Woh koi dost tha achhe dino ka
Jo pichli raat se yaad araha hai.
•••
A small aqeeqah function was held for little Rumaisa. The haveli which was in dismal from last few months, finally had some moment of happiness.
Happiness, which suffocates Meher. She couldn't be happy, no matter how much she tried to be after the birth of her baby girl, but whenever she would look at Rayyan or Rumaisa, she feel a part of her heart missing. She felt her world crumbled into pieces knowing her kids would grow up without their father.
"Aap yaha aise kyu baithi Hain?" Shehryaar found her sitting in the corner of the Haveli, from where she could look out through glass window and see the event going on outside, but she was still away from everyone's eyes.
(Why are you sitting here?)
She jumped on his voice, looking at him, she tried to smile but couldn't, her lips couldn't curved up, instead another tear came in her eyes. How much Shehryaar resemble Sahir.
Looking down to control her tears, she shook her head negatively.
"Bahar chaliye." Shehryaar suggested.
(Let's go out.)
"Dil nahi chah raha hai."
(I don't feel like.)
Shehryaar looked at her. Meher, who always adorn herself with happy and glitter colour was now wearing simple and somber colour, which doesn't show any happiness of life. Her eyes which always had kajal was now plain and dead. Her full lips were pale and chapped. Shehryaar's heart wrenching on the sight of her, all he wanted was to somehow take her pain away. But how? He doesn't have any right to do so.
"Where is Rumaisa?" Meher asked. Her voice started him, he quickly took his eyes away from her.
"She... She is with Mashal I think.." Shehryaar looked around and informed her.
"I'll get her for you." Getting up, he left to search for Mashal.
He found Mashal in kitchen, but she wasn't alone. She was with a young man, he was talking to her while Mashal was looking down. What made Shehryaar angry when saw the man aggressively holding Mashal's arm.
"What's going on here?" Making himself visible for them, Shehryaar asked in stern voice.
"Shehry!" Quickly removing the man's hand away from her, Mashal turned to him.
"Is he bothering you?" Glaring at the man, Shehryaar asked her.
"Who are you?" The man stood in front of Mashal and asked.
"I'm not talking to you.."
"Shehry," before they could talk any further, Mashal came between them.
"He is my fiancé Armaan. And, Armaan, he is Shehryaar.. aapi's..... Rayyan's uncle." Both men present there only nod their head curtly.
"I'll just come... Mashal..." Saying this with a last glance at Mashal, Armaan left.
"What you saw in him?" Shehryaar was still looking at the way from where Armaan left.
"He loves me." Mashal's voice made him turn to her.
"That's why he is little.. possessive." His eyes on her made her nervous, looking at floor, she said.
"Possessive?" Shehryaar muttered. Mashal felt as if he is taunting her.
"Bhabhi was asking about Rumaisa." He informed her and left.
•••
Hushed tone of whisper fall in his ears, pushing the door of his mother's room, Shehryaar thought to hear what's cooking between his mother and sister. They seems to whisper alot, but when they saw him, they get silence. Just like right now
"Shehry! Come in. Kuch chahiye tha?" His sister, Sana gave him half assuring smile and asked
(You wanted to say something?)
His sister came here for Rumaisa's aqeeqah but seemed to stay longer
Getting in, Shehryaar sat on the chair beside the bed.
"Ammi, woh.... Mujhe Mumbai jana hoga."
(I.. I have to go to Mumbai..)
"Mumbai? Kyu? Kis liye?" Ruhina, who has just lost her elder son, got scared when heard the same city name where Sahir left for the last time and never returned alive
(Mumbai? Why?)
"Ammi!" Shehryaar softly called his mother, trying to keep her calm.
"Bhai.... Bhai ne ek nayi deal sign ki thi... Ussi ki sight dekhne jana hai. Zaroori hai." When Sahir was alive, Shehryaar never had to worry about business, work or any responsibility. All he could care was that he gets his pocket money on time, nothing mattered to him back then. Now, not only the responsibility of house is on his shoulder but he is looking after the family business all alone. Without the guidance of his brother
(Bhai.. bhai signed a new deal.. I have to see its sight there. It is important.)
•••
"Shehry!" Later that night, when he was packing up, Sana knocked on the already opened door
"Aapi?" He was surprised to see her
"Packing ho gayi?" Getting in, she asked and sat on bed. Shehryaar was still standing,
(Your packing is done?)
"Almost done."
"Kab ki flight hai?"
(When is your flight?)
"Subah ki." Zipping the suitcase and taking it down from bed, Shehryaar informed her
(Early morning.)
"Shehry, tumse kuch baat karni thi." The seriousness in her tone made Shehryaar freeze.
(I want to talk to you.)
"Kya hua, aapi?" Sitting on bed, Shehryaar asked
(What happened?)
"Shehry! Hum... Main aur ammi... Hum Meher ke barey mein soch rahe the..."
(We... Mummy and I.. we were thinking about Meher..)
"Kya hua unhe? Woh theek Hain?" Shehryaar was already on his feet to check on Meher
(What happened to her? Is she okay?)
"She is fine." Sana stopped him
"Shehry! We were thinking about her future. Rayyan and Rumaisa's future." Sana seems to blabbering because Shehryaar didn't understood a single word
"Aapi, I'm not understanding what you are trying to say? Rayyan and Rumaisa's future is perfectly secured until we are here."
"Until when?" Sana's question made him more confused
"Until when we will be there for them?"
"Shehry, Meher is still very young."
"Abhi woh sadme mein Hai. Uska dukh bada Hai but.. now or later, she will move on." Sana was looking very uncomfortable. And this was making Shehryaar uncomfortable too
(Right now, she is in pain. She still mourning over her loss.)
"She have all right to do so. I mean... If later in life Meher... Meher wants to re marry.. if she re marry.. we were thinking about Rayyan and Rumaisa.... What if the guy she will marry not accept Rayyan and Rumaisa?.." Shehryaar realize where this conversation was going, as his breath hitched
"Aapi,... Aap..." Before she could talk further, Shehryaar called her. Thinking what he is thinking must be wrong
(You...)
"Ammi wants you to marry Meher." Sana got surprised on her own casual words
While Shehryaar thought someone threw a cold chilled water on him.
"Aapi, nahi." He refused without taking a second
(No!)
"Kyu nahi?"
(Why not?)
"Aapi. Woh... Woh mere bhai ki biwi Hain.. main kaise. Nahi. Aapi, Aap ammi ko samajhaye ki yeh galat hai."
(She... She is my brother's wife. How can I... No... Tell ammi how wrong this is.)
"Shehry, dekha jaye toh isme kuch galat nahi Hai. Woh tumhare bhai ki biwi thi, Ab nahi Hai. Shariat mein bhi iski izazat hai."
(There isn't anything wrong in it. She was your brother's wife, not anymore. Our religion gives permission for this.)
"Shariat mein hogi iski izazat. Lekin mera dil nahi dega iski izazat." Getting up, Shehryaar said and closed the conversation
(Our religion may give permission but my won't.)
"Kyu? Kya ab tum ussey mohabbat nahi karte?" Her question made Shehryaar stop,
(Why? Don't you love her now?)
"Aapi!" Shehryaar whispered, telling her to end this conversation now.
"Kuch puch rahi Hoon main tumse." But Sana wasn't going to listen anyone. She was here on task, and she is going to accomplish it
(I'm asking you something.)
"Woh mujhse pyaar nahi karti." Shehryaar took a sharp breath in and said.
(She don't love me.)
"Woh mere sath hi Kya, kisike sath khush nahi reh payengi. Aapi, woh bhai se bohot pyaar karti hain."
(She won't be happy with me nor anyone. She loves bhai alot.)
"I know." Sana took a desperate breath out
"I know how much she loves Bhai and she always will. but love isn't everything. There is going to a day in her life when she will realize she needs a partner, whom she could share her responsibilities, and, Shehry, what's guarantee that the person whom she will marry will take good care of Rayyan and Rumaisa? After all, no man would able to love other man's kids. But, Shehry, you... Rayyan and Rumaisa are your own blood. Your brother's kids. No one will able to love them more than you. And Meher.. the way you understand her love and pain, I'm sure she will live a satisfied life with you."
"Just think about it, Shehry. Not for anyone but for Rayyan and Rumaisa." Placing her hand on Shehryaar's hand, Sana said
•••
That night, Shehryaar couldn't sleep. The loud noise of clock ticking were coming from his side table, indicating that time was moving with its speed. But Shehryaar, he was lost in past.
Shehryaar was a self-centered easygoing boy, who never have to care about world because his brother was there for it. Whenever Shehryaar fall in trouble, it was Sahir who always helped him out. Sahir and his bond was unbreakable. Sahir could die for Shehryaar while Shehryaar could kill anyone for Sahir.
Their bond changed when Shehryaar realizes the change of feelings in his heart for Meher Affandi.
Meher Affandi was their neighbor, and aslo Sana's best friend, having difference of four years, Meher always thought of Shehryaar as younger brother where Shehry got that feeling wrong and started falling for her. That kind of love, where there were no going back. Where, He fell deeper and deeper for her with every passing day.
He wanted to confess his love to her. But waited for the right time, when he will become something so she would proudly accept him. His innocent heart was unaware of the blooming love between Sahir and Meher.
The day, Shehryaar got to know about Meher and Sahir's marriage was the day when Shehryaar felt himself lost. He thought everything is slipping away from him. His life is slipping.
He didn't wanted to lose Meher. He can't, he wouldn't be able to live without her. At least not when she would be in same house as him and will be his brother's wife.
He thought of trying his luck, to tell Meher everything about his feelings. Maybe, she also feel same about him.
Having no confidence to say his feelings, he wrote her a letter. The letter which contains every bit of his feelings in them in the form of words.
Still not having any confidence, he pass that letter to Mashal and told her to give it to Meher.
Days were passing, date of Meher and Sahir's marriage was near and Shehryaar was still waiting for Meher's reply. Which never came. No reply or reaction came from her side.
She was happy with the wedding functions going then it struck Shehryaar, one day before her marriage, Shehryaar realized how unrequited his love is. It was Sahir whom Meher love. Not him. His feelings never mattered to her
That's why he left India for London. Making excuses about higher studies. Sana knew the real reason why he didn't wanted to live here.
After three years,he thought he will handle his feelings maturely. But seeing her receiving him on the door with a smile, something inside of him wished she was his.
Shehryaar didn't wanted to accept it to himself, but he was blaming himself for his brother's death. Maybe it was him, who's evil eyes took his brother's life.
The alarm of his phone brought him back to present. He was awake all night.
≤≥≤≥≤≥
So?? How's the update? 🙈
Do vote and comment
Waise.. I have published a new book named Love Is Cupid's Lure... Do check it out (Trust me this story is different from all my previous stories 😁😎)
-Ufaq