breakfast.)
"Ji main dekhta... Baba agaye." Shahzaib was about to stand up to call him but saw Hanif Mirza entering the dining room. He was busy in his phone.
(I'll call him... Baba...)
"Ek toh iska network nahi rehta." Tapping his phone, Hanif Mirza mumbles.
(This thing never have network.)
"Kya hua, Baba?" Shahzaib asked,
(What happened, Baba?)
"Yeh phone ka network nahi araha hai." Hanif Mirza complained.
(My phone doesn't have network.)
"Airplane mode karke dekhiye." Shahzaib suggested.
(Try turning on airplane mode?)
"Sab try kar liya, yeh kaam hi nahi kar raha. Shayad yeh model purana ho gaya hai. Hayder, mere liye naya phone le aao, woh aaj kal aya haina 5g phone woh." Sitting down, Hanif said, taking off his spectacles.
(I've tried everything, nothing worked. I think this phone is really old now. Hayder, buy me another with 5g speed.)
The trio hide their smiles, all of them were still using their old phones with 4g speed, and Hanif Mirza's phone was new which he got last year and in just one year, he wanted new model.
"Ji, baba, le aunga, pehle aap nashta kar lein." Hayder nods his head.
(Okay, baba, I will get another phone for you.)
"Waise yeh subah subah niche kya shor ho raha tha? Sab theek hai?" Hanif Mirza put his phone away and asked.
(Why was there noise downstairs? Is everything okay?)
"Kuch nahi, baba, wahi Hyra aur Uswa shararat karne se kaha baaz ati hain." Hayder didn't give Hanif Mirza all details, it wasn't needed as everyone know how Uswa and Hyra are.
(Nothing, Baba, it was just Hyra and Uswa's another mischievous.)
"Bachhiyan hain. Ab woh shararat nahi karengi toh kya main aur Asiya bhabhi karenge. Tum bachhiyo se zyada sakhti se na baat kiya karo." Hanif Mirza advised.
(They are kids. If they won't do mischievous then who will do?)
"Lekin, baba, unhone meri car pe sara kachra daal diya tha."
(But, baba, they've ruined my car.)
"Apki car pe? Papa ki car pe?" Kubra asked. "Yeh Uswa din ba din aur badtameez hoti ja rahi hai."
(Your car? Papa's car? Uswa is getting out of hands these days.)
"Uswa nahi Hyra thi." Hayder informed them.
(It was Hyra not Uswa.)
"Hyra? Usme toh khargosh jitni himmat hai, uska kaam nahi hai yeh. Uswa hogi, Bhai." Shahzaib put forward his opinion.
(Hyra? She has courage of a rabbit, she can not do that. It must be Uswa.)
"Haan Hyra toh nahi karegi. Uswa ne hi kiya hoga aur Hyra ko fasa diya." Kubra nods her head in agreement. And soon, Kubra and Shahzaib started talking about Uswa and her pranks.
(Yeah, Hyra can't do that. Must be Uswa and she must have trapped Hyra.)
•••
"Achha, Dawar, aaj sham mein jaldi ajana." When Rabia saw Dawar was done with his breakfast and was about to get up, she told him.
(Dawar, come home from office early tonight.)
"Kyu?"
(Why?)
"Bhool gaye? Aj hume tumhare sasural jana hai shadi ki tareekh rakhne."
(You forgot? We have to go to Laraib's house to decide the date for your wedding.)
"Mujhe toh nahi jana. Main jaldi akey kya karunga?"
(I am not going there, why should I come early?)
"You sound jealous." Uswa whispers in her brother's ear, and received a scowling from him.
"Ghar mein koi bada hoga nahi baba aur amma bhi humare sath ja rahe hain, inn bachho ko kon samnhalega?" Rabia didn't hear what Uswa said and continue telling him.
(No elder will be at home, who will look after kids?)
"Mummy, main. Main hoon na. Main sambhal lungi Sami ko." Uswa said in hurry, pointing at herself.
(Mummy, I. I am here. I will look after Sami.)
"Tum rehne do. Tumhare bharose ghar chorha toh na jane kya haal hoga ghar ka. Tumpe nazar rakhne ke liye hi Dawar ko jaldi aney ke liye keh rahi hoon."
(I can not leave the house in your care.)
"Mummy, apko zara sa bhi bharosa nahi..." Uswa's mouth sulked.
(Mummy, you don't trust me at all...)
"Main ja raha hoon Hayder wait kar raha hoga, ajaunga shaam mein jaldi." Dawar saw the time in his wrist watch and said in between.
(I am going Hayder must be waiting for me, I will come early tonight.)
"Allah Hafiz." Rabia and Sameer shouted.
•••
Exactly at 5 o'clock, Dawar packed all his things and left his cabin, before leaving the office, he went to Hayder's office to inform him.
"Hayder!" Knocking on the door, he opened it.
"Dawar! Kya hua?"
(Dawar! What happened?)
"Kuch nahi bas main ghar ke liye nikal raha tha." Getting in, Dawar informed him.
(Nothing, I am leaving for home.)
"Itni jaldi? Khairiyat?" Hayder looked at the wall clock and asked.
(At this time? Is everything okay?)
"Mummy papa Laraib ke yaha ja rahe hain date rakhne, isliye jaldi jana hoga bachhe akele honge na."
(Mummy papa are goind to Lairab's house, that's why I have to go early no one will be at home to look after kids.)
"Achha, tabhi tumhare chehre pe itna noor hai, kuch dino mein sehre ke phool jo khilne wale hain." Hayder teases him.
"Chup karo." Dawar looked away, his ears turning red.
"Waise kya date tay hui hai?"
(Oh yeah, baba told me in the morning about this. What did you guys decided?)
"Pata nahi, ab mummy papa waha jake decide karenge." Shrugging his shoulder, Dawar sat on the chair.
(I don't know. Mummy papa will decide it.)
"Kyu? Bhabhi ne tumhe nahi bataya konsi date soch rahe hain woh log?"
(Why? Bhabhi didn't tell you what date they want?)
"Woh log toh jald se jald rakhna chahte hain date, ab dekho."
(They want the sooner date.)
"Sirf woh log?" Teasingly, Hayder raised his eyebrow.
(Only they?)
Dawar narrowed his eyes at Hayder. "Main ja raha hoon."
(I am going.)
"Jao, maine konsa roka hai. Jitni jaldi jaoge, utni jaldi bhabhi ke yaha jayenge bade papa."
(Go, I am not stopping you. The sooner you'll go home the sooner bade papa will leave for Bhabhi's house.)
"Chup karo." Mumbling, Dawar left.
(Shut up.)
•••
"Rabi, aur kitna time lagega?" Asim entered his room and asked, he was ready to go, but Rabia was taking her own sweet time to get ready.
(Rabi, how much time will you take to get ready?)
"Bas bas, ho gayi taiyyar." Wearing earrings, Rabia said.
(Now now, I am ready.)
"Yeh ap pichle adhe ghante se keh rahi hain." He complained.
(You are saying the same thing from last half an hour.)
"Ab bas ho gayi." Passing him a smile, she quickly went to sit on the bed to wear her footwear.
(I am ready.)
As she bent down to close the straps of her heels, her hair fall on her face, putting them behind, she once again tried to close the straps.
Smiling, Asim went to her, sitting on his knees, he closes the straps for her.
"Papa, Woh Baba puch rahe the ki car mein..." Uswa, without knocking, barged into their room, startlingly both of them.
(Papa, baba was asking....)
"Mithai rakhwa di?" Standing on the doorway, she asked, a teasing smile fall on her face but she didn't pass a comment, as she wasn't in the mood of getting scolded by her mother.
(Did you put sweets in the car?)
"Uswa, kitni baar kaha hai darwaza knock karke aya karo." But Rabia still scolded her.
(Uswa, how many times I've told you knock before entering.)
"Aap dono darwaza lock karke romance kyu nahi karte?" Uswa mumbles, and quickly ran away.
(Why don't you two lock before romancing?)
"Kya..." Rabia was about to go after her and scold her for her loud mouth, but Asim stopped her, reminding her that they will get late.
(What?)
•••
"Dawar, dhyan rakhna inka, aur bahar se khabardaar kuch order kiya, kitchen mein khana rakha hai." Rabia once again told Dawar as they reached foyer.
(Dawar, look after them, and don't order anything from outside, there is food in the kitchen.)
"Mummy, aap fikar na kare main hoon na." Dawar assures his mother.
(Mummy, don't worry I am here.)
"Hyra, khayal rakhna apna aur Sami aur Uswa ka, Dawar bhai ko zyada tang na karna." This was Arzoo's voice, she was talking to Hyra.
(Hyra, take care of yourself and Sami and Uswa. Don't bother Dawar bhai.)
"Yeh baat toh tumhe Uswa se kehni chahiye." Rabia, who heard her, said, then she looked behind Dawar, where Uswa and Sami were standing.
(You should tell this to Uswa.)
"Hum sirf kuch derr ke liye ja rahe hain, agar mere piche se tum dono ne koi shararat ki toh achha nahi hoga. Ghar jaisa chorhke ja rahe hain waisa hi milna chahiye, yeh na ho ki tum log... log furniture pe plastic wrap laga do aur powder se holi khelo ghar mein." Rabia instructed her kids.
(We are going only for few hours, if you two do any mischievous behind my back, I won't spare you twi. When I return, I want the house same as it is, if I saw plastic wraps on furniture and you two playing holi with powder...)
"Plastic wrap toh humne nahi socha tha." Sami mumbles.
(We didn't think of plastic wraps.)
"Lekin apka idea achha hai, Mummy, issey furniture kharab nahi honge." Uswa said, cheekily.
(But your idea is very good, Mummy, this way furniture won't get ruined.)
"Mummy, ap fikar na kare, main hoon." Dawar lightly smacked on Uswa and Sami's head, standing between them, he made their head bow in front of their mother. "I will keep them in check."
Before Rabia or Arzoo could say anything else, Asim honked, calling them.
Both Rabia and Azroo went to the car. Asim was sitting on driver seat while Hanif Mirza was sitting on passenger seat, Asiya Begum was already seated in the backseat, Arzoo quickly sat beside her mother-in-law, but Rabia once again turned to her kids, who also came after them to see them off.
"Hyra, Uswa se mujhe umeed nahi. Tum Sami ka dhyan rakhna ussey kitchen mein na jane dena." While sitting in, Rabia said.
(Hyra, I don't have any expectations from Uswa, you please take care of Sami and don't let him go to the kitchen.)
"Aur koi bhi zaroorat ho toh Kubra api ko bula lena." Arzoo added.
(And if you need anything call Kubra api.)
"Inti instructions? Hum hafte bhar ke liye nahi ja rahe hain." Asim reminded them,
(We aren't going out for a week.)
"We will behave." Uswa, Hyra, and Sami said in unison.
"Ufff! Pata nahi mummy ko kya ho jata hai we are not monkeys jo itna instructions de rahi hain." As soon as their car left, Uswa took a relief breath out and said.
(Uff! I don't know why mummy behaves like this. She gave us so much instructions like we are monkeys.)
"Harkatein toh bandar wali hi hai." Dawar teased her.
(Well you do behave like one.)
•••
The lounge room's lights were off, and curtains drawn in, the only source of light was coming from t.v, in which a very absurd horrifying scene was screening.
Sami was engaged in that scene, but Uswa was bored, as she groaned when the actress went to basement all by herself to see who made those noises.
"Jab pata hai bhoot hai toh..." Uswa started saying to Hyra, but when found the girl curled up in the blanket, in the corner of the sofa, eyes wide and her mouth slightly open, she was scared of the scene which was screening on the t.v, but still couldn't remove her eyes from t.v as she wanted to see what will happen next.
(She knows there is a ghost then why...)
An amusing smile fall on Uswa's face. Slowly, she went to Hyra's side,
Hyra was unaware of her surroundings, and didn't feel Uswa near her until Uswa's voice boomed in her ear.
"Boooo!!" Uswa shouted in her ear, making Hyra drop the bucket of popcorn and scream. Hyra's screaming made Sami scream too.
Dawar, who was in his room, quickly ran toward the lounge, turning on the light, he asked. "Kya hua?"
(What happened?)
He was worried about them, but there he found Uswa laughing on the floor uncontrollably, Sami throwing popcorn and Uswa and telling her it wasn't funny and Hyra in the corner, almost on the edge of crying.
"Kya hua?" Their screaming was so loud, it even reached upstairs, Kubra, who was maybe cooking, came there while holding a ladle in her hand, she asked, looking between Dawar and trio.
(What happened?)
"Uswa!" Dawar called her,
"Bhai, main... maine kuch nahi kiya." Still laughing, Uswa said.
(Bhai, I... I didn't do anything.)
"Horror movie dekhte kyu ho jab darr lagta hai." Kubra scolded them, and turned off the t.v.
(Why do you watch horror movie when you are scared of it?)
"Arey bohot achhi scene arahi thi." Sami complained.
(It was such an interesting scene.)
"Bohot ho gayi movie. Pehle horror movie dekhoge fir darroge, jao jake parhai karo." Dawar scolded him.
(Enough. First you'll watch horror movie then you'll get scared. Go and study.)
Quickly, trio stood up, wearing their slippers they were about to leave but Dawar once again called them and told them to clean lounge room.
•••
"Uswa, bas na ho gaya." Hyra groaned, Uswa and Sami were laughing at how scared she was in the living room.
(Uswa, enough.)
Hyra was sitting on her bed, holding a book in her lap but was not studying, while Uswa was on her own bed and didn't even pretend to study, while Sami was sitting on Uswa's study table, doing his homework but even his attention was on Uswa and Hyra.
"Achha sorry." Biting her lips, Uswa hold her laugh and apologise, but when her eyes fall on Sami, they once again started laughing.
"Dafa ho jao." Throwing pillow at Uswa, Hyra said.
(Get lost.)
"Aur tum kya has rahe ho? You were also shrieking like a kid." Uswa was Uswa, after she was done teasing Hyra, her attention went to Sami, and instantly, Sami stopped laughing and turned red, and fumbled to explain how he wasn't scared but acting.
(Why are you laughing?)
Shaking her head on Uswa, Hyra turned to side table to pick water bottle, but it was empty. Putting her book away, Hyra went out to get water.
"Chalo, Hyra ko darate hain." Sami suggested, as soon as Hyra was out of sight.
(Let's prank on Hyra.)
•••
Turning on the faucet, Hyra was refilling her bottle when she felt something, or maybe someone behind her. Turning to her back, she found the kitchen empty. Narrowing her eyes in confusion, she again turned to sink, her bottle was filled, and she drank water from it.
Someone has entered the kitchen, she heard a faint sound of footsteps, the sound was so low that it wouldn't have been heard if the kitchen wasn't silent.
Hyra understood it was Uswa or Sami, they aren't done with their pranks, but she wasn't going to get pranked by them.
"Tum log baaz ajao." Clenching her jaw, Hyra turned to them and throw water at them, only to realise it wasn't Uswa or Sami.
(You guys are too much.)
"Ah! Hayder bhai?" Her bottle fall down from her hand as she slapped her hands on her mouth.
In front of her was Hayder, his face drenched as he was looking at Hyra with murderous glare.
"I... I am sorry... I..." Hyra quickly started apologising.
"Kya badtameezi hai..." Hayder scolded her, putting the pizza box on table and wiping his face with his handkerchief.
(What's wrong with you?)
"Mujhe laga... Uswa hai." Hyra looked ashamed, while her heart started thumping loudly in her chest.
(I thought... you are Uswa.)
"Tum log bade kab hoge. Yeh age hai tumhari pani se khelne ki."
(When you two will grow up?)
Hyra's head was bowed down, she didn't dare to raise her head to look at Hayder.
Hayder has just returned from office, on the gate, he found delivery guy who was delivering pizza that Dawar ordered, Hayder took it from him, he thought of dropping the pizza in lounge room and inform Dawar that he has received the order, but then he heard noise from kitchen and saw Hyra there, he thought of giving it to her.
But before he could call her, Hyra welcomed him with cold water.
Hayder would have scolded her more, but Dawar and Uswa came there. Dawar has received msg that his order was delivered and came downstairs to check who received it, while Uswa came there to check on Hyra as she was taking more time, and Uswa thought maybe she is upset with them.
But what they saw in kitchen shocked them, as well as was amusing. Uswa put her hands on her mouth to stop herself from laughing, but Dawat didn't even tried to hide it and laughed loudly.
"Mujhe laga Uswa hai, Hayder bhai the..." Hyra meekly told Dawar.
(I thought is was Uswa, but it was Hayder bhai.)
"Tum konsa kagaz ke bane ho pani se kharab ho jaoge, mat daato usko." Dawar chuckled, and in return Hayder glared at him.
•••
"Pata nahi har baar main hi kyu fasti hoon." Hyra put her head in her hands and complained about her faith.
(I don't why I get stuck in such a situation.)
"Kyuki tum darrti bohot ho. You attract what you are scared of. Bedhakad besharm ban jao, fir dekhna, kaise yun karke har situation se nikal jaogi." Uswa sat beside her on her bed and threw her arm around Hyra's shoulder to console her.
(Because you easily get scared. Be fearless, be shameless. Then you will get out of every situation like that.)
"Main tumhari tarah nahi hoon." Hyra looked at her and mumbles.
(I am not like you.)
"Main toh ek hi piece hoon..." Arrogantly, Uswa flipped her hair.
(I am one piece...)
A honk made them aware that their parents' are back.
•••
The date they decided for the wedding was 22nd of next month.
They have less time, but all of them were happy with it. Soon, everyone's preparation started for the wedding.
Invitations were sent to friends and relatives.
Ibtisham Mirza, who lives out of country, apologise on the phone to Asim as he can not come due to his work. But he did promise to send his family.
Minal was also busy as there was a wedding at her in-law's house too, she would only come to important functions.
•••
"Minal, Zara ko toh bhej do." Rabia said on the phone.
(Minal, at least send Zara.)
Rabia and Hyra were in lounge room, invitation cards have come this morning and Hyra was writing names on it.
"Bhabhi, yaha bhi shadi hai, Zara busy rehti hai..." Minal stated,
(Bhabhi, Zara is also busy with the wedding functions...)
"Ghar ki pehli shadi hai, ghar ki bachhiyo se toh rounak hoti hai. Tum sirf functions mein aaogi uspe maine kuch nahi kaha, lekin Zara ko bhej do pehle se."
(This is first wedding of our house. You will only come to important functions I didn't say anything. But at least send Zara.)
Minal looked at her daughter, who was sitting just beside her. Raising her eyebrows, Minal asked if she wanted to go without her, and Zara instantly nods her head.
"Achha, Bhabhi, aj shaam ka function ho jaye toh Zara chali jayegi."
(Okay, bhabhi, Zara will go there tomorrow.)
"Theek hai." Smiling, Rabia hanged up the call.
(Okay!)
"Zara appi arahi hain?" Hyra asked,
(Zara appi is coming?)
"Haan kal ajayegi." Rabia informed them.
(Yes, she will come tomorrow.)
"Kon?" Uswa, who has just entered the lounge room, didn't hear their convo and asked, she was setting clay mask on her face.
(Who?)
"Zara appi." Hyra told her, and passed her pen and cards.
Sitting on the floor, Uswa started helping her.
"Kya laga liya hai subah subah. Kitni baar kaha hai mask wask apne kamre mein lagaya karo shadi ka ghar hai koi bhi kabhi bhi ajayega..." Rabia tch.
(How many times I've told you to apply mask on your face when you are in your room, anyone can come here anytime...)
"Koi bhi kabhi bhi ajayega..." Uswa mimicked her mother.
(Anyone can come here anytime...)
"Mat bolo wrinkles ajayenge..." Rabia told her and instantly Uswa relaxed her face.
(Don't speak otherwise you will get wrinkles...)
"Arey Sharmeen ko toh call karna bhool gayi." Smacking her forehead, Rabia remembers.
(I forgot to call Sharmeen.)
Some relatives lives out of the city, and they couldn't personally give them cards, that's why Rabia was calling them.
"Unko bhi invite karenge?" Uswa's face scrunched.
(You'll invite her too?)
"Zahir hai, unhone hume apni beti ki shadi mein invite kiya tha, hume bhi karna hoga unhe." Rabia said.
(Obviously, she invited us on her daughter's marriage, we have to invite her too.)
"Mujhe unki beti nahi pasand bohot attitude hai." Uswa whispered to Hyra.
(I don't like her daughter.)
Rabia was busy on the call when doorbell ranged.
"Hyra, jao dekho tailor aye honge kuch kapre sil gaye wahi dene aye honge." Rabia told her.
(Hyra, go open the door, it must be tailor delivering dresses which he have made...)
"Ban gaye?" Both Uswa and Hyra got excited.
Putting the pen and cards away, they both stood excitedly.
"I hope mera purple wala dress ban gaya ho..." Uswa wished,
(I hope it is my purple dress..)
"Aur mera yellow wala..." Hyra added.
(And my yellow...)
Uswa was about to open the door when Hyra reminds her. "Uswa, tumhara mask..."
(Uswa, your face.)
"Huh?" But too late, Uswa already opened the door.
The person on the other side was surprised.
"Rafey bhai?" Uswa's throaty voice came.
This was another shock for Rafey. Uswa called him bhai?
"Assalam-Alaikum, Rafey bhai." Holding her laugh, Hyra greets him.
"As..Salam..." Uswa could only say that, and run away.
"Walekum." Rafey mumbles. He was looking at the empty space from where Uswa just left.
"Andar aiye." Hyra asked.
(Please, come inside.)
"Haan,"
(Yes.)
"Hum log ko laga ap log nahi ayenge. Bade papa busy the..." Hyra and him started walking toward the lounge room.
(We thought you won't able to come, bade papa was busy...)
"Dad busy the, main free tha agaya. Next week tak Mom bhi ajayengi." Rafey's eyes roamed around as he answered her.
(Dad was busy, I wasn't. Mom will also come by next week.)
•••
"Baba, bas kar dein, bohot screen dekhli apne." Putting a cup of tea on coffee table, Kubra said to Hanif Mirza who was playing ludo in phone.
(Baba, that's enough screening time for you today.)
"Bas bas, yeh match khatam hone wala hai." Hanif nods his head and dismisses her, as he was busy he didn't even raise his eyes.
(Yes yes, just let me finish this match.)
"Match? Baba, ap bohot zyada involve ho gaye hain inn games mein, apki sehat ke liye sahi nahi. Yeh phone Hayder bhai apke liye iss liye laye the taki aap chote papa se video call kar sake. Apne toh jo adat dali hai iski. Itni toh youngsters ko nahi hogi phone ki adat." Kubra shook her head. Coffee table and sofa was mess, picking up magazines from table, Kubra arranges them on shelf, and properly put the cushions on sofa, while talking to Hanif Mirza.
(Match? Baba, you are addicted to your phone. Hayder bhai bought you phone so you can keep in contact with chote papa. But you got addicted to it like no one else.)
Hanif Mirza and the player from other side were both stuck on same position, it was their last token and they only needed 1 to reach home. Hanif Mirza's dice stopped at 4, while other person's luck was today and he got 1 and he won, it ruined Hanif Mirza's mood.
"Mera nalayak beta free rehta hai video call ke liya? Din mein 50 baar call karo toh raat ko uska call ata hai woh bhi 5 minute ke liye" Hanif grunt, and put his phone away.
(As if my lousy son have time for video calling. I call him at least 50 times a day, then he calls me at night that too for 5 minute.)
"Time zone ka farq haina..." Kubra consoles him.
(Because of time zone...)
"Rafey bhi toh hai, woh toh roz call karta hai. Ek mere bete ko hi time nahi milta. Waise meri kal se Rafey se bhi baat nahi hui abhi uski class lagata hoon ki dada ka khayal nahi ata ussey." Hanif Mirza remembered and once again picked his phone to call Rafey.
(Rafey calls me everyday, only my son doesn't have time for me. That reminds me, Rafey didn't call me yesterday nor today. I will call him to remind him of his grandfather.)
"Class lagane ke liye apko call karne ki zaroorat nahi." Rafey's voice surprised both Kubra and Hanif.
(You don't need to remind that.)
"Rafey." Both of them stood up excitedly.
"Assalam-Alaikum, Baba." Rafey went to his grandfather and hugged him.
"Walekum-Assalam, kaise ho? Kab aye?" Proudly holding Rafey's arm, Hanif Mirza asked.
(How are you? When did you come?)
"Main theek hoon, abhi aya hoon, tum Kaisi ho, Kubra?" Rafey's attention went on Kubra, who stood just beside him, looking at him happily.
(I am fine, I just came. How are you, Kubra.)
"Theek hoon. Tumne bataya nahi aney ka." Smiling, she answered.
(I am fine. You didn't inform us that you were coming.)
"Bas, free tha socha ajau." Shrugging his shoulder, Rafey said.
(I was free, so thought of coming.)
•••
"Aaj toh yun aise chali gayi darwaza kholne agey se dhyan rakhna. Aur yeh trousers t-shirt mein na ghoomna abse ghar mein." Rabia was instructing Uswa.
(Today you have went to open the door just like that, but be careful next time. And stop roaming around the house in trouser t-shirt.)
Uswa was standing in front of obediently, while Hyra was sitting on her bed. Enjoying the scene in front of her.
"Toh kaha ghoomu?" Uswa asked, innocently.
(Then where should I roam?)
"Mera matlab... itne pyare pyare suit hain tumhare paas. Woh pehenna abse ghar mein, aur dupatta lena seekho, Rafey aya hai achha thori lagta hai..."
(I meant... you have such a beautiful suits, wear them and start taking dupatta. Rafey is here...)
"Par Shahzaib bhai bhi toh rehte hain tab aap nahi kehti dupatta lene ko." Uswa complained. She can never compromise with her comfort.
(But you never told me to take dupatta in front of Shahzaib bhai...)
"Shahzaib aur Rafey mein farq nahi?" Rabia snapped at her.
(Rafey and Shahzaib are different.)
"Rishta laga hai tumhara waha, aise yun bedhadak rehna band karo. Achha nahi lagta. Tum Rafey aur Tabu ke samne theek se behave karna. Warna bhai ki mohabbat mein jo rishta tay hua hai, woh tumhari harkat dekh ke..." Rabia didn't complete her sentence, her heart skipped a beat when thought what would happen to her daughter if her rishta gets rejected.
(You are engaged to Rafey, stop being careless. You will behave in front of Rafey and Tabu.)
When the last time Ibtisham Mirza came to visit India with his family, they stayed here only for a week, but before leaving, Ibtisham asked Uswa's hand for Rafey. Both Asim and Rabia saw no issue in that, Rafey was a good boy, they were very happy their daughter would be marry into her uncle's house.
Uswa was very young, she doesn't remember the reason why she said yes to Rafey (or did anyone even asked for her consent?) And it is not like she had any problem. But she was only okay with this proposal as long as Ibtisham Mirza's family live out of India. Why did Rafey had to return and her mother had to put so many restrictions on her?
"Mummy, aap tension na lein, main.. main samjha dungi issey." Standing up, Hyra put her arm around Uswa and consoles Rabia.
(Mummy, don't worry, I will talk to her.)
"Hyra beta, please, tum hi samjhao ab issey. Kash isme thori si bhi tumhari jitni aqal hoti." Rabia said to her and left the room, there were lots of work she had to do.
"Chalo, Golu, taiyyar ho jao, tumhare sasural wale aye hain." Patting Uswa's head, Hyra teased her.
(Golu, get dressed up, your in-laws are here.)
"Yaar, dimagh na kharab karo." Jerking her hand away, Uswa warned.
(Buzz off.)
•••
At evening, Rafey was on balcony, talking to his mother on phone when Kubra came there with two mugs in her hands.
"Yeh lo, tumhari coffee, without sugar." Passing him one mug, she told him.
(Here, your coffee, without sugar.)
"Thank you." Hanging up the call, he took it from her.
"Hm! Achhi bani hai..." After taking a sip, he praises her.
(Hm! It is good...)
"Rehne do, pata nahi tumhe beena sugar ke coffee kaise achhi lag sakti hai." Sitting on balcony swing, Kubra said. "Na tum Diabetic ho, na kuch, fir bhi beena sugar ke coffee kyu peete ho?" She was drinking sweet coffee.
(I don't how you drink coffee without sugar.)
(You aren't diabetic nor sick, why do you drink without sugar?)
"Coffee without sugar hi achhi lagti hai. Pata nahi tum sugar ke sath coffee kaise peeti ho."
(Coffee taste good without sugar. I don't know how you drink it with sugar.)
Kubra rolled her eyes.
Rafey was standing, putting his hand on railing, he enjoyed his coffee in silence until he saw Uswa and Hyra entering lawn, wearing baby pink shalwar kameez, Uswa had her dupatta carelessly hanging around her shoulder, her long wavy hair was put in a loose braid, some wispy hair fall on her face which she put it behind her ear irritatedly.
Uswa was loudly telling Hyra something about her suit which tailor delivered today, her loud voice was audible even on balcony.
"Yaar, maine unhe kaha tha broad neck chahiye but unhone toh design hi change kardi." Uswa complained.
(I told him to make broad neck but he changed the whole design of my dress.)
Seeing Rafey looking down intriguingly, Kubra also peeked down, her soft smile turned upside down when saw Rafey was looking at Uswa with so much interest.
•••
I like Dawar. He is the only character which I am liking so far 🙈... what about y'all?
Do vote and comment.
-Ufaq