The engagement function was started, Reena and Farjaad exchanged their rings, everyone clapped for them. Mimi was desperately clapping, Umeed was smiling towards them. She was controlling her emotions, consoling herself.

The function was over, all the guests were started leaving. Reena's family was still present, went inside the home and sat in the launch.

"Mubarak ho Shujaat Sahab" Farooq Sahab said softly.

"Kher Mubarak" Shujaat Sahab replied meekly.

"Niggo Jee, mujhe ap se zarori baat karni hai" Saima Jee said nervously.

"Jee, kahiye?" Niggo Jee replied.

"Mein Saim ke liye Maryam ka rishta maagna chahti hun" Saima Jee asked for the proposal.

Shujaat Sahab and Niggo Jee remained silent and smiled.

"Dekhiye, hamai to koi aitraaz nahi hai lekin agar Maryam se ham ek dafa pochlen to" Shujaat Sahab said respectfully.

"Ap jitna time lena chahte hain leli jiye, hamai koi masla nahi hai" Farooq Sahab said confidently.

Umeed and Mimi was hearing this, they both went towards the balcony excitingly.

"Yeeeee, Mimi ka rishta paka hogaya" Umeed said excitingly and hugged her tightly.

"Meinay na abhi han nahi ki hai" Mimi said and teased her.

"Bht hi naa shukri ho, Saim tumhe chirag lekar bhi jaogi to kahin nahi milega" Umeed said confidently.

"Acha, abhi dekhte hain ke kya hota hai" Mimi said nervously.

"Ab to Mimi ki barat aigi" Umeed said and chuckled.

Saim came there and joined them.

"Ayeee, jiju" Umeed said and teased him, Mimi pinched her slowly.

"Acha, to apko pata chal hi gaya" Saim said.

"Han, pata to chalna tha lekin abhi Mimi ne han nahi ki hai" Umeed replied.

"To wo kardegi, apni mohabbat par itna to yaqeen hai" Saim said and smiled, Mimi looked at Umeed and controlled her smile.

"Aur mujhe bhi tumhari mohabbat par yaqeen hai, mein tum dono ke liye bht khush hun" Umeed said meekly, did a side hugged with Mimi.

"Thank you" Saim replied.

"Acha, tum dono zara baat karo, mein andar se hokar ati hun" Umeed said and walked inside.

Saim and Mimi looked at each other confusingly.

"Mimi, ap khush hain?" Saim asked.

"Hmm, meri best friend ka decision kabhi galat nahi hota" Mimi said smilingly.

"Lekin Umeed, wo itna khush kese reh leti hai, iski situation dekh kar mujhe bht bura lagta hai" Saim said desperately.

"Matlab apko bhi pata hai ke wo kisi aur ko pasand karti hai?" Mimi asked normally, she didn't have idea that he knew everything.

"Han, ye bhi pata hai ke wo Farjaad hai" Saim said confidently, Mimi surprisely looked at him.

"Apko kese pata?" Mimi said, got shocked for a second.

"Meinay andaza laga lia tha, meinay Umeed ko dekha hai, wo kese Farjaad ko dekhti hain, iske dil mein kitna dard hai" Saim said sadly.

"Lekin ham kuch nahi karsakte, kismat par kisi ka koi zor nahi chalta" Mimi said.

"I hope ke Umeed ke liye jo behtar hai, wo ise miljaye" Saim said in concern.

*********

Reena and Farjaad were walking in the lawn happily, Reena was little bit irritated because of her ring, she was continously tried to fixed the ring in her finger but it was not fitted.

"I am sorry, mein ye ring laya tha aur mujhe chaiye tha ke tumhe khud tumhari marzi se ring dila deta" Farjaad said, apologized.

"Aree, don't worry" Reena said calmly.

Umeed came in the lawn while using her phone, she was looking to her phone and Farjaad and Reena slowly reached towards Umeed.

"Umeed, tum itna phone mein kho kar kise baat karahi ho?" Reena asked.

Umeed looked at her, "wo actually, Haya ka message tha wo kehrahi hai ke Sameer mujhe lene araha hai" she replied softly while closing her phone.

Reena nodded her head and looked at fingers, she slowly held her hand and saw her ring shockingly.

"Umeed, meri aur tumhari ring bilkul same hai" Reena said shockingly.

"Han, meinay jo tumhe ring pehnayi hai wo to Umeed ke ring jesi hai" Farjaad said normally.

"Han ye ring mujhe mere baba ne birthday par dilai thi" Umeed said happily

"Umeed, if you don't mind, kya tum ek minute ke liye ring utar sakti ho?" Reena said, requested to her.

"Yeah ofcourse" Umeed said softly, removed her ring and gave it to her.

Reena tried the ring in the finger and it was fit in her hand, she got surprised.

"Farjaad, ye ring mere fit agai hai" Reena said happily.

"Han to tum agar rakhna chahti ho to tum rakhlo, i don't mind" Umeed said confidently.

"Aree tum meri engagement wali ring rakhlo, dono hi same hain koi farq thori hai" Reena said and removed her engagement ring, she gave it to her.

"Lekin Reena ye to tumhari engagement ring hai?" Umeed asked nervously.

"Come on Umeed, ab tum porane zamne wali logic use nahi karna" Reena said, apologized attitudely.

"Umeed, Reena theek kehrahi hai, tum ye rakhlo no problem" Farjaad continued.

Umeed nervously took the Farjaad's ring from her hand. Suddenly, Reena heard her mom's voice.

"Mein ek minute mein ayi" Reena said and quickly went from there.

Umeed looked at the ring which was still present in her hand, Farjaad snatched the ring frankly, "ab tum itna sochogi ise acha ye ring pehen hi lo" Farjaad streched her hand and quickly put the ring in her finger, the ring was fitted in her hand. Umeed got surprised and freezed after this sudden action.

Farjaad smiled and went behind Reena, Umeed still didn't realized what he had done. She looked at her finger shockingly and surprisely.

*******

Umeed reached inside Pasha house, directly went to her room. She was still didn't believe that he had done. She looked at the ring surprisely and Haya enters in the room, sat beside her.

"Umeed?" Haya called her name firmly.

Umeed was lost in her thoughts, didn't replied her

"Umeed?" Haya called her name in loud tone.

Umeed came in her senses, looked at her, "hmm kya hua?" She asked softly.

"Tum kahan kho gai ho?" Haya asked shockingly.

"Nahi, kahin bhi nahi" Umeed replied.

"Koi baat hui hai?" Haya asked in concern.

"Haya, aj pata hai kya ho?" Umeed replied hesitately.

"Batao, kya hua?" Haya asked curiously.

Umeed explained everything to her.......

"Matlab, ye ring Farjaad ki hai aur isne tumhe pehnai hai?" Haya asked, got hell shocked.

"Han" Umeed said, lightly nodded her head.

"Umeed, iska matlab bhi janti ho?" Haya asked sarcastically.

"Kyaa?" Umeed questioned.

"Tumhari aur Farjaad ki engagement hogai hai" Haya whispered slowly.

"Tum kesi fuzool batein karahi ho, ye ring to isne sirf change ki hai" Umeed said.

"Bewakoof, ring bhi Farjaad ki aur isne apne hath se pehnai hai, to bewakoof tumhari engagement hogai hai" Haya said happily.

"Haya, tumhe jo sochna hai sochlo, mein jarahi hun change karne" Umeed said, stood up and went for freshen up.

********

After freshen up, Umeed sat on her bed and took out her diary from the drawer, started writing.

"Aj wo din bhi guzar gaya, Farjaad mujh se ek kadam aur dur chale gaye lekin pata nahi mujhe bht ajeeb sa lagraha hai, wo mere pass hokar bhi mujh se bht dur hai lekin dil ye baat maane ko tayar hi nahi"

"Pata nahi, ye angothi meri kismat mein kese agai, Farjaad ne apne hathon se mujhe ye pehnai hai aur Haya ise maagni samjh rahi hai, nahi ye sirf ek coincidence hai, wo khuwabo ki duniya mein rehne wali, khayali duniya banane wali Umeed to bht peeche reh gai hai"

"Kese bataye, kyu tujhko chahe,
Yaara bata na paaye,
Batein dilon ki, dekho jo baki,
Ankhein tujhe samjhaye,
Tu jaane naaa...
Tu jaane naaa..."

Umeed smilingly closed the diary, closed her eyes peacefully. Her phone started ringing, the screen showing the name of "Mimi" Umeed received the call and went towards the balcony.

"Hello, jee kya bana apke rishta ka" Umeed asked curiosity.

"Meinay han kardi hai" Mimi said shyly.

"Kyaa, sachi?" Umeed said, got excited and shouted.

"Acha bas, control" Mimi said slowly.

"Mimi, mein bht khush hun, tum batao kya decide hua hai?" Umeed asked, got excited.

"Wo nikkah ka decide hua hai, friday ko hai" Mimi replied shyly.

"Yeah, yipeeee" Umeed shouted happily, started jumping in a joy.

"Acha meri jaan bas, kal akar apni excitement show karlena" Mimi said, and smiled.

"Han han, mein to kal aongi aur sath mein tumhara favourite cake lekar aongi" Umeed said excitingly.

"Kaash Umeed, mein bhi tumhari ye khushi celebrate karsakti" Mimi said, got desperate.

"Mimi, baar baar apne apko blame nahi kia karo, mohabbat miljana har kisi ke bas ki baat nahi hoti" Umeed said and explained her softly.

"Umeed, mein tumhare liye dil se dua karti hun ke tumhari ye bechani khatam hojaye, tum bilkul wese wali Umeed banjao jese tum pehli thi" Mimi said happily.

"Meri bhi dua hai ke tum aur Saim hamesha khush raho" Umeed replied in calm tone.

"Kal arahi ho na?" Mimi asked.

"Han aongi, apna khayal rakhna, bye" Umeed said smilingly.

"Bye, take care" Mimi said and they declined the call.

Umeed looked at sky, the moon was brighting and shining, She smiled towards the sky and the moon. A hand came and shook her shoulder, Umeed turned around and looked at smiling Farjaad.

"Chand ko kyu dekh rahi ho, Umeed Pasha to sirf Farjaad ko hi dekhti hai na?" Farjaad asked smilingly.

"Han, Umeed ke dil mein, iski ankhon mein aur iski saanson mein sirf Farjaad khan bahadur ka naam likha hai" Umeed said lovingly in soft tone.

Umeed held his both hands, they smilingly looking at each other. Farjaad started moving backwards, their hands seperated and Farjaad disappeared. This was the imagination of Umeed, the seperate of Umeed.

She smiled brightly, sat on the "jhoola" which was present in the balcony, Umeed laying down smilingly and closed her eyes calmly. She didn't realized when she slept there while lost in her dreams and seperate world.

********

Next morning, the sun rays fell on Umeed's face. Umeed woke up while rubbing her eyes, looked at the shining sun. She went towards the room, took out her calender, she took the marker and cross the date. She again kept the calender in the drawer, went for freshen up.

Umeed came outside the washroom, Haya was scrolling her phone while sitting on her bed, she saw her surprisely.

"Aj tum itni jaldi kese uth gayi?" Haya asked.

"Han, uth gai actually mein aj jhoole par sogai thi" Umeed replied and smile.

"Kyu, phir se khuwab dekh rahi thi?" Haya asked and chuckled.

"Aisi hi samjhlo, kher mein abhi Mimi ke ghar jaongi, iska nikkah fix hogaya hai" Umeed told her.

"Kya, sachi?" Haya asked and smiled.

"Han, ham dono ko chalna hai, Mimi ne invite kia hai" Umeed replied softly.

"Farjaad ka nikkah nahi hai?" Haya asked.

"Nahi, filhal abhi Saim aur Mimi ka nikkah hai, abhi mein jaongi to baki detail pata chalegi" Umeed replied.

"Acha tum betho, mein fresh hojao aur then ham
nashta karte hain" Haya said, went for freshen up.

Umeed sat on the bed and leaned her head against the bed, closed her eyes calmly and relaxingly. She opened the drawer and took the inhaler, she inhaled the air and feel relaxed.

***********

"To Be Continued🫶"

Rone ke liye tayar ho, agai bht suspense aiga"