RAABTA : A collection of short stories

K8

"Azeem"

"Azeem"

"Kabir...mai so raha hun.." After several knocks, a response was delivered with a palpable irritation in it.

"Aah it's okay...mai toh sirf ye bata raha tha Shamir teri gaadi le kar bahar ja raha hai"

"Jaane do..."

Was this his brother speaking
No, it can't be....he remembered the scowl he had thrown at him for just driving his car to the super market
Not that he loved his baby any less...but still...Azeem set a legacy for how much a man should love his car.

But, seemed like the bond couldn't last long....Kabir closed his eyes in sheer frustration realising  that his brother had broken up with his first love and was now nowhere inclined to know about its whereabouts....sad!!

Shaking his head, he went for the second throw

"Raniya kahaan hai"

"Wo bhi so rahi hai"

"Good night abhi hi ho gaya inka" Kabir muttered perfectly knowing the process of sleep his brother was involved in.

"Toh tum itna zor zor se kyun chilla rahe ho...khair use bolo uske Abbu aayein hain"

"Mai aa rahin hun bhai"
Instead of Azeem, this time Raniya's voice hit Kabir's ears making him smirk.

Azeem and Raniya came in the hall after sometime only to see Kabir having hot soup.

"Bhai...Abbu kahaan hain?"

"Aa rahe hain... Shamir lene gaya hai..." Kabir smiled..."Mujhe laga Sunday hai...unhe bula liya jaye.."

"Achha kiya aapne...." Raniya thanked Kabir and went inside kitchen to bring more plates.

"Kya hai ye..?" Azeem narrowed his eyes at Kabir who frowned "Kya..yeh?...Mushroom soup"

"Jo soup aapne phailaya mai uski baat kar raha hun" Azeem gritted his teeth folding his sleeves.

"Aag par chadhaya kisne tha?" Kabir smirked gulping one more spoon..."Sare maze mai akela nahin  le sakta na...thoda  aap bhi lein"

Azeem was about to say something when Shamir entered the hall with Fahad who smiled at his son in law.
"Assalam Walaikum Abbu"

"Walaikum Assalam beta".

Next Kabir greeted him and offered him a seat.

"Ye lein bhai..apne car ki chaabhi..." Shamir threw the keys at Azeem.."Bilkul maza nahin aaya...isse acha toh mai riksha me chala jata"

"Acha"

"Matlab itna under pressure mai exam me nahin rehta jitna aapki gadi chalaate waqt......." Shamir voiced out his predicament fanning himself

"Arre aisa kyun" Fahad smiled

"Uncle .. Jaan-e-Azeem ko halki si kharoch bhi aa jaye toh .. bhai  depression me chale jaate hain...aur kharoch laane wale ko toh khair kahin jaane ke layak hi nahi chhodte."

"Bakwaas band karo" Azeem glared at Shamir who pouted not liking the way his valuable information was being compared.

"Bilkul..bakwaas band karo aur asli Jaan-e-Azeem ko bula kar lao" Kabir said in a serious tone making Shamir grin..."Acha kiya bhai..bahar dil lagane se acha ghar me hi laga lein"

"Precisely..bedroom me nahin" Kabir said just for Azeem to hear

"Shut up"

Kabir laughed and got up.."Aap log baat karein..mai aata hun"