"Baba, ham fihal Reena aur Farjaad ke rishte ki baat karlen?" Saim said, tried to changed the topic.

"Han, filhal agar ap engagement rakhna chahte hain to ham sunday ko function rakhlete hain" Niggo Jee popped an idea.

"Ye bilkul theek rahega" Saima Jee agreed.

"To final hai ke sunday ko Reena aur Farjaad ki engagement hai" Farooq Sahab annouced, everyone agreed.

"Actually, ham dono ka nikkah bhi fixed kardete lekin pehle ham Saim ki shaadi karna chahte hain, ek baar Saim ka nikkah hojaiga then ham Reena aur Farjaad ki shaadi bhi rakh denge" Saima Jee told them about actual plan.

Everyone nodded their heads, agreed on their decision respectfully.

********

Haya woke up first, saw that Umeed was sleeping peacefully. She went towards her, smiled and covered her with blanket. Umeed was still holding the Farjaad's photo, under her hands. Haya saw and slowly took the photo from her hand.

"Ye Umeed ki kesi mohabbat hai jo kabhi hi nahi hosakti, Ya Allah, meri bhen ko ya to iski mohabbat miljai ya ye mohabbat iske dil se khatam hojai" Haya thought, prayed for her sister heartly.

Umeed opened her eyes, she woke up and sat on the bed.

"Haya, tum uth gai?" Umeed asked while rubbing her eyes.

"Hmm, ap bataiye chai lekar aon?" Haya replied softly, asked about the tea.

"Hmm" Umeed said softly.

"Acha ye photo pakro, mein ati hun" Haya said, extended her hand. Umeed took the photo and Haya went from there.

*********

Bahadur Family arrived inside their home, went to the lawn and sat on the sofa.

"Mimi, ye kya harkat thi?" Farjaad yelled sarcastically.

"Kya?"

"Tumhe Reena ko ye kyu kaha ke agar tumhari koi aur bhai hota to tum Umeed ko apni bhabi banaleti" Farjaad replied.

"To bhai, wo meri dost ko old fashion kehrahi thi, ise kisne haq dia hai ke wo kisi ko judge kare" Mimi said irritatingly.

"Farjaad beta, Mimi theek kehrahi hai, Reena ko koi haq nahi hai ke wo Umeed ko insult kar sake" Niggo Ji defended Mimi.

"Mom, ap log nahi chahte na ke meri shaadi Reena se ho?" Farjaad asked in hard tone.

"Ye tum kesi batein karahe ho, agar ham nahi chahte to kabhi bhi rishta lekar nahi jate" Shujaat Sahab scolded him.

Farjaad was pissed off, he angrily stood up and went towards his room.

"Abhi Reena is ghar mein ai nahi hai to bhai ka ye haal hai, baad mein to wo mujhe is ghar se hi bahar nikalwa degi" Mimi said, got irritated.

"Mimi, tum bhi zara kam bola karo, tumhe Reena ke sath banakar rakhni hai" Niggo Jee said in harsh tone.

"Maa, ab ap Reena ki side lerahi hain, theek hai mein ab kisi se baat nahi karongi" Mimi said, leaves from there.

********

Farjaad was walking in his room, tried to called Reena. Reena received the call, Farjaad got relieved when he heard her voice.

"Reena, mein tumhe kab se call karaha hun, phone kyu nahi utha rahi ho?" Farjaad complained like a baby.

"Ye sawal tum apne ghar walon se pocho" Reena said, taunts at him.

"Kya hogaya, tumhe kya baat buri lagi hai?" Farjaad asked softly.

"Tumhari bhen aur tumhare ghar wale Umeed ke peeche pagal hai, sab milkar hamesha mujhe iska naam lekar insult karte hain" Reena explained in harsh tone.

"To tumhe kya farq parhta hai, mein to tumhare peeche pagal hun na" Farjaad said innocently.

"Shut up Farjaad, mein abhi mazak ke mood mein nahi hun" Reena said misbehavingly.

"Baat suno, tum Umeed ko discuss karna chordo, tumhare apne bhai ke rishte ke liye tum log khud jarahe ho" Farjaad tried to explained her.

"Han, lekin tumhare ghar wale sirf tumhari wajah se hamari shaadi karahe hain, warna wo sirf Umeed se tumhari shaadi karwana chahte hain" Reena said.

"Jo bhi hai, mujhe to sirf tum se shaadi karni hai na" Farjaad said in soft tone.

"Theek hai, mein manti hun ke Umeed bht achi larki hai, meinay just sirf ek baat kahi thi is par Mimi ne mujhe itni batein suna din" Reena said sadly.

"Acha, tum filhal hamari engagement ki tayari karo" Farjaad said, tried to refresh her mood.

"Ok, jese tum kaho" Reena said and smiled.

They both were talking like this.....!!

*******

Pasha Sahab enters in the room, saw that Umeed was busy in her phone, Umeed looked at him and kept her phone on the table. Pasha Sahab smilingly sat infront of her.

"Kesi hai meri beti?" Pasha Sahab asked softly.

"Mein theek hun baba, sab theek hai ap yahan?" Umeed replied and asked softly.

"Umeed, mujhe tum se zarori baat karni hai" Pasha Sahab inquired.

"Jee kahiye, kya baat hai" Umeed asked.

"Beta, kal tumhe rishte wale dekhne arahe hain" Pasha Sahab said nervously.

"Rishte wale" Umeed said, lowered her glaze.

"Han, tum sirf inse mulaqat karlo, baad mein faisla tumhara hoga" Pasha Sahab said meekly.

"Baba, ap jesa kahenge mein wesa karongi, ap inhe bulalein" Umeed said, agreed and smiled.

"Beta, mein sirf tumhe khush dekhna chahta hun, agar tumhe koi aur pasand hai to tum mujhe bata sakti ho" Pasha Sahab asked.

Umeed looked at him anxiously, tried to controlled her emotions, "nahi baba, aisi koi baat nahi hai" Umeed replied and smiled confidently.

"Beta, tum fikar nahi karo agar rishta samaj nahi aye to mana kardena" Pasha Sahab said while patting her head.

"Hmm" Umeed mumbled.

"Acha, ab tum aram karo, mein chalta hun" Pasha Sahab said lovingly, leaves from there.

********

Umeed took the phone from the side table, called Mimi. Mimi received the call and said "Hi" to her.

"Jee Umeed madam, kesi tabiya thai apki?" Mimi asked curiously.

"Theek hun, tum sunao" Umeed said softly.

"Mein theek hun, ye batao tumne mujhe kese yaad kia?" Mimi asked.

"Wo kal tum mere ghar ajana, rishte wale arahe hain" Umeed told her nervously.

"mujhe pata hai" Mimi said confidently.

"Tumhe kese pata?" Umeed asked.

"Kyuke jiska rishta tumhare ghar ane wala hai, wo Reena ki family hai" Mimi told her irritatingly.

"What, matlab wo Reena ka bhai hai?" Umeed asked shockingly.

"Han, iska bara bhai "Saim" Mimi explained.

"Acha, dikhne mein kesa hai, charming hai?" Umeed asked happily and sarcastically.

"Ek minute, tum Umeed hi ho na?" Mimi asked, got shocked.

"Han han, tabhi poch rahi hun, dikhne mein kesa hai?" Umeed asked and giggled.

"Han acha hai, handsome hai, itni bari bari ankhein hain, smile karte hue iske dimples bhi bht ache lagte hain, muscular hath hain" Mimi replied happily and excitingly.

"Tumne ise kitna notice karlia?" Umeed asked.

"Yaar wo aj na ham dono takra gaye the, bechara meri wajah se gir gaya tha" Mimi said, got embarassed.

"Ohh, chalo phir to Saim dekhna hi parega" Umeed said happily.

"Baat suno, tum Farjaad bhai ke ilawa bhi kisi aur dekho gi?" Mimi asked shockingly.

"Pagal hogai ho, Farjaad ke ilawa agar koi bhetar hai bhi na to bhar mein jaye, mere liye Farjaad hi kafi hai" Umeed explained lovingly.

"Umeed, tum sach mein kisi aur se shaadi karlogi?" Mimi asked.

"Mimi, shaadi to karni paregi, life mein move on karna chahti hun lekin han Farjaad ko kabhi nahi bhool paongi" Umeed said desperately.

"Umeed, abhi bhi waqt hai apni mohabbat ka izhar kardo, kya pata Farjaad bhai ko bhi tumse mohabbat hojai" Mimi advised her.

"Aree tum choro, ye batao kahin tumhe Saim se to mohabbat nahi hogai" Umeed asked jokingly, tried to changed the topic.

"Umeed, kuch to khuda ka khouf karlo, no way" Mimi refused, got shocked.

"Aree tumne ise itna notice karlia hai, to hosakta hai ke tumhara is par dil agaya hai" Umeed said, teased her.

"Pehli nazar mein hi asakta hai?" Mimi asked.

"Mujhe bhi to Farjaad se bhi pehli nazar mein hi mohabbat hogai hai" Umeed shyly replied.

"Lekin mujhe Saim se koi mohabbat nahi hui hai" Mimi said confidently.

"To theek hai, ise rishta lekar ane dou aur khud bhi ajana" Umeed said.

"Hmm theek hai, bye" Mimi said. "Bye" , they declined the call.

********

Next evening, Umeed was dressed up and got ready. The guests were arrived in the Pasha house. Mimi and Haya enters in the room, Umeed was sitting desperately.

"Umeed, tum kitni pyaari lagrahi hai" Haya said softly, kept her hand on her cheek.

"Acha, ab chalein guests agai hain, tumhara intezar karahe hain" Mimi said.

"Hmm, chalo" Umeed replied.

They trio went outside the room, reached in the drawing room.

"Mashallah, apki beti bht pyaari hai" Saima Jee appreciated her beauty, Umeed sat beside her.

"Pasha sahab, hamai koi aitraaz nahi hai, mein Umeed ka rishta Saim ke maangta hun" Farooq Sahab asked for proposal.

"Hamai sochne ke liye thora time chaiye" Hilal Pasha replied meekly.

"Ap log jitna time lena chahte hain, itna time leli jiye" Saima Jee said.

"Mom, pehle Saim aur Umeed ek dusre se baat to karlen, iske baad dono ke decision par ap dono decision final karli jiye ga" Reena said, interuppted.

"Han ye sahi rahega" Zeenat Ji agreed.

"Umeed beta, ap aur Saim bahar jakar baat karli jiye, koi masla nahi hai" Pasha Sahab said softly.

Umeed stood up, got confused and went outside the drawing room. Saim went behind her, they reached inside the lawn. They both were silent, looked here and there.

"Umeed, wo ap ko is rishte ke koi aitraaz hai?" Saim asked softly, broke the silence.

"Apko hai?" Umeed asked, looked at him.

"Pata nahi, shayad han" Saim said innocently, lowered his glaze.

"Kyu, koi problem hai to ap mujh se share kar sakte hain" Umeed said meekly.

"Wo actually, mein kisi aur ko pasand karne laga hun" Saim said nervously.

"Acha, to ye baat hai, wese mein ye poch sakti hun ke wo larki kon hai?" Umeed asked respectfully.

"Agar meinay apko ye baat batadi to shayad ap mera sar phar de" Saim said, looked at her scarely.

"Kyu, wo larki hai kon?" Umeed asked curiously while folded her hands.

"Apki best friend hi hai" Saim said quickly.

Umeed got surprised and shocked, looked at him suspiciously. Saim embarrasely looked at her.

"Ap Mimi ko pasand karte hain?" Umeed asked, tried to conform.

Saim nodded her head, while lowering his glaze.

"To theek hai, mein apki help karsakti hun, apko apki mohabbat hasil karwane mein" Umeed said and smiled.

"Lekin apko bura nahi laga ke mere liye apka rishta aya aur mein apki best friend ko pasand karta hun?" Saim asked, got hell shocked.

"Mein ye shaadi sirf apne baba ki wajah se karahi thi, lekin mein nahi chahti ke kisi ki mohabbat adhuri reh jaye" Umeed replied in soft tone.

"To apko koi problem nahi hai, mein agar inkar kardun?" Saim asked.

"Han, tum bhi inkaar kardo aur mein bhi inkaar kardeti hun" Umeed said, agreed.

"Lekin ek shart par?" Saim demanded.

"Kya?" Umeed asked.

"Ham dono dosti karlete hain, friends?" Saim said frankly, extended his hand. Umeed smiled, shaked her hand with him, "friends" Umeed said softly.

"Mein Mimi ko convince karongi aur tum apne parents ko convince karo, inhe sab kuch batado sare problems khud solve hojaingi" Umeed advised her.

"Lekin tumhe tumhare ghar wale kuch kahege nahi?" Saim asked in concern.

"Nahi, mere baba ne faisla karne ka haq mujhe dia tha, mein inhe bhi sab kuch batadongi, tum fikar nahi karo mein hun na, sab handle karlongi" Umeed said confidently.

"Umeed, paka na?" Saim asked.

"Han paka" Umeed said, and giggled.

"Acha, tumhe kabhi kisi se mohabbat hui hai?" Saim asked frankly.

Umeed lowered her glaze and smiled, "mohabbat to sab ko hoti hai lekin mohabbat milti kisi kisi ko hai, meri bhi yahi situation hai, mein jise chahti hun wo kisi aur ko chahta hai" Umeed responded desperately.

"I am sorry, mera maqsad tumhe hurt karna nahi tha" Saim excused and apologized.

"Nahi, mein ab hurt nahi hoti" Umeed smilingly replied.

"Kon hai wo, kya tum mujhe bata sakti ho?" Saim asked.

"Nahi Saim, ye baat mein tumhe baad mein bataongi, filhal mein tumhari help karna chahti hun, i promise ke mein tumhari help karongi" Umeed said, Saim nodded his head and smiled softly.

*******

"To Be Continued🫶"

What if Umeed love will lost?