Mahjabeen placed her chin on her hand as she lay there watching Murtasim sleep, wearing her denim jumpsuit.

"Murtasim..."

She called his name softly, poking at this chin, but he snoored louder, "Ye kiska bhoot laga gaya ab tumhe yaar." Murtasim never snoored back at home. Something was seriously wrong, Mahjabeen slowly touched his forehead he didn't have a fever.

Was it this place? Was this place haunted?

She sat on the sofa, looking around then swiftly turning around as if there was someone, smiling softly as if she realised something, "I know you are there.."

Mahjabeen squinted as she watched the sunlight peeking through the window. The thin rays danced on the floor, and in her sleepy state, she thought it was something moving. Her eyes widened.

"Aha! Gotcha!" she whispered excitedly, jumping up from the sofa. "So, it *is* haunted!"

Determined to follow her "ghostly suspect," she tiptoed around the room, her denim jumpsuit creaking with every exaggerated step. She traced the beam of light across the floor, over the bed, and then... under the wardrobe. Mahjabeen crouched down, peeking underneath.

"Pakad liya, bhoot!” she muttered to herself, tapping her chin in thought. Remembering a desi nuskah her mother used to tell her about, she puffed up her chest. "Bhoot, jinn sabka bhi ilaaj ha mere paas!"

She dramatically took off her dupatta from her ba, holding it like a flag. "This dupatta will trap you! Chale jao warna... I’ll start reciting... kya naam tha? Nhi mai confuse nhi hoskti, I will start reciting *Dua-e-Bhoot Bhagao!*"

With complete seriousness, Mahjabeen began following the sunlight again, swirling her dupatta in the air like an exorcist on a mission. Each time the light shifted, she waved the fabric more vigorously, muttering nonsense phrases under her breath.

Just then, Murtasim stirred, groaning slightly as he cracked open one eye. He raised his head slowly, taking in the sight of Mahjabeen swatting invisible things around the room with a dupatta like a warrior.

"Mahjabeen... what the..." he mumbled sleepily, still half out of it.

Mahjabeen froze in place, her dupatta mid-swing. She spun around, her eyes wide. "Don’t interrupt, Murtasim! I’m getting rid of the bhoot!”

Murtasim blinked a few times, groggy and confused. “Bhoot?”

Mahjabeen nodded fervently, waving her hand dramatically at the sunlight. “Look! It’s right there! I’m following it, na. Ammi always said, sunlight is the enemy of all bhoots. I'm just helping it leave.”

Murtasim stared blankly for a moment, then sighed, dropping his head back onto the pillow with a resigned groan. "Mahjabeen... you need sleep more than the bhoot does..."

But she didn't listen now attacking him, Mahjabeen charged toward Murtasim, her dupatta flying like a superhero’s cape. “Leave my husband, bhoot!” she yelled, dramatically wrapping the dupatta around his face.

Murtasim, half-asleep and bewildered, flailed his arms, trying to free himself. “Mahjabeen! What are you doing?! Main hoon, tumhara Murtasim! Bhoot nahi!”

But Mahjabeen, deep in her mission, ignored his pleas. “Don’t try to fool me! Saarey bhoot aise hi boltey hai. Ab tum bachke nahi ja sakte!” She tightened the dupatta like she was performing the final act of an exorcism.

Murtasim struggled, finally managing to pull the dupatta off his face. He sat up, glaring at her while rubbing his forehead. “Mahjabeen, mujhe maar kar bhoot banane ka irada hai kya?!”

Mahjabeen, panting from her efforts, looked at him suspiciously. “Are you... my Murtasim?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Murtasim raised his eyebrows, now fully awake and slightly amused. “Nahi, nahi utarona bhoot”

As he held her elbow, she frowned.

She blinked, her face slowly turning from determination to embarrassment. “Oh... um...” She scratched her head, pulling her dupatta back. “So... you're not possessed?”

Mahjabeen laughed nervously, plopping down next to him on the bed. “Sorry! I thought... I mean... you were snoring, and this place looked haunted...”

Murtasim grinned, pulling her closer. “If there's any ghost here, it's probably you haunting me with your madness. But I think I can live with that.”

She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. “Fine, but just to be clear... if I see any other shadows, I’m ready with my dupatta.”

Murtasim laughed, kissing her forehead. “I’m sure the bhoots are terrified of you by now.”

___

The next time Mahjabeen woke up it was because she smelled chai. Following the smell, she went to the kitchen, Murtasim was all dressed up wearing his white shirt, blue tie and pants.

"Kaha jaarahey ho?"

"Interview dene, dua karo job lag jaye,"

He passed her a cup, but she excused herself to wash her face in the basin outside in the aangan, she kinda liked that space,  picking up the cloth she wiped the marble sofa, and called Murtasim.

"Yaha baith te hai," he sat down as she saw the worried look in his eyes, "Yaar fikar na karo tum itne zaheen ho, job miljayegi."

He was a little tensed because the money he had would hardly last a month, "N"hi mili toh?"

"Toh", she took a sip, "Idea, hum dono sadak par chai bechlenge."

He rolled his eyes, "Suit pant mai?"

She nodded excitedly, "Aajkal chai waaley office worker se zyaada kamate hai, aur tum chai bechogey toh ladkiyan aisehi aayeni tumhari awaaz sunkar, 'Das rupey ki chaiiiiii' itni meethi awaaz hai k log shakkar bhi nhi maangenge.

Murtasim chuckled, shaking his head as he sipped his chai. "Haan, aur tum phir jalan mein ladkiyon ko ghoor ghoor kar bhagaaogi, hai na?"

Mahjabeen grinned, nudging him playfully. "Mujhe koi zaroorat nahi hogi ghoorne ki, tum itne seedhe ho ke koi ladki tumhe phasa bhi nahi sakti." She winked, making him laugh again, easing some of the tension from his shoulders.

She saw he was getting up to pick his shoes, she gently pushed him down, his eyes meeting hers, and whispered, "Tum bas kaam par dhyaan do."

She rummaged through the clutter near the door, finding his polished black shoes and giving them a quick brush to remove any dust. As she walked back to him, she noticed his nervousness. She set the shoes down in front of him, taking a deep breath as if to channel all her positive energy into the task.

“Yeh lo,” she said, kneeling down to help him put them on. “Aaj tumhara din hai. Shoes bhi chamak rahe hain, tum bhi chamakte jao.” Murtasim chuckled as she carefully adjusted his shoes, making sure they were perfectly aligned.

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with mischief. “Agar tumhe job nahi mili, toh mai waise bhi chai bechne ke liye ready hoon. Tum aur main milke chai bechenge."

Murtasim laughed, the tension easing from his face. He stood up, ready to go, but not before pulling Mahjabeen into a tight hug.

“I will be back soon. Love you, Mahjabeen.”

She hugged him back, her voice soft and encouraging. “Tum apna best do, Murtasim”Murtasim smiled, pulling away.

“Chalo, phir. Interview ke liye time ho raha hai.”

As he left Mahjabeen stood at door, Murtasim shouted "Darwaza band rakhna, kisiko aaney mat dena".

__

Murtasim reached the railway station,  trying to find his platform and missed the first train. He wiped his face with a napkin and looked around at men around him, all seemed to be working corporate. He waited for next few minutes and got on first miraculously finding a seat for himself, this wasn't too bad, he thought.

"Thodi jagah de", he was pushed to the side and he sighed as a man leaned against the window blocking its view, he closed his eyes, and waited until his stop and got off.

He had a master's degree in Physics, it won't be hard to get a job right?

He was wrong.

"Das hazar? Maine masters kiya hai!"

The clerk looked at him, "You have no experience in teaching.  Itna lamba gap h resume mai, Khan sahab degree se zyaada experience ki value hai."

Murtasim sighed, he looked at the man, "I will join."

He looked at the department, "Koi staff ki benefits hai."

The man nodded, "Bus fare, aur apke koi rishtedaar koi admission milskta fifty percent off."

"Meri biwi ka hoskta?"

The man called another staff, "Inko form dede admission ka aur joining ka."

"Ye bhar dijiye bas."

"College nhi school ka."

The man frowned "Aapki biwi school mai h."

"Saathvi fail hai, mai chahta hu woh padhey thoda.."

The clerk smiled, "Phir paas hi mai ek government school hai, saal ki fees shayad hazar rupees hai, wahi dakhle."

"Shukriya."

He exited the college, a bit dejected but went to the school to get the form.

___

Meanwhile Mahjabeen looked from the terrace, she was bored out of her mind. Waiting for Murtasim to come home when a woman from the house beside her waved to her, "When did you shift?"

Mahjabeen motioned towards herself, and the woman nodded, "Last night."

It was nice to have someone around, the woman seemed to be in her late fourties wearing a beautiful multicoloured shalwar kameez, with high end makeup and jewelleries.

"Aap bohot acchi lagrahi," Mahjabeen complimented as the woman smiled, "Mai roz acchi lagti hu, tumhara naam kya hai?"

"Mahjabeen", She leaned through the crack so she could shake the woman's hand, the woman passed her chikki, "Bano, Noor Bano."

She eyed her then asked, "Ammi abbu ke saath rehti ho?"

Mahjabeen shook her head, "Nahi shauhar ke saath", she brought her dupatta to her mouth.

"Bohot pyaar karti ho apne shauhar se?" Mahjabeen nodded her head, as the woman teased.

Mahjabeen smiled shyly, her cheeks flushing. "Haan... bohot."Noor Bano chuckled, a rich, warm laugh that filled the air between them.

"Acha, accha... yeh batao, tumhara shauhar tumhe kaise handle karta hai? Tum toh lagti ho bilkul chulbuli si, usko pareshaan karti hogi na?"

"Pareishan...", she thought about her morning 'bhoot' adventure, "Udaas rehta hai toh zyaada pareishaan karti hu."

Then she heard a kitten meowing, "Aapke paas billi hai?"

"Haan, purey mohalley mein ghumti hai jab main kaam par jaati hoon," the woman said as she gently lifted the cat, its hazel eyes quietly observing Mahjabeen.

"Aap kaam karti hain? Mere shauhar ki bhi job lagwa dein?" Mahjabeen asked innocently.

The woman laughed heartily, letting her hair cascade down her back. "Beta, in my line of work, men spend, they don't earn."

"Aap kya karti hain?" Mahjabeen tilted her head, curiosity evident in her wide eyes.

"Friendships... with men who have no woman in their life," the woman replied with a mischievous smirk.

"Oh..." Mahjabeen paused, processing the information. "And you earn money from it?"

The woman nodded, amused by Mahjabeen's naïveté.

"How much should I pay you to become your friend?" Mahjabeen asked earnestly.

The woman stared at her, momentarily stunned by the question. "Waisi friendship nahi... Not that kind. I meant friendship like you have with your husband."

Mahjabeen frowned in thought, then nodded in understanding. "Ohh, samajh gayi. We are really good friends."

She smiled warmly, then gently passed the cat to Mahjabeen. "Naam kya hai?"

"Mayna," the woman replied.

"Aww, kitna pyaara naam hai," Mahjabeen cooed, stroking the cat’s soft fur.

___

Murtasim entered the house, with his work bag, and removed his shoes on the entrance, "Maho!" He called her out, she glanced down from the terrace, as she rushed down the stairs, "Kya hua? Job mili?"

He sighed looking down, Mahjabeen realised, "Mai bhi pagal hu ek din mai kaise job milegi."

He handed her a letter, "Milgayi!"

Holding her elbows, she excitedly jumped around, so happy for him.

"Aaj biryani banau?"

He smiled, "Jo tum kaho", he got the job, not the salary but he had sold his watch for emergency purposes.

She pulled him to the swing, and called the cat, "Mayna!"

Murtasim looked at the cat and petted it, cooing at it, his fingers prying it's mouth, "Ungli kaatlegi Murtasim!"

Murtasim's fingers ran through the cat's sleek fur, from her head to her tail. He made playful sounds, "Aww, kitni pyaari billi hai," his voice taking on a tender, almost childlike tone. He lightly tapped Mayna's nose, making her twitch slightly, and then he scratched behind her ears, causing her to purr even louder.

Mahjabeen watched with a delighted smile as Murtasim’s usually serious demeanor melted into a rare display of gentleness. He glanced up at her, his eyes twinkling as Mahjabeen filled him in the details, "Noor Bano ki billi hai ye."

"Kon?"

"Humarey saamne rehti hai."

Murtasim smiled happy for her, "Dosti hogayi tumhari." She nodded, "Ab tum jab kaam par jaogey ussise baat karungi."

"Nahi... aisa nhi hoga."

Mahjabeen frowned, "Kya matlab? Mana kar rahey ho?"

He shook his head, "Mai jab kaam par jaonga tum school jaogi."

He gave her the admission form, "Tum mujhe school bhejogey?"

She almost whined upset, Murtasim sighed, "Mahjabeen... I know tumhe school jana nhi pasand, magar iss dunya mai rehne k liye dunyadari seekhni hogi. Mai kab tak tumhari hifazat karunga, mar mar gaya toh tum kaise akele rahogi..."

She placed her finger on his lips, "Chup! Koi marne waale nhi tum, mujhe haath padhna aata hai, aur tum mujhse zyaada jeyogey, dekho puri line hai, meri tarah aadhi nhi."

"Ye sab sach nhi hota," Murtasim said softly tapping the back of her head, "Mai jab kaam par jaonga, mai nhi chahta tum roz yaha bore ho aur mai waha tumhari fikar karo. Subha subha ikhatey jayenge tum school mai college aur ikhatte wapas aayenge, ek hi campus hai dono ka, jab chahe tumhe dekh sakunga.."

Mahjabeen was still not convinced, "Mai fail huyi toh tumhari badnaami hogi."

He pulled at her hand, making him look at her, "Kya baat hai Maho? Kyun school nahi jaana?"

She almost whimpered, "Pichli baar yaad hai kya hua tha?"

She was terrified, "Mahjabeen isliye toh tumhe apne qareeb rakhna chahta hu, mere hotey huey koi tumhe pareishan nhi karsakta, nobody will bully you."

"Aur agar kiya toh?"

"Mujhpar yaqeen nahi hai kya?"

She looked at him, her expression softening as she saw the sincerity in his eyes. Slowly, she nodded.

"Theek hai. Tumhare liye... main koshish karungi." Murtasim smiled warmly and kissed her forehead.

At night, they sat outside in the terrace, sipping the tea he made her, "Murtasim friendship kya hoti hai?"

"Dosti."

"Ohhh... phir unhoney aisa kyun bola."

"Kisne?"

"Noor Bano ne."

She glanced at the house beside her, "Kya kaha?"

She shrugged, "Mujhe khud samajh nahi aaya... woh chodo ye batao kal nashte mai bhurji khaogey ya egg sandwich."

"Kal mai banaunga naashta, baari lagate, ek din mai agle din tum. Ab tumhe bas school par focus karna hai."

"Fail huyi toh?"

"Toh agle saal phirse koshish karna," Mahjabeen hummed, "Murtasim mai sochri thi hum apna ghar sajatey hai, dheere dheere."

"Tum bas order do, jaise sajana hai ye ghar sajasakti ho."

Her eyes widened, as she stood up on the edge Murtasim held her hand, "Mai bachpan se tota paalna chahti thi."

"Ek problem hai..."

"Kya?" Murtasim glanced at the cat, and Mahjabeen pouted, "Phir dher saari billiyan paaley?"

"Not a bad idea."

Mahjabeen beamed as he leaned on the wall, "Mujhe chuza bhi paalna tha...."

"Hmm... kuch saal billiyaan paalo. Phir chuza, tota, machli sab paal lena."

She pulled at his cheek, "Hoshiyaar ho tum."

It started raining again, their eyes met and before he could runaway Mahjabeen had already caught his hand, holding onto his, her arms around him.

"Nahi jaogey tum. Baarish mai bheego mere saath."

"Bimaar hojaonga!"

Then she remembered his low immunity, "Ruko", she ran downstairs and back up bringing an umbrella, "Ye chata lo."

She twirled, letting the rain soak her clothes and splash around her feet. Murtasim, with the umbrella held high, carefully maneuvered to keep them both as dry as possible. His laughter was infectious, and he couldn't help but join in the fun, occasionally spinning Mahjabeen around, their laughter mingling with the patter of the rain.

Murtasim as he looked at her realised this was the life he had always wanted, she was his family.

___

I made this yesterday:

We have crossed Aqidat, two more stages and the book ends...

So what are your thoughts?

Angst alert!!!