RAABTA : A collection of short stories

5•

"Nahi Mehek...aap sochein family agar dukhi hai toh koi kaise use chhod kar aa sakta hai............family is family.....mai utna lucky nahin hua...bat aap dono ki families aap par jaan chhidak ti hain....."

Mehek was tossing and turning on bed with a restless mind...Rehaan's words were reverberating in every corner of her brain cells. She sat up removing her comforter ..... her eyes fell on a photo frame kept on her side table......she picked it up and caressed her Ammi's face......"I am sorry Ammi......ek baar bhi aap ke bare me nahin socha.. itna bada kadam uthane se pehle.."

A tear dropped from her eye ... "Maine ek baar bhi family ke bare me nahin socha aur na ab soch rahi thi........sahi kehta hai Rehaan jise sab kuch milta hai na use uski kadra nahin hoti"

"Aur Zaid ki baaton me kitna sach hai ... kaun jane........tabiyat itni kharab hone par instagram par pictures kaun post karta hai".

Mehek's mind was echoing Rehaan's every word which was making her think and introspect.

The alarm made Mehek open her eyes with great difficulty.....she didn't sleep good and that was showing on her face......"Kya yaar....itni jaldi subah kaise ho gai" she whined and again pulled the comforter over her....."5 minutes more"

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Mehek's phone rang making her search for her phone with closed eyes "Hello...."

And next second, she almost jumped on the bed..."9 baj gaye....abhi toh 7 baj rahe the..."

"Sambhal lo yaar......mai pahuchti hun  aadhe ghante me" she rushed to washroom throwing her phone on the  bed.

Mehek's half hour magically changed into an hour...and finally she could be seen entering the office.

"You are late....." Zakir gave a tight smile seeing Mehek enter the hall.

"I am sorry..Sir...wo..wo aapne bola tha na laddoo ke bare me"

"Laddoo aaya hai aaj apke sath? If yes, then you are spared" Zakir folded his arms and chuckled

Mehek took out a box and gave it to Zakir making him grin.."Sometimes .. being senior is a bliss!!"

Mehek took slow steps towards her system ... she was still sleepy.

She didn't know how she was able to keep her eyes open till lunch.......

"Mehek" Rehaan called  "Ek handsome bande ke sath dinner kar ke aap raat bhar nahin so paayin"

"Rehaan mai maarungi..." Mehek showed her hand

"Khwaish puri kar lijiyega lunch kar ke....taakat aayegi toh maarne ka maza bhi aayega" Rehaan winked and pulled her to canteen.

Zaid was keeping a little space from Mehek as she wanted that.. but he needed to talk now...

After the lunch,

"Rehaan and Haneef .. if you don't mind..mujhe zara Mehek se akele me kuch baat karni hai.."

"Sure bhai....." Rehaan smiled and dragged Haneef with him

"Mehek..ab toh gussa thuk do....maine un dinon kitne messages kiye tumhe pata hai..."

"Really.??.....show me.."

"Here you go......" Zaid opened his phone and opened the message box.

"Late ho raha hai Zaid..." Mehek looked at her watch

Zaid frowned not seeing even a single message he had sent to Mehek...."How could this be......?"

"Kya huwa"

"Mu mujhe ... nahi mil raha...." Zaid stuttered "But I swear I messaged you..."

"Okay...never mind let's leave" Mehek waved off mumbling something.

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"Kya huwa....sab settled?" Rehaan asked standing next to Mehek's scooty.."Waise aap logon ko is baar foolproof plan banana hoga...kyunki Ammi bata rahin thin ki Zayed bhai aur aapke khandaanon ke beech me ranjish hai"

Mehek was shocked at this piece of news " Kya ... Ammi ne toh ye baat mujhe kabhi nahin batayi...."

"Isliye unhone aapki baat tabhi daba di thi.....Wo mujhse maafi mang rahin thin us baat ke liye" Rehaan shrugged sitting behind her.

"Kuch bhi hon..chahe goliyaan bhi chal jayein...mai hamesha aapke side hun......." Rehaan flashed his dimples poking Mehek's cheeks too...."Don't worry..we will kidnap Zaid bhai...now show me your dimples too"

"Rehaan mai aisa kuch nahin karne waali.." Mehek said in a strict tone.."Ek baar galti kar chuki hun...dubaara nahin karungi."

"Hmmm.......won't say anything now... it's your life...you know better" Rehaan rubbed her shoulder in a comforting manner.

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Next day, at the lunch table of the office canteen, a lady came and closed Zaid's eyes from behind....

"Kaun hai..." Zaid mumbled

"Pata lagayein bhai"

"Bhabhi" Zaid turned atonce

"Jee......"

Fatima greeted everybody with a smile... Mehek too smiled and asked in a good gesture "Aur tabiyat kaisi hai aapki...?"

"Mujhe kya hona hai...mai toh filkul fit and fine hun"

"Nahin 3-4 mahine pehle aapki tabiyat kharab ho gayi thi na" Mehek was confused.

"Hainn...kaun aisi afwaahein faila raha hai" Fatima frowned and Mehek looked at Zaid who had closed his eyes tight. She shook her head and concentrated on her lunch.

Fatima hit Zaid's head lightly "Itna kam khana khata hai isliye itna dubla patla hai....."Abhi tumhare bhai bhi aa rahe hain..wahi seedha karenge tumhe"

"Rehaan ko dekho.....khane ke plate se muh tak nahin utha..."

"Arre nahin bhabhi.....bas khush hun aapko dekh kar..isliye zyada kha raha hun" Rehaan smiled

After a brief chat, all except Zaid left the table. Zaid's brother also joined them after sometime.

"Aaplog achanak se yahaan...."

"Mujhe pata chala...tum bahut miss kar rahe the..."

"Kis se pata chala aapko?"

"Rehaan ne meri photo par comment kiya tha...maine tumhari khairiyat puchi toh pata chala janaab family ko bahut miss kar rahein hain" Fatima pulled Zaid's cheek.

With Fatima's words, Zaid's mind was getting engulfed in web of thoughts...!!!!

Mai khiladi tu anari !!!!
Kaun khiladi kaun anari!!!

Just a short update....but couldn't resist publishing .... so maaf kar dena 😚😚😚
Upcoming

Rehaan and Zaid confrontation
(Day after tomorrow🤗🤗 or late night)