،آئے تو یوں جیسے ہمیشہ سے تھے مہربان
بھولے تو یوں جیسے گویا کبھی آشنانہ تھے۔
Aye to yun jaise hamesha se the meherban,
Bhoole to yun ke jaise goya kabhi ashna na the.
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Emaaz stood at the threshold of Mehman Khana, a seperate building of palace at the right side corner of it. A two storey house that hosted guests at the lower level with diwan khana and game rooms as well as their meeting rooms. On the upper level any male relatives that weren't close family resided when visiting.
He didn't get time to reflect on anything that happened today until now. He was busy dealing the guests the moment he entered the palace. He was now waiting for his special guests Yaman and Haim at the entrance of Mehman Khana as his thoughts drifted back to the unconscious body of Layla that he left at the bed of his room. On his bed, she was sprawled lashiviously, her body captivating and enthralling. She was still wrapped in his black shawl and her tiny fists wrapped around a corner of it.
It was Mumaz Begum's order to take her there to which he had to oblige infront of two hundred women. As if he could say no to that women anyway. People were waiting for a slight disagreement from him. People knew a version of the story, some people didn't.
Most people thought that Layla left for studies. Others thought he didn't bear her presence hence she was sent away as she once didn't come back to Pakistan in the last six years.
His thoughts were interrupted as soon as a convey rolled up in front of his house. He welcomed his friends into the living room and introduced them to the rest of his family. As if they needed an introduction but today he played the host. They made their condolences to each member of his family and later accompanied him to visit Hashim Durrani at the hospital.
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Layla found herself opening her eyes to a dome of a ceieling with handcrafted intricate details. She jumped up in a sitting position and her head spun. Her heart sank, what was she doing in this room. As if the bed burned her she got down from there and with heart hammering in her chest looked at the once familiar room.
Emaaz Durrani's bedroom.
She was on his bed, in his room. So that's what calling her Mrs. Durrani throughout the journey meant. She felt as if gasping for hair. Million thoughts runing in her head. She was understanding the situation more and more she thought, more her body broke in cold sweat.
"Oh ya Allah..." She uttered remembering the severity of the situation.
Emaaz was angry with her. No scratch that he was scorching angry with her. Fiercely, madeningly, severely angry with her. She knew she brought his wrath upon herself but she was not a confrontational person. Plus she was similar to a scared little mouse, she didn't have guts to face him. Not then and not now. He always treated her with delicacy and politeness. Not him but everyone else pampered her only. She didn't know how to deal with this side of his. She wasn't ready. But will she ever be?
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Emaaz: 25
Layla: 19
After not talking to anyone for a year and settling in with Hashim sahab's family into Bolton. Her heart gave in as she shared her university's acceptance with Bee Maa. There on the first call it was all tears and consolations and heart ache. On the second call for the first time in her life Bee Maa opened all her fury on him.
"Tumne aisa socha bhi kaise Layla, tum hamare Emaaz ke bare me aisa soch bhi kaise sakti ho?" She yelled at her bleeding piece of heart, Layla.
"Bee Maa apne woh nahi dekha jo mene dekha hai. Wo .. wo Kanza Api.." She sobbed reflecting back to the kiss that shattered her entire life.
"Hume dekhne ki zaroorat bhi nahi hai mera bacha. Hume apne Emaaz pe poora yakeen hai. Agar usne ek bar keh dia hai ke aisa kuch bhi usne nahi balke Kanza ne kia hai to humne maan lia. Ap nahi karti apne Maaz pe bharosa to hum is pe dobara bat kabhi nahi krege." There the conversation ended.
But her heart was not in peace. Not because Bee Maa's questions. But because her heart wasn't in peace from day one. Since that unortuante day. After she opened her eyes and requested to be brought here. Not when she was thousand of miles away from him. Not when Maaz who interfaired in her every decission not once came infront of her after that incident. She was burning in agony day and night.
All dam broke loose when she received an email from Kanza Api. It was her own insecurities that played a major role in this stupid decission. She knew it but that email proved it more.
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Dear Layla,
You will be surprised as to why I called you dear. But you are dear to me now Layla. And it is true that you weren't dear to me before.
This is a confession email. I got married 3 years ago. Thanks to Emaaz. He is still Emaaz to me. For that you cannot un-love a person just because the grapes were sour. Yes Emaaz was never interested in me and I knew you were coming up on the stairs because ammi informed me and I rushed to his room as I was already on the second floor waiting to cause the misunderstanding. Emaaz provided everyone the wrong flight plan because he wanted to surprise you. I got to know it and exploited his plan with my lies. He was merely tolerating my nonsense because he knew of my love towards him. This wasn't the first time I confessed to him or spoke ill towards you.
After I kissed him to which he threw me several feet away. This is humiliating to accept but I never got to kiss him. Before I could do so he pushed me away forcefully and was about to slap me when we heard your screams. I have never seen Emaaz cry. Yes he cried for you. He sobbed and cried.
When the matter was discussed with Mumtaz BayGee. She left everything to Emaaz and he decided to get me married and left the finding groom part on my mother. My mother got me married to a Jageerdar who was very rich but he lost his first wife in childbirth. He was a man who didn't love me or care for me. Plus he wasn't dumb he knew of the whole incident. He never touched me. And the day he did was because he was drunk. That day I realised how does it feel when somebody froces them upon you. I came back to Mahal crying and it was Emaaz who offered to get me divorced. I refused and went back and has been living in this miserable life without a child since now.
Please forgive me for my sins. I want to die peacefully for once.
Yours,
Kanza Api.
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She cried after reading that email. She wanted to harm Kanza Api and what occured to her was worst than she could think. She was a gentle soul, it was the intensity of Emaaz's love that made her like this. So she decided to go back three years ago. Instead of calling any household member she called Fareeda begum. There she got to know the first two years were destructive but last year Maaz completed his studies and decided to settle back in Pakistan for politics. He was busy preparing for his campaign and was slowly getting back to life.
So she gave up the idea. She needed to complete her university as well. She was just in the first year. She decided to abandon the idea also because she was a coward.
And for her mistrust and mistake she didn't know how to atone.
Now however as she stood in his bedroom she was thrust into his world with no choice.
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Emaaz: 28
Layla: 22
She decided to freshen up and as she was drying her face with the towel and trying to fix creases of her kamiz Bee Maa strolled in. Her eyes filled with tears as she rushed towards her.
"Oh Ya Allah, tera shukar hai meri bachi apne ghar ayi hai.." Mumtaz begum was crying hugging her close to her heart. Layla sobbed feeling her motherly embrace. They did not get a chance to meet as Mumtaz begum never cried once in fromt of other people.
"Beta we need to go outside, you need to be present and meet all the people who are here for the condolences. Also check the kids and then we will properly catch up. Here.." She forwarded a box to her. It was a red velvet box which Layla hesitantly grab.
"These are our khandani bangles. You need to wear them. I do not have time for further discussion come outside." Layla understood perfectly well what this meant. No women in this family remained bare of jewellery once married. Her heart fell in her feet understanding the meaning of this. She made her way outside wearing the bangles and karay because she was done runing away and also because she did not have a choice now as fate intervened.
As soon as she stepped outside several women from the family hugged her and cried on her shoulder. She made her way to the back of the house to check the kids.
"Salam Fareeda Bee.." Layla greeted her with respect as she played the role of a mother to her as well.
Fareeda bee had tears in her eyes upon watching her. Lamisa was in the embrace of Aabroo. Fareeda Bee's daughter. Fareeda Bee introduced the two.
"Ye meri beti hai Aabroo, chutiyo pe ghar ai hui thi to mene socha ise Badi Begum se milane le au. Yaha ai to ye sab kuch.." She left the conversation in the middle.
Layla took her in a embrace which shocked Aabroo she was not expecting such wealthy lady of the house to show kindness.
Layla didn't notice her shock and took Lamisa in her arms. She inquired about the kids's meal and made small conversation with Aabroo.
Mumtaz begum and Rushna Durrani were giving specific instructions to the maids as well as controlling their tears upon such a tragedy. Rushna rushed the maid to call Layla so they could have dinner.
As the evening approached mostly close family members were left in the house and on the main entrance stood. Hakim and Hammad sahab waiting for Mina begum to enter the house.
Mina begum had no strength left. She felt as if her whole household slipped through her fingers. She endured so much in the last 24 hours that she felt an out of body experience upon returning to Durrani Mahal.
All the elder men patted her head whilst women hugged and consoled her. Hashim Durrani was in a nearby hospital wherease her son was still in the UK. She cried harder whilst seeing the kids.
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Layla stood at the entrance of Emaaz's bedroom with trembling legs.
"Bee maa.." She tried to speak.
"Ek lafz nahi sunege hum apke mun se Layla. Jitni saza deni thi apne mere bache ko de li. Uska to kusoor bhi nahi tha. Ab ap bajaye khush hone ke aansoo baha rahi hai uski hamsafri pe.." Bee Maa accused and Layla felt her heart rip.
"Aisi bat nahi hai Bee Maa hume gunahgar na kare, hum islie nahi ro rahe. Hume ajeeb lag raha hai aise yun unke kamre me sabke samne rehna.. or ap ne to hume sola singar bhi kara diye hai. Ap janti hai Rumaan mere sage bhaiyo jaisa hai aise me mein.." She sobbed harder to which Bee Maa's gaze softened.
"Ab nahi to kab beta. Hamara khandan bhikhar ke reh gaya hai. Hanan bhai ke bad aj phir wohi museebat ai hai is khandan pe. Sirf ap or Emaaz hi to bache hai hamare pas beta. Ap dono ko sath dekh ke shayad hum bhi jeena seekh jaye. Or bacho ki zimmedari ap hum pe chor de an jaiye." Mina begum sobbed and took Rushna begum's hand to keep her from falling off.
Layla had no choice but sit on his bed covered in black silk sheets, bare of any petals or decorations and wait.
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Iam thinking of finishing the story asap but I am not going to write without any feedback. I need comments. Just comment your views here or at instagram @maskofgold_
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thankyou.