Chapter 23: 19. 𝗞𝘆𝗮 𝘆𝗲𝗵 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗸 𝗮𝗮𝗽 𝗸𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗶?

❛Jhoot bhi kitna ajeeb hai na.

Khud bolo toh accha lagta hai,

Dusre bole toh gussa aata hai..❜

Third Person's POV:

“Yeh aap ki aulad hai?”

The silence was thick in the room and it demanded answers.

Brutal truth.

Altan tilted his head and his eyes zeroed on the baby which Mahoor was holding then back at her.

He stared in Mahoor's eyes and they were screaming grimace, fury, agony and impatience.

His eyes dropped to her hand which was at her side. The knuckles of her hand were white as she was tightly holding on to the pajama she was wearing under a t-shirt.

However, somehow Altan still couldn't register her words as he was still in the daze of astonishment.

“Kya?”

“Lagta hai aapko urdu samajh nahi aati. Hindi mein kahu?”

“Kya ye balak aap ka suputra hai?”

“English mein, is this child your son?”

“Marathi mein, hai porga tumcha mulga aahes ka?”

Arya cleared his throat, “French mein kaho shayad samajh aa jaye.”

Mahoor's head snapped at Arya and her gaze narrowed in menace towards him, shutting Arya's mouth.

“Aadmi kam tha iska darane ab aurat bhi shuru.”

Mahoor averted her stare at Altan who was still comprehending to voice out his thoughts as he didn't know how to say it.

For the very first time, he was too stunned to speak.

“Aap ki khamoshi hi aap ka jawab hai.”

Altan raised his hand in between and shook his head but Arya intervened.

“Haqeeqat yeh hai ki, ye baccha jis ka naam Jihan hai, woh Altan ka beta hai aur iski maa Altan ki biwi Ayla hai.”

Mahoor's eyes filled with tears and Seyran immediately came and took the baby from her.

She couldn't believe that the man in front of him was going to make her his second wife and she would be cursed by his first wife for her whole existence.

The man even had a baby from his first marriage and still had the audacity to kidnap Mahoor to marry her forcefully.

Altan looked at Arya in horror then back at Mahoor as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Panic consumed his entire being as he stepped forward,“Nahi..nahi, Hoor ye jhoot...”

His words never got out of his mouth as Mahoor landed a hard punch on his nose.

Arya's jaw dropped in amazement and Seyran slapped her hand on her mouth.

Altan stumbled back and clutched his nose, only for his eyes to spot some blood on his hand.

“Tharki aadmi! Sharam, haya, sab bik gayi hai jo shadi shuda hone ke bawajood bhi mujhe apni biwi bana rahe hai wo bhi zabardasti!”

Blood oozed out of Altan's nose and Mahoor's entire being twisted painfully as she wasn't a fan of violence.

Indeed she slapped Mirza twice but she didn't want to harm him for him to bath in blood.

He wasn't a human as he kidnapped her and was keeping her forcefully but she was one and had a conscience which will haunt her forever.

But he deserved it.

“Meri baat suno tum..”

“KYA SUNU? HA, KYA SUNU? Aap aisi position mein nahi hai jaha aap ne kuch bolna chahiye.”

Altan wiped the blood only for the red liquid to come out again.

Mahoor harshly wiped the fallen tears from her face, “Mujhe aap dusri aurat bana rahe the? Itne gire hue kaise ho sakte hai aap? CHI! AAP JAISA NEECH AADMI DEKHA NAHI MAINE.”

Altan closed his eyes as anger was consuming his whole form.

She wasn't giving him a chance to speak and he couldn't even shout at her to let him explain himself or else she'd cry more.

His fiery gaze caught Arya who was staring at them with a neutral face but his eyes gave away the enjoyment he was having while watching her go mad in anger.

With a tight fist, hastily, Altan strolled towards Arya and gripped his collar with both the hands.

He hissed at Arya's face, “Isey sacch bata! Bol ke meri koi aulad nahi hai, koi pehli biwi nahi!”

Altan jerked him, “BHAUNK, HARAMKHOR!”

Arya held Altan's hand to get rid of the deathly grasp of his, “Kyu jhoot keh rahe ho Altan? Ab sacchai chupa ke kya faida jab usey sab pata chal chuka hai?”

Altan brows furrowed and fury coursed through him as he swung his fist across Arya's lower side of the face, making him fall down to the ground.

Altan landed a second punch on Arya's face and his lip bursted, resulting a gush of blood.

He single handedly held Arya by the collar of his shirt and brought his face near to his, Altan gnashed his teeth.

“Madarch*d, sacch keh isey! Meri chod tu, main usey rote hue nahi dekh sakta, sach bata taki woh rona bandh kare!”

Arya rolled them over and crashed his fist into Altan's jaw.

“Tu usey sacch bata aur khud jhoot bolna bandh kar.”

That was one harsh blow but however it wasn't time to let the pain take over and let the woman suffer.

Altan jerked his head up and hit his forehead on Arya's, making him lose his clasp on Altan.

Taking advantage, Altan swapped their positions and the fight continued.

Altan and Arya were yelling profanities at each other, throwing fists at each other and it looked like they were going to take a breath of relief once they dismantled one another completely.

“Mahoor, inhe kaise rokein?” Seyran asked as they both were watching the brawling sequence in terror.

Although Mahoor was petrified of the two hulks taking each other's lives, she was still overwhelmed with rage.

“Mirza, mu..mujhe dusri aurat bana na chah raha tha. Itna zaleel aadmi hai yeh, qasam khudaya! Allah isey bataye, Seyran!”

She sniffed, “Mai tumhe kaise batau mere galti na hone ke bawajood bhi kitni takleef ho ra.. rahi hai mujhe. Dusri aurat ka tag mere naam karne jaa raha tha ye aadmi.”

Seyran rubbed her back, “Shh..main le chalungi tumhe aaj yaha se.”

Mahoor winced as the baby smacked his palm on her face where the trail of tears rolled down as if wiping her tears.

She looked at the baby and let out a sob, getting emotional at the gesture as Jihan let out a cute giggle.

“Kya ho raha hai yaha?” Mahoor and Seyran's head turned in the direction from where the manly voice came.

The man immediately dropped his bags and ran to seperate the hulks from murdering each other.

“Altan bhai chodein, Arya bhaiya ko!”

Altan didn't budge but the man also didn't resist pulling him from Arya or else, they'd surely kill each other.

With great strength, the young man pulled Altan who was even thrashing in his hold.

“Chod mujhe, Zaviyar! Yeh haramzada jhoot pe jhoot keh ke Mahoor ko rula raha hai! Hum dono ke beech daraar paida kar raha hai.”

Realization dawned upon him and Altan stilled as he now had another witness, proving his truth.

He got out of Zaviyar's clasp and faced him.

Altan closed his eyes and breathed heavily and Zaviyar took in his condition.

He had a fresh cut on his left eyebrow from where the blood was oozing out. His right cheekbone was bruised and a trail of red liquid seeped down from it's between. The dark fluid was leaking through his right nostril and his clothes as well as his nape length hair were a complete mess.

Altan placed his hands on Zaiyar's shoulder and clenched his neck from left to right.

“Tu bata kya meri ek dafa bhi shadi hui hai?”

Bewilderment flashed in Zaviyar's dark eyes as he said, “Nahi, bhai.”

Altan pointed at Jihan who was in Seyran's arms, “Kya Jihan mera beta hai?”

Zaviyar's face twisted, “Yeh aapka beta kaise ho sakta hai jab ki isey maine khud Kashmir mein woh attack se bacha kar yaha  ghar laya tha.”

Altan looked at Mahoor who listened to each word very intently.

He trudged towards her and stopped a few meters away.

“Suna tumne?”

Mahoor visibly flinched seeing blood on his face. She turned her face in another direction, not having enough guts to look at his condition.

“Jihan mera baccha nahi hai aur naa hi meri shadi hui hai.”

“Mai kaise yaqeen kar lu?”

Altan's jaw tightened and his hand clenched in anger.

Wasn't Zaviyar's statement enough for her to believe that he wasn't married and didn't have a child?

Nonetheless, Altan let go of his rage for the woman standing before him as for now what mattered was to make her believe him or else the things which were already complicated between them would become more knotty.

“Kyu ke yahi sacch hai.”

Mahoor shook her head and looked in his sea green eyes which were darker than usual.

“Aapne apni pehchan, apna huliya aur apne bare mein har cheez jhooti hi batayi thi toh kyu karu yaqeen? Yaha bhi aap sacch hi keh rahe hai iss baat ka kya saboot?”

Altan looked over his shoulder at Arya who was wiping the blood from his mouth.

“ARYA!!” his voice boomed, across the haveli's wall and Mahoor jumped from her place, in fear.

Altan swiveled around and marched towards Arya.

"Dekh mai tere se ek baari hi kahunga ab,” Altan paused and put his hand back, pointing at Mahoor, “Isey sacch bata.”

Arya's lip formed into a thin line, “Tu issey sacch bata, bata de kyu ke ab koi faida nahi jhoot keh...”

Altan pushed his head back and with full force bumped his forehead with Arya's and the latter staggered in immense pain.

He strode and held Arya by his collar before he could fall to the ground.

“TU KYU KAR RAHA HAI YE SAB? KYU JHOOT KEH RAHA HAI? KYU MUJHE USKI NAZARO MEIN AUR GIRA RAHA HAI?”

Zaviyar hastily came in between to stop the fight.

He clutched Altan's forearm,“Bhai, kya kar rahe ho yaar? Chod do unhe maar ke dum loge kya?”

Altan shoved him and yelled, “Hatt, behnch*d.”

He glowered with red eyes, “Wo yaqeen nahi kar rahi mera kis wajah se? Ye insan ki bakwas ke wajah se!”

Zaviyar had enough of his brother's fighting just because of a lie and a woman.

His head snapped towards Mahoor who was on the verge of collapsing seeing the scene unfolding in front of her.

He strode towards her, gaining her parted attention.

“Tum mein zehen ki kami hai kya? Pagal aurat! Itna samajh nahi aa raha ki Altan bhai ki shadi nahi hui hai unhone kabhi koi ladki ko aankh utha ke nahi dekha..”

A punch landed on his jaw, taking away the words from his mouth.

Altan heaved in animosity and his blood boiled, “Teri himmat kaisi hui ussey aise baat karne ki?”

Altan thumped his stomach and Zaviyar choked, “Maafi maang issey abhi!”

Arya came sprinting and jumped on Altan, taking the three of them to the floor.

“Saale mere bete ko maarta hai!”

Altan hit Zaviyar again, ignoring how Arya was literally on his back.

“Kaise kaha tune usey pagal, haa?”

Zaviyar was the hacker guy and the youngest amongst the two as he was twenty five years old and the man had a physique of a bodybuilder.

He was also trained hard by Altan himself but he'd never retaliate whenever Altan would hit him up because of the respect and immense love he held for the mushtanda.

Zaviyar wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, “Muh se!”

The trio got into a melee, kicking, punching, slapping, hitting each other with harsh blows.

“Teri maa ki..”

“Altan bhai maa pe mat jau.”

“Saale, Mahoor se sach chupata hai Ayla, teri pehli biwi ke baare mein.”

“Bh*sdike, kaunsi biwi?”

Mahoor and Seyran stood rigid seeing the men on top of each other almost murdering one another, which broadened the gates of fright.

“Ma..Mahoor?”

Mahoor slowly moved her face in Seyran's direction with trepidation on her features.

Jihan laughed and clapped his hands seeing the men beating and yelling profanities at each other.

Mahoor scoffed, “Ye dekho, ye chote nawab ko apne baap ko pitta dekh maza aa rahi hai.”

“Yeh sab chodo aur jaake unhe roko.”

Mahoor stepped back in terror as panic took over her features.

“Nahi.. nahi! Bhai, saath saath apne, ye log mujhe bhi pel lenge.”

Seyran clicked her tongue, “Waha tumhare zabardasti ke shohar ne maha yudh kardi just because kisi ne tumhe pagal kaha! Tumhe lagta hai kuch hone dega wo?”

Mahoor shook her head violently, “Nahi, mai nahi ja rahi. Meri khud ki phati padi hai teen pehelwano ko ladta dekh.”

“Tumhe yaqeen toh aa gaya na ki woh aadmi shadi shuda nahi hai aur Jihan unka bacha nahi hai?”

Mahoor slowly nodded and a wave of remorse hit her with full pressure as she remembered the moment she punched Altan for no reason and the strike was so hard that the brute even started to bleed.

Ayan would be so proud to see his students excel after learning basic fight moves for two years.

“Haa tou ye Mahabharat sirf uss wajah se shuru hui hai behen, please jaa ke roko.”

“Par mai kaise rokungi inhe, bacche hai kya yeh teeno mushtande?”

“Tumne Robin aur Ayan ko kitni dafa alag kia hai ek dusre se jab wo dono kutto jaise ladte the. Ab yaha bhi apna talent dikhao issey pehle qatl hojaye!”

Mahoor rubbed her face and sighed densely, “Woh Robin aur Ayan hai, mai unki amma jaise behave karti hu tou sunte hai wo dono meri!”

Seyran clenched her fingers in annoyance as the girl in front of her was making up excuses when she knew Mahoor was the only one who could stop this.

Seyran calmed down and gestured towards Altan who was now kicking Zaviyar and Arya was on his back, trying his best to cease Altan's moves.

“Aur ye tumhara lattoo aashiq hai jo yaqeen maano tumhari ek awaz mein sun lega.”

Mahoor aimed her index finger at her, “Dekh, gali de de par uss romeo ko mera aashiq na keh.”

“Maine teri chutney piss deni hai, Mahoor!”

Mahoor whined and stomped her feet on the ground, “Jaa, rahi hu.”

She marched towards the men but ceased in the middle.

She looked up at the ceiling, “Ya Allah, bohot choti hu iss dunia se tapak ne ke liye.”

“Aur yaha pakistan mein toh mere ko dafan nahi hona, apna desh, apni mitti! Toh please, baad mein utha na mujhe iss duniya se aur aaj ka muhurat hai meri maut ka toh please pandit ji se keh ke cancel kara dein.”

Mahoor muttered, "Bismillah" under her breath and trudged towards the boys.

Altan was now on top of the two men, holding the collar of their shirt whilst they struggled to throw punches at him.

Mahoor gripped his shirt and tried to back him away, “Mirza, chod dein inhe!”

Altan's actions ceased when his ears registered her voice. His whole body froze when he felt a touch on his skin beneath the black Van Heusen shirt.

He immediately left them both and stood up, facing the rebellion.

Mahoor stared at the ground and blinked her eyes in surprise. She didn't expect this to be over in a second of time and come back without any harm or else she'd have done this way too early.

Indeed, Seyran proved out to be right as her lattoo aashiq obliged to her orders in a single command of hers.

“Aaj ka maar peet karne ka kota pura hogaya ya fir aap teeno ek dusre ki jaan leke dum lenge?”

Altan looked at his men who were still lying on the floor, gulping the oxygen of relief.

“Inhe bhi kaho uthne dekho..” he circled his palm around his face, “kya haal kar dia inhone mera bhi.” he murmured like a child.

Mahoor glared at the two men, “Dawat deni padegi ya phir aap log ki advance mein terwi ke liye biryani order karni hogi tab jaa ke uthoge?”

Altan's cheek changed into a light pink colour as Mahoor considered him and his heart fluttered at this gesture of hers.

Arya and Zaviyar hoisted up and stood beside Altan with their hands back, imitating their leader's actions.

Altan, Arya and Zaviyar stood together with a very bloody condition, staring at the ground.

“Aryan bhaiya.”

Arya glanced at Mahoor and he muttered, “Mera naam Arya hai.”

Mahoor smiled sardonically, “Of course. Documentary banni chahiye aap logo ke pe aur uska title hona chahiye ‘Jhoote jhoote naam se, karte hai ladkio ko kidnap araam se’.”

Zaviyar sniggered, Altan and Arya's face turned swiftly in his direction, shutting the twenty-five year old up with a hard glare.

“Aap ka naam jo bhi hai, ab sacch kahe ki sahi mein Mirza ki koi biwi hai jissey inka beta Jihan hua?”

Arya shook his head, “Mai toh masti kar raha tha.”

Altan gritted his teeth, “Abey l*wde! Tere ye mazak ne usko rula dia aur humari fixing bhi acchi kar di.”

“Ay, Mirza. Language!”

Altan gulped, “Dhyan rakhunga aage se.”

Mahoor bobbed her head, “Hmm.”

“Aap ko masti mazak hi karna tha toh itni pitayi kyu ki ek dusre ki, jante hue bhi ki iska anjaam khoon mein hi khatam hoga?”

Arya scratched the back of his head, “Wo itne dino se training nahi hui tou socha...”

Mahoor shook her head and clapped her hands cynically, “Toh socha kyu nahi? Abhi shubh muhurat hai ek dusre ki chita ko aag lagane ka, nahi?”

Arya smiled goofily and raised his hand for a high five, “Yaar, tum toh bilkul meri tarah sochti ho.”

Before Arya's hand could clap with Mahoor's, Altan caught his palm and shook his hand with it.

Altan gave him a tight lipped grin and squeezed Arya's hand, “Uske dimag mein gandh nahi bhari padi hai kachre ke tarah sochne ke liye jaisa tu sochta hai.”

Arya reciprocated his beam, “Isiliye tujhse shadi nahi karna chahti.”

Altan stepped forward, initiating a fight again.

Mahoor massaged her temple in pain, “Yaar, please stop it! Hum ladkio ke baare mein ek baar nahi socha aap logo ne kam az kam bacche ka soch ke toh ruk jaiye.”

Altan backed away and stood at his original position. He heard the distress in Mahoor's voice which was signalling him the turmoil she had to go through while she witnessed the bloody ruckus before her eyes.

“Please get yourself cleaned and checked by the doctor, kahi kuch infection na hojaye.”

Arya nodded and he was about to escape with Zaviyar but Altan's one call stopped him.

“Oye, kitthe chala tu?”

“Nahane?”

“Maafi maang varna tereko main pagal khane ki roz sair karaunga.”

Zaviyar nodded his head stiffly, “I am sorry, Mahoor for disrespecting you. Mere genuinely koi irada nahi tha bas wo moment hi bada heated tha.”

“Koi baat nahi. I understand. Par dobara mere ya fir meri behen ke liye,”

Zaviyar's gaze fell on Seyran who immediately lowered her eyes to the ground and Mahoor slid from her place, covering Seyran's whole form from his stare.

“kuch bhi kaha aapne tou mai aap ko nahi chodungi, apni ladayi khud ladhna jaanti hu main.”

Zaviyar eyes shifted to Altan, saying with his facial expressions, “Aap ke liye kya kya jhelna pad raha hai.”

Altan only smirked in return, making Zaviyar scoff internally.

“Ho gaya hoga toh main jau?”

“Khane ka pehla nivala lene se pehle bhi aap puchte hai kya?”

Zaviyar's lips formed into a thin line and Altan chuckled but acted as if he was coughing once he caught Mahoor shooting lasers at him.

Arya and Zaviyar took an exit but Altan waited for Mahoor to take the staircase.

Mahoor raised an eyebrow at him.

“Chalo, aur araam kar lo tum.”

Mahoor tilted her head, “Thank you for the suggestion but hum kuch der yahi rahenge.”

Altan nodded and very reluctantly, he left from there.

Mahoor sat on the sofa, holding her head in her hands.

Seyran came and took a seat beside him.

“Kya soch rahi ho?”

Mahoor looked at Seyran and Jihan made a move towards her to take him in her embrace.

Mahoor smiled lightly and took Jihan in her arms.

He instantly snuggled in her chest, sucking his thumb and Mahoor placed a kiss on his head.

“Mai ye soch rahi thi ke kya mujhe Mirza se sorry kehna chahiye?”

Seyran's forehead puckered, “Aur wo kyu?”

“Kyu ke I punched him so hard that he started bleeding. Mujhe nahi karni chahiye thi yeh harkat.”

“Is he sorry for kidnapping you?”

“Nahi. Par mujhe mera zameer kha raha hai yaar aur sukoon nahi aayega mujhe sorry bolne tak.”

“Par he's not apologetic for his actions, Mahoor. Tumhe kyu ye khyal aa rahe hai?”

Mahoor's brows furrowed in distress, “Yaar yahi farq hai mujh mein aur woh psycho mafia mein. Unhe nahi ehsas. Woh aadmi ka zameer mara hua hai aur maine sorry nahi kaha toh mera zameer mujhe maar daalega mujhe andar se kha kha ke.”

Seyran gave up her convincing contest and sighed as she knew that if Mahoor's conscience had taken the path of asking for forgiveness then nothing could stop her or else the woman would drown more in dejection.

Seyran raised up from her seat and took Jihan from Mahoor's arm.

“Chalo, tum mafi maango. Mai isey kamre mein sula deti hu.”

Mahoor nodded and stood up from her place.

They walked to the staircase and climbed up the stairs in silence, only Jihan's babbling could be heard.

Seyran went to their room and Mahoor walked two rooms ahead stopping in front of the mahogany door.

Mahoor knocked on the door and heard a faint come in.

She gulped and entered the room, only to be welcomed by the darkness.

•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•

It's 28th May, 2024 today and the author is sitting on 1A platform of the Dombivli station, waiting in despair.

It's been five years...

I returned home a few minutes ago without getting a glimpse of my yearning.

Meri kismat mein bhenchor chamatkar naam ko cheez hi nahi!

Chaddo.. yeh rona bandh ni hoga🥲

The chapter got published by mistake as my best friend couldn't keep her hands to herself.

The next chapter will have some very soft moments of Altan and Mahoor, then boom 💥

Till then, tata!