Ayaan's Sunday Conversation with His Mother:
The golden sunlight of Sunday morning streamed through the French windows of the Mirza mansion. Ayaan was sitting in the lounge, reading through some business files with his usual sharp focus, when his mother, Mrs. Ruksar, walked in with a soft smile.
She settled beside him, her voice warm yet cautious.
Ruksar: "Areh beta, ek baat karni thi tumse..
Next week Sunday tumhari engagement fix kar di hai."
Ayaan looked up, his brown almond eyes narrowing slightly. His fingers stilled over the papers, but his face betrayed no emotion.
His mother continued, trying to lighten the mood.
Ruksar: "Aur ek cheez.. tune ladki ki photo bhi nahi dekhi hai na?! Ek minute, main dikhati hoon, phone mein save hai uski picture."
She reached for her phone, unlocking it quickly. But before she could show him the screen, Ayaan rose to his feet, his tall frame casting a shadow over the couch. His jaw was set, his tone clipped but firm.
Ayaan: "No need, Ammi.. Mujhe koi photo dekhni ki zaroorat nahi hai. Main yeh shaadi sirf aur sirf aapke liye kar raha hoon."
His words echoed in the quiet room like a blade slicing through air. He didn't wait for her reply, didn't even look back. With a heavy breath, he grabbed his car keys from the table and strode out of the room, leaving his mother frozen, the unsaid words still trembling on her lips.
Inaya sat quietly in her room, sketching random petals on her diary. She had no clue that the world outside her little bubble was about to shake.
Her father entered, his tone unusually calm yet heavy.
Father: "Inaya beta, ek baat karni thi.. zaroori hai."
She looked up, a faint smile on her lips.
Inaya: "Ji abbu, bolein na.. itne serious kyun lag rahe hein?"
Her father took a deep breath, trying to soften his voice.
Father: "Tumhari sagai fix kar di hai.. next week."
The pencil slipped from her hand, falling soundlessly to the floor. For a moment, she thought she misheard.
Inaya: "Kya..?? Next week?? Abbu.. bina mujhse poochhe kaise..??"
Her father avoided her teary gaze.
Father: "Beta, yeh rishta bahut acha hai.. ladka parhezgar bhi hai aur successful bhi. Tumhari khushi ke liye hi faisla liya hai yeh."
Inaya's throat tightened, words choked with disbelief.
Inaya: "Meri khushi..?? Abbu, meri khushi to aapne poochhi hi nahi.."
She pushed back her chair, standing up abruptly. Her diary slipped down, pages fluttering like her broken breath.
Inaya (whispering): "Bas ek hafte mein.. meri poori zindagi decide ho gayi..?"
Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall in front of him. She turned her face away, biting her trembling lip, while her father placed a hand on her head gently.
Father (softly): "Beta, ek din samjh aayega parents kabhi apne baccho ka galat nahi sochte."
But for Inaya, this was no less than betrayal wrapped as love.
Inaaya's hands were trembling as she bought a cheap sim card from the local shop, her dupatta covering half her face. She had made up her mind agar shaadi todhni hai toh kuch bhi karna padega.
That night, sitting in her room with all lights off, she searched for Ayaan Sheikh. His profile popped up instantly clean aesthetic, no-nonsense pictures, thousands of followers. She felt her heartbeat racing, but she didn't stop. She saved his number and started texting.
50+ unread messages. 20+ missed calls.
But not even a single reply.
Finally, after endless tries, his phone buzzed and he picked up.
Ayaan (cold, irritated tone): "Hello?"
Inaaya deepened her voice, trying to sound like a boy.
Inaaya (nervously): "Hello... assalamualaikum bhai."
Ayaan (confused): "Walikum assalam... who's this? Do I even know you?"
Inaaya: "No, no... you don't know me. Lekin main apko bhut ache se janta hoon."
Ayaan's brows furrowed as he leaned back on his couch, clearly annoyed.
Ayaan: "Acha? Aur tum jante ho main kya karta hoon, kaun hoon? Matlab... who the hell are you, man?"
Inaaya swallowed hard, her fake voice cracking a little.
Inaaya: "Main janta hoon ap bhut ache ghar se ho... lekin phir aap aisa kyu kar rahe ho?"
Ayaan (irritated): "Main aisa matlab? Tumhe lagta hai tum random unknown calls kar ke mujhe accuse kar sakte ho? Aur tum ho kaun??"
Inaaya (quickly blurting out): "Main... main Inaaya ka boyfriend hoon! Samjhe? Woh playgirl hai, aur phir aap.."
Before she could complete, Ayaan cut her off sharply.
Ayaan (snapping): "Koun Inaaya?? Main kisi Inaaya ko nahi janta! Wrong number, dude."
And just like that, the call disconnected. Seconds later Blocked.
Inaaya froze, staring at her phone screen. Her plan, her effort, her lies sab ek second mein fail ho gaye. Tears brimmed in her eyes, frustration boiling in her chest.
Inaaya (whispering to herself): "Yeh.. yeh kaise ho sakta hai?? Woh mujhe janta bhi nahi??"
Her diary lay open beside her, pages fluttering in the fan's breeze as if mocking her broken, desperate attempt.
The clock ticked past 9:30 pm. Ayaan, the ever punctual and disciplined man, had already gone to bed. His phone kept buzzing on the side table 10 missed calls, endless notifications. But when the screen lit up the 11th time, his half-asleep hand lazily picked it up.
Ayaan (sleepy voice, barely awake): "Haann..."
Inaaya (disguised in her 'boy voice' nervously): "Hello..."
Ayaan: "Hmm..."
Inaaya: "Hello Ayaan bhai... baat kar rahe hain na...?"
Ayaan (eyes still shut, mumbling): "Hmm."
Inaaya (gaining confidence): "Woh... arey bhai... apne mera phone cut kar diya tha na... main... main woh Inaaya ka boyfriend bol raha hun."
Ayaan (still dozing): "Haann..."
Inaaya (excitedly): "Arey bhai, woh ladki apke standard ki, apke type ki bilkul nahi hai. Ap yeh rishta todh do yaar...!"
Ayaan (half-sleep, unaware of his words): "Okay... I'll..."
Inaaya (almost jumping with joy, pushing her luck): "Toh ab main yeh rista tutta samjhun, haan...??"
Ayaan (rolling to the other side, eyes shut): "Haann..."
Inaaya (clapping silently, smiling wide): "Arey wah wah Ayaan bhai... ap toh bohot smart nikle... best decision hai apki life ka, well done!"
Ayaan: "Haann..."
Inaaya (grinning ear to ear): "Acha theek hai... Allahafiz."
Ayaan (already snoring almost): "Haann..."
The call ended. Ayaan drifted deeper into his dreams, completely blank of what he had just said.
But on the other side, Inaaya hugged her pillow tight, whispering a shaky "Shukriya Allah tala... finally meri dua qubool hui..." Her eyes sparkled with rel
ief for the first time in weeks. She lay down, smiling like a child, and drifted into the happiest sleep she'd had in months.