FF : Her First Love 2nd thread, Chapter 20 in pg 53

Chapter 13 - How Have You Been?

Recap - Jodha's plan on having a romantic candle light dinner goes wrong when her family knocks on the door instead of Jalal. Luckily for her, Jalal calls her before coming up and asked her to meet him in his car. Jalal finally shares what has been bothering him since that morning and Jodha in turn convinces him to confront his past by talking to his mother.

Jodha closes the front door behind her as she made her way to the living room. Mainawati called out from the kitchen asking

"So, what did Moti say?"

"She says hi." Jodha grinned as she remembered Jalal asking her to say hi to her family for him.

"Is something funny Jodha?" Mainawati asked.

"It's nothing maa."

After finishing her dinner, Jodha wished her parents goodnight and was about to head for her room when Mainawati stopped her.

"Jodha, I forgot to tell you earlier that Sukanya wants you to give her a call."

"Did she say why?"

"No, just give her a call when you are free."

"I will"

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Jalal's place

The very instant Jalal got in his house, he took out his phone out, texted Jodha that he reached home safely and dialed a familiar number that he had tried to forget but failed to do so. A lady picked up on the other side.

"Hello." She greeted.

"Hello." Jalal replied.

"May I know who is speaking?"

"I-I am Ja... Is Mrs. Hamida in?"

"Yes, yes she is. Who should I say is on the line?"

"Could you please send for her?" He said slightly awkward as he is not sure how Hamida would react if she knew he is on the line.

"Of course, please hold on for a moment."

It was just a few second of silence on the line but it felt like eternity to him.

"Hello." Came a voice that he remembered all his life and he was shocked to find himself missing that very voice and person so much.

"Hello." Hamida greeted again and he knew he had to speak up as his mother may put down the phone. So, he said hello in a croaky whisper that he recognized was a sound he used to make when he was on the verge to cry.

Although her son's voice has changed all these years, Hamida knew that it was Jalal, her Jarar, her brave little boy on the line immediately.

"Jarar? Is that really you?" She asked in a soft tone, just the same as all those years back when she would softly cajole Jalal to eat greens and do his home works.

"Am... Ammi." Was the only thing that came out as he was too overwhelm when he heard his mother call him with his nickname but that was enough for Hamida. She now knows that she wasn't dreaming this whole thing.

"Oh, Jarar you finally called." She cried softly, the joy of hearing from her son and for him to still call her ammi' was too much to bear.

Ammi, ammi, ammi. He wanted to cry out as though he was a toddler who had fell down and injured himself asking for his mommy. He knew well that he missed his mother but he never thought it would be to the extent that he wishes to bury himself in her arms.

"A... Ammi." He choked out between tears and hiccups.

"Shhh, I'm here Jarar. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere." She cooed through the phone, the same way she did when he had nightmares of scary monsters.

It's funny to think back that until today, he had resented her for what had happened five years ago and now here he stands wanting his mommy by his side. He was going back to being Jarar, as his mother loves to call him. He remembered the naive little boy who had everything he could ever want.

He was such an innocent soul that made everyone who knew him adore him. Everything was so perfect in his life. He had wonderful parents, great friends, and the best education. But what he didn't know from his protected life was that life can never truly be perfect, it was unpredictable. And life hit him the hard way by revealing all the truth and left him broken until he met Jodha.

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

"No, Jarar, please don't." She pleaded.

"I-I shouldn't have said all those... I-I never meant to, I was blinded by anger and I was upset. I..."

"It's okay, I know you didn't mean any of it. I'm really glad you called."

"I-I miss you ammi. A lot, I don't want to but I do. I-I don't know if I have any ri..."

"I miss you too, and you have every right to call me Jarar. You are my son." He smiled as it was so like his mother to say such a thing. She was a wonderful mother and an even more great of a person.

"Happy birthday ammi." He wished her.

"You remembered?!"

"I always remember, I just never acknowledge it. Not until today."

"I-I never thought I would hear from you after the way we... But I prayed and hoped against hope that someday you would find it in you to forgive us. All we ever wanted was for you to be happy. We never thought what we hid from you would hurt you to that extent. I'm sorry you had to experience that Jarar. I'm really sorry."

"Ammi, I was hurt but not because of the truth but rather on the way it came out. I didn't know what to do, my mind went blank and I just lost it went everyone was giving me their excuses and I vent my anger and frustrations to you because you were the one I was closest to. It was wrong of me to do that but I wasn't ready to accept it at that time."

"Even so, I should have been the one to tell you. That would be the right thing to do."

"Ammi, can we leave the past in the past where in truly belongs? I-I don't want to ponder over what happened anymore. I-I want to move on from my past."

"Yes, of course. How's life for you?"

"It's great. Ammi, I-I met someone."

"Someone special?"

"Yes, someone very special, and I would really like it if you meet her. Ammi, these past few years I was... I wasn't... I-I don't know how to tell you." Jalal pondered on how he was to tell his mother the life he had lived these past 5 years. Hamida understood his dilemma and said

"This girl is different from all those girls you've been with these 5 years. Right?"

"How did you...?"

"I read the newspaper and magazines too you know. Besides, that was the only source for us to know how you are doing."

"I'm sorry for not keeping in touch."

"Enough about that. Now, tell me, who is this special someone?"

"Her name is Jodha, Jodha Sharma. She's an employee of ours, my secretay to be exact. She's very different ammi."

"How did you meet?"

He chuckled before saying "You wouldn't believe me ammi, but the first time we met she mistook me for a snatcher. It was raining that day on my way to the company and the car broke down along the road and I went to a nearby bus stop for shelter. She was there before me waiting for the bus and there was just the two of us there..."

"Oh, the poor girl must have been so frightened."

"Yes she was initially but later on there was this strange comfort between us. So, I received a call from Shareef saying that the car is good to go. I didn't want her to be there alone as it was dark so I offered her a ride which she declined as I was a stranger and I left."

"You left her in the bus stop alone and when it was dark outside?"

"Well I didn't have much of a choice did I? We are practically strangers and I don't blame her for being caution. But eventually she did get a ride home from me."

"What made her change her mind?"

"She kind of got into trouble. I don't really know, all I know is Shareef was half way along the road when he stopped all of a sudden. I went out to see what made him stop when I saw Jodha running and a man following closely behind her."

"The poor girl, was she hurt?"

"No, she was just frightened after that so she accepted my offer to drop her home. And she dropped her office pass in the car which is how I knew who she was."

"You know your father and I first came across each other on a rainy day too. It wasn't at a bus stop, we actually met at..." Hearing silence on the other side of the line Hamida realized her blunder and apologized "I'm sorry Jarar, maybe it was too soon to..."

"It's okay ammi, how is he doing?

"He is fine, he misses you too. I know it is hard but please Jarar, could you forgive your abbu? At least, try to forgive him."

"I already did ammi."

Hamida let out a sigh of relieve, tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she felt happy that her Jarar has finally forgiven them for the secret they had kept from him. She wiped her tears dry and said "So, this girl Jodha, is she perhaps the one?"

"She is, I never felt this way with anyone else before. I'm in love with her ammi and that's why I would like for you and abbu to meet her."

"I'm so happy for you and yes we would be honoured to meet Jodha."

"So, you will come to India then?"

"Of course we will. I will talk to your abbu and see when he's free and we will book the earliest plane ticket available. I can't wait to see you."

"Me too. I will talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight ammi."

"Goodnight my sweet boy."

Neither of them put down the phone, each waiting for the other to hang up. As the silence grew Jalal whispered absentmindedly "I love you ammi, abbu."

Hamida who was still there heard Jalal and replied "We love you too Jarar. We really do."

"I know now ammi. Tell abbu I will talk to him tomorrow. Good bye."

"Goodbye."

That night Jalal felt truly at peace, all the problems in his life is slowly getting solved ever since Jodha came into his life. She truly was his lucky charm. As he slept, he dreamt of the days he used to spend with his parents and hoped that a day would come when they become the family they used to be once more.

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When Hamida told Humayun of his son, Jalal's phone call after 5 years he was so overwhelmed that he cried. Humayun and his wife had thought that they had lost their son that they fought so hard to save 26 years ago forever. He had lost all hope that his estrange son would contact them but his wife never lost hope, she always he knew that their son would come by eventually and she was right, their prayers have been answered today.

Hearing from his wife that his son has forgiven the two of them had made him feel guilty again but his wife told him the same words his son had told her. That the past should stay in the past and it shouldn't affect the present. He was overjoyed when Hamida tells him that Jalal said that he will talk to him tomorrow.

He was even more thrilled when his wife told him about Jodha. He was happy his son has found someone lovely and he really felt that she is lovely for he is positive that she was the one who brought their son back to them.

The older couple slept peacefully for the first time in 5 years knowing that their son is well and they got back their long lost son and thought back to the day 26 years ago when their son was born and almost loose his life the very day he was born only to survive the hardest battle in his life.

His wife was right to give him the nickname Jarar for their son is indeed brave, and he had proved it 5 years ago by building his very own company and made it to be among the top five successful companies in the whole. They were proud Jalal had grew to become a wonderful person, they now know that their son was a fighter and no matter the situation, their son would fight and survive any battle that comes his way just as he did the day he was born.

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Jodha's Place

Jodha gave Sukanya a call after replying Jalal's text.

"Hello, Sukanya speaking."

"Hey Sukanya, it's me Jodha. Maa said that you wanted me to call you?"

"Yes I did. I'm angry at you didi !"

"What?! Why?"

"What do you mean why?! You missed my engagement didi ! You knew how important it was for you to be there with me."

"I know, and I'm really sorry for not attending your engagement. I was busy with work and I couldn't apply for leave."

"Oh please didi, I told you to apply for leave months before my engagement and you promised to be there no matter what and when that day came you were not there. "

"Sukanya please, I'm really am sorry. Promise, I will be there for your wedding, I won't miss it for anything."

"That's what you said to me before my graduation ceremony and my engagement."

"I mean it this time. I will be there with you on your wedding day and we will do everything you want to do."

"Promise? Because if you break this promise, I will not forgive you that easily."

"I promise."

"Okay, I will give you one more chance. So, how's work?"

"It's great."

"Great huh? No complains on your boss or anything?"

"Not really, Mr Adham hasn't been coming to the office recently. Now that you ask, he hasn't been to the office ever since Jalal came." Jodha said absentmindedly without realizing she had said Jalal's name out loud.

"Hold on, who's Jalal?"

"Who? I mean what? Who is he?"

"Oh please didi, you and I both know you are bad at lying. Spill out the bean, who is this mysterious Jalal?"

"Fine, he is my boss."

"I thought Mr. Adham and Mr. Atgah was your boss?"

"They are but Mr. Muhammad is the CEO, hence he is my boss' boss."

"And who is Mr. Muhammad?"

"Mr. Jalalludin Muhammad."

"Since when did Mr. Jalalludin Muhammad become only Jalal?"

"Since... Since we started seeing each other."

"OMG!!! No way!!! Are you serious?! I'm so happy for you didi."

"Thank you."

"I can't believe that my didi who was so focused on her career and had never been in a relationship is actually seeing someone."

"I know right?"

"So, how did this happen? I mean when?"

"Well it's only recently and I know it sounds impossible but he really is a good guy and I really like him."

"Didi I met Raghav only a couple of hour when I fell in love with him. So, don't tell me it's impossible because trust me it is possible."

"Right, how can I forget that day. You were practically calling out his name more then you have probably said your own. Anyways, I met Jalal a few days before your engagement."

"And you guys fell for each other that very instant?"

"Not really, we were attracted but I didn't know that I really, I mean really liked him. It's only after he..."

"Only after he what?"

"He confessed, that I realized that I like him too."

"How did he confess? Was it romantic?"

Jodha giggled thinking back to how Jalal confessed to her and said "I guess it was romantic in a way. He actually blurt out that he loves me and uhm I-I thought I was dreaming the whole thing."

"He blurt out that he loves you."

"Not really, I believe the words were Miss Sharma, I think I'm in love with you' and then he asks for a cup of coffee."

"I so want to meet him, he sounds funny confessing like that."

"I found it cute. But unfortunately you can't meet him."

"What? Why?"

"No one knows that we are seeing each other, especially my family."

"Why not? You love him don't you?"

"I do, I just... I'm afraid to tell my parents about Jalal. Jalal is a... He is a Muslim and we are Hindus. I'm afraid of how maa would react to this. And... Jalal has a past, a uhm let's just say his past only make it even worse for me but good for maa."

"Inter-caste marriages work out just as well as same caste marriages these days didi. But why do you say that about his past?"

"He has been in a relationship before."

"So? Everyone has their ex and stuff don't they?"

"They do but Jalal has many of them. And they weren't really a serious relationship."

"Oh, that's why you said it's good for Aunty but not you."

"Yes. I just, it's the first time I love a man and to think that my family might not approve of him is heart breaking just thinking about it. I want things works out well for us but I just can't see how it's going to work out."

"Does he know? That you are worried about this."

"He knows I'm worried about what maa and papa are going to say."

"And what was he's response?"

"He said that nothing would come between us no matter what happens and that I should trust him."

"Then you should trust him to do the right thing."

"Enough about me, now tell me all about your engagement."

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After ending the conversation with Sukanya, Jodha thought of ways to convince her family that she loves Jalal and if possible she would love to spend the rest of her days as his other half. She knows that her parents, mother in particular always wanted her to settle down but she wasn't ready at that time. But it's different now, she has Jalal now and she would immediately say yes to marriage if that was what he wanted.

Jodha has it tough as her mother is unpredictable, she never knows what her mother thinks but the one thing she was sure about was that her mother still haven't quieten down about her marriage alliances. Jodha has to somehow tell her parents about Jalal, convince them that Jalal is a changed man, his past will not be a problem to either of them and that he really loves her.

She is definitely scared that her parents might object and truth be told she doesn't know what she would do if that really happened, which makes her think of how Jalal's family would react when he tells them about her. Would they like her or would they object just as her family might. It's all so messed up that she gave up thinking on it and gave in to sleep.

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Meanwhile after hanging up, Sukanya thought of her cousin sister Jodha. She was happy that her cousin has finally found a person she loves but when she hear Jodha telling her that her plan to confess to Jalal has flopped, she knew she had to help her cousin. Therefore, she decided to plan a surprise for her cousin and in order to do that she has to contact a very important person first.

As always leave your comments and let me know how the chapter was.

Precap - Some glimpse of Suryabhan maybe? Oh Adham finally comes into picture. And of course JJ moments in the next chapter...