Back into Naushad's cabin

"Wo mere professor the college mein!",

she begins reciting her story, her eyes lowered out of guilt and shyness. The fact that she is sharing this story with no one else but him, makes the whole process all the more difficult for her.

"Main shuru se hi kafi chulbuli thi. Mera kisi mard se koi wasta nahi tha. Apne doston ke saath main jitni aazad rehti hi; utni hi khamosh aur band rehti thi ladkon ke samne.",

she shares with him, hesitantly.

This is the first time she is discussing about herself openly with someone!

"Hum chaar behne, Ammi, Abbu, Khala, meri zindagi aksar inhi logo ke ird-gird ghumti thi."

"Kuch dost the jo, unke saath college mein hansi mazak ho jata tha warna ghar aatey hi mera pura time main apni family ko deti thi."

Naushad hears her with great patience.

"Main college ke 2nd year mein thi jab meri zindagi mein ek shaks aya... mere professor ke roop mein."

Naushad who was sitting laid back, bends forward, resting his hands on the table, giving more attention to her.

Meher feels a knot forming in her throat as she remembers him again!

"Pehle din se hi sari ladkiyan unn par jaan chidakne lagi."

"Kyunki mujhe inn baaton mein kabhi koi diljaspi nahi thi isliye maine zyada dhyan hi nahi diya."

"Ek roz ki baat hai, main apni ek dost se milne ek class mein ja rahi thi..."

*Flashback*

"Allah iss ladki ko bhi abhi mujhe lab mein bulana tha. Main already aaj late ho gayi hun ghar jane ke liye",

curses Meher whilst walking towards the lab of her college.

She takes the left turn that she gets collided with someone, she cares less to know who it is and gets indulged in collecting the scattered papers from the floor.

But may be the guy gets interested in knowing her!

"Hi... aap meri student hain right?",

he asks her, sitting on his feet, helping Meher to collect the papers.

At this Meher looks towards him. Widening her eyes out of shock, she stares him. He stares back, smiling.

After few moments of stare when her eyes on him turn soft, Meher realizes what she is doing and quickly lowers her eyes feeling extremely shy for staring at her teacher for this long. What would he think about her?

She quickly starts collecting her papers and gives a short answer,

"Yes Sir!"

The breeze enters the corridor and blows away a sheet and the sheet happens to land at Meher's teacher's left side.

Smiling, understanding her nervous state, he picks up the paper and hands it over to her.

"Thank you",

says Meher quickly, to get done with this awkward situation.

He keeps staring her bearing a smile on his face. Meher before getting up nervously glances towards him and her heart skips a beat! He certainly has beautiful features for a girl to fall for him. Surely the gossips going on among the girls round the college is true. Not only good features but he posseses the power to put a magical spell on girls around him that attracts them to him.

May be his smile? Of course he does bear a sweet smile on his face. Although she hasn't seen him eye to eye many times but surely she has seen him quite a lot of time walk from one class to another and smiling politely to other teachers and seldom to his students; particularly to the female ones!

Such a good soul he is to smile seeing others, especially girls! A person who is so gentle towards girls, how nice a person he must be. Whoever he gets married to, must be so lucky.

Wait, is he married?

'Well why do I care?',

thinking so, she shrugs off the thought.

But he doesn't seem to be a married guy! But then he is my teacher. Older to me. Then surely must be married.

She eye him, trying to read by his gestures whether he is married or not. If he is married he would definitely maintain a distance and lower his eyes out of courtesy.

His gaze constant on her makes her to feel uncomfortable; yet pleasurable! But she wants to run away from here. Away from his eyes.

"Excuse me!",

saying so, she leaves without glancing back at him again.

*****

Next day in his class

While he teaches them, Meher's eyes remains constant on him. His height; the way he walks is just perfect. The way he jokes around while teaching, to keep the class light hearted; he certainly knows how to talk polite.

"What do you think? Anyone...??"

His question and the way he is looking towards her as if expecting an answer from her, drag Meher out of her reverie. She lowers her eyes. At this moment she wants to hide herself from him desperately.

But oops! she is caught!

"You... the one in yellow!",

he points towards her.

Oh no! she is in trouble! She doesn't know what's his question for her.

"I... I am sorry... Maine... maine apka question nahi suna!",

she says, nervously.

Had it been some other teacher of hers, he would definitely have scolded her for not paying attention. But he actually enjoyed discovering, that she wasn't attentive. Or rather too attentive in checking him out!

Of course he cannot let his students feel that he is being partial to her. He needs to punish her!

"Agar main aise hi subko chorta raha bina punish kiye to subko aadat ho jayegi mere class mein dhyan na de kar; kisi aur hi baat mein dhyan dene ki! So it is important that you get punished!",

he says in a serious tone, emphasizing on the words kisi aur hi baat mein dhyan dene ki!

This skips Meher's heartbeat, she stares him in disbelief! Is he going to punish her? And that teacher of hers has the audacity to smirk at her! Thank heavens that all were busy discussing among themselves in a hushed voice, wondering what would the punishment turn out to be like and they didn't notice his smirk!

Holding her breath, Meher too waits for the same. The bell rings, indicating that the class is over. The sudden ringing of the bell affects one and all present in the class; Meher being affected the most! She shivers! The only person who doesn't seem to be affected is the teacher who continues staring Meher with that smile still intact on his face, which Meher took as a polite gesture towards her. Too intimate!

Gradually all leave the class.

Meher looks back towards her teacher. As the class empties leaving the two alone, Meher's heartbeat picks up pace.

The way he walks towards her does amazing things to her insides which she didn't know exist before today!

"Kahan dhyan tha apka?",

he asks her politely, never looking away from her, smiling throughout.

"Ahmm... sorry Sir main... main agli baar se dhyan...",

she says hesitantly, her eyes lowered.

He keeps smiling, staring her throughout, never ending the eye contact. She feels awkward and to end the situation, she hands him her diary,

"Ye... ye maine notes complete kiye hue hain. Aap... aap chahein to aap dekh sakte hain...",

saying so she extends her hand carrying copy, still not ready to meet his eyes.

He deliberately holds the copy with both his hands such that he get to touch her hand.

Her breath hitches as his touch comes as a surprise for her. She shoots a look towards him and says,

"Ye... ye aap kya kar rahe hain?"

Acting to be innocent, he says,

"Oops! I am sorry. Actually dhyan hi nahi gaya...!",

saying so he stares her with that smile intact on his face.

Meher stares him. Something in his eyes catches her attention. How hard might she try she cannot bring herself to take her eyes away from him.

"Main... Main chalti hun...!",

saying so she leaves without giving a proper reply to him.

As she crosses by him, he asks, never turning back to look towards her,

"Iss khamoshi ko ek nayi shuruat samjhun?"

His words skip her heartbeat and make her to blush. He half turns to look at her, smiling throughout. She half turns too finally giving him a smile.

"Aazma kar dekhiye humein. Zindagi jannat na bana di to kehna!",

he says poetically.

And the poem succeeds in vibranting the chords of her heart!

"Kisi par itni asaani se aitbaar karna, fitrat nahi humari.",

says Meher, blushing.

Smiling he walks towards her and asks,

"Hum par aitbaar na karne ki wajah to bataiye? Kya khata hai humari?"

And these lines affect her the utmost. She blushes. Bringing out a paper, she jots down her number and extends it towards him shyly. Smiling, looking towards him throughout he accepts the paper. And she runs away.

"Arey sunno to... naam to batati jao...",

he calls after her.

"Meherunissaaaaa....",

she shouts whilst running away giggling.

"Aur tumhari saza ka kya?",

he shouts.

"Mil gayi....",

she replies back, shouting.

"Mil gayi?",

says he to himself, puzzled, his voice lowered.

*Flashback ends*

Laughing sarcastically, Meher says,

"Tab kya pata tha, ye such mein ek saza hi hai. Meri zindagi ki subse badi saza!"

Naushad gets all the more interested in knowing the further story.

"Fir kya hua?",

he asks without wasting time, all serious.

Meher looks towards him and realizes his eagerness.

"Fir unhone mujhe phone karna shuru kiya. Roz subah college jane se pehle unka phone aata tha puchte the ke kab tak pohnchungi. Unse pehle kabhi kisi ne mera iss tarah se college pohnchne ka intezaar nahi kiya.",

she says.

At this Naushad lowers his eyes as he realizes how he waits to see her desperately each day. And smiles feeling guilty.

"Unki ye tehzeeb achi lagti thi.",

smiles Meher, cherishing that feeling she used to get those days.

*Flashback*

*Aap college ke liye nikal gayin?*

His message brings a smile on Meher's face.

*Jee bus panch minute mein niklungi.*

*Agar aap kahein to main lene aa jaun?*

This skips Meher's heartbeat and makes her to blush. She looks towards Jannat just to make sure that no one is paying attention on her.

*Apko mera ghar pata hai?*,

she asks teasingly.

*😉Kal ghar tak aya tha apke!*

His reply skips her heartbeat and makes her to widen her eyes.

"Allah!",

she swears, unable to believe him.

*Kisika peecha karna achi baat nahi!*

*Kisika kahan kiya? Aap hi ka to kiya!😉*

This makes her to blush all the more.

*Baaton mein apse jeetna aasan nahi.😋*

*Hahaha!!! 😄😄😄*

*Chaliye ab jaldi ayiye apke ghar ke bahar khada hun!*

"Kya?",

exclaims Meher, surprised.

*Flashback ends*

"Bus aise hi humari dosti hui. Rishta aur gehra hua. Ab mera zyadatar waqt unhi ke saath guzarta tha. Wo nahi bhi hote the to unhi ki baatein sochti thi. College mein wait karti thi ke kab unki class ki bari aye.",

she smiles sadly.

Naushad looks towards her. Meher looks too. As their eyes meet their heartbeats skip. Naushad wonders does she wait for his class as well? Meher realizes what he must be thinking. They lower their eyes, smiling apologetically.

Taking a deep breath he asks,

"Fir?"

"Fir... Unka janamdin aney wala tha. Bohot khush thi main. Bohot taiyariyan ki thi maine.",

says Meher, a fresh lump starts building up in her throat.

'5... 4... 3... 2... 1... yayyy!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU IRFAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!'

The remembrance of the voices sends shivers down Meher's spine. She doesn't realize when she shuts her eyes and starts shaking her head. Her heartbeat picks up pace, she covers her ears to shut the voices.

Naushad gets tensed!!

"Dr. Mirza.... Dr... Dr. Mirza... Meher...",

Naushad calls her.

When she still doesn't get out of her state of shock, Naushad slowly, calculatively places his hand on her to bring her back to present. In her state of shock and horror, she shrugs his hand off her, pushing it with force!

Naushad feels her strength, it was at such a great magnitude! But he doesn't mind at all. He rather gets concerned about her state.

She shivers! And the feeling dies gradually! She is back to her normal state; but the after shock persists!

Meher slowly looks towards Naushad. His eyes bearing immense patience and understanding towards her; give Meher strength.

Naushad doesn't ask her to elaborate and silently let her to choose whether to elaborate or keep it untouched. In both the ways, he won't say anything because he understands what it's taking her to say all that to him. He notices, she hasn't broken completely yet!

"Chua mujhe usne!",

she says in broken voice!

Her words pierce his heart!! He knits his brows as anger surges through him. He stays quiet, completely aware of his blood's boiling.

"Main... main... mana kar rahi thi usse...",

she says, crying.

"Mujhe... mujhe sahi nahi lag raha tha wahan...! Main fir bhi wahan rahi....!"

"Kyunki wo chahta tha ke main rahun wahan!!",

she says raising her voice, crying.

"Mana kiya tha usse maine... mujhe nahi jana aise...!"

Naushad knits his brows, unable to understand what did she mean!

"Nahi jana?",

asks Naushad, unable to understand what is she saying as she has skipped a part of the story as anxiety overtook her.

"Jab wo mujhe lene aya tha usne mujhe nahi bataya tha ke hum kahan ja rahe hain; kon kon aa raha hai uske birthday party par."

Naushad hears her, intruiged to know further.

"Maine usse kaha... ke maine bhi party rakhi hai... par... par usne bola ke uski party mein kayi log ayenge...!"

"Aur maine...",

she laughs sarcastically, whilst crying.

She shouts,

"Maine to kisi ko nahi bulaya tha!!!",

her eyes somewhere in front of her, visualizing everything.

"Kyunki maine socha tha ke sirf hum dono honge. Ek saath.... shanti se... pyar se... uska birthday celebrate karenge!",

she laughs sarcastically, whilst crying.

"Par wo mujhe le gaya. Main bhi chali gayi!"

"Raaste mein usne apne kuch aur doston ko bhi gadi mein bithaya! Teen... teen dost!",

she remembers!

Naushad turns his hands into fists as fresh anger surges through him. He can very well anticipate where this story is leading towards! His breath comes in shallow, out of anger. His eyes full of rage and anger!

"Main... Main pehle uske bagal wali seat par baithi thi. Pehle do (2) dost aa gaye aur peeche baith gaye. Fir jab teesra dost aya... usse pehle usne mujhe peeche baithne ko keh diya. Ye keh kar ke usse apne ek teesre dost se raaste mein kuch discuss karna hai.",

she says, spitting venom through her last few words.

"Mujhe bohot ajeeb laga... maine usse kaha bhi main kaise aise do (2) ladko ke beech...",

Meher shuts her eyes, tolerating the emotional pain.

This hurts Naushad. But he needs to stay calm as for now because he understands that if he speaks now, he might explode and then Meher might not get another chance to speak.

"Uss waqt behs karna maine munasib nahi samjha, isliye main chup chap baith gayi, ye soch kar ke iss mein konsi badi baat hai bus kuch der ki hi to baat hai.",

she spits venom through her last words.

"Gadi agey barhi!",

saying so she takes a deep breath, before continuing further.

"Wo mujhe chu rahe the! Dheere dheere, subse chupa kar!",

it tears her heart into pieces while she speaks so.

The wounds feel so fresh!!!

"Main koi hungama karna nahi chahti thi, isliye maine shant ho kar usse kaha ke mujhe ghar jana hai.",

she tells further, controlling her emotions.

Naushad's heartbeat picks up pace, eager to know what happened next.

"Usne kaha ke main uska birthday bina celebrate kiye kaise ja sakti hun?",

says Meher, spitting venom through her words.

Naushad looks away out of anger! Taking a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, he turns back to look towards Meher and waits for her to continue when she feels comfortable.

"Wahan pohnchi to dekha sub mard the! Mere alawa koi bhi ladki wahan nahi thi!"

"Mujhe... mujhe sahi nahi lag raha tha! Mujhe nahi jana tha. Maine usey kaha dheere se ke ke main comfortable nahi hun.... par usne mujhe khudke saath hone ka dilasa diya."

She weeps, as the feeling that she was basically all alone there that day, rushes to her heart.

Naushad extends his hand to help her but something comes in his mind that he retreats his hand without touching her; comforting her. Taking a deep breath, he asks her,

"Fir?"

Rubbing off her tears, with full confidence, Meher continues,

"Party shuru hui. Sub hansi-mazak kar rahe the. Wo mere paas aya. Mujhe laga yahi sahi mauka hai, gadi mein jo hua uske barey mein baat karne ka."

"Atey hi usne mujhe hug kiya. Sub the wahan. Aise sub ke samne... mujhe bohot ajeeb lag raha tha. After all humare rishte ko shuru hue abhi waqt hi kitna hua tha? I wasn't habitual to all this. Especially public displaying of affection, that's not my thing!",

says Meher, frustrated.

Naushad although thoroughly indulged in the story, but her this confession touches his heart. He notes it subconsciously!

"Mujhe chor kar wo apne doston ke saath tha. Main bohot akeli and out of place mehsus kar rahi thi.",

Meher's chest contracts and expands in quick succession.

"Even uss waqt bhi uske kayi doston ki nazar mujh par thi. Par wo... wo meri taraf dekh bhi nahi raha tha!",

Meher feels the adrenaline rush.

Naushad starts swinging the chair he is sitting on, to and fro, glaring somewhere on the floor.

"Tabhi unn mein se ek mere paas aya aur mujhse baat karne ki koshish ki."

Naushad shoots his gaze back on to Meher, eager to know further.

"Pehle main chup rahi. Fir socha agar baat ki to shayad meri situation koi samjhe and mujhe help kar de?"

Naushad's heart clenches on that, he understands how it feels when you are desperately in need of help and you get none! But his face expression gives nothing but anger!

"Maine usse request ki ke wo log mujhe wahan se janey dein. Main wahan nahi rehna chahti. I was into tears by then....!",

cries Meher.

Naushad bends forward, almost like wanting to go to her, but resists, shutting his eyes tight. Blazing with anger and frustration, he forwards a box of napkins to her. Meher accepts silently, never looking towards him. Wiping off her tears, blowing her nose, she calms herself down.

She slowly looks towards Naushad. Controlling her emotions, she thanks him,

"Thank you!"

Occupied by his thoughts about this matter, this comes as a surprise for Naushad. He knits his brows all the more, and tilts his head a little towards right as a gesture of asking - thanks for what?

"Maine aj tak kisi se ye baat share nahi ki. Iss baat ki kitni frustration chupi thi mere ander, iss baat ka ehsaas mujhe aaj ye baat share karke mehsus hui!",

says Meher, and looks towards Naushad.

Naushad blushes looking towards her and lowers his eyes.

"Fir?",

he asks, trying to change the topic, as her attention and gratitude become too much for him to handle.

"Kisi ne meri baat nahi mani.",

she says, tears rolling down her cheeks as she could visualize vividly, what is about to follow!

That tenses Naushad!

"Fir..."

*Flashback*

"Come on Meher bus ek kiss ki hi to baat hai!",

he says getting closer to her.

All other men enjoy witnessing the scene. Devilish smile evident on each one's face.

"Please... main aise... mujhe nahi karna...",

protests Meher, her voice low out of hesitation, she doesn't look towards him.

Sitting on the sofa, she corners herself. Her heartbeat picks up pace, regretting that it's the end of the sofa and he is standing this close.

"Come on Meher. Tum kisse sharma rahi ho?",

he says flashing his devilish smile, showcasing himself to be polite.

"It's my birthday jaan!",

he reminds her, smiling.

"Birthday matlab tum kuch bhi karoge?",

says Meher, still not looking towards him. Anger visible in her voice. Her cheeks burning out of anger and embarrassment.

"Meher...",

he says, placing his right hand on her shoulder.

Meher shrugs it off immediately, feeling disgusted. This gets him angry. A tight slap comes across her face. This comes as a shock for her. She stares him, shocked, her hand on her slapped cheek.

"It's my birthday Meher!",

he shouts, pulling her hair with a jerk, which makes her to cry in pain.

Unable to control herself any longer, she shouts,

"Do you even know kya kar rahe the tumhare dost mere saath gadi mein?"

She cries!!!

Getting polite, he smiles and says,

"To jaan kya hua? Thodi bohot masti kar li to kya galat hai? Rahogi to tum meri hi girlfriend na?"

His words come as yet another shock!! Is this the kind of mentality he bears?

Shutting his eyes, tilting his head heavenwards, he tries to calm himself down. Meher doesn't for once looks away from him, shock and anger visible in her eyes.

Opening his eyes, calming himself down he looks back towards Meher. Giving his devilish smile to Meher, he politely says,

"Meher it's just for fun okay! Aur main hi to hun tumhare saath, tumhara pyar! You love me right?",

he asks.

Meher looks away, showing her disgust towards him.

This certainly irks him, he shouts,

"You love me right Meher!"

She glares him!

Unable to resist his anger and to show off his dominance on his so-called girlfriend, in front of others, he clutches her hair into his fist and angles her head such that she gets forced to look towards him.

She shouts as the acute pain surges through her,

"Ahhh....!",

her shout, a mixture of pain, frustration and anger!

Tears roll down her cheeks, but he cares less!

He needs to showoff his authority on his girlfriend in front of his friends.

Not waiting for any cue, and why would he? after all he is angry!

He seals her lips with his!

While they perform this activity which makes him feel alive and crushes her soul and dignity, his friends encourage him; encourage them by singing loudly in unison, keeping a record of the time - for how long can he continue kissing her without breaking the seal,

"5... 4... 3... 2... 1... yayyy!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU IRFAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!"

And finally whilst they sing, and Irfan feels victorious, he brings the torture to an end! Getting away, staring her as if she is the medal he has won, he wipes off his lips!

*Flashback ends*

Meher chooses to keep the name of the guy under wraps! Hence she omits his name while dictating the story to Naushad. But the culprit's name keeps ringing in her ear! She weeps unable to control herself any longer!