Anokha Nikah by Zehra Jafri

About this afsana

Anokha Nikah (Urdu: انوکھا نکاح) by Zehra Jafri is a short, playful Urdu afsana about a close group of university friends and a strict Saad. The mischievous Kiran loves to provoke him, right up to an announcement nobody expected.

The story opens with Saad scolding Kiran on the phone: “Kiran ki bachi! Get to my flat right now – if this assignment isn’t finished on time, that Hitler won’t spare us this time.” “I’m coming, yaar – you’re always like this…” Kiran grumbles, half-teasing. Saad asks what she means: “Say it – what am I?” “Karela insaan!” she mutters innocently, and he warns her she’s said a bit too much. She hangs up and smiles to herself: “Mister Karela.”

Her friend Jiya snaps her back to reality – Waasi, Arham and Huma have been waiting at Saad’s flat forever. Kiran jokes about how many kilos their “wait” weighs and runs to the car before Jiya can catch her; Jiya sighs that Kiran will never be serious, and Kiran salutes her: “Okay, boss.” At Saad’s apartment, he complains they’ve been waiting half an hour, and Huma thinks something must be done about these two.

کریلا سعد، شرارتی کرن، اور دوستوں کے بیچ ایک انوکھا اعلان۔

When the girls finally arrive, Kiran announces herself like royalty. Saad marches toward her, and she hides behind Huma: “Aapi, I swear by Jiju, save me from this jallad!” – a cheeky reference to Huma and Arham. Arham steps in to stop Saad, Waasi teases the “Majnu” Arham about finding no personal space at home, and the group finally settles down. After three hours the assignment is done, and Saad says he has good news. Everyone is curious, Waasi jokes that he’s building suspense as if he’s about to bring home a bhabhi, and Saad says secretively: “And if I say… yes?” Everyone is shocked. “Who?” asks Arham. Kiran’s heart beats faster. “The one and only… our darling… Kiran.”

Zehra Jafri keeps the friendship banter quick and funny, and the title – “an unusual nikah” – promises the twist that follows.

You can read Anokha Nikah online here or download the complete PDF for free. You may also enjoy Confusion Hi Confusion by Zahra Jaffri and Tum Bhi Na, or browse more Urdu afsanay.