Aalia's life had settled down. She barely called her parents, afraid of informing them that she had a divorce, and when they called she would make up some excuse, either that she wasn't with Zain, or would make a conference call to Zain.
Although they had divorced each other, Zain and Aalia did not harbor ill feelings towards each other, simply because they didn't feel the need to. They just wanted to get out of a relationship they were forced into.
After Aalia left, and when Zain's father came back from the trip he was on, Zain had the hardest time explaining his father as to why Aalia had left.
A slap stung Zain's cheek before he could even explain himself.
"You promised...you promised that you would take care of her in my absence. I should have expected something like this, but I cannot bring upon myself to not trust you."
"But dad, did you think about me before making the decision? Did you think about Aalia atleast? Did you not know that we are always at each other's throats? Of course you did! But that didn't matter to you! All you saw was me being the culprit of everything that happened in Bhopal, didn't you? And the matter could have a hundred solutions and the only solution you could think of getting us married? Really? I never thought you would do this dad..I really never did! I might have disappointed you a lot for a reason I can't even comprehend, but I guess I'm more disappointed at you..." With that Zain walked away, a vein in his head jumping with anger. It was probably the first time he had such a conversation with his dad, usually all the others were lighthearted ones., where they would always pull each other's legs. Zain couldn't bear the thought of commitment...he just couldn't. He couldn't grasp the fact that one had to bear just a single person for an entire lifetime. All he saw were his friends' marriages being ruined due to infidelity, hence this perception towards marriage. Plus he was not responsible enough to take care of himself, how could even think about looking after another person?
"I'm sorry Zain... I knew it wasn't the best decision, but something had to be done my child, and the only thing I could think of at that point of time was... that..." Usman talked to himself with remorse dripping from his voice.
Meanwhile, the people in Bhopal were completely oblivious to the happenings in Bombay. They thought that Aalia was happily enjoying a marital bliss. They would simply be flabbergasted, and a waterfall would soon ensue with the immediate forcing of Aalia to come back to Bhopal, or to re-wed Zain, their decision only being made because of what the society thinks. Aalia knew all this too well. Which was precisely the reason she never wanted to remain in contact with her home in Bhopal.
Amidst all this, there was one person who knew, her sister, Ayat. She completely supported her sister on the whole divorce, even she was boggled out of her wits when her sister said "Qubool Hai". She was surprised by what her usually feisty sister did, but due to all the hungama that was happening, she let the thought slide. She wasn't really surprised when she knew that her sister got a divorce done. She was the only one who knew the real Aalia.
Time passed by and Aalia's life became monotonous. Zain became a regular customer at the bar he saw her, he always made sure to steer clear out of her way though...
Usman dropped in one day to meet Aalia. He was fascinated by the standard of living she maintained all by herself. He looked around her house. "Mashallah!" He gasped, looking at the interiors. Just then, "Hey mamu! What's up?" Aalia chirped.
Usman, gasped, yet again...What the hell happened to her? What is up with her dressing style?? Such short clothes? Okay...this was a little unexpected from her!" Aalia broke his trance by waving her hand in front of his face.
"Aalia beta, how are you? You left home all of a sudden and you didn't even tell me, what were you even thinking before doing that?" Usman probed.
"I'm sorry mamu, but I had to do this only when you were gone. Or you would have blamed Zain again by saying that he didn't take care of me and all that...so I preferred to be gone before you came back and let Zain face your wrath. Hehe..." Aalia smiled sheepishly.
"Now are you okay, baccha?, you don't have any difficulties do you? Don't tell me you are dating someone!"
"Whoa! Relax mamu!! Firstly I am alright, in fact better than alright, and no, I'm not dating someone. I really don't feel the need to." Said Aalia.
"Don't you think you should get married now? You're 28 baccha..."
"I am 28, and I am a baccha?? Get your thoughts clear mamu! And yeah, exactly, I am 28 and I should be able to make my own decisions from now on! And no, I don't want to get married! Ever!"
"Whatever you say, my girl. All I can give, are my best wishes." Saying this, Usman went out, bearing no hard feelings, thinking about how Aalia was and how she is and how he failed to identify what his children were going through when he forced them into this marriage.
Meanwhile, in Aalia's house, "What is up with the elders and wedding?? They have to realize that marriage is NOT everything!!" Aalia was visibly angry.
Hence, she decided to hit her favorite club, The Blue Lagoon, for spending time with her friends. During the course of these three months, Aalia had grown really attached to one of her friends, Nazim. She only eyed him as a friend, oblivious of the feelings that were erupting in Nazim.
Zain was practically stalking Aalia, and by this time, he was well aware of what her favorite places were. And incidentally he happened in Blue Lagoon this time without any intention of following her. After he had seen her in the club one day, he began keeping updates of he whereabouts, he knew the place she worked, and where she stayed and all the other things. Meanwhile, he got himself a new flare, Leah, whom he had been going out for the past month. He had also decided to move out from his parents' house and build another one for Leah and himself, lest they oppose his live in idea. He really felt it was going pretty serious with her, but sometimes he'd stop to ask himself, "If I am so sure of Leah, why the hell do I care about where Aalia goes and whom she is with? Why?".
He himself was unable to answer his questions. He couldn't deny though, that there was something undeniably attractive in Aalia.
Today he had come alone, Leah was out of town due to her work. He had come drinking with his male friends.
"Today, I will tell Aalia how I feel!" Nazim internally exclaimed. "Aalia, I need to talk to you, could you come to the side?"
"Sure, Nazim!"
Zain saw Aalia being taken away to some dark corner of the club by one of her very close friends that he saw she was spending time with. He excused himself and followed them. He saw Nazim too close for comfort to Aalia.
"What is it Nazim? Is something wrong?" Aalia felt a little uncomfortable
"Nothing Aalia, I just wanna make it quick and fast..." Saying that, he took a long deep breath. "Aalia, I really, really like you, would like to be my girlfriend?"
To say Aalia was shocked was an understatement. What happened to all the nonsense in office about not dating? Did he not hear that, or did he conveniently choose to ignore that fact?
"Nazim!" Aalia jerked off her hand he had been holding for a while. "I told you and everyone of our friends that I donot want to date, how hard is that for you to understand. I thought of you as a really good friend, Nazim, now you're breaking our the friendship by saying this."
"Aalia! Aalia! Don't be pissed off yaar! Okay, if you don't want to be my girlfriend, it's fine but I can't take it if you're not even my friend! Please don't do this!"
"Okay, now don't get emotional, I will still be your friend, but only friends okay?? Now excuse me... I gotta go to the washroom."
Zain, who was quietly observing this conversation, was no less than dumbfounded. Somebody asked Aalia out?? If someone had said this a couple of months ago, he would have laughed his stomach off. It's ironic how he knew so much about his ex-wife only after the divorce.
He observed Nazim intently, scrutinizing, whether or not he was a good guy, but decided he wasn't when he ordered a drink and added a packet of white powder with a shady look on his face.
Chapter 3 : Page 16
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Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
