Javed Khan was getting ready for office when his cell phone started ringing. He quickly grabbed it as he was expecting a call from his friend who was going to pick him up. When he saw an unknown number, he dropped the idea of picking it up. But then he thought that maybe his friend was calling from any other number. So he picked up the call, "Hello!"
A female voice came from the other side, "Hello, Javed beta (Son), it is me, Firoza aunty. Hope you remember me?"
Firoza Khanam was Javed's uncle's divorced wife. Javed's dad, Altaf was three brothers. The eldest was Akram Khan, then Altaf Khan and the youngest was Arbaz Khan. Firoza was Arbaz's wife whom he had divorced three years back. The feud between husband and wife was going on since last ten years. When it grew intolerable, both of them separated. Firoza was living in a rented flat near her parent's house in Allahabad. Arbaz lived in his ancestral home in Kolkata. They had five children, three boys and two girls. Two of the boys were elder. They were studying in Bangalore. They were 24 and 21, and their names were Asif and Aamir, respectively. One of the daughters was studying in Delhi. She was 19 and her name was Shagufta. Another daughter stayed with Firoza and was in 10th standard. She was 17 and her name was Resham. The youngest was a son, Hamid, who was in kindergarten. He too stayed with Firoza. Arbaz used to send the children expense of their studies and livelihood, but he never went to meet Firoza. They never even talked to each other, not even on the phone. So when Javed got a call from his aunt, he was surprised.
Javed was living in Delhi and was working as an IT engineer in an MNC. He lived alone in a 2-BHK apartment in Delhi. Life was pretty smooth as he has earning good. He never talked to any of his relatives. So when he got the call from Firoza, he said half-heartedly, "Hey, Firoza Aunty, how can I not recognize you? How are you?"
Firoza's voice came, "I am good, beta. Actually I am coming to Delhi for 2-3 days as Shagufta's not well. She is in her hostel as you must know it."
Javed said, "Yes, aunty, I know that. Mom told me about her."
Firoza said, "She called me and wants me to come there. As its been so long that I have been to Delhi and I thought that maybe I could stay at your place for 2-3 days. What do you say, beta?"
There was one thing which Javed hated about himself. He never could say 'NO' to anybody. He said reluctantly, "Yes, sure! Why not, aunty? It would be my genuine pleasure."
Firoza's happy voice came from other side, "Oh beta, and thank you so much! I will reach Delhi on Sunday. But how will I reach at your place?"
Javed said, "Don't worry Aunty, send me your travel details and I will be at the station to pick you up."
Firoza replied, "Okay beta, I will send you a message regarding those details. Okay beta, see you on Sunday. I will call you before boarding the train."
Javed forced a smile and said, "Sure aunty. I will come to pick you up at the station."
Then the call got disconnected. Javed cursed under his breath and got back to getting ready for office.
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Sunday afternoon was too hot and Javed's shirt was soaked with sweat. He had drunk almost 4 liters of cold water till now. The train in which his Aunt was supposed to come was running almost two hours late. Javed checked his wrist watch for the hundredth time. He hated waiting. Just then there was an announcement. Javed sighed with relief knowing that the announcement was about the train's arrival. It was about to arrive at the destined platform. Javed threw the bottle of mineral water after emptying it. The train arrived and stopped at the platform. Javed walked towards the bogey in which Firoza was. Passengers were de-boarding the train. Javed was about to get inside the bogey when he spotted his aunt carrying a luggage and getting out from other exit of the bogey.
Firoza was in her forties, but she was in good health which made her look like she was in her thirties. With an average height of 5'5", she had a fairly prim body. She wasn't thin, and also not so bulky, but she had nice amount of flesh on her hips and a little fat on her tummy. Her 36 D breasts were a little saggy. Well, what can one expect after having five children? For a lady of her age, she was in very good personality and had maintained her beauty and figure. Though she had slight wrinkles on her face, but once she applied a little make-up, they faded away, making her look almost 5-6 years younger. Firoza was always in a saree, an ethnic Indian wear normally worn by all class of women.
Javed walked towards Firoza and greeted her. He picked up her luggage. Firoza was very happy to see him. She hugged him lightly and said with a smile, "Oh beta! Look, how big have you got!"
Javed laughed and they parted. Then he said, "You are seeing me after a very long time, Firoza aunty."
"Yes, yes," Firoza exclaimed, "After almost six years."
Javed was tall and handsome. He was strongly built and had a good height of an average Indian male, 5'8". Clean-shaven and with long hairs, he was clad in white cotton shirt and denim trouser. He guided his aunt towards the parking. There he took a taxi and they left for his flat. On the way, Firoza kept on telling about family affairs and what all had happened with her. She was very sad while telling about it. Javed consoled her by his words. Firoza appreciated Javed for his help.
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Almost three days had passed and Firoza was busy showing her elder daughter, Shagufta to doctors. Javed had to take five days leave and he was accompanying them. Javed had met Shagufta when she was a little girl, but now she was grown up. She was a fine young lady. She had beautiful skin; however she was a little chubby. She had long hairs which she always kept open. During these three days she had struck a good repo with Javed. However every night, she had to go back to hostel. Firoza used to accompany her and she too slept in the hostel, but on the fourth day, the warden of the hostel said to Firoza that she could not sleep anymore in the hostel. It was against the policy. Therefore, after leaving Shagufta at the hostel, Firoza accompanied Javed back to his flat. They reached the flat at about eleven in the night. As that day was one of the hottest of the month, the night was also not much of a relief. The flat was very hot and both Firoza and Javed were feeling uneasy due to the weather. Javed took a bath and was only wearing shorts. Firoza too took a bath and wore a loose nightie. There were two rooms. Javed said her to sleep in the room which had cooler in it. The other room didn't have a cooler and was very hot. Even the ceiling fan was of no use due to heat radiating from the ceiling. Therefore, Firoza said that if he wanted he could sleep in the same room as it had a double-bed. But Javed politely said that he was okay sleeping in the other room. Firoza and Javed were chatting. Firoza said, "Now you should get married, beta."
Javed smiled and said, "Not so soon. I will consider this idea maybe after three years."
Firoza gave a fake scorn, "Oh come on! You are so young and handsome. You earn so good. Get married and bring your wife here. At least you won't be alone."
Javed said with a smile, "I am never alone," and he winked at her. Firoza showed a little pleasant surprise and said, "Why, you naughty boy, who takes your care now?"
Javed was simply grinning and shrugged his shoulders.
"Girlfriend?" asked Firoza with a mischievous smile. Javed scoffed, "Nah! Just some good friends and colleagues, who are always there for me."
Firoza laughed, "Oh! I was thinking something else." Then she yawned. Javed asked, "Feeling sleepy?" Firoza smiled, "No, just a little tired."