Wabasta | Complete ✔

Chapter 7

She had been waiting at the door for a few minutes. She didn't mind waiting. There was something about the way Zaitoon Khala devotedly submitted herself to prayers that she admired watching. When she finished saying the salaams, Zaitoon looked at Firdaus gesturing her to come in. Her lips were constantly moving in supplication, after which she gently blew on Firdaus who was now sitting beside her on the floor.

"Tum abhi tak airport ke liye nikli nahi beta?"

"Haan bus baba ke aane ka intezar kar rahi hoon. Woh ajaye toh phir unke saath chali jaungi."

Firdaus slumped her shoulders, and pursed her lips, unable to put her feelings into words.

"Kya hua meri jaan? Itna pareshan kyun ho?"

"Pareshan nahi hoon khala, main bas..."

"Udaas ho?"

She nodded her head slightly. Firduas bent down and rested her head on Zaitoon's lap.

"Woh jaa raha hai khala."

Zaitoon stroked her hair gently. "Woh apni parhai muqammal karne ke liye jaa raha hai, ek achhe mustaqbil ke umeed mein. Yeh toh achhi baat hai na?"

"Hain. Par phir bhi. London yahan se bauhat door hai. Aur medical studies bhi kaafi mushkil hoti hai. Pata nahi usey wahan jaakar hamari yaad ayegi bhi ya nahi. Mujhe aisa lag raha hai, ke woh hamesha ke liye mujhse door jaa raha hai. Jaise woh kabhi wapis hi nahi ayega."

"Jo apna hota hai na beta, woh wapis laut ke hamare paas zaroor ata hai."

"Aur agar na aye toh?"

"Toh samajh lena ke woh kabhi apna tha hi nahi."

Firdaus fell silent for a while. She got up again, a thoughtful look loomed over her face. Zaitoon laughed seeing her condition.

"Lekin tum fikr kyun karti ho? Aman aur tumhari dosti itni kamzor thodi na hai? In Sha Allah, tum logon ke saath aisa kuch nahi hoga. Ab jao jaake wudhu karke ao. Asr ki namaz parhlo aur Allah se duaein mango, uske liye bhi aur apne liye bhi."

*****

There was a calming sense of inner peace she felt after praying. Firdaus knew it in her heart that nobody could ever understand her woes better than Allah, and nobody could ease them either, other than Him.

She lifted her hands up and poured her heart out in front Rabb-ul-Alameen.

'Ya Allah, aap Rahmaan aur Raheem hain, is duniya jaahan ke malik. Sabse zyada meherbaan aur reham dil. Aap mere dil ki har du'a, har khwaish jaante hain.

Woh aaj mujhse, apne waldain se, apne mulk se bauhat door jaa raha hai. Usko hamesha apni hifazat mein rakhna. Aapko toh maloom hai, Uski parhai usey buhat azeez hai. Woh jis maqsad se jaa raha hai, usme usko kamyabi dena. Woh muqammal tareeke se ek achha doctor ban sake, insaaniyat ki madad kar sake. Zindagi ki har morr par uske liye asaaniya paida karein Allah, aur usey woh saari khushiyan dein jiska woh haqdaar hai.

Ameen.'

*****

The final tidbits of packing were done. Aman dragged his suitcase near the front gate and waited for his parents.

His father came out first.

"Sidra! Jaldi karo yaar. We're getting late." Asad looked at the suitcases and made a mental note of them. "Sari cheezein check karliya na beta? Kuch reh toh nahi gaya?"

"Nahi baba. Sab kuch theek hai, maine already do baar check kiya hai, phir ammi ne aake teesri baar check ki. Ab toh joh nahi lena tha woh bhi le liya shayad." Both laughed.