In the sweltering heat of the afternoon; every one was enjoying a Siesta. It seemed that all the birds and bugs were also quietly sitting in the shade passing time and waiting for evening to come. Rehaam was sitting in her room reading a magazine she had swiped off of her Khala's Khwateen Digest Collection. Uff !this is too boring for me she thought, I ll ask bua if she wants to accompany me to the book store and maybe I can buy a couple of new books. She went into the living room and asked Khala's permission to go out to the bookstore with Bua.
Khala asked the driver to take out the car and soon she was at the book store with her
"Bua. Massi, i ll be a few minutes, you can stay in the car, its cooler here anyways." Rehaam said
She entered the store and went to the best seller section. Her friend had told her about this new book the life of pi, she really wanted to check that out. She was browsing the book section when some books fell in the shelf next to her, she looked to her side and saw a gentleman picking them up, he looked familiar to her and when he looked up she knew why. The same enigmatic eyes greeted her. For a moment she forgot what she was thinking.
He smiled and said," Assalamo Alikum, funny running into you here?"
Rehaam startled and came back to Earth "walikum Salam, she said, yes I was hoping to find some good books to read, so i thought i ll come check out this store. What are you buying."
" Oh I needed to get some books for my new courses so came to check out the prices," replied Hisham
"So what kind of books are you looking for." He asked
" I am looking for a book called the life of Pi, have you read it?" Rehaam asked.
"Hmmmmm, no I have not read that as yet, maybe you can lent it to me once you are done with it?" he said with a smile.
Rehaam laughed, "yeah right as if we ll keep running into each other. "
"You never know Rehaam we just might," he said with a shrug.
"I myself do enjoy Urdu literature and love reading Poetry. Faiz Ahmed Faiz is one of my favorite authors."Hisham said
"Oh is he really," Rehaam replied. "I do not understand poetry at all, don't know what they are talking about; it is so metaphorical."
"Poetry is the language of love Rehaam," Hisham said. "I guess you ll understand poetry when you ll understand love. "
"I do understand love jee, I love my family, I love my bua....." Rehaam replied defensively.
"Yes, that is true I guess.... hmmmm let me see," Hisham said, " why dont you read this book, he took out a book of poetry by the poetess Parveen Shakir. This is a good collection of poems read the Nazam titled Chehra mera tha (my face) you might have heard the song its by vital signs."
"Oh yes i have heard the song. I love that song." Reham exclaimed, "hmmm I guess i ll give it a shot. Thank you for the suggestion and let me return the favor by suggesting the book, God of small things, it is by Arundathi Roy. It is one of my favorite books. Read it and tell me what you think." Rehaam said.
"I shall surely do that thank you," Hishaam said. "Ok let me buy the books I came here to buy, it was nice running into you, maybe I ll see you some where again he said with a mischievous grin."
Rehaam smiled, "yes maybe."
He carried on and started to purchase his books while she browsed the shelves for a few more books and than came to the checkout her self and paid for her books.
They returned home in time for the evening tea and snacks. Khala was sitting on the veranda and Khaloo as was his routine had returned home and was getting ready to go play golf at the Mess golf grounds. She said Salaam to khala and went to her room to put away her books. She freshened up and came to sit outside with khala.
" So Rehaam, did you buy any books from the store than," Khala asked.
"Oh yes khala I did get a few books, got two Urdu ones also, you d be happy to know as you are always telling me to read Urdu."Rehaam said
"Oh really you did, that is nice. What books did you get?" Khala asked
" I got a poetry book by Parveen Shakir and one by one by Ashfaq Ahmad." replied Rehaam
"That is nice, do tell me what you think when you read them."Khala said.
They were enjoying their tea and the sunset. Khaloo had also come back now from his golf and the talk had drifted to politics and the weather.
Khala said to Khaloo, "We should have the icecream party soon. Mangoes are in season and we could make the hand churned ice cream. I had asked at the mess, they said we could borrow the ice cream machine so who all would you like to invite."
" Hmmm said Khaloo, begum as you wish, ofcourse we will be inviting all the usual friends and family make sure you do invite my old friend Sarfraz Shah, he recently moved from Bahawalpur to Multan. Invite his whole family for certain, I have not seen him in a long time. I know he married off both his daughters and two of his sons are off to boarding school but two of his sons I think are in Multan, in fact one of them is studying Medicine. Rehaam's ears pricked up at this tit bit of information, her heart fluttered and well she wished that this person was the one she has been running into for the past few days.
Khala said," Rehaam we will be going to say Fatiha at the mausoleum of Shah Rukh-E- Alam tommorrow. We will be leaving after Fajr prayers, you are most welcome to join us. I usually distribute food and alms there as well. "
"Yes, Khala I would love to join you. I ll make sure I am up and ready. Where is Hassan bhai and Rabya apa? " she asked her.
"Hassan went to see some friends and Rabya would probably be inside reading." Khala said
" Ok, I ll be in her room if you need me." She left Khala and went into Rabya Baji's room, every one called Rabya baji, "Raj" and she was busy studying for her final board exams. She was a beautiful girl with thick dark hair and beautiful almond shaped eyes.
"What are you doing Raji," asked Rehaam.
"Nothing much trying to memorize these chemistry equations, I just hope I can score well for my exams and get accepted into Medical college otherwise Abu will be very disappointed," Raji said.
"InshAllah you will Raji, ok I ll not bother you, when you are free we can have a badminton match out in the ground, it will be good exercise and Allah knows I need to work off those samosas I just had with tea." Rehaam said.
Raji chuckled, "Oh Rehaam you worry too much, you are so slender, ok i ll come get you when i want to take a break."
Rehaam went to her room and started to read through Parveen Shakir's poetry which poem was it that he has asked her to read, "Chehra" I think. She skipped to that poem first and read it, it was mesmerizing. She started to think about him again; she really did like his eyes. They were the color of honey but tended to change to a greyish aqua , there were specks of gold in their depths. Snap out of it Rehaam why are you thinking of him so much, he is a total stranger. A couple of chance meetings mean nothing..... her line of though was broken when Raji came into the room. They went out to play badminton and played till dinner was served. After dinner Rehaam said her Isha prayers and went right off to sleep.
The next morning was a bustle of activities, after prayers Khala, Raji, Bua, Khaloo and Rehaam went off to the mausoleum of Shah Rukhn-E-Alam. The mausoleum is a beautiful construction of red brick and blue tiles. Its majestic beauty could be seen from afar due to its size and structure. It is quite large and both the women and men section look onto the grave of the saint, so if one is standing on the women's side you can see into the men's side and vice versa. They went into the women's section while her Khaloo went to the men's section. After saying Fatiha she looked up and saw Hisham standing in the men's section, he looked up at the same time and their eyes locked across the sea of people. She felt her face flush and soon the sea of people receded back and it felt as if they were the only two people in the room and all she was aware of were those beautiful eyes locked with her. The intensity of his gaze made her blush and she quickly looked down and when she looked back up he was gone.........
Khala asked the driver to take out the car and soon she was at the book store with her
"Bua. Massi, i ll be a few minutes, you can stay in the car, its cooler here anyways." Rehaam said
She entered the store and went to the best seller section. Her friend had told her about this new book the life of pi, she really wanted to check that out. She was browsing the book section when some books fell in the shelf next to her, she looked to her side and saw a gentleman picking them up, he looked familiar to her and when he looked up she knew why. The same enigmatic eyes greeted her. For a moment she forgot what she was thinking.
He smiled and said," Assalamo Alikum, funny running into you here?"
Rehaam startled and came back to Earth "walikum Salam, she said, yes I was hoping to find some good books to read, so i thought i ll come check out this store. What are you buying."
" Oh I needed to get some books for my new courses so came to check out the prices," replied Hisham
"So what kind of books are you looking for." He asked
" I am looking for a book called the life of Pi, have you read it?" Rehaam asked.
"Hmmmmm, no I have not read that as yet, maybe you can lent it to me once you are done with it?" he said with a smile.
Rehaam laughed, "yeah right as if we ll keep running into each other. "
"You never know Rehaam we just might," he said with a shrug.
"I myself do enjoy Urdu literature and love reading Poetry. Faiz Ahmed Faiz is one of my favorite authors."Hisham said
"Oh is he really," Rehaam replied. "I do not understand poetry at all, don't know what they are talking about; it is so metaphorical."
"Poetry is the language of love Rehaam," Hisham said. "I guess you ll understand poetry when you ll understand love. "
"I do understand love jee, I love my family, I love my bua....." Rehaam replied defensively.
"Yes, that is true I guess.... hmmmm let me see," Hisham said, " why dont you read this book, he took out a book of poetry by the poetess Parveen Shakir. This is a good collection of poems read the Nazam titled Chehra mera tha (my face) you might have heard the song its by vital signs."
"Oh yes i have heard the song. I love that song." Reham exclaimed, "hmmm I guess i ll give it a shot. Thank you for the suggestion and let me return the favor by suggesting the book, God of small things, it is by Arundathi Roy. It is one of my favorite books. Read it and tell me what you think." Rehaam said.
"I shall surely do that thank you," Hishaam said. "Ok let me buy the books I came here to buy, it was nice running into you, maybe I ll see you some where again he said with a mischievous grin."
Rehaam smiled, "yes maybe."
He carried on and started to purchase his books while she browsed the shelves for a few more books and than came to the checkout her self and paid for her books.
They returned home in time for the evening tea and snacks. Khala was sitting on the veranda and Khaloo as was his routine had returned home and was getting ready to go play golf at the Mess golf grounds. She said Salaam to khala and went to her room to put away her books. She freshened up and came to sit outside with khala.
" So Rehaam, did you buy any books from the store than," Khala asked.
"Oh yes khala I did get a few books, got two Urdu ones also, you d be happy to know as you are always telling me to read Urdu."Rehaam said
"Oh really you did, that is nice. What books did you get?" Khala asked
" I got a poetry book by Parveen Shakir and one by one by Ashfaq Ahmad." replied Rehaam
"That is nice, do tell me what you think when you read them."Khala said.
They were enjoying their tea and the sunset. Khaloo had also come back now from his golf and the talk had drifted to politics and the weather.
Khala said to Khaloo, "We should have the icecream party soon. Mangoes are in season and we could make the hand churned ice cream. I had asked at the mess, they said we could borrow the ice cream machine so who all would you like to invite."
" Hmmm said Khaloo, begum as you wish, ofcourse we will be inviting all the usual friends and family make sure you do invite my old friend Sarfraz Shah, he recently moved from Bahawalpur to Multan. Invite his whole family for certain, I have not seen him in a long time. I know he married off both his daughters and two of his sons are off to boarding school but two of his sons I think are in Multan, in fact one of them is studying Medicine. Rehaam's ears pricked up at this tit bit of information, her heart fluttered and well she wished that this person was the one she has been running into for the past few days.
Khala said," Rehaam we will be going to say Fatiha at the mausoleum of Shah Rukh-E- Alam tommorrow. We will be leaving after Fajr prayers, you are most welcome to join us. I usually distribute food and alms there as well. "
"Yes, Khala I would love to join you. I ll make sure I am up and ready. Where is Hassan bhai and Rabya apa? " she asked her.
"Hassan went to see some friends and Rabya would probably be inside reading." Khala said
" Ok, I ll be in her room if you need me." She left Khala and went into Rabya Baji's room, every one called Rabya baji, "Raj" and she was busy studying for her final board exams. She was a beautiful girl with thick dark hair and beautiful almond shaped eyes.
"What are you doing Raji," asked Rehaam.
"Nothing much trying to memorize these chemistry equations, I just hope I can score well for my exams and get accepted into Medical college otherwise Abu will be very disappointed," Raji said.
"InshAllah you will Raji, ok I ll not bother you, when you are free we can have a badminton match out in the ground, it will be good exercise and Allah knows I need to work off those samosas I just had with tea." Rehaam said.
Raji chuckled, "Oh Rehaam you worry too much, you are so slender, ok i ll come get you when i want to take a break."
Rehaam went to her room and started to read through Parveen Shakir's poetry which poem was it that he has asked her to read, "Chehra" I think. She skipped to that poem first and read it, it was mesmerizing. She started to think about him again; she really did like his eyes. They were the color of honey but tended to change to a greyish aqua , there were specks of gold in their depths. Snap out of it Rehaam why are you thinking of him so much, he is a total stranger. A couple of chance meetings mean nothing..... her line of though was broken when Raji came into the room. They went out to play badminton and played till dinner was served. After dinner Rehaam said her Isha prayers and went right off to sleep.
The next morning was a bustle of activities, after prayers Khala, Raji, Bua, Khaloo and Rehaam went off to the mausoleum of Shah Rukhn-E-Alam. The mausoleum is a beautiful construction of red brick and blue tiles. Its majestic beauty could be seen from afar due to its size and structure. It is quite large and both the women and men section look onto the grave of the saint, so if one is standing on the women's side you can see into the men's side and vice versa. They went into the women's section while her Khaloo went to the men's section. After saying Fatiha she looked up and saw Hisham standing in the men's section, he looked up at the same time and their eyes locked across the sea of people. She felt her face flush and soon the sea of people receded back and it felt as if they were the only two people in the room and all she was aware of were those beautiful eyes locked with her. The intensity of his gaze made her blush and she quickly looked down and when she looked back up he was gone.........
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