âAndhero mein bhi reh kar khoobsurat hai.
Chand hai tu.
Tujhe kaha taaron ki zarurat hai?â
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Target for the next chapter- 60 votes
Third Person's POV:
Altan stood up in respect for Mahoor, he snapped his laptop shut and opened the drawer, he shoved the book inside, locking it safely.
He was working on something very crucial but now that the woman of his life was demanding his attention and time, he'd prioritize her over anything.
He stood in front of her and pushed his hands back. His body language glowed with dominance yet his eyes gave away his submission.
They both were standing in the middle of his mahogany office.
Altan noticed her attire. Mahoor was dressed in white anarkali, looking all ethereal.
He averted his gaze from her however he raised his eyes to see a handful glimpse of hers again, satisfying the yearning of his heart.
'Jab bhi nazar utha kar dekhu tou pichli baar se kayi gunah aur chaar chand lag jate hai inki khubsurti ko.'
Altan thought.
He was wearing a black color salwar kameez, whose sleeves were pulled up till his elbows, revealing his veiny, muscular calloused hands.
He observed how they both were different from each other. She was wearing white, symbolizing light and portraying the role of a moon.
Whereas, he was wearing black, symbolizing the darkness which held cavernous miseries and secrets of his life.
His eyes softened, seeing her shiver under the shawl as she wasn't accustomed to Lahore's freezing temperature.
Altan moved to close the windows and Mahoor made her way to sit on the sofa.
He came back and saw Mahoor sitting on one of the chesterfields.
He arched one eyebrow perfectly at her newfound attitude as an hour ago, she didn't want his presence in her sight even for a second.
But here they are now.
Mahoor raised her eyebrows at him and jerked her chin in front's sofa for him to sit down.
And without uttering any word, Altan trudged to the couch and sat down.
Spreading his one hand over the leather sofa, he pushed his knee above the other.
Altan tilted his head and a lopsided grin appeared on his gorgeous face, "Farmaiye, Qalb-E-Altan. Kya kaam aa sakte hai hum aap ke?"
Mahoor clenched her hand, tightly. So tightly that the nails of her fingers dug painfully into the skin of her palm.
'Woh mard zaat hai. Ek baar pyar se, muskura ke apni baat kaho, dekho phir kaise woh tumhari nahi sunta.'
Seyran's words echoed in Mahoor's head, making her tight fist to loosen.
Unwillingly, against her wishes, Mahoor smiled which didn't reach her eyes.
"Ab aap hi mere kaam aa sakte hai aur koi nahi." Every word of hers was coated with sugar syrup, amusing Altan.
Each vein in Mahoor's body pulsed with rage. She was trying so hard to keep the flowing exasperation in control but the man was making it impossible.
However she was adamant on getting out of here and pursuing her dream. So she got up from her seat and settled down beside Altan.
Altan's eye followed her every action precisely.
She folded her legs, "Dekhein aap meri baat sune."
Altan retreated his hand back from the back of the sofa and turned his body in her direction.
He tilted his head, "Aap ke alawa sunte bhi kiske hai?"
'Inke andar ka romeo Shakespeare ke saath mara kyu nahi?'
Mahoor closed her eyes and opened them, "Dekhiye..."
Altan smirked, "Dikhaye."
Mahoor stretched her fingers under her shawl and gritted her teeth, "Sunein.."
"Sunaye." Altan emphasized sweetly.
Mahoor had enough of him teasing her constantly. She stood up from the place, "Mujhe nahi baat karni aap se, sata sata ke meri jaan kha rahe hai par ek baat nahi sun rahe meri."
She swiveled around and marched towards the door but ceased in between, feeling her shawl getting tugged at.
Altan's one hand was behind his back and the other held her shawl.
"Aise khafa kaise jaane de sakta hai Sultan apni Mallika ko?"
'Calm down, Mahoor.'
'Shant hoja, Mahoor.'
'Iss light ke khambe ka kuch nahi kar sakti tu wo tujhe hi current maarega, thoda jhel le phir aa jana apni pe.'
Mahoor sighed and turned around. The dupatta fell from Altan's hand as he stepped forward and looked into her eyes, "Tumhari baatein sunne ke liye mar raha hu main."
'Zinda tou khade hai.'
"Tou phir ab baat sune meri."
"Baith ke baat karte hai, chalo." He motioned towards Davenport and they sat together, maintaining a good distance.
"Kahein, kya baat hai?"
'Bismillah.' Mahoor encouraged herself.
"Wo.." She blinked.
"Wo mujhe.." She scratched her head.
"Wo mu..mujhe na.." She stuttered.
'Allah ji, meri phatt rahi hai.'
'Bol de, zyada se zyada kya hoga? Banda insan se hulk ban jayega. Tu bhi SHE HULK ban jana.'
Altan gestured for her to say further to which Mahoor obliged.
"Wo mujhe mera phone aur passport chahiye jo aapne mere handbag se nikaal li thi."
All the expressions discarded Altan's face, "Kyu chahiye?"
'Muh toh aise bana rahe hai jaise maine inse inki kidney maang li ho.'
First of all, they were her own personal belongings which she bought from her own money and now that she had to ask from a man who in fact stole it from her purse, only fueled her anger.
'Audacity dekho yeh mushtande ki.'
'Control, Mahoor. Pyar se baat karo yeh pinjre se udd ne ke liye.'
Mahoor cleared her throat, "Mai scholarship se padh rahi hu aur mere college ka rule hai ki hum ek bhi lecture miss karte hai tou uski penalty lagti hai isliye mujhe email karna hai ma'am ko."
Altan nodded, "Thike. Tumhe tumhara phone naye sim card ke saath mil jayega. Par passport ka kya kaam?"
"Wo mujhe aap pasand nahi hai tou mai aap se shadi nahi kar sakti aur aap mujhe mera passport de dein tou mai.."
Altan raised his one eyebrow, interrupting her.
"Mujhe na pasand karne ki wajah batau?"
Mahoor's brow knitted and she fired back a question,"Aap ko main kyu pasand hu?"
Altan clicked his tongue, "Koi wajah nahi hai, bass pasand ho."
Mahoor snapped her finger, "Dekha! Vaise hi mere paas bhi koi wajah nahi hai aapko na pasand karne ki. Main bas aapko apne shohar ke roop mein nahi dekhti."
"Phir bhi mujhe koi wajah do."
Mahoor stared at Altan in annoyance, thinking of ways to kill him.
Nonetheless she replied, "Aap baat bohot kam karte hai."
Altan bobbed his head in agreement, "Hmm sahi hai par acchi baat bhi hai. Sari umar sirf tumhari hi sunta rahunga."
Mahoor rolled her eyes "Mujhe mere height ka ladka chahiye aur aap thehre nariyal ke jhaad ki height ke. In short lambe ladke mujhe nahi pasand."
'Allah ji mujhe sach mein mere height ka pati mat de dena iss jhoot ke liye.'
Altan only stared at her with a blank expression, "Dekha tum sab ladkiyo se hatt ke ho, sari duniya ki ladkia lambe ladko ki khwahish karti hai tumhe tou unwillingly mil raha hai acha khasa lamba shohar."
But Mahoor wasn't one of those to lose the battle so she retorted again.
"Ab main yeh aap ki bhalayi ke liye keh rahi hu, khade ho zara." she stood up and Altan's brows furrowed.
"Kyu?"
"Arey uthe to sahi."
Altan raised up from his seat and stood straight in front of her. Mahoor stretched her hand to his head then to hers, back and forth.
"Dekhein kitna difference hai. Meri gardan dukhti hai aapko aise apna munda stretch kar ke dekhne ke liye."
Altan shrugged, "Mere galti nahi hai ki tum height mein choti ho."
Mahoor placed her hands on her waist and glared at him, "Aap mujhe giddi keh rahe hai?"
Altan's face scrunched in displease, "Nahi tou, tum khud hi kuch bhi soche jaa rahi ho. Tumhari height barabar hai, mere right pe sirf tumne hi chehekna hai."
He moved to the sofa to sit and Mahoor peered at his back, "Mere paas aur wajah hai."
Settling down in the seat, Altan chuckled, "Pehle tou ek wajah nahi thi ab lagta hai puri list bana rakhi hai tumne."
Nodding, Mahoor sat at her place.
"Ji, haan. Sunna tou padega hi ab aapko."
He supported his elbow on the couch and placed his fist on his temple, Altan said, "Puri zindagi sunne ko taiyar hu."
Ignoring his romantic remarks, Mahoor moved to another reason.
"Dekhein aap itne fit hai aapka tou pait bhi nahi hai, thike? So you deserve a fit wife."
He nodded, "Tumko deserve nahi karta par tum ho fit, tou sahi hai na?"
Mahoor shrieked, "Nahi, nahi! Main nahi hu fit."
Removing her shawl a little, she groped her stomach, showing the two tires of her tummy over her dress.
"Dekhein mera pait bohot bahar hai and I don't wish to exercise to burn fat. Aise hi khush hu main apne drum se."
Altan only glanced at her stomach once and then his eyes flickered to her face.
"Shukar hai tumhara pait andar nahi hai. Kya hai na extreme workout ki wajah se," he patted his stomach, "Mera pait hard hi ho gaya hai. Tou tumhe jab bhi gale lagunga kuch narm narm mera badan ko lagega tou koi panda ke saath cuddle kar raha hu vaisi feeling aayegi."
Mahoor gaped at him with an open mouth. The nerve of this man to say such words out loud.
Here, it was getting unbearable for her to even sit beside him but the brute was day dreaming of cuddling with her.
Altan closed her mouth, "Aur vaise bhi, pait bahar hona koi buri baat thodi hai. Sab bodies different hoti hai tou iska matlab yeh nahi ki isey hate factor bana lein. Chahe tum aage mustaqbil mein kitna hi weight gain kar lo, meri chahat tumhare liye kabhi khatam nahi hogi. Hmm?"
Mahoor averted her gaze away from him. She rested her head on the sofa and looked at the ceiling.
Her mind was full of chaos. She was far away from attending the 'How to love your body' therapy session from Altan.
To get her own rights, would become so troublesome even after her Father's death, was gnawing at her.
Altan's rough fingers unwillingly crawled up to her head. His index finger and thumb rolled a thick lock of hair around them.
Her hair was silky and so shiny that the urge to caress it was getting out of his hands.
He knew if he crossed the lines, Mahoor would come at him like a raging bull.
"Kya soch rahi ho?" His hoarse voice broke the disarray of thoughts.
Mahoor took in the sight of her hair being wrapped around his finger.
She grinded her jaw and sat up straight, letting the strand of the hair slip his fingers.
"Main yeh soch rahi thi aap kitne gore hai aur main kitni sanvli."
Altan's lips formed into a thin line, "Ab rang kaha se beech mein aa gaya?"
Mahoor shifted herself fully in his vision, "Dekhein aap itne gore hai ki red patches dikhte hai aapke gaalo pe, gale pe, hatho pe."
He lifted an eyebrow, "Tou?"
"Aur mujhe dekhein, rang kam. Chashma ke bina dunia nahi dikhti, braces lagwaye hai jo do saal se pehle nikalne nahi hai. Mere fe..features bhi kuch kh..khas nahi jo main aap jaise handsome insan se shadi karu aur mujhe koi gora ladka nahi chahiye kyuke log mujhe puri zindagi sunate rahenge ye kitni kali hai, yeh aisi hai aur iske pati ko dekho, bechara khubsurat biwi deserve karta hai."
It hurt her. But it was true that since her childhood she was put down for her badami rang and now that she has grown up to become a twenty-one old woman, her features have been more glorified which added to her beauty.
However..
The people's, her own so-called rishtedar comments on her face features and complexion were printed in her mind since she was a child, failing her to believe the prettiness of hers.
The constant negative remarks she got by giving auditions, to get a nose job or lip job, to get her eyebrows lifted, to get the injections for her skin to become white or to get fillers for a sharp jaw line instead of her soft one, had terribly put her confidence down the earth, making her believe that she was just someone with lower average looks.
Seyran came as a fairy in Mahoor's life who at first couldn't believe how Mahoor couldn't see the beauty, the mirror reflected.
It became Seyran's mission to fuel Mahoor's confidence.
The woman helped Mahoor in gaining the faith in herself as when Seyran found her, Mahoor was a lost soul whose eyes didn't spark even when anyone complimented her.
Seyran was the strongest pillar of Mahoor's existence who brought Mahoor back to life, due to her sister's efforts in helping Mahoor gain back herself, Mahoor was actually living cheerfully.
She somehow believed that she was indeed pretty but the constant insults and words of her ristedaars only put her efforts into vain.
"Kisne kaha tumhara rang kam hai?" Altan said in a clipped tone which pierced Mahoor's ear as it changed from soft to rude.
Mahoor shook her head, "Kisine kaha nahi, sacchai bata rahi hu aapko."
Altan palmed his face and rubbed it. The woman was just throwing the bombs of surprise in his direction and now this news completely blew him away.
For Altan, Mahoor was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes upon.
Surely, the man has witnessed many global beauties of nature but none could be compared to the shine of her russet brown eyes.
He had seen many beautiful women in his entire life but when his eyes ceased on Mahoor, he got to know the real definition of the term, khoobsurat.
Altan lifted himself from the sofa and kneeled in front of Mahoor.
"Yeh.. yeh kya kar rahe hai aap?"
"Jab kuch mera ho tou mujhe accha nahi lagta koi uski burai kare. Tum meri ho, aur meri Mahoor ke baare mein fizool baatein karna bandh karo."
'Meri Mahoor?' her fist tightened under the shawl. The urge to punch Altan in his face was getting uncontrollable for Mahoor.
He tapped the center of her spectacles, making her click her tongue in irritation.
"Tumhe chashma sahi mein andhi ho isiliye laga hai. Kyu ke tumhe ye tak nahi dikhta ki yeh chand bhi tumhare aage pheeka hai."
'Laat maar Mahoor isey saara solar system yaad aa jayega.'
"Tumhe pata hai jab tum hasti ho, dil thaamna padta hai. Meri khud ki dhadkane meri hi kabu mein nahi kyun ke jab tum khushi se khil khilati ho, Allah qasam! Meri aakhon ko issey haseen manzar aaj tak naseeb nahi hua."
From where these words were coming was also astonishing Altan. He didn't count himself as a romantic person so, he could least think of himself buttering her up with sugary words.
But now his heart was in his mouth, seeing his woman so unconfident about herself.
The truth was now on his tongue and his entire being agreed with whatever he laid out in front of her.
"Tumhara ye badami rang aur yeh sunehri bhuri aakhein, kafi hai jung aaghaz karne. Aur yaqeen maano, sare mard apne aapko shaheed karar kar aayenge, tumhare hussan ki ek jhalak ke liye."
Altan meant every single word which he said because Mahoor could see the sincerity in his eyes.
His words made her feel a little better about herself but it didn't lessen the hate for him and it didn't change the fact that he had kidnapped her to forcefully marry her.
"Billi aakhon walo pe yaqeen nahi karte, aur aap tou shadi kehne ka keh rahe ho."
Altan gave her a disappointed look and stood up from the ground, he sat on chesterfield.
He gave her a side eye, "Tum racist ho. Kabhi chehre ke rang ko ek wajah bana li tou abhi aakhon ke rang ko."
He looked dead in her eyes, "Main kuch badal nahi sakta apne baare mein aur mujhe farq bhi nahi padta."
He smirked, seeing her back away.
"Rang roop nahi dekho, handsome hu na kafi hai."
Mahoor was on the brink of crying. Whatever reason she came up with was useless as he had answers for each one of her reasons.
As if a miracle happened, Mahoor's face lightened and this time she was sure that she was going home.
Controlling all her jolly emotions, Mahoor glanced in Altan's direction who was already staring at her.
Mahoor smiled to herself, 'Ab dekhti hu kaise nahi mante ye.'
"Main virgin nahi hu."
Altan stilled. This was the last reason he expected her to throw at him.
His fingers curled into a tight fist and his eyes hardened.
The anger which was bubbling inside for the man who did things with her was making him see red.
"Ku..kuch bolein?" Mahoor faked her stuttering but from inside she was dancing merrily, seeing his jaw clenched.
Altan rubbed his jaw and nodded, "Badi pohchi hui cheez ho tum."
Mahoor fidgeted with her fingers, "Ab kya kare jawani hai hi aisi cheez, ke kuch cheezein chah ke bhi control hi nahi hoti."
"Hmm."
He scrutinized her, "Kaun tha par woh ladka?"
"College ka hi koi ladka hai." She lied effortlessly.
He bobbed his head,thinking about the ways of killing that man, "Woh ladke ko tou main baad mein dekhunga."
'Hein?'
"Vaise bhi aap koi acchi, seedhi ladki deserve karte hai, dekhe mai tou uske qareeb bhi nahi."
Altan snapped his fingers together, "Dekho yeh ek harkat nahi batata kaun kitna shareef hai. Aur jo bhi tumne kia hai woh tumhare aur Allah ke beech hai."
Mahoor nodded in understanding but her soul was dancing in ecstasy,"Ab shadi cancel ho jayegi, tou namaz padh ke maafi maang lungi Allah se."
"Tumhe kisne kaha shadi cancel ho rahi hai?" Altan said in an emotionless voice, blowing Mahoor's mind away.
"Kya matlab aap ko virgin ladki chahiye thi na?" Mahoor questioned in astonishment.
Altan clicked his tongue in boredom, "Agar mujhe kuch chahiye tou wo sirf tum ho. Jaisi ho vaisi hi, na kam, na zyada."
"Par main virgin nahi hu!"
"Mujhe koi masla nahi. Acha hai na dono mein se kisi ek ko experience rehna chahiye aur humare case mein tumhe hai."
Mahoor clutched her head, losing the battle once again to Altan.
She had enough now. She didn't want to marry him and now it didn't matter to her what way she'd choose but the only thing she wanted was her freedom.
"Mujhe aap se shadi nahi karni, mujhe mere passport de dein, kuch uff tak nahi karungi aur Seyran ke saath chali jaungi. Please!"
"Maine kya kaha tha tumhe?" His voice was low yet deadly.
The change of his voice indicated that he was angry but did Mahoor care? No.
Her face screwed painfully knowing where this conversation was going, "Mujhe yaad nahi."
"Tumhari razamandi ho ya na ho, mera aur tumhara nikah tou hoga hi. Yeh Philippines jaane ke khwab chod do, padhai pe dhyan do apni."
Mahoor wanted to yell at him, scream her lungs out but couldn't. She still had to follow the 'pyar se baat karo' script, maybe he'll listen to her?
Keeping the loathness and grudges for Altan aside, Mahoor spoke softly, "Dekhein maine bohot mehnat ki hai yeh role ke liye, auditions mein kayi dafa reject hui, apne rang roop pe baatein suni aur yeh role ke liye mujhe khaas kar do saal tak constantly audition dena pada hai. Roz train ke dhakke khana, roz apna khana, part time job chod ke, up and down kiya hai maine. Chahe dhoop thi ya barish ya phir thand, maine haar nahi maani."
Tears shimmered in her eyes, "Maine khud ko bohot ghisa hai," her voice broke, "Mujhse mere khwab na cheene, mujhe jane dein. Mai..Maine bohot kuch face kiya hai, bina paiso ke yaha se waha jana, reject pe reject hona, mujhe finalize karne ke bawajood bhi woh kisi aur ko cast kar lena, apni bhook aur neend maar ke yaha tak mai aayi hu, ple..please."
She squeezed her eye shut, resulting in a tear flowing down her cheek, "Please, meri mehnat zaya na hone dein. Joh sapna saat saal ki Mahoor ne dekha tha wo ikkis saal ki Mahoor ko pura kar lene dein, please."
Altan broke his gaze from hers. Mahoor's tears were always an undoing of him.
He knew she didn't want to marry him, that's why he had no other way but to get her married to him by force.
"Tumhe mai nahi jane de sakta, jitni jaldi tumhare yeh baat samajh aa jaye utni behtar."
Mahoor angrily hoisted up from her seat, all pyaar se baat karo theory left her mind as she was blinded with rage.
"Aap kaun hai? Ha? Hote kaun hai mujhe mere hi khwabo se durr karne wale? MUJHE AAP NAHI PASAND! MUJHE NAHI KARNI YEH SHADI! Zabardasti kyu kar rahe hai aap mere saath? Mera career hai aage, mujhe aap se kya? Kisi se nahi karni shadi! Akkal se paidal ho gaye hai jo meri inkar aapke palle nahi pad rahi hai?" Mahoor yelled, with tears streaming down her face.
Altan stood up and grasped her arm. He didn't grip it tight enough to hurt her but he held it firmly for her to not to get out of his grip.
Bringing her face near his, Altan snarled.
"Mujhe pata nahi hai kya ki acting mein kya kya hota hai? Seyran ka chuna hi tumhe mujhse bardasht nahi hota. Aur tum chahti ho ki mai dekhu koi aur ladka tumhe acting ke naam pe haath lagate rahe, haa?"
Mahoor gnashed her teeth, "You need help! Aap mujhe pasand nahi karte na chahte hai. Yeh pagal pan hai. Aur rahi baat mere career ki maine yeh raasta apne liye khud chuna hai! Aap ko pasand ho ya nahi, mujhe farq nahi padta! Mujhe bass jane dein yaha se!"
Altan left her hand, "Tumhe jana hai na?" Mahoor looked at him questionably and nodded dumbfounded.
"Thike, jau."
Mahoor's forehead puckered in worry, not believing his words.
The ground beneath her slipped and her mind went blank in shock when she registered his dreadful words.
"Apni behen Seyran ka janaza uthte dekhna, Philippines jane se pehle ."
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Koi kahe hai Jaan-E-Aashir (Life of Aashir) tou koi bole hai Qalb-E-Altan(Heart of Altan), haye!
I so wanted some cute moments of Altan and Mahoor, so came up with Altan teasing her ;)
Itna bura nahi hai humara ladka, Mahoor bibi :(
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