12 years ago...
"Spend the day with me at my place. I asked Ama to make chicken pulao. My Ama makes world's best pulao. Trust me!" Adil said to his best friend, Ezad.
Adil Humayun and Ezad Murtaza were best friends from many years. They met in the college during fsc. Now they were studying together in the same university.
Today for the first time, Adil invited him at his place. Ezad had already met Adil's mother a few times in the parents teaching meetings. He knew Adil had a younger sister but he never met her before.
"Liyana is 14 years younger than me. She is my baby. My little doll" Said by a twenty years old boy, Adil.
"That's a huge gap" He smiled.
"Yes, it's huge" Adil laughed,
"But I like it. She is too young from me. So it's not a sibling relationship type thing between us like you have with your sisters and brother. It's different. She is like a daughter to me"
"What I have with Naz baji is called rivalry" Ezad said, both of the boys burst into laughter.
As they reached his house, Ezad accompanied Adil inside the living area where a six years old girl was throwing tantrums to her mother.
"I won't eat it" She pointed at the pulao.
"Why? It's chicken beta. It's good for health"
"No" She shook her head.
"Aslamo alaikum" The boys greeted together.
"Bhaiii" Liyana ran to her brother as her eyes found him.
"My baby doll! How was your day at school?" Adil kissed her cheeks and hugged her hug lovingly.
"Very good" She replied happily.
Her eyes found an unknown figure standing with her brother. She raised her face to look up at his face.
"Meet him. He is my friend, Ezad. And Ezad she is my sister, Liyana"
"Hello Liyana!" Smilingly, Ezad moved his hand forward for a hand shake.
"Aslamo alaikum" She gave her little hand to him for hand shake.
"Walekum salam" Ezad laughed at her manners. She didn't forget to tell him how to greet.
"How are you Liyana?" He leaned down at her level.
"I am fine. How are you?" She asked cutely.
"I am good. And what are you wearing Liyana?" He pointed at her pendant.
"This is a necklace Ama bought for me" She was excited to talk about her gift given by her mother.
"It's so cute" He laughed looking at the little bird necklace she was wearing around her neck. It was too loose for her.
"Like me" She asked excitedly. She wanted compliments.
"Yes, like you Birdy!" He ruffled her hair.
After that he called her the sweet name every time they met. Ezad's visits to Adil's place increased over time. Both used to study combinedly at his place.
Liyana grew up in front of his eyes. She was just 12 when her mother passed away. It was a shock for Adil and Liyana. Ezad was himself so broken on the condition of his best friend.
Ezad's was always there for Adil and Liyana. He was just like a big brother to her. He cared for her just like Adil.
Their life changed when Adil got diagnosed with end stage cancer.
Ezad couldn't forget those days. Adil's health detoriated suddenly. Everyone was shocked when they got to know about his terminal illness.
Doctors told them Adil didn't had much time left in this world. Ezad's heart shattered hearing these words. How could he loose his best friend.
Adil meant so much to him.
Ezad couldn't see him in this condition. Everytime he would meet Adil with teary eyes.
"Pagal ho tum bhi. Main yahi hoo tumhare sath. Allah se mere lie dua kia karo!" Adil asked him softly engulfing him in his arms for a warm hug.
(You are silly. I am her with you. Do prayers for me)
"Adil ye kia ho gaya. Hume pata ku ni chala" Ezad burst into tears.
(Adil how could we not understand about your condition earlier. Why?)
"I don't know about it Ezad. I just know that it was in my fate. It was meant to be happen. Alhamdulillah for everything" Adil smiled with teary eyes.
Ezad couldn't look at a dying man.
Adil knew he would go from this world. Ezad knew that too but nobody could do anything except prayers.
The fate was written.
"I can't see you like this" Ezad covered his face with his hands.
"You have to accept it my friend. I will go and I don't want to go, watching you crying. You have to be strong Ezad. You have to be strong to deal with it" Adil patted his hand with his weak one.
Ezad looked up at his face.
He looked too weak.
He wasn't Adil Humayun he knew from the last seven years. He was some unknown man on his death bed.
Spending his last days on earth.
Breathing his last breaths.
"I can't do this" Ezad couldn't control his tears. He was still crying holding Adil's hand in his.
"Ezad! I have to talk to you about something very important" Adil rested his head back on the hospital bed.
He was exhausted.
"What?" Ezad looked up at him, tears were flowing on his cheeks.
"What will happen to my Liyana after me?" Adil said helplessly,
"Nowadays she is living with your sister. I am very grateful to Naz baji for taking care of her but what will happen to her when I die? She can't live with Naz baji all her life" Adil didn't know what to do about her.
Ezad could understand his fears.
"We don't have any close relatives except phupo but she can't take Liyana to her home due to her in laws. I can't leave her alone. I want to secure her future. I have to do something for her before dying"
"Adil I am here for her. I will take care of her. It doesn't matter if she can't live with Naz baji for long time. She can live with me"
"You are an alone man Ezad! You don't live with your family. How can she live with you alone" Adil tried to make him understand.
Ezad understood what he was trying to say.
"Then what are you thinking?"
"I want to marry her with someone who could take care of her" It was the only solution he could think of.
"She is too young Adil. Hardly seventeen" Ezad didn't like the idea.
"And she will be alone in this world after me. She can't live alone. She needs someone in her life. She is too young to be alone in this world"
"So what have you decided?"
"Ezad! Will you marry her?"
.........................................................
It was too emotional to write. I had tears in my eyes😭
Adil🤍
That's the backstory💜
And just to be clear they have 14 years og age gap🫢
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