E C H O E S of the bursting fireworks rung through the still air. The reds and yellows colouring the sky. The fake Eiffel tower in the centre of the ground, covered in all kinds of fairy lights. The buzzing atmosphere of the ground, coupled with the large procession of fireworks made the atmosphere so enchanting that it was impossible to take eyes away from the night sky.
On the particular evening, as everyone counted to zero, breaths became ragged. Heartbeats fastened. Life seemed to be changing in the next second.
"ZERO!" everyone around her shouted.
The clock showed 12:00. It was official. The new decade had started with a bang. Full of expectations from everybody's side.
Hoor was mesmerised by the sight infront of her. She had thought that the phool chari they lightened every year was the best thing. Clearly she was wrong. Now seeing the night from a different side made her realise truly how small she was. In the midst of all these people who were happy and talked animatedly, she felt more lonely than she ever had. The feelings she had felt all night becoming magnified ten thousand times.
"Hoor bhabi, ajain chalte hai," Raees called her from behind.
His voice managed to shatter the sticky web of self questioning thoughts that Hoor had been having. She turned around, giving him a slight nod. Falling in step with him and her husband Mustafa.
On the way back, Mustafa and Hoor sat together in the passenger seat. Raees could feel the tension radiating from the backseat of his car. And he could only feel pity for his best friend. Perhaps it was time for his otherwise peaceful friend, to have his first fight. He laughed at the thought of his innocent sister-in-law shouting at his best friend cum brother. Would that not be a sight to see?
"Itni bachain kyun khil rahi hai?" Mustafa asked.
"Kuch nahi bhai, bas younhi," Raees gazed at him from the viewfinder.
"Lagta hai pagal ho gaye ho," he shook his head.
Mustafa, not wanting to repeat the mistakes that he had made earlier, turned to Hoor. He looked at her for a few seconds. She sat in a small space, it seemed as if she had shrunk herself on purpose. Not wanting to touch the luxurious leather seats.
"Hoor ap ko kaisa laga?" He asked her softly.
She turned her head, eyes rimmed red. An indication of the tears that she was stopping. Mustafa had his back resting on the seat, with his legs falling limply on the thick rug of the car.
"Acha tha. Mei nai aisa pehlay kabhi nahi dekha," she passed him a sheepish smile.
Her voice thick, as she controlled herself from crying infront of the two.
The ride back home, was full of silence. With all three having spent their energy, they could not be bothered to speak a single word. Instead their soft and shallow breaths filled the deep silence. Acting as a backdrop to each and everyone's thoughts.
At around 1:30 am, Raees' car rolled into the Kamal garage. He stepped out, helping Mustafa on to his wheel chair. He bid his goodbyes and was about to leave, when Mustafa's voice stopped him.
"Raees!" He shouted.
"Mustafa!" He replied.
"Bohat deir ho gai hai. Ruk jao aaj idhr hi. Subah nashta kar keh chalay jana," Mustafa invited him in.
"Nahi bhai I don't wish to impose," he replied.
"Its not imposing. Chup chap chalo andar!" Mustafa said sternly.
Leaving Raees no choice but to follow him in.
After Mustafa had ensured Raees was well settled, he went towards his bedroom. Greeted with the sight of Hoor crying. She was sitting on her prayer mat. The moonlight shining onto her chadar. Her tears dropped like diamonds raining from the sky. Her pink rosy lips quivering as she complained to her Lord. Her slender fingers capturing her cheeks as she tried to silence her sobs. Mustafa felt his heart shudder. It clenched tightly as he thought about how much he and Raees had hurt her.
"Mustafa sahab ajain kapray badal lei," the male nurse entered from behind.
He wheeled him into the bathroom, not even waiting for his reply. By the time he had exited, Hoor was already in bed, with eyes closed tightly. Dead giveaway of the fact that she was faking being asleep.
The nurse mechanically laid him in bed, exiting without a single glance. Mustafa sighed, he did not want Hoor to sleep upset with him. His mother and father used to tell him that. No matter what, do not go to sleep angry with someone. After all one knows nothing about life and death. And its better to resolve matters than to feel guilty.
"Hoor?" Mustafa asked, not sure whether she would answer or not.
"Ji?" Shd gave a one word reply.
"Meri taraf dekho," he told her.
Hoor, wanted nothing more than to ignore him, unfortunately, her body did not want to listen to her, as she turned to face him, unwilling.
"Bolein?" She tried to be polite.
Already at her wits end.
"Hoor aj jo bhi huwa, mei uskay liye maafi mangta hu. Mera aur Raees ka koi irada nahi tha tumhe dukh denay ka. Woh to bad anjany mei-"
Hoor cut him off, "anjanay mei ap dono nai mujhe meri hi nazron mei gira dia. Kaise ap dono lage huway thay far far angreezi bolnay mei. Aur jo mujhe parhne keh liye kaghaz dia? Ap mera mazak uranae keh liye leh kar gaye thay?" Hoor asked him.
Even she had no idea from where she had gotten the courage to confront him.
"Dekho Hoor, meri baat suno. Hum nai jaan bhuj kar nahi kia. Ghalti ho jati hai. Sabse hoti hai. Raees aur mujh sai bhi ho gai. Humein aadat nahi hai apnay saath kisi aur ko le kar jaane ki," he tried to explain.
Truly, Raees and he had no intentions of not paying attention to her.
"Kia matlab kisi aur. Biwi hun mei aapki. Mujhe kaise bhul gai?" She asked baffled.
Mustafa looked at her in silence. He did not want to hurt her with the truth of the fact that she had seldom acted like his wife.
"Chup kyun ho gai? Sach sunnay ki himmat nahi ap mei? Ap par bhi mei bhoj hun?" She began making assumptions.
Mustafa pinched his nose, counting to ten. Remembering that being patient was important.
"Jawab dein mujhe!" Hoor shrieked like a mad woman.
These past few weeks had been nothing but cruel to her. She had been tossed around like a rag doll. No one had care about her. Tying her in an unwanted marriage.
"Hoor dekho, tum meri biwi ho isiliye mei tumse larai nahi karna chahta," Mustafa give his answer.
"Kaash keh mujhe meray maa baap nai ghar sai nikal diya hota par apse nai mera nikkah kiya hota!" She spoke utter venom.
Not realising how much she hurt him in her state of anger.
"Sach sunna hai? Tou phir suno! Humari shaadi ko 4 din ho gai. Aaj tak tou tumne mujh sai biwi wala salook nahi kia. Har waqt apne dukh mei gum rehti ho! Shaid yeh bhul chuki ho keh mei bhi majboor ho gaya tha iss shaadi keh liye. Woh tou mera dil pagal hai jo tumse mohabbat karta hai. Tumhei dukh nahi de sakta. Hoor mei puri duniya sai iss cheez ki tawakou rakhta tha keh woh mujhe mazoori ka taana de gi. Par tumse nahi. Denay ko mei bhi keh sakta hun keh meray jaise baray businessman par kia nobat thi jo tum jaise anparh sai shaadi karli? Hoor tum har waqt khuda sai gila karti ho. Tumhari aankhon mein apnay liye nafrat mei roz dekhta hun. Kaash tum bhi meray sai mohabbat karti. Par afsoos khuda nai meray naseeb mei sirf nafrat hi likhi!" He spoke to her, saying everything about his feelings.
He closed his eyes, trying to sleep, praying for the first time in a while, for his wife to stop hurting him. And loving him like he loved her.
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AUTHORS NOTE
PLS DONT KILL ME 😤🔪💀