Chapter 23

Sana

@sweetangel_25

PART 23

Naazneen rushes up to her room to check on Muskaan and finds the door locked. She repeatedly knocks on the door but Muskaan does not open it. Though she was seated right on the other side of the door, she is in no sense to understand what is happening around her. She has been softly crying thinking about all that happened a few minutes back. Naazneen heard carefully and could hear Muskaan's sobs. She starts to call out her name and bang on the door again. But it was of no use. Dejected, she left from there, taking time to ponder over things herself.

After about an hour Naazneen came back and found the door ajar. She quickly went in to find Muskaan lying by the bed post with a lost look on her face. She shut the door and went to Muskaan.

Naaz: Muski ye sab kya hai? Tune Zaheer bhai se shaadi ke liye haan kar di and you didn't even tell me about it?

Muskaan just stays quite with the same lost look.

Naaz: Muski mein kuch pooch rahi hu? What is happening huh? And why are you looking so lost?

Muskaan didn't budge. Though she was aware of Naaz's presence, she was in no state to discuss that topic.

Naaz(smiling now)...she sits in front of Muskaan on the bed : ohk...looks like you wanted to gimme a surprise...I must say Muskaan what a pleasant one...you will be my bhabhi...woww...I didn't imagine that in my wildest of dreams...hehe

She noticed frowns on Muskaan's face showing her irritation.

Naaz: you and Zaheer bhai...wow...tum dekhna...this marriage will rock...aisi shadi Mumbai ne dekhi nahi hogi...koi kami nahi rahegi...just like ARMAAN bhai said downstairs right...even he is so happy about it

Muskaan looked at her...hurt was prevalent in her eyes...as if that scene just flashed before her.

Naaz: of course aisa hi hoga...after all..my Muski is gonna get married...she has finally found the man of her dreams...her prince charming...the one she is going to spend her whole life with...share all her happiness and sorrows with...every moment of her life...her husband he will be...Mr Zaheer right...and she will be called Mrs Muskaan Zaheer Malik

Muskaan: shut up! Just shut up! And stop this!

Naaz: what?! Why do I stop...tere chillane se bhai ka naam nahi badlega...he is called Mr Zaheer...and you will be Mrs Zaheer Muskaan...

Muskaan (cutting her): I said shut up Naaz! Just shut up! Stop it!

Naaz (all angry): why are you getting so angry? Itni hi chidh rahi hai to ha kyu ki shadi ke liye haan?

Muskaan: maine haan nahi ki! I didn't say yes damn it! I didn't (tears start to flow down her face)

Naaz: to fir ye neeche kya tamasha chal raha hai? Aur agar tune ha nahi ki to fir kuch kaha kyu nahi? What the hell is happening Muskaan?!

Muskaan: I don't know what is happening!! I just don't!! trust me...mujhe nahi pata!!

She breaks down crying and falls on the floor near the edge of the bed. Naaz too sits down next to her and wipes her tears.

Naaz: Muski please tell me what is happening...bade abbu ne khud kaha ki tune ha ki hai...kuch to hua hoga...may be a mistake..yaad kar Muski

Muskaan(still sobbing): kal abbu mujhse baat karne aye the...shaadi ke topic par hi...par unhone bas yahi pucha ki mujhe shaadi se koi problem nahi hai...Zaheer ka ya kisi ka bhi naam nahi liya..mujhe pata hi nahi tha ki...ye sab

Naaz: aur ab? You don't wish to marry him? Do you dislike him?

Muskaan: nahi Naaz...I don't wanna marry him

Naaz: kyu?

In reply Muskaan only cries harder.

Naaz: because you love Armaan bhai, right ?

Muskaan looks at her completely taken back. But the confidence on Naazneen's face reminded her that this is one person who can read her in and out. Nothing can be hidden from her of course.

Muskaan: ..haan ..( she bends her head looking down)

Naaz: to chal...abhi chal aur mana karde is shaadi ke liye..abhi ke abhi...bata de sabko...chal

She takes Muskaan's hand and starts walking to the door. But Muskaan frees her hand and stands rooted to the spot. She just can't forget Armaan's reaction to the whole scene.

Naaz: ab kya hua chal na

Muskaan: nahi

Naaz: kyu??

Muskaan: kya batau jakar sabko...Armaan ke bare me? Kya kahungi...ki jiske liye mein soch rahi hu...use to...use to kuch fark hi nahi pada...wo to...kitna khush hai in sab se...tune...tune dekha nahi Naaz...wo to..(she coudnt complete because of her heavy sobs)

Naaz: does he not have the same feelings for you?

Muskaan only looks at her. She herself didn't know the answer.

Naaz: kya teri unse kabhi baat hui thi is topic par?

Muskaan shakes her head in a no.

Naaz: did he ever give you any indications about any such feelings?

Muskaan shakes her head again.

Naaz: to fir tune itni badi galati kaise kardi Muski...tune unhe kabhi bataya nahi...kabhi kuch pucha nahi...then how did you start expecting anything from his side?!

Muskaan just listened to her carefully.

Naaz: I don't believe this Muski...tujhe unki feelings ke bare mein pata bhi nahi tha...aur tu...itna kuch sochne lagi...you were completely immersed in it...mujhe itne din se sab samajh arha tha...though you didn't tell me a word about it...but I thought...like always.. you know what you are doing..I though both of you know what is happening

Muskaan was dumb founded. Naaz was right. Armaan and she never had a word about it. He did tell her that she was special to him, but no sentence went without the word 'friend'. Nor did she ever give him a hint about her feelings. She never revealed it to him. Scenes flashed before her...moments they spent together...as she searched through them to get any hints of his feelings..when she thought of their dance together..on the way back home from their meeting a few days back..that look in his eyes then...she clearly remembered it.. it was more than there could be for a friend...and something inside always told her..that he had similar feelings for her...but what happened today then? There was no trace of any such feelings in his eyes...how is that possible... should she confront him? And talk about it clearly? But what if he misunderstands her? And denies everything completely?... she held her head as it went dizzy...

Her chain of thoughts was broken when he heard Naazneen again.

Naaz: Muski...I think you should talk to him clearly about it...kya pata..shayad aaj sabke samne wo kuch bol na paye ho...shayad unhe bhi misunderstanding hogayi ho..ki tune hi ha ki hai shadi ke liye...isiliye unhone kuch kaha nahi?

Muskaan: ha Naaz...aisa ho sakta hai..may be...yes I will talk to him

Naaz: you should...tab tak hum kisi ko kuch nahi bataenge...ok?

Muskaan : ya right

Naaz: kal office me baat karna...taki kisi aur ko pata na chale...ab so ja...you seem very tired

Muskaan gets lost in her thoughts again. But Naaz makes her lie down and manages to put her to sleep somehow.

The following day...as usual Naazneen and Muskaan were seated on a desk adjacent to Armaan's desk in his cabin. Naaz signals Muskaan and leaves the cabin making an excuse.

Part ends.

Comments awaited as always.

Love, Sana.