Chapter 18

“Shaaz.” she whispered.

“Hmm?” he hummed without looking up, all his attention was fixed on the notes.

“Shaaaaaazzz” she huffed and he looked at her who was sitting beside him with a serious expression.

“What?” he asked with irritation because he didn't like anyone to disturb him while studying. 

“Bhuk lag rhi hai.” She pouted. 

(I’m feeling hungry.)

“Ye konsa waqt hai bhuk lagne ka?” He glanced at the wrist watch. 6 pm.

(What time is this for hunger?)

“Aapke peyt mein alarm clock fix kya jo ek particular time par signal deti hai?” He sighed.

(Is there an alarm clock fixed in your stomach that gives a signal at a particular time?)

“Kya khaogi?” Closing the book he asked and Zinia grinned like a winner. She also closed her books, pushed them into the bag and stood up.

(What would you like to eat?)

“Jo aap khila dein…” She smiled happily while following him. 

(Anything you want. )

“We have to come back in ten minutes only.” He reminded her about the next class and she nodded.

“Of course I remember.” She walked after him in a hurry while holding her bag on her shoulder but today something was different. Shaaz was unusually silent. Soon Zinia noticed him checking his pockets while going towards the canteen but she knew what he had to do. 

‘Shaaz.” before he could enter the cafeteria she called him from behind.

“Yeah…”

“Yaha nhi, neeche wali dukaan se samose khane hain…” she pouted sweetly.

(Not here, I want to eat samosas from the shop downstairs)

“Zinu… are you out of your mind?” He asked. Shocked. This high class girl was not worth having samosa from a local roadside food stall.

“No. I’m not.” she walked towards the stairs without letting Shaaz know that she noticed his almost empty pockets. 

“Zinu, you are too sensitive. Don't have these Samosas…”

“Shaaz, aap to bilkul mere papa jese hain,” she rolled her eyes and Shaaz watched her with confusion. “Overprotective.” The addition in the statement brought a smile to Shaaz’s lips. 

(Shaaz you’re just like my dad, overprotective.)

“Lekin tum suno tab na…” he ordered two samosa, both for her but how could she have both alone? Passing one to Shaaz she smiled happily.

(But you don't listen.)

“Umm… nice. Not bad. Why don't we have this often?” She asked after tasting the samosa.

“Kyuki itne bade ghar ki beti itni chhoti dukaan ke samose deserve nhi karti.” he put the reality in front of her which gave a big jolt to her heart. He wasn't talking about samosa but himself. A girl like Zinia doesn't deserve a boy like him. And she understood the meaning of his words.

(Because the daughter of such a reputed family doesn't do roadside things.)

“Shaaz.” She left the samosa and looked at him. “Main ek Ameer ghar mein payda huyi hu isme meri kya qabiliyat hai? Life mein aap aur main same level pr hain kyuki mujhe jo kuch bhi mila hai wo wirasat mein mila hai mene mehnat kar ke kuch nhi kamaya. Hum dono hi barabar aur khali hath hain.” a seventeen year old couldn’t be wiser and honest than this and an eighteen year old couldn’t be braver than this to accept the harsh reality of life.

(I have the privilege of being born in a rich family, it’s none of my quality? In life, you and I are at the same level because whatever I have got, I have got it as inheritance, I have not earned anything by working hard. We both are equal and empty handed.)

“What are you looking at? Finish it fast.” Said Zinia in a hurry and took a mouthful of samosa while looking forward to the other shop. Walking ahead she bought two juice cans and passed one towards Shaaz.

“Shaaaaaazzz…”

“Hmm?”

“Aap chup kyu hain? Preshan hain? Kya Soch rahe hain?”

(Why are you so worried? What are you thinking?)

“Tumhe lagta hai main preshan hu?” He smiled to notice that this girl observed his mood and expressions.

(Do you think I'm worried?)

“Mujhe sirf lagta nhi hai, aap sach mein preshan hain. Bataiye kya problem hai?”

(I not only think but you are actually worried. Tell me what's the problem.)

“Kya karogi meri problem jaan ke?” 

(What will you do after knowing my problem?)

“Solution nikalungi, aur kya?” Zinia shrugged proudly. 

(I will find a solution. What else?)

“Chalo tum, abhi to class nikaal dogi baato mein.”  Glancing at the wrist watch he walked back towards the stairs to the coaching center where they both were preparing for the NEET exam. 

(Come for now, otherwise you will miss the class.)

“Hmm… rush.” She muttered and ran upstairs with long steps following her favourite guy.

After scoring highest in matric in their respective schools they both dreamt of going into the medical field. And destiny played a game by putting them in the same academy. Zinia, a bookworm, and Shaaz, a dedicated student, came forward as competitors. Unlike their respective schools here they weren't the highest scorers every time. They had only one goal: beat each other and become the highest scorers in the batch. They were rivals until one day Shaaz noticed a hungry Zinia struggling to open her lunch box but her two fingers were injured brutally so it was difficult for her to hold anything. Without even asking for help, he opened the lunchbox for her and Zinia offered him the Aalo ka Paratha made by Sara which he just loved. It was the turning point for them, for the first time they talked to each other not like rivals but like two strangers who wanted to know something about the other person. That day one more thing happened, Shaaz wrote Zinia’s notes as her fingers were injured. Within a few days their small conversations pulled them apart from the rival. Their friendship began with the offering of exchange of notes and books but they both didn't realise when Zinia’s honesty and Shaaz’s caring nature pulled them closer to each other and their hearts were also exchanged.

“Shaaz..”

“Hmm?”

“Bataiye na kya problem hai?” She again asked 

(Tell me what's the problem?)

“Tumhare non stop questions hai na meri problem… Hamari books me questions kam hain kya jo tum extra questions bhi de deti ho mujhe?”

(Your non-stop questions are my problem. Do our books have less questions that you give me extra questions?)

“For your kind information Mister Shaaz Husain, Solution main nikaal lungi aap bas problem bataiye.”

(I will find out a solution myself, you just tell me the problem.)

“Tum Aladdin ke chirag ki jinn ho kya?” he rolled his eyes.

(Are you the genie from Aladdin's lamp?)

“I don't know if I am or not, but my papa is one for me.” Zinia laughed because she knew that not only three but her unlimited wishes could be fulfilled by only one genie who was no one else but her father, Afnaan.

“Hmm…” Shaaz sighed. Defeated. “I know. Lucky you.” he muttered while walking ahead.

“Shaaz…”

“Attend the class…” Shaaz glared at her while closing the topic and opening the books, his action was followed by Zinia. They were handling the pressure of preparation of a competitive exam as well as ongoing school but they both always manage to draw out a few minutes from their busy day to share a snack or to talk to each other. It was their only entertainment. Once the class started they didn't even glanced at each other, all their attention was fixed on the books and notes. After some two hours, when the class was over for today, Zinia packed her bag and Gestured for Shaaz to come but he faked a smile. 

“You go alone. I'll do self study for an extra hour.” 

“But why?” she asked and Shaaz shrugged. 

“I won’t come tomorrow, so to compensate for that loss…”

 “Kal nhi ayenge aap? Lekin kyu? Ghar mein kuch kaam hai kya?” she asked. Shaaz nodded his head and tried to smile but couldn’t because only he knew the reality behind his statement. It was enough to take away Zinia’s smile.

(Won’t you come tomorrow? But why? Do you have some work at home?)

“I will miss you.” She smiled a little and Shaaz kept looking at her face. Their eyes met, Zinia shivered at this contact, it wasn't the first time when they looked at each other but it was the first time when they felt something because of this eye contact that lasted more than two moments.   

“Me too.” he whispered. Zinia’s already faster beating heart gave another loud beat and she tried her best to smile but couldn’t, she just waved her hand to say a goodbye and rushed. 

As soon as Zinia stepped out of the room he stood next to the glass window. In no time he noticed Zinia stepping out from the coaching centre. Without wasting time he packed his bag and walked out of the classroom. Taking a deep breath she let a loud sigh out.

“Shaaz.” a loud voice stopped her.

“Yes Sir?” said Shaaz in a hushed tone. The man saw him in a questioning way, Shaaz’s eyes fell on the floor. Embarrassed. 

“Sorry sir,” Shaaz muttered and walked away. Those were the heaviest steps of his life. Walking downstairs he looked at the stairs that go towards his dream, then he looked at the road from which his dream girl walked away, and he found himself on the crossroads of life. Unfortunately, now he could see no road going towards his dream.       

He pulled his mobile out of his pocket and blocked a number from the contact list which was saved as Zinu, but a question was raised in his mind… What if she would call him from another number? He took a deep breath and removed the sim card from the mobile phone. The small piece of this metal felt heavy on his palm? He could throw it away but he put it inside his bag before walking towards the bus stand. 

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“Mummy aapko pta hai aapki hobby kya hai?” Fayra asked while filling her mouth with chips.

(Mummy, do you know what your hobby is?)

“Kya hai?” Sara wasn't in the mood to hear anything because she had an argument with Adnaan last night but her daughter didn't care.

(What?)

“Stress lena aur overthink karna.” she glared at her daughter. 

(Overthinking and Taking stress.)

“And this is your second hobby, glaring at me all the time.” Fayra being Fayra shrugged and looked at the packet, she accidentally emptied it so soon. But she couldn't help, stress brings hunger along.

“Fayra, get lost from here.” Pointing out the door of the kitchen Sara huffed. 

“This is your third hobby.” Fayra passed a teasing smile but Sara picked up the rolling pin from the kitchen platform… 

“Is se pehle ki main apni fourth hobby practice kru tum chali jao yaha se…” and she ran out of the kitchen followed by Sara. 

(Before I could practice my fourth hobby, just disappear from here.)

“Kya yaar mummy, thoda to teez chaliye is speed me kese pakdengi mujhe aap?” Fayra ran towards the lawn, she was supposed to hide herself behind her dear Fiza Chachi but while running without watching ahead she bumped with a figure and fell to hit the hard concrete floor.

(What is mummy, come faster. How will you catch me at this speed)

“Can’t you see Chamu?” hissing in pain she looked at Afnaan who was clueless about his fault? Who could think a clumsy girl would be running towards him. 

Afnaan knelt in front of Fayra to examine the scratches on her elbow. Then he looked at an angry looking Sara frozen at her spot holding the rolling pin in her hand. “What was going on here, Sara? Why are you running after Fayra?” Afnaan asked to understand the behind story of this scene but they didn't get time for this as a crying voice echoed.

“I won’t talk to you mummy…” Fayra’s eyes filled with tears and she held Afnaan’s hand to support herself. 

“Show me what happened.” Sara came closer but Fayra being Sara and Adnaan’s daughter  was a pro in stubbornness.

“You don't talk to me and I won’t talk to you.” wiping away her tears Fayra stood up and ran towards the Afnaan’s portion. 

“What happened to her?” Asked Afnaan about Fayra and Sara sighed. 

“Uska chhodo tum apna batao. Tumhe kya hua hai? Tum kyu itna preshan lag rahe ho?” asked Sada and Afnaan looked at the door of his portion.

(Leave her topic, you tell me about yourself, what happened to you? Why are you looking so worried?)     

“Zinia ko bohot teez bukhar hai, pta nahi kya ho gya hai meri bachhi ko kal se uski tabiyat theek nhi ho rhi.” Afnaan shared his problem which turned Sara’s face pale.

(Zinia has a high fever. I don't know what happened to her but her fever has not decreased since yesterday.)

“Aur tum aaj bata rhe ho?” She walked to see Zinia with long steps. No matter what, children  were the public property of Rizwis. Only a small scratch and the whole clan will be united to look after them.       

(And you are telling it now?)

Sara walked in the room just to find Fiza sponging Zinia’s forehead with a wet cloth. Fayra was shocked to see the condition of her dear Zinu.

“Hadd karti ho Fiza, bata to deti agar bachhi bimar hai to…” Sara checked the temperature with the back of her fingers and she was shocked when it felt like touching a burning coal.

(Fiza, at least you could tell us about her condition.) 

“Bhabi kuch samajh hi nhi aaya, kya batati kisi ko? 1 mahine se na kuch khaa rhi hai na theek tarha baat kar rhi hai, bas har waqt padhayi ki fikr mein bethi hui hai.” Fiza, being a mother, couldn't manage to hold her tears in a situation when her lovely daughter was burning in fever, not even medicine was working well. 

(Babhi, even though I am not understanding anything, what would I tell you? For the last one month neither is she talking nor eating properly, she is too stressed about her studies.)

“Hmm… I’ve been also noticing Zinia's condition, she is stressing herself too much. What is the benefit of such studies that lead  to this condition?” Sara was tensed to see Zinia and Fiza shrugged.

“Hell with competitive exams and admission in the medical college…  If she can’t handle the stress then I don't care about anything other than her…” Said the worried mother while wiping the palms of this girl who was burning like a coal, however no one knew the reality behind Zinia’s real problem. 

For more than one month she hadn’t met Shaaz. He was supposed to take only one day off but he was not back to coaching as well as her life even after one month and ten days. She might not be this much upset if she knew anything about him but unfortunately there was no contact with him. His mobile phone was off, he didn't use any social media account to save himself from destruction and the only WhatsApp was also not in use…

There were a thousand questions raising in her head and heart, unfortunately, a few of them were dangerously scary… 

Was Shaaz fine?

Was everything fine in his family?

Did he reach home safely the other day?

What happened to him, an accident? Or did someone kidnap him? But why would someone kidnap him? From where his father would pay the ransom?

Altogether, the horrible thoughts were enough to turn Zinia's condition worse. 

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Author's note:

I'm sorry for the delay but...

It's not your author's fault

Ho jata hai kabhi kabhi aesa bhi... 😅😅