Sahir entered the room where Saba was unpacking his bag. He gazed at
her busy being which was so indulgent in completing her task that she didn't observe him.
While gazing at her, the flashback of their first meet-up came in front of
his eyes.
"After having your introduction, we will start our first lecture with a
William Shakespeare poem."
He was saying this to the first-semester students when the door opened
and entered it.
There was nervousness and shyness in her orbs when she sat on her
seat. A few murmurs and laughter could be heard.
"Keep quiet everyone, and start the introduction from the first person."
The nervous girl was her first impression of him, and it remained for the first whole semester. Gradually, her confidence level improved, and her personality shone.
Feeling the gaze on herself, she turned around to see him standing in
the middle of the room. As her task was completed, she went toward the
door.
"I want to talk to you." His words halted her steps and she gave a
quizzical look to him.
Fishing out his mobile, he showed her images.
"Saba and Zaheer are boyfriend and girlfriend!" This was written on a
chair.
In the second image, a boy was standing on the school ground while she was standing in the background, laughing at something.
She instantly knew who had sent these pictures, and hatred boiled her
blood.
"This is not true." She only said these four words in a cold tone at which
Sahir nodded his head and deleted the images.
"Okay. I trust you, Saba! The purpose of showing you this picture was to
make you aware of the mess people are making." He said while gazing
at her expressionless face.
"I am so sorry for the whole mess. I didn't plan it in this way, but I know it is affecting you. "
Saba became startled on hearing him and gazed at him. He was gazing
at her to say anything but there was confusion and silence on her face.
"We can spend these months in a friendly manner. I seriously don't know how the future will take a turn, but until your last paper, we will have a friendly relationship. Okay?" He asked with hope in his eyes at which
she nodded her head.
"Okay"
"Thank you, Saba! For bearing with me. I hope we both can have a
smooth time together." He said at which she nodded her head.
"I hope so. And, kindly avoid such pictures because they may keep
coming." She said at which he nodded her head.
"I don't know whether they are photoshopped or real, but I will not ask
you." He said with a smile at which she smiled back.
........................
After having the chat, she was on the rooftop, gazing at the bright moon
which was shining in the sky.
The pictures on Sahir's mobile were flashing in her orbs at which her
heart was thundering. She managed to keep herself calm in front of Sahir, but inwardly, fear encapsulated her being.
Those pictures were not photoshopped. It was one of the errors she made in her teenage years.
Her gaze was on the moon which melted into the school ground where
she was sitting with Asma and Zarina, her only friends.
"So, here is the group photo of our whole family." Zarina was showing
them the pictures of her sister's marriage, and at the end of the album, there were two group photos.
In one group photo, all the boys were standing. And in one group photo,
all the girls were standing with the bride and groom.
"Okay, now tell me, which boy is the most handsome one."
Zarina asked while laughing. She was a bold girl who dared to do every
type of joke with them.
"This one!" Asma pointed toward a boy and said.
"And you, Saba?
She enthusiastically gazed all around the picture and put her finger on
one boy.
"Waoo, You like Zaheer!" Zarina laughed at which a smile etched on her
face.
"You know Saba, he is only stepping away from you at this moment,"
Zarina said at which her heart skipped a beat and eyes rounded due to
fear.
"Where?" She sensed something evil in this scenario, and fear increased
in her body.
Asma and Zarina misunderstood her fear as impatience.
"He studies in the tenth grade on the boys' campus."
Zarina said while turning her gaze toward the lobby which was present in
the corner of the playground.
That lobby joined both campuses in which a discipline teacher's desk
was present. She makes sure that no boy or girl goes to other
campuses.
Zarina turned her head toward her with a smile at which she became
confused.
"What?" She asked at which Zarina smiled.
"Saba?" Mrs Amna's voice halted the train of her thoughts and she
turned around to gaze at her.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing, mama!"
After chit-chatting with Mrs Amna, she went to the room where Sahir was
lying on the bed in his night suit.
"Are you relaxed on the couch?" He asked at which she nodded her
head while putting the duvet on the couch.
"Tomorrow at which time your lecture is? " He asked again.
"9 o'clock"
"Hmm... You will go with me at 8 o'clock and when you wish to come
back you can call the driver. After University, I have to go to the office. "
"Ok!"
She lay down and after some time was in deep slumber. Sahir gazed at
her sleeping body while memories flashed in front of his orbs.
Saba's face melted and Zahra's face came in front of him. The room
dissolved and became a university cafe. And, the flashes of that event started which shattered his trust and faith in love.
The whole night, he kept roaming into the past.
......................
Sahir sat on his bed and went toward the terrace of his room. Standing
on the terrace, glancing at the lights of the capital city of Pakistan, his
mind kept recalling memories. His gaze went toward the lawn of the
house and a flashback became clear in his mind.
Five Years Ago:
"Mom, Dad! I want to talk to you. " Whole family was sitting on the lawn, having their evening tea when Sahir said.
"What is it, my son?" Mr Sikandar asked
"Umm... I like a girl at the Uni. In fact, she is also the daughter of Mom's
friend. "
"Who? "Mrs Amna asked.
"Zahra.. Daughter of Shazia Auntie"
"Really? That's great! I love the family of Shazia!" Mrs Amna said with
sparkling orbs.
"So, what do you say? Should we go this weekend to their home?" Mr
Sikandar asked with a smile.
"As you both wish". A chuckle erupted from his lips while his parent's
smiles broadened.
...........................
At the weekend, Mr Sikandar and Mrs Amna went to the Zahra's house
while Sahir was walking on the lawn impatiently.
The voice of the car's horn came and his excitement aroused. He was
eager to know the answer to Zahra's parents.
"What did they say?" he asked when his parents came out of the car.
"They asked for time to think of this proposal," Mr Sikandar replied at
which his smile dropped, and fear encapsulated his being.
"Sahir, They want some time and it is a usual thing. Don't get
disheartened. "Mrs Amna said to him with a smile at which he
reciprocated the smile.
That night, standing on the terrace, he was glancing at the moon while a
bright smile was on his lips and hope was glinting in his orbs.
..................
The next day, when he entered the university ground, Zahra came from
the other side and instantly hugged him. That was so sudden that Sahir
had no time to react. He kept standing there with wide eyes, while Zahra
hugged him tightly.
"Zahra, please stop it." He murmured while taking of her arms of his
torso.
"You have sent a proposal to my house. That is awesome! I love you,
Sahir!' She exclaimed while he kept glancing at the students who were
sitting around and murmuring among them while gazing at them.
"Zahra, it was not an appropriate thing. Please don't do it again." He
murmured while glancing at the area around him.
Her smile dropped and a frown settled on her face.
"What is this, Sahir? I am talking to you about a proposal and you are
getting silly." Anger laced her tone and she went toward the cafe with
anger.
Frustration and anger also pumped in his veins but he had to control
himself. He couldn't afford to make the relationship worse.
He followed her and sat at the cafeteria table.
"Okay, let's talk about the proposal. Do you like this surprise?" He said in
a cheerful tone with a small smile etched on his lips.
"It was amazing, and it made me feel so special."
"You are special, Zahra. I want to spend my life with you."
"Me too!" She replied with a grin.
........................
"Sahir, what are your plans for the future?"
Zahra asked while stalling into the corridor of the shopping mall with him.
"I have already told you, Zahra. Lectureship and writing is my cup of
tea." He replied in a firm tone, not wanting any argument on this topic.
A frown settled on Zahra's face at this.
"Sahir, it will not work for me. I am a girl with big dreams." She said at
which irritation encapsulated his being.
"I will try my best to fulfil all of your dreams." He replied with a smile but
with a thudding heart at which she hummed.
"Oo Waoo," It came out of Zahra's mouth when she saw a diamond ring
in a shop.
"You like it? " Sahir asked her with a fake smile.
"Yes! " Zahra said.
"Sahir! Can't you buy it for me? Please!" Zahra asked him
enthusiastically.
He gulped but went into the shop and asked for the prize. His eyes widened when the jeweller told him the prize.
"Zahra, Leave it now. I will give it to you in the near future. "
"If you can't af ord it now then how can you af ord it at that time? "
Sahir's mouth agape opened at her words. Anger also came over him.
"Zahra, Behave yourself! "
"Don't talk to me in this tone Sahir! I will not tolerate it ever in my life! "
She said and went toward the exit.
His jaws clenched while his mind was giving him red alarms. Mind was
alerting him about her attitude but the heart was justifying her actions.
With a dilemma of heart and mind, he went toward the parking lot.
........................
There was a night event at the University and Sahir was hosting that
event. He was busy looking at the preparations when his gaze fell upon
Zahra.
Pink gown, dark brown hair falling on her back, and light makeup
highlighting her beauty. After the mall incident, he didn't talk to her. But now seeing her in front of him, a smile etched on his face and all anger
flew up! But, he didn't get the opportunity to talk to her as the event
started.
Till the mid of the event, Sahir had to do hosting. When the part of his
hosting finished, he went to the washroom. There was a garden between
the hall and washroom areas. At that time, all were in the hall so
darkness and silence was prevailing in the area.
Sahir was passing the garden when he heard some whispering. He first
ignored it but then stopped listening to the voice. That voice was of
Zahra.
........................
Thunder boomed in the sky at which Sahir gazed at the dark sky with
teary orbs. Pain rippled in his orbs and a shudder ran down his spine at
the thundering voice.
He stepped into the dark room and gazed at Saba who was sleeping soundly on the couch.
Gazing at her sleepy face, guilt encapsulated his heart. He didn't want to
get married because he just wanted to concentrate on his work and
become a billionaire. He wanted to get foreign degrees because that
exposure will help him in understanding business and expanding it. For
five years, he was doing work on his online business and was successful
to a large extent. But much work is still to be done. He had started
freelancing to raise the quality of his life. Turning to an online business
was a great decision that helped him in fulfilling his earning goals.
He had become a millionaire through monetizing his passion; writing,
and lectureship. The benefit of online business is that you earn dollars
most of the time which turned out to be a hefty amount in Pakistan.
He didn't want to marry because his heart was still unable to heal from
the pain. His trust in love had been shattered and it would take a long
time to heal.
He was gazing at the innocence etched in her expression.
"Maybe in my dare and the hate of Zahra, I am doing wrong with Saba! Ohh, Allah! Guide me on what I should do! "
Regret and pain sprawled his being, and he went toward the bed with
slumped shoulders. A sleepless night was waiting for him.
........................
The car stopped some moments away from University.
"I can't take you with me to the university as there is a risk any
acquaintance will see us," Sahir said to her at which she nodded her
head, and climbed down the car. Sahir remained there, gazing at her
retrieving form while his mind went toward the past.
Shock encapsulated his being at listening to the voice of Zahra, and he went toward the place in a trance. There, he saw Zahra and her class
fellow sitting on the bench. Zahra's head was on his chest, and his arm
was around her torso.
"Zahra! " He called her while tears stung his orbs.
She and his friend abruptly turned and saw him. Fear flashed on her face, but then she composed herself and stood from her place.
"What is this Zahra?"
Whisper came out of his lips at which they both stood from their place.
"You know what this is, Sahir." She shrugged her shoulders and replied.
"What about our engagement?"
"I don't want to be a part of your life. What is in you that I will marry you?
Hunhh... Give me any reason to marry you! " There was disgust and
hate in her tone.
"I love you, Zahra. " Sahir said in a broken voice.
"Love! In life, I only don't want love! I want money and a billionaire who
will fulfil all my wishes. And you can't do it. I don't love you because you
are a loser!"
There was pride on her face. Her innocent face was not there at that
moment. And this thing shook Sahir. Trust was shattered and the heart
was pierced.
"It is your right to choose your partner, but you should choose it when you still haven't made any commitment. Being with someone else when
you are committed is wrong. It is to cheat someone.
And what do you say? You want a billionaire. I will become a billionaire
in the coming years, and you will regret your decision of deceiving me. I
am glad you have shown your true colours before marriage. It has saved
my respect in society."
He said and left.
Horns of cars caused him to come out of the bitter past, and he swiftly
drove the car toward the university.
..................
When Saba entered the University, she saw her group standing at the
corner of the ground. Iqra waved her hand when saw her coming. She
moved toward them with a smile.
"Assalam o Alaikum! " She greeted everyone.
"Walaikum Assalam! " Reply came from Nimra as she stepped forward to hug Saba.
"Nimra, Is everything alright? Why are you so happy? '' Fiza asked her
with a mischievous tone at which Saba and Iqra giggled.
"Yes, Everything is alright! " Nimra said without minding Fiza's words.
"I have good news! " She said with an excited tone.
"What is the news, Nimra? " Saba asked her.
"I got engaged! " She said with a shrill tone.
"Congratulations!" Three of them exclaimed while hugging her tightly.
"When did it happen?" Iqra asked Nimra at which she enthusiastically
started telling them about her fiance and her to-be-in-laws.
Saba was gazing at her while a void was filling her being. Gazing at the
sparkling orbs of Nimra, pain filled her being.
They were talking animatedly when she excused herself and went
toward the washroom.
Standing in front of the mirror while drops of water were dripping from
her chin, she gazed at her reflection while tears gathered in her orbs.
Flashes of past days were coming in front of her eyes at which a tear slipped from her orbs.
While thinking about her married life, gazing at her pale face, a distant
memory flashed in front of her orbs.
"Tomorrow, we will go to Boy's campus!" Zarina whispered to them while
they were doing their lunch.
"Why?" Excitement was in Asma's orbs while she also gazed at her with
quizzical orbs.
"To meet Zaheer, Saba's love!" Chuckles emerged from the mouths of
both girls while Saba's eyes widened.
"That is not true. I don't like him." Her eyes widened and she swiftly
denied.
"Don't make us fool, Saba! We know you like him." Zarina said at which
she shook her head.
"Tomorrow, when you meet him, all your hesitation will fly!"
Zarina said with a mischievous tone. An alarm blared in her mind but she
ignored it and smiled at Zarina.
Excitement was also etched in her veins thinking about tomorrow's
adventure.
.........................
The next day, there was an event on both sides of the school so the
whole staf was busy there. Zarina kept her eyes on the Discipline
teacher's desk. When the teacher abandoned the desk, she gave a
signal to Asma and Saba and they went into the boy's campus.
The corridor led to the backside of the campus which was abandoned at
that time. Everyone was busy on the front lawn and they couldn't go.
"I think we can't meet Zaheer today," Zarina said at which Saba got
relaxed.
"I don't want to meet him either! We have done the adventure, now let's
go." Fear was evident in her tone as her heart was thudding.
"Okay. Let's take some pictures and let's go!" Zarina said while taking
out the camera.
She took a picture of Asma first, and then it was Saba's turn. When she
was going to take the picture of Saba, Zaheer stepped into the frame in the background. Zarina saw him so she took the picture with a
mischievous smile.
"Our mission is going to be fulfilled," Asma said with a smile.
"Zaheer!"
At Zarina's words, Saba's eyes widened and she turned around to see
the person. He came near them with a bright smile.
"What are you doing here?" He asked them.
"My friend wanted to meet you. She is a fan of yours." Zarina grinned
while pointing toward Saba whose eyes widened.
Zaheer saw her with quizzical orbs and a smile on his lips.
"Why?" He asked.
"She saw your picture and was desperate to meet you," Zarina said with
a smile at which Zaheer turned toward her.
"It is nice meeting you. Kindly tell me the name."
"Saba!" Asma replied at which he nodded his head.
"Nice meeting you, Saba."
She nodded her head, fearful of the whole situation.
"I think we should go. In fact, I am going." She averted her gaze toward
her friends and said.
"No, please wait," Zaheer said but she shook her head and turned
around to leave.
The beep of the mobile caused her to come out of her daze. Splashing
some water on her face, taking a deep sigh, she fished out her mobile
from the bag.
Iqra Calling was blinking on the mobile's screen. Their lecture was going
to start so she cut the call and came out of the washroom.
With a void in her orbs and pain in her heart, she was walking in the
corridor when her gaze fell on Sahir, who was coming from the other
side of the corridor. His shoulders were slumped and there was no smile
on his face.
He also raised his gaze and stared at her face. Their eyes clashed and
they remained locked for a few moments.
Void and pain of the past were rippling in both orbs, mirroring each
other's emotional conditions. They both kept walking toward each while keeping eye contact.