"Bhai...jaldi gaadi nikaalein" Asim shouted as soon as he entered Rohail's house.

"Haan saare mohalle ko ikkhatta kar lo.." Rohail taunted picking his phone and car keys "Aur mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai ki mujhe sirf mere car ki wajah se plan ka hissa banaya gaya hai"

"Nahi bhai...aisa nahi hai .... aapke paise bhi matter karte hain" Asim chuckled only to receive a punch in his stomach
"Bhai .. pet par hamla nahin..abhi ise duniya ke bhinna bhinna cuisines dekhne hain"

"Assalam walekum Uncle" Asim greeted Akram who came out of his room dressed up

"Walekum Assalam beta"

"Aap bhi kahin jaa rahe hain"

"Jee aapki Chachi ne bulaya hai" Akram smiled

"Jaein jaein chachi ko apne Chhotu ki bahut yaad aa rahi thi"

"Badmaash" Akram ruffled Asim's hair ... "Kuch khaoge"

"Umm...h" Asim was about to answer in affirmative when he was dragged by Rohail "Ab der nahin ho rahi"

-------

"Sshh"

Muskaan frowned hearing a whisper and looked sideways to find Rohail beckoning her

"Kya huwa" she whispered while her eyes returned to the movie which was a thriller and quite engaging.

"I have already seen this movie...and I know who is the killer" Rohail was bored out of his wits

"No..please" Muskaan stopped him by covering his mouth tight with her palm

"Ummmm..." Rohail forcibly removed her hand.."Arre suno toh...wo hero ka jo friend hai na jo bahut innocent dikh raha hai.."

"I am not listening" Muskaan whisperyelled covering her ears and sat like that through the whole movie but by the end was seething in anger.

As the lights were on, Rohail was found sidehugging an angry Muskaan and laughing his heart out ..

"Arre kya hua inko....sadma laga kya heroine ka dhoka dekh ke" Ashar and Asim frowned at Rohail who was now pulling Muskaan's cheek "Tumne toh kuch nahin suna tha na"

"Kya hua" Asher shook Muskaan

"Inhone mujhe dhoka diya...."

"What..." Rohail laughed more

"Inhone kaha hero ka dost killer hai .. meri puri picture usko gaaliyaan nikaalne me nikal gayin aur end me pata chala ki heroine killer hai" Muskaan scowled at Rohail who shrugged "Yeh tha unexpected twist..."

"Waise hero to bilkul Zubair jaisa tha..us heroine ka bhi koi dosh nahin hai" Maham spoke up after finishing Muskaan's unfinished burger

"Zubair bhai ko pata chala na tumhari soch ke baare me..toh phir toh Allah hi maalik hai" Rohail shook his head

Maham was about to retort when her phone rang flashing Zubair's name

"Sh sh sh" she signalled everyone to keep quiet and received the call

"Hello...... ji..bas ek ghante me waapas aa jayenge"

"Haan movie toh khatma ho gai lekin Rohail bhai hume treat ke liye le jaa rahe hain" Maham's lie gained two pats from Asim and Ashar who grinned at Rohail

"Theek hai ... Allah Hafiz" Maham took a deep breath after cutting the call.."Ek to pata nahin chalta ki Shohar se baat kar rahi hun ya hostel ke warden se...."

"Kya keh rahe the" Ashar asked

"Kehte kahaan hain wo kuch ... bas alarm clock ki tarah bajte rehte hain..wo toh phir bhi battery se chalta hai..inme kaun sa castrol dala hua hai mujhe samajh nahin aata"

"Woh chhodo...filhaal toh let's refresh ourselves with Rohail bhai's treat....."

"Bheek waali treat....." Rohail corrected..."Bhikhaariyon ka samooh chalaane ke liye tumlog sabse zyaada eligible ho"

"Shukriya aapne hume kisi laayak toh samjha bhai....aur humara maanna hai koi kaam chhota bada nahin hota bas niyat lalchi honi chahiye" Asim hugged Rohail who pushed him away.."Zubair bhai ko phone lagaun"

"Hum chhote mote bhikhaariyon ke liye kyun Supreme Court ka darwaza khatkhata rahe hain" Maham pouted and dragged Rohail towards the exit.

--------

Seemed like Rohail was the target of everybody's scheme of things today....

"Akram tumhe Rohail ki shaadi karni hai ya nahin" Zeenat frowned at her brother who took a deep breath "Mai thak gaya hun bol bol kar"

"Are aise toh nahin chhoda jaa sakta na.....ye aaj nahi samajh raha hai lekin jab sare doston ki family ho jayegi..sab apni duniya me ram jayenge...phir mera bachcha toh akela reh jayega na" Zeenat was tensed for his beloved nephew's future. He was the first one who gave her the feel of being a mother as she had not conceived even after 6 years of marriage.

"Pata nahin kisne uske sar par ajeeb sa fitoor chadha diya hai....."

"Arre mai toh apni Mahi se hi karwa deti uska nikaah lekin Abbu ko Mahi ke liye Zubair ke alawa koi pasand hi nahin tha" Zeenat sighed and took a sip of her tea

"Aap baat kar ke dekhein....." Akram advised

"Thodi zabardasti karni padegi Akram..aise nahin maanega wo"

"Aapki nazar me koi achhi ladki hai" Akram asked with a ray of hope in his eyes

"Hmmm....ladki toh hai"

"Kaun Aapa"

"Humaari Muskaan kaisi rahegi mere bete ke liye" Zeenat smiled

"Bahut hi pyaari bachchi hai Aapa lekin mere bewkoof bete ko kaun samjhaye"

"Maine bhaisahab aur bhabhi se baat bhi ki thi is baare me..unhe koi masla nahin hai"

"Ye ladka phir rat lagayega ki meri behen jaisi hai....mujhe bahut ache se pata hai ye kaise naa karega" Akram shook his head

"Muskaan aur Rohail toh cousins bhi nahin hain..." Zeenat frowned at the logic

"Hmmm...dekhta hun isse baat karke.....lekin Muskaan ki bhi toh razamandi chahiye"

"Uski fikra tum karo...wo maan jayegi" Zeenat assured her brother who was thinking of all the tactics to convince his son.

-------------------

"Waise Rohail bhai sahi hain tumhare liye" Maham advised taking out a spoon of nutella.
Muskaan was informed of the proposal the next day and since then her mind was in a state of anxiety.

"Ab meri kismat ko dekhlo...jinn aa kar baith gaya hai...kya kar sakte hain ....hilne ka naam nahi dulne ka naam nahin bas filon par pen ragadne me kya maza aata hai Allah jaane"

"Use kaam karna kehte hain Aapi" Muskaan chuckled

"Haan haan puri duniya ka bojh inhone hi toh utha rakha hai....Earth ka rotation revolution sab inhi ke jurisdiction me toh hai." Maham twitched her lips "Rohail bhai kam se kam khushmijaaz hain...."

"But unhone celibacy ka oath liya hua hain" Muskaan frowned

"Huhh ye oath na shaadi ke baad yun chhutega yu " Maham clicked her fingers

"Aur tumhare liye toh acha hai shaadi ke kuch time tak distract nahin hogi aur apna PG ka entrance bhi nikaal logi" Maham was serious now

"But wo gussa nahi karenge?"

"Gusse ka kya hai....aayega chala jayega....lekin mere waale ko dekh lo gusse par hi zindagi chalti hai......tum bas ye jatana ki tumhe koi problem nahi hai....."

"Unhone baad me mujhe talaaq de diya toh" Muskaan stated her fears

"Nahin denge....inki guarantee mai le sakti hun"

"But phir bhi...I am scared "
Muskaan was anxious

------------------------

"Salaam Phuphojaan....batayein kya kaam tha mujhse" Rohail smiled at his darling Phupho early in the morning

"Bas mujhe apne bhateeje ki shaadi karwaani hai...use mana lo" Zeenat reciprocated with a smile

"Phupho....."

"Phupho wupho kuch nahin....maine ladki pasand kar li hai aur unke paiwaar se baat bhi kar li hai...."

"Kkisse..kaun"

"Muskaan aur ab tumhara mana karna acha nahin lagega..wo log mujhse naraaz ho jayenge"

"Phupho...wo meri....beh...:

"Behen nahin hai...haan biwi ban sakti hai"
Rohail's logic was waived off even before it was made

"Muskaan ne abhi tak hungama kaise nahi machaya" Rohain exasperated

"Meri bachchi ne haan kar di hai..ab tumhari bari...aur koi naatak nahin" Zeenat warned in a strict tone....and Rohail was in a shock.

--------------------

"Dimaag kharaab ho gaya hai tumhara" Muskaan pulled the phone away from her ears scared that the pitch will perforate her eardrums.

"H..hello"

"To hell with your hello...why did you say Yes ?" Rohail barked from the other side making Muskaan shiver

"Wo..wo Ammi-Abbu ne kaha"

"Ammi-Abbu kue me chhalaang lagaane bolenge toh laga dogi"

"Wo nahin bolenge"

"Mazaak soojh raha hai tumhe....just say No...tumhe mere baare me pata hai na phir bhi"

"Usi ke liye toh......."

"Come again"

"Ku..kuch nahin...I am ready to compromise"

"Hell you will do that..." Rohail shouted

"Please...."

"What please....this is a game or what"
Rohail's tone was getting higher with every second

"Isme kya bura hai...hum jaante hain ek dusre ko...sahi rahega"

"I want to be celibate all my life" Rohail countered

"To rehiye na..kisne mana kiya hai"

"Do you even know what that means"

"Yes..you don't want to indulge in se...

"Bas..pata hai tumhe toh kindly back off" Rohail's tone was strict this time

"Aur nahin kiya toh..."

"I am hating you right now Muskaan.......Tintin please..you are not understanding my situation" he sighed and spoke up "I have a very good boy in mind for you......."

"Mujhe kisi aur se shaadi nahin karni"

"Yeh kya bachpana hai..koi team nahin bana rahe hum ki meri team me hi rehna hai...Bhai bolti ho na tum mujhe aur mujhse shaadi karni hai"

"Ab aap bade hain toh kya bolun...Bhai hi bolungi na..toh kya bhai ho gaye aap mere "

"Shut up....say No or you will regret" Rohail's intimidating tone kinda scared Muskaan who was seeing this different side for the first time.

"Theek hai..mai mana kar dungi" Muskaan at last mumbled making Rohail sigh in relief

"Tintin...I am sorr" Before Rohail could apologise for his tone, the call was cut.

--------------------------

"Ammi mujhe Rohail se shaadi nahin karni" An upset Muskaan complained to her mother who was helping Zeenat and Maham in the kitchen

"Ye kya baat hui kal toh tumne haan kar di thi...."

"Unhone mujhe daraya dhamkaya raat me" Muskaan revealed in a whisper

"Rohail bhai ne" Maham who was packing lunch for Zubair on her mother's order dropped the chapatis in the casserole instead of lunch box in hurry to enroll herself in the ongoing controversy..."Wo toh bahut sweet hain"

"Haan mai bhi yahi sochti thi...lekin mera bhram tut gaya"

"Nahin but us Jinn se toh bahut acha hai..."

"Kaun Jinn"

"Apne nawabzaade aur kaun" Maham scrunched her nose

"Mahi......" Zeenat reprimanded her daughter and then turned to Muskaan

"Mai Akram se baat karti hun..wahi use seedha karega......27 ki umra ho gayi hai lekin kabhi bachon jaisa bartaav karta hai...." Zeenat sighed and turned to Muskaan .. "Tum fikra mat karo..sab sahi ho jayega".

-------

"Rohail..."

"Abbu please"

An argument was going on between father and son

"Nahi mujhe batao kya ajeeb si zid paali hui hai tumne........abhi nahi samajh me aa raha..baad me sab samajh aa jayega" Akram threw the newspaper and got up.

"Abbu aapne bhi toh dubaara shaadi nahin ki"

"Meri baat alag hai....mere paas tum the.......aur mai tumhari Ammi ki jagah kisi aur ko nahin de paaya....."
Akram became a bit emotional
"Kal ko umra dhal jaane par ehsaas hoga ki kaash Abbu ki baat maan leta"

"Tch..Abbu"

"Kal ko tumhari Ammi ko kya muh dikhaunga ki bete ko akele chhod kar aa gaya" Akram saw a twitch on his son's face nd he knew he was going in the right direction

"Aap kahin nahin jaa rahe.."

"Tumhare bolne se sachai badlegi nahi....hamesha tumhare saath nahin rahunga....kam se kam meri khushi ke liye is shaadi ke liye haan kar do"

"Muskaan ne mana kar diya na" Rohail tried to back off

"Usne razamandi de di hai....tum apni bataao...aur khabardaar jo tumne bachchi ko phir se daraya" Akram gritted his teeth

"Do I have an option Abbu..." Rohail finally dropped himself on the couch surrendering to his father's wishes.

-------------

Later in the evening, Maham was coming in the hall when he heard Zubair aaking their househelp "Aaj mera lunch kisne pack kiya tha"

"Kya hua Zubair.....kyun daat rahe ho bechaare ko"

"Chachi...aaj mere lunchbox me sirf sabzi thi" Zubair complained like a kid

Maham's eyes widened "Did I...?"
"No..no...I packed the chapatis"

"Maham" Zeenat's voice rang but instead of coming out, she hid behind a pillar..."Chapati na khaane ke gham me mujhe na khaa jaaye...."

"Maham"

"Mahi yahaan chhup chhup kar Bhai ko dekh rahi ho"

Maham hit her forehead hearing Ashar's teasing voice which attracted the unwanted attention.

"Ye kya pack kiya tha tumne" Zeenat scolded showing the insides of the lunchbox

"Kahin lunch pack karte karte tumhara lunch toh nahin ho gaya" Zubair crossed his arms

"Sorry aage se nahin hoga"

"Yahi baat tumne pichle mahine bhi ki thi Maham jab tumne sirf chapati daali thi" Zubair frowned

"Par is baar maine sabzi daali" Maham mumbled

"Mahi abhi ek padegi mujhse aur tumhara shohar bhi nahin bacha payega" Zeenat scolded

"Par mai to hun na bachane ke liye" Ashar squealed and dragged Maham away.

----------------

"Maham"

Maham set her clothes straight listening to the voice and saw the time..."why has he come to her room at this time". It's past his bedtime.

"Andar aa jaun" Knocking for the fourth time, Zubair asked not getting any response

"J..jee"

Maham sprang out of bed

Zubair entered the room and closed the door.

Seeing some papers in his hands, Maham frowned..."Ye toh kuch legal papers lag rahe hain...is he going to ... no no.... sirf chapati ke liye ye mujhe divorce nahin de sakte"

"Maham...ye Div....."

"Par kyun" Even before Zubair could complete, Maham questioned

"Kya kyun....mujhe sahi laga..maine le liya" Zubair shrugged

"Mujhse pucha toh hota ek baar.."

"Meri taraf se apne liye tohfa samajh lo..." Zubair shrugged forwarding the papers

"Sach kahein mai lena toh chahti hun..par Ammi lene nahin dengi" Maham shared her predicament

"Meri permission hai le lo..."

"Acha.....aapne sign kar diya"
Maham asked feebly

"Haan tumhaari bhi chahiye..left handside par space hai neeche" Zubair guided

"Jee.......aise kitne din ka process hai ye"

"Zyada nahin din nahin lagenge"

"Acha.....aise gharwaalon ko kab bataayenge" Maham was ready with another question

"Itni kya badi baat hai ki har jagah dhindhora peetna hai......" Zubair raised his brows

"Nahi pata chalega toh phir mere liye naye rishte kaise aayenge" A frown sat on Maham's face

"Excuse me.......naye rishte se kya matlab hai?" Zubair took steps closer to her

"Wo..wo mujhe dusri shaadi karne ka man hai"

And next second, Maham was gasping for air as she was under an angry Zubair...."Kisi aur ka khayal bhi kaise aaya tumhe"

Maham shivered seeing the intensity in his orbs...

"Ch..chhodein"

Maham's eyes widened when she felt her kurti zip going down...few moments later she could feel his giant palm on her naked back...

"YOU ARE MINE" Zubair peeved stressing on every word

"OK" Maham closed her eyes

"Will you ever think of another man" There was a dangerous tint in Zubair's eyes which was scaring the hell out of Maham.

"Never.....never....man is like woman for me "

"What"

"Ba..bas aapko chhod kar" Maham sighed a little seeing his muscles relax

"Lekin...divorce ke baad Ammi ne dusri shaadi ke liye bola toh" Zubair who was straightening himself again hovered on her with a more deadly glare..

"Ma..mai mana kar dungi..aap chinta na karein"

"Divorce ka khayal kaise aaya tumhare dimaag me"

"Paperstohaapne diye .... " Maham talked gibberish

"Yeh Dividend stock ke papers hain..you fool...kuch din pehle diye the na maine padhne....lekin aapko toh humesha der hoti rehti hai"

"Mai toh gayyi....chhupu bhi kahaan..jin ne chaaro taraf se ghera hua hai" Maham was now going berserk

Zubair's now red eyes were scaring her more.....

"You know what...you are a very naughty girl and you need to be tamed....agle mahine rukhsati ke liye taiyyar ho jao" After making the anouncement, Zubair was out of Maham's room but not before giving a light spank on her bottoms.