Chapter 27

“Zinu… come to my room after breakfast.” Fayra looked at Zinia who was still glancing at her mobile every now and then as if waiting for something. Well, she was waiting for Shaaz to tell his plan regarding the upcoming exam. They both weren't crazy love birds who were unaware of everything other than their feelings for each other, but they were sensible teenagers who knew how to focus on their career as well as balance their feelings.

“Hmm… okay.” Zinia replied but instead of completing the breakfast she picked up the remaining paratha, rolled it and bit it while walking towards the stairs but not before kissing Sara’s cheek and telling Adnaan, “Bade papa aapki biwi khana bohot achha banati hain.” and that small compliment was enough to make Sara happy. Zinia was not only Afnaan’s daughter but she was just like a second child to Sara and Adnaan too. 

(Bade papa, your wife is a great cook.)

“Yeah Fayra aapi?” Zinia asked happily while entering the room and Fayra came towards the door to close it but Zunera also came like a tag. 

“What secrets are you going to discuss? I also wanna know.” 

“There is something personal, you please come later.” Fayra demanded. 

“There is nothing personal between sisters. We share everything, from clothes to jewellery to notes to money to gossip.” The mischievous smile told clearly that Zunera was not going to miss this conversation. 

“What's this about?” Zinia asked after seeing serious expressions of Fayra and somehow Zunera understood what Zinia didn't want to discuss with Fayra. 

“Is this about Shaaz bhai?” Zunera asked in a hushed voice and Fayra furrowed. 

“So, you also know about him?” 

“As I said, there is no secret between sisters.” Zunera shrugged. Maybe for the first time Fayra felt that she also needed a sister to share her feelings with. Though she had Zunera and Zinia but she never felt like sharing anything with them as they were younger and Bisma was already married. And… her two more second cousins, Rumi’s daughters never visited them in the last ten years as they were shifted to abroad. 

“Okay, so…” Fayra sat down on the edge of the bed looking towards Both the girls. 

“What's going on Zinu? How did you and Shaaz come in contact again?” Asked Fayra and both the sisters shared a look.

“Don't you know? Didn't Danish bhai tell you?” Zinia asked 

“About what?” Fayra shrugged, Danish wanted to tell her everything but she herself didn't give him a chance to talk. 

“Danish bhai found Shaaz for me. Shaaz left coaching because his father was unable to pay his fees but when Danish bhai got to know this, he decided to sponsor his education until we both become doctors.” Zinia informed and  Fayra furrowed. 

“What? Are you and your Danish bhai both gone mad? He is using you for money.” Fayra exclaimed and Zinia's face lost its shine.

“Fayra aapi, how can you judge Shaaz in such a wrong way? He is not a gold digger. When Danish Bhai asked him the reason behind quitting coaching he didn't even reveal about his financial problems and told us that he is not interested in becoming a doctor anymore. He didn't want to take a single penny from us, and he is not even taking money from us. It was Danish bhai who planned and plotted everything.” Zinia was angry with Fayra for concluding negatively about Shaaz, this girl couldn't listen to anything against him. Zunera also gave a disappointed look to Fayra for concluding everything without knowing the backstory. 

“Danish Bhai knows someone from the teaching department of that coaching centre, and he got to know that Shaaz bhai was being insulted due to failing to submit the fee on time and he quit his coaching as well as his dream.” Zunera added and this time Zinia came a step ahead. Eyes filled with tears. 

“Shaaz didn't reveal his financial condition, it was Danish bhai who get to know his secret. Danish Bhai asked his friend to call in Shaaz’s home and tell them that Shaaz got a scholarship for the next two years because of his amazing academic performance. It wasn't Shaaz to ask for money. He doesn't even know who is sponsoring his education.” Zinia said the last part while wiping her tears. For the first time Fayra saw anger for herself and immense respect for Danish in those eyes.

“Umm… Zinu… I… I'm sorry. I didn't know…” Fayra stammered but Zinia didn't let her complete the sentence. 

“Yeah, you didn't know. That's why you shouldn't conclude anything about Shaaz. He is not wealthy like us, but maybe he is better than us.” 

“I'm sorry Zinu, I'm just concerned about you, I'm afraid of love, I don't want you to cry like me just because of this so-called love.” This time Fayra had tears in her eyes that melted Zinia too. 

“Why are you crying, aapi? And why are you afraid for me?” Asked Zinia in a hushed voice. 

“I loved Arsh. I guess I still love him. I'm unable to forget him.” And for the first time Fayra cried out for Arsh in front of someone, otherwise only her pillow knew how many emotions she was hiding in herself. “I was also a teen when he came into my life and what happened? Eventually everything ended with pain and tears. Lucky are those people who get whom they love. I'm afraid of your luck, I'm afraid of a painful end to your story. I'm afraid of your heartbreak, Zinu. You're my sister, I can't see you in the same pain that I'm going through. I really love you, that's why I am unable to trust Shaaz… or maybe I'm unable to trust destiny’s games.” Fayra was crying because of what life served her. Zinia and Zunera were shocked to see this. Zunera didn't know what she could do in this situation, she just managed to grab the bottle of water to pass it to Fayra but Zinia sat beside her and hugged her.

“Stop crying na, please. You know, I really pray for you, I knew how much you loved him, I've been seeing you blushing only with his name, I know how it feels when a loving person goes away from us… but…” Zinia broke the hug. 

“I listened to Papa and bade papa talking about him that he isn't a nice man. Maybe it is better for you, Fayra aapi.” Zinia wiped Fayra's tears but she cried out even more. 

“He would change after getting married. Maybe he would never do all those things if Danish didn't shout at him. But no one tried to discuss this matter with me or Arsh. What did they do? Just passed nikahnama and made me sign it and that's how Danish and I became husband and wife.” Fayra was frustrated, she wanted to reverse the time to make everything fine. Unfortunately it was impossible. 

“Aren't you happy with this marriage? Don't you like Danish Bhai?” Zinia and Zunera asked one by one and Fayra sniffled. 

“Danish is all good. He cares for me, he is decent, polite, I also love him but not every love is meant to convert into marriage. He is an ideal human being for me but I feel suffocation when I think about him as a husband. Moreover, before going to UAE he confessed that he loves me…” Fayra expressed her frustration in words and huffed before continuing, “What the hell is it? How could he even fall for me? I never thought of him this way. Elders stuffed in his head that we will get married and he developed feelings for me? But what about me? I never thought of him other than a mentor and brother.” 

Zinia and Zunera were silently watching the scene. Till a few moments ago they were feeling bad for Fayra but now they were sad for both Danish and Fayra.

Danish was stuck with a girl who couldn't love him and loved someone else, on the other hand, Fayra was unable to accept the guy who can't forget her and was crazy after a guy who already forgot her but not let her go. 

“It means…” Zunera muttered but she didn't have courage to complete the sentence however Zinia gathered the courage. 

“Aap Danish bhai se separate hona chahti hain? Divorce le lengi aap?” Zinia's words gave an unnamed feeling to Fayra. This decision would hurt Danish, she knew it, but for how long would she like to suffer and make him suffer too? 

(Do you want to get separated from Danish Bhai? Do you want to terminate this marriage?) 

“I think that's the best thing to be done.” Fayra shrugged while wiping an old drop of tear which was stuck on her cheek. 

“And what about Danish Bhai?” Zunera asked in a hushed voice, Zinia already at the edge of crying. No one wanted Danish to get hurt. “He will be broken.” Zinia muttered with pain. 

“Breaking down once is better than breaking down in bits everyday. He will understand and move on but I don't want to break him everyday by rejecting him daily.” Fayra announced the bravest decision of her life, still she didn't have courage to announce it in front of elders. 

Zinia kept watching Fayra and two tears rolled down from her eyes, “Fayra aapi, I understand you don't love Danish bhai, but at least you can give him a chance. Don't reciprocate his love like this.” 

“Zinu, one can't force love… he loves me, but I don't love him back… moreover, the fact is… he doesn't even love me, he is only chasing the words of elders that he listened to in his childhood. I'm not his love but his wish…” Fayra explained her point and Zinia closed her eyes, two tears rolled down from her eyes again. 

“Danish Bhai doesn't deserve this pain.” She muttered and turned to go but stopped for a moment, “Fayra Aapi, I'm younger than you but trust me, today I'm feeling I'm more sensible. You're letting go of Danish Bhai for a man like Arsh who didn't take a stand for you. Why did he back off on the day of the wedding if he was truly a good man? And what will happen even if you divorce Danish bhai, what do you think that Arsh will give you a chance? What if he will leave you again as a bride? He is not trustworthy.” Zinia walked out of the room while wiping her tears followed by Zunera and Fayra found herself alone in her room one more time. 

Why is he more important to everyone? She huffed and threw herself on the bed with frustration and anger and eventually started crying.

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As usual, it was a tiring day. From giving orders to receiving them, from being a Boss to becoming an employee, from living in a mansion to a small one room apartment, from getting home cooked meals to cooking tasteless food for himself, he was seeing different colors of life. Unfortunately, a bunch of different colours don't form a rainbow every time, sometimes it makes a dark tint that vanishes the shine of many colours. 

After having the first bite of that tasteless food he didn't feel like having another one. Leaving the plate on the table he stood up. Life suddenly started looking like a road trip with no destination, no road map. Picking up the mobile, wallet and keys of the apartment he walked out of this small space. Locking the door he turned to go, but where was he going? God knows. 

He wanted a Home where he could feel welcomed but these four walls always push him away as if making him realise every single time tht he didn't belong to this place. But from where did he belong? 

A big mansion where he saw his beloved behaving indifferently? 

Struggling with his thoughts and pains he walked here and there aimlessly. His stomach groaned with hunger many times but not every hunger could be satisfied with food, right now he also wanted not only food but warmth of love. Checking his mobile he sighed, there was no text from the one whom he was missing miserably. At the end of the moment he ditched his regular playlist and switched to another song. 

Yeh dil tum bin kahin lagta nahi hum kya karein

Tasavvur mein koi basta nahi hum kya karein

Tumhi keh do ab aye jaan-e-wafa hum kya karein

Lute dil mein diya jalta nahi hum kya karein

Listening to such sad songs one after another he kept walking aimlessly on the road and at the end he was back to the building where he was living like an uninvited guest in his own place.   

Instead of using the elevator he decided to take stairs. Sometimes making yourself tired is better to get a good slumber. He wanted to sleep soundly after this aimless yet tiring day. 

“Danish.” in between the loud song he heard his name. 

But who would call me? Who knows me here? He asked himself and walked ahead without bothering to stop walking. 

“Danish…” It couldn't be a misunderstanding again. Turning towards his right side he removed one earbud and a smile crawled to his lips. He felt as if a dying man got a glass of water to save himself from the deepest thirst. 

“Usman Sir.” Removing the other earbud too he walked towards the lift from which the middle aged man just came out. 

“Kese ho bade sahab? Tum to dobara nazar hi nhi aaye office mein, ek hi din mein job se resign kar diya kya?” Usman took a step towards Danish while offering his hand to shake and Danish looked at his hands, one was occupied with earbuds and other was holding a mobile phone. Holding everything in his left hand he greeted the elderly figure with respect and informed him about changing of the department of office on which the old man nodded and hummed. 

(How are you Mister? You weren't seen in the office again. Have you resigned within one day?)

“What are you doing here in this building?” Asked Usman and Danish smiled. 

“I live on the tenth floor. May I ask you why are you here? To visit someone?” Danish asked the last part while shoving his mobile and other things in the pocket. 

“I live here only, this is my home.” Gesturing towards a door Usman smiled and Danish looked at the nameplate present on that brown door which was reading Usman Ali. 

“Sir, I had been looking for you in the office during lunch time… I'm glad we live in the same building.” 

“Come, have tea with us.” Usman gestures towards the door of his home but the very next moment he glanced at his wrist watch then smiled. “It's time for dinner, not for tea. Come.” 

“Umm… maybe some other day.” Danish hesitated

“You live with your family?” Asked Usman and Danish shook his head. “I live alone.” 

“It means no one is waiting for you, come.” This time it was an order. Danish could not refuse one more time, with hesitation he stepped ahead but stopped a few steps away from Usman who was ringing the bell now. 

Soon the door was opened by someone and… “Baba kaha reh gye the aap? Kab se intezar kar rhi thi main aapka. Khana lagaye huye bhi itni deyr ho gyi hai mujhe, aapko pta hai na main aapke bina dinner nhi karti phir bhi itni deyr la…gadi” the endless speech came to an end when Danish came in notice. Both looked at each other. Both felt nervous. Both looked at Usman. 

(Baba where have you been? I was waiting for you, don't you know I don't have dinner without you? Why did you take time to co..me back?)

“Come in, Danish.” Usman smiled, “She is my daughter, Aisha.” Danish looked towards the girl in her mid twenties, now she was covering her head with dupatta and giving space to Danish and her father to enter. She was not looking like a babbling queen anymore, now she was looking like a shy, nervous and timid person who was unable to make eye contact with an unknown guy standing on her doorway. 

“Assalamualaikum.” Danish heard that voice which was not loud enough to recognise, he didn't bother to glance at her face again and replied in the same hushed voice “Waalaikum as Salam.” 

“Had dinner or not?” Usman asked while offering Danish a seat and he decided not to lie. 

“I'll have dinner after going back home.” 

“It means you haven't eaten anything.” He muttered while sitting on the other side of the sofa, meanwhile Aisha came with two glasses of water, her one hand was holding the tray and with the other hand she was holding the dupatta which was going to slip from her head and shoulder too. Danish glanced at her who offered him water.

“Thank you.” He muttered, Aisha tried to smile in reply but couldn't.

“Aisha, Danish will join us for dinner.” The announcement gave an unexpected jolt to the girl. 

“Baba…” she muttered, eyeing her father to let him know what she wanted to say but instead of him Danish noticed her gesture. 

“No, sir. I'll like to join you some other day.” Danish placed the half empty glass on the coffee table, only then Usman noticed his daughter's face. 

“Aisha? Any problem?” 

“Baba?” She whispered, widening her eyes but her father didn't understand anything, leaning a bit she whispered “Have you forgotten I haven't cooked today? It's leftovers.” She didn't realise she was loud enough to be heard by Danish. 

“I am ordering something,” Usman whispered back. Danish felt like an intruder or an uninvited guest again. 

“Sir please don't bother,” 

“It's nothing like bothering, just tell me what's you favourite dish.” He asked like a great friendly host, Danish tried to refuse many times but at the end he sighed. 

“Please don't order anything from outside. I would like to have home cooked leftovers instead." His simple reply forced Aisha to look at him one more time. 

“I'm serving dinner.” She muttered while turning back and soon she was putting the dishes on the table after reheating them in the microwave. There was nothing special, just Daal Chawal and a simple curry. 

Danish felt hesitant but served himself a tiny amount of rice with Daal. The first bite felt heavenly. He was the same guy who used to run to Sara or Fiza if Maizah cooked Daal chawal but here he was loving it. Maybe it was the result of homesickness. 

“Danish, have some more rice.” Usman offered him but he smiled. 

“To be honest, I'll take it even if you won't offer it.” Usman and Aisha both smiled at his reply and Aaisha walked towards the kitchen. In only five minutes she was coming back with freshly made roti. Danish looked at her when she passed it, “Shukriya”. He smiled and had amazing food after a long time. 

“Want one more?” Aisha asked and Danish shook his head. 

“I already have overeaten.” he didn't look at Aisha who was smiling at his simplicity, he was getting happy after having leftovers. “The food was delicious. It reminds me of home.” 

“Hmm… Home. We did not even get time to talk about you? Where is your home?” Usman asked and Danish started telling him about his city, family business, purpose of visit and many more things in the chatting they didn't realise when two hours passed.

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A long chapter.

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