Chapter 24

“Is everything fine?” She muttered.

“Yeah honey.” Danish glanced at her while driving and the very next moment he was looking towards the busy road.  

“What happened? Why aren’t you telling me anything?” She looked at his face in hope of a satisfactory answer but he stayed silent. “Is everything fine at home? How is Dadi jaan?” she added another question. Voice laced with fear. Her fear was obvious, any heart could beat fearfully when a peon came to the on going class with a message and after a small discussion with the teacher her name was called to pack her bag and go back home because someone from her family was here to pick her. 

“Why are you driving so fast?” Noticing him overtaking every next car,  she asked. Worried. Scared.

“Agar ab tum kuch boli na main tumhe yahi road pr utaar dunga.” Danish replied with anger but in reality he was not angry but nervous. He didn't want to tell her anything. He didn't want to scare her. He didn't want to break her heart. But in the very process he was making her heart jump abnormally.

(If you say anything now, I'll leave you on the road only. ) 

He glanced at his wrist watch. He still had a sum of 10 minutes in his hand but now the girl beside him was already confused. “Where are you taking me? We're not going home, right?” He ignored the  question and sped up.

Soon the car stopped outside an old building and her breath hitched. 

“No… it can't be true.” She muttered. Danish glanced at the time. Only one minute. He stepped out of the car followed by this girl. 

“I never break my promise.” He smiled and the girl beside him looked at him with a big smile and tear filled eyes. Very soon they heard the bell ringing and a flood of boys came out from the big gate, Zinia was standing like a dummy with hitched breath, she was scared to miss the only face in this crowd but the very next moment the time was stopped when a boy in the crowd forgot to move ahead. Zinia smiled happily and Danish understood who was the one to make his sister tense for the last few months. 

“How are you?” Going near him in the crowd, which was now slowing down, Zinia asked and Shaaz tried to smile but couldn't. 

“What are you doing here, Zinu?” He was shocked.  

“Why did you suddenly stop coming to coaching?” A question in the reply of a question. She was holding back her emotions and tears. 

“How do you get to know about my school?” Another question in reply. He was unable to understand how to react. He was happy to see her but scared and nervous too. 

“Stop it you both, let's go and grab a burger.” Danish interfere in between. They both realised the presence of many people around them. 

“What's the reason behind this sudden undergrounding?” Zinia asked in a hushed tone while walking towards the car and Shaaz looked at Danish. Seems he wasn't comfortable in presence of someone from Rizwi family. 

“Can we talk later about this?” He asked but Zinia glared at him this time. 

“No.” 

“Do you want to insult me in front of your family?” Glancing at Danish, Shaaz asked. 

“No one is insulting you.” Danish replied while opening the car door for Shaaz, he thought for a moment and quickly changed his decision.

“Zinu, I'm going home. I'm getting late.” He turned to go.

“I already found out your home address too.” Danish's words stopped this boy. He saw a shocked Zinia then towards Danish.

“Then you must have found out about my family status too… so tell your sister that friendships work better in the same status.” 

“Where does this status come in between?” Zinia cross questioned. This time she was in rage.

“Zinia, let me clear it. I left coaching because I want to do self-study.”

“Fine. Do it. But what about your mobile phone? Why did you turn it off?”

“Am I supposed to answer all these questions of yours?” Without making eye contact he asked. He was trying his best to sound rude so that Zinia backed off, however she was seeing a hidden pain inside him. 

“Danish bhai, please buy me a bottle of water.” Zinia demanded. Danish wasn't naive to understand the meaning of this demand when a half filled bottle of water was already present in the bottle holder pocket of Zinia’s bag. He gave a questioning look to his sister. No matter what, he didn't want to leave Zinia alone with Shaaz but sighed and nodded, “Just five minutes.” and he walked away from the car, never taking his eyes off from there. Shaaz was silently sitting on the back passenger seat where Zinia was talking to him but Danish could not hear the convo for sure.

“What is the problem Shaaz, just tell me clearly. I’m your friend.” She pressed the word friend and Shaaz sighed. He knew the stubbornness of this girl. She would never let the topic go away without knowing everything. 

“I quit coaching.” without making eye contact with Zinia he announced. 

“Why? Won't you give the NEET exam?” she asked.

“No, I won't. Papa can't afford to pay my fee.” Shaaz was ashamed to share his poverty. 

“And what's the reason behind stopping using the mobile phone? Can't you afford a mobile too?” she asked with disappointment. She could help Shaaz financially if he needed but he chose to disappear. 

“I can afford a mobile phone but can't afford you… we should accept this reality as soon as possible.” And he pushed the door open with a jolt. Before She could understand what to say or do he was gone with long steps. Danish and Zinia both noticed him wiping his tears while crossing the road.

Today Zinia understood, not everyone's life is similar. Lack of money may not kill a man but it could kill dreams. 

And what's a man without dreams? 

Nothing but a lifeless body. 

Danish was surprised to witness wetness in his sister’s eyes when he went back to the car.

It wasn't difficult for Danish  to find out Shaaz using his contacts, he simply contacted the coaching centre in which both the teens studied together and got to know that the bright student left the coaching after being insulted by the management for being unable to pay the fee. 

“Shaaz ko kya hua hai mujhe samajh nhi aa rha.” Zinia muttered when Danish passed her an assuring smile.  

(I don't understand what has happened to Shaaz?)

“Don't worry, he will be fine soon.” 

“But how?” She asked with the same confusion that she had been dealing with for the last few months. 

“Just trust your brother. But…” he held his hand in front of Zinia, she gave him a what? Look. “But promise me you will never cross any boundary, You are my sister Zinu, I cannot push you towards depression, that's why I find this boy out otherwise I would never do this task for a teenager like you. You have to keep in your mind what is correct and what is not. Most of the time boys play with girls' emotions and leave them devastated…” Zinia didn't let him complete. 

“Danish bhai, Shaaz is my best friend. He…”

“Listen to me first, Zinu.” he was strict this time, “Never cross the boundaries a girl and a boy should maintain in between them.”

“Okay Danish bhai.” 

“Good,” 

<><><>

“Hey, where are you lost girl?” A tap on her left shoulder followed by a chirping voice forced   her to glance at the left side but the person was now standing on her right side with a big smile on her red coated lips. 

“Hey,” an almost dead reply to the energetic one. 

“Why are you so dull nowadays?” Esha asked with an unmatched energy, Fayra sighed because she had nothing to say in reply but her friend again smiled. “Learn something from your Danish bhai. He is always energetic.” Fayra gave a duh look to her friend and looked away while mumbling. 

“He is not my bhai.” 

“Oh yeah… I know. He is not your brother but cousin… still your cousin brother na?” Fayra wanted to clear but something inside her stopped her. Maybe hesitation. 

“Yaar Fayra, you are my best friend na… will you please do me a favour?” Leaving everything Esha came to the real interest and Fayra nodded silently, still lost somewhere in her thoughts. “Can you please… Umm…” Esha bit her lip for a moment but did not take much time to express herself, “I like your danish bhai, can you please do something for me? Please don't deny, you are my best friend na…” After all Esha cme to the original reason behind this friendship. Fayra blinked blankly for a few moments then sighed.

“Do you really have a crush on him?”

“Of course, Is this a prank to you, Fayra?”  

“Esha, he is married.” Fayra shrugged without looking at her best friend who was not ready for this revelation. For a moment she furrowed but then laughed while pushing her long hair away from her shoulder   

“Nice joke, now be serious yaar,”

“I already am.” Fayra closed the novel which was resting in front of her but she was not reading it. 

“It is not a joke, he is married.” something broke down inside Esha. It was just a crush but the girls made a whole dreamland with the boy whom she had a crush on, here Danish himself talked to her in a friendly manner which gave her a hint that he might also like her. 

“You never tell me,” Esha muttered with a pale face and Fayra gave a dry chuckle. 

“Yes, he is married and Guess to whom?” Fayra asked but Esha’s little heartbreak stopped her brain from working too; however, Today Fayra decided to share everything with her friend. 

“He is married to me only,”  

“Fayra…” Esha was shocked. Beyond shock. “No, you… you are kidding… Aren't you?”

“I'm not.” for how long one could hide everything inside? Everyone has its own limits and Fayra crossed that limit today. Esha was hearing everything silently and at the end she had many questions but she decided to let out only one. 

“Aren't you happy with this marriage?”

The question stood straight in front of Fayra, this question was haunting her for many nights but she never shared her opinion with anyone, or maybe no one asked her yet, everyone just imposed their decision on her. 

“He could be an ideal man for any girl but when he comes near me I feel like… it's forbidden, it feels like he is… I mean I have been seeing him as a brother ever since and suddenly this relationship…”

“It means you are not happy with this marriage?” Esha asked and Fayra asked the same question from her heart. There was no answer. 

“I’m going back home.” 

“But what about the next lecture?” Esha asked in a loud voice but this confused girl was already unable to understand anything with a numb mind. What next lecture could benefit her? 

“Send me the notes, bye.” She waved her hand and walked ahead towards the exit. 

“Notes, my foot.” Esha rolled her eyes and jerked her head while standing up. What was the purpose behind this friendship? Danish. If not him then this girl had to do nothing with Fayra. 

On the other hand, Fayra walked out of the college gate with long steps. She didn't want to attend college but she didn't want to go home either. Right now this girl has no destination. Peace was missing from her heart. A different pain was clenching her heart as if something wrong had been going to happen but what could go wrong even more? Taking a deep breath stopped outside the college to decide where she should go, this hollowness in her heart was weird, she couldn't name it. Suddenly her gaze fell on a SUV, the person on the driving seat was lost in his mobile. Fayra shivered to see this face after so many days, uncountable memories flooded her brain and heart felt heavy. He was the same Arsh whom she loved since a small age. But this Arsh was looking different with a big bandage on his nose, swollen eyes and swollen lips. All thanks to Danish’s uncountable punches. The very next moment Arsh looked up, Fayra’s eyes met with him but she was the first to look away in a hurry and walk ahead to avoid him but was Arsh so nice that he would leave Fayra alone when he was there just to meet her. 

Fayra walked fast to go away from his sight but the SUV travelled to her. She didn't dare to turn back but a loud voice stopped her. “Itni asani se bhul gyi mujhe ya kabhi mujhse mohabbat thi hi nhi?” The question was enough to break her heart one more time. Stopping herself to walk ahead she glared at him.

(Did you forget me so easily or did you never love me?)

“Kam se kam aap to mohabbat ki baat na kriye, main to dulhan ban ke aapka intezar kar rhi thi, aapne hi to shadi karne se mana kra tha na?”

(At least you don't talk about love, I was waiting for you in bridal attire, you were the one to call the wedding off.)

“Galti ho gyi thi, Fayra?”

(Oh Fayra, I made a mistake.)

“To bhugatiye, mere raaste me na ayega dobara.” She walked ahead but he stopped the car near her again.

(So suffer. Now, don't come in my way again.)

“Sari galti meri hi hai kya?”  The voice held anger, frustration and ego too.

(Is this only my fault?)

“To phir kis ki galti hai?” Fayra asked with the same anger. This was her first confrontation with Arsh after calling off their marriage. She had all the rights to question this man however she never got a chance. Sometimes closure needs a last conversation but.. Does every last conversation lead to a closure? Maybe, No. It could lead to a new confusion too.

(Then whose fault was it?)

“Boliye Arsh, aur kis ki galti thi? Aap hi to the na jise mujhe shadi wale din dunhan bana hua chhod diya tha. Aap hi to the na jisne mujhe ignore kra. Aap hi to the na Arsh jisne mujhe bohot rulaya, maine bohot maafi mangi aapse, bina kisi galti ke maafi mangi lekin aapne kya kra? Phir bhi aap keh rhe hain ki galti aapki nhi thi? To phit kiski galti thi Arsh bataiye na.”

(Oh really? Then whose fault was that, Arsh? It was you to leave me as bride when I was already waiting for you. You were the one to ignore me. You were the one to make me cry every time. I was apologising to you without even my fault but what you did? And you are saying it wasn't your fault. Then who is responsible?)   

“Danish. He is responsible.” Fayra’s feet stopped in between. “Tum jab mujhse milne ati thi tab tumhe kon rookta tha? Koon tumse kehta tha mujhse baat na karne ke liye?” Fayra was shocked to hear that. 

(Who would stop you when you came to meet me? Who stopped you to talk to me?)

“I am getting late.” Said Fayra and walked ahead because she didn't want to hear what Arsh was saying, moreover she didn't want to believe all these things.  

“Tum mein aur mujh me differences create karne wala koi aur nhi Danish hai.” he yelled,  Fayra stopped to walk ahead and glared at Arsh with anger. 

(Danish is the only person who creates differences between us.)

“Bakwaas band kriye. Wo kyu krenge aesa kuch bhi?”

(Stop this rubbish, why would he do anything like this?)

“Ye to us se khud hi puchh lo ki use meri aur tumhari shadi se kya takleef thi, lekin main jo keh rha hu wo hi sach hai.” and he drove away filling fayra’s mind with numerous questions.

(Ask him what was his problem with our marriage, I don't know the reason but trust me, only he is behind everything.) 

<><><><>

Holding a storm in her heart and pain in her head she stepped in the home just to witness an unusual scene. Sitting together in the hall, Adnaan and Anzala were having tea. They didn't go to the office, it was unusual. Sara and Maizah were also sitting there discussing something important, but what? Fayra didn't know, nor she had energy to know, right now she wanted a good amount of rest to come out of the stress given by Arsh. 

“Fayra,” Maizah was the first to notice her, she lovingly opened her arms for her niece. Fayra didn't want this gesture of love right now but she didn't want to be disrespectful or rude towards her Aunty who always showered her love on her. Unwillingly she walked towards the elders with a fake yet tired smile. 

“Kya hua meri bachhi ko? Thak gyi ho kya?” Asked Maizah and Fayra nodded. 

(What happened to my princess? Are you tired?)

“Yeah. I need a good sleep,” Fayra muttered and Maizah nodded, “Go, take rest.” 

“Thank you.” Saying that Fayra went upstairs holding many thoughts in her mind. 

Was Arsh spitting out some facts or it was his insecurity and jealousy.  

There were no answers but there was a person who could clear all those doubts. Danish!

Instead of her room she walked to Danish's room with a hope to find him there but the room was empty. 

“Why is he not available at the time of need?” Huffing with anger she drew out her mobile from the pocket of her jeans just to realise that the battery was about to die. Opening the drawer of the nightstand she searched for the charger. It was Danish's room, so she needed not to hesitate to fossick through his stuff, she could do anything. 

“What the hell?” Instead of charger her attention was grabbed by two packs of cigarettes, a matchbox and a lighter. “Does he still smoke?” She huffee. Leaving the mobile on the bed she opened the next drawer to find something else. No matter what, she couldn't see Danish harming himself through these small things. 

Tucking the hair lock behind her ear she turned the things up and down just to get another shock. 

“This?” She blinked blankly while lifting the small piece of jewellery present in the drawer. It was the Jhumka that she lost last year. On the day of Eid, she asked Danish to help her in searching for it in the lawn but they found nothing… this was her favourite jhumka gifted by Danish only but what was the reason behind this step? She was confused for a moment but this day was different. Maybe this day was written as the day of all the unanswered questions. Before she could do something else her eyes travelled to a diary resting in the middle of stuff. Without wasting time she picked it up and opened a random page. 

She knew Danish had a secret Diary, in her mid teens she found him writing something in it, she teased him by trying to read it but Danish literally begged that day not to read it. Fayra being Fayra charged a big bribe to return the diary, she did mercy on him back then, but today this diary was looking like a mystery that needed to be solved right now! 

“Dear diary,

Nani ne kyu keh diya ki….

(Why did Nani jaan say that…)

<><><>

Dear Readers…

Congratulations…

You found your author alive… 

🙂🙂

Well, sometimes a person is alive but dead at the same time… but don't worry. It's only good for you, you all will get a new story soon. 😁