Kashish
Zoya barged into Asad's room, completely aghast at his antics. Not hours ago, he had proposed her in the most heroic and filmy way and now he acted as if his proposal never mattered to him. He changed colors faster than a chameleon did. Why was he so indifferent to her?
oOo
Asad was startled at the sudden bang of his door with the wall. He had been caressing her earring and there, he saw his Miss. Earring, who looked no less than a lioness, ready to pounce on her prey.
He gulped. No matter how much ever he pretended to remain unaffected, he knew every action of hers had always had his heart race up; be it his fear of losing her the day she was buried alive or her senseless shayaris, her smiling at him or when she broke down in front of him when they learnt about her father's death. He felt his heart break into millions of pieces to see her tears. His heart clenched to her decision of leaving the country and the things that followed, entry of Mr. Dhurindar Bhatavdekar, their fake engagement and all the drama before today.
Again, the sequence of events that occurred today had left him flabbergasted. He had never in his dreams imagined his mother to be demeaned by those who had already caused her enough pain. And if that wasn't enough, the lady he had grown attached to, was humiliated and physically tortured. He could do nothing because of his Ammi's kasam. How was he to tolerate humiliation of the women who meant more than words or emotions could describe?
His anger reached its peak and he made a hasty decision of sending his Miss. New York Hoity Toity back to her country. He soon regretted his decision and ran, like a madman, to stop her. He thanked Allah the moment he found her, with same desperation and eagerness to meet him that he had, the moment he saw her at the check-out counter, standing in the queue waiting for her number then, followed his Romeo stunt.
He was amazed at himself for doing that. Never had he thought he would break all the traffic and security rules just to stop a woman from leaving the country, leaving his house and most importantly, him.
But why am I not so astounded? It was Miss. Musibat I am talking about. This had to happen. She drives me mad. He chuckled at the thought.
oOo
"Mr. Khan!" she roared.
Her voice brought him out of his Zoya-land. It's going to be the death of me today, he thought. His casual approach towards their unusual yet filmy engagement had left everyone dumbstruck. She looked as if she was ready to tear his flesh apart and wouldn't even care to burp after digesting him. He gulped again.
"Mr. Khan abhi aapne kya kaha?" she asked, now standing at a foot's distance from him.
"Miss. Farooqui, maine aapse kitni baar kaha hai doosron ke kamron mein bina knock kiye nahi aate."
"Kisiki zindagi mein bhi bina knock kiye nahi aate. Especially, tab jab aapko pata hi na ho ki aap kya chahte hai." She said.
"Main kya chahta hoon?" he pretended to be confused.
"Ab itne bhi bhole mat baniye," she said sarcastically before adding, "Kya jo airport pe hua who sab ek drama tha aapke liye?" Zoya asked, her eyes tearing up.
"Jee haan. Yeh sab ek drama tha aapko rokne ke liye. Ammi aur Najma ki khwaish (desire) thi ke aap yaha, unke paas rahe."
"Aur aap, Mr. Khan?" She ever so innocently asked. Upon getting no reply, Zoya repeated herself, "kya aap nahi chahte ke main yaha rahu?"
"Nahi," he blandly replied. How was he to explain his actions at the airport and for that matter, his feelings for her? He wasn't ready for it. He feared he would hurt her the same way his father hurt his mother.
Zoya felt tears threatening to fall at his cold hurtful words. This man in front of her always left her confused. He's so complicated, she thought. But, now was time, she needed answers and would not leave before she got them. She would make him speak his heart out, today, even if her tears betrayed her.
"Agar aap nahi chahte ki main yaha rahu toh kyun aap mujhe rokne aaye? Kyun mujhe jaane nahi diya? Kyun aap unn security waalo se lad pade?"
"Ammi chahti thi isiliye m'" he was cut off by her.
"Phuphi! Oh! Main toh bhool hi gayi thi ke aap apni ammi ki koi baat nahi taalte (shirk)," she said sarcastically.
"Zoya," he uttered her first name ever so tenderly like it was the most precious thing.
"Aur yeh?" she showed him the ring he slipped into her finger just hours ago. "Kya yeh bhi ek drama tha, ek mazaak. Aap hi mujhe kehte the ke mujhe rishton ki kadra (value)nahi hai, ke main rishton ko lightly leti hoon. Aur aap, Mr. Khan? Aapne bhi toh aaj yahi kiya. Agar aapke liye yeh rishte koi maayne (important) nahi rakhta toh iska mazaak banana ka haq bhi aapko kisine nahi diya."
A lone tear made its way down her cheeks.
His heart clenched to see her, her tears. He hated them the most. He wanted to wipe them or just kiss them away and never let them appear again.
"Who' main' actually'" he fumbled.
Zoya closed her eyes in frustration as she wiped the tear with the back of her palm.
"Aap sachem ek emotionally challenged insaan hai. Aapke saamne ek ladki ro rahi hai, jiski wajah bhi aap hi hai, aur aap khade khade use ghur (stare) rahe hai. Aapke dil mein sina nahi pathar hai. No wait. I heard you say something. Oh! How can I forget aapne aapka who-main-actually phirse chalu kar diya hai. Oh! I'm sorry I forgot."
Soon silence surrounded itself in the atmosphere of tension. They stood there for God knows how long, with their eyes doing the talking.
But, still Zoya could not decipher the emotions in his eyes. They changed emotions faster than the fastest moving car in this world. They always left her with two minds. Feeling dejected and helpless, she decided to leave.
Just when she was about to shut the door behind her, she heard him speak
"Kya aap wakai janana chahti hai ki maine aisa kyun kiya?"
Zoya was surprised. Was he really going to voice his actions? She entered the room but decided to stay at the door. She gestured him to proceed.
"Maine aapko roka kyunki main chahta tha aap na jay. Maine aapko roka kyunki aapse door jaana mere dil ko gawaara na tha. Main aapko kaise jaane deta jab mujhe pata tha ke aap jana nahi chahti."
She was dumbfounded. Was she hearing him correct or were her ears playing drums? She blinked her eyes and pinched herself to confirm she wasn't dreaming. Akdu Ahmed Khan is confessing, it was oblivious she was dreaming.
"Agar aap chali jati toh meri zindagi phirse bejaan (lifeless) aur berang (colorless) ho jati. Mere khwaabon (dreams) pe aapke saaye hai. Aap hi toh wo insaan hai jo meri tahaiyon mein khanan daalti hai. Mere andheron mein roshni banker aati hai"
Allah Miyaan! He's repeating those words he said when we were at the farmhouse that day. Her heart overwhelmed to listen to his soft tender words. They weren't from his mind but from his soft heart. She never imagined him to be so tender and lovable.
"Kuch sochun toh aapka khayal aa jaata hai, kuch bolun toh aapka naam aa jaata hai, kab tak chupaon apni dil ki baat aapse, jab aapki har ada par mujhe pyaar aata hai."
He confessed, fearing she would leave him, and if she left him forever then he would not be able to bear the guilt of not confessing his feelings even once.
Asad spread his arms in air, inviting her in his arms. She could not stop herself. Her face brightened and she flashed the most radiant dimpled smile of hers when she ran into his arms.
He wrapped her in his arms, protecting her from every danger and promising her to always be with her through every roughs and toughs of life.
They were together now and forever. No matter how life takes them in the future, if they will always be together, one thing was sure their love will never cease.
They found solace in each other's arms. Zindagi ek chahat ka silsila hai, koi mil gaya to koi bichad gaya, jise har pal manga tha duaon (prayers) mein, khudase mujhe wo bina maange hi mil gaya. Asad said while he tightened his grip around her, never letting her go.
~~~~~~~
My first attempt to write something in Hindi. Please share your views and don't forget to HIT the LIKE button.
Love,
Diya
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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