A/N: Okay, so. This is an AU (Alternate Universe) fic. Sort of. I cut into the timeline after Daniyal's death but before Asfandyar's going abroad for specialization. With a few changes: 1) Zubiya's mother is not dead. Mah talaat's confrontation with her husband never occurred. 2) Fariyal was never engaged to Asfi.
Feedback appreciated. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: "Yakeen Ka Safar and its characters belong to the ever so talented Ms. Farhat Ishtiaq and the keen eyed Momina Duraid Productions. I have no claims to them. Just borrowing them for my musings with much love and admiration for their craft.
"Behlava
Prologue
The auditorium was buzzing with people. There were heads as far as your vision can take you. Geeti and Lubna quickly strode down to their seats in the third aisle. Lubna made a mental note to thank her friend, who was the principal of the college, for accommodating them on such short notice. She as well as Usman really wanted Geeti to start living again. It had been almost two years after Daniyal's untimely death and it had hit all of them hard but Geeti had absorbed the shock most. She had stopped going out, stopped making phone calls to everyone but her parents, isolating herself from friends. Encapsulating herself in her room with only her son Siam as her company. They had moved a year ago from their home in Islamabad to their old family abode in Karachi at Usman's behest. He just couldn't take the disgrace and humiliation in his close circles in Islamabad anymore. The rape scandal that had snatched away his son's life had also taken their social circle and his family's will to live. He wanted to change their environment in the hopes of change in circumstances but that hadn't helped much either. Most of the time they all stayed in their rooms, only meeting at the dinner table to share meals together. It seemed like time was standing still for them. It wasn't just Geeti but Usman was keeping to himself too. Staying in his home office most times reminiscing the perfect son he was so proud of. He had stopped criticizing Asfi for his irresponsible behavior. Not that there was much to be criticized anymore. Asfi had recoiled into himself after his beloved brother's death. He was now a distant image of the fun loving, never serious, always cracking jokes on someone's expense- type guy. And Lubna feared he was growing more and more distant with each passing day. Something had to be done to get them all out of the shadows of dismay. As much as she hated the thought of living a life without Daniyal she had decided to make some sort of change in their mundane existence. They needed a splash of happiness to wash away the sorrow. Since Geeti had strictly defied the prospect of remarrying, saying she can't even comprehend being with anyone other than Daniyal. Lubna had come to the conclusion that the only way to evade this sadness is to get Asfi married to a nice girl who can pick up the spirits of her forlorn son and hopefully adding a fresh face to the family will help break the monotony in their lives. They needed a "khushi and it was high time they get it. As she didn't know many people in Karachi, she had started visiting events like exhibitions and talent shows such as this one that she had dragged Geeti to on her scouting mission.
"Waise mama aap dhond tu rahi hain Asfi ke liye larki lekin woh tayyar bhi hai?" Geeti asked, slightly turning her head as another performance ended.
"Haan maine uss se poocha tha." Lubna acknowledged, "Pehle tu woh waqai tayyar nahi tha. Lekin phir maine usse samjhaya ke tumhe kabhi tu karni hi hai shadi, tu abhi kyon nahi?"
"Mama aisa tu nahi hai ke woh kissi ko pasand karta ho?" Geeti inquired.
"Nahi. Aur agar karta tu zaroor batata maine uss se sab se pehle yehi poochha tha ke agar tumhe koi pasand hai, apni colleague ya class fellow wagaira tu mujhe bata do. Lekin uss ne kaha ke, 'mama aisa koi scene nahi hai. Mai medical school parhne gaya tha larki dhondne nahi!'," She said laughingly, "Ab dekho na, waise bhi aab uss ka MBBS ho chukka hai. Uss ki house job bhi complete ho jayegi phir uss ke baba usse states bhaijna chahte hain specialization ke liye. Tu acha haina agar uss ki baat ho jaye kaheen. Ya tu shadi specialization ke baad ho jayegi ya phir woh biwi ko saath hi le jaye." She nodded looking Geeti. "Acha haina iss tarah hum bhi relax ho jayenge ka wahan uss ka khayal rakhne wala koi hai, woh akela nahi hai."
"Wah mama! Aap ne tu poori planning ki howi hai." Geeti admired her elder's foresight, amused.
"Aur tum younhi muskurati raha karo," Lubna said adoringly at her daughter-in-law, "bahar niklogi logon se milogi tu tumhara bhi dil behla rahega aur mujhe bhi bohat acha lage ga."
"Acha mama," Geeti smiled dismissively, "Woh dekhain ek aur act shoru ho gaya."
A young girl stood center stage, dressed in a traditional white anarkali frock with cobalt churidar, her head adorned with cobalt colored topi and a multi-colored dupatta that was pinned to her topi, flowing at her back. She recited the emotional dialogues with such veracity and conviction. Her lithe figure would've been easily drowned out if it wasn't for her captivating personality. She had an angelic face, delicate features, and long hair tied in a neat plait. Her striking feature being her big emotive eyes that shinned ever so brightly, full of expression and unshed tears.
"Yeh larki kitni pyari haina?" Geeti said pointedly.
Lubna straightened up in her chair, paying attention, "Haan. Bohat pyari hai."
The next part of the act started and the mystery girl was now dancing on traditional anarkali themed music. Her liquid hand movements had a quintessential quality. There was a certain luminescence about her smile. She looked like a pretty butterfly fluttering by on majestic wings. Her path erratic; one step back, one step forward. Her poly-chromatic dupatta bending light like tiny prisms as she spun in circles, floating on the rhythmic current of air. Synchronizing her effortless grace she danced away in tune with the symphony. Magical, Beautiful, Free.
Lubna had seen many girls up till now in her prospect search for Asfi, but this girl seemed special. She thought how Asfi loved music and enjoyed dancing at Daniyal and Geeti's wedding with his friends and cousins. How he had not touched his guitar ever since Daniyal's death. Asfi was despondent and she was like a ray of light. This girl's obvious young age will make her adapt to whatever environment she is introduced to much faster, much easier.
"Bohat hi pyari hai." This time Lubna said it decidedly, more to herself than to Geeti.
The act finished and the host came to the podium, "a round of applause for Ms. Zubiya Khalil. Judges please allot your points now. " She said clapping.
Now that her persona was shed, panting from her efforts, the girl bowed shyly and laughed nervously as she turned to step off the stage.
comment:
p_commentcount