Part III (Last Part)
Little did Falak know that while she was missing her brand new distraction her parents were busy finallizing her Nikah. She was only told when everything was done; leaving her at the edge of losing her mind.
"But i am only eighteen..." Was Falak's first defence.
"We know... but we just can't say no Falak." Her dad told her making her sit in front of him.
"I am yet to graduate... have you people forgotten?" She prosecuted her case.
"And they wont stop you from graduating either... even after marriage."
"But i dont want to get married before graduation."
"Come on... its their insistence..."
"Who are they?" She was almost going to cry.
Everyone was happy beyone words and Falak was completely at sea. She tried plastering a smile on her face but her fears were too big to overcome. She sat there amidst a thousand people lost in sheer, exuberant, instinctive, unreasoning, careless joy. She wore a wedding dress infinitely soft and refreshing to the eye. A flame of scarlet crept swiftly on her cheeks occasionaly and the moment she heard people shoving away, giving the bridegroom space to make his way to his bride, she felt her eyes glued to the ground.
He sat there to her right. Falak did not dare look up. She could feel his lips loosen in a furtively exultant smile. Thankfully they did not get a chance to be alone; people came and gave their blessings to them in a never ending series. Falak thought the whole of the Karachi was there to attend their wedding or perhaps Islamabad too. She felt her eyelids grow heavier.
"And... finally i am taking away the most precious admiror of Karachi." He said as soon as people got busy with the food. He shifted his gaze towards her and Falak almost felt like running away. She wanted to speak but her lips would betray her in any attempt she made.
"What's that...?" He asked brushing his finger on her cheek so swiftly that no one could hardly have noticed.
"Zaroon..."Falak squealed. "Koi daikh le ga..."
He laughed out loud and Falak knew she was going to get the pleasure from the effects of his laugh on her for the rest of her life. The feeling itself made her stomach do cart wheels.
If Falak thought she knew all about Zaroon before marriage; she was wholly and rightly wrong. He was much more than what she knew about him. He was something ardent words of admiration failed to describe. For her living with him was like living the fantasy she was yet to fantacize about.
"I can't sleep..." He said that night; a week after their Walima.
"Tu kia karna hai?" A sleepy Falak asked.
"Bahar chalo..."He hissed. Falak snapped.
"It's cold outside... Karachi was never so cold..." She said digging her self more under the blanket. "...besides i have heard people vanish out of their existence in winter nights in Islamabad."
Zaroon pulled the blanket away from her.
"Come on... stop reading in to ghost stories and come with me..." He pleaded with his wicked eyes.
"I'll sing you a lullaby Zaroon..." She said yawning half in sleep.
"I am listening..."He said pulling up straight. Falak sighed and like a irked brat pulled the blanket away. Zaroon jumped up too.
"It's cold...it's cold...Zaroon..I'll die." Falak said exhaling ounces of steamy breath out of her mouth and nostrils.
"You are already wearing two..take mine too if it helps." He said pulling off his jacket.
"No thanks... i am okay... i have never seen this cold..." She said looking around for people. Zaroon chuckled.
"You wont find anyone...it's past midnight."
"Why are you guys so boring?"Falak asked perpetually annoyed to see people's punctuality in Islamabad.
"You will get used to these boring people...once you know they are hopelessly romantic too."
"You guys know nothing about romance..."Falak said. Something in the nearby bush propelled and a big nasty wild boar plunged out and ran mere yards away from the two. Falak screamed in horror clinging to Zaroon. It's ugly snort made her yell more. The poor animal got terrified by her shrieks and ran away; its clan followed it. Zaroon roared into a laughter.
"You scared the poor thing..." He said amidst his laughter.
Falak who was panting badly pulled herself away looking around for a confirmation that it was gone.
"What was that ugly creature?... I am never coming out with you again Zaroon."She said pulling away; he held her hand in his.
"someone was saying something about romance..." He said making her stop dead in her struggle all at once.
The news of Junaid uncle's brain tumor came as a shock to the two. Zaroon knew not what to do while his dad fought for life in the I.C.U. Falak who had her University admsission tests lined up in those days called them off. She was now a part of the Junaid's family and Junaid uncle was like a father to her. She did not tell Zaroon about it who was surprised when he came to know.
"You shouldn't have done this Falak... we promised Afghan uncle that you would graduate at any cost."
But she knew how much he needed her then. Even if he said he would handle it on his own she knew how his days and nights were merged in unutterable sadness and compassion. So it was decided before she could decide that she wasnt leaving his side untill Junaid uncle got better. It took him six months to recover. By the eighth month there was another big news awaiting Zaroon and Falak. Falak was expecting.
The news left her in utterly distracted abstractions. She felt ill most of the times; wasnt sleeping properly wasnt eating properly. But above everything she wasn't sharing her trepidation with Zaroon any more. He, who knew about every single thought associated with her, was left feeling miserable for he knew not what apprehension she held inside her and she wouldnt share either.
That day he took her out forcefully to Monal; away from everything which bothered her. He left her sitting on a table for two and himself went to pick the order.
She sat their remembering the first time she was there; things were so different then. Who could have thought she would be caught up in such a mess with in two years.
"Are you telling me yourself or you want me to..." He began.
"There is nothing of the sort Zaroon... it's just the pregnancy...the doctor said."
"I have never been pregnant ..but i know how concieving women look..." He said very seriously. Falak cracked a smile.
"Don't be funny Zaroon... i am okay."
"I'll be a good dad Falak."He said holding her hand in his.
"I know you will be the best dad..." She sighed.
"And i dont mind being a good mother either..."
She looked up at him. What was wrong with his sence of humor today?
"and... next fall you are attending your first symester also..." Falak looked up at him in the eye. So he knew what bothered her all along. She wanted to weep until his shirt drenched in her tears.
"We are having a family Zaroon... it will need me." She said hopelessly.
"That's no reason for you to ditch your higher education miss...and i am taking no excueses here." He said with firm pronouncement.
"It's too much to ask for..." She shook her head.
"Excuse me... when i have no problem raising two childern who are you to object?"
Falak gazed up at the heavens thinking what had she done to deserve him? She saw the sun appear from behind the veil of the clouds it felt as if Allah was answering her. Telling her to be thankful enough and telling her to accept her rights on her man. She cracked a smile; he finally released his breath.
"I am sorry Zaroon.. i have been too petulant..." She said placing her other palm over his hand.
"...You have always been nothing but special to me Falak...remember that..."
"Why?"
"Because I really like you..."
She loved him before but that one act of his made her respect him before herself and every other person associated with her. After all how many men revere a women's right when it comes to chose between their family and her permissible rights? She wasnt told to sacrafice her education in the name of her daughter. If she could be there to support him in his time of agony he had to be there for her when she deserved her share of support.
Falak graduated with her four years old daughter in her arms and herself in the arms of the man who held nothing but love for her in his gaze.
The End
Edited by AshesToDust - 11 years ago
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