Chapter 1 - Interesting
Contemplations and Revelations
December 14, 2013 -
2:30am: Abdullah Mansion
Creakkk.
Aaliya cringed and held her breath, her hand still on the door handle.
She looked around to make sure no one had heard the door. Stupid doors usually make no sounds but play the song of their people
when you can't afford to be caught.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't hear the whole house wake
up and rush towards this side of the house; luckily the hallways of the
Abdullah mansion were still dark and silent. She quietly stepped inside the
room and closed the door behind her. His room would have been pitch black if it
wasn't for the moonlight shining through the oversized window casting a soft
glow around the blue room. She slowly walked towards the bed and almost let out
a scream as she caught herself from tripping over his shoes. Seriously, when is he going to stop leaving
his shoes in the middle of the room? It was okay when he was a child, okay
annoying brat, but he is a grown man now, kind of.
She creeped up to the side of his bed to find him sleeping like a baby -
on his back with his hand underneath his head and a small smile on his face. Kitkit! Meri neend, nahi, meri zindagi
kharab karke kitne aaram sai soh raha hai.
"Zain!" She whisper-yelled near his left ear.
"Zain!" She tried again reaching out towards him with her hand. Suddenly
her hand was in his and she was flying over him to land on the bed with a thud
as he flipped the lights on. His eyes were wide with surprise, but one look at
her and his erratic heart calmed down.
"Owww." She whisper-yelled sitting up on his
bed and crossing her legs. "What are you, a ninja in training?" She groaned.
"Aaliya?" He asked confused sitting back on
his bed. "Tum itni raat ko yaha kya kar rahi ho?"
"Owww. Zain, tum mujhe maarne ki koshish kar rahe
ho kya?" She said rubbing her side which was still killing her.
"Aadhi raat ko mere kamre mai kyun aaye? Kisi nai dekhliya toh?
Wait, why am I complaining? Couldn't stay away from me huh? " He teased pulling
her beside him and putting his arm around her shoulder.
"Shut up idiot. Aur yeh light baand karo, saare ghar ko batana hai
ki meh yaha hoon?" Aaliya snapped. He turned around and hit the light
switch encompassing the room in darkness before facing her.
"Ab batao kya hua MKB? Neend nahi aarahi?"
"Zain, maine bahut socha. We have no choice.
Bhaagna hi padega."
"Tum pagal hogayi ho? Hum bhaag nahi sakte. Aur tumhare 'kabhi jhoot nahi bolna chahiye' ka kya
hua?" He whisper-yelled.
"Doh saal sai jhoot hi bol rahe hai." Aaliya
whined hitting her forehead with her hand.
"Sabko sach bata detai hai." Zain said.
"3 dino sai wohi karne ki koshish kar rahe hai idiot. Tumhare mooh
mai toh dahi jaam jata hai."
"Haan, toh tumne bhi toh kuch nahi kaha."
"Koi baat hi nahi suntaa, sab shaadi kai kaam mai itne busy hai
ki..." She groaned. "Waise bhi yeh tumhari hi galti hai." She
said whacking him again.
"Meri galti kaise?" He whisper-yelled.
"Tumne hi toh kaha tha naa ki 'Aaliya
hum apne baare mein kisiko baata nahi sakte, aise hi humare milna mushkil
kardenge aur ek hafte mein humara nikaah kardenge'." She said trying
to imitate his voice.
"Haan toh theek hai naa, pehle bata dete toh ab tak toh doh baar
nikaah hogaya hota."
"Isse toh acha hai naa, aab ek baar bhi nahi
hoga."
"Yaar, qubool nahi hai bol dena."
"Zain seriously!" She whacked him again.
"Ab kya karenge?"
"Hum sab koh bata hi doh." A voice came from Zain's door as
the lights turns on causing Zain and Aaliya to shoot up into a sitting
position.
They took one look at the door and then at each other.
Busted.
X-X-X-X-X
Two Weeks Ago
November 26, 2013 - 1:30pm: Chhatrapati Shivaji
International Airport, Mumbai
"Maamu!" Aaliya and Aayat yelled as they broke into a run
towards their dad's business partner, who was also their mom's cousin and hence
their mamu, Usman Abdullah. He laughed hugging the two girls as their parents
trailed behind them smiling.
"Shabanaaa!" Surraya yelled hugging her sister-in-law before
turning to her sister-in-law's husband. "Salam Ghulam Saab. Aapki flight
toh theek rahi hogi?"
"Theek kaise ho sakti hai mom, yeh mamu ki bhanji joh saath
thi." Zain's voice came from behind them, he stepped out of the car and
pushed Aaliya out of his way and made his way towards his aunt and uncle.
"Phoops! Phoopha!" He smiled hugging them.
"Ab tum dono shuru maat ho jana." Surraya laughed turning
towards Aaliya and Aayat. "Mashaallah, dono kitni khoobsurat lag rahi
hai." She smiled hugging them.
"Doll, tumhari Aapi kai chehre ko kya hua?"
Zain asked as he hugged Aayat and looked at Aaliya.
"Tumhe dekh kar mera chehra aisa hi ho jataa hai,
maachis ki teeli." She retorted looking at him.
"Inki bachpan ki aadat kabhi nahi jayegi. Mujhe toh laga inki dosti
hogayi thi jab hum akhari baar Bhopal aaye thai." Surraya said recalling
how the two somewhat got along last time they went to Bhopal, which was almost
two years ago.
"Dosti aur isse." Zain scoffed.
"Fahad nahi aaya?" Shabana asked looking
around.
"Uski important phone call aagaye thi."
Usman laughed.
"Important phone call?" Shabana asked
confused.
"Arre begum, sagai kai baad hamesha ek hi important phone call aati
hai." Ghulam explained causing everyone to erupt into laughter.
"Aap sab mere saath chaliye, Zain tum apni gaadi
mein samaan rakhwa loh." Usman said to his son.
"Ji. Chal MKB." He said grabbing Aaliya's
hand and dragging her towards his car.
"Arre!" She said shocked.
"Ab tum insaan toh ho nahi toh tumhari ginti
samaan mein hi aayegi naa." He teased.
"Zain, bechari ko taang maat karo. Chalo Aaliya."
Surraya smiled.
"Koi baat nahi mami, mein iske saath hi aati hoon. Kya pata yai
kaha guum hojaye, iska dimaag kaam karne sai toh raha...fail hokai joh aaya
hai." Aaliya smirked causing Zain to smile nervously as his mom gave him a
disapproving look remembering his less than impressive report card among the
fakes.
"Theek hai beta. Zain aate aate Barkat koh bhi college sai pick up
karlena, woh subah sai Aaliya ki raah dekh rahi hai, khush hojaygi."
Aaliya and Zain nodded as Surraya got in the car, driving off with the rest of the
Haiders.
"Mamu aur mami kai liye hugs aur mamu kai betae ka kyaa mamu ki
bhanji." Zain said as the car moved out of their sight. Aaliya turned
around and smiled sweetly at him before whacking him hard on his arm.
"Insaan nahi hoon? Mera chehra kharab hai?"
She asked whacking him again.
"Owww, Aaliya." He said holding both her hands. "Marna
baand karogi please. Waise tum thodi moti hogayi lagti ho." Zain
said smirking, he loved annoying her.
"Tumhari shakaal toh abhi bhi waise hai, bandar
ki tarah." She retorted.
"Bandar kai liye ek hug toh banta hai naa?" He smiled pulling
her towards him and wrapping his arms around her. "I missed you." He
whispered into her hair as she nuzzled herself into his chest.
"I missed you too." She replied. "Even
though tum doh mahine pehle hi Bhopal aaye thai."
"Chup karjao mamu ki bhanji, kisiko pata chal
gaya naa toh mera band baj jayega."
She moved away from him and whacked his arm again.
"Owww. Ab kya hua?"
"Tum apna exam miss karke kaise aagaye
thai?"
"Yaad nahi raha yaar, tumhare magarmach jitne bade aansoon nai
mujhe blackmail kiya thaa. Ab baki ki interrogation car mein karlena." He
said opening the passenger side door for her.
"Wow, Zain Usman Abdullah nai manners bhi seekh
liye hai." She arched her eyebrow smirking.
"Shut up and get in the car MKB, Barkat ko bhi
lene jaane hai."
2:30pm
Parking Lot - Mumbai
College of Hotel Management and Catering Technology
"Wait karni padegi, she is still in class."
Zain said reading Barkat's text as he parked the car. He turned it off and
turned around to look at Aaliya.
"Hmmm." Aaliya yawned stretching when a stall caught her
attention. "Ganne ka juice!" She squealed.
"Aaliya...nahi." Zain shook his head knowing
her weird love for all things you could buy on the side of the road. He found
it frustrating, yet amazing because she was so unlike all those other rich
girls that he knew.
"Please!" Aaliya begged.
"It's unhygienic." He pointed out.
"Pleaseee." She pleaded her eyes wide.
"Don't look at me like that."
"Kyun?" She said pouting knowing he would
agree eventually. He couldn't say no to her, no matter how hard he tried and
she knew how to use it to her advantage.
"Aaliya." He groaned.
"Pleaseee." She said making her eyes
bigger and sticking her lips out while blinking, it always worked and this time
was no exception.
"Fine, chalo." He said. "Ganne ka juice, seriously." He mumbled
turning off the car.
"Thank you!" She said kissing his cheek quickly which
instantly lifted his mood causing him to smile. Aaliya got out of the car followed
by Zain, the latter walked around to her side and took her hand.
"Just in case you get lost." He said laughing as they headed towards the
stall.
"So thoughtful." She said sarcastically, but swooned internally. She
didn't ever expect the guy she used to fight with all day to be such a romantic
sap...she should have guessed it though, the man 'got something' in his eyes
every time they watched Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
"Agar tum bimaar hogayi naa toh mai doctor nahi
bulaunga." He stated in a final attempt to discourage her.
"Agar mein bimaar hui toh tum bhi hogai aur phir toh tum doctor
bulaugai hi." She pointed out before looking a the man behind the stall. "Bhaiya,
doh gaanne kai juice dena."
"Tum apne aap ko bahut smart samjh thi ho?"
"Samajth thi nahi hoon, main hoon." She said
passing a glass to him and taking a sip out of her own.
Zain watched fascinated at how a small glass of juice could make her
smile so much. She literally chugged two cups and slammed the cup down, all
within a few minutes. He laughed at her foamy moustache. "So
attractive." He smiled wiping it off her upper lip with his thumb.
"Oops." She laughed as he paid the
man behind the stall. "Mumbai ka ganne ka juice...not bad."
"But Bhopal jitna acha nahi?" He asked
already knowing the answer.
"Of course not." She smiled. "Ab kya kare?"
Zain shrugged taking her hand and walking
towards the car. "Waise tumne aaj bahut buri acting ki." He said.
"No way."
"You did. Tumne plane trip waali comment ka jawab nahi diya, aur tum
mere saath aane ke liye thoda jaldi hi mangaye. Mom ko shak hogaya toh." He
said as he leaned against the side of the car and pulled her towards him. She
rested her hands on his chest as his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Excuse me, mera haath pakad kar gaadi tak
tum leke gaye, woh bhi mami ke saamne!"
"Okay, fine. Hum dono nai bahut buri acting ki, aage sai thoda convincing lagna
chahiye."
"Hum ab tak yeh kyun kar rahe hai? Sabko
bataa dete hai naa." She said.
"Haan, of course. Hum abhi ghar jaake sabko bata dete hai ki hum
actually ek doosre sai nafrat nahi karte, aur hum 2 saal sai...I don't even
know how to describe it, aur main padta kam aur chori chupke Bhopal zyada jaata
hoon kyunki tumhe meri yaad bahut zyada hi aati hai." He said sarcastically
with a smile on his face. "Aur phir Fahad bhai kai saath saath hi humara nikaah
kardenge." He exclaimed.
"Acha, toh tumhe meri yaad aati hi nahi? Roz
phone kaun karta hai?" She retorted pushing herself away from him.
"Mein toh isliye karta hoon na kyunki tumne
kaha..." He said standing up straight.
"Acha, toh tum mujhse baat bhi nahi karna chahte. Mat kara karo phone,
mein bhi tumse baat karne ke liye maari nahi jaa rahi." She retorted.
"Aaliya, calm down. Mera woh matlab nahi tha
yaar."
"Toh kya matlab tha?" She said looking away.
"Mein toh yeh...kya?" He stopped short noticing her eyes go wide as she
looked behind him into the car. She looked back at him again and then back
inside the car. "Kya hua Aaliya, tum-" He asked as he turned his head around
but stopped short when he saw a smiling face from inside the car. She looked
almost delirious, her eyes sparkling and her smile so wide that all her teeth
were showing.
"Arre, go on Bhaiyoo. This is so interesting." Barkat smiled. "Hi Aaliya
Aapi...or should I say future bhabi?"
"Tum..." Zain started to say.
"Mein toh car dekh kar yaha aaye lekin aap dono yaha nahi thai. Ganne ka
juice kaisa tha?" She smiled.
"Wohhh..." Aaliya started to say but stopped
turning towards Zain her eyes wide. Busted.
"Bak Bak, tumne kitna sunaa?"
"Bahut kuch." Barkat smiled at him fixing
her hair and looking at her nails nonchalantly.
"Tum apna mooh baand rakhne ka kya laugi?"
"Poori story, yeh sab kaise hua aur kab hua.
And woh Chanel bag jo maine aapko pichle haafte dikhaya tha."
"Kisiko kuch bataa nahi sakti." Zain said
eyeing her suspiciously.
"My lips are sealed." She pretended to zip
up her lips by swiping her fingers in front of them.
Zain turned back towards Aaliya who was still kind of shocked. He shook
his head and opened the door for her but she didn't move. "Aaliya, ghar nahi
jaana?" He asked causing her to break out of whatever world she was in.
"Wait!" Barkat yelled throwing open her door and jumping out of the car.
She literally jumped on Aaliya and hugged her. "HI AALIYAAA." Aaliya laughed
hugging her back. "I MISSED YOU." Barkat said before letting her go and
allowing Aaliya to sit and seating herself back.
"Acha, Bhaiyoo, dheere sai gaadi chalana, mujhe poori story nahi batai
toh mein ghar jaakar sabko sab kuch bata doongi. Waise saab koh batane mein kya
problem hai? Woh naah kehne sai toh rahe..."
"Exactly. Humari kal hi nikaah kardenge."
Zain replied.
"Toh?" Barkat asked confused. "Tum dono nai nikaah
nahi karni?"
"Nahi...nikaah toh karna hai lekin..." Zain
said.
"Abhi nahi." Aaliya finished. "I don't think
ki hum abhi ready hai, atleast 24 tak toh wait karna chahiye naa."
"So nikaah doh saal ke baad, jab
aap 24 ki hojayengi? Actually, next year karlo naa, bhai toh 7 mahino mai 24 ki
hojaynge." Barkat smiled. "I can't believe this, you two... Ab story batau. Yeh
saab kab sai chal raha hai? Aur aapne mujhe bataya kyun nahi?! Aur Bhaiyoo! Aap
London sai India aate hai aur mujhse milke bhi nahi jaate?" She pouted.
"Chalo Mamu ki Bhanji, isko batao ki tumne
kya kiya tha." Zain said pulling out of the parking lot.
"Maine kya kiya tha? Joh kiya woh tumne
kiya!" Aaliya replied.
"Not even! Tumne mujhe jealous feel karwane
ke liye uss Zeeshan ko use kiya." Zain accused, his mouth folding into a
grimace with his name.
"Maine kuch nahi kiya, tumhe toh aise hi
jalan ho rahi thi."
"Woh ek chotte sai puppy ki tarah tumhare
peeche peeche ghoom raha tha." Zain exclaimed.
"Haan, toh maine usse aisa karne ke liye
nahi kaha tha." She replied.
"Hello. Still here!" Barkat piped up from
the backseat. "Aur mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha."
"Hum doh saal pehle jab Bhopal gaye thai..."
"Allah Miyah! Yeh doh saal sai chal raha
hai!" Barkat exclaimed.
"Tumne kahani sun-ni hai yaa nahi?" Zain
asked.
"Sorry, go on."
"Toh obviously main bahut hot lagta tha aur Aaliya ko mein bahut zyada
hi pasand aagaya." He concluded.
"HA!" Aaliya exclaimed. "Maachis ki teeli!
Aisa bilkul nahi hua."
"Acha? Toh mujhe shirt ke bina kaun ghoor
ghoor kai dekhta tha?"
"Hi. Still here." Barkat said again laughing. "You guys were
uncharacteristically nice to each other then." She recalled.
"Yeah...I think hum dono ko realize hua
ki..." Aaliya stopped trying to think of what she should say.
"Ki iss kitkit kai peeche kuch aur bhi hai."
Zain said.
"Aur yeh kaise pata chala?" Barkat asked sticking her head between the
two front seats smiling.
"Iske saath time spend karna ajeeb sa lagta
tha." Aaliya said.
"Aur iske bina time spend karna bhi ajeeb
lagta tha." Zain added.
"Ajeeb?" Barkat asked.
"Yeah like...main bahut nervous feel karti
thi, aur pait mein jaise butterflies..."
"Butterflies? Really Aaliya?" Zain smirked.
"Shut up Zain. I think hum ek doosre sai
attracted thai..."
"Obviously, aap dono hai hi itne hot."
Barkat said waggling her eyebrows. "Aur phir?" She asked.
"Zeeshan." Zain said. "Woh iske aage peeche ghumtha rehta tha, yeh uske
saath bahut zyada time spend karti
thi aur mujhe bahut zyada gussa aata
tha."
"Aur mujhe yeh samajh nahi aata tha ki isko
itna gussa kyun aata tha."
"Ohhh, that's why I remember you two sulking all the time." She laughed
thinking back to that summer vacation. "So, pehle kisko realize hua?"
"Mujhe." Zain said. "Thoda waqt lagaa samajhne ke liye ki yeh gussa nahi
jealousy hai."
"Haan, aur phir mujhe realize hua ki yeh
Zeeshan sai kitna chidta hai." Aaliya laughed.
"Aur mujhe chidane ke liye uske saath hi
chipki rehti thi." Zain mumbled.
"Aur mujhe childane ke liye yeh uss Gawhar sai chipak gaya." Aaliya said
remembering her annoying neighbor, she had actually liked the girl until she
set her eyes on Zain. "I think ek-doh hafto ke baad Zain aur meri ladai hogayi,
he was mad at me for spending time with Zeeshan and I was mad about Gawhar."
"Apni filmi line bhi bata doh naa." Zain
said.
"Filmi line?"
"Haan. Jalan
ho rahi kya, mujhse pyaar-vyaar toh nahi hogaya?" He said trying to imitate
her voice.
"Awww." Barkat cooed.
"Pehle tumne poocha tha! Kyun Gawhar sai jalan horahi hai?" She
said imitating him.
"And then?" Barkat asked.
"He said pata-nahi kya hai lekin yeh
Zeeshan sai dhoor raho'." Aaliya recalled.
"And she said Gawhar sai dhoor raho'."
"Phir hum ek-doh aur hafto ke liye bahut
confused rahe."
"Haan, aur jab hum waapis Mumbai aane ke
liye nikal rahe toh mujhe bahut weird feel ho raha tha. Waapis aane ka bilkul
mann nahi tha." Zain admitted.
"Mujhe bhi. Lekin isne kuch nahi kaha, aur
maine bhi kuch nahi kaha."
"Toh phir?" Barkhat asked confused.
"Iski bahut yaad aati thi." Aaliya admitted.
"Mujhe bhi, toh meine isko phone kiya." Zain
said.
"Aur kaha ki, Shit Aaliya mujhe lagta hai ki mujhe seriously tumse pyaar-vyaar hogaya
hai'."
"And then she said mujhe bhi'."
"AWWW." Barkat screamed. "And
then?"
"Mein London jaane se pehle Bhopal gaya, and
we decided to not tell anyone, just in case it didn't work."
"Lekin iski kitkit ki aadat si hogayi hai,
isse baat karne ke bina neend nahi aati." Aaliya smiled.
"AWWW. This is so cute." Barkat said.
"That's why tum dono ka phone hamesha busy rehta hai! Aur Bhaiyoo chupke Bhopal
bhi jaate hai. Awww. Man this is so cute."
"Kisiko batana maat Bak Bak." Zain warned.
"Nahi bataungi Bhaiyoo. Sabko apne aap hi
pata chal jayega." She laughed.
"Woh kaise?" Aaliya asked.
"Bhaiyoo pichle 30 minutes sai ek haath sai
gaadi chala rahe hai." She said smiling looking at Zain's other hand, which was
intertwined with Aaliya's.
TADAAA! Do let me know what you thinkkk! Please leave a comment if you want to be added to the PM list! :)
Edited by astonm - 9 years ago
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