"Thank you." Laiba said to Zayd taking the cup of tea.
"Yaha kyu baithi ho?" He asked.
"Ghar mein aisa lag raha tha jaise main koi gunehgaar hun.."she said upset.
"Waise, tum toh mujhse sab share karti thi na? Toh yeh kyu nahi bataya ki tumhari zindagi mein koi hai?" Zayd asked Laiba as he sat down next to her
Laiba glared at him.
"Pagal ho kya? Koi nahi hai..woh Yasir tha jiske saath baba ne mujhe baat karte dekh liya."
"Yasir? Nadia ka ex?" He asked
"Haa..aur uski wajah se ab meri zindagi barbaad horahi hai.." she said sipping her chai
"Main bhai ko call lagau kya?" Laiba says turning towards Zayd. "shayad woh baba ko mana le..?"
"Tumhe lagta hai Woh baat karenge?"
"Pata nahi..par koshish toh kar hi sakti hun.." Laiba sighed.
After a pause, Zayd turned towards Laiba.
"Agar Tum yeh shadi nahi karna chahti toh bhaag jao na?"
"Tumhara dimag kharab hogaya hai..?" She replied tone tinged with frustration.
"bhaag gyi toh baba mujhe dhund ke maar dalenge.."
"Mera matlab hai..jab rishte wale kal aayenge tum uss waqt kahin chale jaana.
Aur unke jaane ke baad jab mahaul thoda thanda hojaye toh tum wapis aajana..?"
"Aur wapis aake baba ka khauf kon sambhalega?" She questioned.
"Maine toh idea de diya hai. Ab tum dekho kya karna hai."
Laiba rested her head on her hand thinking.
"Yar lekin isme risk bohot hai.."
both looked at each other and then sighed looking at the sky lost in their own thoughts.
Kaash tum meri baat maan lo Laiba, aise nahi jaane de sakta main tumhe. Zayd thought as he looked at her.
[AMAAL AND ZEENAT'S ROOM]
"Suniye..woh..." Zeenat called out Amaal.
"Hmm." He replied without turning to her.
Woh Laiba..main keh rahi thi..
"jab woh bol rahi hai ke uss ladke ke saath uska koi taluq nahi hai..toh aap yeh shadi kyun—"
Amaal showed his hand commanding her to stop.
"Tumhari beti ke kartoot main aaj apne ankhon se dekh ke aya hun.
Afsos hai mujhe.
Aur main nahi chahta humara naam kharab ho. Isliye uski shadi karna hi sahi faisla hai."
Zeenat shook her head not able to answer him back.
[SOHAIL AND SALMA'S ROOM]
"Bhai saab ne aise kaise humare Zaid ke rishte ko thukra diya?" Sohail said to Salma.
"Chodiye na. Bachhe khud ek dusre se shadi nahi karna chahte toh hum kyu uske baare mein soche?
Waise bhi..aap yeh mat bhuliye ke Amaal saab ne humesha Zaid aur Sameer mein koi farq nahi kiya..." Salma replied
NEXT DAY
(LAIBA'S ROOM)
"Laiba..ab aise muh banane se tumhare baba yeh shadi thodi rok denge..?" Zahra said while getting her ready to which Laiba shook her head.
"Ab dekho.." Zahra said turning to face her.
"shadi toh tumhari ek din honi hi thi? Tum ek baar ladke se mil lo..
kya pata Woh Accha ho? Akhir maa ke dost ka beta hai"
"Aap jaye mujhe aapse baat nahi karni" Laiba replied getting up.
"Thik hai..bas tayyar ho jana jaldi.." saying this Zahra left her room.
Zayd walked in to her room and looked at her.
********
Insia picked her phone to call Fahad and ask him about his whereabouts.
Fahad frowned remembering about the rishta.
"Maa ap mujhe address bhej de main office se direct aajaunga.." he said keeping the phone thinking of ways to avoid this alliance.
"Zara jaldi chalao Waqas!" Insia said to the driver.
"Madam aage bohot traffic hai." He replied.
Insia worried about being late.
"tum back door se chale jaana.." Zayd whispered.
Laiba looked at him and thought that this was the only way she could avoid this alliance. So she slowly walked towards the back door. Salma was talking to someone on the phone standing there.
Fearing being caught by her, Laiba slowly passed by the side to the main gate trying to elope without anyone noticing.
In the midst of her desperate attempt to elope from this marriage, her heart raced with fear and anticipation.
FAHAD
This must be the address. I thought looking at the house no. I didn't want to do this. But I had no option. My mom wouldn't leave me otherwise. But where is she? Is she already inside? I took out my phone to call her as I entered inside.
A force collided with my body, knocking me off balance. Startled, I looked up to find a pair of beautiful, wide eyes staring back at me.
Her face was flushed with fear, her breath ragged looking at me as if she had been caught.
In that moment, I felt oblivious.
time seemed to stand still. I couldn't help but be captivated by her delicate features, her tousled hair that framed her face perfectly. And those eyes. Those beautiful wide eyes.
(Humdum from the film Shiddat )
Ho Meharbaan
Dekha Hai Tujhe Pehli Dafa
Ho Meharbaan
Dekhun Main Tujhe Sau Martaba
Palkon Mein qaid Hoke
Reh Jao Tum Mujhi Mein
O Yaaram
She seemed to stare at me helplessly not knowing what to do but I couldn't get myself to look away from her. She was so beautiful.
********
Is he the guy who has come here to see me? Laiba thought as she felt a hand pulling her back from there inside the house. She turned back to look at Salma.
"kya kar rahi thi tum waha? Andar baitho room mein!!" She scolded.
"Woh bahir kon tha?" Salma realised and went outside.
Laiba look at Zayd who looked helpless.
Fahad calls his mom feeling awkward not knowing whether to enter or not. He hears the gate open and turns to see Insia.
What is this? He signed his mom for being late while she apologises.
Salma comes out greeting them, and asks them to enter inside.
Amal and Zeenat welcome them to their house and Salma offers them snacks. Fahad smiles at them awkwardly.
Zeenat and Insia engage in a conversation,
Insia asks her to call her daughter.
Zahra brings Laiba with her who looks upset. Fahad's eyes widen as he looks at her.
Amal introduces her to them,
"Yeh hai hamari beti Laiba"
"Mashallah..apki beti toh bohot khubsurat hai.." Insia said cupping Laiba's face.
"Hume toh ladki bohot pasand aayi hai.."
"aap jante hai..Fahad humare khandan ka waris hai..ek lauta beta." Insia continued.
"Main Fahad ka rishta Laiba ke saath tay karna chahti hu"
Laiba looks at them with a mix of shock and sadness. Zayd leaves from there. Zahra notices this and goes behind him.
Amaal talks to Fahad and asking him about his decision.
"Ji..mujhe manzoor hai-"
he said looking at Laiba. Insia gets surprised and happy hearing this and asks Zeenat, "muh toh meetha karao phir"
Zeenat feeds the sweet to Laiba who eats it unwillingly looking at Fahad angrily. Fahad unbothered by anything continues to stare at her.
[CAR]
"Kya baat hai..aaj ek dum se rishte ke liye maan gaye?" Insia said looking at Fahad.
"Aapko Haa bolo toh bhi problem..Na bolo toh bhi problem?"
"Aisa nahi hai..balki main toh bohot khush hu.." she said and hugged him placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Pasand karte ho na Laiba ko?" Zahra asked entering Zayd's room.
"Yeh aap kya bol rahi hai bhabhi?" He said trying to hide his tears.
"maine dekha..kis tarah tum waha se uth ke aa gaye.." Zaid remains silent.
"Zayd agar tumhare dil mein kuch tha toh usse bataya kyu nahi..?"
"Mujhe laga ek na ek din woh khud samajh jayegi, lekin shayad bohot der hogayi.." Zahra tried to console him.
"Aise Kaise ekdum se rishta pakka kardiya unhone?" Laiba thought walking the length of her room frustrated and scared.
"Yeh sab kuch itni jaldi ho raha hai—"
Laiba looked at her phone ring.
She picked it up and started scolding Nadia.
"Yeh sab tumhari wajah se horaha hai..tum aake sabko sach batao taki yeh shadi na ho"
Mere ab kehne se kya hoga..agar tumhare gharwalon ne mere gharwalon ko iss baare mein bata diya to?? I'm really sorry Laiba..mujhe maaf karde..
"Itni selfish ho tum? Mere baare mein bhi sochon?" Nadia remained silent.
"Aaj ke baad mujhse baat mat karna..aur meri shadi mein bhi mat aana.." Laiba cut the call.
She got another call. She picked it and asked, "Kya hai?"
"Uh hello..mein Fahad.woh ammi ne apka number diya tha."
*LooK At ThE AuDaCitY oF HiM To CaLl Me!*
Laiba thought to herself.
In a sweet tone she replied, "Woh..mujhe apse kuch baat karni thi..kya aap kal mil sakte hai?.
"Um okay sure.." He replied.
"Thik hai..lekin aap ghar mein kisi se mat kahe yeh baat..main apko address aur time message kardungi.."
She kept the call thinking of how to make him say no for this marriage.