Izhaan sat down in balcony as his mind went back to the day he stole his father's car. He remembered how his father managed to change his happy mood into a very sad one. It was his last time where he got disciplined like that. He was now missing that day.
His eyes clouded with memories as he remembered the dreadful day.
It was a cold morning of November Izhaan was about to turn 17 in next week. Izhaan along with his bestest friend Rehaan Duraani were sitting in their business studies lecture.
Rehaan was turning 17 tomorrow and he was very excited but his friends were more exited than him. They all decided to go tonight and celebrate as it was the last weekend before Ramadan begins and Izhaan's birthday will fall in holy month. The group decided to celebrate boys 17th birthday together.
"Ally!" Izhaan pocked her side in between the class as she was sitting in front
"Kia hai Izzi?" Alizeh replied.
"Koi acha sa plan bana na! Kuch dhamekdar please." Izhaan whispered.
"Rehaan se pooch na birthday uski hai." Alizeh replied.
"Wo to bewakoof ha kheraha ha jakr dinner krke ajange I need to do something excited. Next year to hosakta mein apni birthday akele dorm me manaou." Izhaan said.
"Tu akela nahi hoga next year mein tere sath hongi don't worry!" Alizeh winked at him and Izhaan looked away shyly.
"Tu bhi boring batein mat krna kuch to maze ka plan kar please." Izhaan said.
"Kal raat meri cousin ki birthday thi she also turned 17. Pata hai usne kia she and all her friends went out for driving mere uncle ne use car gift ki. Kash hum bhi UK me hote leken yahn to driving kar hi nahi sakte." Alizeh said sadly.
"Driving?" Izhaan's eyes lit up.
"Tujhe ati ha driving?" Alizeh asked.
"Han!" He said but Alizeh's glare made him blurt out the truth.
"Fully nahi ati leken I promise I can start the car. Papa ne khud mujhe basics bataye hai. Usdin jab hum school se ghar jarahe they he find me noticing him very keenly to unhone signal pe samjha gear kia hota ha clutch kia hota accelerator kia hota. I promise I know it." Izhaan said.
"Leken gari kiski ride krnge?" Alizeh asked.
"Yar papa to Muscat gaye hue ha mujhe pata ha unki keys kaha hoti ha I will take his car." Izhaan said.
"Aur aunty?" Alizeh asked.
"Mama ko nahi pata chalega! Ilu ko typhoid hogaya toh mama usme busy hai bhot." Izhaan said.
"Izhaan uncle ko pata chala to bhot gussa krnge." Rehaan said when they shared the plan with him in break.
"Wo ajkal mujhe kuch nahi bolte! He have started relenting alot after I turned 15 unhone daanta bhot kam krdia hai." Izhaan said.
The poor boy have no idea why have his father stopped behaving like his usual self. He was in delusion that his father have started relenting but his father in actual have started maintaining distance because of his guilt.
"Thore din phele jo itna daanta tha? Uska kia?" Rehaan asked.
"Wo bhot bari galti krdi thi I pushed Azaan! Azaan ladla ha unka." Izhaan said.
"Or gari lena or drive krna bari galti nahi ha?" Rehaan asked.
"Yaar woo idhar nahi hai nahi chalega na unhe pata." Izhaan whined.
"Police ne pakarlia?" Rehaan asked.
"Tere mamu police wale haina? Wo churwadenge ab tu police wala mat ban." Izhaan snapped.
"Mere papa kuch nahi bolenge yaad rakhna! Dawood uncle Alizeh ko kuch nahi bolnge agar koi phasa to wo tu hai yaad rakhna." Rehaan said.
"Sirf dantenge agar pata chala toh it has been almost two and half years jabse mujhe maar nahi pari. Bara hogaya hu mein ab." Izhaan raised his collars.
"Toh phir plan done kare? We will drive on normal speed No racing I hate fast cars aur to aur we will have dinner at Kolachi." Izhaan said.
Alizeh smiled kolachi for her favourite seaside restaurant she loves the sea view of it. And she knows why Izhaan suggested the place.
"Koi birthday se bhi poochlo." Their other friend kazim spoke.
"Tujhe kia chaiye?" Izhaan asked Rehaan.
Rehaan smiled at him.
"Jisme mera yaar khush usme mein khush!" Rehaan chuckled.
"Done guys! 8pm?" Alizeh asked.
"Rehaan tu uncle se gari manega ya chori?" Kazim asked.
"Nahi chori nahi pasand mujhe driver hoga mere sath usko convince krlunga." Rehaan said.
The 16 year old Izhaan walked inside his house with a bag slinging on his shoulder. He bumped into 10 year old Azaan who was also just back from school. A angry pout was visible on his face.
"Kia hua chootu?" Izhaan asked ruffling his hair.
"Bhaiya me bataraha hu me kisi din Aliyaan ko gatar me phekdunga." 10 year old Azaan scowled.
"Kyu?" Izhaan laughed.
"Bhaiya wo junior ha mera leken aaj jaan kar meri class me aya duster mangne or sabko bata kar chala gaya kese papa ne mujhe last week ground kia tha." Azaan said.
"Aisa kyu kia usne?" Izhaan asked knowing the brat his brother is.
"Bas isliye kyu ke mene zor se bolidia dekho dekhoo elephant aya hai." Azaan murmured as he looked down.
Izhaan wanted to laugh but he refrained from doing it. Aliyaan was fat as child but his brother shouldn't have bullied him. Izhaan was more amused at little Aliyaan the way 8 year old stood up for himself was commendable he would have done the same thing in return of bullying.
"You have it coming Zaan! Wo Aliyaan ha usee bully krna hi nahi chaiye tumhe!" Izhaan said.
"Han to wo mota itna hai." Azaan scoffed.
"Toh isme bhi to koi galat baat nahi haina papa ne kia tumhe ground!" Izhaan replied.
Wo bas ilu ko ground nahi krte baqi apko or mujhe to har waqt." Azaan pouted.
"Wo tumhe bhi ground nahi krte! Life me second time kia hoga or Ilu ko kese kre bacha ha wo abhi." Izhaan said.
"Itna bolta ha kaha ka bacha." Azaan said.
"Acha chlo bus! Mama dantegi agar lunch nahi kia toh! Common go take a shower." Izhaan said.
"Shower nahi lunga subha lia tha." Azaan replied.
"Marunga Azaan ek! Naha kr aou forron." Izhaan glared at him.
"Apko pata ha ap bhot papa jese ho? Bilkul unki photocopy." Azaan said grumpily.
"Me unke sara sadiyal nahi hu!" Izhaan scoffed even though he liked hearing that.
"Whatever." Azaan said and ran upstairs because he knew the next thing he will get would be a whack.
Izhaan showered and freshly walked inside his mother's room. He found his little 5 year old brother watching T.V looking absolutely pale. He have gotten weaker after the diseases.
"Bhaiya." Ilhaan said chirpily but his voice came closed off because of the sickness.
Saba who was making a milk bottle turned around.
"Salam beta! Agaye." She asked Izhaan.
"Ji mama! Ilu ki tabiyat kese hai?" Izhaan asked.
"Bas bhot clingy hogaya washroom tak nahi jane deraha ap agaye hona isko dhoodh pila do me zara Azaan ko check krlu phir dono bhaiyo ko khana yahi lagwadeti hu." She said giving the bottle to Izhaan.
"Noo mamaa!" Little Ilu wailed.
"Iluu! Apko bhaiya sath time spend nahi krna?" Izhaan asked pretending hurt.
Ilhaan went into deep thoughts he doesn't want to hurt Izhaan's feelings.
"Krna ha but mama." Ilu pouted.
"Mama bas arahi ha beta! Bhai abhi school se aye haina she needs to check on him." Izhaan said gently.
"School!" Ilhaan made a face.
"Mein theek hojanga to mujhe bhi school wapis jana parega?"
"Bilkul! School koi miss out wali krne wali jagah thori hai it is a best place one can go! Besides ruhi bhi to apka wait karahi haina." Izhaan said gently feeding him the milk.
"Oh yes! Ruhi I miss her." Ilhaan pouted.
"Jaldi jaldi theek hojaou phir." Izhaan said.
"Mein Spiderman cup se milk peeunga to mama ne kha ha me jaldi theek hojanga." Ilhaan said.
"Bas phir apne milk to finish krlia ab ap jaldi theek hojange." Izhaan placed a warm kiss on boys head.
"Ap mujhe piyar krnge to ap bimar hojange." Little boy said.
"Bhaiya superhero haina! Unhe kuch nahi hoga." Izhaan said kissing his face multiple times.
"Mama ki taraha?" Ilu asked and Izhaan nodded.
The room door burst open and Azaan came inside and jumped on the bed.
"Hello bandar!" He said to Ilhaan.
"Bhaiya!" Ilhaan complained.
"Crybaby." Azaan muttered.
"Azaan no! Taang nahi kro." Izhaan glared at him.
"Chalo bacha no fighting! Lunch krlo sab." Saba said as she entered the room with lunch.
"Mere bete ne milk finish krlia? Wow." Saba peppered Ilhaan's face with kisses.
Izhaan's face lit up with smile.
Saba started feeding all three of her sons.
"Mama wo ajj Rehaan ki birthday toh humne decide kia ha hum meri bhi celebrate krle to mein jau?" Izhaan asked.
"Okay betu! Please come back before curfew wrna papa gussa krnge." Saba said.
"Papa to nahi haina mama." Izhaan said.
"Nahi beta we shouldn't lie to him wo poochnge na to phir ap unse jhoot bologe? He doesn't deserve our dishonesty." Saba said gently.
"Okay mama." Izhaan gulped the lump in his throat and replied.
"Chalo Zaan face wash krke aou or Ilu ke barabar me sojaou." Saba said and Azaan did the bidding yawning.
"Apne sona hai Izzhi?" Saba asked.
"Nahi mama!" Izhaan replied.
"Phir mein thore ghar ke kaam niptaleti hu ap dono ka khyal rakhiyega." Saba said and walked outside the room.
As soon as she left Izhaan walked inside her closet and searched for his father's keys. There were to many cars in the house but he wanted his father's Mercedes. He managed to sneak the key in.
Ilhaan and Azaan were sleeping on opposite sides as Saba doesn't want Azaan to catch the sickness so Izhaan jumped between the boys. He kissed their heads and slept in between them.
Saba woke them up around 5:00 pm. She made Izhaan complete his homework and help Azaan with his. Ilhaan on the other hand enjoyed binge watching Oswald. His favourite cartoon. He once referred Rehaan's father as Oswald and Azhaar scolded him enough that he didn't dare to repeat the mistake again.
"Mama Azaan ne bhot acha homework kia you should treat him." Izhaan said to his mother.
"I can not take him anywhere Izzhi Ilhaan bimar haina." Saba replied.
It was the ritual in their house little treat's after every little accomplishment.
"Why don't you let him watch film in bed? Papa to hai nahi you guys can have dinner in bed while watching his favourite movies?" Izhaan tried convincing his mother.
"Sounds good! Thank you." Saba kissed Izhaan's cheek.
"Movie night boys!" She hooted and Azaan and Ilhaan sat up happily.
Saba set the TV in her room and Azaan played his favourite movie 'bhootnath'. The were all in bed when Izhaan came to say his byes.
He kissed his mother and brother a bye bye kiss and left happily. Since his mother was in room watching film he easily managed to take vehicle out of the house.
He was over joyed as he started driving. The car did made few sounds and it started getting stopped again and again but within few minutes Izhaan managed to start driving smoothly.
He reached Alizeh's house and she came out wearing a black long dress. Her hair tied in ponytail very different from the braid she does ay school. Izhaan couldn't stop looking at her. She was stunning.
"Woww! Izzi! I am so excited." Alizeh said as she settled in car.
"Hainaa! You know I am soo good at driving I think its natural for me." Izhaan replied.
He started the car again but it stopped after few seconds same happened twice making Alizeh laugh out loudly.
Izhaan again decided to start the car and finally he managed to drive it. They reached the sea side restaurant. It was already his best birthday ever.
Rehaan and Kazim met them at restaurant. They celebrated meal and enjoyed alot. The boys decided to drive car back home.
Rehaan convinced his driver and he agreed. Izhaan and Kazim started driving. The marine road of Karachi was very beautiful they drove on low speed but they Alizeh kept hooting. They stopped the car at beach cut the cake there boys celebrated their 17th birthday together happily probably for the last time in their lives.
Izhaan celebrated his birthday not knowing soo many things one of them was:-
Flights from Muscat to Karachi has been landed one hour ago. The same flight which carried his father.
____________________________________
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..Nia