Author's POV:
Noor sat on the window sill with earpods plugged in. She was looking at the night sky. Hiba entered the room as Noor didn't hear the knock. She came towards Noor and placed her palm on her shoulder. Noor turned around and found her mother. She pulled out the earpods.
"Aap.. Aap.. Yahan?"
"Noor, kya hum baat kar sakte hain?" Hiba asked in the most soft way possible. Noor looked for few seconds and nodded. She tried to get up when Hiba made her sit back and she too sat on the sill.
"Noor, mujhe pata hain tumhein mujhse bahut saari shikayatein hain aur honi bhi chahiye.. Maine anjaane mein hi sahi par tum dono ko disappoint kiya hain.. "
She took a deep breathe. Noor kept looking down.
"Aaj main yahan tumhare saamne hoon. Tumhare man mein jo kuch bhi hain gussa, frustration sab kuch, nikal do aaj. Tumhein jo bolna hain bolo, gussa karna hain karo, ladai karni hain karo par baat karo. Kyunki meri Noor kehti hain baat karne se sab kuch thik ho jaata hain."
Noor looked at her for sometime and then looked at the front. She continued looking at the stars. Minutes passed by. Hiba thought she would not talk, she felt dishearten.
"Mujhe pata hain aap humein ek acchi lifestyle dena chahti thi aur shayad issliye overtime bhi karti thi. Apne aap ko over exert karti thi. Main aaj yahan tak padh pai kyunki apne mujhe financially strong rakha. I know that. Hum samajh gaye the that you too need time to cope up, aur shayad ek waqt baad aap realize kare ki humein bhi apke waqt ki zaroorat hain. Par woh din kabhi nahin aaya. Hum wait hi karte reh Gaye."
"Aapko yaad hain maine aapse kahan tha ki main school function mein aap dono ka wait kar rahi thi.. Aur aap dono nahin aaye the. Uss din mujhe aisa lag raha tha jaise mere haath se kuch chut raha hain, par yeh bhi nahin samajh aa raha tha ki thamna kya hain. Then I wished ki aap aaye aur mujhse kahe ki aap mere saath hain, agar main bikhar bhi jaungi toh aap mujhe samet lengi. I wished ki aap mere baalon mein haath fere aur mujhse kahe ki sab thik hain aur jo nahin hain wo ho jayega. Mujhe assurance de ki aap hain.. Kabhi kabhi pyaar ke saath assurance bhi important hoti hain. Mujhe pata tha aap mujhse pyaar karti hain, par kabhi express karna bhi zaroori hota hain warna insaan bhul jaata hain. Kabhi kabhi batana bhi important hota hain ki woh apke liye kya mayne rakhta hain."
Hiba took a deep breathe and wiped her tears. She took a hold of Noor's hands. She thought Noor would take them back but she didn't.
"Noor, beta I am so sorry. So sorry..My baby.. Pata nahin maine kabhi yeh realize kyun nahin kiya. Main apne kaam mein itni busy hogayi ki tum dono ko time hi nahin de payi.. aur phir jab time mila toh meri betiyan already mujhse bohat dur ho chuki thi. Main tum dono ki life mein maa baap dono ka role nibhana chahti thi par main toh ek bhi role acche se nahin nibha payi. I have disappointed all of you."
"Main aaj jaisi bhi hoon, acchi, buri, jaisi bhi, uss ke liye aap responsible nahin hain. I am responsible for who I am today, maine khud choose kiya hain yeh."
Hiba looked at her.
"Kya aap ab bhi mera haath thaam sakti hain? Hamesha ke liye?"
Hiba took hold of both her hands in a tight grip.
"Marte dam tak.."
"Par ab aapko bohat problem hone wali hain?"
Hiba looked at her with a confused look.
"Woh kya hain na, main bohat jyada bikhri hui hu.. Mujhe sametne mein aap thak jayengi.."
"Jitni bhi thaku, farak nahin padta. Main tujhe samet lungi.."
Noor nodded.
"Ek cheez mangu?"
Hiba nodded immediately.
"Mujhe waqt chahiye.. Yeh sab kuch samajhne mein, khud ko samjhane mein... Thoda waqt.. Mil sakta hain na.."
'Usse thoda waqt dijiye.. Waqt mein bohat takat hoti hain..'
"Tujhe jitna waqt chahiye utna le.. Koi jaldi nahin le. Hum hain aur rahenge"
Noor nodded.
"Aur tum jyada stress mat liya karo. Sab thik ho jayega.. "
Noor looked at her and nodded.
"Ab yeh haath kabhi nahin chhutega na.."
"Kabhi nahin.."
****
Noor was sitting on her bed after the dinner. Dinner was a silent affair. There was five days more to the wedding. There was a knock on the door. Noor sighed preparing herself. She responded with a come in.
Nikhat came inside. Her face looked pale. Noor's heart twisted looking at her. How she wanted to go and hug her. She was her sister after all.
Noor was staying in a guest room as she needed some space to get her mind cleared.
"Tu... Iss waqt.. Sab thik hain.."
She shook her head in a no.
"Kya hua? Tabiyat thik hain na? Tension ho rahi hain tujhe? It's okay. Take deep breaths.."
Nikhat took a hold of her arms.
"Bahut badi problem ho gayi hain Noor. Meri behen mujhse bahut naraz hain.."
"Haan toh.. Tune kaam hi aisa kiya hain.."
Nikhat made her sit on the bed and she herself sat down in front of her.
"Wahin na, mujhse badi sari galtiyan hui hain. Use mujhe daatna chahiye na, ladna chahiye par woh toh mujhse baat hi nahin kar rahi.."
"Kya hain Nik? Sidhe sidhe bolna.."
"Tu bolna.. Jo bhi hain, bol de.."
"Tu sunegi.."
Nikhat nodded.
"Time leke aayi hain na, bohat saari baatein hain.."
"Jab tak khatam nahin hoga main yahan se hillungi hi nahin.."
Noor nodded.
"Main... Main bas.. tujhse gussa thi, jaise behne hoti thi. Maine socha tha ki tu aayegi, mujhe manayegi.. Par main to yeh bhul hi gayi thi ki manane ke liye bande ko pata bhi to hona chahiye ki koi usse naraz hain.."
Nikhat looked guilty.
"Noor.." Nikhat tried to interrupt. Noor showed her hand to stop.
"Tune to kahan tha na ki hum sisters se pehle best friends banenge jo humesha ek dusre ko samajhne ki koshish karenge. Nikhat aur Noor best sisters bannege. Par yeh to hua hi nahin.."
Nikhat looked at her teary eyed..
"Tujhe pata hain main bahut koshish karti hun ki pehle jaise tujhse pyaar kar saku par nahin ho pa raha, kyun ki ab kuch bhi pehle jaisa nahin raha. Sab kuch badal gaya hain.."
Noor wiped Nikhat's tears.
"Par it's okay na, humein pehle ke tarah kyun banna hain. Hum naye se shuru karte hain, phir se.. Hmm??"
Noor nodded.
"Dekh main tujhe ye to promise nahin kar sakti ke sab thik ho jayega, par koshish jaroor karungi.. Time lagega, din, hafte, mahine ya saal bhi lag sakte hain.. Par I will try.. Toh abhi isi try mein khush ho le.."..
"Bilkul.. Tu try karegi.. Wahin bohat hain.. Mere tere saath hun ab aur hamesha.. We are in this together. Hum ek saath isse recover karenge.. Haina??"
Noor nodded. Nikhat hugged her tight.
"Aur tu jyada tension mat le.. OK."
****
The next day came soon. The environment was better than yesterday. Everyone sat down for the breakfast. Shaharyar was seated next to Noor. He looked at Noor who looked lost. He took her bread and cut off the sides as she didn't like them.
"Mohtarma, filhaal nashte pe dhyaan dijiye.. Baaki baatein baad mein."
Noor looked at him who was seated too close to her. She looked at her plate to find the pieces of bread.
"Yeh apne kiya?"
"Ji.." He nodded with a smile. Noor sat surprised.
Faahi who was busy munching on the breakfast was also paying equal attention to Shaharyar and Noor. He was amused by Shaharyar's behavior.
"Waise partner aaj kya karne ka plan hain?"
"Main tumhari partner kab bani?"
"Bachpan se.."
"Really?"
"Hmm.. Lifetime partner."
Noor looked at him and he raised his eyebrows like asking her 'what'. She shook her head in a no smiling slightly.
Noor's phone rang. She looked at it and a smile came on her face. Looking at smiling face, Shaharyar tried to see the phone's screen.
"Kya hain?"
"Kuch nahin, woh tum aise.. "
"Haan toh.."
"Nahin nahin tum phone uthao na.."
Noor got up from table and attended the call. Shaharyar got more curious. Noor went from there.
##
"Sazi..."
"Noori.. Meri jaan.."
They hugged each other tight. Noor dipped her on Sazia's hairs. She got the homely vibe. Saad and Sazia. The only two people who give her that. Sazia softly patted,
"Kya hua meri jaan, lagta hain tune mujhe kuch jyada hi miss kar liya?"
Sazia felt the back of her lurta getting wet. She panicked.
"Noor.. Noor.. Kya hua hain? Idhar dekh?"
They separated from the hug. Sazia caressed her cheek. Noor smiled softly.
"Kuch nahin. Sahi kahan tune kuch jyada hi miss kar liya maine tujhe.."
"Although teri yeh ansoon tells me a different story, abhi ke liye maan leti hoon. Baad mein teri class lagegi bacchu.."
"Accha theek hain, laga liyo. Ab andar to chal.."
"Haan.."
##
Noor went to Nikhat's room. She knocked the door and got in. Nikhat was pleasantly surprised.
"Noor.."
"Nik.. Yahan aa.." Noor took hold of Nikhat's hands and made her seat on the bed.
"Dekh main yahan aayi hi thi tere shaadi ke liye. To mujhe enjoy karne dena.." Noor whined.
"To kar na.." Nikhat replied.
"Kaise karu.. Ab dulhan hi aisi shakal banake rakhegi to.."
"Aisi shakal matlab.."
"Saare hue aloo le tarah.."
"Haww.. tune mujhe sara hua kahan.."
"Nahin maine tujhe aloo kahan.."
"Noor.."
"Accha wait, uchal kud nahin karte hain, agar lag gayi to mujhe hi mar paregi.. Sunn.."
Noor again took hold of her hands and both sat together.
"Dekh, teri shaadi hain, roj roj thodi hi hoti hain. Thoda enjoy kar na.. Tu dulhan hain, main dulhan ki behen. Yeh tera time hain.. Shaadi ke baad main pure nakhre dikhaungi aur tu unhe uthayegi bhi.. Par filhaal hum teri shaadi pe focus karte hain, aaj tujhe limelight mein ho na chahiye."
Noor sighed.
"Maine kahan hain na main try karungi? Mujhpe trust hain?"
Nikhat nodded immediately.
"Toh bas phir, yeh mujhpe chod de. Jaise maine kahan tha waqt lagega, bahut waqt lag sakta hain, tu wait kar payegi mere liye?"
"Hamesha.. Aur main bhi try karungi ki teri pehli wali appi ban saku.."
"Thik hain phir, ab hum teri shaadi enjoy karenge aur main saath mein try bhi karungi.. Deal?"
"Done deal."
The two sisters hugged each other.
"Ab chal na neeche, sab agaye hain. Masti karte hain chal?"
****
Nikhat and Noor came down. Shaharyar and Saad looked at them and smiled to themselves.
The youngsters planned to enjoy a bit before the actual festivities begin.
"Waise mohtarma aap mere saamne bethengi toh bhi mujhe koi aitraaz nahin hain, par phir bhi agar thodi side ho jaati to accha hota.." Saad to Sazia who sat just in front of him.
##
Shaharyar came towards Noor's room to call her for lunch when he saw her offering prayers. Sitting on the makeshift prayer mat, the dupatta covering her head, she looked ethereal.
He kept on looking at her. She looked so peaceful. He could also feel peace within himself looking at her. He smiled to himself and left the place after sometime.
****
Noor went to Nikhat's room after getting ready. Nikhat just started to get ready. Some ladies were helping her. Noor came to her.
"Aap log jaa sakte hain.. Main hoon yahan.. Main kar dungi.."
Nikhat looked happily surprised. Noor looked at her and nodded. She too nodded.
"Aap log jaiye. Meri behan mujhe ready kar degi.."
The ladies left and Noor sat down in front of Nikhat.
"Tune mujhe promise kiya tha ki teri shaadi mein tu mujhe tereko ready karne degi. Degi na?"
"Bilkul... Chal lag jaa abhi.. Make me the beautiful bride."
The two sisters chuckled.
Noor started to make her ready. Nikhat was ready after half an hour. She looked real pretty.
"Kaisi lag rahi hun?"
"Pari jaisi.."
They smiled.
"Ab neeche chale.."
Nikhat nodded.
All the ladies were playing the dholki and singing old songs in the lawn gathered around the blushing bride, Nikhat who sat between her sisters, Noor and Sazia. The men weren't allowed however as it was all ladies function.
Noor and Sazia sat near Nikhat teasing her with one thing or the other. Nikhat was glowing with the make up and the blushing cheeks, she wore a lavender colored sharara. Noor looked too pretty in her white and golden salwar kameez paired with golden jhumkas and light bangles. The hair locks running down all the way made her more beautiful.
After sometime, Noor and Sazia got up from their seats and went to the stage. They started to dance on old songs. Swaying their hips and doing some thumkas, they made the audience cheer for them.
The ladies were too engrossed in the performance to notice any intruders. Noor smelled the air and she knew. The known smell of cedarwood. She looked around but couldn't figure out.
****
Here's the next chapter.
Do share your reviews and tap the star if you like it.
Thank you.
Love..