HUMDUM- Laiba & Fahad

29| Distances

Laiba's words echoed in my mind, repeating over and over again, "Main tumse pyaar nahi karti Fahad. Mere dil mein tumhare liye koi feelings nahi hai". The pain was unbearable, and my heart felt like it was being squeezed in a tight grip.

Tears threatened to escape my eyes, blurring my vision as I drove. Every memory of Zayd and Laiba being together flashed before me like a slideshow. On our first meet, during the waleema, every single time. It was all right in front of me, how could I have not known?

Kitne The Chehre, Kitne The Dil
Hum Tumse Mile Kyun Aakhir?
Kitni Thi Raahein Aur Manzil
Hum Tumse Mile Kyun Aakhir?
Hum Tumse Mile Kyun Aakhir?
[AAKHIR]

Laiba and Zayd found a quieter spot away from the bustling wedding hall. Zayd looked at Laiba with curiosity, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Tum kya keh rahi thi? Waha kuch sunai nahi de raha tha" Zayd asked, leaning in closer to hear her better.

Laiba took a deep breath and met his gaze. "Mujhe ghar jaana hai," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency.

Zayd's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you serious?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. "Tum khud mujhe yaha zabardasti le aayi aur ab itni jaldi jaana chahti ho?"

"Pata nahi kyun mujhe ajeeb si bechaini ho rahi hai. Fahad ki tabiyat bhi subah kharab thi. Mujhe bas accha nahi lag raha" she explained. "Tum mujhe mere ghar chod do please"

Zayd let out a sigh, giving way to understanding. He nodded, realizing Laiba's concern. "Thik hai" he said. "Chalo phir"

"Main bas ek minute Nadia se mil ke aati hu"

[KHAN HOUSE]
LAIBA
I had this weird feeling in my gut as though something is wrong, but I couldn't figure out why. I made my way upstairs to our room and pushed the door gently. The room was empty. Where is he? Is he still in the office? Or is he sick again?

I grabbed my phone, and dialed his number several times. But this man never picks my call. The door creak opened and I turned around and saw Fahad walking in, his coat hanging off his arm.

I blurted out, "itna late kyu aa rahe ho?" He ignored me walking into the room and I felt confused. "Aur mera phone kyun nahi utha rahe the? Main kabse call kar rahi hu"

And then he looked at me, his eyes red, "Yaha kyun aayi ho?" He asked, his voice low as he unbuttoned his shirt. I was taken aback. "Kya matlab yaha kyu aayi ho?"

"Apni dost ki shadi chod kar aayi hu, kyunki mujhe tumhari fikr ho rahi thi, aur tum mujhse yeh puch rahe ho?"

"Yeh jhuti fikr dikhane ki zarurat nahi hai"  he sneered, his voice laced with bitterness.

"Aise kyun keh rahe ho?"
"Main notice kar rahi hu tum kuch dino se bohot ajeeb behave kar rahe ho. Kuch hua hai kya Fahaad?" I asked in a calm tone.

"Tum mujhe ignore kyun kar rahe ho? Kya maine koi ghalati ki hai?" I questioned, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation.

There was this weird silence, and then Fahad spoke, "Nahi, tumhari koi ghalati nahi hai"

"Ghalati meri hai, ke maine tumse tumhari marzi ke khilaf jaa kar shadi ki."