ISHQIYA

Dard-e-Ishq X

Zeenat frowned at his words and remembers that she had thrown Mahnoor belonging out of the house before everybody can come back, then taking one of Mahnoor's diary. She wrote a letter, carefully matching her handwriting.

And now hearing Hamid she narrowed her eyes and asked him "What do you mean?"

Hamid looked at her and realised her presence, then slowly he tears the paper and hissed "This is not true, this is Mahnoor's handwriting but she don't write 'e' like this and she drags 's' as long as she can. Zeenat, will you tell me what happened?"

Zeenat gulps under his gaze and said "I told you Hamid, I saw her going with a man, I......."

Hamid steps close to her and whispered "Are you sure, are you sure that you didn't do anything with her?"

Zeenat shook her head and move away from him "I told you na, Hamid, she went with a man. Why will I do anything with Mahnoor and beside why are you thinking about her, she is not yours, Hamid, from now on I am yours everything, why do you still care about her?"

"You will never understand that, never. And don't even think about living your life with me, because you will not, the day my child will born, I will leave you." He said.

Tears started flowing from Zeenat's eyes "And I will not leave you, I will not let you meet this child if you will leave me."

"Dogs only bark in front of lions, Zeenat, they can't bite them, I will find Mahnoor as soon as possible." Hamid hissed in her ear and went out of there.

Zeenat smirked and whispered "Find her, then."

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

"I don't know why she did this, she......" Heera was constantly blabbering on the dining table, when Rehman clutched her hand and whispered "That's enough Heera, at least keep quit during dinner."

Heera stared at him like he is saying something impossible, and then taking a large breath she said "Ok, I will not discuss this. Hamid and Zeenat, your engagement will hold after 7 days, get ready for that, now I don't want any hustle-bustle in the house."

"But, ammi....." Hamid tried to protest when Zeenat holds his hand and whispered in his ear "Hamid, stop this, very soon, I will walk around with a baby bump, I don't want my child to be called an illegitimate."

Hamid nodded at her and said "Ok then."

Zeenat grinned.

"Okay so after 7 days your engagement will held, I am sorry Zeenat dear, I know you must have wanted a lavish wedding as person you are.....Ah, I mean every girl have dream about a very beautiful marriage but as you can see what Mahnoor had done, people will surely ask about her and I don't think, I am ready for answer them, so it will be only family celebration" Heera said.

Zeenat pursed her lips in a grim line but said "It's Ok aunty, I can understand and for me only Hamid matters, not these lavish wedding."

Heera grinned at her and mumble something under her breath, and everybody left the dining table.

But Hamid felt something fishy in this.

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"Hamid are you ready, dear?" Heera came into Hamid's room and asked him.

Tucking his sleeves Hamid nodded grimly at his mother. 7 days passed in blur and today is Hamid's and Zeenat's engagement. Hamid is constantly trying to find about Mahnoor's whereabouts but no avail, he asked all her friend but nobody know where Mahnoor is, did she really eloped with someone? This thought came to Hamid's mind but he knows Mahnoor is not like this.

"Hamid it's your engagement today?" Heera asked Hamid shaking him up from his thoughts.

Hamid looked at his mother and gave her a small smile.

"Then why are you so sad, dear. After all you are going to engage with love of your life" Hamid listened to his mother but he found some sarcasm in his mother's voice and when he didn't spoke anything Heera continued "Oh my dear son, smile a little. From now on everything will be all right, I promise." Heera patted his shoulder and went out.

And after 1 hour Hamid was sitting beside Zeenat posing as soon to be engage couple. Zeenat was grinning with her whole heart and Hamid was griming over the situation. Soon Heera came with a big plate with engagement ring kept on it and said "So, dear bride and groom, here's your wedding cuffs. Now come on start the engagement. Hamid first you tie Zeenat with your name."

Hamid took the ring and Zeenat forwarded her left hand, Hamid was about to put the ring on her finger when Heera interrupted them "Stop, Stop."

Hamid and Zeenat looked at her with confusion and Heera continued "All family members are not present here, Hamid, wait." Heera then looked at the door and shouted "Come inside, please."

They both looked at the door with anticipation and the person entered.

Hamid frowned and mumbled "Dada jaan......."