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CHAPTER 4:  Moving On……

a couple of Months Later......

RANIYA’S POV

“Raanjha Raanjha kerdi ni mein apey raanjha hoii

Raanjhey de vich raanjha ee mein….

Heer na aakhey koi”

“Hayee Rabba! This is so for me! lagta hea kisi ne hamarey liye he likha hea” Listening to the bollywood song Heer said fangirling over herself and I chuckled at her expressions.

“Yeah! Your raanjha must have written these lines for you” I said seriously and she looked at me.

“Seriously? I mean do these Raanjha and Majnoo… do they exist in real life?” Heer asked coming towards me over her knees and I chuckled.

“Why not? If Heer can exist…. Then there must be a Raanjha out there as well.” I said smiling and saw a twinkle in her big black eyes.

“Hayeee Rabba! Jaldi se mila do phir merey Raanjhey se” clasping her palms together she looked up and said in a desperate kind of tone making me frown.

“Since when have you become so desperate for your hero?” I asked and she looked down at my face.

“Heer thori na apne raanjhey se door achi lagti hea…. Jahan Raanjha wahan hum!” She said smiling sweetly.

“And what if your Raanjha will be a retard? or a psychopath? Or worse…. a thekedaar……” before I could complete my sentence Heer slapped on my arm tight and I laughed.

“Allah na karey!”Heer said trying to look upset and I controlled my grin. “Ranjha thekedaar hota to Heer ko khudkushi kerna perti” she added making a disgusted face and I laughed once again.

“Acha Heer! What have Mahrukh decided?” suddenly it came in my mind.

“She has nothing to decide Raniya! She has passed the test, now am just waiting for the interview call” Heer said getting serious all at once. “After that no one will be able to stop her from fulfilling her dreams….from studying and achieving what she wants” she said smiling and I smiled as well….

“You love her a lot, right?” it was definitely not a question. I knew the answer already…but sometimes I get amazed at the love these sisters have.

“I can’t put it in words Raniya! Bus ye samjho k humein apni her khushi se ziada aziz hea Mahrukh ki khushi…” Heer said looking into space. “though she is only a year elder to me, but she has given me love of a mother, elder sister and best friend all at the Same time” she smiled and I felt her eyes shinning, with tears I guess.

“Heer!....... Heer!”

I was about to say something when Heer looked up at my face frowning as we heard Mahrukh’s voice… panic was evident in her tone and both of us got up to our feet as she entered in my room bursting the door open.

She looked terrible…frightened…lost.

HEER’S POV

Mahrukh!? what happened? you okay?” I hurriedly walked up to Mahrukh who was standing there on the door, she was holding something in her hand…a paper.

“Mahrukh! kia hua hea yar?” Raniya stepped towards us as well, Mahukh was silent saying nothing. Slowly she raised her hand and showed me the paper she was holding.

“Inter…interview call” Mahrukh stammered and for a split of a second Heer looked ta me…before bursting up into a horrible shriek of joy?

“What the hell! Mahrukh! you took the hell out of me….dara diya humein tum ne” I almost snatched the paper from her hand and opened it.

Ms Mahrukh Jalal Khan, we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the Fulbright Scholarship interview, after receiving 93% in GAT, for The Arts Institute, New York.

Every word…every alphabet gave me happiness beyond explanation, reading a loud I looked up at Mahrukh’s horrid face and without even a second’s delay I plunged my arms around her… hugging the shit out of the world's bestest sister.

She stumbled a bit but balanced herself, her arms still at her sides… slowly she raised them and rested them over my back…. What? Wasn’t she happy?

I pulled back and with a frown over my forehead I looked at her face.

“Aren’t you…. happy?” I asked frowning and she gulped down, pulling back she started walking into the room as if she was frustrated or highly upset about something. Raniya and I exchanged glances.  

“Mahrukh! stop parading” I walked up to her and holding her from the shoulders I stopped her.

“Heer!” She looked up at my face. “I can’t go anywhere, why don’t you understand? Abba will kill us both” Mahrukh was repeating the same idiotic dialogue for last whole week in front of me and Raniya and we kept on convincing her all was going to be okay…. Mager innu kon samjhaye?

“Mahrukh! Mahrukh! For God’s sake, kuch nai ho ga humein, Khuda k liye darna band karo tum” I was still holding her from the shoulders, giving her a jerk I almost shouted on her face and she stared at me with her eyes popping out and face all uncertain.

“Listen! You or we, are not doing anything wrong, this is your right to say a yes or no for your marriage” Raniya said coming near us. “Right now you should only concentrate on the interwie, tomorrow is going to be a big day for you Mahrukh! Please don’t ruin it” she added and Mahrukh gulped down saying nothing.

“Or uss thaikedar se shadi se to behter hea tum bhag jao ghar se” I said making her eyes coming out of their sockets.

“Heer! Khaberdaar jo dobara aesi bat ki” Mahrukh glared at me pointing her long sleek finger at me and I rolled my eyes.

“Mein jan de doon gi mager Amaa Abba ki izzat per aanch nai aane doon gi” Mahrukh added looking away, Raniya and I exchanged a look…. A worried look.

“so what do you think? You will pass the interview and then we will go to Abba and ask…. “Abba jan! Mahrukh ne scholarship k liye apply kia tha wo pass ho gai hea…or ub usey Masters k liye New York jana hea. Wo chali jae?” I said in a foolishly cute kind of a tone and Raniya chuckled while Mahrukh remained as grave as ever..

“yeah and then uncle will say” Raniya said clearing her throat. “han han! Beta zaroor jao….mein to chahta he yehi tha k tum New Yoooooooooork ja ker perho”  She mimicked Abba’s tone and I rolled my eyes.

“Dhatttt! Abba will kill you and me and bury us in the same grave, then we will go to New York together” I added sarcastically.

“Tabhi to keh rai hoon, ye sab theek nai. Koi nai maney ga Heer!” Mahrukh said, she looked as if was about to cry anytime soon and I sighed deep.

“Oho! Kin baton mein parr gaeen tum? Forget everything and bus only concentrate on tomorrow” Raniya held Mahrukh’s hand in hers and said with a smile.

“But Raniya! What if I pass the interview? What if… what if I get that scholarship and then…

“Then forget about this shit and go live the life you want to live Mahrukh!” I cut her in the middle and she looked at my face with horrified expressions. “Why don’t you understand? Ye zindagi…. Ye ek he bar milti hea yar, don’t waste it Mahrukh” I added and she just stared my face saying nothing.

“You won’t get this opportunity again; you won’t get this chance ever again in your life Mahrukh! This scholarship means a new life a whole new world for you… a world without fears, without pain, without sorrows and ….. Without Abba………”

“Heer!” Mahrukh almost shouted holding my arm, giving me a jerk and I looked into her eyes which were now bloodshot.

“Don’t you ever talk about Abba or Amma like this” Mahrukh said glaring at me and I remained quiet. “samjheen tum?” she gave my arm another jerk and I gave a quick short nod. “Parents are blessing Heer! you would understand the day they won’t be in our lives any more” I saw a tear flickered in her eye and I gulped down maybe I went a bit too harsh.

“Am sorry!” I whispered pouting, my eyes getting wet as well and she pulled me into a hug. Wrapping my arms around her I buried my face in her neck shedding unwanted tears….. Ah! I so hate tears.

“I don’t want you to go away from me Mahrukh! B… But if going away mea….means your happiness then… then I would be more than happy” I sniffled as tears refused to stop and my voice hiccuped.

“Guys! You two enjoy your little moment… let me go and see if my bhujiya is done or not” I heard Raniya saying as she walked past us with a pat over my back.

“Khana khaye bager mat dor jana tum dono” Raniya yelled going inside, but I couldn’t reply because of stupid emotional tears.

“Heer! this scholarship means far away from you…while after getting married I will be here in the same city” Mahrukh pulled back, still holding my by my atrms she said softly looking into my eyes.

“Distance dosent matter Mahrukh! Hum jante hen is shadi k bad kia hal ho ga tumhara” I said still trying to convince her. “kareeb ho ker pareshan rehne se to buhat behter hea k tum door raho… mager Khush raho”I added looking into her eyes and found a helpless frown appeared on her forehead.

“you wanted to be a designer ever since you started dreaming, I know, and this scholarship can make your dreams come true Mahrukh!” I said still holding the interview latter in my hand.

“Mager Abba?” Mahrukh whispered and I looked away. “he will never ever allow me to go that far Heer! he would kill us both agar unhen pata chala” she added worriedly and I put a hand on her shoulder.

“I gathered all your documents and Abba’s documents that they needed you to present before the exam” Heer started saying and I didn’t get a bit. “I did or not?” she asked and without understanding anything I nodded.

“Abba ko pata chala kuch?” She asked and I understood where she was heading with all that. “Nai na?to phir?” she added.

“Abhi bhi kuch nai pata chaley ga, I promise Mahrukh! Raniya, me and Asim bhai has set the plan already. So don’t take tension” I almost said in a whisper, thou there was no one who could hear us. “we won’t let him know anything” I said

“Listen… betho yahan or hamari bat suno” I held her arms, making her push back in the chair I sat on my knees in front of her. She kept on looking at me worriedly with a deep frown.

“Tomorrow once Abba will drop us to the parlour, Raniya and Asim bhai will pick us from there and take us to…

“Asim? Why Asim?” Mahrukh panicked and I smacked forehead with my palm.

“Asim is Raniya’s fiancé Mahrukh!” I said making a face. “He works in the embassy, once they will okay you for the scholarship, he will take out the information about the visa crap and all that.” I added and she remained quiet but I felt she was least liking the idea so far.

“So, now don’t interrupt please, hath jorr rahe hen hum tumhare aagey khamosh raho” I literally showed her my joined palms and she sighed.

“Asim and Raniya will pick us and take us to PC where your interview will be held” I took a short pause. “Hum ne pata kiya hea, they have told me that within an hour of the interview completion the results will be announced. I don’t think it will take more than an hour or so… ub itna time to lagta hea parlour mein, so once you will give your interview we will come back to the parlour from where Abba will pick us back to home. What say?” ending the plan in a single breath and avoiding her deep dead frown I smiled ear to ear extending a hand towards her for a high five but she didn’t move, didn’t say anything and I had to pull back my hand with a pout.

“And suppose I will pass the interview ……

“Suppose kun? Obviously you will pass the interview, in fact you will rock it babaayyyy!” I said cutting her, my smile was idiotic I know but not more than her horrified facial expressions.

“Okay! Ker liay pass mein ne interview… phir kia?” Mahrukh crossed her arms over her torso and asked sternly, making me speechless for a second.

“Phir…um!

“Phir mein batati hoon” Mahrukh said as I was completely out of words. “they will call me for further procedure and will tell me that I have been selected as one of the most luckiest students for this scholarship, and I will have to leave for New York with in a month or so…..” Mahrukh took a pause. “and then… do you know what will happen then?” I shook my head absent mindedly.

“then I will become even more miserable… then my life will become a living hell because I won’t be able to go anywhere Heer! Abba will know about all this and he will stop us from gong there…he will get me married with him, I will be in a living hell Heer!” her eyes getting pooled up once again making me gulped down. “Sari zindagi ye soch ker guzar doon gi mein, k kash ye sab na hua hota, kash itni andhi na hui hoti mein… the luckiest student will become the most unlcky person on earth” a tear rolled down her cheek and my heart ached deep, I looked down.

“Heer! tum bachi ho abhi you, don’t know the price of dreams” she said softly, I didn’t look up trying to hide my tears. “Khuwab dekhna buhat mehnga perta hea Heer! ye khuwab bus neend mein he achey lagtey hen. Meri qismat mein agar buri zindagi likhi hea to woi sahee” she added into a whisper and I looked up at once forgetting about those idiot tears on my cheeks.

“nahee! Sahee nai!” I got up over my feet almost shouting. “I won’t let your life become miserable Mahrukh! tum goongi behri ban sakti ho hum naheen. tum chaho ya na chaho…. Hum tumhen nikal ker rahen ge is dozakh se, samjheen tum?” I pointed my finger at her, yelling and without saying or hearing anything else I ran out of the room.

SHEHRY’S END

“May Our Lord, soothes our eyes with our wives and our children, and make us leaders of the pious.”

“He has made each and everything on a purpose guys! You won’t find a single particle as worthless created by our Lord, this is entirely against His aura, his greatness, his supremacy….ye Us Zaat-e-pak ki shaan k khilaaf hai” he took a pause, looking at the audience. Everyone sat silent in the hall eyes fixed on the young exuberant scholar speaking to us in the juma’ Khutbah

“Wife” he spoke with such softness that for a moment I looked up at his face, who was standing on the podium smiling. “Such a small word, yet so powerful how many of us have ever halted in the tracks of our busy lives and ponder over this extremely beautiful creature of Allah?” He asked and people remained quiet.

 “How many of you have thanked your wife the last time? For cooking an amazing meal, for taking care of your home in your absence, for loving you, for providing you whatever you want… and above all… for giving you the most beautiful blessing; your children” my heart pained at his words and I looked down again, my knees were bent into my tummy and arms wrapped around them.

“Allah SWT says in quran” he stated. “And among His Signs is this that He created for you wives (spouses) from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for people who reflect.” He stated an Ayah…..

After that what he say I couldn’t listen anything, I used to come to this mosque for Juma prayer, not every Friday I must confess, but still whenever I used to get time I come here… today I felt my heart would explode, it became difficult to stay there any more and I got up from my place, if only I knew the Khutbah would have this topic… I wouldn’t have come here at all.

Without looking at my back I rushed towards the exit… I don’t know but it was suffocating there, coming outside I felt better in the fresh air.

Is a wife really like this? a blessing? Soothe to your heart? Really?.... NO! this can’t be true….. not for everyone.

Wearing my suede back, I got up from the mosque stairs and started walking towards home, it’s been a couple of months that I came back to New York with Hussain and Mom has recently gone back to Texas.

My life was coming back to routine, I have moved on or at least I have learned to show the world that there is no pain inside….

 Jabkey dard to tha…waheen apni jaga mojood tha dard, jane ka naam he nai leta kia karoon. Ye dard aahista aahista sab kuch torr raha tha merey ander…bari khamoshi se apna kam ker raha tha.

After the divorce, I switched my job from Melbourne to New York as a finance broker. But don’t know why I wasn’t feeling like doing that job any more… and moreover Waqas, Hussain and Mom Dad forced me to join the Film school again which I had left a couple of years back, in the middle of the session.

So now I was completing my leftover course from School of Film and Media while Hussain was now days studying hard so that he would be able to pass the entrance test of one of the most reputed and high figh kind of institute around globe; the Arts Institute New York.

Finally I was moving on, a big thanks to Hussain, Waqas and Atif who were a great help as always… saley nautankki thy teeno, mager yaari poori nibhatey thy, wo na hotey to mein dobara Khud se nazren milane k qabil na hua hota.

 Reaching to my apartment I took out the keys and opened the door.

“SURPRIIIIIIIIISE!! My eyes almost popped out of their sockets and feet took a step back at the sudden out burst of those idiots of my life; Waqas, Hussain. Atif was in Pakistan along with his family for attending his cousin’s wedding.

“God! What the hell! Can’t you people behave yourselves?” I made a face throwing the keys on the sofa, making their ear to ear smile disappeared from their idiotic faces.

“You people will never grow up?” I said as I almost fell on the sofa, keeping my head on the back I closed my eyes.

“Saley! Ek to tery liye mein apni class chor ker aya, Waqas date chor ker aya and you ungreatful git! showing your cold bum to us?” Hussain almost yelled and I opened my eyes, they were standing like roothi hui desi aunties and I could hardly stop my chuckle.

“ja nai bat kerni tujh se” Waqas flapped his hand in the air showing his upset as hell mood and I sat straight on the sofa, smiling. God! These idiots seriously know how to charge me up… or down.

“Chal ub boothi na pula Saley! Bakwas ker q aya hea?” I said trying to remain serious and he rolled his eyes, while Hussain came thudding on the sofa.

“ye dekh!” Hussain’s eyes were popping out gleaming as if he has found a treasure or something and my gaze went over the thin dul silver rectangular piece of paper he was flapping in the air in front of my face.

“Stop the hell up Man!” I held his wrist and his stupid smile was gone, I snatched the paper and looked at it.

“What the fuck!” cursing under my breath I looked up at their faces one by one, who were smiling ear to ear at me. “what is this?” I asked and Waqas came sitting down near me smiling he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

“It’s a ticket bro” he said idiotically and I rolled my eyes.

“These two… are not buttons Waqas!” I pointed towards my eyes saying sarcastically, Hussain chuckled while Waqas raised his eye brow… and his hand, my gaze went to his hand which was coming up towards my face. What the hell……….

“I know these aren’t buttons” his index finger touched my frowned forehead and trailed down to my eyebrow. “ye to do chilman hen tumharey… jin mein doooob janey ko jee chahta hea” Waqas said seductively as if was drunk or something and I hurriedly got up from the sofa smacking his other arm away from my shoulder…. Hussain was in laughter.

“Disgusting you are Waqas! Grow up” I said irritated and he made a kissy face at me.

“Abey o! iPhone ko farts se charge kerne waley! Asking me to grow up? Han!” Waqas said in mock anger and I rolled my eyes.

“tu ye bata, ye ticket kis cheez ka hea? It seems horribly pathetically vulgar” I said looking at the seductive kind of a girl’s image on the ticket, and felt another hand over my shoulder, turning around I found Hussain standing there with ever so stupid grin of his.

“We are going to the red lights man!” Hussain said excitedly and my eyes came out of their sockets. “this” Hussain pointed towards the ticket in my hand. “is my boy… our entry of the midnight show” he ignored my horrid expressions.

“Are you even in your senses?” I pulled his hand away and almost yelled.

“Of course we are dude! And obviously hum wo  kerne nai ja rahe, we are just going to explooooooore the amare la vita under the red lights.” Waqas said flaunting his Italian and I rolled my eyes.

“Since when have your Italian became that good man?” Hussain asked ignoring my irritated as hell expressions and Waqas jerked his collar up boastfully.

“Emilia dante” Waqas winked and Hussain gave a cheesy grin..

“oh teriii khair!!!! wo hot shot girl friend teri?” Hussain asked and Waqas smirked. “barii italiano shitaliano han! Saley! Or kia kia sikha gai hea bhabi tujhe? Bata humein bhi” he added punching his abs playfully, completely ignoring my presence.

“Ho gaya tum dono ka?” I grabbed Hussain’s collar with one hand and almost dragged him towards the door.

“Oye! Bhai! kia ker ra hea yar?mein to yaheen rehta hoon… Waqas nu kaddo baar” Hussain tried to protest but I didn’t leave his collar.

“I am not going any where okay? And especially to this… this pathetic and vulgar place.” I handed him the ticket and he pouted.

“Yar! Shehry chal na… trust me we won’t do any hanky panky” Waqas said touching his Adam’s apple as if swearing and I remained quiet. “I Promise we will behave ourselves” he added making a puppy dog face.

“if you won’t go then no one will go” Hussain said making a sad face.

“Kuttey wergi boothi na bana ub” I said trying to show anger and he smiled sweetly.

“First tell me why the hell are we actually going there?” I asked before saying a yes for their extremely vulgar adventure.

“Man! I have got an assignment; I have to make a 30 minutes documentary on this extremely respectable and honourable topic…” Hussain explained dramatically. “Love Life under Red Light” he said and I sighed.

“tere ee wergey hen ge sare ustaad vi terey…. Shokhey te ekk number de manhoos!” I said smacking the back of his head and he chuckled.

“kab jana hea?” I asked and Hussain gave a high five to Waqas.

“Tonight, 7 sharp” Waqas said and I looked down at my wrist watch…..

“Okay then, am going to my room” I said and was about to walk past them when Waqas jumped in my way like a villain or worst… a monkey.

“What the hell man! Charge your lazy ass okay Shehry! lets go grab a falooda and then we will get ready for the red lights” his eyes gleamed and I shook my head.

“bara time piya hea hun te, araam ker len de menu, Baandraaaa!” trying to push him aside but failed.

“Shehry yar! Come on! It’s been long we didn’t go out… and above all its Friday” Hussain said excitedly and I held his ear, giving it a light twist.

“Friday dosen’t mean die partying okay! Saley farangiyon ne bighaar ker rakh diya hea humein” I said ignoring his weird as hell voices.

“Uff Shehry you have started sounding like a Desi Mom okay!” Waqas said seriously and I chuckled.

“Chal na Shehry!” Hussain pouted like a kid and I sighed.

“Acha he hua jo bhi hua….. werna do do bachon ko kesey sambhalta mein?” I said thoughtfully and for a moment Hussain and Waqas looked at me then each other… and I burst out laughing.

“Saley! Mushkil mushkil batein kerne laga hea tu” Waqas said slapping my arm playfully and I remained quiet smiling a little.

“jab mushkilein perti hen to mushkil batein kerna bhi aa jati hen” I said in a low tone and without any warning Hussain almost plunged on me hugging the shit out of me.

“oh teriiii!” I gasped at the sudden thunder bolt; his arms wrapped hell tightly around me and face buried into my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around him stroking his back lightly.

“Mein buhat tang kerta hoon na tujhe?” he asked with muffled words and I smiled.

“Soch hai teri… Shokhi bakriii!” I lightly pnched his back.

“Chal! Lets go have some fun now” I pulled back a little and found Waqas looking at both of us with a grim smile on his lips.

“Now what’s wrong with you?” I asked.

“Sadqe jaoon mein inna dono de piyar te… jhapiyan shapiya Akeley Akeley? Nihayat he na-insaafi hai bhai…” Waqas said shaking his head, trying to sound upset and both of us chuckled.

“Group hug then?” I asked and Waqas smiled widely, I hugged him and Hussain wrapped his arms around both of us…..

“Am missing khan saab” I said still in the hug.

“Sala! Kaheen naswaar phaank raha ho ga Peshawar mein betha” Hussain said and we laughed.

“Wesey Hussain you were right man! You upset me a lot” I said as we headed towards the door, Waqas bent down to pick up the car keys from the table. “Vidaa ker doon soch ra hoon tujhe” I added and Hussain rolled his eyes while Waqas gave me a high five.

“Dude! Meri shadi ka socheeeen vi na” Hussain said opening the door and I frowned.

“Hayee Rabba! Are you really gay?” I asked seriously, stepping out of the apartment and he gave my bum a kick shutting the door at his back.

“You marry first” he said seriously and for a moment I went silent, unable to respond.

“Get me a bhabi and I will get one for you” Hussain said winking.

“Nice deal Sain! I like that” Waqas said, opened the door of his famous Mustang and took the driving seat. “Otherwise you two….. both will die as gay” he added with chuckle and I slapped his face.

“Chitter na kha leen merey hathon” I said and he pouted, we sat in the car and Waqas drove out of the parking.

“Wesey Waqas it’s not we two only…. You are into this deal as well” Hussain said buckling up his seat belt and Waqas laughed, shaking his head.

“Waqas is not going to get married, that’s for sure baby!” Waqas said firmly.

“Ae leh! Sab ton vadda gay te aae hea ga” I said chuckling and Hussain laughed.

“What do you think Shehry? Shouldn’t I be telling khala, about Waqas’s latest girl friend?” Hussain asked getting serious.

“Amare la vita?……The itaaliaano! Han!” I mimicked Waqas’s Italian accent and he rolled his eyes.

“Shut up you two! And Hussain tu apni chonch band he rakh before I will add some Zeher or worse… jamal ghotaa in your faloodaa” Waqas said taking a turn and both us laughed.

“Chal maaf kiya Waqas tujhe” Hussain said patting his back a little and Waqas bowed his head giving a humble gesture. “but Shehry… merey bhaii! teri laila to dhoond ker he rahoon ga mein Saley! Tu jo bhi ker le” Hussain said firmly and I shook my head.

“Laila?.... Seriously? Sounds gross” Waqas made a face, giving his all time famous rised eyebrow expression.

 “Chal Laila nai to….. Heer ker le” Hussain said chuckling and I leaned back in my seat looking out of the car.

“I didn’t want any Laila or any Heer now…. I was happy in my life, with Hussain with my passion… everything, there was no place left in my life for any……… Heer”

Ahhh guys hope you all have liked it :) do leave your precious commenttsssss :)

finally Shehry moving on and so is Mahrukh somehow.... ;)

love u all <3