CHAPETR 1.

 1-    I WAS CRAZY ABOUT HIM!!!!

2014; Islamabad, Pakistan

I was covered in flour from head to toe, I gave an hour off to our cook, I wanted to make the especial cake all by myself. For last four years I was making it; the first one was a real mess… I don’t know how the hell Mama and Baba ate that cake with a huge smile plastered on their faces, it was yukk. But now as I have practiced a lot, so what I did today was going to be better, much better in fact.

It was 2011 when I first saw him, all cute and a handsome man to be. I don’t know since when but I started falling for him so hard that today he has become a part of my life. I put the batter in the oven and went to my room to get freshen up, till the cake was baking. I opened my closet and took out my favorite shirt and light blue jeans… took a quick shower and came out.

My room was the best part of my home, it was my little fantasy… my own little world where I dream and my dreams come true. I looked at the huge bulletin board on the main wall and a warm smile spread across my face, I looked at the pics few of them were silly, idiotic but still I love them all. But the best among them was on my bed, actually on the back post of my bed….. I looked at him, and felt he was smiling back at me. He looked hot as always in that 5 by 6 huge picture..

“Aaaahhhhh Hussain Asif!! Why the hell are you so hot, seriously man! You should get arrested in the crime of being this much hottttt, you are the reason of this global warming you know” I winked at him, as if he was really there, I chuckled at my own silliness.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed in past three years, I have-not seen myself that much as I have seen Hussain, I don’t know how and why I went so crazy about him. I shook my head, brushed my wavy locks and headed to the Kitchen.

************

“Why is my humble abode so silent today? I hope all is okay here” He sat on the cane couch in front of her, on the lawn and crossed his legs.

“The dynamite is busy in the kitchen today, so you won’t be hearing any noises anytime soon” She smiled and replied.

“Oh! Kitchen? Seriously? Nafeesa begum! aj sooraj kaheen or se nikla tha kia?” he asked laughing.

“ji nai aj sooraj nikla he nai” Nafeesa replied and he looked at the cloudy sky above them.

“By the way, what is the occasion? Am I forgetting something?” he asked in a whisper and Nafeesa laughed

“Ask your daughter, there she is” Nafeesa pointed towards the entrance of the lawn.

Mannat was walking towards the lawn, along with a maid who was dragging the tea trolley behind her. She was 18, pretty and a confident girl. She was wearing a short white T shirt which had a scribbling on it and light blue jeans, her long wavy locks were spread untied on her back and she was carrying the world’s prettiest smile. She came near her parents and hugged his father from the back.

MANNAT’S POV

“Assalam o alaikum baba!.... And thanks God you are early home today” I hugged Baba and he kissed my head, my father was my superhero… no man in the world can beat him when it comes to my love for him, not even Hussain!!!

“Shakooran aai! Bus yaheen rakh dejiye, I will make the tea myself today” I asked her politely and she turned back nodding her head.

“wah! Today must be something special, let me guess…. Ummmmm!” Baba looked at the 2 pound ice cream cake in the trolley and said thoughtfully.

“Baba! That is not fair, how can you even forget that?” I couldn’t belive Baba can forget this day

Baba looked sideways to Mama as if asking for help or any hints.

“No! Am not going to help you Salaar, am in Mannat’s team” Mama said, raising her hands as if she was surrendering herself and I stood up and sat with her.

“Baba, come on! Its 19th Oct…. Remember!” I said still looking hurt and Baba’s eyes went all wide.

“Oh! Is it your birthday princess?” Baba asked innocently and I stood up, while putting my hands on my waist I showed him the shirt I was wearing….

“Read this baba!”

Y ou

O nly

L ive

O nce

It was written on my shirt and under that a logo was printed in red and white, showing two hands, making a sign of two letters; D and B together. My all time favorite shirt.

“Remember, Baba! Its Hussain’s birthday today” I made a face at him and he laughed at my expression

“Hahahah! Princess I knew that it's his birthday today, I was just kidding how can I forget? It's been three years that you are celebrating birthday of a person who is, don’t know where” Baba said thoughtfully and I rolled my eyes.

“Salaar at least we know this much, he lives in NYC, right Mannat?” Mama said jokingly and I crossed my arms on my torso.

“Mama, Baba! I don’t want to hear any jokes on Hussain or Dhoombros. So just cut the cake and wish him loads and loads of happiness and success…. Come on!” I literally jumped in excitement and bent down. I picked the tray and put it on the table. It looked delicious… thanks God!

“Let's cut it now” I said, I opened the pack of candle I had and put the candle in the middle, I couldn’t put 20 candles so I just put four.

I blew the candles and Mama Baba clapped……

“Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear superstaaaaar

Happy birthday to you!

May you live very long

May you live very long

Happy birthday to you”

I literally sang the birthday rhyme and Mama Baba also joined in, I cut the cake and made both of them eat the yummy cake.

“Happy birthday kid! You are really great, because you  make us have this delicious cake every year… or wo bhi hamari sahaabzaadi k hatho se bana hua” Salaar gave an imaginary toast to Hussain and I clapped in excitement.

“How old has he become? four?” Baba looked at the candles and joked.

“Nai Baba, he is 20 mashaAllah, but it is my fourth cake for him so I just put four” I chuckled at Baba’s expressions

“So what have you bought this time… for this superstar of yours?” Mama asked eating her piece of cake

“Nothing so far, I have a bigger plan actually. I will buy him a gift and am saving money for that” I winked at her

“Why saving money princess? Have it, whatever you want to buy, buy it” Baba took out his credit card.

“Nope Baba! Am going to buy it myself, and am quite close now, luckily. Am saving for the last two years” I said, my mouth stuffed with the cake.

“Hmm and by the way, what is that precious gift?” Mama asked

“Mama!.... Gifts surprise hote hen not to be told and disclosed you know” I rolled my eyes and started making tea

“wese! App dono se kia chupana, actually it’s a Rolex watch, Hussain loves it and I thought to buy it for him” I said casually and Baba looked at Mama. Who was controlling her grin

“Rolex?..... wow! And beta how do you know that he loves it?” Baba asked, taking the cup from my hand.

“He mentioned in one of his outclass video” I said with a huge smile

“And what if, it was only a joke or something, like part of the script only?”Mama asked sipping her tea

“Doesn’t matter Mama, still I will buy one and one day…. One lucky day, am going to give it to him” I literally had imagined that moment like a hundred times in past two years.

“Yeah! Exactly princess, Shehroz will take you to NYC to make you meet this… this Hussain Asif…yeah?” Baba said with a hint of sarcasm and I rolled my eyes at him

“Baba! You are a real spoiler… honestly! And by the way, am still single and your daughter, am no man’s wife yet. So I have a free will, I guess” I knew, one day I will be getting married to my cousin, like  the girls of our family normaly do… but at least till then let me live my life, let me enjoy my little fantasy.  

“Mannat beta! What did you decide about your college? Which college you want to study in?” Mama asked, and I came out of my thoughts.

“Mama! Any college you and Baba wants, I don’t have any issue, bus I want to study Media and Film then it can be any institute” I said carelessly, honestly, I wasn’t used to of taking big decisions of my own….. It was always my parents who decide things for me, and frankly speaking, I was pretty comfortable with all that.

“Hmm, and are you sure you want to study Media?” Baba asked

“yup Baba! Am absolutely positive about that, you know I have gt great aptitude in that…. Or baki if you people want some other profession for me, that’s cool with me even then” I wasn’t really worried about my field or my future. I never actually thought about life in this way, I believe over thinking makes life boring.

“Yeah! I think you have aptitude for this Mannat. You will enjoy studyng it am sure” Mama said.

“Mama, Baba! Am going inside, am hell tired” I said, stretching her arms and Baba chuckled at me.

“kis ne kaha tha k itni mehnat karo?”

“Baba! Today is my favorite day, anything for Hussain” I said, stood up and winked at him.

I turned and holding another piece of cake I headed towards my little fantasy.

****************

“I have never seen a father talking like this to his daughter” Nafeesa said smiling after Mannat left

“Begum! Ek he to aulaad hea hamari, and then again she is not only a daughter, she is our best friend as well. I just don’t want to be her father only we are buddies….. as she says” Salaar said and Nafeesa laughed

“Yeah! Buddies” Nafeesa put her mug back on the table

“I just hope and pray that Shehroz will make her happy Nafeesa, I know he is a good boy, but Mannat buhat massom hea, she is so docile. I just wonder sometimes that only if we could find her match by ourselves… I mean, all this family tradition, it sucks, I think” Salaar said seriously and Nafeesa put a hand on his.

“Salaar, Mannat is docile, but she is very sensible and practical about life, her approach towards life is so mature that sometimes I wonder where did she get this all from. I was never that confident about life Salaar, don’t worry, she will be really happy in life” Nafeesa said and Salaar smiled

“Yeah! You are right, remember! When we first spoke to her about Shehroz and the proposal, she didn’t react at all. I was expecting her to get blasted, but she was all calm and so positive. Our daughter is super cool. I so adore her begum!” Salaar said, his eyes sparkled with pride

“han muj pe gai hea” Nafeesa said proudly and Salaar laughed

“Ap ke kia kehne begum!... you are mind blowing” Salaar said and Nafeesa smiled broadly at him

“I just wish I can make her meet these Dhoombros people, I mean she is so very fond of them such a huge fan. She must meet them” Salaar said and Nafeesa nodded

“They were here in Pakistan last year, Mannat told me. They came here for some family wedding. Mannat made me watch all of their videos and dances and bla bla bla!” Nafeesa said her eyes wide and Salaar laughed

“Oh! I only wish we knew before” Salaar said sadly

“Chalen koi bat nai next time, wese bhi ap ki laadli Hussain ko Rolex pehnaae bager shadi nai kare gi” Nafeesa said like alarming him and Salaar nodded his head

“hmm soch raha hoon damaad ki jaga usi ko na pehna doon phir” Salaar said very seriously and Nafeesa laughed

“Like father like daughter” Nafeesa said and Salaar proudly raised his shoulders.

***************

Mannat……

I had a habit of writing since I was too young, I used to write diaries and my daily silly adventures. And when I met Dhoombros, I mean when I saw them… they became a part of my daily writing. Once I had a dream of meeting Hussain, it was such a silly dream; I saw that he came to my home for meeting me and he was so excited to have a fan like me….. When I woke up I was laughing like idiots, that was the day I wrote my first letter to him… well, never posted or sent him any but I just write, whatever I feel for him and the dhoombros, I believe one day I would be able to give them to Hussain myself. So I write and put my letters in a huge gift box.

Sometimes I just sit and ponder if I had a brother, it's not like I crave for one, but I feel sometimes that I should have an elder brother… all possessive and touchy about me, as Rida has. (Well, she is my best friend). So three years back I found dhoombros and literally I would love to have brothers like them… well, Hussain ko nikal ker the rest are my brothers.

I took out a paper and my pen, and started throwing up on it;

19th October, 2014

Hussain Asif’s birthday!!!

“Hussian! Happy birthday, we just enjoyed the yummy birthday cake and we wished you a thousand wishes… May you get and achieve whatever you want in life, May you get more successful than that Shahrukh Khan, May you get a Yash Raj Banner’s movie and May your Heroine be hotttt as hell ;) May you live very long… I so love you and Adore you man…ahhh! You just don’t know how much.

You know what Hussain! I used to wonder why my Dada ji named me as Mannat, I got my answer three years back; when I first saw you, he named me as Mannat because it was destined to be……., because I was destined to know you and have this Mannat (wish) to see you once, to meet you once in my life. That would be the happiest and luckiest day of my life.

Well, let me see, ummm this is the 756th letter to you that am writing right now. you think am crazy?... yup that is me!!! well, am keeping the count ;) maybe am gonna make a ginuess world record :D

Okay, now am going to sleep, beinghell tired, hope to see you soon.

Love you

Mannat

 I finished writing the letter, then folded it and put it in a beautiful, shimmering mauve color box. The box was quite big and looked heavy. It had all the letters that I wrote for Hussain for past three years, the gifts that I bought for him every now and then, the sketches and drawings I made about him and dhoombros…. I put the letter in the box and closed the lid, I put it back in my closet and shut the door. With that, I just fell on my queen size, comfy bed and within a blink of an eye, I fell into a deep slumber.