"Maaf kar dein" Zubair was flustered seeing his wife on her knees near his bed early in the morning....how did she break into the room...the door was bolted from inside.

"Huh...tum andar kaise aayi"

"Bahar se"

"Maham" Zubair glared

"Mera matlab balcony se....seedhi laga kar.."

"Are you crazy? Knock nahin kar sakti thi?"

"Mujhe appealing nahin laga wo....mujhe laga mai mehnat kar ke aaungi toh aap jaldi maaf kar denge" Maham pouted

"Don't pout" Zubair averted his gaze

"Ok no pouting from now on"

"Aap mujhe maaf kar dein...mujhe sach me laga ki aap mujhse alag hona chahte hain....nahin toh mai toh aapko bahut pasand karti hun" Maham sniffed

"Acha......"

"Haan .. isliye mai aapki khushi ke liye turant taiyyar bhi ho gayi thi"

"Iska matlab meri khushi ke liye agle mahine rukhsati ke liye raazi ho"

"Na karein rukhsati itni jaldi" Maham cried holding his leg..

"Arre..kya kar rahi ho....." Zubair immediately straightened his legs warding her hands off..."Tum itna ghabra kyun rahi ho...mai khaa toh nahin jaunga tumhe"

"Koshish to karenge" Maham mumbled

"Kya.."

"Nahi mera matlab tha..meri padhai hai....." Maham bit her tongue at her folly

"Finals tumne de diye..results is month ke end tak aa jayenge..padhai to phir puri" Zubair crossed his arms leaning on the bed rest

"Nahin mujhe aur padhna hai...doctor banna hai"

"Very good...mai padhaunga..lekin mai chah kar bhi tumhe doctor nahin bana sakta"

"Isliye mai keh rahi thi rukhsati thode der se karte hain"

"Hmmmmmm"

"Matlab aap maan gaye"

"Hmmm....mai bhi dekhna chahta hun ki bina biology padhe ek insaan doctor kaise ban sakta hai"

"Allah...sab society ki galti hai..din bhar doctor-engineer karte rehte hain .. ki muh me kisi dusre profession ka naam hi nahin aata"
Maham was highly disappointed

"Khud se baat ho gayi" Zubair poured some water in glass

"Wo wo slip of tongue ho gaya...lekin mai sach me aage padhna chahti hun"

"Tum Rukhsati ke baad padhne se koi nahi rok raha"

"Kaise....mai toh ruksati ke baad pregnant ho jaungi"

"What....." Zubair was in splits

"Mai pregnant ho jaungi"

"Wo maine suna.....aise kaise pregnant ho jaogi"

"Aapko nahin pata..." Maham forgot her issue and was now perplexed at her husband's lack of knowledge....was he that innocent!!

"Pregnancy is the outcome of.." Maham started the definition only to be cut off midway

"Oh shut up...I am not a child"

"What I meant was pregnancy can be avoided if a couple wants to......I will make sure that you don't get pregnant so soon.. we will visit a gynaec"

"Phir toh rukhsati ki koi zarurat bhi nahin hai...do teen saal me dekha jayega..kya kehte hain aap"

"3 saal kyun aur 5-6 saal wait karte hain" Zubair's voice came out relaxed

Just then, they heard a whistle

"Kaun hai"

"Ashar neeche seedhi pakar kar khada hai....mai chalti hun"

"Toh darwaaze se jaao...

"Hmm..lekin Ashar ko bura lag jayega" saying that Maham was out of the room

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

"Arre arre aise kaise bhaijaan.......thoda toh make up karna hoga na" Ashar and Asim had caught Rohail and Maham in a matter of seconds had his face covered in turmeric.

"Nalaaykon hato" Rohail was wiggling but who was listening to him..no one not even  little Riza.

It was Muskaan's Mayoon and after giving her a bath of turmeric, the so called nalaayaks were now at Rohail's place to give him one too.

"Bhai humne toh aapki shaadi ki aas hi chhod di thi.....lekin finally aapka wicket girte hue dekh jo khushi ho rahi hai na wo shabdon me bayaan nahin kar sakta .. isliye ye lein"  Asim made one more layer of haldi on Rohail's face which was resembling a multi  storeyed cake..only exception being the colour.

"Ruko tumlog" Rohail somehow came out of their changul and started chasing them with whatever he got in his hands

"Bhai....hone waali biwi ke bhai se aisa bartaaw karte hain" Asim ducked in.

"Aur Maham, Zubair bhai ko aane do....tumhe house arrest na karwa diya na...toh mera naam Rohail nahin"

"Hahaha.......wo agle ek mahine tak yahaan nazar nahin aanewale" Maham stuck her tongue out. Because of an urgent onsite work, Zubair had left for Dubai a month ago and seemed like the work will be taking some more time. Maham was on cloud nine when she got the news...she even distributed sweets among her closed ones.
Without Mr Zubair Shah on her head, days were beautiful than ever.

"Aur bhai haldi se toh rang nikharta hai..hum nahin chahte ki humaari Muski ke samne aap pheeke lagein" Maham scrunched her nose applying some more from behind.

The wedding functions were going on in full swing and finally the day arrived when Rohail and Muskaan was declared each other's shareek e hayat and now they were sitting on the stage receiving the wishes of friends and family.

Muskaan was an extremely beautiful girl and even Rohail used to acknowledge this fact by sometimes calling her Hoor. He had always been over protective of her and Maham who was more close to her younger siblings Asim and Ashar. But, Muskaan was his girl in Ashar's words.

Sitting next to Muskaan on the stage, Rohail knew that he will be giving in sooner or later owing to the love he carries for her but not before making everyone understand that a person's views should be respected.

"Aap mujhse baat bhi nahin karenge" Leaning on Rohail, Muskaan asked with puppy eyes but Rohail remained unaffected..."Seedhe se baitho"

She pouted and straightened herself.

"Waise Rohail bhai ke doston ka pata karna...Zubair ko bhi wahin bhej dungi...phir meri zindagi set hai" Maham whispered the most important thing in Muskaan's ears during Rukhsati only to get a hit in return. Finally, she was smiling.

Rohail entered the room normally and straightaway went towards his wardrobe

"Rohail....." Muskaan was disappointed..she knew he would be angry but this much...she had no idea.

Getting no response, she got down the bed and shook him who was already agitated "Can you please let me live in peace....mere sar par naachne ki zarurat nahin hai"

"S..sorry" Muskaan was a bit taken away and immediately left to change her clothes.

Rohail sighed opening his kurta buttons and dropped himself on the couch.

His eyes got closed owing to the exhaustion while Muskaan's remained glued at him. She was out of the washroom and was now staring at him. Feeling defeated, she took the bed to indulge herself in some sleep.

Hours went by and the sun hinted its arrival with its bright rays through the curtains

"Good morning " Rohail woke up to Muskaan's greeting which was left unreciprocated

"Rohail...." she whined but it didn't have any effect

"Bas ho gaya...itna kya bhaav khaa rahe hain aap...aapki shaadi kisi na kisi se toh uncle aur chachi ne karwa hi deni thi ..... it's a good thing ki mai hun jise aap jaante hain" Muskaan reasoned
"Mai bhi aapke baare me jaanti hun aur mai aapko time dene ke liye taiyyar hun.....I know it will take time but you will come around"

"Acha....kab tak time do gi" Rohail now crossed his arms with a smug face

"Ummmm....6 mahine.."

Rohail raised his brows at the answer

"Acha ek saal."

"How about Never......" Rohail snorted
"Tumhe bahut shauk tha na mujhse shaadi karne ka..ab bhugto" Some kind of ego was travelling to Rohail's mind. He was not that easy as everybody was thinking him to be. He will show everyone how correct his stance was and nobody should have forced him.

===========

"Rahim kaka......mera naashta" Rohail called out the house help who came at the first call.."Aaj aapka naashta Muskaan beti  bana rahin hain"

Muskaan came in with a plate carrying steamy Pasta

"Ye aapki favourite white sauce pasta" she smiled keeping it on the table while Rohail looked at Raheem Kaka who left the couple alone

"Mai office me kuch kha lunga"

"Kyun...aapko toh bahut pasand hai na mere haath ka Pasta......khaane se kya naraazgi"

"Maine kaha na mai office me nashta kar lunga"

"Mujhe nahin pata..mai yahaan rakh kar jaa rahi hun...aapki marzi aap khaayein ya phenk dein" Muskaan was adamant and left the dining hall after serving him.
Half an hour later, she came excitedly to check on and her shoulders slumped seeing the untouched dish. She remembered this was one dish Rohail could never get enough of.

With an upset mood, she dialled Maham who was still in her bed..."Hello Muski"

"Aapi" Muskaan cried

"Kya huwa...."

"Rohail bahut gussa hain..nahin maan rahein..unhone PASTA nahin khaaya"

"Kya" Maham sat on the bed "Tumne Pasta banaya hai..mai aati hun"

"Aapi...yahaan par mai "

"Sorry sorry baby....." Maham cut off Muskaan with her apologies .."Dekh..pareshaan hone ki zarurat nahin hai....thoda gussa toh honge hi..sabne shaadi zabardasti karwa di"

"Maine toh mana kar diya tha na..but uncle ka chehra dekh kar mujhe unpar taras aa gaya...he was so sad.." Muskaan remembered Akram pleading her

"I know Muski..but tum persistent raho....kabhi na kabhi toh pighal hi jayenge...bhulo mat unki Tintin ho tum....he loves you..bas abhi gusse ke sadme me yaad nahin hai" Maham advised coming out of the bed

"Theek hai......." Muskaan was okay now "Waise aapne apni rukhsati ke baare me kya socha"

"Zubair ne toh bola hai...2-3 saal tak bilkul nahin....." Maham chirped remembering Zubair's words which had every hint of sarcasm in them.. but let's not forget it's Maham we are talking about.

"Meri rukhsati toh kal hi ho gayi...aapko itna time kyun diya jaa raha hai" Muskaan frowned

"Tu zyada jal mat......kitne papad belti hun mai Jinn se door bhaagne ke liye" Maham scowled at her sister who snickered "Apne Jinn ke paas kabhi na kabhi toh jaana hoga na"

"Jab tak bacha jaa sake bach lo is what I live on......." Maham said winking at herself in the mirror. Her dimpled smile made men swoon over but her husband never seemed to have taken a notice of that. Seemed like he was possessive of her just because she was his wife.

"Aapi..aapi"

"Haan bol.."

"Kahaan kho gayin aap"

"Apni smile mein" Maham grinned opening her wardrobe

"Aap na iklauta piece of...matlab..acha ab mai rakhti hun..soch rahi hun..Rohail ke liye acha sa lunch bhijwa dun" Muskaan smiled.

"Haan haan ruthe miyaan ji ko manaao" Maham teased and cut the call.

"Ghazab ka din socho zara....ye deewanapan dekho zara..tum bhi akele hum bhi akele maza aa raha hai" Maham was dancing in a towel after coming out of the washroom

A knock on the door and she was disturbed..."Tch...kaun hai"

"Kaun hai ki bachi..darwaza kholo....kya kar rahi ho itne der se...."

"Wo wo Ammi..mai apni assignment complete kar rahi thi der raat..toh late se uthi"

"Acha jaldi darwaza kholo...."

"Kya huwa Ammi" Maham hid her towel clad body behind the door and pulled her head out

"Lo Zubair ka phone hai...tumhare phone par kar kar ke thak gaya wo" Zeenat gave her the phone and left.

Maham checked her phone and there were 10 missed calls....she was doomed...he will bury her alive..just then Zubair's video call came and without even realizing her state, she immediately received it ..."Hello..hello...wo mai naha rahi thi....I am so sorry"

Not getting any response, she frowned and looked at Zubair whose eyes were turning dark.....was he going to blast her....with that penetrating gaze she felt he could anytime come out of the phone screen and uske baad Allah maalik.

He muttered something ....

"Aap kya bol rahe hain mujhe sunai nahin de raha..mai thoda bahar nikalti hun signal ke liye

"Are you crazy...dare you take a step ahead.. I will make you regret" and the signal which Maham was looking for came right before her opening the door

"I am sorry...I am sorry...mujhe bilkul nahin pata tha ki aapko mujhse zaruri kaam hoga nahin toh mai apne phone ke sath hi nahaati"

"Pehle kapde pehno" A strict voice came out making Maham frown.."Maine toh"...
"Aaaah" as soon as she realized the state she was in, she threw the phone on the bed and picked up the clothes kept on the bed.

Dressing herself in an off white salwaar kameez, she picked the phone  and saw Zubair going through some file.

"M.mai aa gayi"

Zubair lifted his head and nodded.."Apni ek recent passport size photograph bhejna mujhe....."

"Bhejti hun....." Maham didn't question the reason as she knew he must be buying some property or shares in her name. It was his favourite hobby.

"Aur suno....thode hosh me raha karo...abhi video call par koi aur hota toh" Zubair made her understand in a calm tone

"Aainda se mai dhyaan me rakhungi..." She was really sorry and was reprimanding herself again and again. She was truely childish.

"Koi baat nahin..mai hi tha" Zubair said and started showing her some documents

"Hmm....ab mai rakhun" Maham was feeling shy all of a sudden

"Nahin...line par raho..mujhe kuch kuch information chahiye .. apni papers wali file khol kar baitho"

And the next half an hour, Maham was busy with her Miyaan on phone.........aah sounds romantic!!

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

"Phir nahin khaaya" Muskaan pouted opening the lunchbox which was brought as it was by Rohail.

Coming inside the bedroom, she saw the clothes she had taken out for Rohail on the bed while he was in the bed all changed with a book in his hands.

She realized that she was in for some hard work now....melting of her husband will take time...but she had to be persistent as Mahi aapi said.

Keeping the clothes back, she came to bed with a book ... "Mujhe yeh chapter samjha denge"

Rohail looked at her and then the book. Closing his book, he took hers in his hands and started going through it.
And next Rohail was found teaching his wife like some strict professor.....it was heights of professionalism.

It had been a month and a half now and the same routine was being followed by Rohail.
Muskaan had now started losing patience....she only wanted him to be friendly with her again....was it so much to ask for...she was not even asking him to behave like a husband now, knowing it would be next to impossible as he had now started snapping at her at every given opportunity. He seemed to be irritated all the time.

Akram had gone on a business trip and will be returning the next day. Muskaan was happy as someone worth her time will be here now.

Next morning, Akram was happily gossiping with Muskaan while gorging on chhole bhature made by his daughter in law.

"Uncle...toh aapne us lady ko kya bola"

"I had to deny vehemently because she was not leaving my back......Am I that handsome" Akram asked his darling daughter who smiled "More than you could ever know"

"Really....." Akram acted surprised

Rohail was listening to their talks but didn't open his mouth for once. He was longingly looking at the Pasta which his father and wife was devouring amidst their senseless talks.

A plate was kept for him too but his ego didn't let him pull that to his side.

"Who is more handsome..Rohail or me?" Akram poised a question making Muskaan giggle.."Ofcourse you"

"Even I was thinking the same...he has gone on his mother and failed to get my handsomeness...he has pretty eyes though" Akram looked at Rohail who had a frown on his face..

"What......be a sport and accept that"

"Please Abbu....."

"You are no fun....come on Muskaan..we should go to your mayka for some more fun"

"Ek minute .. Rohail ka lunch pack kar deti hun .. phir chalti hun" Muskaan smiled and walked towards the kitchen

"What is wrong with you Rohail" Akram angrily spat as soon as Muskaan was out of their vision

"Kya huwa....."

"Mai dekh raha hun kya chal raha hai.....biwi hai wo tumhari..be responsible"

"Kaun si responsibility maine nahin li Abbu....uske college ki fees...uske ke har zarurat ke liye uske account me har month itna dal jaata hai jitna wo kharch bhi na kar sake"

"Waah Cashier sahab.....lekin ab mai aap ko is responsibility se free karta hun"  Akram wiped his mouth .."Mai tumse zyada ache se support kar sakta hun apni beti ko..as I am richer than you"

"Abbu..."

"Amn't I " Akram could see an instant rage in his son's eyes when he was being robbed off his share of responsibilties.

"Chalein uncle..." Muskaan chirped coming in the hall with Rohail's lunchbox.

"Abbu" Akram corrected

"Okay...chalein Abbu" Muskaan rephrased her sentence and then the father-daughter were out leaving an upset Rohail behind.

================

Next update is full of Zubair and Maham....kyunki Zubair wapas aayega aur bomb phodega...aur is baar Maham nahin bachegi 😁😁😁

Rohail ke reasons pata chalenge aage.......lekin use bhi Tit for Tat dena toh banta hai