12. An Other Encounter in His City.

MANNAT'S END

I WAS FINALLY IN NYC… THE CITY OF HUSSAIN !

It has been a week that I came to NewYork, my institute was amazing beyond my expectations. Luckily I got adjusted quite easily and I didn’t have to stay in  the hostel… thanks to hammad for that, because his fiancé, Seleena was renting a room in her apartment and hammad introduced me to her. So now I was living with her in her cozy little apartment in the center of NewYork… enjoying my life to the fullest I would say. Studies were tough but medical was not that bad I was enjoying it a lot… learnt a lot.

Sohail uncle and his wife Rabia aunty were really loving people, they didn’t let me feel odd or new over there. Hammad was a caring brother I got, though he was a bit crack at his brains but still an adorable person. I just couldn’t understand how Seleena and Hammad found each other… opposite attracts I guess.

I had to visit Brooklyn for some college work, so I asked Hammad to come with me. He got ready but later on,he was informed that he had a stay back in his office, Seleena was also busy in her work so I didn’t want to bother anyone else.

“Hey! Mannat, you are going to Brooklyn tomorrow?” Selena asked.

“yeh! have to visit the candouline academy” I told her.

“Are you sure you will manage on your own? Should I come with you?” she asked, putting the nail paint on her toes.

“Nope, am sure I will manage dear, and I know your boss would sue you up if you are going to take a single other off” I said and she cursed her bossy boss. I chuckled at her.

“Then why don’t you ask mady?” she used to call hammad as Mady, well I guess this one suited him a lot.

“Nai Selena seriously I don’t wanna bother anyone… and I will be fine, don’t worry” I said but she didn’t look convinced.

“And then I have the gps and all that….  And Hammad’s car is quite cool to drive as well, I will be fine” I assured her again and she nodded.

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

Next day I went to College and after a very tiring day… I came back home. I opened my laptop and called Mom…..

“Hey! Hello princess!.... kesa hea mera bacha?” Baba’s face came on the screen and I felt all the tiredness washed away, I smiled broadly at him.

“Hiiiii….. ap ka bacha is perfectly okay, just missing you people as hell” I made a sad face.

“Nafeesa!... Arye! Nafeesa begum…. Come, its Mannat online” I heard Baba calling Mama.

“hm! We are missing you too beta!... its just that we are not used to of living a single day without you and now you have been gone…. This past whole weak was so difficult for all of us” Baba said, I clould sense his pain and sorrow.

“okay, am coming back….” I said with out looking at the screen and heard his chuckle.

“who is coming back?” I heard Mama’s voice.

“Hiiii! Mama am missing you” I made a puppy face and she blew a kiss towards me.

“pagal ho! …. Enjoy there beta, enjoy the studies and your time there, don’t get bothered and yup we are missing you as well” Mama said and I smiled weekly.

“Acha Mama, Baba I am going to Brooklyn today…. Have a college task to do.” I told them.

“Oh! Okay… be carefull okay, you are new there so just stay with Hammad and Seleena, and how is she? dosti ho gait um dono ki?” Mama asked as if I was a kindergarten kid and went to school on my first day.

“yup mama! She is cool…. And gladly I got adjusted very soon and very easily” I said and Mama Baba smiled.

We talked for like an hour…. I talked to Fazeelat, Shakooran aai and every one else. Had a great time talking to all of them, Shakooran aai wept talking to me and I just felt like hugging her tight.

HUSSAIN’S END

Life was busy, we had Yaari’s success party where we met Pallavi deewan….. a famous name in the modelling industry, Anuragh attended too, actually he introduced us to pallavi. She looked all too impressive from our work. We met Bilal Lashari as well, Nosh invited him….. and he praised our work a lot. He was planning for his next movie and was interested in casting a whole new team…. From crew to cast. I thought he tried to put the offer in front of me… but didn’t say that clearly neither did I push the topic. Waqas, who was always a fan of his direction skills got an offer from him a couple of day later, for direction and definitely Waqas ne inkaar to kerna nai tha…..

It was 10 in the morning when I woke up and found a sticky note on the mirror in our room…

“breakfast is in the MW, and milk was finished..... Waqas sab uraa gaya…. Khotaa!.  So I made some juice for you its in the fridge, yaad se pee lena. And yup! Don’t stand in front of that Board too much” It was Shehry… ufff he was my second mommy. I chuckled at his note but his last line wiped the smile away from my lips.

Yup! That was true, since we came back from Pakistan that hotel incident kept on coming in my mind. That girl…. Her face, her eyes I dunno why she was all over my thoughts. I know it was guilt, nothing else… but it was getting too much.

I shook the thought away from my mind and headed for a quick shower. After taking the shower I came back, and went to the kitchen… I found some sandwiches in the microwave, took out juice from the fridge and settled on one of the counter chair. I finished the breakfast, holding my glass of juice I went back to my room to check my email.

“ooops!....” I saw Anuragh’s mail, opened it.

“Dear Hussain,

I want you to meet Ashish Mehra…he is our model’s guide, he is there in New York now days. Today, in evening he has his flight, he is going to Paris for the coming fashion week and he wont be back till next month. So you better meet him and what ever your queries are I hope he is the right man to solve them.

I am sending you the other details as well, check them and reply asap. I have attached Ashish’s current address and his contact number. I have also briefed him about you.

Hope to see you soon here, have a good day Mr Hussain.

P.S: he is man of high punctuality, kind of hot headed… so make sure you reach in time.

Regards,

Anuragh Kashaf

“hm!... I read the mail, opened the attachment and saved his address and contact number in my cell phone. I have already heard about this man, actually he is only a couple of years older than me but gained tremendous success in this field. All the top models were his internees at one point of their lives. Models feel honour when they get him as their mentor.

I replied him back and then looked at my wrist watch… it was almost 11… shittt! It means I had very short time to reach to Hampton. I got up hurriedly and headed towards the wardrobe.

I simply dressed in a coffee and black checked shirt and jeans…. Gelled up my hair. I took up my car keys and left a sticky note on the mirror about my leaving. I came out of the room and putting my phone in my pocket and whistling on Shahrukh’s romantic number I came in to the hall. To grab the house keys I raised my hand when my gaze shifted towards that…… my hand stopped where it was and my eyes fixed on the spot.

There was a picture of all of us… the one we took during dolly Aunty 1 shoot… ufff! It was a damn funny pic. I went closer and read the sticking under that “Because of all of you, I laugh a little harder, cry a little less, and smile a lot more, you people are amazing. I love you dhoombros!”

my eyes scroll through another, at a distance it was again mine… the one in which I was showing a thumbs up, it was one of my favourites. The sticking under that said;

“I thought, flowers were the most beautiful thing I have ever seen… until I saw you!” I read and couldn’t realized how and why I smiled at those words……

I kept on scrolling through the pictures until a voice came at the back of my head…. “you idiot! Ashish wont wait for you” shitttt!

I headed out of the apartment and started my car and headed towards the galaxy towers in Hampton, where he was staying. I switched on the stereo…. I reached Brooklyn and got my tank filled up…. Ashish’s flight was due in 4 hours, chalo gud! I will manage to meet him.

I came out of the filling station and took a turn to came on my side of the road. I was listening to MJ and my car was thumping with music when suddenly from the opposite road a silver Volvo came rushing breaking the barriers and before I could absorb what the hell the driver was up to…. It hit hard with my car with a jerk both cars stopped, thank God there were barriers in the way which reduced the car’s speed otherwise God knows what would have happened.

My seat belts saved me; I got out of the car. I wanted to kill the person right there and then. Nobody came out of the car, when I came closer to the driver’s door, it burst open and a girl hardly around 20, came out of the car, her hair were all messed up… she got out of the car and kept staring my face like total idiots……. For a split of a second I also got lost somewhere, somewhere in in her oceans, or the prettiest face I came across with…. I couldn’t believe my eyes, once again we were there in front of each other… again a disaster!

“Tum????!!!!” I couldn’t believe my eyes.

MANNAT’S POV

I was listening to one of the recent bollywood movie song while driving to Brooklyn, I was so drowned in the melody that I couldn’t realized when I took a sharp turn and my steering got out of control. My car broke the barriers and went straight into the lush black luxes coming from the opposite side, my head crashed into the steering and I felt dizzy… I held my head in my palms, the pain was just too much and I felt hot liquid dripping from my forehead. My car stopped with a jerk, thanks God that there were barriers otherwise don’t know what would have happened.

I remained in the car, couldn’t step out but I  could see the man from Lexus was already out of his car and pacing towards my side, I slowly opened the door and mugging up all my power I stepped out. He was right there in front of me, I looked up and froze in my place. I forgot my pain, an other pain too its place…… those eyes… those familiar angry eyes trapped me into a trance, and I couldn’t even utter a single word.

“Tum???!!!!” his voice was full of disgust, anger and a hint of confusion was evident in his tone.

HUSSAIN’S POV

I couldn’t believe she was standing there right in front of me, once again. She was staring me like an idiot as if I had two nose or three eyes,.

“Hey!.....hello!” I waved my hand in front of her face and she shook her head, suddenly my gaze shifted to her forehead, it was bleeding…. Shittt !!!

“Are you blind or something?”I said irritated, she wasn’t saying a word just looking at me. I lightly touched her shoulder, trying to wake her up….

Worry evident on her face, she narrowed her eyes and I felt she was gong to faint, No man!

“Am…am sorry” exactly what I heard from her a year back in the hotel room, and with that she fainted…. I held her on time otherwise her flight was landing on the concrete floor. I was holding her from her waist, her head on my arm and her hair handing down… for a moment I can’t took my gaze off her face.

“Excuse me! Anything wrong Sir?” I heard somebody and I turned still holding her, it was the police officer standing near his mobile.

“Yeah! our cars,…um, we had a small accident” I tried to explain, he looked at her and his eyes examined her bleeding fore head. With out saying or asking anything, he called ambulance and turned towards me.

“Ambulance is coming, am afraid you have to come with me Sir,” I mentally cursed the moment and nodded my head, I knew I had no other option.

The ambulance took her to the hospital, and I went with the officer.

MANNAT’S POV

My head was heavy and I felt pain in my forehead…I opened my eyes and the first thought came nto my head was… Hussan Asif!!!

I slowly got up, touched my head… I had dressing on my forehead, I was on a bed and it was definitely a hospital room, a doctor came inside along with an officer.

“Hello Ms….” The doctor greeted and I greeted back, “Hi! I am Mannat”

“Ms Mannat he wants your verdict… officer! You can talk to her now” the doctor told me and then signaling the officer he left.

The officer asked a couple of questions about the accident but my mind was stuck on Hussain, was he okay? Where is he now?

“Officer! Where is the guy whose car got damaged? Is he okay?” I asked ignoring his queston, he looked closely at my face.

“yeah, he is in the police station” he told me

“And for how long he has been there?” I asked narrowing my eyes

“um, its been almost 2 hours” he said, looking at his watch and I thought I would puke…

“Take me to the police station, please” I got up from the bed and he stood up, confused at my reaction.

“okay, you can come wth me…. Your vehicle is also under polce custody” he informed me, and I followed him.

HUSSAN’S POV

“Officer! For how long I will have to stay here? I have told you I have a very important meeting,  cant miss that” I was bloody sitting there for more then an hour, I did my formalities.My meeting wth Ashish mehra was so important and I knew he wont wait for me now, definitely he wont be cacelling his flight for me… I looked at my watch…… Shitttttt!!!!

For another half hour I kept on parading there…… cursing the moment that girl came to this world!!!

“I have talked to the hospital, she is alright and she has woken up as well. She had given her virdict that it was entirely her fault…. You can leave now” the officer, after another half hour called me and informed, my anger was pooled up I seriously hated that girl.

He asked for my signature on a couple of more places and then fnally I was set free, I gave my signatures and pcking up my car keys and shades, I turned to leave when I saw her comng in the room….. we looked at each other, slowly she came towards me and before she could say anything I hurried towards the exit….

“Hussain!...” she called my name made me stopped in my tracks, I didnt turn, she came and stood infront of me. My gaze went up, her forehead had a bandage.

“Am sorry for your car, I hope you are okay, you didn’t get hurt” she said, her tone soft.

 Didnt feel like replying her so I thought to step out of the room but then I stopped…. And turned towards her, looked closely at her face.

“Shehry told me, you are a fan…. Right?” I asked and she nodded her head, a hint of excitment was there on her face.

“you know something, I have never hated a fan so much before in my life…… you just ruined my day, try not to come in my way ever again” I put my shades back and stepped out of the door…. I wanted this day to get over asap.

MANNAT’S POV

He turned to face me, I kept standing there frozen in my place his intense gaze made me uncomfortable, why was he always angry? I thought,

“You know something, I have never hated a fan so much before in my life…… you just ruined my day, try not to come in my way ever again” he spatted and putting back his shades on those beautiful eyes, he stepped out of the room, leaving me standing there stunned…..

“Why the hell he is always so angry?.... and why the hell he looks so hot even when he acts shitttt” I turned and saw the officer looking at me as if I was mad or something.

“Ooops! I thought I said that in my heart”…………….

HUSSAIN’S POV

“Hussain hua kia hai yar?” why are you so upset? What did he say?” I was back home, threw my phone and car keys on the table and fell on the couch. My head was bursting with pain.

“oye tell me if that Mehra has done some hanky panky with you, aney chitter maran gi k ekk maheena beth nai pawe ga” Shehry came out of the kitchen having a Doii in his hand, I guess Dolly aunty was back.

I chuckled at his expressions, “nothing yar, I couldn’t meet him. I…I had a small accident on my way”

“Hussain!......”Shehry came and sat next to me on the couch, looked worried

“Sain, you okay?” Waqas asked.

“Am okay yar, nothing serious happened but I couldn’t meet him, it was important yarr” I sad, looking away didn’t want to tell them about her.

“Hey hero! That’s okay, yei behter ho ga….and the best thing is that you didn’t get hurt Alhamdulilah….. werna saari kurriyon nu ki jawab denda mein?” Shehry patted my check and I chuckled.

“Yeah! I really have heard, that Mehra man is gay” Atif came out of the bathroom and said so seriously that we all looked at him in shock.

“What? Am serious dude… have heard from lots of people” Atif said and fell on the couch.

“doii pawan teri ghithiyaan te!!!!” shehry said, showing him the doii he was having in his hand and we laughed at his accent.

“Come on Sain, I told you Bilal looked interested in casting you, remember! In Yaari’s success party he was so impressed by you and actually kind of offered you as well. ” Waqas said and I nodded.

“Yeah! I seriously want to see you working for Pakistan Hussain, and Lashari is the best platform to get a start from” Shehry said, we all knew he was the one among us who always wanted to dedicate his work to Pakistan only.

“Han or wo gay bhi nai…..Atif ki fiker bhi khatam” Shehry added, getting up and Atif kicked his butt.

“Oye baandra!.... tujhe khana nai mile ga aj” Shehry sad seriously and we laughed like mad at him.

“Han yar I was thinking about that too…. But Bollywood” I made a face and Waqas threw a cousion at my face.

“Whatttt? Is there anything wrong in dreaming?” I asked rolling my eyes.

“Anuragh wants me to sign a 2 year contract with him, but sometimes I feel that modeling is not what I always dreamt of… it is acting man!” I told them.

“So? What is wrong in that? Talk to him about this contract issue, ask him to cut it down.” Shehry came out of the kitchen, holding the kerrhaai in his hands. Atif stood up to bring platters.

“Yeah! that’s my point because for 2 years I wont be able to sign any movie then….. only modeling” I explained.

“Oh!dont take it to your mind bro, just chillax…. Modeling is your gate pass to Bollywood, do it… enjoy it… then persue your dreams.” Waqas said and I nodded.

We started eating….. Shehry had definitely improved a lot in cooking. He always loved trying new things,  he loved doing experiments in cooking.

“lagta hai Shehry ziada he dar gaya hea bivi k nam se…. kuch ziada improve nai hogaya taste?” Atif said, we were enjoying the yummy chicken karhaai he had made.

“huhn! I am an excellent cook baby…… and koi nai derta werta mein. Ek kia char char ko sambhal loon mein to” Shehry bosted and Waqas chocked on his expressions.

“dude! One is enough for you…… tu ek he ker le pehle, kafi hea” Waqas said, rolling his eyes.

“Yeah! seriously bro, say yes to Mom…. I so want to dance in your wedding. That would be a fun day” I said, literally a brother’s wedding is one of the best event of one’s life.

“Leh! Teri entertainment waste mein zindigi berbaad ker lewan?” Shehry rolled his eyes and we laughed.

“wesey, Mom called yesterday… I was in office, she told me that they are coming here with in a couple of days and will stay till Hussain’s flight’ Shehry told us, I felt he was skipping some details.

“Are we missing some details?....” I glanced sideways at him and he got alarmed at once.

“Nope!.... why?” he hurriedly said which stamped my doubt with surity.

“Um… how is the chicken?” Shehry asked to change the topic.

“Bro! I hope she is gonna be good, or tumhen pasand aaye” I smirked at him.

“Aaa… yeah! I already like the chicken” Shehry said innocently and I laughed, while Atif and Waqas looked at me questioningly.

“Care to explain kid?” Waqas shoot one eyebrow and I cleared my throat. Shehry rolled his eyes.

“Actually, Mom Dad are not coming for me only, they are coming for some more important business. Q Shehry?” I said and then looked at him who was glaring at me.

“So Mom talked to you too?.... man! I told her k tum se koi bat na Karen” Shehry said like a kid and I gave a victorious laugh.

“ha!... Mom loves me more” I said cheekily.

“Whatever!” he rolled his eyes.

“scene kuch aesa hai… that Mom Dad has found the perfect match of Shehry, finally we are going to have our bhaaaaabi….. yeeehhhh!” I clapped my hands like a kid and Shehry glared at me.

“Wow! That sounds amazing man….. wah Shehry, mere bhaaai. Mubarkan bhadaiya patakey”Waqas got up to hug him while he pointed his knife towards him and Waqas made a face sitting back on his chair.

“So is it like, chat mangni pat biya?” Atif asked excitedly and we all laughed.

“tu ker le…. Chat pat…… mangni te biyah, Shokhaa na hoye te!” Shehry said in mock anger and Atif giggled.

“Dude! Whatever you say… I am hell excited about that.” I said, raising both my hands in air.

“Ofcorse…. After all we are going to see our bhaaabi jan” Waqas smirked at Shehry.

“hey! But Sain, what if you will be in India and yahan Shehry ki shadi fix ho gai?” Atif asked and I thoughtfully scratched my head.

“Yeah! but bro, you can wait han…. Right? I mean itni bhi jaldi kia hea?” I looked innocently at Shehry.

“Hussain, meri taraf se tu 1o saal bad aaeen, okay!” he said irritated and we exchanged glances, hiding our smiles.

“Am so exciteddd……” Waqas rubbed his palms together.

“Okay enough yaar!......eat now, silently” Shehry eyed us all and we hurriedly went silent.

We finished the dinner, it was my turn to wash the dishes… so Atif helped me taking all the platters to the kitchen, while Waqas had a project going on with Laaj Studios so he started showing that to Shehry.

“Yar Sain! Chae to bana yaar” I heard Shehry’s voice and rolled my eyes.

“Bhandey bhi mein dhooun our chae bhi mein banaoon” I yelled back.

“mein tere liye bhabi la raha hoon… tu ek chae nai bana sakta?..... nikammey!” Shehry’s voice came and I chuckled.

…….Chalo, that’s okay. I have a few days left with these rascals… so no big deal, I would love to manage. A smile appeared on my face. Friends are indeed the best treasure one can have. Thought I wanted to mix some (Jamaal ghota)  Indian laxative, in their tea right now……

We all enjoyed the tea and then finally I retired to bed, as I was hell tired… both mentally and physically. I kept on thinking about Ashish’s meeting that couldn’t happen and its prospects, I also sent a mail to Anuragh briefing him about the accident

“why this girl keeps on bumping me like this?..... why the hell I have this bipolar attitude towards her”, khoobsoorat hai buhat.. shaid is liye… “so what if she is pretty, every other girl is pretty now days….”  Stop acting like a jerk… “whatever, she made me miss the meeting and that was bloody important, am hating her….” Hussain! Remember, love your fans…. “Shuttuup! I bloody hate her….thats it.”

For a couple of minutes I kept on fighting with that bipolar thoughts I had and then putting a pillow on my face I tried to sleep……

Guys, thank you so much for loving the story and for leaving your amazing and most sweetest comments. I seriously don’t think I deserve all that ;) but yeah! my readers are great <3 love you all J