RAABTA : A collection of short stories

I

"Aaj kuch zyada hi khushi dikh rahi hai chehre par haan" Gulaab Bano squeezed Safiya's cheeks making Safiya squeal like a baby "Tayi Ammi aaj mai bahut khush hun........."

(Today you are looking very happy...)

"Wo toh tera chehra hi bata raha hai........par iske peeche ka raaz kya hai" Gulaab asked serving a hot aloo paratha in her plate. All the elders except Gulaab Bano had gone to a wedding, so an uncommon silence was prevailing in the house.

(Your face is very much conveying the happiness)

"Aaj naya semester ka pehla din hai.....bahut saari kadwi yaadon ko peecha chhodna hai" Safiya was sharing her happiness when a voice slowed the pace of her babbling.

(My new semester starts today...so I have gotten over all my bad memories)

"Ammi.......mujhe zara late of raha hai..mai canteen me kuch kha lunga"

(Ammi I getting late, I will have something in the canteen)

"Ibrahim sharafat se nashta karne baith jao"

(Get seated and have your beakfast)

Safiya looked at her Tayi Ammi in awww...wish she could glare at the rude specimen sitting next to her just like that.

Gulaab served fried eggs to Ibrahim and then again turned to Safiya..."Haan bacha........kya keh rahi thi tum....kaun si kadwi yaadein"

(Yeah....what were you saying .. bad memories and all)

"Mmmaine aisa kab kaha"

(When did I say all this?)

"Abhi toh keh rahi thi naya semester....kadwi yaadein kuch ..."

(Just now.. you were saying something about your bad memories na)

Gulaab's words caught Ibrahim's attention and he stopped eating

"Tayi Ammi...maine kaha tha haseen yaadein....mai Ibrahim bhaijaan ko bahut miss karungi...." Safiya smiled

(Tayi Ammi...I had said good memories...I will miss Ibrahim bhaijaan a lot)

"Really?" Ibrahim narrowed his eyes

"Ji bhaijaan...........kash aap is semester bhi hume assign hote" Safiya crossed her fingers at her back fearing, her beautiful words don't come true.

(Yeah....I wish you could be assigned ti us this semester also)

"Let's see "

"Bacha ja .... Ibrahim k sath hi college chali jaa "

(Safi....Go with Ibrahim)

"Nai Tayi Ammi ... mai Azhar bhaijaan ke sath chali jaungi"

(No Tayi Ammi....I shall go with Ayaan bhaijaan)

"Bag le kar aao tum"
(Bring your bag)

Safiya pouted and went to her room

"Aur Suno......agar phir se inki class assign ho gayi to.....ache se pesh aana" Gulaab instructed Ibrahim as if it were his first day of college making him frown "Ammi"

(And listen, if you got assigned to her class, treat her good)

"Ammi wammi kuch nahi.......aree 2-3 number agar zyaada de hi dega toh kya qayamat aa jayegi.......bas meri bachi ke peeche pada rehta hai" Gulaab huffed

(No excuses....the world would not come to an end if you grant 2-3 marks more)

"Ammi... are you real?"