How far could you go for a friendship?

 

It was raining after a bit of thunders that night. The City of Oranges has its lush green gardens beautifully spread over like a garland to the City. Unfolding the aroma of soil everywhere, the night continued as a 90s pleasant Bollywood scene.

Somewhere in Nagpur, the electricity was blocked at certain streets. In a house,

"Miss Angel! I yelled from the kitchen 3 times to shut the windows, and here you are busy with your useless phone stuff" in a sarcastic tone, her mom delivered.

"Sorry Ammi! I was occupied with my project sketching" She lied hiding her screen trying to control the laugh developed.

"Beta, you are not Madhuri! So stop acting. I am your Ammi, not your boy to listen your cock and bull story" her mom replied getting back to her domestic work.

Then the girl locked the door and sat near the window watching rain, enjoying the view. She was humming to her favourite gazals playlist which were like a cup of tea to that romantic weather. At certain lines, she started checking her arm skin. Yes, it was her pretty goosebumps moment due to melodies waving into her eardrums. Suddenly, a disturbance within her earphones with a loud tune. It was an unknown call. Wondering who's the gooseberry player, She picked up the call plugging out the headsets. Answering in annoyance, She yelled.

"Yes, Who's this?" 

"How are you Zoya?" he replied while slurping.

The reply turned her expressions and made her a red head. Bursting out, She asked

"What do you want now?"

The same old "miss you - need you" stuff was slurping out from his mouth, which was testing her patience. Besides, she knew that he has got an affair with some other soul. And this desperate behaviour of him was exceeding her patience levels. She screamed

"Don't call me again! If you do, I swear am gonna sue you! What made you call me after so long?"

"I wanna live with you", he replied.

"Shut up! you dickhead. First learn to live hygiene. I wonder tobacco is an oxygen to you. Why am I discussing it with you? Leave me alone. Just go to hell" she made her statement.

"I know your pickup and drop points. Return to me or else I'll kidnap you and force you" he said laughing in a cackle manner. 

"Oh God! people will kidnap me. They think they've got balls" she made a sarcasm.

"OMG! Zoya! you've become a way too tough girl" he replied chuckling.

"Bloody asshole" she screamed aborting the call.

Thus, a lovey-dovey weather turned to an irked one in Zoya's room. After a couple of minutes, her mom called her down for dinner. Zoya, with a dull face washed her hands and sat for consumption. Her favourite dish, Biryani was served by her mom. Watching Zoya taking tiny bites, her mom asked.

"What happened beta? are you still angry on me?"

"No Ammi! Am not" Zoya replied with a low tone.

After asking for a while, Zoya replied with an annoyance,

"I got a call from him!"

"It's OK dear. Don't be upset. Everything is fine now. Allah tests the person, whom he loves the most", her mom comforts her and diverting her mind to food saying,

"Watch out! you are doing injustice to the leg pieces".

Listening this, with a sparkle in eyes, Zoya started like a booster at dining table. Filling their bellies, both went off to bed.

 

Zoya Quazi, a Fine arts student, from a middle class family living at Nagpur. She has got good friends with lots of humour. Zoya lives life to the fullest thoughtfully. Many architectural places are marked in her wishlist. Inspite of all these, memes are like a flavour to her life and sarcasm has become a tongue often used. Instagram has become a moon to her nights. 

One fine night, her phone beeps with a tone. When she unlocked the screen, there was a reply to her meme. It was some sarcastic reply. After thinking for a minute, she replied

"Look! am not a girl of that type. I belong to a decent family of culture and traditions."

"I think I hadn't said that you are thaaaattt type. No worries, am not a judgemental", he made his statement.

He comes with the name Zain who gazed as an interesting form to her mind. After a couple of days, she texted him

"Yaarrrrr! you are too good without any fallacies like today's guys. I trust you more than anyone of my friends. You never misbehaved with me. Just give me your whatsapp number, we will talk there from now."

After a couple of minutes, message from Zain saying,

"7**********1" 

Yup! he shared the number. After a minute, she texted him on whatsapp and they started talking for a while sharing hobbies, places, interests, goals etc... One night while they were talking, she got a video call from him. When she picked up the call, the call got aborted, leading to a message

"Sorry! it was a fault by fingers".

"Its OK. I was wondering why this guy got dumb on call", Zoya giggled.

They became too close as they shared the what-abouts relating their ex-partners. Trusting each other blindly, they were building the examples for "A Boy and a Girl can be Friends without any flower angle".

After few days, a call from Zain incoming at winter evening while Zoya was busy in her camp-firing vacation at their Grandmaa's farm house. It was a coolest night with freezing wind waving the Nagpur. Zoya loves collecting woods, setting up campfire at their family times. After having a great time at their yard, everyone leaves to bed. Zoya goes to her room, unplugging the phone from the charging point. When she unlocks the phone, she sees that there are 7 missed calls from Zain. Watching it, she gets tensed.

"Oh shit! how could I do this?"

She starts calling him, but it remains unanswered for way too long. Tensed Zoya 

"Come onnnn, pickup the phonnnnne. Please Allah pardon me this one time."

After making 8 calls, he picks up at 9th saying

"Sorry! I was having a shower. Actually I had a match today. Was too tired you know."

"You dumbhead! I was worried watching your 7 missed calls. What happened? Why were you acting so despo?" Zoya asked.

"I wanna tell you something! there is a girl with whom I could drive 600 miles one way. Blow through cash that we ain't made. She is just AWESOME. I was watching her cycling at the ground where I used to have my football matches. Suddenly, everything was slowed down and it was only me and her moving. And when she rose her gaze, I got goosebumps developed everywhere on my skin. Please help me connecting her", Zain with excitement explained the scenario.

"OK! OK! Now stop it! I'll help you. BTW who's the girl?" Zoya asked.

"It's your friend Aliya", he screamed at phone. 

"Ya Allah! Why this girl? why Aliya", Zoya reacted in low tone.

"What do you mean? what made you say so?", Zain asked in confusion.

"OK! Listen to me carefully. Please tryna understand. This isn't gonna happen. You've got alot other choices left. Forget about her", Zoya stated.

"But why? I like her alottttt. Please don't say this. Help me settle down with her. Please", Zain gets into lower state of mind.

Continuing the drama till 3 days, Zoya opened up the matter 

"Look Zain! Aliya is a very sincere heart and sensitive state in feelings. We can't let her get hurt. Inspite of all family problems, she manages to smile hiding stress, dilemma, depressions, heartbreaks, anxieties etc... If you get close and later relation gets failed, she can't take it. Think well before taking any decision. Sometimes we loose the person running behind temporary satisfaction."

And the call got aborted. There wasn't a single word between Zain and Zoya since then. Winter came to an end and the summer started. The Quazi family planned a summer vacation to Maldives. Zoya wasn't in a mood for a vacation, but on her mom's insisting, she agreed and the bags were packed.

It was 9:50pm, She left a message to him saying

"We're about to start for Maldives tomorrow 7am".

The messages were ticked blue, but there wasn't a reply. Waiting for a longtime, Zoya fell asleep. On next morning, there was a huge rush on the way to airport. After lots of stoppages, Quazi family reached airport. Zoya after getting settled down at her seat, took a bottle of water and ending her thirst. After a while, the staff reminded for the seatbelts. Zoya got comfortable and took her mobile out after seatbelts.

"Return back!" with a sad emoji.

Zoya jumped off from the seat, everyone is watching her, stopping her, screaming, "What are you doing girl? wait! stop! where are you going?"

"Please! Ammi, let me go!" saying this Zoya shared a stare with her mom and her mom understood the depth of words. 

Zoya rushing outwards from the terminal, falling into the cab screaming,

"Bhaiyya! To the Ramtek temple please." 

"But mam! you're in Burkah!" Driver stated surprisingly.

"Bhaiyya! dosti jagah nahi dekhti!" Zoya delivered.

Driver gets his head down and concentrates on the way. After an hour, they reached the destination. Zoya checked out from the cab paying the charges, rushing forward and enters into the temple.

While driver on his motive to take U-turn, got his eyes on a paper on the backseat. He stopped the cab a side and started reading it. It says

"Kab tak ladenge mazhab ko lekar,

Kabhi waqt bitha jaao prasad dekar.

Kabhi saath ifthar karo Ramadan mein,

Toh kabhi saath jalao diye Diwali mein.

Itna bhi mushkil nahi hai, aasaan hai sab,

Jab mil baitkar khatam kare siyasati mazhab."

- A Girl from Nagpur.

Zoya searched for her bestie, but he didn't appear. After a long search, she sat down tired with an upset face praying,

"Allah! help me! you are the only one who opens the door, when every door gets closed. Please help me!"

After a while, a voice waves into her ears,

" Keep your eyes open Zo! when you make Dua (Supplication)".

Yup! it was him, Zain.

Zoya turns back and hugs him tightly with a wet face rubbing over his shoulders. Comforting Zoya, Zain states

"Its OK Zo! Its OK!"

Zoya turns straight, wiping out tears makes a serious eye, saying

"It's OK? It's OK?"

Gives a knuckle over Zain's face manly. The hits over his face goes continuously till 4-5 red wounds.

"Aooooouuu! OK I deserve that", Zain holding his jaw.

Zoya gets tensed and he starts apologising for a minute or two and they hug each other.

"Wanna ride?" Zain with a key stated.

They came out of the temple yard, seating in his car, setting off to highway for a voyage. Wearing shades, Zain puts up the gear. Zoya lying on the back seat, takes her shoes off. Lets her legs rest over the window, getting herself comfortable untying her bun and letting her hair free. They starts talking, sharing smiles. Music player is turned on. Songs like Kun Faya Kun, Jashn-E-Bahara, Maula mere Maula adds jingles to their ride. It was a topless car, which was allowing the clouds to breath on their skin.

Stops at a fine dhaaba and orders some rotis. He grabs a water bottle to drink. When he opens his mouth, 

"Aooooouuu!"

"Are you OK? Does it hurt?"

"Haa! a lil bit"

"Am sorry but it must hurt you"

"What!"

"You deserve that buddy! Hahaha"

"Very funny!"

Filling up tummies, they start moving. Covering a distance, comes a break all of a sudden. She fells down getting hit to the front seat from the back one.

"What happened?"

"Yaar we're dead now!"

"What? why?"

Gazing her eyes to the front scene, two officers were standing and there's an intense checkup processing out.

"Yaar! I forgot documents at home"

"WTF! Seriously Zain?"

Stops a side at few metres away from the check post wondering what to do. A bag slips and falls into her lap for the 3rd time since they started.

"What's in this bag? It's been vexing me since longtime"

"Oh that's just some wear for my drama I had few days back."

After few minutes, a Chevrolet Corvette C1 (a vintage car) arrives at check post. A man in a black suit with a well groomed beard appears his head out. Looking at officer's name tag,

"How dare you stop me? Do you know who I am?" 

"Sorry Sir! But it's a part of our duty"

"Seriously? You wanna get rid of this job?"

"Excuse me" officer in muddled way.

"Better you off my path or get fired from your department" man in heavy tone.

The officer gets tensed and thought to avoid unnecessary headache. 

"Let him go" tells the other officer after a bit talk.

"That's much better" man leaves chuckling.

The tyres start moving, leaving weary prints over the check post pavement. At some miles away from the stoppage, the man in the car and the girl starts laughing out loud. Stripping out beard from the face, rolling fingers and setting back his hairstyle

"How was my act?" 

"You're such a versatile actor".

The cars heading towards them flashes over their faces revealing Zain and Zoya in the car. Music starts on and car enters the city Hyderabad. Kun Faya Kun starts playing in Atif Aslam's voice when they're passing through Charminar and Mecca Masjid. It was almost 5am with a cool breeze hugging the Old City. Both of them offers Fajr prayers in halls with respect to their genders.

"Assalamu alaikum" she greets him with a smile tapping on his shoulder.

"Walekum assalam" he replies back pulling her hair like a tease.

They fed pigeons, many of them for hours. But there was one, a beautiful bird, pure white with light grey tips on its wings, that one was different. It was a female. It was mesmerizing to Zoya's eye.

"I had only to wish and call her and she would come flying to me. I love that pigeon as a mother loves her daughter. I feel like as long as I will have her, there will be a purpose to my life" she expressed.

Smirking Zoya moves out of Mosque spreading smiles talking about its beautiful walls thinking that he is following her. After reaching parking lot, she can't find him behind. After a couple of minutes, he comes to her.

"Where were you?" Zoya asked.

"A nature call" 

"OK. Well... What's next?" 

"Lunch?"

"Yeah! Am too starving that I would fall at any moment" she yearns. 

"Let's see what our Hyderabad has in food" he checks nearby restaurants.

The google maps shows result for nearby restaurants which are famous for Arabian foods like Mandi, shawarma etc... and ofcourse Hyderabadi Biryani tops. They drops at one which has got good architecture. The walls are big and looking strong decorated with flowers and curtains. Entrance was quite normal as other places but it's interior design was so mesmerizing to eyes. A green carpet was spread so wide all over the floor meeting portico. The hall is divided into small portions separating each other with cloth walls. A scent of jasmine is waving throughout the portions. When they entered into one, a table was arranged in the centre with pillows surrounding to it, at a distance of semi half metre away from the table which are used as seats. They started comforting themselves and a waiter comes

"Assalamu alaikum. What will you have Sir?" guy in white shirt.

"Walekum assalam. Bhai Hyderabad aaye hai toh Biryani hi khayenge na?" Zain proclaims.

"Subhan Allah" server praises.

The plates were placed and served Biryani to them. Guys started consuming it. Filled up bellies started talking

"Now! Finally, the soul returned to body" Zoya relaxed.

"None can beat Biryani!" he stated.

Few minutes later, the weather gets more cozy forming fogs over windows. She draws a face over the glass.

"See! how stupid Hammad looks?" she giggled.

"Ha. Wait who's this Hammad?" he asks in confusion after a laugh.

"Oh! Fuck!" hitting her head.

"Ha? Tell me" he asks further.

"Am getting married" she with a sorry face.

"What?!"

"Next month"

"WTF?"

"Sorry yaar. I totally forgot telling you"

"Seriously?"

"Arey Sorry yaar. I was about to tell"

"You must thank Allah miya that man handling a girl is prohibited in us" he looses his cool.

"Sorry yaar. I really want you to be the first person know about it" she explains.

After few minutes of explanations and convincing till the red head melts down

"When am I getting his appointment?" chuckling Zain.

"Saturday?"

"Ofcourse not. I gotta meeting to attend with this british company named Peacock Constructions coming Nagpur and my colleagues are too bad at English."

"OK. What about Sunday?" she asked.

"Ah! That would be a better day to hangout"

"Mmm. Sounds perfect" she takes a long breath.

On Sunday...

"Sorry! I am late" Zain speaks folding sleeves.

"You're 10 mins 30 sec late gentleman" Hammad stated.

"It's OK Zain" Zoya excused.

"Mmhm. So.... coffee?" asks Zain.

"Sure" smiles Zoya.

"Actually I forgot to mention I have an important business meeting" said Hammad.

"Brother! It's sunday!" Zain.

"I know!" weird look by Hammad.

"But it's been just few minutes you slide here and I want three of us to have a pretty spending time together" Zoya trying to convince.

"Sorry dear! I've to go" Hammad.

"It's OK gentleman! Meeting is important" Zain justifies him.

"Can I get a talk with you buddy for a bit" Hammad asks Zain watching Zoya.

"OK guys! Am sliding into cafe. See you soon Hammad" Zoya.

Zoya walks into the cafe running with five stars named as Black Seeds. Both guys having a stare at each other for a certain time.

"She's so lucky that gonna marry such a charming person" Zain smirks.

Interrupting him, Hammad talks in low dark tone "Stay away from her!"

"What?!"

"Just stay away from her"

"I didn't get you"

"See, she's so beautiful and gonna be a daughter-in-law in the Mirza family. And my friend, I don't want anyone to raise questions about her character. I advice you to stop meeting her." Saying this Hammad leaves.

 

Hammad Mirza is a 6 feet tall, dark and handsome guy with a clean shaved face. Well groomed and very well dressed in classy black suit with a pretty white flora brooch. Watch coated with a platinum and a semi-rimless black glasses over his blue eyes including a muscular form with abs. Coming to his character, fully occupied by business meetings, files, laptop, clients, money, time etc... He is the only son of the Omer Mirza, one of the top ten billionaires in the country running various textile industries. Hammad is the head of their major industry named as Mirza textiles.

 

Next day...

"What kinda weirdo he is?" Zain in frustration.

"What happened?" Zoya asks in a tensed way.

"I got warning from your man"

"Hahaha! Are you kidding me?"

"Do I look like a clown to you?" Zain in a denser tone. Stands up and checks out from the Ramdham park.

Later that night...

Zoya comes running towards Hammad down at his office parking lot, pulling towards her grabbing his collar when he was to open his car door.

"What the hell Hammad! What did you say to him?" She screams at her fiance.

"Listen" he talks.

"How dare you?" she interrupts.

"Listen to me first" he tries to explain.

"I don't wanna listen anything. How could you do so? He's my bestfriend"

He holds her tightly locks her lips to a deep for a minute till she gains her cool back.

"Am sorry. I didn't mean to trouble him. But I lost my control over my insecurity. You know, I can't express how much you mean to me. If I count you as this universe, it's gonna be too tiny to compare your small glimpse I get for a moment. I am lacking my words to describe this connection whatever I have with you. But I am pretty sure that I don't wanna loose this thing between us. I am strong, muscular, well dressed on skin, but in deep down I am very sensitive with alot of darkness and I strongly feel that it is you who's gonna enlighten my inner depth so that I could shine as I actually want to but not what people wants me to. I couldn't bear anyone close to you than me atleast not in this life" he expresses with an enthusiastic tone ending up with tears rolling down and falling over her right arm.

She hugs him tightly getting emotional wet red cheeks whispers into his ears "I love you."

"Please never leave me" Hammad while holding her face after backing his head lead by a tight hug.

"Never" she smiles at him.

Wiping of tears, Zain peeps from a distance in a car hiding away from them.

On Wedding day, Mumbai...

The banquet hall was decorated in it's beautiful way it could be. The red carpet welcoming guests sprinkling flowers from the roof. A pleasant fume of lily hugging all the well dressed bodies cheering at the marriage. Some were in black, some in white suits dressed as perfect gentlemen. Females were so beautiful and wrapped in colourful attires. Mostly were in red.

Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other; through tenderness and laughter; through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as lifemates and partners.

The bride and groom arrived and signed papers and completed all rituals regarding wedding ceremony. Then Kazi (muslim marriage registrar) reads out Qur'an verses and asks groom and bride about their decision on marriage. 

"Qubool hai (I agree)"

"Qubool hai (I agree)"

"Qubool hai (I agree)" by Groom first and bride next.

"Congratulations! From now you're a couple" Kazi stated.

Everyone starts congratulating them, hugging each other, wishing them a good healthy marriage life.

Later that night...

Both couples opening the gifts and reading funny and lovely messages over gift covers by friends, family, relatives and colleagues. Hammad was too tired went to grab some water to drink. Zoya was checking all gifts and in middle of them she heard a distinctive sound coming from the balcony. She walks towards the balcony, finds a metallic cage with a milky white pigeon in it.  

Yes! it's the same bird she was attracted to, last month at Mecca Masjid. There was a note pinned to a flower bookey attached to the cage. It says

"Raunakein hazaar ho teri muskaan mein,

Na koi gham ho teri chaauv mein.

Khusbhoo bhi sharma jaaye aise ithr rahe teri rooh mein,

Kitaab -e- riwaayat ke panno par likhi ho jaise.

 

Teri choodiyon ki wo khanak aur paayal ki wo awaazein,

Har ek harf jo tere lehje ke qurbat tak pahuchaye jaate.

Tasreeh karna bhi ek khoobsurat khwabeeda sa lage,

Ab mushkilaat bhi tere saath ikhtitaam sa lage.

 

Ye koi moajaza hai ya gardish- e- ayaam,

Kuch mukhtalif sa taabir ye lage.

Nazakat par tere har baar aafreen hojaun,

Dosti humari ye Qayamat tak kya, uske baad bhi rahe.

 

Padne wale mujhe tera aashiq samajh baite hai,

Musalsal mohabbat ki arzi le tehre hai.

Kaise ranjishon mein fasgaye hai teri haafiza mein,

Ek baar tabassum toh kar, khush fehmi me ye mere muntazir baite hai."

-ZAIN

Reading it, she got emotional and with tears in eyes she made a phone call to Zain. The call got disconnected. She tried 6-7 times, sadly the thing repeats. Few moments later, a pop-up on the screen. It's a message from him. It says

"I am gone away. Somewhere away from your place. Don't try to call me, Am dropping my phone down at home. But one thing I promise you, I'll be back few time later. I am carrying our memories, vibes along with me. Somewhere in mountains, I really need this. I do. But as I said I promise to return and mark my words some promises are not meant to be broken. Hope I'll get to see lil Zoya after I return. Hahaha. Take care. Love u both. Good Bye."

A week later... 

A hot sunbeam over the face when curtains were moved apart. He screamed with a sleepy head “WTF?!” dropping arm over his eyes. She walks gently towards him and stands close to him as an obstacle between him and sunrays falling over him. Smiling at him she gazed for few minutes and watching her smiling lips, he started feeling mesmerized. She gently kissed his forehead.

“I love you” he whispered in her ears.

“I love you too” she smiled.

“Am starving to death honey. I’ll cook something soon” Zoya mumbled.

The very next moment, the doorbell rings, Hammad goes and receives the parcel and places it on the dining table.

“When did you order it?” she asks surprisingly.

“Did you forget? It’s Sunday. Holiday for our kitchen” Hammad smiles unpacking the parcel. 

He comes close to her, hold her hand and walks towards the table, makes her sit and serves finite pieces of pizza in plates. Sitting beside her, he holds her from back with his left arm and feeds her with his right one. She takes a bite and hold his hand so that she could turn the other part of the piece into his mouth. He takes the bite “Yummm” escapes from his tongue. She laughs watching his childish cute face eating pizza pieces. Filling up their bellies they sat making plans for rest of the day. It’s the beautiful day for them to spend in every week. Otherwise, they’re occupied by office works.

3 weeks later…

She wakes up and rush towards the bathroom and shuts the door. After few seconds, Hammad wakes up listening to a barf sound. Wondering what’s going on, he gets up and walk towards the bathroom door with no idea. He knocks the door

“Zoya! Zoya!”

No reply from her. He knocks the door again and again

“Are you OK? Zoya!”

Still no response from inside. Tensed Hammad growled “Am gonna break it Zoya!”

Few seconds later, the door gets opened and he rushed inside and discovers that she is standing against a wall as if she had seen a ghost.

“It was a vomit!”

“Could you stop behaving new?”

“I am pregnant!”

“What!?”

“Yes”

“Omg! Really? I can’t believe this! If it’s a joke, please stop! It’s not at all funny”

She turns around to him and slaps him hard

“Ouuuuu”

She puts the pregnancy test kit in his hand. Watching it, Hammad loses his senses.

An hour later…

“Hmmm… Everything looks fine” doctor mumbled.

“Can we know, what happened?” Hammad asked.

“Congratulations Mr. Mirza. She’s pregnant”

Hammad gets emotional. With tears he holds her hand and then he touches her belly. Keeping back his head up “Thank you” escaped from his mouth.

Few days later…

Hammad comes out of the shower, gets into pajamas comforting himself half naked

“What are you doing sweetheart?”

 “Am just… Wait! You can’t tease me like this!”

“What have I done?”

“Shut the fuck up and cover your abs!”

“Ah baby please! Am feeling sweaty. It’s hot here that even our AC isn’t comforting me”

“Really? But I feel the room temperature is normal. Maybe it’s due to my pregnancy phase”

“No! Obviously no! It’s due to your hotness sexy!”

“Whatever! I won’t help you this year” Zoya smirking.

“Ah! My bad! Anyways, what are you reading?”

“Oh, this one? It’s a great book explaining about pregnancy phase like precautions, remedies, dos and don’ts”

“Throw the book off! And come with me” saying this Hammad lifts her up in his arms and carries up to the terrace”

“What are you doing? Drop me down. You will hurt me”

In Zoya’s mind

“What a sexy body my husband got. I can’t keep my eyes off.

“Here you lie in my lap” saying this he sits down at a couch placed near the parapet wall.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Sweety! Don’t waste this precious time reading about this phase. Watch the moon, gaze the stars, sing to the baby in the womb, Kiss your husband.”

“How romantic!” Zoya smiled.

Passing a paper to her, he says sing it to our child

“Tere aane se pehle hi tujh par main aafreen hoon

Khushi itni hai ki khud mein chamakta ek chaand hoon

Shayad tu sun raha mere lafz, tabhi khuli padi ek kitaab hoon

Intezaar tera itna kar rahe hum, par pehli dua dene wala haqdaar hoon

Tu aaja jaldi se khushiyan barsane humari zindagi mein

Jaise aayi teri ammi phool bankar mere banjar zameen ki mitti mein”

 

Pregnancy humbles the husband. After an initial rush of male pride, they quickly recognize the minor role that nature had assigned them in the drama of reproduction. A mother’s joy begins when a new life is stirring inside. When a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone.

Few months later…

Zoya opens her eyes gently and the blurred vision getting clear slowly. She finds her man standing beside her holding something covered with a towel. He watches her with tears rolling down from his eyes and cheeks were so red.

“Thank you so much” Hammad mumbled with tears and brings close the thing he is holding. She raises her head up leisurely and takes it into her hands from his. A most beautiful smile developed on her lips leading to few drops of tears falling.

It’s a cute fair colored baby girl smiling back at her. She has got bright eyebrows with blue eyes like Hammad, circular shaped face.

“Zaynab” escaped from her mouth.

“Masha Allah! That’s an alluring name. ZAYNAB” Hammad uttered.

Watching Hammad, Zoya was smiling from the bottom of her heart which then changed into a confused look when Hammad starts moving a side smiling at her. Then that confusion turned to a serious look when she saw a guy standing with a blue rose bookey with his face hidden behind it.

“Zain” she mumbled letting tears drop down.

“Ah! She caught. How you know?” Zain asked smirking.

“Only you know that I love blue roses” she mumbled.

Doctor enters the room checking reports “Well! All good. You can checkout soon” smiling at Zoya. “Thank you so much doctor” Hammad said.

Few days later…

The doorbell rings. Zoya checks time it’s 7am. Both wakes up and opens the door.

“Zain?!” Hammad in a surprised state.

“Pack up guys! Time for voyage!” Zain said rushing inside into rooms getting bags out.

“So sudden? I mean you didn’t inform us before buddy” Hammad in surprised manner.

“Planned things never happen brother and best things aren’t planned. They’re just rushed” Zain smiling.

“But” Hammad about to talk.

“Let’s go na. It’ll be fun” Zoya requests.

“OK! I’ll call my driver. He’ll be ready when we complete packing bags” Hammad smiles looking into her eyes.

“Brother! My car is way better than your boring one” Zain chuckling.

“You…” Hammad uttered seriously.

“Guys! Stop it! Hammad let’s go in his car. He got a cool one without roof. It’ll be fun” Zoya said.

“Alright” husband smiled.

“Well! Pack your bags guys. Meanwhile I’ll have some fun with my cute niece” Zain taking Zaynab into his arms.

Few hours later…

“All good guys?” Zain passing them corn to eat.

“It’s beautiful buddy. I always wanted visit Qutub Minar since my childhood. But never made it. Family business things you know” Hammad said.

“Yeah! I know” Zain smiling.

“Anyone up for some ice cream?” Hammad stood up.

"Whatever you bring brother!"

"Chocolate one please!"

"OK guys! tasting soon" Hammad walks towards an ice-cream stall handing Zaynab to his wife.

After a while, Zoya placing hand on Zain’s shoulder asked

“Where were you gone?”

“What?” “Nowhere! I was just…”

Zoya slapped him hard

“Oouuu” Zain screamed but in controlled volume.

"Not infront of baby, Zo!" Zain in a low pitched voice.

"Shut up!"

"OK"

"I asked where?"

"What where? No where"

“No stories!” Zoya said in anger.

“The mountains”

“What?!”

“I went there for a cure”

“What cure? Are you alright? Speak clearly”

“I don’t know, I felt like, like…”

“Like what?”

“Dead”

“What?!”

“Yes dead. Without you”

“What you mean by that?”

“I thought, you will leave me when you got married. I was feeling empty. I thought our friendship is reaching it’s end. But later, I discovered friendship never ends. It just gets weak and strong. But never ends. I learnt this moral spending time in mountains between beautiful animals and birds. The way they fly and the way they land made me realize how beautiful life is and how short it is. Hence I came back forgetting your husband’s tiny warning” Zain laughs.

“No Yaarrrr! He was just being possessive for me. He expressed everything that night at parking lot about his past love life, his worst heartbreak. He was totally broken and got void in his heart when she left him. Then our family mingled with each other ending up with a simple and small engagement at home” she explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me all this?” Zain uttered.

“You didn’t even pick my phone those days. I tried to contact you many times. Many messages, emails. Never got reply from anywhere” she in tensed way.

“Am sorry! I was so depressed those days. When everything was so beautiful, so good, happiness were like monsoon rains. Especially my friend was getting married. I still remember how beautifully I decorated the wedding stage. The flowers, strings, white shining curtains spread surrounding the hall like a cover or protection against the evil enviosity. Specially those sprinkling flowers over bride and groom. And then..." 

He gets tensed watching down. She asks

"And then...? What happened Zain?"

"And then, when I was placing your gift at balcony, I got a call from some unknown number. When I picked up, I heard someone crying. My smiles shattered somewhere in few seconds. I could literally feel every drop falling down from her eyes. I asked cum screamed "what happened? Please talk!" I got no words from her. All I could hear was only her crying so bad. After half hour, she told a phrase.

"I love you"

My heart skipped a beat all of a sudden leading goosebumps all over my skin. Uncontrollable tears started falling, making my shirt wet. And then she said "Am sorry" which turned my face to pale. I screamed "NO! no no no no no!" I fell into my car, rushed towards her place. Sadly, I got hit by a truck which was carrying heavy goods. I fell unconscious in my broke down car. When I woke up, it was morning, sun was burning me through my wounds formed on my chest and right arm. My suit was completely tore into half. Then I managed to come out from my car which was upside down. I was so helpless running with my left leg wounded even in the position of difficulty in walking. Luckily, I got a bus on that highway which was going to Nagpur. I rushed into it and reached her house. Her family tryna stop me, but I managed to get into her room. She wasn't there. Then I asked them, literally screamed "Where is she?" They were so disgusting mind that they answered "We're finally happy that she left us"

"What the fuck! Where is your heart? She's your daughter!"

Then my eyes fell on a paper dropped on the table beside her bed."

Zain takes out that piece of paper from his pocket and shows it to Zoya. It says

"Le aaj phirse chaand ghoorne aagaye hum,

Taare ginte ginte shayad hojaye gham ye kam,

Kya kare aaj raat phirse aankhein ye nam,

Kalam ye likh raha pannon se bhare gham,

Lafzon mein shayad koi kami ho, par jazbaat na honge ye kam.

 

Ummeed hai shayad kabhi toh koi haseen raat hogi,

Sukoon mein chamke hum, aise chamakti chaandni hogi,

Dil aur dimag ke saath shayad ruhaaniyat bhi saaf hogi,

Bhar jaye gham, toh chain ki kitaab shuru hogi" 

- ALIYA

“Aliya?” she asked.

“Yes”

“Oh! Mm… sorry!”

“No! Why you’re saying sorry. May be She’s not in my fate” he mumbled.

“ No ice cream guys! Let’s go it’s getting dark” Hammad screamed from the stall.

Both walked out of the spot and drives home. Dropping them at their home, Zain walks back to the car.

“Thanks, buddy, for this lovely time” Hammad said hugging him and walks inside. While Zoya stopped there and hugged him tightly. Then pulls her head back.

“Keep visiting and keep making such plans. May be somewhere we can find you a good girl like me” rolls her hand in his hair while laughing.

“Accha ji” Zain pulls her hair chuckling.

“Haan ji”

“OK. Am waiting for that moment. I’ll take a leave now, good night”

“Good night”

“Take care” he said leaving.

“Take care” she went inside.

Few days later... 

Zain opens his eyes hearing a ring on his phone. He picked up the call 

"Not now Zoya, I am too sleepy. Call me later?" while rubbing eyes.

“Shut up dumbo! Come home!” she uttered.

“What happened?”

“Soon!”

The call gets aborted.

He jumps out of the bed, puts colgate on brush takes a water bottle and run down to his car. Putting in to gear, brushing teeth. He rushed towards Hammad’s house.

After few hours... 

When Zain reached Mirza Villas, before knocking the door,

"Come in Zain!" Hammad's voice screamed.

He entered inside, discovers Zoya and Hammad were sitting on the sofa. The couple gets up "Welcome Zain!" Hammad smiling.

"What happened? Why you called me so urgent?" 

Zoya smiles puts hand over his shoulder and then slowly moves her hand over his head and rubbing his head, she starts smiling. Zain was watching her with a confused mind. Then gradually, she starts moving a side. Zain hears some footsteps reaching him. Things got a clear vision. His eyes filled up with water. He turned his face towards Zoya and starts crying.

"It's OK" Zoya cared holding him.

He gently moved forward and stops in front of the person. Gently lifting his arms which were shivering consistently. He took her hands into his, looking into her wet eyes dripping down.

"Aliya" crying Zain mumbled.

"I love you too" Aliya replied as if she read his mind.

"Zoya searched for her everywhere soon after the day you described your incident. She went to Nagpur without even informing me the matter. She just woke up next day after our time spent day and said "I wanna go to Nagpur." I asked her that I'll come with her. But trust me, she didn't even let me drop her. she just got ready, took her bag and drove." Hammad stated.

"Thank you so much" Zain to Zoya with tears rolling down like rain with cheeks red.

"Wish fulfilled!" Zoya smiled heavenly. 

Few days later…

“What’s taking you so long Aloo? Baraath is yet to come in few minutes” Zoya while knocking the door.

“Could you please help me with this Zoya?” Aliya uttered.

“Allah! This girl isn’t ready yet. Everyone is waiting for today’s moon and the moon is still hiding here”

“Exactly! I wonder how would I get rid of this darkness from me”

“Ummm… Wait, What!?”

“Hmmm”

“What do you mean by that Aliya?”

“Zoya! Am just worried and almost nervous about these happy things occur around me. Whenever I feel happy for a moment, am being dragged down to something worse than the happy time I spend” Aliya mumbling sitting down in front of the mirror.

“I understand how hard your life was at your home, but its time to be happy and forget about all the past memories. You are about to create good memories with my buddy. And trust me, he’s so good at care that he won’t let your heart break again” Zoya comforting her.

“See how unlucky this face is! Always messing up with lives and creating difficulties to people who are close to me. I am still not confident that I could give Zain a happy-peaceful life.”

“Shut up Aliya! You’re so good that none deserves a chance to hate you. If you were really that bad, I would’ve never searched for you that long. Now don’t overthink and wear this beautiful gown which is so heavenly in Sky blue. Oh my God! Am so jealous of you! Such a gorgeous attire.”

“Zain’s selection”

“Of course, I must know that. I wanna rob you Aloo” Zoya chuckling.

“Di! Baraath aagayi! Jaldi chalo jaldi chalo!” a lil girl came in excitement.

Running towards balcony of the banquet hall, both were looking at the people dancing down at the yard close to the entrance of the wedding hall.

“Come on girls!” Hammad dancing while carrying Zaynab in arms.  

“Chal” Zoya smirking at Aliya.

“No! Am a bride! I can’t do this yaar”

“Oh c’mon! Don’t be so 90s girl”

“OK” Aliya chuckled.

Both comes down along with some female friends to dance along the Baraath.

“Abey yaar! Step down from the horse and join us” Zoya screamed as there is so noise of band.

“I can’t” Zain stated.

“Zain! I know your love towards white horses is eternal. But NOW! its time to show love towards Mrs. Zain.”

“Why you’re stressing more on the word NOW?”

As soon as he asks that, gradually everyone starts moving a side, making a way between them. Then his eyes lands on a beautiful flower coming towards him shining so elegantly like a sky.

“Woah! Aliya!” Zain dropped his jaw watching her.

She got a mike in her hand close to her mouth.

“Arsa hogaya tha, kabhi Roshni nahi dekhi thi,

Gehri khamoshi mein akeli tooti padi thi,

Phir aaya ek baadal jo barsa mujhpar khushi ke boondon mein,

Jab saare raaste bandh hue, ummeed mili aasman mein,

Aaj din hai, mauka bhi hai aur ek guzaarish bhi,

Ye khaali haath hai, Tadapte maangte tera saath aaj bhi

Kal bhi, aur shayad humesha se sawaal adhoora raha ji

Kya HAAN hai aapki?”

Zain steps down the horse wiping out his wet red face formed emotionally, running in sky blue Sherwani which was matching to the bride’s attire. Hugged her so tight while she was wiping his tears. He took her hands into his watched the mehndi showed up so mesmerizing to his eyes. He then lifts his head up stopping at way to her eyes.

“Haan.”

Then all the marriage rituals processed. Everyone congratulated the couple with lots of presents and wishes. Photographs with all guests like capturing those happy faces of joy. Zoya holds Zain's hand and ties his wrist a watch.

"Wow!" Zain uttered.

"It's a special watch with a special feature in it."

"Oh that sounds amazing Zo! And what's that special feature?"

"You'll come to know soon." Zoya whispered in his ear.

"Something secret is running here between the buddies" Aliya smirked.

"Haa! Secret hai humara!" Zoya chuckled.

"Bahut yaarana lagta hai" Aliya in gabbar's tone while laughing.

All started laughing at that tone.

A great relationship doesn’t happen because of the love you had in the beginning, but how well you continue building the love till the end. The greatest thing about this marriage was all about teamwork, a mutual respect, a healthy dose of admiration and never-ending portion of love and grace. If we keep our efforts due, things may fall out of our hands. So, it’s necessary to keep both hope and efforts for the loved ones.

Later that night…

The door gets opened, Zain steps inside and found his heart waiting for him between the flowers and fragrance spread all over the room. He shuts the door and walks towards her and lands near her. Then, slowly he holds her soft cheeks and drops a gentle kiss on her forehead. Holding her hands

“Mesmerizing!” escaped while watching into her eyes.

“Thank you handsome.”

She hugs her so tight all of a sudden and he starts rubbing her back. After few seconds, he discovered her tears as her wet face was buried in his shoulder.

“Why are you crying?”

“Am sorry!”

“Sorry for what?”

“You met with an accident in search of me. Am just so selfish that I risked your life.”

“How did you find out that? Ah Zoya!”

“Mmm”

“Listen! I don’t know, how these things were carried out. But I always had hope that one day my lord will get us together under one roof. When I read your letter, I was so broken down into millions.”

“No! Zain! Please!”

“Let me speak! Please!” Zain in tears.

“It was this guilt choked inside my heart of mishandling your heart, as I failed to get you out of your pathetic family. Am sorry” Zain mumbled.

“It’s OK. However, we were meant to get together someday. We did it. The whole credit goes to Zoya. She searched for me everywhere just to make a friend happy. How tremendous it is that in the era of bad family, you got a great friend. We usually used to talk about you, all those stupid things you used to do for me, were so cute when she used to describe me. Initially, I thought I don’t want us to get ourselves ruined by these relationship things, but eventually, I fell for you. And here I am in your arms as destined. I love you so much” Alia expressed.

“I love you too.”

He comes closer and locks her lips with his as if they were sharing emotions through their mouth.

Thus, things got better and once again happiness rained in Zain's heart. Life is a mixture of happiness and sadness. No one likes sadness, but it's necessary to know what happiness is. 

Next morning…

Her phone started ringing, she woke up with an irritation state

“Who the hell is being so pesky this early?”

Hammad wakes up hearing it, asks her “What happened baby?”

Zoya picks up the call

“Yes!?”

“How’re you Joya?” a slurping mouth.

Her face expressions changed to red “NO!”

“What happened? Who’s that?” Hammad uttered.

“No! No! No! How dare you to phone me again you asshole!” Zoya screamed at the call.

“Who’s that baby? Why are you so serious?” Hammad holding her hand.

Zoya dropped her jaw in shock bending her head towards the boppy lounger, discovers it empty and shouts at extreme

“Am gonna kill you bastard! How dare you?”

Hammad loses his patience and grabs the phone out from her

“Who the fuck are you Mr.? Why are you bothering her?”

The call gets aborted.

Zoya is still in the shock. Hammad holds her face “What happened baby? Who was that? What’s the matter? Why were you so freaking out?”

“He got Zaynab!”

Hammad gets shocked and looks beside her and finds out the lounger is empty.

“What’s going on here? Who was that? Why the fuck he kidnapped our baby?” Hammad started freaking out in tension.

“This is all my fault. I put our life in danger. I am the bad one” she starts crying.

“OK calm down first. Here, have some water” Hammad passes a water bottle holding her heading over his chest.

“I don’t want anything. I just want my daughter back!”

“I promise, I’ll bring her back baby. First have some water and tell me everything about that bastard.”

Hammad comforts her assures her that he’ll bring Zaynab back to home.

“Mohit Chaudhary”

“Uh hu. Am listening”

“My ex”

“Ohh” Hammad with his O lips.

“A toxic head, on whom I wasted my handwritten letters. Life went upside down, when I discovered his pernicious mind. I put my every inch going against the whole world and guess what? I ended up being betrayed.”

“Enough! Am gonna rip his skin off!” Hammad gets up and makes a call.

“I Got him!” Hammad talked.

“I am coming with you”

“No! It’s not safe”

“I didn’t ask! I stated it!” Zoya in anger.  

The couples reach to their car. All his men in black suits, armed with guns were waiting down.

“I’ll drive! And no one is gonna follow us! Am gonna break some bones today” Hammad while getting into the car.

 An hour later, somewhere at Lonavala hill station…

“Welcome fancy couple! Welcome” Mohit while chuckling.

“Where’s my daughter you asshole!” Zoya freaked out.

“Relax Joya my love! Relax!” Mohit while slurping tobacco.

“Z for Zoya!” Zoya interrupted.

“I guess you don’t want Zaynab dead baby!”

“Don’t you dare!” Hammad cried furiously.

Hammad runs towards Mohit, jumping over him. They start punching each other faces so deadly that blood oozes out. Hammad gets up after giving him high blows on his face that Mohit’s face gets badly injured. Mohit fell down unconscious. Meanwhile, Hammad’s shirt is torn and soaked in blood. Hammad strips out the torn piece and wiping out the blood on his chest.

“Ohh my God! Hottie” Zoya with her mouth open.

“What!?” Confused Hammad in pain.

“His abs are so perfectly consistent even after becoming a father” Zoya in mind.

A fraction of seconds, Mohit gets up and takes out his gun to shoot Hammad.

“Noooooooo!” Zoya screams in fear.

He points the gun at him and the moment he gonna press the trigger, he gets his hand shot at first and second on head. Mohit fell down dead with a bleeding head.

The sun was hitting them so hard that the couple can’t see the man who saved them. Slowly, the man started coming into their sight. He removed his hat off from his head and hands over Zaynab to Zoya.

“Zain!” Hammad in a surprised tone.

“What!?” Zoya gets surprised too.

“That was a very good headshot, I ever had” Zain chuckled taking off his shades.

“But how you know about this?” Zoya asked.

“Am your father, Beti!” Zain smirked.

The couple gave a weird look to him.

“OK! OK! I’ll tell you”

“We’re waiting!”

“Remember Zoya! You gave me a special watch on my wedding!”

“Oh yeah! Stupid me! I got it now!” Zoya hitting her brain.

“What’s special in it? And what’s the link?” Hammad questioned in curious.

“Ah! It has a special feature that it is connected with Zoya’s watch. She kept it surprised all these days.” Zain smiling.

“Oh, but how?” Hammad asked.

“It beeps when there’s any change in her body like heartbeat, mental stress, too much anger etc… with GPS enabled in both of our watches” Zain explained.

 “Ohhh! That’s a good one”

“Yeah! Wherever we’re, we stay connected all the times.”

Same as people like day instead of night, but night is also necessary to forget our worries, miseries and to rest for wake up refreshingly to faceup the day. All we need is a supportive friend. That one friend who acts like a mother, helps us in figuring out our messed up life.

Now, a question to my dear readers

"Do you have any such friend? That one friend for whom you could do anything. If yes, how far?

"How far could you go for a friendship?"