Aasmano Pe Likha.. || [Part 14 PG. 28.] - Page 10

his kurta. Zain gently kissed her hairs.. It might be true that She-Zain fought a lot but Syra loved her brother unconditionally and same had been for Zain too.. That Evening.. The Preperations were in Final Swing. Shubroto's Family might be here anytime soon for Aashirbaad. Getaanjali had gone long back to Help Adhira get Ready.. Syra and Nusrat too had gone back to dress for the ceremony. Only Men remained there, for Final Touches and after that they had gone back too.. The Aashirbaad or Engagement in Bengali Society is mainly done on The morning of Wedding Day, But Shubroto's Family had insisted for two of them getting engaged before. An Hour Later, Adhira's Future In-Laws arrived minus Shubroto as Groom-Bride had their Aashirbaad's seperately. They were welcumed warmly by Ganguly's and Khans. After Snacks and Sharbet's were served, Shubroto's mother asked for Adhira for The Ceremony.. Syra went inside to get her. Zain-Arnab were talking amongst themselves when Adhira walked in,

along wid Syra. One look at her and his breath stopped for a moment. Draped in a Red-Cream Bengali Saree, She lukd Ethereal.. Her Beauty seemed to glow out of her being.. The Red Bindi wid Gold Jewellery made her look like a Nymph. Her Long Raven Hair was left open adorned with a Gajra. Not only him, Everyone seemed to be spellbound by her beauty. Spcly Shubroto's Mother who had gotten such a Daughter-In-Law to show off to. Adhira took her in-laws blessings and was made to sit for the ritual to start. Geetanjali blowed the Conch Shell while other women gave the "Ulu Dhwani" which was Symnonomous with every Bengali Ritual as Adhira's in-law blessed her wid Husked Rice Grains, Chandan, Dubo. Syra lukd over to Zain who was watching all of this silently but the pain clearly evident in his eyes.. As The Ritual came to finish, Shubroto's mother gave Adhira a Beautiful Gold Ring which Geetanjali made her wore in her finger bequesting her to Shubroto. Unable to take it anymore, Zain turned around as tears made their

way into his Chocolate Eyes threatening to fall down.. The Only girl he loved thruout his life was gone forever.. She was now someone else's love and engaged to be his wife. Zain gripped the Branch of a Hibiscus Tree in Adhira's Courtyard more tightly than necessary.. It had required every ounce of his will-power not to break down and he will not surely. Syra had walked upto him and kept her head on his shoulder, weeping Softly. Zain gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder comforting her.. Syra was not immune to his pain.. Later That Night.. Zain's House Courtyard.. Zain sat quietly on one of the Cots in the Silence Of The Night.. Nusrat had long gone to bed. Syra was with him an hour earlier and Zain had persuaded her to go to bed as it was not good for her and her baby to stay awake at such late hours. Crickets Sang and Stars twinkled in their Abode. Cool Breeze blew making it a Serene night.. But Zain's mind and heart were far from Calm and Serene. The Ritual played on in his mind

and her Angelic Face came infront od his eyes.. He shook his head. He cant do this anymore.. He loved her True! More than anything but she was engaged now and cud be married in a couple of months or so.. He took up the book, lying next to him on the cot and took out Adhira's Photograph. She smiled.. Well, not at him but at someone or something. This was the only photograph he had of her, The Very Sole Reason he had been able to keep his feelings to himself.. He lukd towards the fire crackling at the end of the Courtyard.. Dinu, The Servant had lighted it to heat up water for washing clothes early in the morning tomorrow. For a Moment, He felt the urge to fling her photograph into the crackling fire and forget her forever.. He even got up to do so, But one look again at the picture and his fingers trembled.. How can he ever forget her? How? She may not be destined to be his, But he cudnt forget her ever.. Zain smiled a little and kept the photograph back into his book, retired to his room for sum Sleep..

3 Days Later.. Islamia College; Lahore. Zain had returned back to Lahore just 3 days after Adhira's Engagement. Reason? Well, He cant afford to miss his lectures. That was what he put up for his Family and Ganguly's. True Reason being that, He didnt have the courage to face himself or her.. Geetanjali and Nusrat had been upset with his decision but Syra had supported him. "Kya haal hain Zain Miyan?" Nader spoke as he sat down beside him on the Grass. "Kuch khaas nhi, Tum Batao?!" Zain smiled at his frnd. "Apna toh bas wahi." Nader laughed a little. "Tu batao? Iss bar badi jaldi laut aaye Peshawar se?" He asked. "Haan bas aise hi. Itni chuttiyaan theek nhi, Lectures kaun attend karega?" Zain replied. "Bahaana Accha Hai." Nader piped in. "Adhira Kaisi Hai?" He added. Zain heaved a deep sigh. "Acchi Hai, Uski Mangni ho gyi..!!" Zain replied. "Aur tum dekhte rahe?" Nader asked. Zain closed the book he was reading and kept it aside. "Mujhe samajh nhi aata? Ki tumhe aur Syra ko main kaise

samjhaun? Meri Mohabbat ektarfa hai Nader, uska koi Anjaam nhi. Adhira ko pata bhi nhi ki main usse chahta hunn. Aur Doosri baat, Humare Mazhab ek-doosre alaida hain. Hum chaahkar bhi Zindagi bhar iss fark ko nhi mitaa sakte!" Zain retorted angrily. Nader kept an assuring hand on his frnd's shoulder. "Tum usse kabhi bhool paoge Zain?" He questioned him. "Jab tak meri Saansein hain tab tak toh nhi, Shayad uske baad bhi nhi." Zain replied, closing his eyes briefly. Nader patted his shoulder softly, He knew what his frnd must be going thru. "Waise yeh Hindustan-Pakistan ke batwaare ka maslaa bohot zor pakad raha hai Zain." Nader spoke, changing the subject. "Sach Mein?" Zain lukd at him. "Haan jab tum Peshawar gye huye the toh Aandolan hua tha iss ilaake mein. Police ne Open Firing ki thi, Jiski wajah se Kayi Bande maare bhi gye hain." Nader reported. "Aur sirf yahaan nhi, Mulk bhar mein haalaat theek nhi hain." Tension Lines deepend over Zain's Face. "Amma, Syra sab Peshawar mein hain." He spoke, worried.

Nader nodded thoughtfully. "Agar haalaat aur kharaab ho gye toh?" Zain asked. "Fikr mat karo, Sab theek hoga." Nader spoke comfortingly. Zain nodded hoping so. "Waise kal ghar se khat aaya tha, Nafisa tumhare baare mein pooch rhi thi." Nader spoke, giving a mischivious smile to Zain, Who lukd at him wide-eyed. Nadeer laughed. "Aree Bhai, Tumhari khairiyat pooch rhi thi bas." Nafisa, Nader's younger sister had shown sumwhat striking intrest in her Brother's Handsome Friend Zain as she had seen him in Syra Godhbharaai. But both Zain-Nader knew how much Stubborn and Irritating she was and this was the very reason why Zain had maintained a Decent Distance from her. Nader also helped him knowing his Sister. "Shukr Hai. Warna woh toh Syra ki Godhbharaai mein Uska-Mera Nikaah padhvaana chahti thi..!!" Zain exclaimed rolling his eyes making Nader laugh out loud. "Ghar mein sabse choti hai na? Isliye Amma-Abba e uski parvarish bade laad-pyaar se ki hai..!! Jiska asar uski Tarbiyat par saaf dikhta hai." Nader replied.

"Aur main bilqul nhi chaahta ki mere iklaute dost ki Zindagi woh barbaad kare." Nader laughed again making Zain laugh too. A Week Later.. Peshawar. The postman knocked at the door of Ganguly's and slided the letter in the mailbox. Ashim opened the door a few minutes later and took out the letter from the box. He walked inside, luking at the Envelope. The adress on the Envelope was of Pindi. Frowning, Ashim opened the envelope and took out the letter. As he read the letter, Worry lines deepened on Elderly Man's face. Geetanjali came in to serve him tea and saw her husband's worried expressions. She kept the Cup aside and walked upto him. "Suncho? Ki Hoyeche? Aap bohot pareshaan lag rahe hain?" She asked. Ashim finished reading the letter and kept it inside the envelope folding it. "Pindi se Khat aaya hai." He spoke up. "Nitai Babu ki aaj subah Influenza se maut ho gyi." He spoke up. Geetanjali's hand flew to her mouth, This news was totally unexpected. "Hume Pindi jaana hoga! Aur woh

bhi shayad humesha ke liye." Ashim added. "Par Kyun? Yahaan humara sab kuch hai. Aise kaise sab kuch chhod kar chlae jayein?" Geetanjali tried to reason. "Jaana Hoga Geeta." Ashim spoke and then narrated the rest of the contents of the letter to his wife. Ganguly's had an ancestral home back in Pindi which belonged to Ashim's father. But The elderly man was unable to reside here as Ashim was the Head Priest of Peshawar's Local Kalibaadi. As The head Priest he had his share of responsibilities. There was a Caretaker for the Ancestral House Nitai Babu who till now was luking after the house but after his death, The Ganguly's had to move back to Pindi otherwise anyone can claim ownership on the Huge House being the Fact that Adhira's Grandfather was One Of The Greatest Zamindaars of his time.. "Ab hum kya kare? Adhira ki shaadi bhi toh hai na?" Geetanjali spoke worriedly. "Aur koi raasta nhi Geeta. Hume Adhira ki shaadi Pindi se karni hogi." Ashim replied. "Nusrat Aapa, Zain aur Syra? Unko kya kahenge?" She spke

"Hume unhe poori baat batani hogi. Mujhe yakeen hai Bhabhijaan baat ko zaroor samjhengi." Ashim nodded comforting his wife. "Aur waise bhi aaj hi ngi jaana hume. Abhi tumlogon ke paas 2 hafte hain Saaman Baandhne ke liye. Par Mujhe nikalna hoga." Ashim added to which Geetanjali nodded. He had to be there for Nitai's Funeral. Ashim drank his tea quickly and went inside to pack his things. Geetanjali sat down on the cot unable to cope up with Sudden Change of Events. With Nitai's Death, they have to move back to Pindi leaving the place which was Home to her, The Neighbouring Family which was family to her.. Life had taken a cumplete turn and it was all too sudden. Adhira came out into the Courtyard to picup dried clothes from the Washing Line when she saw her mother all tensend. "Kya Hua Maa? Aap Itni pareshaan kyun hain?" She asked lovingly placing a hand on her mother's cheek sitting down beside her.. Geetanjali narrated the incident to her. "Iska matlab hume yeh ghar aur Peshawar chhodna hoga?" She asked..