Phoolon ki ek chadar hai,
Lamho ki ek shaam hai,
Badalo ka ye pegaam hai,
Baarish ki bundein bas pukarti tera naam hai,

Ghayal hua pyaar me,
Na dekha mere dildaar ne,
Aankhein mili toh samjha,
Kaise heer ka bana raanjha,
Ghum hua teri yaad me,
Bas reh sakta ab tere saath mai,
Jo mehendi saji thi tere haath pe,
Naam wahi mera bass gaya,
Mai toh wahi phas gaya,
Ab tu hi hai mera ghar,
Aur tu hi hai mera sheher...

- Filmon ki tarah

***

"Haya baji aap kab aarahi?" Mahjabeen asked excitedly, Maryam had informed her that Haya and her brother would arrive before their waalima. Infact the walima was postponed for them, Hasan was like an elder brother to Murtasim and he respected and trusted him the most after Maa Begum.

"Bhai jaan ke saath teen din mai aaongi Inshallah. Tum batao school kaisa chal raha", she asked curiously, Haya was in disbelief that Maa Begum allowed Mahjabeen to study.

"Accha chal raha bas mai thak jaati bohot", Mahjabeen complaint, her schedule was very hectic and it was taking a toll on her.

"Mahjabeen tum Murtasim aur Maa Begum ki saari baatein kyun maanti ho?" Haya asked a little disappointed, Mahjabeen frowned and replied.

"Kyuki mai iss ghar ki bahu hu, aur Murtasim ke kaam karna mujhe accha lagta", Haya grinded her teeth in anger, she could imagine how well Murtasim treated Mahjabeen and the thought made her jealous.

"Maha tumhe apna rishta mazboot rakhna hai Murtasim ke saath?" She asked her offer tempting Mahjabeen, she agreed and Haya explained her in a way manipulating the poor girl.

That night Mahjabeen messed up all her assignments, she was getting on his nerves like Haya had asked her to.

"Ye toh purana assignment tha, isme galti kaise hui tumse", Murtasim asked confused and a little disappointed. They had spent weeks teaching her multiplication and she had solved complex problems at the end. Now she was messing up the simplest problems and they weren't even silly mistakes.

"Mujhe nahi padhna", Mahjabeen placed her book on the ground and stood up. She was throwing a tantrum for the first time and of course it did annoy Murtasim. He caught her wrist, pulled her down and in the softest voice asked her.

"Kya hua hai Mahjabeen? Kisine kuch bola hai tumhe?"

Mahjabeen opened her mouth but realised this was a secret between her and Haya. She couldn't rat her out and Haya had suggested this for her own good.

"Mera mood nahi hai padhai karne ka", she made an excuse while scrunching her nose.

"Toh kya karna hai meri jaan?" he asked with a smile, Mahjabeen's eyes widened at the last word. The butterflies in her stomach went crazy as their eyes made contact, he was smiling with his eyes. Mahjabeen couldn't stare at them for long, the eye contact actually melted her and she lost control over her mouth

"Woh Haya baaji bol rahi thi ke aap mere shohar se zyada apni Maa ke bete ho. Agar unhoney mujhe kabhi ghar se nikala toh aap mera saath nahi denge",

Murtasim's smile faded as he heard Mahjabeen's words. He released her wrist, his expression a mix of concern and disbelief.

"Kya?" he uttered, his voice laced with confusion. "Haya ne aisa bola?"

Mahjabeen looked down, feeling a sense of guilt and regret, and now she had hurt Murtasim deeply.

"Mahjabeen tum mujhe kaisa aadmi samajhti ho. Tumhe lagta hai mai tumhe ghar se nikalunga!" he exclaimed standing up now, his rage was rising those words had insulted his character and the worst thing, Mahjabeen had believed them.

"Nahi maine aisa nahi kaha", Mahjabeen denied not meeting his eyes, she actually believed Haya's words because she knew how much he respected his mother. Why would he priortise a woman he was forced to marry over his own mother?

"Tum pehle Haya se baatein karna band karo", he ordered calmly but this irked Mahjabeen.

"Magar kyun? Meri ek hi saheli hai woh", she argued back not backing as she stood up. Murtasim glared at her, neither of them backed down so he walked away.

This wasn't the first time Haya had caused problems in his life, she and her manipulations could destroy their marriage but Mahjabeen was being extremely naive and it frustrated him.

"Bewakuf ladki!" he vented out loudly as he reached his room, taking the pillow from the bed he went to the couch. He laid there for a long time lost in his thoughts and soon fell asleep.

An hour or two passed when Mahjabeen entered the room, she was guiltily glancing at him every second. He was sleeping with a furrowed brow. Mahjabeen went near the couch and knelt down placing her hand on his forehead she whispered.

"Sorry"

She knew he was sleeping but couldn't help but tear up. Murtasim was the best husband a girl could ever wish for, and she still made him upset. Mahjabeen wiped her tears and tried to smoothen the lines on his forehead.

"Mai kaan pakadkar maafi mangungi, magar aap ruthkar toh na soye"

She whispered hoping he would wake up but he didn't. Mahjabeen waited for a long time for him to wake up but in the process fell asleep with her hand on his forehead.

Early morning Murtasim woke up to find her in that position, she was sleeping her face veiled by her hair. He extended his hand and tried to tuck them behind her ear but she woke up in the process.

The two of them quickly backed away realising their proximity, there was nothing wrong in it except the awkwardness from yesterday.

"Murtasim sorry", Mahjabeen apologized her hands touching her ears. He furrowed his brows, and extended his hand to pull them away.

"Mahjabeen sorry mat bol, bas pyaari si chai dedo", he joked and actually craved the tea. She giggled and stood up to bring him the tea but he caught her wrist.

"Suno... Chai mai shakar-", Mahjabeen cut him off.

"Haan haan shakar nahi dalungi. Aap hi saari dunya ki shakar bachaye", she taunted and walked away leaving him hanging in defeat. Why was it so hard to flirt with his wife? Murtasim wondered.

***