Ishrat's POV

I called Saleem bhai, our security guard, to send Ruhi home as it was time for us to leave for the Eidgaah*.

(*A huge open ground exclusively reserved for Eid prayers)

As expected, her white gown had now become colourful. Stains of candies, sweets, soil & what not had created unrecognisable patterns on her dress.

She gave me a helpless look and I nodded my head disapprovingly. But I didn't scold her as I didn't want to spoil her mood.

I changed her into the stylish cape top paired with printed palazzo that Simmi had bought for her. She then found a matching scarf from her wardrobe and asked me to help her drape it around her head.

She saw Rahman descending the stairs and ran towards him "Assalamu Alaikum Abbu. Eid Mubarak" she wished him.

"Walaikum Assalam meri pari. Aapko bhi Eid Mubarak" He lifted her in his arms hugging her and kissing her on her forehead.

"Meri pari ki princesswali dress kahan gayi? Abbu toh dekhna chahte the ke pariyonwali dress me meri pari kitni achhi lagti hai" Rahman said.

"Hawww Abbu! Aap ye kehna chahte ho ke mai is dress me achhi nahi lag rahi?" The drama queen was up with her skills.

"Maine aisa kab kaha?" Rahman was taken aback.

"Hawww....Toh aap ye kehna chahte ho ke Simmi Bua ye jo itna cool sa dress laayi hain mere liye, woh bilkul bhi achhi nahi hai?" She confused him further.

"Arey maine aisa bhi kab kaha?" He was confused.

"Aap ne kaha nahi par hum samajh gaye. Hai na Simmi Bua?" She turned towards Simra & winked at her.

"Haan bilkul samajh gaye. Bhai ko toh bas yahi lagta hai ke duniya me sabse achhi pasand sirf unhi ki hai. Hai na Ruhi?" Simmi supported her in the act.

"Mai......" Rahman began to explain.

"Bas bas ab bahut hogayi tum dono ki nautanki" I chided the Aunt-Niece duo. "Aur aap kyun iski baaton me aake pareshan ho rahe hain? Ye toh hamesha hi apko buddhu banati hai aur aap ban jaate ho. Asal me toh woh khud ko daant se bacha rahi hai kyunki usne apni princesswali dress gandi kardi hai" I informed Rahman.

Ruhi squinted her eyes & pouted cutely. Like I mentioned earlier she does this when she is being caught and Rahman's heart melts immediately.

"Haan toh isme meri pari ki kya galti hai. Tumhe khayal karna chahye tha ke itni subah in kapdon me bachhi ko khelne keliye bhejogi toh aisa hi hoga" he put the entire blame on me as he was still upset about me having sent her to play early in the morning.

"Ye sahi hai. Jiski favour me baat ki wahi mujhe daante. Aur aisa lag raha hai ke aap bas intezaar me the ke kab mouqa mile aur kab aap mujhe is baat pe sunayein ke maine Ruhi ko ITNI SUBAH bhej diya." I gave back.

"Toh kya zarurat thi tumhe Ruhi ko bhejne ki? Meri pari mujhe bina wish kiye hi chali gayi. Pata hai Abbu kitne sad hogaye the?" He said.

Ruhi held her ears and said "Sorry Abbu" then kissed him on his cheek. Rahman kissed her back, all his sadness disappeared into thin air.

"Nautanki" said Simra tickling Ruhi.

The sheer khurma had come to a final boil and I served it in a huge bowl placing it on a tray.

"Simra ye Vandu Akka ko de aaogi please?" I asked extending the tray towards her.

Vandita, my next-door neighbour, a Tamilian, was a huge fan of Sheer Khurma. On every Eid, the first serving of Sheer Khurma would go to her house. A mature and kind hearted woman, was more like a sister to me than just a neighbour. She insisted I call her Akka and she fondly called me Ishu. Rahman would always tease us about the bond we shared.

"Lo bhai. Sheer Khurma choolhe se utra nahi ke Vandu Akka ka parcel ready hogaya" Rahman commented.

"Haan kyun nahi? Bas ek wahi hain jo meri aur meri cooking ki qadr karti hain. Warna kuch log toh bas maze lekar khaate hain par badle me ek lafz tareef me kehte nahi hain" I sarcastically remarked.

"Ab koi tareef ke layaq ho toh banda tareef kare na. Warna tumhe toh pata hai ke mai jhoot nahi bolta" he winked.

"Dekh Simra tere bhai kya bol rahe hain. Kya mai itna bura pakati hoon?" I complained.

"Bhabhi aapki cooking toh first class hai. Ab gadhe ko zafran ki qadar nahi toh hum kya karein?" She raised her hand for a high-five unconsciously "Oops abhi tray gir jaata" she said holding the tray in time.

"Mai de aati hoon jaldi se. Warna thandi ho jayegi" Simmi said.

"Mai bhi jaaungi" Ruhi squealed.

"Theek hai jaao. Par Vandu aunty ko pareshan mat karna ok" I instructed.

"Ammi aap roz hi yahi kehti ho" Ruhi giggled.

I gave her a stern look while stifling a laugh.

"Ab mujhe bhi koi Sheer Khurma khilayega?" Rahman said walking towards the dining area.

"Koi" I called to no-one in particular and added "Zara Rahman ko Sheer Khurma khila dena"

"Kisse baat kar rahi ho?" He gave me a strange look.

"Usi KOI se jise aap abhi pooch rahe the" I folded my arms across my chest.

"Toh begum Sahiba rooth gayi" he tried to touch me.

I hit his hand not letting him come closer.

"Baap re itna gussa!" He tried to hug me from behind but I escaped.

"Koi" he imitated my earlier action and added "Zara woh le aana....Arey wahi jo meri biwi ke chehre pe missing hai..... Haan wahi jise dekh ke mai pehli nazar me hi fida hogaya tha..... Jise dekhne se mera din roshan ho jaata hai" he went on and on. I tried my best to hide a smile and the blush but in vain.

He was quick to catch me smiling and he remarked "Lo aagayi. Bas yahi missing tha" He pecked on my cheek that turned crimson under its effect.

"Ab aapko Sheer Khurma nahi khaani?" I changed the topic before he would go all gaga over how I blush even after 5 years of marriage.

"Is meethe ke saamne us meethe ki kya auqat hai" he flirted.

"You mean to say ke mere hath ke bane hue meethe ki auqat nahi?" I gave back.

"Nahi nahi. Meri kahan itni majaal hai. Tum apne hathon se zeher bhi de do toh mai khushi khushi khaa loonga" God! His never ending cheesy lines.

"Oh shit! Rat poison toh hai hi nahi ghar pe" I acted.

"Ya Allah! Tum ab mujhe sach me zeher khilaogi?" He acted shocked.

"Ab aapne agar ye chikni chupdi baatein karni nahi chodi toh seriously sochna padega Rat poison mangwane ke baare me." I warned.

"Tum na meri samajh ke baahar ho! Tareef karo toh bhi problem, nahi karo toh bhi problem. Ab tum hi samjhao ke mai kya karun?" He commented.

"5 saal me nahi samjhe, ab 5 minute me kya samjhoge. Aap bas wahi karo jo aapko achhe se karna aata hai, KHAANA." I said serving a bowl of Sheer Khurma for him.

I heard a knock on the door & saw that Vandu Akka was here.

"Eid Mubarak Ishu" she hugged and wished me.

"Eid Mubarak Akka" I wished her back.

"Simmi aur Ruhi nahi aaye kya aapke yahan? Maine Sheer Khurma bhijwaya tha" I asked.

"Agaye. Thank you Ishu" she said.

"Kya Akka aap bhi? Itne saal hogaye phir bhi formalities?" I chided.

"Aadat hai jo jaati nahi" she replied.

"Andar aayiye na" I invited her.

"Arey nahi. Mujhe actually tum se kuch poochna tha" she said softly.

"Haan poochiye na"

"Woh baat ye hai ke Ruhi ko tayyar dekh ke Shravu poochne laga ke woh kahan jaa rahi hai. Toh Ruhi ne itne achhe se bataya use Eidgaah ke bare me ke ab woh zid kar raha hai ke use bhi jaana hai." she spoke hesitatntly.

"Oh great. Hum le jaayenge use apne sath" I replied.

"But he is a Hindu na. Toh wahan jaana allowed hai kya?" She asked.

"Of course allowed hai. Ye Khuda ki ibadath ka ghar hai aur Khuda ka ghar har kisi keliye khula hai. Akhir hum sab usi ke paida kiye hue hain" I explained.

"Sahi kaha Ishu. Pata nahi log kyun religion ke naam pe ek dusre ko ladwate hain jabke hum sab ka Khuda ek hi hai" she agreed.

"Bilkul sahi kaha" I said.

"Rahman ko toh koi problem nahi hoga na?" She was apprehensive.

"Mujhe kyun koi problem hogi. Shravu bhi toh mere liye meri Ruhi ki tarah hai. Aap bas use jaldi se tayyar kardena. Kyunki ab Eid ki namaz keliye bas adha ghanta hi reh gaya hai" Rahman came to where we were standing and assured her.

"Ji mai abhi ready kar deti hoon usko" she smiled and walked back to her house.

"Ab chaliye aap bhi tayyar hojayiye Begum Sahiba warna Masjid me entry nahi milegi" he teased me.

"Kuch bhi" I said walking towards the kitchen making sure nothing was left open.

"Ye sab rehne do. Mai dekh loonga. Tum jao aur tayyar hojao" he pushed me to our room.

I quickly freshened up, wore my new dress and draped the Abaya* over it.

(*Arabic name for burqa. An overcoat and a headscarf worn by Muslim ladies to cover their body)

I rushed down as I heard Rahman calling out for me.

"Chalo jaldi karo. Sab tayyar hain na?" He asked.

"Woh to tayyar hua hi nahi? Simra, Ruhi, Shravu tum log neeche wait karo. Mai uskk tayyar karke laati hoon" I said.

Simmi gave me a confused look. I signalled her to go with the kids. She understood that I had something to tell Rahman in private and she left immediately.

"Tum kiski baat kar rahi ho? Sab toh tayyar hain" He asked.

"Ek ko chod kar sab tayyar hogaye hain" I said.

"Koun ek? Ab paheliyaan bujhane ka waqt nahi hai mere paas" he was getting irritated.

"Mere ek loute dewar ka bada bhai abhi tak tayyar nahi hua" I cleverly put forward what I had been planning to say since morning.

His jaw muscles clenched as a flash of pain ran through his veins. He tried to mask it behind his indifference but I could see how hurt he was. "Sautela bhai" he emphasised with an expressionless face but I very well knew that the word had brought back a very painful memory to him.

I didn't want to hurt him on this day, not at this time but it was important to sort this out today.

"Rahman mai jaanti hoon ke Romi ne jo kiya woh galat tha par mujhe ye bhi oata hai ke usse naraz rehke aapko koi khushi nahi mil rahi. Eid ka matlab hota hai Khushi manana, jab aapke dil me khushi hai hi nahi toh aap ye Eid kaise mana paaoge" I tried to explain.

"Aaj ke din ye mudda uthana zaruri tha?" He was not convinced yet.

"Haan zaruri tha. Aapko pata hai aapke naam ka matlab kya hai? Rahman - sabse badhkar rehem karnewala. Eid ke din woh Rahman jisne hum sabko paida kiya hai, woh apni rehmat se hum sabki gunahon ko maaf kardeta hai. Toh kya aap us naam Rahman ke naate apne chote bhai ki nadaani ko maaf nahi kar sakte?" I used the best words in my knowledge to convince him.

"Humein der ho rahi hai. Chalo" he walked out without waiting for me.

"Ya Allah! Aaj ke din toh dushman bhi ek doosre ko gale laga lete hain. Tu apni rehmat se in do bhaiyyon ke dilon ke doori ko mita de aur inhe phir se mila de aur sabko milkar Eid manane ki thoufeeq ata kar de" I prayed raising my hands before leaving the house.

Enemies Embracing Each Other
All Hatred Is Buried
Everyone Is Celebrating
Greeting Everyone They Meet

----To be continued-----