48. MESSAGE ON THE MIRROR

 I opened my eyes slowly and the first thing came in front of my eyes was she…. a smile spread across my face, her eyelids closed against the light coming in from the balcony and her breathing deep and relaxed, all the muscles in her face and body were totally at peace, like a baby in its' first throes of slumber. Not a twitch, not a spasm, barely any movement of her breasts rising and falling with each intake of air ….such was the depth of her oblivion.

I just kept on looking at her face, one hand was placed under her face and the other wrapped around my arm. We were facing each other, I felt our legs were still mingled, slowly I tried to get my leg out making her move a bit, my movement halted in the middle. I just didn’t want to disturb her sleep.

She turn to her side and laid on her back… I slowly took out my leg. She was sleeping peacefully so I thought I shouldn’t be waking her up, rather should leave silently. something broke up inside me on the idea of leaving her, I decided to stay for a bit more time…. Ahhh! Greedy me.

Balancing myself on my elbow I just kept on staring her face ; her eyes those eyelashes which look so beautiful when she flutter them. Her lips… that kiss. Oh! you shouldn’t be remembering that Hussain! let her sleep. I shook away the thoughts as my gaze shifted down and suddenly her scars came in my mind.

Slowly I raised my hand and touched that place where she has those stitches marks…. This time from above her vest.

“you are Crazy Mannat Salaar!... no, actually Mannat Hussain!” I said to myself slowly and chuckled inside.

“mein soch bhi nai sakta tha k koi mujh se itna piyar er sakta hea…. Mein shaid tum se utni muhabbat kabhi na ker paoon jitni tum muj se kerti ho Mannat! han mager itna zarror hea k tum meri pehli or aakhri muhabbat ho….. wo muhabbat jo khoon ban ker ragon mein dorne lagi hea mere. Junnon ban gai ho tum mera!!” my hand was still on her abdomen and thoughts wayward.

I should leave now….. I thought and my eyes went up to her face, slowly I bent down kissing her forehead softly and then pulled up before things get any further. Carefully I got up from the bed and took up my cell phone….

no messages… no calls………. I knew it! Saley lene nai aaye mujhe wapsi mein, pata nai Rida ko bhi chorne aaye thy ya… Waqaas ne irada badal diya ho… kuch pata nai chalta us ka bhi.

I chuckled lightly on my own thoughts and putting it in my pocket I turned around to look at her. looking at her for a couple of minutes I took out my phone once again and took a picture of her.

Hussain! chal ja ub! Kia ghantey laga ra hea.

I shook my head and headed towards the door,opening it slowly I stepped out and turn to close it back. Glancing her for the last…. No, I mean glancing her for another time I closed the door and went out.

RIDA’S POV

I got up from the bed and headed to the wash room stretching my arms the widest I could, Ahhh! I had a fun night, seriously! these guys are super fun to be with. And that Waqas…. Ufff! Could have had a solid heart attack because of him.

I looked at myself in the mirror and found…. Blushing? Smiling?... Arrrgghh! Rida! What and idiot you are. control yourself.

After freshing up, I changed my dress and went to Mannat’s room to wake her up, it was 10 already.

I knocked on her door and waited for a reply… no reply. I hope Hussain chala gaya ho… thinking this I slowly opened the door and stepped in. I couldn’t find Mannat inside, maybe in the wash room. I stepped towards the wash room and knocked…. Knocked again….

“Mannat!”

“Mannat”

She didn’t reply back and I thought may be she was out in the kitchen already. I turned to leave when my eyes went on the dressing mirror and I sighed deep.

“Seriously?.... poori rat kafi nai thi tum dono k liye? Again?” I rolled my eyes after reading Mannat’s messege on the mirror.

I was about to step out of the room when I heard Mannat’s ring tone and my feet halted near the door. Turning around I found her phone on the bed…. “this girl is mad! Always leave her cell phone at home” I sighed and picked up the phone stil ringing.

Looking at the number a frown appeared over my forehead… unknown!

“hello!” I picked up the call.

“hey! Hello!.... kesi ho muhterma?” it was a male voice and a rather frank one, I couldn’t get who the hell he was.

“Aaaa! Who is this?” I said and I heard a chuckle”.

“acha? To ub pehchanne se bhi inkari ho gaeen? Shehroz bol raha hoon” He said laughing and I rolled my eyes. seriously? man you cant even recognize her voice? Khaak mangeter ho us k.

“am not Mannat! am her friend, she is not home right now, actually forgot her phone home.” I said sternly … she is out with her husband, so please mind with your business.

“oh! Okay okay! Ummm actually am here, I have reached New York and honestly don’t have a slightest idea of the address” he said and my heart stopped beating. What? He is here? He is coming? Shitttt no!

“oh! Yeah ummm so?” I asked stupidly and he chuckled.

“ummm you can talk to my cab driver and explain him the address” he said and I just stood there unable to say anything back.

“hello!” the next voice I  heard was different then the first one and yup! The driver it was. I explained him the address and we hung up.

“oh! What to do now? shittt! Mannat…” I hurriedly dialled Hussain’s number from her cell and waited him to pick up.

So many rings…. But he didn’t pick up.

“Hussain! come on pick up the call” I had to inform her, he would be here in not more then half hour, Mannat should be back before that.

I dialed his number again but he didn’t pick up…. Kahan so gaye ho ja ker dono? God!

I dialed Waqas’s number and he picked up after the first ring….

“hello! Bhabi ji” he said smiling and for a moment I just felt his smile and lost in his voice…. Arrgghh! Rida shuttup.

“umm  Hi” I said and for a couple of moments he didn’t say anything back.

“Rida?” he said and I smiled…. Smiled? Why? Idiot me!

“umm yeah! Rida here” I replied.

“am sorry! I thought its… its Mannat!” he said.

“its okay! Ummm Waqas I wanted to talk to Mannat, wo apna phone yaheen bhool gai subha’ I said.

“ummm so? Where is she?” he asked and I rolled my eyes.

“She is with Hussain, q? wo dono ghar per nai hen?” I asked and he remained quiet for a couple of seconds again.

“Ummm Rida! Mannat is not with Hussain… I mean she cant be, because Hussain to ghorey, billi, kuttey sab bech ker soya para hea” Waqas said.

“What? No no no! some confusion is there… you just go and check it out, maybe she is there” I said and he chuckled.

“if she is there… phir to mein nai ja ra, maar pitwani hea mujhe Hussain se tum ne?” he said mischievously and I chuckled lightly.

“Waqas! Please its important… Shehroz is here” I said.

“What? Wo aa gaya?” he asked at once.

“yeah! he is on his way to our place, just called and asked the address” I told him and he sighed.

“to? You gave the right address?” he asked and I narrowed my eyes

“ofcorse” I replied back

“come on Rida! Koi ghalat malat pata bata deteen yar….. sala! Dhoondta rehta” he said and I laughed.

‘acha jao please! Call her” I said.

“okay wait!” he said and I waited for him to call her……..

She has to be there… wahan nai to kahan ho gi? They left together, usey waheen hona chaiye.

WAQAS’S POV

I headed to Hussain’s room…. Still mentally cursing myself for calling her Bhabi ji……

“Sain!”…… “Sain!”…… I knocked on his door and he didn’t reply…. Slowly I held the knob and turned it to open the door.

“khuda khair! I hope bhabi ji na hon… werna mar paki hea” I mentally prayed and peaked inside…. Hussain was sleeping on his bed holding his pillow tight to himself. I rolled my eyes and stepped inside.

“hello! Rida!” I said on the phone.

“yeah! am here” she replied.

‘Rida! She is not here…. Hussain to sa raha hea…. Takiye ko Mannat samajh ker” I said and she went quiet.

“its not possible”  I could sense the tension.

“okay! Lemme wake him up…. Mein poochta hoon and I will call you back, don’t worry” I said and we hung up.

“Hussain!”

“oye! Dulha mian!” I shook his shoulder but he didn’t even move a bit.

“Hussain!......” I bent down to his ear .

“kia hea yaaar! Sone de… dafa ho ja yahan se” he whined and I rolled my eyes.

“Hussain! Mannat aai hea… dekh!” I said into his ear and snatched the pillow from his grip.

“hen? kahan hea?” he got up straight on the bed and looked here and there.

“Saley! Uth ja….” I smacked him with the pillow and he glared me angrily.

“oye hoye! Bari lal lal aankhen ho rai hen…. kia bat hea?soya nai rat bhar?” I asked smirking and he rolled his eyes.

“Nai…” he yelled out aloud…. “dafa ho ja ub yahan se” he pointed towards the door.

“majnoo! Ye bata pehle k Mannat kahan hea?” he laid back on the bed when I asked.

“Matlab? She is in her apartment” he said simply and I shook head.

“Rida called me… and she said k Mannat is not there” I told him and he got up again looking at me, a frown appeared over his forehead.

“han to… she must be out somewhere, lemme call her” he said and looked around for his phone.

“ch! Manant has left her phone at the apartment” I said and he looked up at me.

He was about to say something when my cell phone rang up…. Rida!

“hello!... yar Rida she is not here, Hussain to akela he aaya tha ghar” I said and Hussain got up from the bed.

“Waqas! But there is a message written on her dressing mirror… that “Hussain is taking me out” I felt her reading something and a frown spread over my face, I looked at Hussain who was looking closely at my face.

Before I could say any thing Hussain took the phone from my hand.

“hello! Rida! Hussain here…. Where is she?”he asked hurriedly.

“no, I mean yes! I was there with her but I left the apartment early in the morning… it was not even 7 when I left” Hussain said.

“I am coming” he said and they hung up.

“Waqas! Am going to Mannat’s apartment” Hussain said sitting on the bed and taking out his shoes under the bed.

“mein chalta hoon tere sath…” I said and he nodded.

We came down and headed towards Hussain’s car….

“Hey! Ruk tu… let me drive” I stopped him and his hand halted while opening the door.

“am okay Waqas!” he said looking at me and I nodded my head.

“I know… chal beth” I said patting his shoulder and took the driving seat myself, he sat with me and we drove to her apartment.

Throughout the way Hussain kept quiet… I could see tension rising on his face…. he took out his phone and dialled numbers…

“hello! Rida… is she back?” he asked and I looked at his face, waiting for the answer…. He put the phone down and held it tight in his hands, I could feel she wasn’t still back.

“Hussain! relax… she must be out somewhere… aa jae gi, bachi nai hea wo” I put my hand on his arm and he nodded lightly.

We reached her apartment and I slow down the speed at the gate letting it open wide so that we could enter, Hussain suddenly opened the door and stepped out.

“oye ruk ja… aram se’ I said butt he was out… almost running towards the building…. I sighed deep and parking the car I stepped out.

HUSSAIN’S POV

How can be she so insensitive and irresponsible? She always leaves her cell phone back at home….. aa jane do, mar khae gi mujh se… Aaafat! I ran towards her building, the watchman looked at me weirdly, ignoring his stares I pressed the button of the lift but it didn’t open….

I turned and took the stairs… crossing two and sometimes three at a time. I don’t know why my heart was pounding in my chest. And I knew it will calm down only when I will see her in front of my eyes.

Reaching at the door, I found it open…. Oh! Maybe she was back!

I stepped into the hall nobody was there, I ran to Mannat’s room and found Rida and Waqas standing there staring at something.

“Rida!... What….

I was about to say something following there gaze and I halted in the middle… my eyes went wide in shock. “Hussain is taking me out” On her dressing it was written with a lipstick….

“Hussain! ……Mannat!” Rida looked at me and said, she looked hell worried.

“I… I didn’t take her out anywhere, how could….” I moved my hands in my hair, just couldn’t get that.

‘I have called her every friend here, Hussain… she is nowhere” Rida’s said and I looked at her.

“Shehroz is coming” Waqas said looking at me and I looked at him at once, I just forgot he was coming today.

“Rida! Are you sure this is her handwriting?” I asked her and she nodded.

“Yeah! its definitely Mannat’s handwriting, I know” Rida said and I went to the mirror looking it closely.

I could see some red shade under the writing… as if.. as if she has written it and rubbed it before writing again. My head was spinning.. Kahan chali gaeen tum Mannat!

“she was worried about shehroz… maybe she has gone out to change her mind or to be alone” Waqas said and I shook my head.

“She was perfectly fine when I left her Waqas!” I said shaking my head. My mind was saying something was wrong… heart denying it.

Suddenly we heard the door bell and I literally jumped up….

“Mannat!” I mouthed and stepped out of the room… ran towards the door and burst it open.

“Manna….t!” her name lost somewhere in my mouth when I saw a man standing on the door step, his smile slowly faded.

“Oh! Shehroz?” I heard Rida’s voice from the back and he looked to my right, my eyes still on him. he looked back at me and grabbed the handle of his wheeler.

“Umm Hussain!” Waqas held my arm lightly.. and slowly pushed me aside.

Shehroz entered inside and I just stood there… unable to move. My heart my mind everything was stuck on Mannat! pata nai kahan ho gi….? Q chali gai? And that message?

“hey! You must be Rida?” I heard him saying and Waqas looked back, who was still standing there with me at the door.

“yeah!... umm so, how was your journey?” Rida asked, nervousness and tension evident in her tone.

“perfect!” he said smiling and waqas headed inside, I slowly followed him.

“and you are?” shehroz was sitting calmly on the sofa and looked up at Waqas.

“umm he is Waqas! My frind” Rida said hurriedly and Waqas smiled lightly.

“and he is….

“Hussain Asif!” Shehroz cut her in the middle and I looked at him at once… ‘inhen kon nai janta? Or mein to buhat pehle se janta hoon inhen?” he said, something was in his tone, I doesn’t like… or may be he doesn't like me.

“but what are you doing here?” he asked and I ignored him and his question, he wasn’t that important right now.

“Rida! Am leaving… as soon as she is back call me” I said looking at Rida who gulped down nodding her head and glancing him for the last time I headed out.

I had to find her… I had to!!!

Rida’s POV

“what was HE doing here?” he asked again, once they were out.

“umm he is a friend, I have told you na….

“Look! I know he isn’t JUST a friend” he said, cutting me up and saying the word “just friend” in the imaginary quotation marks….. “her waqt yaheen rehta hea kia ye” he asked and I didn’t like his tone, already Mannat wasn’t home… ooper se ye idiot!

“yu want to have something? pani? Chae? Anything?” I asked getting up and he shook his head, getting up as well.

“Mannat ka room kahan hea?” he asked and I felt my palms sweating, unintentionally I pointed towards the door and he stepped out of the hall.

He headed towards the room and I stood there… unable to think of a reasonable answer, kia kahoon gi k kahan hea Mannat.

Shittt Rida! Mirror! Message…..you idiottttt!

Suddenly I felt like killing myself and I ran to her room………. Stepping inside I found him staring at the mirror, my heart stopped beating.

He turned to look at me and I looked away hurriedly….

“Mannat is out for some shopping…” I said trying hard to stay cool.

“call her.. and ask her to come back” he Said in a stern tone and glancing on the mirror he stepped out of the room.

ub kia karroon? Mannat! kahan ho tum? I felt like crying, slowly I came out of her room and found him parading in the lobby… with expressions that simply showed anger and… and something I couldn’t read, but it was definitely not good whatever it was.

“did you call her?” he asked, still parading.

“she has left her phone…

“I know… you told me before, call him” he said casually but sternly.

“him?”

“you know pretty much whom I am talking about…don’t act, call Hussain and ask him to bring her here… Now” he stopped and looked at me, I froze in my place. His tone was fiery.

“she is NOT with Hussain” I said firmly and he just looked at me for a couple of moments then stepped towards me…. this is not good !

“dekho Rida! I know whats going on here… I know you are her friend, and like every silly friend you are trying to hide things about Mannat and that…. Hussain” he said and I frown at him… he called me silly? Ullo ka patha!

‘but don’t do this…. Call him, kaho usey k Mannat ko wapas le ker aay” he added.

‘I have told you she is not with him… he was here in front of you, can’t you understand?” I said my voice a bit raised and he raised his eyebrow at me.

“okay!’ he said after staring me like a vampire for a couple of moments….i stared him back, idiot!.... “okay! Lets wait, khudi aa jae gi… jana kahan hea akhir us ne” he said casually and backed off.

I sighed deep… and headed to my room. I had to talk to Hussain, this all is giving me bad  feelings.

“hello!” I said once he picked up.

“nai Hussain! she is not back…..”

“Hussain! Shehroz has seen the message on the mirror……”

“he is….

“ooouch! What the…………” I was about to tell him about Shehroz when suddenly somebody snatched my phone, turning around I found shehroz standing there.

“Hussain Asif! Seedhi terha se Mannat ko wapas le ker ao…. Werna” I just stood there dumbstruck at what he just did.

“yeah! I know pretty well, she is with you….mangeter hoon mein us ka… or ek bat yad rakhan, I will take her back to Pakistan. Tum rok sakte ho to rok ker dikhana” he said and throwing my phone…. MY PHONE on my bed, he backed off the room. Leaving me standing there speechless… tensed and angry as hell on him. such a pervert and retard this man is… but I seriously got a bit afraid with him alone here.

Mannat! please… please stay safe…. Kahan ho tum?

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love u all <3