Afternoons can offer a different kind of charm compared to mornings or evenings. The sky often showcases a mix of bright blues, fluffy clouds, and maybe even a hint of golden sunlight.

Umeed was relaxingly sitting on the bed and using her phone. The phone started ringing and the screen showing the name of "Changez Khan". Umeed gritted her teeth and picked up the call.

"Jee farmiye!" Umeed spoke loudly and sarcastically.

"Umeed! Meri important files driver ke sath bhejwado, meri important meeting hai" Farjaad requested politely.

"Oh, Farjaad khan bahadur bhi jaldi ke chakar mein cheeze bhoolne lagaye hain" Umeed scoffed and smiled mischeviously.

"Han, to mein Umeed Pasha ki tarah bewakoof thori hun jo waqt ki papandi hi nahi karti" Farjaad yelled, gritted his teeth.

"Baat sune, zara aram se baat karein ap shayad bhool rahe hain ke ap ne mujhe call karke disturb kia hai" Umeed said annoyingly.

Farjaad closed his eyes and control his temper, "Umeed! Please ap mujhe files dhund kar driver ke hath bhejwa dengi" Farjaad requested softly with sarcastic smile.

"Ab kher meinay itna pyaar se baat karne ko bhi nahi kaha tha" Umeed replied.

"Yaar, tum kya cheeze ho?" Farjaad asked, he was still smiling on her lovely compliments.

"Jo bhi hun lekin mein apko inform kar rahi hun ke mama driver ke sath gayi hui hain" Umeed answered.

"Oh, theek hai phir mujhe khud hi ana parega"

"Acha wait, mein ap ke office arahi hun" Umeed popped an idea.

"Tum akele office aogi?" Farjaad asked surprisely.

"Nahi! Mere sath apke jinn bhoot bhi aingay aur apki meetings attend karenge" Umeed scoffed.

"Acha fine, ajao" Farjaad ordered.

"Nahi! Pehle pyaar se aur araam se kahen ke Umeed tum bht achi aur samjhdar ho" Umeed demanded.

Farjaad made a face and shook his head, he have no other option. He smiled lightly, "Umeed, tum bht achi ho aur bht hi samjhdar ho, mein bht khush naseeb hun ke mujhe tum jesi wife mili hai" he said politely.

"Han lekin mein bht badnaseeb hun ke mujhe ap jesa robotic shohar mila hai" Umeed said jokingly.

Farjaad gritted his teeth and declined the call. Umeed started giggling and stood up. She took his files and the car keys, walked out from the room.

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

Within ten minutes, Umeed entered in the office and walked towards the receptionalist.

"Wo Farjaad ka office kahan hai?" Umeed asked respectfully.

"Mam, ap kon hain?" Receptionalist asked meekly.

"Mein unki wife hun aur inhe inki files dene ayi hun" Umeed replied softly.

"Oh i am sorry, meinay apko pehchana nahi" She apologized.

"Its ok" Umeed smiled.

"Wo sir ka room right side par hai, ap jasakti hain" Receptionalist told her.

Umeed walked towards his room, she reached and entered in his office. Farjaad looked at her normally, she kept the files on the table.

"Wese tum itni jaldi phonch kese gayi?" Farjaad asked surprisely while working on his laptop.

"Matlab, mujhe der se ana chaiye tha?"

Farjaad glared at her smilingly, "mera wo matlab nahi tha" Farjaad replied normally.

"Ap ka matlab yahi tha" Umeed shrugged her shoulders.

"Thank you so much ke ap ne zehmat ki" Farjaad said softly.

"Nahi, ab mujhe thank you ki zarorat nahi hai" Umeed said dramatically.

She walked out from the room, Farjaad went behind her and tried to stopped.

"Aree Umeed, meri baat to suno" Farjaad requested.

"Kya baat hai, ab kya masla hai?" Umeed asked rudely.

"Mein waqai mein tumhe thank you kehna chahta hun" Farjaad said meekly.

"Han to kehdia naa, ab to mujhe jane den" Umeed pleaded.

"To thora wait karlo, ham dono sath hi ghar chalenge" Farjaad requested, didn't realized what he had said.

Umeed raised her eyebrows, didn't believed what he said.

"Kya matlab?" Umeed asked hesitantly.

"Matlab, tum akele jaogi?" Farjaad scoffed.

"Han to kya masla hai?" Umeed said relaxingly.

"Han lekin tum meri wajah se ayi ho to mein tumhe akele kese jane dun?" Farjaad said hesitantly.

"Koi zarorat nahi hai, mein akele jarahi hun" Umeed said instantly.

She walked towards the lift.

"Umeed, lift ka issue bana hua hai, stairs se jana parega" Farjaad interuppted.

"Theek hai, mein chali jaongi" Umeed stated.

She went down stairs and Farjaad started following her, they both were looked at each other smilingly and crossed the staircase.

"Kya masla hai, ap mera peecha kyu karahe hain?" Umeed asked irritatingly.

"Masla nahi hai, tum bht useless aur careless ho, tumhe driving sahi se nahi ati" Farjaad complained.

"Ohoo, to ap ye kahen ke apko dar hai ke apki car ka nuqsan na hojaye" Umeed scoffed.

"Car se sath sath agar tumhe kuch hogaya to?" Farjaad said worriedly.

"Sun mere humsafar,
Kya tujhe itni si bhi khabar"

Umeed heart was delighted, she smiled automatically and he was adoring her, the smile was appeared at the corner of the lip, their eyes met.

"Ke teri saansein chalti jidhar,
Rahoonga bas wahi umar bhar,
Rahoonga bas wohi umar bhar haaye.."

"Ap ko na meri fikar karne ki zarorat nahi hai" Umeed said confidently.

Umeed sarcastically smiled, walked towards the car parking. Farjaad shook his head and again went behind her, Umeed opened the door and sat inside the car on driving seat. Farjaad sat on the passenger seat.

"Baat sune, apki meeting hai, ap kyu ye sab karahe hain?" Umeed asked shockingly.

"Tum chup chap drive karo, ham ghar jarahe hain" Farjaad ordered like a boss.

"Ap naa mujhe pagal kardenge" Umeed said annoyingly.

"Meri meeting hai aur mera kaam hai aur wo mein dekhlonga, tum chup chap driving start karo ya tum mujhe driving karne dou"

Umeed made a face and started the car. Farjaad looked at her.

"Seatbelt lagao" Farjaad ordered.

"Na mujhe lagani ati hai aur na mein lagati hun" Farjaad replied truthfully.

He move closer to her and took her seatbelt, their heartbeats were increased and Umeed was shocked, her breath was stopped due to his closeness. She was feeling her breath on her face. Farjaad fixed the seatbelt and again sat properly, he was even not hesitated.

She started driving normally. She was trying to teased him so she increased the speed on the road and she started giggling. He rolled his eyes and looked at her with deadly glance.

"Umeed, speed ahista karo" Farjaad yelled.

"Apko bht shoq araha tha na mere sath ghar jana ka, ab bhuktein" Umeed said and laughed.

She increased the car speed and his breathing was stopped. He was just concerned about her, she looked at his face expression and she got worried.

"Acha just relax, ahista chalati hun" Umeed said smilingly.

Umeed decreased the speed, Farjaad got relieved and looked at her, he grinned.

"Wese ap na itne ache hain nahi jitna acha banne ki koshish karte hain" Umeed said teasingly.

"Wah! Wese ap bhi itni responsible hain nahi jitna ap aj ban gai hain" Farjaad replied back.

They both were finally reached inside the home, Umeed parked the car in the parking, they both walked outside car.

"Ab mein office jaraha hun, lao mujhe keys dedo" Farjaad requested.

"Wese apka dimag kharab hogaya hai" Umeed rolled her eyes.

"Ab kya hua?" Farjaad asked, crossed his arms.

"Ap mujhe chorne ke chakar mein itni dur agaye hain, apke pass akal nahi hai?" Umeed scoffed.

"Tumhare sath thori si bhi naiki karlo to tumhe wo raaz nahi ati"

"Ap ki umar mein logo ko dar zyada lagta hai, i know it"

"Aur tumhari jitni age mein logo ka dimag asmaano par urhta hai" Farjaad replied back with the same confidence.

Umeed gritted her teeth, "ap ko jo karna hai karein, mein andar jarahi hun" she said and walked inside the home.

Farjaad shook his head and leaves for his office.

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

The day was passed peacefully. It was the midnight time when Farjaad and Umeed were sleeping peacefully, they heard the creepy and weird voices. Umeed woked up and sat, trying to observed what is happening, She turned off the lamp hesitantly.

Farjaad turned his poster towards her and woked up, he looked at her suspiciously.

"Umeed, tum na khud sukoon se sorahi ho aur na sone derahi ho" Farjaad said annoyingly.

"Farjaad, bahar se kisi ki awaz arahi hai" Umeed said worriedly.

Suddenly they heard the firing voice, they looked at each other shocking, he sat on the bed and turned off his lamp.

"Farjaad, ye kya horaha hai?" Umeed asked scarely.

"Pata nahi, mein dekhta hun jakar" Farjaad said normally.

Umeed held his arm tightly, "ap kahan jarahe hain, ap mujhe aise chor kar nahi jasakte" she demanded anxiously.

"Areee mujhe jakar dekhne to dou hua kya hai?" Farjaad requested gently.

"Mujhe lagraha hai ke ghar mein chor ghus gaye hain" Umeed guessed.

They both looked at each other suspiciously and shockingly. Umeed held his arm more tightly, she was panicked.

"Farjaad, mujhe dar lagraha hai" Umeed said scarely.

The tears were filled in her eyes, she hide her face on his arms.

Farjaad patted her head, "Umeed! Tum roo kyu rahi ho, calm down mein dekh kar ata hun" he said, tried to consoled her.

"Nahi, mein ap ko kahin nahi jaane dungi" Umeed said, almost hugged him.

"Acha, tum roo kyu rahi ho, mein hun naa" Farjaad said meekly.

"Teri dhakaon se hai zindagi meri,
Khuwaishe teri ab duain meri,
Kitna anokha bandhan hai ye,
Teri meri jaan jo ek hui"
Song: "Hamdard"

"Nahi, mein nahi jane dungi"

Now, Umeed becomed stubborn, she was not leaving him. She was just held him, tried to comfort herself.

"Tum agar aise darogi to koi faida nahi hai, mujhe jane dou" Farjaad requested.

"Acha, theek hai, mein apke sath chalti hun" Umeed demanded, looked at him.

"Acha theek hai, chalo" Farjaad agreed.

She wiped her tears, he held her hand and Umeed held his arm. They both slowly leaves the bed and went towards the window, Farjaad glared outside and looked at the main gate which was opened.

"Umeed! Bahar ka darwaza to khula hua hai" Farjaad spoke hesitantly.

"Han, meinay kaha tha na ke chour agaye hain" Umeed said anxiously, becomed more scared.

"Acha rou mat, mein dekh kar ata hun" Farjaad said, tried to consoled her.

"Nahi, mein sath chalongi" Umeed demanded.

Suddenly someone knocked the door, they both glared towards the door.

"Kon hai?" Farjaad said in heavy voice.

"Bhai, please jaldi darwaza kholen" Mimi pleaded.

They both abruptly walked towards the door, he opened the door and Mimi entered worriedly.

"Bhai, bht bara masla hogaya hai" Mimi said nervously.

"Kya hua hai?" Umeed asked curiously.

"Wo ghar mein chor ghus gaye hain, mama aur baha ko launch mein bitha dia hai" Mimi said instantly, she was not breathing properly.

"What the hell!" Farjaad yelled.

Mimi closed the door and locked scarely.

"Hamai jo karna hai jaldi karna hoga, robbers to yahan par bhi asakte hain" Farjaad was panicked now.

"Mein jakar bahar dekhti hun, ap dono yahi par bethe" Umeed ordered them.

Farjaad held her arm tightly, "tum pagal ho gayi ho, tumhe lagta hai ke mein tumhe akele jane dunga?" Farjaad said in concerned.

"To Be Continued🫶"

Guys, there is no any response, this is not fair🫣!