9-    Dhoombros in Pakistan!!!

One week left in the release of Yaari, and at the 11th hour, our director had decided to go to all the way to Pakistan for the movie promotion…. Though we were excited about our visit to Pakistan but still we thought it was a too hasty decision. I mean it wasn’t Canada or any near place, it was the sath samander paar…. Pakistan we were talking about. But then again as he said it is going to be in the movie’s favor, so we packed a very few things and this time Lia was also going with us. Our sponsors supported all the expense ofcorse… we (I, Lia, Shehry, Waqas, and Atif) boarded the flight… 18 hours, I sighed fastening My seat belts.

After a long and hectic flight, we landed at Lahore airport. We had no luggage only hand carries so we hurried towards the arrival gate after going through the rushy lines of immigration. Lahore has always been my favorite city in Pakistan, it was so full of life and colors.

We had booked in a five star hotel, its van had been already outside the airport waiting for us, when we reached in the arrival area, a tall and broad man in uniform was standing holding a board in his hand….. That reads; Dhoombros. We smiled at each other and headed towards the man. We sat in the vehicle and he took us to pearl Continent.

“There is no way I am going to any promotion today… am hell tired man” Waqas said, falling down on the comfy looking bed

“Yeah! Please Asim make it tomorrow… I won’t be able to sit again for a second even… Betha Betha k mar dala aj to” I said, stretching my arms

“You lazy butts…..” Lia rolled her eyes

“q? Tumhara butt especial material ka ha?” Atif joked and lia slapped his arm

“Okay, boys, this is a spacious suite, I guess we won't be needing an extra room. What do you think?” Atif looked around and asked… the suite had 4 rooms, a built in kitchen. It was lavishly decorated.

“Yup, it's even more than enough” Shehry said. Lia took a separate room while Shehry fell on the same bed on which Waqas was now snoring. I and Atif took the other room.

MANNAT’S END

I was hell tired after coming from shopping, we bought so much. New clothes, sweaters, few cardigans pair of sneakers and few pumps as well. Mama looked far more excited then me during shopping.

“Mannat yar! Mein merne wali ho gai hoon aj to shopping k bad, and aunty said k tomorrow would go again, few things are still left” Rida was half on sofa, half hanging down. She looked funny

“Yeah! Mama has seriously gone crazy, I mean who buys this much stuff before going anywhere?” I said and she laughed.

“Your Mama should meet and give few advice to my Mom as well” Rida said making aface and I giggled.

“Come on Rida! Aunty is just superb…. You ungreatfull git” I threw a cousion at her.

“Mannat! Beta tomorrow we have to buy a new wheeler as well. Note it down or else I will forget it” Mama came out of her room after freshing up and Rida and I chuckled.

“Mama! I already have two……” I rolled my eyes.

“Beat! You will be needing them and a bigger one as well… wo to dono he buht chote hen. pata hai jab mein gai thi London for studies, I had so much with me in luggage that it went overweight and my Dad, your Nana had to pay extra for that” Mama said, remembering and then Laughed aloud, she was so happy for me. I just kept on staring her face. I suddenly felt like hugging her tight and I did, maing her jump on the sofa.

“Mama! Ap reh len gi 5 saal mere bagher?” I asked looking at her face and she patted my head softly.

“It is difficult as hell, living without you is like living without smile and happiness for 5 years but It is for your good Beta, and then in summers you will be visiting us and may be we will visit you there, as well” Mama stroked my hair and I hugged her even tighter.

“I am gonna miss you both all a lot” I said, feeling nostalgic already.

“oye! What about me?......” Rida smacked my head and I chuckled.

“nai tumhen to bilkul yaad nai karoon gi mein…. Dafa ho jao” I held my head and said, slapping her cheek playfully and she made a sad face.

“han zahir hai, wahan buht se friends or jo ban jaen ge madam k, who will have time for us then” Rida said and I rolled my eyes.

“oye drama queen! Shutup and come on…. I need a hug” I opened my arms wide and she smiled at me.

“I will miss oyu yaar…. Ub kon mujhe Hussain Hussain ker k pareshan kare ga?” she said seriously and I giggled.

“oh! So you will miss me? Or miss Hussain?” I eyed her and she rolled her eyes.

“Mannat! That would be the last day of the world jab mujhe Hussain yad aaye ga. my taste is better sweety” She said and I raised my eyebrow.

“And remember Mannat, no hanky panky there okay?.... concentrate on studies and stay away from those dhoombros” Mama said suddenly and I looked at her face like idiots.

“Mama!..... mein ja he un sab se milne ki waja se rahi hoon, so what else would you expect?” I joked and she rolled her eyes.

“Mannat! Mein maroon gi ub” Mama said in mock anger and I chuckled.

“Kon mare ga bhai hamari beti ko?” Baba’s voice came.

“Hello uncle!”Rida said and Baba patted her head.

“Baba, Mama keh rai theem k ub mein NewYork ja her rai hoon to I should must meet Hussain and Dhoombros….q Mama?” I said seriously and looked innocently towards Mama, who was glaring at me.

“Oh Yeah! your Mama was right, do meet them and say our hello to them as well. In fact apni Mama k liye un sab k autographs bhi le lena” Baba joked and Mama stood up, rolling her eyes and muttering her favorite line…..

“like father like daughter!” we laughed while Mama headed towards her room holding baba’s briefcase.

“Chalo Mannat, I have got to go yaar……” Rida said and got up.

“Beta have dinner here, aram se chali jana” Baba said.

“No uncle actually dinner per few guests are invited so I should be leaving now” she smiled and Baba nodded.

“Bye!.....” she hugged me sideways.

“Hey! Drive safe……..” I yelled.

“okay Mommmyyyy” I heard and chuckled.

Baba also stood up……I remember something important as hell….

“Baba wait” I called him, he stopped in his tracks.

“wo… actually Baba I want to go somewhere” I said making a puppy face.

“Where?”  Baba asked

“wooooo…. Baba they are coming to Pakistan for the promotion of their movie…..” I said, slowly reading his expressions and I saw Mama coming into the hall.

“So, you want to receive them at the airport darling?” Mama joked and I chuckled.

“Nope, they are landing to Lahore first… then, day after tomorrow they will be coming here in Serena…. They are having a press conference sort of here for their movie. Then from here they will leave for US” I told them the details and they exchanged looks.

“okay! We will take you to Serena don’t worry” Baba patted my cheek and headed towards the door, I was shocked!

“han han beghaar lejiye ap achi terha se sahabzaadi ko” Mama yelled out and I heard Baba chuckling.

“Mama you are not angry… right?” I asked, making a face and she sighed deeply.

“your Baba is way too polite with you at times…. Ub unho ne haan ker di hai to mein kia kahoon. Mein to kabhi han na kerti, had mein rehna seekho larki… doosre ghar bhi jana heat um ne aakhir ek din.” Mama said, trying to be strict and I gave her a salute.

“yes Mom!!!!”

I am just too much lucky… seriously? Like am going to meet them in Serena and then am going to meet them again in US?..... is it really happening?.... OH MY GOD!!! Am so dead!!!!

HUSSAIN’S POV

Fans Fans…Everywhere!

We were at Serena…. The promotion in Lahore went crazy, fans were trying to break the barriers to meet us and have pictures and autographs. The response was overwhelming, never thought it was turning out to be like that. Few fans, girls ofcorse also tried to present us with bouquets and gifts but the security didn't let us cross the barriers, we could feel their grim on their faces.

Serena was beautiful…. It was way lavish then PC, it was a huge hall decorated with flowers….. In which out conference was going to take place. There in PC we had to share our hall with another business conference going on the same day, and that’s why the fans just came thudding over us even when there was a hell of security present. Here in Serena there was peace, no interference…..

 The manager gave us a tour of the hotel as we were free and hell bored…. Finally, after around, we sat on a table in Chandni lounge

“Man! This is way too beautiful” Waqas looked around and admired the beauty.

“I once came to Islamabad, to a cousin’s wedding and for the first time I visited Serena…. I didn’t want to go back home, then” Lia said and we all laughed at her expressions.

“I am in love with the food…. It was amazing man!” Shehry said, smelling the coffee, he was holding in his hand.

“yeah! Tujhe to bus khana chaiye….. petooo (glutton)”Atif smacked his head and Shehry smiled cheekily.

“Dhooombros…….” We were talking when a group of friends entered in the lounge… and one of them screamed like hell,and then all of them started jumping up down in excitement.  we actually looked at them at once and saw them coming towards us.

“Hey!... one of the girl came closer and said excitedly, they were five; two boys and three girls… looking like in late teens.

“Hey! Hello” we all greeted back, smiling widely.

“When did you people come to Pakistan?” A boy asked, looking too much shocked and excited.

“umm! We actually came for the promotion of Yaari… and we arrived just two days back” Waqas answered and the girls who were looking at all of us like crazies… smiled.

“Yeah! that is why that dumb ass said k Dhoombros are coming here……. Shittt! We didn't trust him” a girl said to the rest of the friends and they nodded.

“We are waiting desperately for your movie” another cute looking girl said and we smiled.

“yup, we are also looking forward for your reviews and comments about Yaari” I said smiling.

“Maleeha, you are too cute.” One of the boy who was constantly looking at her said and his friends laughed.

“He has a solid wala crush on you actually” a girl playfully smacked his head and we all laughed while Lia blushed.

“Hey! Can we have a picture with all of you?” they asked and we all nodded,had no other option actually ;) we got up and it took almost 5 minutes to arrange all of us in a reasonable position to be captured together. They all gave their  cell phones to whoever they saw and we felt like stars already…..

We took pictures and they thanked us….

“Hey! And Hussain you are too hot I just….just madly in love with you” A girl said jumping excitedly and I smiled at her….. I hugged her sideways and felt her melting right there…

They finally left , and we went to our rooms, after coming to our suite don’t know why, but I started feeling a bit dizzy... I went straight to the wash room and  threw up…. Again and then again! What the hell……

It was the over eating he did since morning or may be the Alerts nature was giving him before the coming of a storm......

2 hours to go for the event.

MANNAT’S END

Rida and Ubaid (her fiancé)  have been at my place since morning and we were planning what should I gift them….. I mean Dhoombros ofcorse. I was going to meet them and I was so excited, I couldn’t think of any appropriate present. Mama Baba asked me to take Ubaid and Rida with me, they weren’t going…

After thinking for so long, I finally ordered a huge bouquet of mixed flowers… it was seriously too big to be handled alone by me, there were roses and jasmine in them with a perfect proportion of green between them.  There was another as well… a simple, small bunch of orchards white and mauve orchards. I asked Shakooran aai to take the bulletin board out from the wall…. She placed it on my bed, it was damn too big like a classroom whiteboard. 

“Man!.... This is craziness… utter craziness, how on earth you are going to wrap this giant?” Ubaid looked at the board weirdly.

“Yeah! This is what I am thinking how to wrap it up?” I scratched my head, it was really big. And there was no way am going to hold back my decision

“At least 10 wrappings we need for this…. And that would look really odd” Rida added

“Hey! I have an idea…..” suddenly an idea came to my mind and I hurried out of my room.

After an hour, we were ready for leaving to Serena and the gift was packed as well. We wrapped it in the purple silk wrapping in which Mama and Baba gifted me Hussain’s picture, we tied the same ribbon over it. Rida tied a cute bow out of the ribbon in the front, middle and I kissed her cheek….. After looking at the amazing wrapping, she has been a real help.

Ubaid didn’t change because he was ready, he wore a simple check print blue and green shirt with sleeves rolled up. He wore a leather jacket on that with jeans. Rida wore a pink colour long shirt with close slits and a choori daar…. She was all too eastern, always. I took a quick shower and wore my lucky white Dhoombros logo shirt and my favorite light blue jeans, tied up my red sneakers. Set my wavy locks…. I never tried anything with my hair, they were straight and naturally curled at the ends… just perfect, I love my hair. I put on mascara, my peach blush on and a plum gloss.

“Aye hayeee!” Ubaid entered in the room with Rida and whistled, looking at me.

“kia hea?..... aese q dekh rae ho? Intihaa k koi ghatiya insaan ho tum. Rida bilkul shadi mat kerna is se” I glared him and he chuckled.

“Yeah! Yaheen meri jaga Hussain hota to……. Khushi se dill ka dora parr jata madam ko” Ubbaid joked and I rolled my eyes.

“Mannat we put the things in Ubaid’s jeep… tumhari gari mein the board was not getting adjusted” Rida told me, adjusting her hair in the mirror

“uffff! Ubaid’s jeep, wo khatara?” I said and Ubaid pulled my hair

“Ooooww…. No jokes with my hair, okay?” I pointed a finger at him and he backed off…. Appearing to be scared.

“Hey by the way! From where did you get these shirts?”He asked, looking at my shirt

“I got them from pace, I ordered them there. I gave them the writings and the logo and Dhoombros pics and they made a dozen shirts for me, ” I said proudly and Ubaid acted as if I was crazy…. Yup, that’s me, am crazy

“chalo ubbbbbb, werna wahan ja ker jhaaroo na marna pare” Rida said, holding her clutch in hand and I nodded.

Mama Baba were gone for a party at Baba’s friend’s place. I told Shakooran aai and we left for the hotel it was 4 30 in the evening and the roads were not that stuffed up Serena was not that far from my place and Ubaid was an excellent driver so we reached at the entrance in about 20 minutes.

“Ubaid! how will we carry the board inside? I mean it is heavy” I asked him jumping out of the jeep.

“Don’t worry, I will talk to the manager he is Dad’s fast friend. He will surely do something.” Ubaid said, putting his shades on and after parking the jeep we headed inside. Bouquet and the board were still in the jeep.

My heart was throbbing inside me, I was so excited and to be frank a bit nervous as well..... I just hope am gonna meet them today, or else I will have to wait for an other couple of weeks. Aaaargghhh! no more waiting......