Fatima Appa's Shehndi
Behzad looked at the flock of single women gathered at one side of the hall! The younger ones were gathered around the refreshments or busy taking pictures. He had yet to see Mehr, who still hadn't come out of her room. He couldn't tell, if she was going to after the Ahmad episode.
Behzad eyed the men in the room and decided not even one was suitable for Mehr. Faseeh, her cousin was too much muscle. Actually, he was only muscle and no brain. Mehr wouldn't survive 5 minutes in a room with someone as 'smart' as Faseeh. Then there were Dawood, who Behzad didn't even include in the list. Ibrahim, the pretty boy appeared to be a solid candidate, but Behzad knew his interest in Mehr was only due to her recently acquired fortune. She was intelligent, well educated, and gorgeous! And also, now fabulously wealthy which was enough to entice the wrong group of men towards her.
Behzad stood as he looked around for the woman, he thought he would marry if he could! Just for the sake of thinking and wasting time. Three months had passed, and if anything, it made him realize that living alone sucked. He had gotten used to dining with people! Having arguments over what Chachu Khaldi was going to make and then adjusting to the sabzi's he hated including bhindi(ladyfinger) because she liked it.
When they had started off, they used to avoid each other. He didn't know how it happened but now , he used to wait for her at the breakfast table. Initially they had called truce on eating dinner together but now they shared at min 2 meals together. Dinner they used to eat in the longue sitting in front of the TV watching splistsvilla or Bigboss or Katroon k Khiladi or Master cheff! Whatever was streaming at that time. They used to talk about stuff like the upcoming movies, celebrity couples, the weather or anything that wasn't related to them during the chai breaks. And it felt good. It made him realize that he Bestie(Ahsan Mamo) was right , he really was missing out on something so precious. The companionship!
"Honay wali biwi ko dhond rahay ho?" Mehreen Khala asked from be-side him.
"Shhhh!!! Kya ho gaya hai Ala....Log sun lain gay...She isn't my anything. " He said.
All he needed was gossip in town to make a misunderstanding!
"Nai hai? But given the attention you have been giving her, we thought she was the one..."
"We?" he asked.
"Me and Sugra..." Mehreen khala replied.
"Kisi ko nai doondh raha." He replied.
"You have been gossiping about me with the house helps...." He asked.
"Everyone is gossiping about you, Behzad. Also, you avoided the question." She told him as she wrapped her fingers around his arm and perched up on tiptoe.
" Woh nai hai tu phir kon hai?" She asked.
"Alaaa! Please,stop! Bestie(Ahsan) ki rooh agae hai apnay ! "
She looked wounded and released the grip on his arm.
"Acha , ab aisay maat dekhain, jese apka dil toor dia hai mainay !" He said .
"Dhond tu usay he raha tha... Apko pata tu hai...." He told her. He shook his head.
"Kyun karatay ho usay itna tang! Naraz hai woh tumsay..... Bol rahi hai jab tak nai aye ge bahr jabtak uska bestie nai ajaata...."
"Woh aur uska bestie....", He said shaking his head.
"Chotay bachoon ki tarhan lartay ho dono... "
"Ap usko kabhi nai danteen..." He complained.
"Woh bhi yehi bolti hai..." Mehreen Ala replied.
"Maza ata hai mujhe usay tang kar...." He finally admitted.
"Phir jab naraz hoti hai tu bardasht bhi kya karo na...." Mehreen ala replied.
"She's a good person. She is the only person who doesn't care about your money. She's wonderful. Par she is difficult sometimes and so am I. I do is annoy the life out of her. I like that. But um the hurt part is unintentional."
"You have always loved her. Have you not?" Mehreen Khala asked. And he looked at her as if she had grown a tail. Loved her? Mehr-un-Nisa? Loved to annoy her, yes. But loved her?
"Maybe! Probably. Yes, I have always we shared something special." He told her and his ears turned red. What the hell was he saying?
"She is worth it. Worth fighting for...." Mehreen Ala told him. She patted his hands as if she knew about the demons he had been fighting. As if she knew about his pledge of breaking the cycle and never marrying.
" She'll kill me. Bestie, might have shipped us, but he didn't know. Apko kese pata chala?" He asked.
"It's a women thing?" Mehreen Ala replied as she gave him the "bus dekh lo smile."
"Loving the wrong person hurts, and I know I am not right for her." He told her.
"You think?" Mehreen Ala asked.
I know I am not the right choice for her. That's why I try to let her go. And I do let her go and try to find someone else who doesn't want something long. Then she'd start ignoring me and my life will feel uncomplete. Then my selfish-self deicides that , I can't let her go.
"My friends think that I have this pattern of getting bored of people. Some people think I have commitment issues, thanks to the series of broken engagements. But I don't. Maybe I do, but that's not it. I want somebody I can talk to. Somebody I don't have to charm or please or impress. Because all my life I have been doing that. Trying to make people love me." He replied.
"I can't believe I am going to say this. But, meri jaan you gotta make a move. Why are you wasting time! It should be her choice if she wants to deal with your baggage or not. Stop pushing her away and then going after her. Let her decide. Go talk to her. "Pyarr kiya tu darna kya?" I am excited for another wedding." Mehreen Ala told him as she released her arm and left.
Eves dropping is bad. And one really shouldn't judge, but all that is bookish crap. Mehr watched her heart break into pieces as she heard her Khala give him her blessing and the courage he needed to talk to his girl. "Go talk to her.Pyar kiya to darna kya?"
Mehr from behind the pillar watched him looked around only to move in the direction of, Maneeha. Her heart was crushed. But she was going to pretend it was not.
"Finally, you have decided to grace me with your presence." She cooed, as she gave Behzad a smile which didn't reach her eyes.
"Main? Apke chahnay wale apko chor he nai rahay thay....Mera number ab aya..."
"Mazraat apko intezar karna para...", She said as she walked beside him. Gracefully she grabbed the margarita from the table as they passed by it. He wondered whether it from attending to many social gatherings that she had mastered the art or was she just graceful at everything. Probably the latter. He hadn't noticed that she did anything poorly.
"I really like the menu you have chosen, Behzad!" She said and he wondered what a nice change it was from Mehr-un-Nisa, who disapproved of everything he did. Well, not everything but if he were to say the sky was blue, Mehr would have argued and informed him that it wasn't blue. It was transparent and it seemed blue because of the refracted sunlight.
"So, how are your sibling doing?" She asked trying to keep up the conversation and he couldn't be gladder.
"Laiba is happy with her husband, and so is Shehzad with his wife. You should meet them if you come to London. Musa and Hadi are absolute delight!" He told her.
"hmmm, are you inviting me ", she mused as she gracefully took a sip from her glass, fluttering her lashes at him. A trick, well done but obvious! He hadn't even tried to be his usual flirty self and she had already given her the green light. Mehr-un-Nisa never does that. He thought as he led her around to introduce her to friends.
Mehr was uncomfortable! She didn't like that her home was full of people, who either had been rude, mean or disrespectful to her! Resisting the urge to smooth her duppata for the umpteenth time, Mehr looked around for her Bestie , who had said he was her. Her charcoal grey shit with the baby pink dupatta she had paired looked good enough. Her wavy hair that had curls at the end, she had let them free.
All of her cousins were busy with their group of friends, her step Momani's were ignoring her existence as usual. Irsa too , couldn't make it today because they had to go back to Islamabad. Mehr could go and sit with Mehreen Ala, but she didn't want the Aunties to ask the shit old question again. "Beta , ab tum bhi shadi karo..."
"Bestie!", a voice called out and Mehr's mood lightened! Mehr would have kissed his face! Hugged the air out of him, if this wasn't haram. Because she was really happy to see him. Aisay jaisay kisi gair mulk main koi apna mil jae...
"Besite , you clean up nice and we are matching" , she said as she eyed Abdullah wearing the a dark grey checked jacket with white, formal shit! She was so glad he was here today! He hated public gathering, but he was here today and she wanted to think it was for her and not Behzad. Her smile was enough to express her delight.
"We always match, Besite! The dynamic duo we are...." He said with a smile.
"Sherk to my donkey...." Mehr replied.
"Apnay sath meri bhi bezati...." He replied with a smile.
Mehr liked him alot. He was always nice to her, always! With his sharp jaw, he kept the stubble which suited him alot and his dark eyes gave him the intense look! Every girl's dream he was, and he was loyal to his girl. Another reason why she liked him! Loyalty was very important! She was thankful to Behzad for introducing her to Bestie. THE ONLY GOOD HE HAD DONE TO HER.
"Ohhhhh!!! You are wearing the ring that I made for you!!" Mehr said excitedly as she noticed the ring on his index finger, when he pulled out his hand from his pocket.
"Yes! It's perfect!" He told her and she thought she'd melt from the genuine affection!
Behzad wanted to know what Abdullah and Mehr were talking about! He saw her smile and then Abdullah smile and he could feel the jealously riling inside him! So, he focused all his energies on Maneeha trying to pretend everything was normal.
Mehr was having good time, listening to Besite and his other friend who was a giant compared to bestie's 5'7 until her eyes found HIM! Bitch was laughing with the girl who used to bully her in high school! The same girl, he was going to marry! All Mehr could see was red. She didn't know she was staring until he looked her way and she got caught. He smiled, as he gazed up and down at her figure and she could feel the blush sweeping up her cheeks.
Kya hua bestie?", Abdullah asked as he noticed her discomfort.
"Bestie, the bully gang is here......"
"What bully gang?" He asked.
"Maneeha and her snitches... They used to bully me in highschool."
"Maneeha tu woh nai jo Simp k sath..." Abdulah asked studying the woman they were talking about.
"Jee wohi... Simp yeh sub kuch jaan k karta hai kya? Purson he nikkah wale din he was being extra friendly with my ex's cousin" Mehr asked.
"Nai. Jaan kar nai karta. Bus SIMP hai woh ... Choro usay.... ", He said as he noticed the flock of women gathered around his friend.
"Bestie," Mehr asked hesitantly few minutes later.
"Hmm..."
"Can we leave? Hein? Go somewhere else and come back, jab sub chalay gae hoon?"
"Bestie, kya ho gaya hai. Khana start honay wala hai. Ab free ka khana chor kar nai ja sakta. Nai khateen woh tumhain, main hoon na !" He told her.
But Mehr couldn't believe that. She could feel it in her bones after Maneeha had given her the look. Also, Maneeha and her friends refused to greet her even when they were standing in her HOME! A memory from her past, when Maneeha had locked her into the bathroom and when she had poured water on her uniform in winters flashed infront of her eyes and Mehr shook her head to dismiss that.
I am stronger now! Mera he ghar hai ! Kuch bura nai ho ga! Bestie is here! Mustufa is here! Dono mere dost, hain! Tab tu mein akeli the.
Nearly fifteen minutes later, Mehr found herself grabbing the cup of chai to relieve herself from the headache she had thinking countless scenarios.
"Bestie , ek cup mere liye bhi..." Abdullah's voice called out and Mehr turned to grab another cup from the table where she was forced to greet Maneeha.
"Maneeha . Can you move aside, I need to grab chai for bestie."
"Mehr-un-Nisa.... Long time no see....huh?" She said as if she was some long lost buddy.
"We were never friends Maneeha. Now if you'll excuse me." She told her as she reached for the second cup. Balancing two cups of chai in each hand, Mehr was about to leave when she felt someone push her and down went the chai!
"Ouch ouch ! What the hell Mehr..." , Maneeha shouted as she looked at Mehr with accusing eyes.
Mehr who was too stunned and badly had burnt her foot was too lost and embarrassed to reply.
"I..." She began but was cut off.
"Jealousy doesn't suit you, Mehr!" One of the side kick bitches responded and the dabbed the wet tissue on Maneeha's dress which seemed spot less but because of the dark color Mehr couldn't tell.
"Bestie thek ho?" , Abdullah asked as he cut through the circle of wanna be bitches that had gathered around Maneeha! But before Mehr could respond, Maneeha began wailing like a child . "Yeh Faraz Manan ka dress tha , sara kharab kar dia... Mera pair jaal raha hai...ouch!! Uff !!"
"Bestie!!" Abdullah said as he reached for her.
"Maneeha, thek ho?", a voice she could recognize called out and Mehr didn't know what hurt more. The concern she felt in his voice for her or her leg which she knew would be scarred.
"Mehr, spilled chai on me! Everyone knows her obsession with you since college days." Maneeha shouted. Now it was getting more embarrassing.
"I am sorry, let me take you for the first aid.." Behzad said as he took her hand.
His words rang in her head. He was sorry. One thing Behzad never did was ever apologize for his mistakes. He was always justifying them. But now with Maneeha, he was apologizing.
Behzad who hadn't apologized for abandoning her when she needed him the most. Behzad who hadn't even offered his condolence at her mother's death was sorry.
"Why are you apologizing? She should!" Maneeha ground out and Behzad looked at her. In his eyes she saw concern. Ofcourse , he was concerned. She had overheard him. He loved Maneeha. And that concern felt like the silent command. That and the fact that Mehr didn't want to spoil things for him and Maneeha. She wasn't jealous.
"I am sorry, Maneeha! Mujhe nai pata tha chai gir jae ge", Mehr whispered and then she ran to her room ignoring her Bestie who called after her.
Locking the door, Mehr cried! She was hurt! Really really hurt. She didn't open the door for Bestie came to inquire about her leg. Not even for Ala who came to call her for the family photo. And not even for Chachu Khaldi who had come up with a tray of food that included gajr ka halwa.
What a jerk ! Mujhe use second chance dena he nai chahiye tha ! Why do, I do this! Why do I allow him to walk over me again and again ! Why ! Why! WHY!
He won't even apologize for it because , uski tu galti kabhi hoti he nai. And I'd be angry at him for 5 days, like she was last time, after which she would start missing him and then she'd forgive him and get over it. WHAT A TOXIC cycle it was.
What kind of a friend he was? He told her, they were friends! Friends believe friends. Friends care for friends! Not look at their friends with accusing eyes. She'd never ever forgive Behzad for that. Never! Lying on the bed, Mehr cried her eyes out and fell asleep empty stomach!
' Talaquaat k barzaq main he rakha mujh ko
Woh mere haq main na tha, or khilaf bhi na hua'
I think I know who i want as cast...
Mahira Khan as Mehr-un-Nisa...
Adtiya Roy Kapoor as Abdullah aka Bestie...
Ranbir Kapoor as Behzad....( Imagine your own cast... I am so bad at this...)
Lots of love
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Alyna