گردِش
𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡: 𝐔𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭
noun: a sudden bad time or
unfortunate period.
یہ جمال کیا یہ جلال کیا
یہ عروج کیا یہ زوال کیا
وہ جو پیڑ جڑسے اُکھڑ گیا
اسے موسموں کا ملال کیا؟
-𝗬𝗲𝗵 𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝘆𝗮 𝘆𝗲𝗵 𝗷𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝘆𝗮
𝘆𝗲𝗵 𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗷 𝗸𝘆𝗮 𝘆𝗲𝗵 𝘇𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝘆𝗮
𝗝𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗵 𝗷𝗮𝗿𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗵 𝗴𝘆𝗮
𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼 𝗸𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝘆𝗮?
• • •
THEY WERE FIGHTING, ONCE AGAIN. NOOR COULD HEAR THEM LOUD AND CLEAR EVEN THROUGH THE THICK WALLS as no one bothered interrupting them.
She had offered her Isha prayer and was now motionlessly sitting on the bed hearing the loud screeching of Gul bano from the next room.
The fact that no one cared enough to resolve their regular quarrels baffled Noor.
Everyone was willing to stand up for Gul bano yet they went blind to her constant repulsive behaviour towards Daryab. It didn't take Noor long to figure out Gul bano's plan, she was deliberately riling him up on daily basis that in anger he'd just let go of Noor himself.
The residents of the haveli used to dismiss the issue saying that Daryab had bought it on himself as obviously no woman could allow her husband to marry twice.
Thus, Gul bano welcomed all the support and care with open arms. Everyone's sympathy was with her.
Moments like these made Noor think that she was becoming a burden on Daryab. She just wanted her father back. She wanted to get rid of the painful emotion that she was the reason of so many of Daryab's problems.
If only her father was here, he could've helped her. The pain of her father refreshened as tears stung behind her eyes and she quickly got up to leave her room.
She needed fresh air.
Noor was drinking water while leaning against the glass counter when she saw her husband quickly make his way downstairs and walk towards the main door.
Noor instantly leaped towards him. "Kahan jaa rahay hain Daryab?" the man quickly turned around. "Tum soyi nahi ab tak?" he took a deep breath to control himself and carefully ignored her question by his own.
She could see the internal battle he was going through and her heart soared.
"Neendh nahi arahi thi, aap itni raat ko kyun baahir jaa rahay?" She couldn't help but ask worriedly.
Daryab khan ran a hand through his hair and forced a tightened smile on his face. "Raat deray pey hee guzaarun ga"
His reply made Noor direct numerous curses towards Gul bano for not even letting her husband take his sleep peacefully.
"Itni thand mein wahan kesay rukay gay?, baarish bhi ho rahi hai" she softly mumbled out her words but that didn't faze Daryab Khan.
"Reh lu ga" he started moving again right after saying his words but Noor quickly blocked his way.
"B-baarish bohut horahi hai. A-aur mujhay dar bhi bohut lag raha hai. Thori dair kay baad chalay jaye?" She mentally facepalmed herself at her own explanation. He paused and instant amusement shone on his face as he turned towards her. "Dar kyun lag raha hai?"
"W-Waisay hee, lightening ki wajah say. Aap meray sath ruk jaye?" She nervously rubbed her palms together and he tilted his head to look at her intently.
"Mein aakar kya karun ga?" He asked in a newfound interest and his thick octave voice sent shivers of delight across Noor's system. She looked at his eyes deeply with a purpose now.
"Aap sath hotay hain tau mujhay kabhi bhi dar nahi lagta, Daryab"
Her voice felt too dulcet to his ears. Daryab Khan's heart shook with a new kind of feeling as he stayed motionless, clearly entranced by the siren's bewitching grey eyes.
He watched as she covered the distance between them in precise movements with a little smile constant on her face. The dimple on her cheek accentuating the angelic features.
She softly grabbed his hand resting on the side and interwined their fingers together.
"Chalain?" He heard his voice break him out of the spell and looked at her with curious eyes. The girl knew him better than anyone. She was better than him in all levels yet ... she made him feel wanted.
He mutely watched her drag him across the stairs with little steps.
A voice in his head was recurringly shouting at him to stop his movements. Giving him a whiplash of reality that she was naive but he was a grown adult. He could control himself if he wanted, but he wasn't sure if he wanted that anymore.
She was his wife. The bond between them was pure, just like their hearts. Therefore it didn't take them long to finally fall for each other's charms.
Both of them were trying to find solace in each other. To find an escape out of the bitter realities. They wanted to be able to feel the elevation.
As the couple entered the girl's room, Noor dimmed the lights and locked her door.
A part of her heart was trembling in fear yet all the rational thoughts had went out of the window. It was now or never.
The man couldn't hear or feel anything, his gaze was transfixed on her every little move. She placed a shaky hand on his chest and got on her tippy toes. The touch ricocheted desire within him.
Whereas musky smell of aftershave emitting from his face left her senses light weighted. Her fluttering lashes were finally given rest as she leaned towards him, Noor softly pressed her lips over his and he groaned appreciatively, low in his throat.
He closed his eyes and flushed her towards him by her waist. The touch blurred the clear lines working brain and Daryab Khan involuntarily took the lead.
Drunk in her touch he gently placed her little frame on the bed before opening the buttons of his kameez and slowly moving over her.
As the night darkened, the two souls finally unlocked another part of their togetherness.
Taking each others name repeatedly throughout the sensation, Allowing each other to show their most vulnerable selves.
Noor hadn't felt something so euphoric ever before, a newly found drug withered beneath her skin as pain mingled pleasure. His touch felt the most gentle possible whereas hers soothed the tense muscles easily.
A satisfied groan covered the room as Daryab Khan finally slumped next to his wife on the bed.
Tiredness overpowered their senses and body and Daryab Khan lazily bought the almost asleep girl further near himself grabbing her by waist before closing his eyes in serenity.
❏ ❏ ❏
"Bhabhi!" Falak slammed the door wide open and rushed towards Anabiya. "Falak Kheryat hai? Kya hogya hai aapko?"
"Bhabhi kuch bhi theek nahi!" She grabbed Anabiya's hands with shaky hands of her own and broke into little sobs.
A concerned look immediately covered Anabiya's face who sensed the severity of the situation and settled Falak down on the sofa before bringing a glass of water to her.
"Kaanpna tau band karay pehlay. Pani pee lay aur araam say sab baat share karay" Anabiya softly spoke out trying to relaxen the whimpering girl.
Falak finished the glass in one go and took a deep breath. She then began the narrating the whole incident of the nikkah while Anabiya listened intently.
"Falak aapko Jalal ko batana chahiye tha?" Anabiya couldn't help but say in the end.
"Bhabhi dar gayi thi. Aap janti tau hain bhai ko, wo Hassan ko maar detay. Aur ab tau bhai ko pata Chal gya hai. Hassan ko ghantay say call kar rahi hun, pick hee nahi kar raha. Bhabhi please aap kuch karay!" Falak placed her head on Anabiya's shoulders and started crying again.
"Acha rona tau band karo a-" Anabiya's sentence was cut short with a loud banging voice of the mansion's main gate, signifying the arrival.
"Falak!"
A flash of sudden fear flashed on the girls faces as they heard the growl of Jalal Shah.
Falak quickly got off bed and rushed downstairs as Anabiya covered herself with chadar and followed her behind. Hassan was standing right in front of Jalal Shah with his head down and a trembling fear constant within his heart.
"J-jee bhai?" Falak meekly called out with tears threatening to fall out. "Yeh kya bakwas kar raha hai? tumhari dost ki shadi walay din tumhara nikkah hua tha?" The murderous glint in Jalal Shah's eyes alarmed everyone present in the lounge.
"Bh-bhai w-wo" Her tongue had tied on spot. Words died down her throat. She didn't know how to explain.
"Haan ya na?" He spoke out lowly.
"Bha-", she suffocated a sob and tried calling out again. "KYA BHONK RAHA HUN MEIN?!" The loud roar echoed across the silent room and Anabiya heart beat raised in fear. He loved Falak, he wouldn't do anything to her. She tried consoling herself.
Falak lowered her face in shame and convulsed down into cries with hiccups while nodding.
"Talaaq day issay Abhi issi waqt!" Jalal Shah turned towards Hassan who quickly looked up with widened eyes. Falak's cries stopped abruptly as she looked up with clear shock.
"Bhai nahi!" Falak got up and immediately went towards her brother. His enraged expression and ticking jaw unnerved Hassan to the core who looked at him blankly before hesitantly shaking his head in negative.
"Tu meray khilaaf jaye ga? Beton ki tarah tujhay meinay paala tha. Kya kuch nahi kiya meinay teray liye aur tu mujhay naa kar raha hai?" Jalal Shah punctured out each word carefully while observing the man in front of him.
It was true, Hassan's father used to work under Dilawar Shah. Hassan had completed his studies and could've managed a stable job anywhere but he wasn't ignorant towards Jalal Shah's favours so he decided to work under him.
The studies and household expenses where in fact taken under Jalal Shah's account by his own earnings. He had taken Hassan under his care right after Hassan's father had died when he was merely 6 years of age.
Jalal Shah himself was in his late teens at that time but unlike other kids, he had matured early. The sense of responsibility had always been a part of him. He was aware of his surroundings and from an very early age he had become self reserved.
Dilawar Shah had always been impressed by his son's intimidating yet considerate personality. They themselves were owners of a little piece of land.
Dilawar Shah had been given the hold of pagri by the panjaiyat because of his just and fair rulings. He had always supported the right. Therefore was finally granted the highly esteemed position amongst the tribe members.
Hassan had seen Jalal Alam Shah grow and flourish.
Jalal Shah had a sharp mind. It was as if his blood had always been trained to see him become a jagirdaar. He took his father's permission and sold the only piece of land they owned.
Taking the money and adding some of his own he had earned after working in numerous workshops and lands, he had managed to buy the land he had been pinning for years.
His family relatives had talked against the decision, thinking of the whole idea as foolishness. Buying a vast yet isolated piece of land after spending all earnings wasn't considered very wise.
An year passed by and Jalal Shah continued working on the same land going deaf to the mocks. His father had never once doubted his son's credibility and that is what made everyone say that it was in fact the parents dua what made Jalal Shah become so inevitable.
Soon time came when he finally decided on reselling the land after being satisfied with its soil. Many villagers came forward to buy it but he denied all.
He wasn't willing to let go of the land on little money and when he did sell it, he sold it on the the quadrupled value of the initially bought price.
The villagers were shelled at the placed market value.
The money earned was spent on buying little lands from various places and sending his little sister to America for better studies and away from the suffocating environment.
Now years past that time he had become extremely influential, it had been mere beginners luck as some would say but Hassan knew that the man had worked his fingers to bone to become the most feared man today and Hassan had been privileged enough to see it all happen right in front of his eyes.
He could've never even imagined of going against Jalal Shah but he had lost control over his heart.
"Hassan mein keh raha hun issay talaaq day!" Jalal Shah once again bit out his words. "S-Sir m-mein nahi kar sakta" Hassan's head further lowered as tears formed in his eyes.
"T-tu mujhay inkaar kar raha hai?" disbelief laced his words. "S-sir-" Hassan tried beginning when he was stopped with a single hand in the air. "Bus!"
"Saalay haraamzade!
tu jaanta hai mein kon hun. Aur tu meray munh pey mujhay dhithai say naa kr raha hai?. Aj Zinda dafan kar du tujhay tau koi puchnay ki bhi jurrat nahi karay ga Jalal Shah say!"
The thundering voice made Hassan gulp the bile down his throat, fear running down his spine, rendering him immobile.
Jalal Shah's expression had now changed into a one enraged. Falak's heartbeat became erratic. She knew it was bad.
Sweat gathered on Hassan's forehead as he saw the fuming man turn his back on her. "S-sir?" He tried again and next action happened so quick that he couldn't even catch a breath.
Jalal Shah's single slap hit right across his cheek and he went flying down to the marbled floor. Hassan felt the metallic taste cover his mouth and his whole face numbed and brain shook with a paralysing pain.
The crimson liquid oozed out of his mouth. He could see Falak crying and screaming from his peripheral vision but couldn't hear a single word as black dots started surrounding his vision and he was finally knocked out cold.
"Akram Oye!" Jalal Shah called out loud and the girls saw a frighteningly bulky man quickly enter inside and stand next to Jalal Shah. "Lekar jaa isko, unn badnasallo kay sath isko bhi band karday thanay mein!"
Falak's cries of protest hadn't ceased one bit as Anabiya struggled to keep the girl against herself. She was deeply disturbed herself.
"Raat poori kutt paray gee, khud hee talaaq day ga. Apnay paoon pey bhi kharay honay kay qaabil bhi nahi chorru ga iss kameenay ko!" Jalal spoke out venomously while eyeing the unconscious body being dragged outside.
Falak pushed away from Anabiya and ran towards her brother. "Bhai please chor day ussay!" She begged out but the man's face remained stern and lacked all humane emotions.
He clenched his hands in fists by his side and turned his face away, refusing to meet her eyes as he forced his words out. "Ghar say baahir nikli, tau taangein tor duga tumhari Mein. Dafa hojao apnay kamray. Tumhari shakal dekhna kya, awaaz sun na bhi gawaara nahi mujhay!"
The rejection hit her as hard as a violent blow and Falak froze on spot. She couldn't believe her ears that her own bhai had spoken to her like that.
Jalal Shah didn't wait after seething out his words and all Anabiya could do was watch his back incredulously. Was he the same man who had claimed to have loved his sister like a ... father?
Was this even her Jalal? Yes, she was aware of his temperamental issues but going to this extent?
She could see his flawlessly perfect and loving self pictured in her brain slowly start morphing into something so ... cold hearted.
اور مختصر کچھ یوں ہوا
کہ جس پہ کر بیٹھے ہم عمر بھر کا بھروسہ
وہی شخص بدل گیا۔
𝖠𝗎𝗋 𝗆𝗎𝗄𝗁𝗍𝖺𝗌𝖺𝗋 𝗄𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗁 𝗁𝗎𝗐𝖺
𝗄𝖺𝗒 𝗃𝗂𝗌 𝗉𝖺𝗒 𝗄𝖺𝗋 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝗆 𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋 𝖻𝗁𝖺𝗋 𝗄𝖺 𝖻𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗌𝖺,
𝗐𝗈𝗁𝗂 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗄𝗁𝗌 𝖻𝖺𝖽𝖺𝗅 𝗀𝗒𝖺.
❏ ❏ ❏
Anabiya had finally managed to make Falak fall asleep. The girl had resisted a lot but after taking in a sleeping pill with milk, she had successfully dozed off.
Anabiya knew that she had to talk to her husband about the matter.
He didn't come back home till 3am. Anabiya heard the door close shut from the room next to hers and she knew it within an instant that he was back.
The girl pushed the wooden door open and entered the spacious room. The man was coming out of the bathroom when he saw his wife entering.
"Jalal-" Anabiya quickly neared him and initiated the conversation but was cut short with a single feral look sent by the man.
"Waqalat karnay ayi ho uski?, meray pass iss sab fazooliyat ka waqt nahi hai. Tum jao yahan say"
The words held no emotion as she saw him throwing the towel on the bed after drying his face. He had never spoken to her like that before.
"Jalal, yeh aap kis tarah baat kar rahay hain?" Her heart sank a little as she voiced out in a little voice.
The man took in a deep breath before sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Anabiya mera sar bohut dard kar raha hai. Jo kar raha hun bilkul theek kar raha hun iss liye tum iss behas mein mat paro. Raat bohut hogayi hai tum jao wapis"
He spoke out in an dismissive manner without looking up at her and it felt like a jab towards her ego.
"Aap zyadti kar rahay hain"
"Koi zyaadti nahi kar raha Mein. Haq rakhta hun Falak par!" He grunted out his words.
Only a slightly raised voice had Anabiya sweating in fear. She gulped down the bile and slowly neared him while speaking out her words in an little voice. "Aap bilkul sahi keh rahay hain. Haq rakhtay hain aap un par. Lekin kya mein iss maamlay mein bol bhi nahi sakti?"
He raised his head to look at her and gently grabbed her hands. Anabiya could feel his cold hands engulfing her little warm ones.
"Meri jaan, Abhi tum bohut choti ho iss sab ko samajhnay mein. Mein apni sab zimedaari say waaqif hun. Tum pareshan mat hon aur Behtar hoga kay tum in maslon say bhi door raho" he looked deeply into her eyes.
His each emphasised word seemed utterly manipulative to Anabiya. She knew right away that he was carefully threading her out of the issue.
"Itni bhi choti nahi hun jitna aap nay samajh liya hai Jalal.
Apnay naam kay sath jurri hui zindagi kay baaray mein ghaafil horahay hain aap. Jitna haq aap rakhtay hain Falak par ab utna hee Mein bhi rakhti hun!" She quickly took her hands out of his hold.
Seeing her stubborn stance made Jalal Shah clench his jaw and ball his hands against the bed in visible irritaion.
"Anabiya Mein kisi qisam ki b badkalami tumharay sath nahi karna chahta. Filhaal mujhay akela chor do"
"Kyun akela chor du?!
Aap ghalat kar rahay hain. Itni be dardi mat dikhaye. Aap ko andaza bhi nahi hai kay aap anjaanay Mein kitna dukh pohncha rahay hain apnay hee logon ko!" She cried out.
Jalal Shah bit his tongue down and chose not say anything, clearly not trusting his own words.
"Jalal? Please sab kuch theek kar day. Aap ko khud bhi pata hai kay Hassan acha hai. Wo tau aapko itni izzat deta hai, wo kesay aap kay khilaaf bhi kabhi jaanay ka soch-"
In a sudden reflex Jalal Shah got up. "Naam mat lo uss zaleel ka!"
He roared out so loud that Anabiya inched back involuntarily to dug her nails in the table behind her, scared to bone. "Hai kaun wo neech Zaat. Jalal Shah kay aagay kharay honay ki himmat ki us nay. Uss 2 takay kay nokar ki aukaat hai hee kya?" He sneered out.
"Aap ko Allah nay agar bakiyon say ziada atta kar diya hai tau uss pey takkubur mat karay Jalal. Aur yeh jo aap apnay guroor mein andha hokar faisla suna rahay hain yeh sarasar munaftqat hai!" His statement had triggered Anabiya and she couldn't help but lash out in return.
"Kyun na karun takkabur? Haan? Kya cheez hai jo Jalal Shah kay paas maujood nahi. Sab kuch hai meray pass. Sab dartay hain sirf meray naam say.
Phir kisi nokar ki kya majaal jo mujhay munh pey naa karay" he was talking lowly yet his words were as if aggravating Anabiya more and more.
"Apni anaa ki deewaar kay sath aisay liptay huay hain aap kay ghalat aur sahi ...kuch nazar hee nahi araha aapko!" His red furious eyes met her in an instant.
"Itna uuncha mat bolna meray sath ainda baad, meinay jawaban awaz agar unchi kee tau seh nahi pao gi Anabiya"
The words were loud but as if spoken out in an stupor. The proximity made a foul smell enter Anabiya's system and cause her to visibly pale.
"Aap- ... aap nay sharaab pee hai?" She spoke out in an whisper.
A cold mocking chuckle escaped Jalal Shah. "Bola tau tha tumhay pehlay bhi ... Har burai maujood hai mujh mein. Chalo aaj saabit bhi hogya!"
"M-Mein ...mein tau aapko apna mohsin bana bethi thi Jalal. Kya kuch nahi samajh liya tha aapko." A sharp pang of pain slashed through his heart after hearing her hurt voice.
Anabiya fought back her tears before continuing. "Magar aap tau gunnaho mein hee itna ghum hogaye hain kay aapko haraam aur halal ka farq hee bhool gya. Rab ki Zaat say darray Jalal. Dua karay kay wo iss gumraahi ki azmaish say nikaalay aapko!"
"Dua? Kis cheez ki dua?
Kis cheez ki kami hai meray pass? Be maqsad kay sajdon mein gir jaun? Mujhay kisi cheez na kisi Zaat ki zaroorat hai. Jin kay pass nahi, wo namazay parhay, duaein aur bheek maangay!" He spat out his words with disgust.
"Jalal aap ko yeh sab uski marzi say mila ha. Yeh taakat yeh muqaam ussi ki chah say mila hai. Lekin sirf aapko aazmaanay kay liyay aur aap tau shuruwaat say pehlay hee haar gaye,
Yeh sab kuch jis pey aapko itna naaz hai, isko waapis lenay mein usko zara sa bhi waqt nahi lagay ga. Wo sab kuch Ley leta hai Jalal. Itni bekhaufi mat dikhaye." She literally begged now.
"Aap qadar nahi kar rahay apnay say jurray rishton ki. Apni milli aasaisho mein aisa bhatak gaye hain kay kuch sahi say dikh hee nahi raha aapko. Ghalat istemaal kar rahay hain aap apni hesiyat ka!" Her words were painfully drilling through his mind as he struggled to restrain his anger.
"Wo sab kuch ley lega Jalal! Aap ki aankhon kay saamnay aur aap kuch nahi kar sakay gay. Aur phir wo puchay ga kay ab bata teri aukaat kya ha? Phir kya karay gay aap? Sirf uss ki Zaat kay ilawa kuch baaqi nahi rahe ga.
Sirf uski zaat kay ilawa sab ko zawaal hai Jalal, Bhool gaye hain aap uss Allah ki zaat ko.. Aur shayad- shayad khud ko khuda samjh bethay hain"
His head snapped to her in an second as his hand raised in an reflex action but froze in the air right before it could ... hit her.
It all happened so quick that he couldn't even get time to think rationally. Clear shock covered her widened eyes as she looked at him with such stony and foreign emotion that sobriety hit Jalal Shah like a truck. She was fearing him.
He quickly lowered his hand as a wave of guilty washed through him and moved forward. "Anabiy-"
"Hath mat lagana ainda baad mujhay!"
She screamed out with such an intensity that Jalal Shah stumbled back with a jolt. A painful realisation settled in about what he was about to do.
She roughly wiped off the hot tears falling non stop now and moved past him, running out of the room while suffocating her sobs.
Jalal Shah couldn't even stop her to explain himself or ask for forgiveness. His whole body had numbed. His senses stopped working as he limblessly fell onto the ground. He raised the same hand to look at it in disbelief. A lone tear escaped his left eye and slowly ran across his face, How could he do this to her?
Or even ... himself?
میں نے کہا خلق تو گندی ہے، گنہگار ہے
وہ ہنسا اور کہا عِشق مین عاشِق بن، ابلیس نہ بن۔
𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘆 𝗸𝗮𝗵𝗮 𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗾 𝘁𝗮𝘂 𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗵𝗮, 𝗴𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗵𝗴𝗮𝗮𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗶
𝗪𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗮𝗵𝗮 𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗾 𝗺𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗾 𝗯𝗮𝗻, 𝗜𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗻
(Unedited)
• • •
Alexa play "Parveen Shakir's" Ghazals,
my love has terribly broken
my heart today.
How could you do this to us Jalal??!