Khaani: Mera Dushman Mera Ishq

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"I don't believe this!", exclaimed Sarim, staring at the screen, "Isne aisa kyu kiya?". Khaani didn't say anything, she simply stared at the screen transfixed. Her mind kept going back to their meeting at the beach, when Hadi confidently told her that Sibi was in his pocket. Agar aisa tha toh usne apna naam kyu hataya?She thought.

"Woh jo bhi ho", Nayeema said, "Humare liye toh yeh achhi khabar hai. Iska matlab ab Sibi ke liye Sarim ka raasta clear hai. Ek Mir Hadi hi tha jo Sarim ko haraa sakta tha..aur ab woh peechhe hatt gaya. Jeet mubarak ho Sarim!"

"Woh Karachi se ladh raha hai, matlab ab woh Abul ka rival hai", Sarim concluded.

"Waise Karachi Mirs ki family seat hai", Nayeema said, "Hum sabne socha tha ke Hadi Karachi se elections ladega, magar usne Sibi ko chuna...ab pata nahi achanak kya hogaya ke usne apna faisla badal liya?"

Khaani didn't reply, her mind kept going to their previous meeting. The anger and determination shining in Hadi's eyes....could she be the reason behind his decision?

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from an unknown number. The message read: Ek jeetey huye election ko maine tumhare liye chhor diya. Mere liye sabse pehle tum ho, kya tumhe abhi bhi iss baat par shaq hai? 

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Hadi stared at his phone for a few minutes, before placing it on the coffee table frustratedly. There was no reply from Khaani. Surely, she must have seen the news by now. 

There was knock on his door, his father entered the room and quietly sat next to his son. After few moments of silence, Mir Shah spoke up, "Main nahi jaanta ke tumne aaj aisi bewakufi kyu ki. Magar umeed karta hu yeh tumhari pehli aur aakhri bewakufi hogi".

"Main koi bewakufi nahi kar raha baba", Hadi said defensively, "Main bas yeh nahi chahta ke Mirs ki shaandaar legacy mein, Mir Hadi ek badnuma daag ban jaaye. Karachi ki seat humari legacy hai, waha humare roots hai, humare log hai...toh main kyu Sibi jaisi jaga se apne political career ki shuruwat karu jaha ke na log mere apne hai aur naahi jaga?"

Mir Shah asked angrily, "Agar aisi baat thi to tumne pehle manaa kyu nahi kiya?"

"Toh ab manaa kar raha hu", Hadi said, "Aur waise bhi mujhe Karachi jaake ehsaas hua ke mere future ke liye mera Sibi se peechhe hathna zaruri hai"

"Kya matlab?", Mir Shah asked, "Waha aisa kya hua tha?".

"Kuch nahi", Hadi said quickly, changing the topic,"Waise mere campaign manager se baat karni hogi. Humey Karachi ke liye jald se jald koi strategy sochni hogi..."

Mir Shah nodded and replied, "Haa, maine ek meeting bulayi hai kal. Waise Karachi humari family seat hai,  humara loyal vote bank toh hai humare paas. Lekin inn kuch dino mein Abul Khan ki voters mein kaafi popularity badh gayi hai...humara ussey counter karna bohot zaruri hai."

"Abul Khan...Sarim ka cousin?", Hadi asked.

Mir Shah nodded and replied, "Magar yeh Sarim jaisa koi nausikkhiya nahi hai. Apni dadi ke kadmo mein baithkar siyasat seekh kar aaya hai. Shiasta Begum khud uske campaigns mein hissa leti hai...suna hai usko agla party chief bananey ki taiyyari bhi chal rahi hai."

"Magar, family ka sabse bada beta to Sarim hai...toh qaidey se party leader to usse banna chahiye na?", Hadi asked curiously.

"Haa, aisa hona to chahiye", Mir shah said, smoking his pipe, "Magar Sarim to abhi abhi aaya hai, aur Abul ko bachpan se taiyyar kar rahe hai. Aur yeh Pathans apne nasal ko lekar bohot particular hai. Unhe khoon mein milawatt bardasht nahi hoti...aur Salman ki pehli begum to Urdu Mujahir thi upar se Sarim itna liberal...Abul ke hotey huye Shiasta Begum kabhi bhi Sarim ko Party ki kursi mein baithne nahi degi."