Completed my first story on HAQ SE on May 13, 2018. Wanted to start another story on HAQ SE, already knew which part of the series I would focus next. I even gave hint about starting a story focusing on that part of the series, so here it is.
Basically I am using a/few scene/scenes from the original series of HAQ SE adding my own flavours into it, as the story proceeds. .
This is officially my second story based on HAQ SE!
Received your love and appreciation in my previous story on Naushad and Meher. Thank you for that from bottom of my heart. Hope you enjoy reading my this take on Naushad Meher too, as much as you enjoyed the previous one.
No part of this book shall be reproduced in any form or by any means - electronic or mechanical.
Copyright : RNpoint1857 2018
"Apne juzzbaatt ko apne doston ke samne bayan karna. Unse apne juzzbaatt batne mein koi burayi nahi hai Dr. Mirza",
says Naushad dissolving the sugar cubes into his cup of tea.
"Dr. Mirza?",
laughs Meher, sarcastically and looks towards him.
Her sarcasm pierces Naushad's heart.
Laughing sarcastically still, she says,
"Mujhe laga tha ab main apke liye Meher ho gayi hun? Sirf Meher!"
Naushad feels guilty about addressing her as Dr. Mirza.
"Fasle mehsus ho rahe hain mujhe!",
says Naushad, calmly.
"Aur aap koshish bhi nahi karenge inn faslon ki wajah dhundhne ki?",
asks Meher.
This irks Naushad.
Putting the spoon down, intertwining his fingers, his arms laid horizontally on the canteen table, knitting his brows, he says,
"Aap mujhe apne paas ana to durr... meri taraf aap dekh bhi nahi rahin! Ab aap hi batayiye ke iss bartaw ka main kya matlab nikalun?"
Staring him for sometimes, Meher changes her vision to her right, ignoring to look towards Naushad,
"Naushad please dheere boliye.",
she whispers.
"Mere tez bolne se apko problem ho rahi hai, to aap ye sochiye ke apke khamosh rehne se mujhe kitni bechaini ho rahi hogi?",
says Naushad.
This attracts Meher's attention. She stares him, knitting her brows. A knot forms in her throat. They stare each other. Naushad waits for her to say something, hoping that she understands his emotions about the situation.
"Mujhe thoda waqt dijiye.",
says Meher.
"Kis baat ke liye?",
asks Naushad.
Meher stares him, with this question Naushad succeeds in triggering her emotion of hurt and frustration.
Lowering her eyes, controlling her emotions, she says,
"Apko sub batane ke liye!"
Naushad stares her quietly for sometime, his brows knit together. Meher hesitates to look towards him, aware of his eyes on her.
"Theek hai diya!",
he says, calmly, never looking away from her, his brows still knit.
Meher relaxes a wee bit, hoping that this discussion is finished for now, that his next question skips her heartbeat and takes her juzzbaatt to another level!
"Bus aap mujhe ek baat bata dein...",
he says.
Meher stares him.
Never ending the eye contact, he brings out something from his pocket and places it on the table that they are sharing, his hand rested on the corner of the article he brought out,
"Iski apko zarurat kyun parh gayi?",
he asks, looking straight towards her, with knitted brow.
Meher's heart skips a beat! Her heartbeat picks up pace as her eyes rest on her discarded packet of contraceptive pills!
She stares at him in disbelief!
~*~*~
'Trust'! 'Faith'! 'Belief'! have these words ceased to exist? Can't we trust someone without worrying about all negative things? Can't we lay our faith in someone? Belief, is it that difficult to believe someone today?
It takes years to finally believe someone but moments to break the trust! And especially when you are already heartbroken! What if that finally that you begin to trust someone, you again go through a heartbreak? What juzzbaatt would you go through at that moment - anger; sorrow?
Can't people understand the 'juzzbaatt' behind believing someone? Can't they understand the 'juzzbaatt' that person might go through during and after you break the person's trust?
How easy is it to break someone's trust and ruin their juzzbaatt?
How difficult is it to understand someone's juzzbaatt of helplessness?
How to put the juzzbaatt that you go through as you discover a truth, into words? How to control the chaos of juzzbaatt during that moment?
Meherunissa and Naushad go through few moments in their lives where their juzzbaatt(s) overflow but they go almost numb! Let's know why!
Timidly, Meher reaches the place where he asked her to come and meet. Reaching there hadn't been an easy task. Going through all those feelings of nervousness; afraid of getting caught by family; worrying about coming into view of the world - everything that she once went through years ago, isn't an easy thing to endure again! A feeling that she abhors today! And specifically when a bitter past is invading your life again, what worse can there be anything for you to feel?
But this she isn't doing because the residue of the feelings she once had for him is left in her heart. No, absolutely not! There is nothing in her heart for him except - hatred and regret! He is amongst those pasts of her life that she would love to extract out of her life and destroy them forever! But alas! when has life been easy on her? And one of the main reasons for her life to turn out to what it is at the moment - is this person to meet whom she is here! This she is doing to end what began a long time ago and took rest for few years and it's back in her life again to ruin it!
She was confident when she left her house to come here. Confident that today she would not get timid in front of this devil and come out victorious. Let him know that she is not interested in him and may he cease to show his inclination towards her!
She is matured, actually more matured than the girls of her age, he cannot manipulate her this time, again! And then the past experiences have taught her big deal, and that's exactly the reason of her maturity isn't it?
And why would he do anything? They are here to talk and end this calmly so why should she be nervous about anything?
Despite having thought all that and mentally prepared for everything that comes her way through this meeting, at this moment, standing at the threshold of his room, Meher's feet are shaking!
The place where she is right now, is a chawl kind of, something better than that may be. The area gives her a feeling that he must be staying here on rent. Another thought enters her mind - is it even his house or he is misleading her? This thought increases her breathing rate. But no, she cannot get nervous now. If she is doing this, she needs to stand bold in front of him, to let him know that she ain't scared of him. Nervousness is not allowed! But how can this be his house?
Where is his family? - she wonders!
This is not the right time to think about all that. Let's get to him and be done with this, once and for all! Let's end this! Thinking this, nervous still, she knocks the door.
Little did she know, this is not the end, but a new beginning! Beginning that she never thought about even in her wildest dreams! Her juzzbaatt is that of nervousness mingled with confidence. Only that the amount of confidence makes it almost negligible.
Within moments he opens the door for her and welcomes her with a big smile on his face as if elated to find her there. As if he was craving to be with her like crazy! He cares less about how Meher is hesitating to look towards him. And even if he does notice, he takes it as shyness of Meher over her nervousness and afraid. Such a heartless he is!
He makes way for her to enter the room. Meher enters nervously, making sure that she doesn't by any means touch him or he tries to touch her. He doesn't make any effort to touch her, such a gentleman he is!
He shuts the door, locking it after she enters. He doesn't forget to check that no one has followed her uptil there whilst closing the door.
Whom exactly are you concerned about by the way? Who do you think might have followed Meher to here?
Satisfied that she is alone, he shuts the door and puts the latch. The sound of which skips Meher's heartbeat and she turns to look towards the latch. She doesn't understand why staring at it she feels - this is it! She falls into a dilemma. She wants to run away yet wants to stay a little while to sort out this situation and throw him out of her life. But again she also goes numb as he latches the door!
She looks back towards him. Thank heavens that he is maintaining the distance!
"Baitho!",
he says, ever so politely, as if his voice; his thoughts about her is made up of nothing but honey! As if no one can be polite to Meher as much as he is right now!
"Nahi! Main yahan theek hun!",
she declines, trying to keep her nervousness at bay and not letting it to reflect through her voice!
But little does she know that a devil like the person standing in front of her, he can never be mislead!
Smiling still, showing himself to be polite on her, he says,
"Meher... daro mat main...",
he trails off, thinking something and then says,
"Chalo theek hai, I won't force you!"
At this moment she remembers how she lied to Jannat and her mother that she has some work in hospital and hence going out at this hour of the day. She of course never wanted to lie
to them, but she couldn't even tell them the truth! This shawl that she is draping is to hide her face from the world. She doesn't want anyone to know that she is here to meet this monster at this hour of the day! Her eyes follow him just to remain prepared if he tries to get closer to her.
Taking his seat calmly on the threshold of the bed, he picks up his glass filled with wine from the side table and shows the audacity to offer her, showing himself polite to ask her,
"Drink?"
Meher looks away. She is not here to have a gala time with him.
"Jo bhi kehna hai jaldi kaho, mujhe ghar jana hai!",
she says trying to keep her voice audible and less shaky.
"Mujhe laga tha abhi tak Dr. Rizvi ki sophisticated aadatein lag gayi hongi tumko!",
he taunts her, looking towards her, serious.
Meher rolls her eyes. He is irritating her all the more now.
Then again with that infectious smile on his face he offers again,
"Chalo koi baat nahi, do minute to baith jao?"
Meher looks towards him timidly.
He arches his brows, smiling still, indicating her to consider his request.
Getting into the conclusion that there is not much harm in sitting, Meher slowly sits on the chair he indicated towards, sitting at the edge, holding the handle of the chair as if prepared to run away any moment she feels he is forcing her for anything; or himself on her!
"Bolo!",
she says, after mustering courage and looks towards him. To keep the conversation minimal and end it soon, she choose to use one words as much as possible.
Smiling still, he continues with his fake sugar coated words,
"Meher main tumse betahasha pyar karta hun!",
Meher stares him, controlling her anger surging through her.
She lowers her eyes out of disgust!
"Tumhe andaza bhi nahi hai main tumhe kitna miss karta hun!",
he adds further and this makes the adrenaline rush inside Meher to increase further. How she is managing to stay cool in front of him only she knows!
Smiling lovingly at her he continues praising her,
"Tumhari smile... tumhari khushboo...!"
Meher shuts her eyes tight and takes a deep breath giving herself courage to endure him. She suddenly feels if tomorrow someone asks her what's hell and heaven like? She is sure she can describe both now - heaven is Kashmir, her homeland and hell... this is hell where she is right now! When she was coming to meet him of course she wasn't excited about it at all, but she didn't know in a place which is said to be paradise, heaven - Kashmir, she is going straight to hell!
Meher through her stare conveys him how she is feeling offended by his words.
Smiling, acting to be surprised, he shows the audacity to ask her, though politely,
"Tum... itna naraz kyun ho?"
"Tum mera atit ho!",
she tells him, clearly.
This surges anger through him. The smile vanishes and he tells her firmly, glaring her,
"Naushad tumhe kabhi meri tarah pyar nahi kar payega!"
"Ye pyar nahi hai, it's blackmail!",
she tells him, looking straight into his eyes, firmly too!
"Tumne mujhe dhamki di, isliye main yahan hun.",
she lets him know.
Her words triggers his anger. Showcasing his psycho self, he gets down to her, holding the handles of the chair she is sitting on, he looks straight into his eyes, desperately and tells her urgently,
"I love you Meher!"
Meher shifts back in her chair, trying to maintain distance, she is scared of him for sure, especially since she is gauging his psycho tendencies.
"I don't!",
she says firmly, looking straight into his eyes. If he is adamant she is adamant too!
Her reply increases his anger, shutting his eyes for fraction of seconds he shakes his head, trying to keep his anger under control.
Sighing, he gets up, his level of anger increasing with each passing moment. Meher remains unaware to what evil thoughts is his mind advancing towards!
"I love you!",
he declares loud and clear, staring her.
"Stop it Irfan!",
she commands more than requests him, pissed off his adamant and psycho nature.
But nothing affects the monster!
With an increased rate of heartbeat as the anger surges through him, he states again bending a little into her,
"MEHER I LOVE YOU!"
Meher stays quiet, not looking towards him out of anger and frustration.
"I...",
he takes a deep breath, staring her, his anger reaches the top most level.
His heartbeat cannot be more than this, as his anger knows no bounds at this moment.
"I love you!",
he repeats and slaps her tightly to bring out his pent up anger!
Reaching closer to her, holding the hands of the chair she is sitting on, tightly, he shouts in her ear,
"I... LOVE YOU!!",
scolding her!
This is it! Meher won't endure this for any longer now, she concludes! As her pain of her cheek soothes a little, she turns to glare him, hurt, pain evident in her eyes. Her eyes welled up!
With all her force, she pushes him and runs for her life! But he is quicker than her. He grabs her tightly and starts pushing her back into the room whilst shouting at her, losing his cool completely,
"Samajh nahi aa raha hai tujhe? I love you!"
And slaps her again this time with more force than before! This leads to her falling down and hitting the ground. Her forehead gets bruised from the left corner. Pain surges through her again! She cries as a result of not only the hurt he inflicted just now but also out of the feeling of getting stuck here with him, all alone!
Unable to control his anger, and desperately wanting to teach her a lesson about how she should not mess with him, he gets down to her, holding her he forces her to turn to him, putting his body weight on her!
Meher gets horrified as she realizes where this is leading towards!!! She widens her eyes, shouts at him, pleads him, all at the same time. Her heart beating frantically!
"Irfan nahiii!!!!",
she shouts in horror looking towards him, whilst trying to get out of his hold.
But through his manly power he manages to hold her wrists tightly, crossing her wrists, to make it all the more suffocative and difficult for her to free her hands. His mind gets empowered by the animal instincts inside him!
Truth be told, when he called her here, this was not what was in his mind. He expected a little forcing from his side to her, to come into talking terms and accept him as her lover! But now that she is not reading to accept his proposal and also angered him too, he couldn't help but show her to what extent he could go, if his demands are not met!
He rips off her dress whilst she pleads him crying,
"Irfaaann..."
And there comes another smash on her face to shut her down. She cries louder!
'5... 4... 3... 2... 1... yayyy!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU IRFAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!'
These words from her past, ring in her ears and breaks gradually the little strength she had to fight with him!
"Naushaaaddd!!!!",
she shouts in desperate need of help!
"Khuda ke liye nahi Irfan!",
she pleads crying.
"Irfan please...!",
she pleads desperately.
Fed up of hearing her shouts and pleas, Irfan pushes her head strongly on the floor and she goes numb! She feels as if she is hallucinating everything! Slowly moving towards getting unconscious whilst he continues with what he was doing. Putting more pressure out of anger. The hurting of her head and the pressure from his side together make Meher to move slowly towards unconscious state! But he completely unaware of her state, continues mercilessly! Staring her out of anger!
He rips her clothes all the more, which triggers Meher's emotions and it bears the potential to bring her back from her dizzy and unconscious state!
She shouts in horror again, shaking her head into negative, her eyes wide open out of horror,
"Irfaan...",
beating him continuously.
Nothing melts the stone hearted man! He rather covers her mouth to make her pleas die down and inaudible for any passer by! Covering of her mouth makes the pain all the more intense as she gets refrained from shouting and hence bringing out her pent up emotions. The bottling up of everything inside her, makes all of it all the more horrible. And finally she gives up all hope, her body goes loose out of inability to fight further!
But the monster, he doesn't even feel that her protest has come to cease! Owing to which he could have slowed down and hence minimized her pain that he is inflicting into her. But his whole mind being occupied with the revenge he wants to take from her, refrains him to think clearly and understand!
''Trust'! 'Faith'! 'Belief'! have these words ceased to exist? Can't we trust someone without worrying about all negative things? Can't we lay our faith in someone? Belief, is it that difficult to believe someone today?',
thinks Meher resting on her bed.
She is fed up of crying.
He after doing the shameful offence, waited for her to fully gain back her consciousness. Then he dropped her to her home!
Meher having zero courage and strength after going through the most painful and life shattering event of her life, submitted to his decision of dropping her to her house. She obviously kept quiet throughout the ride to her home. Truth be told she didn't even know where she is going and with whom - the culprit!
Dropping her at the front of her home, he doesn't even care to make sure whether she reached inside her home properly or not, and he leaves, caring less about her.
What it took for her to cover the short distance to get inside her home, only she knows! The pain; the burning sensation don't seem to cease ever!
Bruised and hurt, Meher is completely shattered! Slowly she reaches her room making sure no one get hold of her. She needs time to calm down. She is not in a state to react. She wants to stay quiet and think about it. Accept it! Because acceptance is necessary for moving on with her life. But life? Does it even have any value for her right now?
Suicidal thought is out of the list because being a dotted daughter she can never betray the entrusted faith of her father. She cannot abandon her family! Despite the fact that her Ammi and Khala look after most of the family matters but that doesn't mean she is freed from all the responsibilities towards her family. In fact her getting matured much earlier than her age, binds her all the more to her family and becomes a restrain from trying suicidal attempts.
She cannot even share this incident with anyone! The reason is somewhat the same as to her not attempting suicide! And then, it's a shame isn't it? And also will they understand? From where would she start dictating? How much would she share and how much would she keep from them out of guilt and shame, she knows not!
She shuts her eyes tight in order to refrain her mind from stop thinking over and over again! Not just physically but she is mentally tired too. Taking a deep breath, the first thing she decides is to change her clothes. The clinging of the clothe to her skin is giving her a sense of disgust! She is going to discard this dress of hers, she decides! Slowly she walks to her cupboard, bringing out her white night dress she goes into the bathroom to change. She also needs to wash, it's burning like hell! She needs to take bath too, her mind is clouded with all dirty thoughts about herself and to think rationally, she needs to calm herself down. She knows bath will work for her!
Standing under the shower, she couldn't control herself any longer and bursts out into cry! And why won't she? She has all the rights to cry! To bring out all her pent up frustration! Anger? there is none! Because she is left with zero stamina to shower her anger on to the culprit! She knows even to think about him and boiling her blood out of anger for him; cursing him, needs stamina! At this moment she is in a state that if anyone pushes her a little, even with her or his finger, she might collapse on the floor! Because she is not only physically tortured but mentally broken too! Her mind at this moment is blank out of over thinking. She cries hard!
Turning off the shower, dressing up slowly she gets out of the bathroom. The constant burning sensation makes her to feel the urgency to use the washroom. Placing the changed dress and her towel on the bed, Meher gets into the washroom. After having washed, even after which the residue of burning sensation persists, she ends up crying again. Resting her back against the wall of the washroom, she slides down crying throughout, soundlessly.
Jannat who was sharing the bed with her, happens to turn around and out of habit she stretches her hand to place it on Meher's tummy, this is her best sleeping position, she feels secured this way, secured that Meher is there for her and relaxed that she is there for Meher. Her eyes springs open as she instead of feeling Meher's presence, feels the empty bed! As Jannat opens her eyes and searches for Meher, still in her sleeping position, Jannat discovers a vivid red spot on the bed!
She quickly gets up and walking to the washroom of their room, knocks the door softly,
"Badi..!"
When no replies come from the other side, she knocks again,
"Meher!"
"Bohot heavy flow ho raha hai? Main badey waley pads le aun?",
asks Jannat, when she doesn't get any reply from Meher, she presumes that she must not be feeling well enough to reply and hence asks further.
"Main... theek hun...!",
comes Meher's shaky voice.
"Ro rahi ho?",
asks Jannat, concerned, who still takes the reason behind her crying to be the monthly pain.
"Cramps ho rahe hain?",
asks Jannat, softly, concerned.
"Main na Ammi ko bula kar lati hun!",
saying so she turns to leave.
Meher gets scared on her mentioning of their mother. She somehow quickly manages to get up and opens the door, revealing herself in front of Jannat.
The demeanor of Meher, her crying... everything, takes Jannat by shock! She widens her eyes and exclaims,
"Meherrr!!!"
Her loud voice wakes up Bano and Amaal too.
Getting into the bathroom, in shock, Jannat whilst asking her further, holds the sleeves of Meher's top to check properly,
"Meher ye... kya hua???!!!"
Her touch hurts Meher all the more, she cries in pain,
"Aah!"
Amaal and Bano shocked to find her sister in this state stares her in horror!
Amaal calls out to Meher in shock,
"Didi!!!"
Unable to control herself, Meher burst into cry again!! Fresh tears roll down her cheeks. She looks heavenwards and cries bitterly. She has never felt so helpless ever in her life! She who always tried keeping check on ever move she makes in her life, aware of the fact that her younger sisters would learn from her and follow her path, feels herself as a big failure at this moment! Henceforth, she might not be able to give them any good lesson through her deeds! She feels ashamed of herself! The guilt engulfs her all over again. Her legs turn jelly. Had it not been Jannat supporting her body weight she would have collapsed on the floor right at that moment.
"Ye chont kaise lagi?",
asks Jannat in urgency, her eyes widen open. Her heart beating at tremendous pace. By the look of her, her sister Jannat had already subconsciously understood the reason behind it. But sometimes we reject to accept an ill thought of ours until and unless we hear it from the person himself! That's what Jannat is doing too. She wants to hear it from Meher, not because she would enjoy hearing it from her but because she wants to believe yet that where her mind is going towards, seeing her sister, is all rubbish! This has to be something else. Breathing frantically out of anxiety, trying to control her throbbing heart, Jannat asks again, raising her voice a little to bring out the truth from Meher,
"Meher kisne kiyaaa???"
Meher not in a state to say anything continues crying. Resting her back against the wall she slides down slowly, not having energy to stand for longer period.
"Meher!!!",
calls Jannat, wanting her to speak up. Understanding Meher's state properly but she also knows that Meher needs to speak up only then Jannat would be able to take some step.
She knows if Meher is strong, she is also fragile! Jannat also knows that only she - Jannat, can teach the culprit the right lesson, that he deserves to be taught! But for that Meher needs to speak up in front of Jannat, which she knows would be a tough job!
Surprisingly, this incident not only turned Jannat all the more matured but it also affected her three sisters! With her, even they got matured today.
Amaal who was only known for doing crazy stuffs, too understands the situation of her eldest sister. She chooses to stay by Meher's side and support her! She quickly, changes the bedsheet. As for Amaal she washes the previous bedsheet, as a measure to hide it from their family! Of course it wasn't a big deal even if it weren't washed by her, but sometimes even if it's a minor thing for others to notice, but the guilt inside you, makes the matter to look wider than it is! There is this constant tension that you go through of getting caught even if for others the matter seems to be negligible, and they actually neglect it!
Bano noiselessly leaves the room, entering the kitchen she boils milk and mixes kesar, baadam and sugar into it, so that it gives Meher strength. Bano cries noiselessly, whilst preparing the milk. She is the most sensitive one amongst the four sisters. She literally shivers thinking about what her Meher Didi must be going through right now! She wipes off her tears quickly. Carrying the tray bearing the glass of milk for Meher, she leaves for her room.
As Bano enters with the milk, Meher's eyes fall on her. Bano notices Jannat applying medicines on Meher's wounds and Meher's hissing in pain.
Amaal is busy putting the bedsheet to dry in the varandah. Meher notices all her sisters and suddenly a knot forms in her throat as a realization dawns upon her - this incident not only affected Meher but her sisters alike! This incident not only turned her more matured but made her sisters matured too! It hurts her all the more. She of course wanted her sisters to get matured on few things like fighting with each other over minor stuffs, but she never wanted them to get away from their innocence which she knows they still possess! But today she could see the innocence leaving her girls, and hurts her to the core! And the fact that it is on her account, takes the feeling to another level!
They all help Meher to rest back into the bed. Her whole body aches doing so. They adjust the quilt on to her. Jannat knits her brows secretly and gets adament about punishing the culprit!
Unable to control her anger, Jannat walks to the bedside table, pulling a drawer open she brings out a diary and forwards it in front of Meher and asks,
"Isne kiya na ye sub?"
This skips Meher's heartbeat. She stares Jannat, shocked! She slowly gets up and sits on the bed, Bano and Amaal help her in doing so.
Staring Jannat throughout, she asks,
"Sub parh liya tumne?"
Jannat stares back silently. Her silences is the answer to Meher's question.
Feeling ashamed and heartbroken, Meher bows her head and starts crying again.
"Usse pyar karti ho?",
asks Jannat, politely.
Meher adjusts on the bed. Amaal helps her to set her back against the pillow behind. Whilst all this Meher shares her juzzbaatt regarding the culprit with Jannat and her other three sisters,
"Karti thi! Bohot arse pehle!"
"Ussi ke kehne par..."
It becomes difficult for Meher to control her tears, she cries afresh, and forces her voice out of her choked throat, which hurts her throat so much but she endures, after all when she has endured so much, this is nothing in it's comparison!
"Aaj bhi main... usse milne gayi thi, ye sub khatam karne ke liye!",
she cries bitterly, as the feeling of being fooled and being foolish enough to go to meet him, engulfs her. It feels as if the guilt would strangle her to death!
Jannat unable to bear seeing her hurt and crying sits on the bed moving her hand lovingly on Meher's knees to calm her down. Jannat's heart breaks into million pieces. She is closest to Meher! It becomes difficult for her to endure seeing her in pain!
Standing at corner, Bano weeps silently staring her sisters, especially Meher!
Crying, Amaal asks Meher lovingly,
"Ye kon hai Didi?"
"Mere... mere professor!",
says Meher, nervously.
"Shadi shuda the. Mujhe pata nahi tha.",
says Meher, shaking her head into negative.
"Sharam aati hai...",
she trails off and bursts into tears again.
"Nahi Didi!",
console Bano and Amaal in unison.
Rubbing their hands on Meher's back lovingly. Giving her strength.
Jannat stares Meher, knitting her brows, feeling sorry for her and silently getting prepared to take revenge! Because she knows the juzzbaatt of the Mirza sisters at this moment can only be soothed when they do something major! Takes a major step!
They all cry silently with Meher!
Controlling herself, she looks towards Jannat and says,
"Isliye Khala jab Salman Beigh ke saath thi... tumhe lagta hai main unke khilaf hun?",
she asks Jannat.
"Jannat meri rooh kampti thi ye soch ke ki iska hashra acha nahi hoga!",
she says shaking her head into negative, crying throughout.
Getting up out of anger, Jannat says with full power, feeling the adrenaline rush,
"Abhi police ke paas jakar iske khilaf F.I.R. likhate hain!"
Meher gets scared! Looking towards Jannat, she shakes her head into negative in quick succession,
"Na..hi... nahi... Jannat... nahi... police... nahi... please... Jannat...!",
Meher gets anxious, as she knows how Jannat is! When she decides something, it gets difficult for others to change her decision. And Meher doesn't want to complain to police at all!
Amaal and Bano hold Meher, concerned.
Jannat gets pissed off by Meher's foolishness. She raises her voice to put brain into her sister,
"Meher he raped you!"
"Humare paas abhi bhi waqt hai, hum usse ander karwa sakte hain, taki wo kisi aur ke saath ye harkat na kare!",
says Jannat.
Meher shuts her eyes tight, crying. Bano cries along.
Opening her eyes, Meher pleads Jannat, crying,
"Nahi Jannat, subko pata chal jayega!"
"Main Ammi-Abu se kabhi nazrein nahi mila paungi!"
"Meri zindagi, mera carrier... sub kuch khatam ho jayega!",
says Meher, whilst crying bitterly.
Jannat hearing her Meher, falls into dilemma and looks heavenwards.
"Nahi Didi, Ammi-Abbu aise nahi hain!",
assures Bano.
Her voice drags Jannat's attention and she looks towards Bano, still puzzled.
"Nahi... subki nazron mein main gunhegar banungi!",
says Meher.
Her voice makes Jannat to shift her attention back to Meher.
"Aur meri qualifications! Uss pe bhi sub shaq karenge kyunki wo mera professor tha!"
"Please Jannat please... Jannat... Jannat please... no...!",
pleads Meher.
Helpless, Jannat finally accepts,
"Theek hai Meher! Lekin tumhe insaaf zarur milega!",
she promises her, determined.
"Iss tarah se nahi to... kisi aur tareeke se!"
~*~*~
Reaching Azi and Raghu, Jannat blazing with anger says,
"Ek rapist ko phodna hai, saath dogey?"
They don't take even moments to think about it and readily volunteer themselves!
Together they reach the rapist's house and knocks the door.
The moment he opens the door they don't even give them time to say anything and beat him black and blue!
Jannat tries to go to beat him but Azi stops her while Raghu continues beating him.
Jannat warns him whilst trying to get out of Azi's hold to beat the culprit,
"Meher ke kareeb bhi mat ana else I'll kill you!!"
Azi keeps dragging her out of the house.
As they leave him bruised on the floor, just where Meher was when he forced himself on her, he laughs devil's laughter!
~*~*~
Amaal gives soft massage to Meher's wound on her face using a towel. Meher notices how her little sister is holding back her tears. A person who spends most of her time in watching movies, hasn't left her side even for a moment since the time she discovered everything. This touches Meher's heart. Suddenly by mistake Amaal puts a little more pressure that makes Meher to hiss in pain.
"Aaoo!",
cries Meher, getting out of her thoughts.
Amaal gets nervous and quickly removes the towel.
"Sorry Didi, bohot zor se kar rahi hun?",
she asks, apologetically.
"Nahi theek hai.",
assures Meher, smiling a little.
Anger surges through Amaal, and she says, whilst massaging,
"I swear Didi, main usse maar dungi!"
This is the first time Meher witnesses this side of her youngest sister Amaal! She stares her, reading her level of anger.
Reaching her, Jannat says,
"Ab wo tumhe pareshan nahi karega!"
This skips Meher's heartbeat. She doesn't believe her sister Jannat when it comes to teaching someone a lesson politely! But that monster doesn't deserve politeness Meher, period!
"Kya kiya tumne?",
asks Meher, nervous, looking towards Jannat.
"Tum uski fikr mat karo!",
says Jannat.
Giving Meher a stern look to dare her to scold her for doing that! When Meher remains quiet and puzzled, Jannat leaves.
Thinking about it for some moments, Meher gets up.
"Kahan ja rahi ho Didi?",
asks Bano.
Collecting her files and other stuffs, Meher replies,
"Hospital!"
Shocked on hearing her, Bano and Amaal get up in hurry.
"Didi please, aaj mat jao na...",
requests Amaal.
"Aaj rehne do!",
requests Bano.
"Jana parhega!",
says Meher, with no feeling what so ever!
Suddenly Meher remembers, she turns and says to Bano,
"Oh han Bano tum mera ek kaam kar dogi...",
saying so Meher forwards a chit to her.
"Janey se pehle ye contraceptive pills le aogi, main le leti hun fir chali jaungi hospital.",
she says, her eyes lowered out of hesitation.
Walking to her Amaal volunteers,
"Lao Di main le aati hun!"
Meher takes her hand back and says,
"Amaal, contraceptive hai."
She doesn't care and takes it from her,
"Koi baat nahi! Main le aungi. Aap baitho yahan, main bus panch minute mein aati hun.",
saying so Amaal leaves for the market.
It takes her time to return back. Meher gets restless.
"Ye Amaal kahan reh gayi?",
she says, staring towards the door of their room.
"Bus aati hi hogi.",
assures Bano.
Amaal enters the room right at that moment.
"Amaal kitni der...!",
says Meher.
"Sorry Didi wo actually dukaan khuli nahi thi to dukaan khulne ka hi intezaar kar rahi thi. Pehli customer main hi thi.",
she assures her that she tried her best to hurry.
Meher smiles and pats Amaal lovingly on her left cheek.
"Abhi bohot der ho chuki hai mujhe, main ye hospital mein jakar le lungi!",
assures Meher.
"Par Di jaldi le lena... warna...",
says Bano nervously, then holds her tongue.
Meher smiles and assures her,
"Pakka! Ab main chalun?",
she smiles again, just to bring smile on their faces.
They nod in affirmative, not really wanting her to go.
They walk after her and make sure that their Meher Didi is fine.
Meher slowly climbs down the stairs.
She doesn't realize that her Ammi is sitting at the veranda and reading newspaper.
"Meher, apko der ho gayi beta!",
her mother calls from behind, as she finds Meher crossing by.
Her voice drags Meher out of her thoughts. She quickly draps her shawl especially covering her face, hiding her bruises.
"Haan Ammi... wo subah... ankh zara.. der se khuli...! Der ho rahi hai Ammi chalti hun!",
she quickly makes excuse and slowly climbs down the three stairs, although she tries her level best to increase her speed in front of her mother to not let her know about her state!
Her mother does find her being late weird but shrugs it off thinking that she must have been tired last night.
"Khair se jaiyega!",
calls out her Ammi, while she leaves.
Amaal and Bano bearing the feeling of sorrow in their voices, call out to Meher,
"Khuda hafis Didi!"
Meher takes a deep breath as she gets away from her home's premises.
As she leaves, Meher's mother turn to look towards Bano and Amaal and asks them,
"Aap dono abhi tak nahayi nahi hain? Aur subah subah ro rahi hain?"
"Itni badi ho gayi hain aap dono, lekin akal ratti bhar ki nahi ayi hai!",
says their mother, showing herself to be fed up of them.
"Ab kisne jhagda shuru kiya?",
asks their mother.
Amaal replies to it,
"Ammi galti meri hai!"
Baano stops her and takes the blame on her,
"Nahi Ammi galti meri hai!"
They say sorry to each other. Their mother finds it weird!
Together they get into the house.
Dirty Irfan shamelessly proclaimed his love for Meher n when Meher opposed it mercilessly he raped her.It was a very painful scene.When she called Naushad 4 help...it touched my heart.wish she wasn't raoed n naushad had rescued her like a fairy tae Prince.But I feel Meher should not have gone to meet Irfan when he called her.I don't understand why she met him secretly.She should have ignored him though he was after her in every way
Dirty Irfan shamelessly proclaimed his love for Meher n when Meher opposed it mercilessly he raped her.It was a very painful scene.When she called Naushad 4 help...it touched my heart.wish she wasn't raoed n naushad had rescued her like a fairy tae Prince.But I feel Meher should not have gone to meet Irfan when he called her.I don't understand why she met him secretly.She should have ignored him though he was after her in every way
Meher reaches in front of the hospital and stares up towards the building. She knows she is about to meet him. She will have to face him. A knot forms in her throat. She gets nervous! She suddenly wants to run back to her home. Why didn't she listen to her sisters and skipped coming to hospital today? Why?
She knows the reason very well - Naushad!
She knows that it would be next to impossible for her to face him today. Of course he knows nothing about what she went through, hours ago. But she knows! How after knowing everything would she be able to meet his eyes? But what's the big deal in looking into his eyes Meher? There in the hospital are surely many other people as well apart from him; especially many other male doctors, are you scared of meeting them as well?
Yes she certainly is! She would hate to even stand close to any male co-doctors! It would be difficult for her to trust anyone now! But with Dr. Rizvi, it is different! She is ashamed and nervous about what he might think if he discovers the truth? What if he stops talking to her?
The mere thought of his refraining to talking to her all over again like old times, sends shivers down her spine! She doesn't want to return to point zero (0) with him!
But at the same time, she is craving to see him. Her throbbing heart will get rest only when he comes in front of her. She is feeling she has betrayed his trust in her and only if he talks to her politely will she get relaxed, hence she is here today, not wanting to delay meeting him!
Shutting her eyes tight she shakes her head and clears her mind. Sighing, she opens her eyes and looks towards the hospital. Taking a deep breath she enters!
Whilst wearing her white coat, she enters the room where she knows her class would be conducted. The moment she enters Naushad stares her. His heart skips a beat. She is finally there for whom he was waiting since... what feels like ages!
Walking ahead Dr. Naushad taunts her playfully, smiling a little,
"Ayiye! Sirf teen ghanta late! Par shukriya apne aney ki zehmat to uthayi!",
saying so he looks towards her, his hands tugged into the pockets of his trousers.
By now they are walking together followed by other interns.
"Sorry Dr. Rizvi! Khala ki mehndi hai, unki madad kar rahi thi!",
Meher makes excuse, her eyes cascaded down out of hesitation, especially because she is lying to him!
Naushad looks towards her, hearing her carefully.
"Raat ko bhi hospital se seedhe ghar mein hi chali gayi!",
she deliberately says this. Or rather it's her feeling of guilt that makes her to clarify herself without being asked to do that!
Naushad of course having no idea about what all she went through takes her excuse as real. But he also finds her demeanor and her behaviour odd! Where is that stubborn, witty Meher that he knows?
They reach one patient and asks Dr. Khan to start with his work of explanation about the case of the child. Dr. Khan takes over.
Naushad and Meher stand just in front of the bed of the patient on either side, maintaining a gap between them. But both of them completely aware of each other's presence! Where on one hand Meher bites her nails, out of nervousness, wanting this practical class to end so that she could get away from Naushad, there on the other hand Naushad not focusing on the explanation of Dr. Khan looks towards Meher, sheepishly. He still feels her getting aloof, away from him. She certainly is not behaving normal today! She hasn't even looked towards him yet! She never does that. In fact she makes sure to look at him, the first thing she does after coming to the hospital.
Meher who thinks that she does it very cleanly, without letting anyone know about it, fails to know that Naushad knows it all! Nothing is hidden from him!
But at this moment, Naushad is somewhat certain, that something surely is hidden from him! What, he needs to unravel!
~*~*~
Fatima's husband happens to come to Dr. Rizvi to get his blood pressure checked.
"Bohot hi sangeen symptoms hai professor sahab!",
says Dr. Naushad, seriously.
Fatima's would be husband gets nervous and stares Dr. Naushad.
"Shadi ki excitement aur...",
Dr. Naushad pauses to increase the tension, then adds,
"Gas!",
and laughs silently.
This makes the Professor to sigh in relief.
He laughs finally, while Dr. Naushad gets busy in writing the prescription.
"Wo... aaj lunch panch baje hua na. Ah.. kyunki Fatima aur main Srinagar se aatey aatey late ho gaye!",
says the Professor.
His innocent confession skips Naushad's heartbeat! He stops preparing the prescription and looks towards Professor in astonishment, knitting his brows.
"Aaj aap dono shehr mein nahi the?",
asks Naushad, politely. Inside his heart beats frantically, hoping that he somehow says that Fatima was there!
But alas! his reply doesn't seem to be very welcoming to Naushad,
"Abhi-abhi wapas aye the! Dargah gaye the!"
Still unable to believe that Meher lied to him, that too for no apt reason which he could think of, makes Naushad to go numb and into a deep thinking about why she lied to him?
"Aap aaj shaam ko aa rahe hain na?",
asks the Professor.
This drags Naushad's attention, he looks towards him. Realizing that he cannot show in front of him that he is tensed, he quickly replies,
"Ji...?? Ji Zarur!",
plastering a smile on his face.
He hands over the prescription to the Professor, thinking about Meher throughout.
Patting on his back lovingly, Professor gets to leave, saying,
"Theek hai milte hain!"
~*~*~
Getting opportunity to be alone, Meher walks towards the canteen whilst unwrapping the packet of contraceptive pills. She empties the packet and quickly puts the medicines into her coat's pocket deciding to put them into a small jar as she reaches back home. She realizes that keeping the packet in her home would be risky! If she puts the tablets in a small jar or bottle, no one would much pay attention to it.
Doing so, she discards the empty packet of the pills into an empty trash box.
She enters the canteen to get water. Taking a glass of water she decides to sit there, wanting to rest for some moments as she is aware soon she'll again have to get busy and won't get time to sit and rest. She occupies an empty table in the canteen.
She gulps the tablet quickly. She prays that it does it's work perfectly! She stays there for sometime that way, thinking about everything that happened with her!
"Dr. Mirza!"
Naushad's sudden voice skips Meher's heartbeat. Her heart starts beating frantically. Quickly gaining back her equilibrium, she makes sure that her hair is hiding her bruise of her face.
"Ji!",
she says, her eyes and voice, low.
Walking across her table, he takes his seat in front of her.
Smiling sarcastically, he says,
"Aap jhoot badey itminaan se bol deti hain!"
This skips another of Meher's heartbeat. Has he got to know the truth? She wonders! She gets nervous.
"I mean aise...!"
"Apki Khala kal nahi, aaj Srinagar se wapas ayi hain!",
he declares, smiling sarcastically.
"Am I right?",
he asks, smiling sarcastically still.
Meher looks heavenwards! Praying silently to end this conversation here!
She is stuck now, she needs to say something!
"Haan wo... ek family emergency thi!",
she lies again, trying to look towards Naushad as less as possible.
"A... main apko samjha nahi payi!",
she adds further.
"Isliye apne jhoot bol diya?",
he says plainly, sarcasm evident in his voice. Hurt evident in his voice.
Before she could say anything, her phone vibrates. She checks the name it's Jannat! Naushad tries to read the name but fails.
"I am sorry I'll have to take this!",
she says and takes the call as a means of escape.
Naushad who is completely aware of the fact that she is trying to avoid the discussion, sarcastically encourages her to pick the call, saying,
"Please...!",
indicating with his hand to pick up the call, sarcastic smile plastered on his face throughout.
It hurts Meher as she smells the sarcasm but she feels helpless. Getting into the empty room, she ends the call as she is in no mood to talk to anyone. It wasn't any important call at first place!
Unaware that he has followed her into the room, Naushad's voice skips Meher's heartbeat,
"Dr. Mirza!",
his voice soft, understanding.
"Boyfriend hona koi gunah nahi hai!",
he says, keeping aside all his emotions - hurt, frustration, anguish, melancholy.
Meher chooses to stay quiet.
Naushad continues,
"Lekin jab aap jhoot bolne lage; aur wo apke kaam mein khalal dalne lagey to..."
Meher intervenes, never turning to look towards him,
"Dr. Rizvi mera koi boyfriend nahi hai!",
she states clearly.
Shutting her eyes, she takes a deep breath. Opening them she justifies more,
"Main Khala ki mehndi aur Id ke liye aaj jaldi fahrukh hona chahungi, if that's okay?"
Knowing that she is still hiding something from him, frustration surges through him. He rejects her request, punishing her for being stubborn in front of him.
"Apki shift panch bajey tak hai aur mehndi nau baje!",
he states in a single breath, making it clear that he knows at least everything about this, if not everything about her, so she cannot befool him here!
"Aap tayar ho chuki hain! Aur roza hum sub ke saath yahan tod sakti hain!",
his each word reflects his increasing anger towards Meher.
Meher's heartbeat picks up pace. She feels guilty for hurting him, but she has no other option but to show her stubborness in front of him. It is hurting her too to hurt him!
"Apni extra curricular activities ke liye please don't misuse our friendship!",
his final words pierce her heart.
"Dr. Rizvi it's a family emergency!",
she clarifies, feeling offended.
"Meri tafteesh kyun ho rahi hai?",
she asks, acting to be pissed off! Inside she understands why this is affecting him!
Glaring her, trying to control his increased rate of heartbeat, Naushad states clearly, grinding his teeth out of anger,
"Mujhe iss kism ke jhootey games pasand nahi hai Dr. Mirza!"
Meher's heart skips a beat! She knows he is innocent and he doesn't deserve this treatment from her. She feels guilty. Her cheeks turns crimson red out of guilt. Guilt about hiding the truth from Naushad.
"Khaskar doston ke saath!",
he finishes, lowering his eyes out of hesitation as he understands she is just not a friend to him...!
Her phone buzzes again and she makes it a medium to escape him, again!
"Excuse me!",
she says and leaves, making sure that he doesn't get to see her face.
Reaching the entrance of the room she receives the call and in a low voice says,
"Hello!... haan aa rahi hun main... two minutes...!"
Naushad hears it all and turns to look in front, his anger towards her persists!
She ends the call and never look back towards Naushad she says,
"Dr. Rizvi I am sorry!"
This drags Naushad's attention, he looks towards her.
"Meri Dr. Wali se baat ho chuki hai. Ke baad main double shift kar lungi, par aaj mujhe jana hoga!",
she says.
He knows that she understands everything what's brewing up between them but still her adamant self won't leave her! The thought increases his anger and he taunts her,
"Jaiye...!",
he stares her, then taunts further,
"It's okay!...",
when they both thought that it's the end of their conversation, Naushad gets this urge to add another three words that's exactly what he does,
"And please enjoy!",
sarcasm evident in his words and tone of speaking!
Meher chooses to stay quiet and leaves before they end up continuing the conversation further.
~*~*~
Meher returns back to the canteen and occupies the same table again.
After few moments Naushad enters the canteen too and walks to the table occupied by Meher.
"May I?",
asks Naushad, if he is allowed to sit with her or not.
His voice again, skips her heartbeat. She rolls her eyes and allows him,
"Please!"
"Thank you!",
says Naushad, occupying his seat.
Meher ignores to look towards him but Naushad keeps staring her, trying to read her, his elbows rested on the table such that his arms are standing horizontally, his fingers intertwined and resting on his lips.
Meher feels uncomfortable under his constant gaze. She starts fidgeting at her seat. Naushad notices all but never ends the stare!
Meher wonders why is he not saying anything, if he needs to! And if not, so why not he just ends with his staring her? Her heartbeat picks up pace.
Sighing, Naushad says,
"Apne juzzbaatt ko apne doston ke samne bayan karna. Unse apne juzzbaatt batne mein koi burayi nahi hai Dr. Mirza"
"Dr. Mirza?",
laughs Meher, sarcastically and looks towards him.
Her sarcasm pierces Naushad's heart.
Laughing sarcastically still, she says,
"Mujhe laga tha ab main apke liye Meher ho gayi hun? Sirf Meher!"
Naushad feels guilty about addressing her as Dr. Mirza.
"Fasle mehsus ho rahe hain mujhe!",
says Naushad, calmly.
"Aur aap koshish bhi nahi karenge inn faslon ki wajah dhundhne ki?",
asks Meher.
This irks Naushad.
Intertwining his fingers, his arms laid horizontally on the canteen table, knitting his brows, he says,
"Aap mujhe apne paas ana to durr... meri taraf aap dekh bhi nahi rahin! Ab aap hi batayiye ke iss bartaw ka main kya matlab nikalun?"
Staring him for sometimes, Meher changes her vision to her right, ignoring to look towards Naushad,
"Naushad please dheere boliye.",
she whispers.
"Mere tez bolne se apko problem ho rahi hai, to aap ye sochiye ke apke khamosh rehne se mujhe kitni bechaini ho rahi hogi?",
says Naushad.
This attracts Meher's attention. She stares him, knitting her brows. A knot forms in her throat. They stare each other. Naushad waits for her to say something, hoping that she understands his emotions about the situation.
"Mujhe thoda waqt dijiye.",
says Meher.
"Kis baat ke liye?",
asks Naushad.
Meher stares him, with this question Naushad succeeds in triggering her emotion of hurt and frustration.
Lowering her eyes, controlling her emotions, she says,
"Apko sub batane ke liye!"
Naushad stares her quietly for sometime, his brows knit together. Meher hesitates to look towards him, aware of his eyes on her.
"Theek hai diya!",
he says, calmly, never looking away from her, his brows still knit.
Meher relaxes a wee bit, hoping that this discussion is finished for now, that his next question skips her heartbeat and takes her juzzbaatt to another level!
"Bus aap mujhe ek baat bata dein...",
he says.
Meher stares him.
Never ending the eye contact, he brings out something from his pocket and places it on the table that they are sharing, his hand rested on the corner of the article he brought out,
"Iski apko zarurat kyun parh gayi?",
he asks, looking straight towards her, with knitted brow.
Meher's heart skips a beat! Her heartbeat picks up pace as her eyes rest on her discarded packet of contraceptive pills!
She stares at him in disbelief!
