Another khiyali pullao😳. In 2 parts. Happy Reading! Feedback appreciated 😊 (these 2 make me forget the lenght of my text 😆)
Monday morning 11am (nearly 6 months into marriage)
Hashir brings in 2 letters adressed to Mashal, who was tidying the dressing table. Noticing Hashir in room with something hidden behind him, she turned around. Before he handed her the letters over (he knows the context), mesmerized he studied her glowing face and said: Mashal- Jo subha subha hi khushkhabrian laati hai ghar mai.
Puzzled, she quickly opened the first letter which he handed her over; blood report from lab. In fast pace her eyes ran over the letter until she reached the bottom of the page, which said in bold writing ........ hCG found. Pregnancy test positive. Please contact a gynacologist as soon as possible. Mashal´s eyes widened, her smile broadened as she put the letter aside, finally her eyes met Hashir´s, which were glistening in pure happiness. For a split second they stared into each other´s moist eyes, than cheering Mashal fell round his neck. Immidiately he wrapped his arms around her and whilst he stroked her soft hair from back, she whispered his name again and again (to express her delight) and allowed the news to sink in her. Closing her eyes, she allowed the warmth of his embrace to spread deep within herself. Slowly pulling away from him, (2nd time of the day) overwhelmed Hashir:
Congratulations Mashal! Eik aur wajah hamari mohabbat ko mazboot karne ke liye. Aur kia ayzaaz hai mere aur mere bache ke liye ke tum uss ki Maa bano gi. Aaj se meri care aur mohabbat tumhaare liye aur bhi bhar charh gayi. Har qadam pe tumhaara saath doonga. Tumse bohot mohabbat karta hoon.
Happy tears rolling down her face: By the way doosri khushkhabri kia thi?! And with this hastily she opened the second letter and within seconds she was about to jump up in joy, but Hashir (with happy tears in eyes) held her back with strong arms, to which an overjoyed Mashal said:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! Hashir maine itne ache numbers se apni education complete ki...... aur ye kia hai......mujhe Defence area mai job ki offer bhi aye eik ache institute se aur ye eik locally bhi (which she said casually). Beaming she continued: Ye Defence waali job toh mai sirf khuwabon mai hi soch sakti thi...... ! Than her eyes fell again on the lab report letter and a small frown appeared on her forehead and she looked a bit worried.
Hashir silently smiled at her and nodded than in gentle but assertive tone ( whilst placing his hand over hers): Mashal, tumhaari tabiat abh aisi nahi rahi hai ke tum door Defence bharri bus mai dhakke khaate hue jao roz. Karachi ke busses ka haal toh tumhe bhi pata hai........!
Mashal:....magar Hashir, main manage kar loongi, mai apna khayal rakh lungi.
Hashir with patience shaking her head: Nahi Mashal..abhi filhaal ye Defense waali job tum nahi kar sakti. Waise bhi tum wahan pregnancy ke douraan lamba arsa tak job nahi kar paogi....... albatta agar tum ye local waali offer accept karna chahti ho, toh mai tumhaara poora saath doonga (phir chahe koi bhi/ Ammi) etejaaj kare....... dekho.... local hone ki waja se tum (agar tabiat ne saath di) toh lamba arsa pregnancy ke douran aur baad mai bhi jald phir se join kar sakti ho. Aur local institute mai bhi tumhaara experience barhta rahega etc. Mujhe pata hai local waale ki salary bhi munasib si hi hogi, magar Mashal wo poore paise pe sirf tumhaara haq hoga.....please Mashal!
Mashal pulling her hand away from him and whilst looking away in dissapointment: Agar local institute mai hi job karni thi, toh phir itni mehnat kion ki ache grades ke liye.........
Hashir blinked at his wife in adoration but before he could reply, his eyes fell on the clock (running late for half day work). Despite her sulking and avoiding his gaze he took her face between his palms and gave her a forehead kiss, knealing down beside her he tried to hold her gaze and in mellow tone: Mujhe aise hi office bhej do gi...... roz ki tarha see off nahi karogi?! No hugs, no kisses, no smiles?!
Mashal looked at him from the corner of her eye and gave him a half smile: Ho gia?! Abh aap jaye....aap ko dair horahi hai...aur mujhe bohot neend arahi hai.
Before he left the room he tucked her in bed and whilst tucking a hair strand away: Apna khayal rakhna, sleeping beauty!
*********
Whenever he got the chance he rang her from the office to enquire about his wife´s well-being, but the conversation would soon turn to her jobs during pegnancy/early motherhood. Although pile of work was awaiting him and with every call Mashal´s tone grew more fickle, he kept his tone calm. He wasnt liking that he was turning her wish down like this but he was aware of the negative aspects as per her current state, which she wasnt willing to see or her hormones werent letting her.
**********
At dinner-time, after Hashir helped her set the food on table, innitially Mashal decided not to sit next to him like she always has, but than she changed her mind, that due to one incident she didnt want to humilate him in front of his family. During mealtime, they broke Mashal´s pregnancy news, with Faseeha and Abbas giving them lots of prayers and best wishes. Mashal nudged Hashir to tell them about her excellent grades too and with Hashir alongside adding that she has already received job offers. Faseeha ignoring the job offer talks: Nahi nahi meri bahu abhi kahin nahi jaigi, koi job wob ki zaroori nahi isse, dekho toh sahi kitni chamak iss ke chehre pe hai, nazar lag jaigi meri bahu ko....."!
As his mother was talking, Hashir looked at Mashal and lightly pressed her hand underneath the table and shook his head (that the last word isnt spoken yet, and that he will handle it)
*********
After dinner, a mentally (all day discussions with Hashir about her job) and physically (nausea, abdominal pain) exhausted Mashal was standing in terrace with her head covered, she decided to come here and talk to Allah instead of arguing with Hashir. The fresh air was slowly calming her nerves and she noticed, although Hashir was firm on his stance, but at no point did he loose his cool or even verbally attacked her. In self-acknowledgement she nodded her head and with a sigh she spoke her feelings out to Allah whilst looking at the stars filled sky alongside adding: Allah, agar meri khuwahish mai khair ho toh, Hashir ka dil badal le. Aur agar mai ghalat hoon toh mere dil mai se (Defence job) ka khiyaal nikaal de.... Allah, shaitan ko mujh se door kar de jo mujhe mere shouhar ke khilaaf bharka raha hai.......! Than placing her hand on her stomach, she thanked Allah for the baby and prayed for her abdominal pain to go away.
By now Hashir quitely came from behind her and wrapped her shawl tighter around her and rubbed her arms up and down to comfort her. Than wrapping his arms around her as his hands lightly rested on her stomach. Closing his eyes, he allowed the feeling to sink in, that the tiny dot growing inside her will soon form to a baby who will be a mixture of them both.
Overwhelmed he broke the silence: Mashal, mujhe aaj bhi yaad hai jab tumne pehli baar baby ki khuwahish ka izhaar kia tha. Tumhaari aankhon ki chamak, tumhaari awaaz mai woh khushi Maa banne ke tassawur pe. In fact tumhaara jo reaction lab report dekh kar tha, tumhe bhi bohot khushi hui hai...... Mashal, meri jaan, khuda na khaasta agar hamari laparwai ki waja se hamare bache ko khuch hojata hai, toh hamesha ke liye afsoos reh jaiga. Mai nahi chahta ke tum zindagi ke kissi mour pe iss cheez ka afsoos karo. Aaj shayad tumhe iss baat ki gehrai ka andaaza nahi hoga magar 15-20 saal baad tumhe ye baat bohot rulaigi. Tab tum apni shandaar job ko bhi kosogi. ...phir aisi cheez mai kia maza. (due to his soothing voice and carefully spoken words each word was getting saved in her mind. Her entire attention was on his spoken words and the dedication to want the best for her in all aspect in this deal). Aur local job ki nazdiki ki waja se, tumhaare paas waqt bhi ziada hoga, aur hum kabhi kabhi uss shelter home ki aurton ko bhi milne ja sakte hain. Mashal, tum mai itni khubian hai, ke apne aap ko eik jagah pe mehdood na karo.........! Hearing him bring up aspects which she didnt even remotely think off, tears welled up in her eye (which he reached out to wipe before they even slipped from her eyes (adding: tumhaara eik eik aansoon bohot keemti hai mere liye).
Being convinced, she grabbed both his hands and choked: Hashir...... toh phir mai konse din local waale institute ke liye interview rakhun?!
Hashir letting out a deep breath, pulled her in a tight hug: ..... tumne ye faisla apni khushi se kia haina?! To which Mashal mumbled a hmmm against his chest. Once they parted from each other, Mashal wondered loudly how amazing it would be to eat a triple layer moist chocolate cake right now. Hashir chuckled and in no-time was back from outside with a big box of Triple Chocolate Mousse cake, 2 hand gajras with white petals and a big red rose in the center and a 21 red and white rose bouqet. By now Mashal had sat down on a chair in terrace as Hashir tip toes from behind her and covered her eyes with one hand as he placed the bouqet in her lap.
Mashal instantly: "ufff...kahin qareeb mai gulab ke phool hain.......kia khushboo hai "!
Hashir with a grin: "Apna Haath do...." and with this he uncovered her eyes to which she immidiately looked down in her lap and nearly jumped out from her seat: H-A-S-H-I-R! Ye......ye... kitne... khub....! Without letting her complete her sentence he slipped the splenderous rose gajras on each wrist. Unable to find her voice she whispered through happy tears whilst leaning forward in her chair and placing her hands on his shoulders (he was on his knees so that she wont have to get up): Gulab ke phool mere sab se favourite hai (to which he nodded) aur aise lachedar gulab ke phool ke gajre toh mai hamesha pehanna chahti thi.... woh bhi apne dashing husband he saath se (she chuckled). In a quite moment, she simply stared into his calm face with love filling her heart: "Hashir, kia hum aaj ka poora din ka waqt bhoola ke sirf subha aur abhi ka waqt yaad rakh sakte hai?! Aaj ka din bohot khaas tha aur aap ne iss ka ikhtataam itni khoobsurti se kia,jab ke.......!
Without letting her drift to the endless discussions from noon, he brought his face closer to hers as if he was catching her eyelashes with his, he added: " Ye ikhtataam nahi tha..." and with this he presented her the family size cake.
Mashal stunned: "Mujhe eik tukra cake ki tamanna thi, lekin ye toh poora ka poora cake hai, woh bhi costly waala. Hashir mai aap ko kia kahoon?! Alfaaz nahi hai mere paas. Chale hum ye cake Taya aur Tayi jaan ke saath mil kar cut karte hai (Hashir: Are you sure?! Koi naraz nahi hoga tum se). Nahi Hashir ye meri khushi hai, .... mai kaise aap se itna pyaar kar sakti hoon aur Taya Tayi ko ehemiat na doon?! Ye hi toh mouqe hote hain.
Hashir moved: .....phir mujh se poochti ho, mai tum se itni mohabbat kaise kar sakta hoon?! Tum jaisa koi nahi Mashal! ........chalo toh phir, iss hi bahane se Ammi se tumhari local institute ki job ki baat bhi kar loonga aaj hi...!
Although Faseeha wasnt too thrilled but seeing how Mashal had given her respect and honour by sharing her precious celebration moments with her (and Abbas) alongside Hashir´s persistence and request in kind tone, she accepted Mashal´s job despite her pregnancy.
Part 2- read below
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