RAABTA : A collection of short stories

U 4

"Tch....18th ho gaya..paise kyun nahin aayein" Maham pouted checking her account balance. She had promised her brothers a treat this month as she secured 85% in her exams.

"Phone karun..." She was in a dilemma now...

"Kya hua Aapi..." Asim came and wound his arm around her

"Yaar abhi tak paise nahin aayein...aaj tak toh kabhi late nahin huye"

"Toh Chachi se maang lein"

"Unke alawa kisi aur ke saamne haath phailaane se strictly mana kiya  hai...aur Ammi-Abbu ko toh wo khaas kar mana kar ke jaate hain" Maham scrunched her nose

"Toh sochna kya hai .. phone ghumayein" Asim encouraged his sister who was a little skeptical.."Do you think so"

"Arre haan..shohar hi hain" Asim gave a thumbs up not wanting the treat to get cancelled..he didn't have a proper meal the entire day.

"Hmm" Maham dialled his number and was waiting for him to pick the call..

"Assalam Walekum"

"Walekum Assalam...."

"Jee...kaise hain aap" Maham was thinking of how to touch the topic

"Theek hun.....tumhari tabiyat theek hai na"

"Haan..mai toh theek hun..mujhe kya hona hai...wo..wo"

"Kuch kaam tha"

"Kuch khaas nahin...bas aap kab aa rahe hain" Asim glared at Maham who was now going on a different track....his sister was such a fattu sometimes!

"Bahut yaad aati hai aapki...."

"Acha....Lekin mera abhi kaam Dubai me lamba chalega"

"I know.. we miss you....."

"Don't worry you won't miss me for long......ghar me sab kaise hain"

"Sab ache hain..wo hum Riza ka bank account khulwaane jaa rahe the...toh aapko pata hai ki minimum balance kitna rakhna padta hai"

"Depends..Private bank hai ya govt"

"Mera bank account me toh aap paise daalte rehte hain toh mujhe pata hi nahin chalta" Maham tried to fake a giggle but was failing big time

"Kitne paise chahiye Maham"

"10000" Maham in a flow quoted the desired figure

"Daal de raha hun....wo tumhara account dusre branch me transfer me karwa raha hun..isliye balance update nahin ho paya tha"

"Koi jaldi nahin hai..aap aaraam se dalwa dein" Maham spoke hoping her husband doesn't take her seriously

"Nai mai karwa raha hun...Allah Hafiz"

"Jee .. Allah Hafiz" Maham cut the call and grinned at Asim "Maal aa raha hai"

"Muski ko bhi bula lete hain" Maham smiled dialling Muskaan's number.

-----

Rohail entered his home in the evening and found Rahim kaka cleaning something in the hall...."Kaka..ghar par koi nahin hai kya"

"Nahi wo Bade sahab Zeenat aapa ke paas gaye hain aur Muskaan beti bahar gayin hain"

"Kiske sath"

"Apne bhai behen ke sath..." Rahim kaka smiled

"Hmmm...lekin raat ho rahi hai..ab tak toh aa jana chahiye" Rohail soliloquised and walked towards his room.

An hour went by and there was still no news of Muskaan which didn't go down well with Rohail...he dialled her number and the call was immediately picked up.."Hello Jeeju..."