Ballad Of Love

『⁴』

"Khanam...aapko tou pata hi hai..."

"Matlab rishta nahi hua. Woh kalmuha jinn uss par phir sawar ho gya?"

Salma Khanam shooked her head in anger and looked at Saman Begüm curiously.

"Waise Saman Begüm humne har tarah ke peer, fakir, tawiz aazma liya hai magar yeh jinn hamari Afeerah ki jaan nahi chorta....toh kyun na hum.."

Saman Begüm who was looking at Salma khanam Hopefully that she may gave her any good advice or a solution.

"Toh kya Khanam?"

Salma Khanam muttered something in Saman Begüm's ears and her face turned red due to anger.

"Aap yeh keh rahi hai ke humari Afeerah Pagal hai...jou usse pagalo ke dactar ko dekhiye."

"Aree bhai hadd karti ho saman Begüm. Yun tou beti ko tumne masters in English karwa liya aur doctor ko nahi dikha rahi ho...in jhoothe oeer fakiro ke pichhe jaa rahi ho."

"Haan aap to kahangi ki peer fakiro ko jhootha Rayyan Baba jou Pagalo ke dactarr ban gaaye hai."

"Aree bhai hadd hai mai Afeerah beti ki bhalayi ki baat kar raahi hoo aur tum hai ki...

"Ammi."

They both were arguing when they saw Afeerah standing on the threshold, she was trying to control her laugh. But then she started laughing like a maniac and her eyes turned red with anger, she threw her bag on the floor,"I WILL NOT LEAVE AFEERAH ALONE. THATS THE PROMISE OF GAUD JINN." Afeerah's voice masculine, but this time her tone was very low and serious.

Salma Khanam and Saman Begüm both were shivering in fear, they both got up from the floor and ran outside, not looking back. And like everytime Afeerah fainted on the floor with a thud.

...

■ Nawabgarh, 2016.

Woh khat
Woh baarish ki pehli boond
Woh khubsurat sardi ki shaamein
Woh tapti garmi mai ek dusre ko takna
Woh chhato ki mulakatein
Woh leh lehati zulfon ka aanchal
Woh lo deti nazro ki tapish
Woh Mohabbat ka ishq ho jana
Woh annkho annkho mai izhar ho jana
Woh waqt kahan kho gaya.

Three years had passed and now everyone knew in the whole Nawabgarh that Afeerah Farid daughter of Ghulam Farid, the butcher is possessed by the Gaud Jinn, the kind of jinns which are said to be the worshipper of satan and the ancient tribe in Jinn community.

Since then, nobody had came for Afeerah's proposal. Every man in Nawabgarh, fears her, if she passes by in the street then they avert their gazes or change their path. But didn't dare to look in her way.

Afeerah who was now working as a highschool English teacher in Nawabgarh's girls school. She was also working onto raising funds for a university with the help of MLA Zubair Khan.

Well many people fear Afeerah, but they also love and respect her alot, as she has done so much for Nawabgarh. Her kindered spirit and humble nature wins everyone's heart, yet their are some people who gossips about her.

"Afeerah, look at this." Fehmida, a fellow teacher, diverted her attention from her diary.

"Well i think this theme is perfect for the annual games." Afeerah was checking out the layouts and proposition carefully. When her phone started ringing and she saw her mother's number on the screen.

"Excuse me, Fehmida." She got out of the staff room.

While talking with Saman Begüm, she was walking and looking around the school.

"Yes ammi. I'll bring it with me. Okay."

She was standing in the balcony now looking at the plants, sunlight hitting her face and she closed her eyes, bathing in the sunlight, feeling warm in the chilly winds of December. When she felt as if someone is looking at her, her sixth sense told her that.

She opened her eyes to look around, when her eyes fell on a man, he was wearing a black colour baseball hat, he's broad muscles were stretched underneath the tight tshirt. She felt as if she has seen him, but she couldn't see his face.

And suddenly he started running in the opposite direction, disappearing from her eyesight. She shooked her head and walked towards the staff room.

She stopped midway in the corridor and a thought came in her mind. He was the same guy she had seen this morning and now, that means somebody is following her.

For the first time she felt worried and droplets of sweats formed on her forehead. I think I'm thinking too much...why would somebody follow me...its just a mere coincidence.

...

Afeerah was busy grading papers, when somebody throw a stone in her window and she got alerted and worried. Her windows glass is broken. She looked at the rock which was wrapped in a paper and then she read what was written inside it;

Na aashna woh bhi nahi
Na aashna hum bhi nahi
Bas waqt ka talism hai
Jou hum pass hokar bhi
Door hai....

She looked outside her window and there the same guy was standing, she still couldn't see his face. The guy made a victory sign with his fingers and Afeerah got more scared, she ran out of her room to ask him why he was following her.

But when she opened the main door of her house there's no one, her father as usual gone for Zubair Khan's work and her mother is sleeping. She couldn't tell anyone about this.

A lone tear left her eyes, she didn't understand why all of this things are happening with her. Why somebody is stalking her?

But she had no answer.

"Whenever you find yourself in trouble Afeerah. Just remember one thing....."

"Remember What Rayyan?"

"Not let your fear control you."

A memory came in her vision and she cried more. She always remember his advices and philosophies whenever she find herself struck in life. Rayyan the friend, who always light her way even when she only sees darkness.

"Rayyan."

His name left her mouth like a plea.

Afeerah Farid was truly a devotee of Rayyan.....and maybe in her heart she knows she's ruining herself....but now its too late for her to go back.

And then she cried even more.

•••••••••••••••••

Note: I hope you all know now that she's indeed in trouble.💀