Chapter 1
Kashaf stared out of her dormitory's window towards the clear blue bowl of the sky. Birds chirped in the nearby woods and some boys played basket ball in the court across the road. The place was solely reserved for the university and it's hostels. Away from the hastle and baslte and honking noise of the city. The first day was as ordinary as the first day could be. For Kashaf things were just ordinary nothing seemed to interest her; of course her books didn't account for this list. She was engrossed in them all the time and the little left of it was stolen away by her worries. Worries her mom told her to leave back home; worries she had still brought with herself.
"Don't worry Kashaf... there is nothing more important to me that your higher education... even if your father and your to-be in-laws detest it...me tumhe har haal me parhaon gi..." Rafia had said the day Kashaf got through the entry tests.
"Par ami... Karachi aur Khyber Pakhtun Khwa me bohat fasla hai... me itni duur app sab se kaise rahun gi?"
Rafia let out a little giggle followed by a slender sigh.
"Tum reh lo gi Kashaf... aur agar tum Saim ki waja se pressure me ho tu please..woh ek samajhdar larka hai...samajh jaye ga...mein baat karun gi us se..."
"Aur agar unho ne bhi wohi kaha jo abu keh ke gaye hai... ke woh ye engagement tor den gay...tu?"
"Kia tum un ki ek na-jaiz maang ki waja se apna sar un ke kadmon me de do gi?"
Rafia's words stunned her; she was surprised when her mother was more adamant to take the right decision and she was over thinking the matter for useless many times. Of course, the class she belonged to had never experienced such a case before either the girls graduated from the same city they belonged to or never insisted on doing it. But this was Kashaf, the brightest kid the Murtaza's had seen. The one who had her pocket money filled through her own hard work since the age of 16. She was an ardent programme designer since her teens and was keen on dealing with them over the internet. That was her way of supporting her mother and her sisters after her dad shifted houses.
Saim was her second cousin and Asmara's first. It was Saim's insistence on which they were engaged even when Rafia personally had some limitations. They were financially better people but weren't in favor of Kashaf going a different province, thousands of miles away from Karachi, to pursue her education. Kashaf was sure Saim would understand even if his mother insists. But was surprised when she heard his mom's words coming out of his mouth the last time she saw him.
"Kashaf...there are good universities in Karachi... why do you insist on going there." He had said.
"I can't see any problem there Saim... We had a deal that i wont marry until I graduate then what's the big deal if I study from the place i want to study from..."
"You people can't even afford so much a year Kashaf..." He said; his words stung her. She could never imagine him taunting her for her status; this was never him.
"You don't have to worry... We aren't begging you people..." She retorted back; forgetting her mother's words of being polite with Saim and his family.
"In any case... I wont allow that..."
"It's not an issue saim.."
"It is Kashaf..."
"You are only crouching low..."
"I don't care... this is my decision and my families too... you have to abide by it."
"I don't think so..." Kashaf said and left fuming at his audacity and belligerently over-possessive stance towards her. They were only engaged and he felt every right on her already? This was certainly not something she was so easily going to swallow.
And here she was miles and miles away from her family in her dream institute between the best students of the country. Saim never called back; she still hoped he would and clarify his behaviour that day and apologise for being rude. She would do that too but he had to be the one to take the first step because he was the one who argued it in the first place. She knew his anger would swoosh down in a few days and he would be back to his jolly reasonable self again. But little did she know this was going to take more time than she could imagine...
***
"Haye Zaroon..." Asmara came and settled down beside him after the class that day.
"Where is Osama...?" Zaroon asked after greeting her.
"Ho ga kahin third world me...I mean computer department...Why couldn't he just chose what we opted for...dumbass..." Asmara mused.
"Forget about him... why were you so obnoxious with your cousin the other day..."
"Come on Zaroon...You know me better than this... Do you even know where she lives... I wonder how did she make it here..."
"Top three Scholarship's and she is on number two... the department is going to go gaga over her..." Osama told them taking his seat beside Zaroon away from Asmara who felt like knocking him on his face. Zaroon was clearly impressed by the revelation.
"oh that bloody scholarship" Asmara fumed gulping water from her cup. "..Ab daikhna...kaise madam phooley nahi samaye gi...You guys better stay away from her..."
Osama threw his hands in the air.
"No way... maine tu paaper bailna shuru kar diye hain... I want her as my partner in those horrendous projects..."
Zaroon let out a laugh seeing Asmara turn tomato red.
"You are so typical Asmara..." He said.
"Look who's talking... you were the one trying to befriend her in the first place..."
"I really don't mind that..." He replied; his mind drifted a far.
***
The third semester ended with most of the department going gaga over the new bursting talent of the computer department; the department which was previously considered solemn was now brimming with students like Kashaf, Osama and Mariam. The three recently cleared the Semi-finals of Microsoft Imagine Cup of the year. This was the institutes first time and it had certainly put the three in the lime light.
"Congratulations Kashaf..." Zaroon had escaped Asmara to grab a company of the three that day.
"Thank You..."
"aaa... Zaroon" He told her his name as she was obviously not aware; even when he was The Man in his department and in most of the other departments a well ...but for some sake not for girls like Kashaf; who wont remember you the next time they see you.
She nodded but did not participate in the chit chat the three were having; instead was silently looking away with the occasional nods and half-hearted smiles. Zaroon observed how tactful she was; besides it looked as if she wasn't even into the conversation much but was somewhere esle; somewhere where something bothered her. He tried to imagine what it could be; but was rendered clueless after all how much did he know her? This left in him an urge to get to know about her...
***
Edited by AshesToDust - 11 years ago
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
