"I will..." as Neelum was about to reply, Wali's phone ring. Still looking at her, he pulls it out from his pocket. The minute he sees the caller ID all the blood drains out his face.
It says "Bade Sahab". Neelum look at him questionly. He slides and put the phone by his ear. "As-salamu Alaykum," Wali immediately found himself greeting in the right away though he haven't said this word for like 6 years. He talks as Neelum watches his expression carefully. There was joy that turn into instant sorrow. "Okay! Don't worry! We are coming!" with that note, he hangs up.
As soon as he ends the call, Neelum open her mouth to object when he vetoes her and with a lot of authority, "We are going to Lahore tomorrow! Get ready! And I'm not asking you!" he demands and run upstairs leaving a stun Neelum behind.
Throwing her clutch on her couch, she runs upstairs behind him. She bands their door open and finds Wali pulling clothes from his closet and throwing it haphazardly in the suitcase. "It's good that you are here. You take lot of time while packing. We are going from tomorrow's flight. It's at 6 in the morning so we don't have much time. Start packing," he says without even looking at her as he went to the bathroom to get his shaving kit.
"What the hell Wali!" she cried as she grabs his arm and stops him as she makes him look at her. "I am not going to that downmarket place again," she says arrogantly. "Neelum, its not forever. My mom is really ill. We have to go, please," I say talking gently to her as I cup her face. "Please for me," he said sweetly not wanting to fight. Neelum jerk his hand off rudely. "No means NO! I am not going anywhere. I can't live there. I refuse to go. It's your Mom so you go. I am not going and nor is Ayaan. He is my kid, Wali," she said as she raise her voice trying to intimidate him.
"Shut up, Neelum!" he yelled at her furious. Neelum got quiet immediately. "Not one more word," he said in a deadly calm voice. "You are coming with me and so is Ayaan. I don't want to hear a word about it. Don't make me start on how much Ayaan is your child or how you grew up in that downmarket place and moved here some years back," Wali finished the argument with a glare at Neelum daring her to aggravate him more and there will be consequences. With no choice left, Neelums huffs but moves to pull a suitcase and start packing.
After Wali finish packking for himself, he moves to Ayaan's room and start packing his clothes. By the time he was done it was time to get Ayaan. He left to get Ayaan quietly without saying a word to Neelum. Lately, this is what their relationship has come down to where no one talks to one another.
One and half day later...
Lahore, Pakistan...
Early morning...
Outside the Airport...
"Home sweet home!" Wali said smiling as he breath in the fresh air. "This is not home! Home is New York!" she exclaims disgusted. Wali shakes his head at her. He walks out carrying a sleeping Ayaan in one hand and and he pulling the cart with another. He stands for a second looking around for Taxis. Just than somebody bumps into him and her things fall. Giving Ayaan to Neelum, he bent down to help.
"I'm sorry. Meina dhek nahi raha tha," he apologize being a gentlemen as he helps her pick her things up. "Ji shukriya. Meri hi galti thi. Meina hi nahi dheka tha ka mein kaha ja rahi ho," she says apologize. Wali looks up to see instinctly but couldn't see the owner of the beautiful voice. She held her stole in a way which hid her whole face except for her eyes. He noticed that her honey-brown eyes were beautiful.
"It's okay," he says realizing he hasn't reply. After he puts all the things back, he steps back and turns back to Neelum not wanting to make that girl feel like he was some creep. Shaking his head to get the image of the girl in the simple green shalwar kameez who covers her face behind her stole only leaving her eyes out to see. He looks at Neelum and sees how she wears all the revealing clothes. With a mental note to talk to her about her dressing style, he pushes the cart to the Taxi.
After putting the luggage in the trunk, Wali get inside the Taxi with Neelum and Ayaan, who has woken up by now. "So this is the city where you grew up, Dad?" Wali smile as he pulls Ayaan to him. "Yeah, its this city. Bas yahi pay. Yaha ki galiyo mein khel khel ka mein bara howa ho," Wali says as he reminisces his childhood.
Flashback...
Lahore...
Years back...
"Wali beta, chalo utho. Hum bahar chal raha hai," Wali's dad say as he steals a 10-year-old Wali's book. "Abbu!!! Mein par raha tha!" he says whining but sits up nonetheless. "Mujhe pata hia ka aap par raha tha aur kitaba parna bohaut achi baat hoti hai lekin aur bhi cheeza hoti hai karna ka lia," his dad tells his gently as he grabs his hand and makes him get up from his bed. Wali walks out with his dad hand in hand. He takes me out to the car and to the nursery that was like 5 minutes away.
There both son and father picked small plants spending time together and than drive back home. Both of them carry the plants they bought to their backyard. "Dheko Wali, mein tumhe aaj plant karna sikhna wala ho. ho," his dad said as he sit on his knees in the garden as he and wali gets his instruments from the shed. Wali's dad make Wali equally participate in planting. In fact, he made Wali plant one plant by himself while he did the other. Finally when they were both done they sat on the grass cover in dirt.
"Tumhe pata hai woh jo darak tum aga dhek raha ho. Woh meina lagaya tha tumhari paida hona sa kuch aek mahina phela. Toh woh utna hi bara jitna ka tum," he said ruffling his hair. Wali gets irritated pushing his hand away, "Abbuu!! Ab mein bacha nahi ho," he says whining His dad chuckles. "Jab tumhara bacha hoga na tum bhi unka saath asa karna. Har ka lia aek plant laga na. " "Abbbuu!!!" Wali said blushing as his dad talks about having kids.
His dad chuckles and grabs the pipe of water and turn it to Wali. Wali scream as he gets up immediately trying to run away but his dad was quick for him. Soon Wali was drench and so he move to his dad and grab the pipe for him. His dad didn't fight too hard. Next. it was his turn to be drench. Both had load of fun playing in the water as they laugh and laugh.
Flashback Ends...
"Abbu, meina bhi Ayaan ka birth sa phela uska naam ka aek plant lagaya hai," Wali whispers in the Taxi looking out. His dad passed away fifteen years ago in an accident. Wali looks down at Ayaan as he runs his hands through his hair. "I will be a dad like to you like my dad was to me," he promises to himself.
"OMG, Wali! How long are we gonna be here?! I can't stay here! My skin is burning. My make-up is melting!! I can't stay here! I want to go back!" Neelum had been complaining since the moment they have landed even before getting off the plane. Wali had just turn his deaf ear to her. He really didn't honestly care about here. They had gotten over that part long ago. He only brought her here for his mom. That was the sole reason. He didn't even need her for Ayaan. He could easily take care of Ayaan on his own. He sighed thinking about his mom.
Wali's Home...
Some hours later...
His Mom's Room...
"Ammi," Wali said as he sits beside her on the bed holding her hand. After waiting for so many hours, finally his mom is awake from the sedative the doctor's gave to keep the pain down. "Mera Wali, mera beta" she said in a small voice as she cups his face with one hand. "Kaisa hai mera bacha?" she ask him lovingly but cough in between.
"Mein theek hoon magar mujhe aapse shikayat hai. Aapne mujhe bataya kyun nahi," he ask sadly as he puts his head down by hers as a tear run down his eyes. "Ammi, aapko kuch nahi hoga. Mein kuch nahi hona doga. Mein apko US laka jaoge. Aapki bimari ka elaj hai" he says with conviction but his voice broke with the fear in between.
"Shhh," his mom cooes him as she turns to him as she runs her fingers through her hair. "Wali, tumhe pata haina ka ab kuch nahi ho sakta. Bohaut dar hogaye hai. Allah ka pass toh sabko jana aek na aek din," she smiles at him. "Ammi," he cried as he hugs her crying. "Bas. Bas, bas. Chup hojao," she says patting him.
"Tum mera hamesha sa strong beta tha na. Please asa ab mat ro. Mein nahi dhek sakti tumhe rota howe. Tumhe pata haina," she said close to tears. Wali pulls with blood shot eyes. He quickly wipes his tears and slowly and gently wipes his mom's. "Nahi, Ammi. Mein ro nahi raha. Dhekiye," he says with a forced smile. His mom smiles back. He puts his head down beside her and they just lay there.
"Wali, mein tumse agar kuch maango toh kya tum doge," she ask him suddenly. Wali sits up and look at her as he takes her hand in his hand. "Ji, Ammi. Aap bolye aapko kya chahiye. Mein apka lia kuch bhi kar sakta ho," he says with a smile as he looks at his dying mother from lungs Cancer.
Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil
Jhanak
Bigg Boss 19
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
