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Next Day...
Ibrahim House...
Seher's Room...
6:45 p.m.
"Arah bha... baji its good. Bas Ab over ho raha hai," Mahreen tries to stop Seher as she does light make-up on her face. "Yar maana ka its good ka tum zada make-up nahi karti. Lekin thora to chalta hai haina," Seher told her getting irritating. Mahreen was not making this any easier for Seher. There was still 15 minutes till the party. Both the girls had worked together for the party. The whole day was spent on accomplishing the job. They had lots of fun and bonded really well together.
"Lekin I don't want to do it. I'm fine just the way I am," Mahreen whined. "Mahreen!!!" Seher warned her as this conversation was getting really old already. They have been arguing about this the whole day. "Bilkul acha kar rahi ho tum, Seher! Im tired of telling her to dress a little ladylike. Lekin yeh bewakuf ko toh kuch samaj mein hi nahi ata," Rohail said as he walked into the room with two small boxes in his hand. The girls turn around to look at him.
Seher smile as she turned around to look at him. He smiles back looking at her from top to bottom. She was looking breath-taking in the bluish-pinkish anarkali suit. Her hair was in curls which were framing her face beautiful. Her simplicity was pouring from her face cause of her light make-up and no jewelry. The dress was complimenting her so well that he couldn't help stare at her.
Seher looks away not being able to take his intense look as crimson color adores her cheeks. She doesn't like her reaction. She is not suppose to feel this for him but always end up feeling it whenever he looks at her with his deep eyes as if looking in her soul. Suddenly, Mahreen coughs breaking their chain of thoughts. Mahreen was giving a mysterious smile as if she knew something that others didn't. As Seher was about to ponder about that Mahreen breaks the silence.
"Waisa Bhai, I must say, you look very handsome today," Mahreen complimented him with a smile. Seher looks back at him. Noticing his clothes this time, he was wearing a blue shirt and denims with a blazer. His bangs comes across his face giving him a very s*xy look. Seher couldn't help notice how young and good-looking he looks. Catching herself checking him out, she looks away.
"So, Bhai, Kaise lag rahi ho mein? Larki ki jaisa lag rahi ho!" Mahreen says as she comes in the middle and twirl around Rohail showing him her anarkali dress. Her's was a sea-green color with a gold work done on it. Her hair was in curls to but tied on her left side. She was still wearing her specs making her looking a very beautiful nerd.
Rohail smile at her antics. "Mahreen to the rescue! Just like she said, regardless of the situation," Rohail thinks in his mind remembering their old conversation. "Bohaut khoobsurat! Aur haan, lag rahi ho tum larki jaisa! Arah isse yaad aya ab tu lagta hai ka tumhare shaadi karna ka wakt agaya hai," Rohail said in fake seriousness with his eyes twinkling in mischief.
Abruptly, Mahreen stops twirling. Her face was as if she has seen a ghost. "Look bro! I can dress up like.." she points at her dress and her hair," but DO NOT expect anything else!" Mahreen told him sternly. Rohail chuckles at her extreme reaction. Hearing another chuckle, he looks up to see Seher was also laughing at Mahreen's tantrum. He smile. This reminded him of old days. Sighing, he mentally shook his head. Today was a happy day and he can't get upset. Suddenly, feeling something in his hand, he looks down.
"Aah," he says as he remembers why he was here in the first place, "Ladies!" he called them out. The girls look at them. "The actual reason why I came here," he says showing them the boxes. The girls exchanged looks and walk towards him. "Yeh kya hai Rohail?" Seher ask as they walk to him. "Well meina socha hai ka aaj party hai to mein aap dono aek tohfa kyunna do?" he asked with a smile while holding out the boxes to respective ladies.
Mahreen was first to grab hers and was about to open it when she notice that Seher hadn't made a movement to grab hers. She looks at Rohail who looks at her back. Then thinking of something she moves towards Seher. "Hey take it! Bhai waisa bhi bohaut kanjoos hai so itni asaani sa presents nahi milta," Mahreen says with a smile. Seher smiles as Rohail fakes glares at Mahreen. "Sorry, Bhai! Seher is my new best friend so I share all the secrets with her," she said hiding behind Seher cheekily. Shaking his head, he stretched his hand with the box towards Seher with a smile. She looks at him with questioning eyes. He nods telling her to take it and that was it. She accepts the gift with a smile. "Thank you," she tells him. "Arah phela dhek toh lo. Abhi sa hi, Thank you," Rohail says urging them both to open the box.
Seher opens the box to find a beautiful pair of earrings. They were sapphire with diamonds. It perfectly matched with her dress. She looks up at Rohail with a look of appreciation. "They are beautiful. Thank you so much," she said with a big smile. He smile back and brush her thanks away, "No need for Thanks."
He looks at Mahreen. She was looking down inside her box. "Kaisa laga apko apka present?" Rohail ask her watching her expression intently. She looks up at him and gives him a big smile. "Bohuat acha, Bhai!" she tells him. It was sea-green color with a touch of gold.
"I knew tumhe pasand ayega. Jaisa tumhara style hai waisa hi hai aur dheko it will match with your dress," he said pointing at her dress and then look at Seher, "Arah yeh toh tum dono ka dresses sa match karta hai," he said with a smile at his new finding. The girls notice that as well. Rohail waited as the girls' wear the earrings and then they all walk down stairs.
7:30 p.m.
In the Living Room...
Aahil enters in the living room. He was late and knew for a fact that Seher is going to grill him for that. But he knows how to calm her down! He look around. The living room was huge. It had marble flooring. There was a huge window that looked out at the beach. It was raining outside making this much more beautiful. There were couches and chairs in the corner to seat but majority of the people were in the middle in the made-up dance floor.
As it was a youngster party, no adults were home. Couples were dancing on a romantic number. That brought him back to Seher. He wanted to dance with her. He looked around for her. The dim light and blasting music was not making his job any easier for him. Plus it was like there were millions of people here. Shaking his head, Aahil starts going around looking for Seher.
On the other end of the room...
"Mahreen chalo na, yar. Hum dono saath mein chalaga. It's fine. Stop being so self-conscious. You look perfect! " Rohail heard Seher convincing Mahreen to dance but she was not going to budge. She was adamant to stay put. She was "just" the host and the job description of that post does not include dancing. Rohail chuckled listening to them. "They are both like small kids," Rohail thought in his mind. The girls swiftly look at him: glaring. Rohail gulped. "Look, I didn't do anything!" he said raising his hands up in surrender motion.
Ignoring him, Seher turn towards Mahreen, "Fine tumhe nahi ana toh mat aao. Mein khud hi chali jati ho," Seher said in fake anger and walks towards the dance floor making Rohail chuckle again. "Tum kyun nahi gaye?" Rohail ask Mahreen turning towards her. She was sitting down beside him looking out the window. "First of all, I have no interest in being kabab mein haddi for you and bhabhi. She is your wife! Go dance with her! Why do you think I made a made-up dance floor?" Mahreen questions him turning her gaze at him, "And I dont dance and you know that," Mahreen said as she continue to gaze out the window at the pouring rain with a awe look.
Rohail turns his gaze back to Seher. She is dancing with some of our family friend's daughters. She was looking super pretty. He knew she loved dancing. How could he forget?
3 months back...
Seattle, Washington...
Seher and I were invited to an anniversary party of my friend. They were big party people. So they kept their party in a club. Though I don't go clubs ever, I couldn't refuse as he was a good friend of mine. We decided to go but not drink. Simple. We were sitting having our soft drinks when suddenly Seher's favorite song started playing. Seher looked at me with twinkling eyes asking for permission. How could I refuse those twinkling eyes? I motioned her to go.
After finishing my drink, I got up and stood leaning by the pillar looking at my beautiful wife dancing her heart out. She loves dancing and I love seeing her happy. She was so graceful. So beautiful. So perfect. My smile deepened seeing her have fun as I was scared she would be bored. Abruptly she stops and turns towards me, catching me looking at her. But I didn't look away, I just smile. She smiled back and then the next second she was standing beside me. "What?" I asked her. She shakes head and grabbed my hand. I hold her back.
Then before I know it, I was being pulled to the dance floor. After we got to the dance floor, she just stood there with her twinkling eyes again. She loves giving me the lead. So I took it. Pulling her close by her hand that I still hold, I pulled her closed to me. With my one hand on her waist and other on her right as her hand was holding me by my shoulder, we danced swiftly falling into each other's eyes.
7:40 p.m.
Karach, Pakistan...
In the living room...
"Bhai kis cheez ki aap intezar kar raha hai. Go quickly warna woh Aahil Bhabhi ka saath dance karna lagege," Mahreen nudged Rohail breaking his chain of thoughts. Rohail looks up and sees Aahil two feet away from Seher. He hasn't seen her yet as there were a lot of people between them. He just couldn't let that happened. He needs to get to Seher before Aahil does. He swiftly got up from the couch. After straightening his jacket, he walk towards Seher.
Her eyes caught him and she smile. He smile back. He stops in front of her. "May I have the pleasure of this dance?" Rohail ask with his hand outreached for her. She looks at him and then to his hand unsure. "Common. You know you can trust me," Rohail said with a smile, "Aur waisa bhi tum Rohail ka saath yaha pay dance nahi kar paoge. Log bura samajhaga. Tum logo ki shaadi abhi tak nahi hoi hai," Rohail added the last part with gritted teeth. "Oh. Yeah. I forgot. Phir theek hai," Seher agrees and gives her hand to Rohail with a smile as she trust him.
By the couch...
Mahreen stands up seeing Aahil walk towards Rohail-Seher. "Does he have to be this, Hot!! Dude! Seriously, it is not right. How could he look so good in everything!! It makes the whole not-liking-him business a lot harder," Mahreen mentally talked to herself as she walked towards him. He was wearing dark blue denims and white shirt with black tie and black jacket.
As he was about to step on the dance floor to walk towards Seher and Rohail, Mahreen step in front of them. He halts in mid-step. He looks at her irritated. "What?" he ask her rudely. "Let them be. Woh log shaadi shuda hai. Just because bhabhi ki memory chali jaye hai that doesn't mean ka unka rishta bhi toot gaya hai," Mahreen tells him calmly trying to not lose her voice in his presence. In rage, he takes a step towards her. Mahreen immediately takes a step back. "Don't ever say that Rohail and Seher are married in front of me," Aahil said in dangerously low voice as his intense gaze made holes in her.
"Only if looks can kills," Mahreen thought and gulped. "I understand how you feel but nothing can be done about it. They are marr... Ahh" Before Mahreen can finish her sentence Aahil grabbed her arm tightly. She whined in pain. "Don't you get it! Don't say that they are married!" he again said blinded with rage. This time Mahreen had no courage to answer back. She just tried to get his hand off her arm but his grip was too tight. There was a party going so she couldn't cry out for help as she didn't want to create a scene.
While still holding her arm, he noticed the song changed into Seher's favorite song. He turned his gaze towards Seher. She was dancing in Rohail's arms. His arms were around her waist while hers were wrapped around his neck. Thinking impulsively, he slid his hand down her arm and stops by her wrist as he look at her with cold gaze. Her eyes are about to pop out of her socket with his sudden action. Rather than screaming, yelling or anything, she was frozen. Aahil smile menacingly, "Bara pyar haina tumhe apna Bhai sa. Chalo dhekta hai kitna pyar hai," by saying that he pulled her towards the dance floor with him.
He stops right across from Seher and Rohail. He pulls Mahreen towards himself with her hand he was still holding. Not expecting, Mahreen crashed into him. He wrap his hand around her waist and steady her on her feet. Mahreen looks stun. Almost as if not sure what is happening to her. For one second, Aahil almost felt bad after seeing her vulnerable expression but that guilt was gone like it was never there before. Making her hold him on his shoulder, he starts moving on the beats of the music.
Anupamaa
