Ishq Fakiri

Aashnaa (1)

Dil na ummeed toh nahi nakaam hi toh hai,
Lambi hai gham ki shaam magar shaam hi toh hai...

(~Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

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"Mujhe toh samajh nahi aa raha. Kya hoga Aayat ka? Kon apnaega use? Allah khair kare bas"

Mrs. Khan said while showing the file to Mr. Khan. Mr. Khan took the file and read it again and again.

He kept the file aside with a dejected look on his face.

"Allah par bharosa rakho Rubina."

"Ammi-"

18 year old, Aayat came in her parents room and was about to say something but stopped seeing their distressed faces.

She went near them,

"Kya hua Ammi Baba, sab theek toh hai na?"

Her father just forwarded her the file in his hands. Aayat confusingly took the file and read it.

Initially, her face was calm while reading it, but as she turned the pages and comprehended what exactly it meant, the calmness on her face was replaced by shock, hurt and grief. Tears formed in her eyes, one look at her parents and those tears began flowing down her face.

"Am.. Ammi, yeh-"

Mrs. Khan didn't let her speak and took Aayat in her embrace.

A few minutes later, when she finally broke the embrace, she left the room ignoring the calls of her parents.

**********

Few months later

Khan mansion was decorated like a bride. It was the baby shower function of Mehak Khan, the elder daughter in law of Khan's.

The entire house was filled with relatives.

"Ammi Aayat kaha hai?"

Mehak asked her mother in law who had come in her room to give her some things.

"Aayat? Pata nahi, bahar hogi shayad. Koi kaam tha tumhe usse?"

"Ji, aaj woh mujhe taiyaar karne wali thi. Par dekhiye na ab tak woh aayi hi nahi"

"Bhabhi me aa gayi"

Aayat hugged mehak from behind and kissed her cheeks.

"Chalo ab jaldi se ise taiyaar karo aur khud bhi taiyaar ho jaana"

Mrs. Khan patted her cheeks and was about to leave the room when Mehak's mother, Saara, came inside with a furious look on her face.

"Koi zaroorat nahi hai tumhe ise taiyaar karne ki aur na khud taiyaar hone ki."

Saara went near Aayat and holding her by her arms, pushed her out of the room.

Mehak immediately went to Aayat's rescue, wheres Mrs. Khan kept standing there shocked, somewhere knowing the reason behind Saara's behaviour.

"Mamma yeh aap kya kar rahi hai?"

Mehak asked angrily, and then turned towards Aayat and cupped her cheeks,

"Tumhe lagi toh Nahi na?"

Saara again pushed Aayat away from Mehak,

"Dur raho meri beti se"

Mehak gasped seeing her mother's behaviour. By now many ladies had gathered around the room to see what was going on. Aayat's father and brothers also came hearing the loud voices.

Saara went towards Mrs. Khan,

"Aapne itni badi baat humse chupaayi. Agar mujhe pehle pata hoti toh me pehle hi aakar apni beti ko apne saath lekar jaati. Aap jaanti hai na ek baanjh ka meri pregnant bacchi ke paas hona kitna galat hai. Aur aapne itne mahine uska manhoos saaya meri bacchi par padne diya."

Everyone in the room was shocked hearing about Aayat's infertility. And Aayat, she stood rooted to her place hearing the harsh words.

And one by one, all the ladies in the room started supporting Saara and bad mouthed Aayat calling her names.

Unable to bear more, Aayat ran away from there and went in her room. Closing the door, she fell on the floor crying.

In the last few months, she had accepted the fact that she was infertile, it was Allah's will and she had accepted it. But what she was not able to accept was the taunts and curses she had to bear because of it.

She knew, the society that she lived in defines a women's feminity on her ability to give birth. She knew, with this truth of her life, came lots and lots of disrespect and indifference.

Her parents tried hiding this truth as much as they could, but how long can a truth be hidden.

And today, was just the beginning. She knew a lot was going to come. But what hurt her more was, even her parents would be insulted because of her.

**********

5 years later

Over the years, Aayat had learnt living with the taunts, curses and insults. But the hurt she felt, just increased every time.

In last few years, many rishtas had come for Aayat. But after knowing about her infertility, everyone rejected. Aayat was used to this rejection and she knew that no one was ever going to accept her. She had accepted it.

She knew she was going to be alone forever.

But what hurt her was the stress that it caused her parents. She knew her parents were worried about her future, but then there was nothing in her hands.

But then, she had forgotten that He, the Almighty has created everyone in pairs. And her humsafar was just on his way to come in her life.

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