Initially it was just on the Friday scene, but then I found out that on Monday's epsiode Aahil's going to confront Rehaan, so it's also my interpretation of their conversation. I'm also planning to write out my version of the future tracks, but it depends on how well this first part is recieved. My sincere apologies if it's disappointing, I'll very much appreciate any comments on what I've done so far. And I mean ANY comments, so if you've got any criticisms or any suggestions then please do say, and I'll try my best to improve 😊
The italic font is usually the persons thought by the way, hopefully it's clear. Ok, enough rambling. Hope you enjoy it!
PART ONE:
Aahil walked aimlessly through the halls of the Ibrahim mansion, but his thoughts were tethered to one room in particular, or rather, one person. Sanam. The corners of his mouth twitched up a little at the mention of her name. He couldn't help it; it was a reflex action by now. She had just fed him dinner in their room, and after she left to go and prepare dinner for the family, he had sat on the sofa in a daze, until he felt a tug, close to his heart, as if she had tied a string around the organ and dragged it along behind her.
He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
He saw her in his mind. She was sitting across from him, perched on the table edge, just an arm's length away. Her own arm extended with a spoon at the end, patiently waiting for him to eat. And her lips. Her full, perfectly shaped lips which were usually pursed disapprovingly at him, were pulled upwards at the sides. She was...amused. At the time he was annoyed. Was he a child that she didn't understand what he was saying? He was Aahil Raza Ibrahim and if he said no, it was final. He flung her hand away and the rice fell to the floor. There. Now she would see. Why should he listen to her when she obviously didn't care for him? Even when he was dying, she still preferred Rehaan's company. He saw her look to the floor that was strewn with rice, and then look to the bowl. She took another spoonful and held it to his lips once again. Aahil was baffled. He was expecting a fight. Sanam had a temper, he had been on the receiving end of it ever since they met. Literally, ever since they met. He tried to read her expression. There was still a hint of a smile. And her eyes. Her eyes still had that confidence, that sense of righteousness that had ensnared him months back. But there was something else. He couldn't place it. Usually he saw a steeled expression in her eyes, but now they were softened. There was something tender about the way she looked at him. But why? Could she be - No. No, of course not. He flung her hand away again.
If Aahil thought that Sanam had surprised him enough in a day, he was proven wrong. For the third time Sanam lifted a fresh spoonful to his lips, which were now agape as he was stunned by this new patience she had developed with him. He raised his hand, but this time she held it. It was electric. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. His mouth became dry, and all of his focus shifted to her hand, which was now slowly inching to his fingers as she fastened them with her own. It felt like a silken caress, and he almost shuddered when she ever so gently tightened her hold over his fingers. And then she shoved the spoon into his mouth. It was a surprise and Aahil showed it in his eyes. Sanam smiled. Well, he thought, she hadn't won yet.
He puckered his lips to spit the food out when he felt her glorious touch again. Her eyes looked almost pleadingly at him, and he was once again captivated by the depth and complexity of her expression. Sanam was so different. The other girls in his life were so one dimensional - so plastic. But Sanam. Sanam was like fire. She was magnificent. She was perfect. He resisted the urge to kiss her hand as it clamped against his mouth, forcing him to eat. He succumbed. She moved back, taking her hand with her. He almost whined in protest; her scent, her proximity had bought a strange sense of comfort to him. He had felt cared for. It was a strange emotion for him, given his lonely state, and whether he admitted it or not, he desperately craved some form of love. Especially from Sanam. He looked at her intently. She seemed determined to ensure he ate. Why? Why did she care? Did she not say she hated him? Did she not say - no - did she not scream that she wanted to be free from him? That she only wanted to free from this fake marriage? He had heard her. He had overheard her say to Rehaan that she was unhappy, that she was incomplete without that one special person in her life. He looked away from her. He would never be able to give her happiness; he would never be special. To anyone. He swallowed the rice whilst Sanam prepared another spoonful for him. Ever the dutiful Sanam, that's why she's doing this. So she fed him. And he let her.
Aahil opened his eyes. For a moment he looked confused to find himself in a random hallway in his own house. He shook his head slightly; this girl will drive me crazy, he smiled. At least he would have that moment. That moment when she looked after him, even if it was out of duty. Aahil strode towards the garden, once again lost in his thoughts about Sanam. He didn't realise that there was another man there, who was in quite a similar condition.
*
Aahil paused when he noticed Rehaan looking up at the stars. He remembered the night of his engagement to Nida, after he had shouted at Sanam. He remembered seeing Sanam and Rehaan here, at this very spot. Talking, laughing. Most of all, Aahil remembered feeling like he was burning, like his body was on fire, like he wanted to scream at Rehaan for looking at Sanam the way he did. But that was before his nikaah to Sanam. She was, at least in name, Mrs Aahil Raza Ibrahim. Aahil felt his chest puff in indignation. What business did his brother have in following his wife around all day? Yes, he knew Rehaan loved her, but after she had said qubool hai, Rehaan had lost that right. Aahil had tolerated this proximity long enough. He felt a lump in his throat from frustration. They were even together when he was dying. Enough. It was too much now.
"Aahil bhai? What are you doing here? Are you ok?" Aahil looked up at the man he considered his only friend. His only brother. He blinked. Relations and respect works both ways, Aahil thought. He needed to be very clear to Rehaan.
"Bhai? Do you want something? Should I call Sanam?" Rehaan looked concerned, but the mere mention of Sanam from Rehaan's lips made Aahil snap.
"If I need my wife, I will call her Rehaan. And since you call me Bhai', perhaps you should call her Bhabhi'? That is, after all your relation to her now." Aahil saw Rehaan draw back in surprise, but he didn't care. He couldn't take anymore of this.
Rehaan recoiled at Aahil's words. He sensed that Aahil seemed only one step away from screaming at him, so Rehaan breathed deeply trying to desperately to diffuse the tension. In truth, he had noticed Aahil becoming increasingly possessive over Sanam. Almost territorial. But Rehaan had tried to stay within his limits, he couldn't help it if his heart didn't agree. He had tried to act as a friend to Sanam. And he had been slightly hurt when he had an inkling that she only saw him as a friend too. Rehaan looked up at Aahil.
"Bhai, what's brought this about? I have tried to maintain distance with Sanam, I know I have no right to think of her as I used to." Aahil very nearly punched his brother in the face. Aahil stepped closer, and Rehaan became alarmed.
"Kya? You've tried to maintain distance? You don't think of Sanam in that way anymore? Do you think I don't see anything, Rehaan? That I don't know the two of you secretly meet?"
"Bhai, what are you-"
"Don't lie to me, Rehaan! I know everything. And I'm telling you that it's enough. You will stay away from Sanam, you won't meet her secretly, and you won't be going anywhere with her anymore, because she is my wife, not yours."
There was silence. Rehaan blinked under Aahil's intense fury. Aahil saw the expression from Rehaan's eyes change from shock to curiosity.
"Bhai. You have every right to tell me this, and if I've caused you any pain then please forgive me."
Aahil blinked. Well that was easy, why didn't I just tell Rehaan before?
And then Rehaan spoke again. "But don't mind me asking, since when did you care so much about Sanam? I thought you hated her. So why would you care who she speaks to? Or have your feelings changed?"
Aahil stumbled slightly at Rehaan's words. Rehaan had been so...direct. It was one of the qualities that Aahil had admired in his little brother. Aahil composed himself.
"I am her husband, Rehaan. I won't be made to look like a fool whilst my wife canoodles with her former aashiq (lover) behind my back. I mean even when I was unconscious, the two of you were together!" Aahil began to rant. "How could you do that Rehaan? I understand that you love her too, but did you forget that she married me. Did you forget that the man you call Bhai' was dying when you huddled away in some corridor with my wife?" Aahil was breathless as he stared at Rehaan with his pained eyes.
Rehaan was silent. He was still processing. Aahil Bhai thought that he and Sanam were together? But why? She had been praying for him. Did he not know that? Did he think that - wait. Wait, what did he just say? Rehaan looked up at Aahil. His brother looked as if someone had sliced his heart open. Rehaan blinked. Did Bhai just say I understand you love her TOO'.
*
Aahil watched Rehaan look him over as if Aahil himself had grown an extra arm.
"Bhai," Rehaan said quietly, "what do you feel for Sanam?" Aahil's eyes widened. He felt his throat constrict. He couldn't breathe. How did Rehaan know? But I didn't say anything? Or is it just that obvious? Obvious to everyone except Miss Dhabewalli.
Rehaan almost felt like laughing. What was this? How had everything turned out this way? For the first time in his life, Rehaan had fallen in love with a girl, who was now married to his brother, who now - as it so happens - also possibly loves her and is warning his own brother to stay away. And this girl, this wonderful, magnificent girl was completely unaware of the two of them. But the way she had been after the doctors had declared Aahil's state as critical? Could she also...
Rehaan smiled and shook his head at his own fate. The expression didn't go unnoticed by Aahil.
"What is it now Rehaan?"
Rehaan looked up at Aahil. Perhaps this was just Rehaan's fate.
"Kismat kya khel khela hum sabke saath (What a game fate has played with us). I fell in love with Sanam, and the day I was going to confess and tell her for the first time how much I cared for her, she ended up getting married to you instead. And then everything changed. She was no longer the Sanam I loved. The Sanam that I was allowed to love. Now she's my Aahil Bhai's wife."
Aahil was stunned. "You mean, wait. You hadn't told Sanam how you felt? Does she not know that you love her? Rehaan? Does Sanam know that you love-"
"No Bhai. I didn't get to tell her. I don't even know if she loves me back. I never had the chance. Now, I don't think I'll ever be able to tell her."
Aahil looked at Rehaan. He understood exactly how his brother felt. He knew the feeling. How it felt like a whirlwind was inside, fighting to break out, how it got stuck in your throat so you thought you'd die of suffocation. He almost embraced his brother. Until another thought entered his mind. Sanam doesn't know how Rehaan feels. So, how does she really feel then?
SPOILER:
Tanveer finds a way to solve her problems
Aahil realises that Sanam is completely oblivious to Rehaan's love for her
Aahil cares for Sanam
Tannu.
INDEX:
- Part 1 = Page 1
- Part 2 = Page 1 (scroll down)
- Part 3
- Part 4
