Note: genuinely tried to edit it properly but I'm a sucker when it comes to proofreading. Thank you to everyone whose been reading the oneshots and sending messages and leaving comments. They truly make my day and motivate me to write more. I hope you like this one 🧡🦋 Lots of love
Karachi was weirdly gloomy tonight.
His face etched with unmistakable sadness, and the weight of his heavy heart seemed to press upon him like a suffocating burden as his gaze fixated upon the endless stretch of road ahead.
He opened the car's window to breathe some fresh air which was ironic because fresh air in the same sentence, doesn't go hand in hand when you're living in one of the most polluted cities of the world. He couldn't think straight. Lost in a labyrinth of his own emotions, he yearned for solace. Yet, as he traced the winding path ahead, he found himself swallowed further into the abyss of his sorrow, the weight of the world pressing harder against his chest. In this solitary journey along the lonely road, he sought a glimmer of hope, a flicker of light to guide him out of the depths of despair, yearning for a destination where this familiar sadness would rest.
His heart sank as he observed Karachi's empty, dimly lit roads at 2 am. The journey back home should've relieved him since he was returning home after 2.5 months, but none of it was helping him get rid of the heaviness in his heart. Farjaad glanced at his wristwatch that stated exactly 2:04 am and his cell phone 2:14 am, 10 minutes ahead of the usual time, because he liked the idea of staying ahead and beating it every day. However, tonight he didn't wish for it. He just wanted to be at peace and let go of the tightening feeling in his chest. He hated it. It reminded him of a 22-year-old Farjaad, who was scared and vulnerable. For some reason,, he recalled that day, just 7 hours before his father's death. He was sitting on the floor in the hospital room with his head buried in his legs. His father was right before him on a vent breathing his last. Doctors had told them to be prepared. He had asked his Maa and Mimi to go back home and rest while he looked over at his dad. He clearly remembered the clock displayed 2:04 am exactly, and he wanted to talk to his father; he wanted him to tell him that he would manage it all- the business, his mother, his 14-year-old sister and himself. He was so scared, so petrified to take over the responsibilities that he had efficiently dodged so far in life.
Reminiscing old memories didn't bring him any solace instead, it added to his exhaustion. He was thinking of the worst. He loosened his tie to relieve himself but in vain. Maybe it was homesickness and the terrible journey back home that pushed him to think about things he had banished himself from. He was definitely exhausted, and why won't he be? The terrible connected flights and constant travellingu along the insane amount of workload sapped out the energy from him. He wanted to say something to his driver but stopped midway. Farjaad sighed and shifted his gaze to the gloomy road. He opened the window and ducked his head out to feel the gush of wind on his face and relieve himself of the weird feeling that captivated his soul and mind - but it didn't work. His heart still felt heavy. This time, without looking in the rear-view mirror, he told his driver, "Pasha house ki trf le lo." Zulqarnain, who nodded at his saab's order, suppressed a knowing smile wondering why it took him so late to say that. He knew he had to take that turn eventually, and he wished his saab had asked that earlier so they would've been saved from taking the long route. Unlike his saab, he was clear with his intentions and wanted to spend the rest of the right with his wife and children, who were waiting for him.
Farjaad didn't have to ring the bell- he never did until and unless he had specifically come to meet Pasha Saab and Umeed wasn't home. He had already messaged Umeed that he was coming and would be at her doorstep within 15 minutes.
He was early.
Zulqarnain, the efficient driver he was, reached the destination within 10 minutes.
Before Farjaad could text Umeed, she had opened the door. She must've heard the car screeching or headlights because his driver was strictly prohibited from pushing the horn button in this neighbourhood. Farjaad stepped out of the car and felt a tumultuous wave of emotion in his heart- the one he always felt whenever he was going to meet. This was the longest he had to wait to see her since they started dating- which was 3 years 7 months and 14 days to be precise. He still felt giddy, excited to see her brightly lit face and the way her sparkled whenever she saw him. Umeed opened the door, and before he could say something to look at her, he nearly stumbled backwards. Her petite self lunged at him and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.
