Khaani: Mera Dushman Mera Ishq

Mujhe pyaar hua tha

Khan Mansion

Yeh Hadi ne abhi tak meri video release kyu nahi ki? Khaani thought to herself, as she mindlessly pushed the food on her plate. It was one of those rare occasions when the entire Khan family sat together for dinner. Woh kis baat ka wait kar raha hai?She finally broke out of her reverie when she heard her name being called. "Khaani beta?", Nayeema called, "Tum yeh kabab kyu nahi try karti?". Khaani smiled and nodded. 

"Dadi", Sarim said, "Mujhe aapse ek important baat discuss karni, mere upcoming rally ke baare mein". "Aha! Sarim", Abul interjected, "Itne time baad toh puri family saath baithi hai. Tum kyu siyasat ki baat lekar saara maahol kharab kar rahe ho?". 

Sarim replied, "Dadi kal tumhare campaign ke liye Sindh chali jayengi Abul, iss liye mujhe abhi inki ijaazat leni paregi.". "Kis baat ki ijaazat, Sarim?", Shiasta Begum asked curiously. "Dadi, main chahta hu ke mere agle rally mein Khaani opening speech de."  Sarim's words was met with silence. Finally, Yousuf said,"Humare yaha ladkiya rallies mein speech nahi deti.". Sarim asked, "Magar party mein aurtein toh rallies mein speech  deti hai.". Abul chuckled and replied, "Tum nahi samjhe Sarim woh party members hai, lekin humare khandan ki ladkiya aise bahar sar-e-aam logo ke beech mukhatib nahi hoti. Yeh humare khandan ke riwaayat ke khilaaf hai. Rallies mein shaamil ho sakti hai magar speech nahi de sakti. Aaj tak dadi ne kabhi speech nahi di.".

"Sarim, mujhe koi speech nahi dena. I don't know yeh idea tumhare dimag mein kaha se aaya, you know I have stage fright.", Khaani said. Sarim reassured her,"Khaani don't worry. I will be there to help you. But please tum manaa nahi karna. Women empowerment mere campaign ka ek bohot important theme hai, aur agar mere ghar ki ladki agar awaaz nahi uthayegi toh voters ko mujhpe aitbaar kaise hoga?". Mahnoor replied in a saccharine sweet tone,"Maaf karna Sarim beta magar tumhari behen par aisa kaunsa zulm ho raha hai ke usse apni awaaz uthani paregi?".

Salman countered,"Ladkiyo ki awaaz humesha protest karne ke liye uthni chahiye aisi to koi shart nahi hai bhabi. Agar aapke paas awaaz hai to aapko uska istemaal karna chahiye, yeh aapka haq hai. Main maanta hu ke aaj tak iss ghar ki kisi bhi aurat ne public platform mein koi speech nahi di, lekin iska yeh matlab nahi ke kabhi nahi degi. After all, hume bhi waqt ke saath badalna chahiye, warna party ki relevance khatam ho jayegi. Aur ammi, aaj kal toh ladkiya masha allah pe jaa rahi hai, toh Khaani ka ek opening speech dene mein kya badi baat hai?".

Yousuf turned on his younger brother, "Badi baat yeh hai ke humara khandan-". "Yousuf!", came Shiasta Begum's mild reprimand. She turned towards Sarim and said, "Agar tumhe lagta hai ke Sanam ke speech dene se tumhare campaign mein koi farak padega, to theek hai Sanam speech de sakti hai, magar dhyaan rahe ke iske speech mein aisi koi baat na ho jo humare party line ke khilaaf ho.". Saying this, Shiasta Begum got up from her place and retired for the night. Behind her, each member of her family was undergoing different emotions. Salman and Sarim were grinning at each other, wordlessly congratulating each other on mission accomplished.  Abul quickly engaged his father in an entirely different conversation, trying to deflect his anger. Khaani, on the other hand, was completely flabbergasted. What was the dragon lady playing at?!This was so unlike her rigid and vicious nature. And why on earth did Sarim suggest something like this? He knew how much she hated to be in the limelight. Sarim's voice brought her out of her reverie, "Khaani", he said, "Hum kal se tumhare speech ki taiyyari karenge!". Khaani answered, "Sarim, tumhe aise mujse poochhe begair yeh decision nahi lena chahiye tha. I am not comfortable with public speaking". 

"Khaani beta, tum bilkul chinta nahi karo, tumhara bhai aur main tumhe sab sikha denge", Salman said.
Nayeema piped in,"Sarim sahi keh raha hai Khaani, voters uspe kaise aitbaar karenge agar uski khudki behen apne awaaz ka istemaal nahi karegi?Tum ghabrao nahi, sab achcha hoga."