ASSALAM O ALIKUM, MY LOVELY READERS!

AREESHA'S POV:

I just can't believe my eyes, he had my childhood picture, I was just eight I guess, but how does he get this? I quickly opened the drawer and pulled out all the contents from it and sit down on the floor and looked at all the things in the drawer, there were few envelopes sealed with some of his brand symbol on them, I just put them away and ramaged through other things, there I found few more pictures of my childhood and one picture of my family, mama and baba was there in that pic and I was sitting on my father's lap smiling widely showing my all teeth, remembering that time, it was our first family picture, I still remember how excited baba was at that time, he brought mama a new set of her favorite black pearls that day especially for that day, I again looked at the picture in my hands, baba was sitting on a long back armchair and mama was standing beside him with one hand on his shoulder, I was proudly sitting on his lap, I was just five at that time, wearing white and royal blue lace frock, I wiped the tears from my eyes and put all the things back in the drawer.

Okay, how does he got those pictures?

Does he know my parents?

But how he could know them?

He was born in NewYork, he lived all his life there, he graduated from Cambridge University,he never came to my hometown ever, when Uncle move into this city after that incident in Haweli, I never got a chance to go back to my home town, but how does he got these pictures, I clearly remember I googled him earlier, yeah, I know I have google to know about my husband! I found out that he has been to almost every country in the world, even I found his pictures where he is standing on the peak of mount Everest, few pics under the deepest part of the pacific ocean, I didn't believe it either, there were so many pics of him all over the internet where he was in different parts of the world, hicking, swimming, surfing bunjee jumping, flying jet and lots more, how this man can explore like this and be successful and be the youngest business tycoon of the world, but there was no evidence that he has been to my hometown ever, so how he has these pics? It's really a mystery to me right now.

I closed my eyes and lay down on the floor cushion, thinking about the possibility how he know us, I was staring his large picture hanging on the wall, that's when something clicked my mind,

No, he can't be the one! He can't be Jazzy! No way!

I stood up and walked to his picture and trace the line of his eyes on the picture, and gasped, with trembling hands I covered my face,

My God! How stupid I am! He is Jazzy! My childhood friend, they both have same eyes, same mark on the forehead, the same mark which he got saving my life.

*Flashback*

"Baba, can I go? Please I pinky promise, I won't disturb him!" I said, standing on my tip toes and watching my dad with puppy dog eyes,
"But, my angel, he is sleeping, he is tired right now, he need some rest, you can meet him in morning, okay?" Baba said, closing the door slowly,

"No, Baba, I want to meet Jazzy! He is hurt! I want to go to him, please Baba," I said with tear filled eyes,

"Hey! Areesha! Come on, please don't cry, you know I just can't bear your tears my angel, okay come on but don't wake him up, okay? He need to sleep," Baba said, opening the door again,

"I promise baba," I said and walked inside his room where I found Jazzy sleeping on the bed, his head was covered with bandages, I walked to him and hold his hand in mine, watching his face which clearly shows he was in pain, not physical though, he was having something bad in his mind, he was curled up on the whole bed, like he was trying to save himself, I kissed his knuckles and leaned forward and slowly whispered, " Jazzy! Let it go, it's a past, everything is going to be fine, don't hurt yourself for that," after a while I saw creases on his forehead disappearing and his breathing become shallow, making me grin, I again lean forward and slightly kissed his forehead,

"Areesha, what are you doing? You will wake him up" Baba said coming to me, "I am giving him my magical kiss Baba, he will not feel pain after it," I said, Baba smiled and kneel down beside me,
"I know my angel can do anything, but right now your Jazzy need to sleep, doctors has recommended strict bed rest for him, after that accident, Allhumdullillah, he didn't get any serious injury, come on my angel, let him sleep, you can talk to him in the morning," he said, lifting me in his arms and I leaned my head on his shoulder,

"Jazzy will be fine na Baba?" I asked,

"Yes, he will be fine, come on, let's go to your mother," he said, closing the door behind him and walked to the dining room, I watched the closed door, "Ya Allah please ease his troubles and keep him safe, he is my only friend," I prayed silently,

"How is Maaz? Is he alright? What did doctors say?" Mama asked, as we entered the room,

"He is fine, but need the rest, doctors have given him some painkillers right now, he will be fine till morning," Baba said, lowering me down and make me sit on a chair next to him,

"Areesha, you should be more careful when you are out, look what happened when you don't listen to your parents," Mama scolded me, I lowered my head,

"Maheen, that's enough, she didn't do anything, but Areesha, you have to be careful when you are out," Baba said, defending me, I nodded,

"Jazzy got hurt because of me Baba?" I asked, "No my angel, it wasn't your fault," Baba said kissing my head,

"Okay let's eat,I am starving right now, Maheen , do you need some help?" He asked Mama and helped her to set the table.

I wipe the tear without them noticing it, today I was so happy because Baba allowed me to go to the park with Jackie my Yorkie, I was so excited to go play with him along with Mahrosh, but after a while she left with Arham Bhai as they had to go somewhere with their parents, leaving me alone, I decided to stay for a while, I was there playing with Jackie, when few boys came to me and started bullying me, I was so scared and confused, I started crying when Jazzy came to my help and beat those bad boys up, they all ran away leaving us behind,

"Hey! Areesha! Come on, stop crying, they are gone," he said, lifting my head up and wipe my tears from my cheeks,

"They were hurting Jackie, Jazzy, how did you know I was here?" I asked him, he smiled sheepishly, I narrowed my eyes at him,

Oh no, he didn't!

"Baba, sends you right?" I asked, he smiled again and stood up winking at me,

"You are such a smart girl," he said, offering me his hand to help me stand, but I pushed him away and stood up on my own,

"I am never going to talk to him and you," I said angrily,

"Areesha, he was worried for you, he trusted me to be with you Yaar, come on don't be mad at your father, he was just trying to protect you," he said, walking beside me,

"How? By sending you? What if something could have happened to you? If those boys could have hurt you?" I asked,

"They didn't stand a chance against me, they can't hurt me," he said smirking at me,

"Fool yourself!" I said and stick my tongue out at him and ran away from there,

"Areesha wait! Don't run like that! He shouted from my behind

"Who ever gets home last will have to treat the winner with double scoops of ice cream!" I yelled and turned around to watch him, but before I could, he came closer and pushed me with a force that I landed on the other side of the sidewalk, there was a loud sound of something crashing behind me,

"hey!" I protested and turned to give him a piece of my mind, but what I saw made me scream out loud, Jazzy was lying in the middle of the road with his head covered with blood and some people were gathering around him,

"Jazzy! Jazzy! No, no, no, no this can't be happening! Please open your eyes! Please Jazzy open your eyes! I said, kneeling down beside him, Jackie was barking at the people who were trying to lift him up,

"Areesha! What Happened?" I heard a Baba's voice,

"I don't know Baba, I didn't see, he pushed me to the sidewalk and when I turned, I saw him like this, Baba, please help him," I said, crying harder, holding Jazzy's hand

"Okay, okay, relax, move aside, we have to take him to the hospital, you go straight to the home," he said, lifting Jazzy with the help of another man,and took him to the hospital, I watched the car going away while clutching Jackie in my arms,
"Ya Allah please keep him safe," I prayed and went inside into my room, Mama scolded me of what happened, she was really angry at me, I know how much she loved Jazzy, we both were anxious for him, Baba returned home with him but didn't let me go to him at first, but when I pleaded, he took me with him.

"Areesha, why aren't you eating?" Mama asked,

"I don't want to eat anything Mama," I said,

"What's wrong?" Baba asked, tapping my head,

"Nothing Baba," I answered,

"Look, Areesha, it wasn't your fault, what ever happened earlier, don't blame yourself for it," he said,

"I know, but Baba, I feel so sad for Jaazy, he has suffered enough and now he got hurt because of me, I never want him to be hurt or feel pain, I want him to be happy, I can't see him in pain, he is my only friend, you know," I said,

"I know," he said, hugging me, "come on, let's go to your room, but at least have this glass of milk before you sleep," he said and handed me a luke warm glass of milk. He tucked me in the bed and left with mama after kissing me on the forehead.

I woke up by the smell of Mama's cheesy parathas, I quickly got down from the bed and ran into the washroom, and changed my clothes and ran down to the kitchen,

"Assalam O Alikum Mama and Baba!" I said, entering the kitchen where Baba was cutting some fruits and Mama flips paratha on the pan,

"Walikum as Salam," they both answered, "Why did you get up so early dear?" mama asked,

" I want to make those pancakes for Jazzy Mama," I said,

"But..."

"Baba, please!" I said, I know how protective he is for me, he sighed audibly, allowing me to cook pancakes for him,

^_^_^_^_^_^_^

"May I come in?" I asked, knocking on the door,

"Why are you asking, just come over," Jazzy said,

"How are you Jaazy?" I asked, he smiled,

"I am totally fine, why are you looking at me like that?" he asked,

"You had a nightmare again last night didn't you?" I asked, his smile disappeared, changing his expressions into a serious one,

"No," he lied,

"You know, you can't lie to me," I said,

"Areesha, just..

"I made some nutella pancakes for you and look Mama is making your favorite cheesy Parathas," I said changing the subject as I saw that same pain and sadness in his eyes,

This time he smiled again and took the tray from my hands, "You shouldn't have brought it here, this too heavy for you to lift," he said, placing it on the side table of his room,

"Where is Aunt Maheen and uncle?" he asked,

"Baba got some call from the office and Mama is making some coffee for Baba," I answered, he nodded and sat on his bed,

"I am really sorry Jazzy, because of me, you got hurt," I said,

"Hey! It's nothing I could have done anything to protect you, even if it caused me my life," he said, I stared at him with wide eyes, "You are crazy!" I said, and was about to scold him, but mama came along with Baba, we had our breakfast in his room, talking laughing and enjoying our meal.

Four months later,

I just came back from the school and was searching for Jazzy but when I came across the hall to his room I heard his voice,

"But Uncle, I can't go," he said,

"Maaz, it's better for you to go there, she is your family, she needs you," I heard Baba's voice.

"But, I can't leave you all, it's really difficult for me to decide,"

"Look, Maaz, in order to achieve something in your life, you have to make some tough decisions, this the way of life, you have to be strong and I know you will make right decisions for your life, try to leave the past, I am not asking you to tell me anything but whatever happened in the past let it be in it, try to think for your future, I want to see you successful and happy in your life, I have my faith in you, I know you can do anything and achieve anything you desire, but you have to be strong for it, and for that this is the first step towards your success, don't let it go," Baba said,

What are they talking about? Is he going somewhere?"

"Areesha? What are you doing here? You haven't changed your clothes," Mama asked,

"Where is he going Mama?" I asked her,

"Who?"

"Jazzy!"

"Oh, he going to NewYork to his grandmother, we found out about her and talked to her this morning, she was ecstatic to know about Maaz, she thought she they all died in that incident, but when we told her about Maaz, she requested us to send him there and she agreed to take his guardianship, so your Baba is making arrangements to send him to her," she told me,

"So, Jazzy will be gone? I mean forever?" I asked, trying to control the tears, "Yes, it's better for him to go there," she said,

"No, Mama, he can't go!" I said, crying, thinking he will leave me,

"Hey! Areesha, please don't cry, he will come back soon, he is not going there forever," she said,

"Come, now go change your clothes and have lunch, your Baba was waiting for you, he called driver several times to know when you will be home," she told me, I quickly changed and barged into Jazzy's room,

"You are leaving!" I shouted, watching a suitcase and bags on the bed,

"What? How did you know?" he asked, closing the door of his wardrobe,

"So, it's true, you ARE leaving!" I shouted again, he stared me for a few minutes,

"Areesha, try to understand, I have to...."

No! I will never talk to you ever again! You lied to me! you are a liar! You broke your promise! You promised you will never leave me!" I shouted again,

"Hey! Areesha, please calm down and listen to me, just for once try to listen..."

"No, I won't!" I shouted at him and ran away from him and locked my room, Mama and Baba came to me to cheer me up, but I had this ill feeling, for Jaazy, I really don't want him to go, from that day on, I didn't talk to him, but before leaving he came to me in my room and gave me a heart shaped locket with silver chain in which there was the pic of my family, he handed the box to me, "Do you like it?" he asked, "Don't be sad, we will talk on messenger and skype everyday, okay?" he asked again, but I stayed quiet he leaned forward and push my hairs back from my eyes, "It's my promise Areesha, I will come back for you," he said and left without saying anything else. "I wish you could keep up your promise Maaz," I said, as a tear rolled down my cheek, I was having this feeling that I will never see him again in my life, and that was scaring the hell out of me, and I was right when he left we couldn't contact him again as my grandfather came to my father next morning and threatened him to leave Mama again or else he would do some thing bad to us, and right after a week, we moved from that place to another small city, where Baba was sure that grandpa will never find us.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

"Ya Allah! How this could happen? He is the same Maaz! He is my Maaz Jafferi!"

But Jazzy was the most caring and lovable person I remember, but this Maaz is totally opposite of him, he is cold-hearted, ruthless and definitely have some behavior disorder.

The Locket!

I remember it, Alex gave it to me last night, I ran down to my walk in closet and searched for my clutch where I put it last night, I pulled out the locket from the box, it was the one which he gave me last time, the same pic was there, but Alex added another pic which was after Adil's birth,I took a long breath in, my head is spinning right now, after all these memories and this revelation, I came back to the room and sprawled over the bed holding the locket in my hand,

I should talk to him, I should tell him, what happened to Mama and Baba, how uncle treated us, how cruel he is and the murderer of my parents, I will need his help and I am sure he will help me after I tell him the truth.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Happy belated Diwali

And

Happy Halloween in advance!

Okay, I know it's been almost a month, I haven't updated, but guys! I wasn't here for the last two weeks I had to go Dubai for some work and next week I have to go Singapore now, so I have no idea when I will be updating next chapter but I will try to update as soon as possible,

How was he chapter?

Do

Vote

Comment

And

Share

Until next time!

Allah Hafiz,

Love,

Iraj.

Date: 21-10-17