Hands tied together in front, head bowed down and eyes every there raising and again lowering themselves, that's how Madiha and Zamin were standing in front of Dabir

"Chachu, woh actually..." Zamin decided to be brave and talk to Dabir but one glance from him made him shut

"Jo bhi ulti seedhi baatei'n Tum log ke dimag mein chal rahi Hain,.... achha hoga agar unhe apne dimag se nikal do." Dabir's hand was crossed over his chest as he was sternly looking at his nephew

(Remove all the stupid things from your mind.)

He doesn't think it was Madiha's fault. After all it's been only few months of her marriage, she doesn't really know anything. But Zamin, how could Zamin think like this

"Par kyu, Chachu? Jo bhi hum soch rahe Hain usme galat Kya Hai?" Zamin looked at Madiha on her words, asking her to be quiet through his eyes, this is not the time to be rebel

(Why? What's wrong in whatever we are thinking?)

Madiha looked at him, assuring him to let her speak

"Hum sab sirf aur sirf apki aur khala ki Khushi chahte hain, isme galat Kya hai?" She took one step forward and asked

(We only wants your and khala's happiness...)

"Main aur tumhari Khala dono apni apni Zindagi mein khush Hain, yeh sab Kar ke kuch hasil nahi hoga kisiko."

(We both are happy in our life, you won't get anything from this.)

"Tum log ko Kya lagta Hai aise hum dono ko milwane se hum..." Dabir dropped his sentence in the middle before he could say anything wrong

(What you two think.. that from all this we both will....)

"Woh rishta 15 saal pehle hi khatam ho Chuka Hai ab uska Tamasha mat banao." Taking a deep breath, he told her

(That relationship ended 15 ago. Now, please don't make scene of it.)

"Aap yeh kaise keh sakte Hain ki sab khatam ho gaya?" Madiha again spoke,

(How can you say that everything has ended?)

"Chachu!" When got Dabir's eyes on herself, Madiha did got little scared, after all Dabir's bold black eyes are scary which made even the bravest man scared, then she is Madiha, and she doesn't really have any conversation with Dabir before, she meekly called him

"Aap keh rahe Hain ki aap dono khush Hain lekin hum mein se kisi ne Kabhi bhi aap dono ko khul ke muskurate hue bhi nahi dekha, agar woh rishta waqai mein 15 saal pehle khatam ho Chuka Hai toh apne ab Tak Shaadi kyu nahi ki?" Her palms were sweating as she was saying these words but was pretending to be brave

(How can you say that you and Khala are happy when none of us ever saw a genuine smile on your face, if that relationship really ended 15 years ago then ahy didn't you marry?)

She had to put her point, beside she had risk of getting a slap from Iman if she talks to her. But all Dabir could do will be scold her. Which won't be a big deal.

"Apke Dil mein Kya Hai woh sirf aap jante Hain lekin main Khala ke Dil ki baat janti Hoon... Aaj bhi Maine unki ankho mein chamak Dekhi Hai apka naam sunke... Woh aaj bhi apna pehla pyaar nahi bhula payi."

(Only you know what is in your heart but I know my Khala,.... I have saw glint in her eyes when she hears your name..... She has not forget her first love.)

"Aur na hi aap bhula paye Hain." Madiha finish her sentence

(Neither you.)

<><><>

She has not forget her first love

Neither you

He has moved on. At least that's what he told himself after her marriage but seeing her again after 14 years in Zamin's wedding, he realized he was still on the same page where he was before

His heart was still yearning for her, but this is wrong

She in aunty of his daughter-in-law. How can he think like this?

Neither Madiha is your real daughter-in-law nor Zamin is her real son-in-law.

Age is just a number,

And you are not that old, I have saw many having second marriage in this age and many do first marriage

His mind recalled Aima's words

What are you thinking? His mind nagged him,

No matter what everyone is saying but he should think sensibly

He isn't in his college age,

Many thoughts ran in his mind, his college days replayed in front of his eyes

Everything was taking his attention to Iman

Iman the girl whom he has loved with all his heart

Why he didn't married because he has give all his love to her, he didn't had any love left to give anyone else

As if the love dried off from his heart

He suddenly felt suffocated in his room

Getting up from bed he thought of going to balcony

The full moon hunged so high in the sky, the cold breeze of night was soothing his hard muscles

"Dabir! Go to terrace and see the moon, it's looking so breathtaking..," Iman told him on phone, her voice was very low, trying not to make anyone aware that she is talking to him on landline on the terrace. She was sitting in the farthest corner of the terrace where no one can see her

"It's just a moon... What's so special in it?" Dabir, who was already on balcony, raised his head to see the moon, the plain white stony moon looked back at him

"Dabir!...." Iman dragged his name

"You are so... So boring...." She thought of some word to describe him but when couldn't come up with any.. she called him the same thing which she is calling since years

"Seriously! Iman. What's so special in it?" Dabir laughed a little then asked

"The special in it the way its shining, revolving around us without getting tired, reflecting the light of sun but also reflecting his own beauty to brighten our night. It's so soothing......"

"Revolving around us without getting tired?" This sentence was the only thing which Dabir listened

"I think he reason why moon is revolving around Earth is due to gravity.. not because of brightening our night?"

"Dabir!" Her delightful mood was spoiled because of his facts

"I don't know why I'm even wasting my time and sleep on you.... Bye!.."

"Iman! Hello?..." The line was disconnected

He didn't understood at that time how can moon make anyone's mood delight. Nor he understands it now

Looking at the moon only brought pain in his heart, ashes of past in his eyes

"Dabir, Kabhi toh serious ho Jaya Karo..."

(Be serious for some moments, can you?)

"Iman, Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

"Kya hua? Khudki taraf dekho, Dabir. Apne life ko leke tum zara sa bhi serious nahi ho, na waqt ki punctuality, na kisi ki feelings ki Kadar... Tumhe toh itni bhi fiqr nahi ki Kal se tumhari training start hone wali Hai."

(What happened? Look are yourself, Dabir. You are not one percent serious about your life, you are not punctual about time nor you care about anyone. ..... You don't even care that your training is about to start from tomorrow.)

"Oho! Ab Kya is wajah se Kone mein munh latkaye baith jau? Kal se training start Hai Kal dekhenge."

(What do you want me to do? Training will start from tomorrow...)

"Tumhe toh Meri bhi fikar nahi, Dabir."

(You don't even care about me.)

"Iman, Kya hogaya? Why are we having this conversation?"

(What happened?)

"We are having this conversation because you are not thinking about your future,......" Her voice was low but harsh,

"About us, about our future..." Iman took a deep breath and explained him

"Iman, Kal se training start Hai Meri phir uske baad Indian army mein selection.. so just relax," he put his hand her hands which was placed on table

(Tommorow I'm leaving for my training and after that I'll get selection in Indian army..)

"Tumhare liye kehna asan par mujh par Kya beet rahi Hai yeh sirf main janti Hoon... Roz koi Naya rishta ajata Hai.. aur Kal... Aapi apne Dewar ka rishta leke aai thi..."

(It's easy for you to say it.. only I know what I'm going through.. everyday there is a new proposal for me.. and yesterday.. aapi gave her brother-in-law's proposal for me.)

"Dabir, mere liye yeh sab bardasht karna ab bohot mushkil ho gaya Hai.... Main.. main yeh sab nahi Kar sakti." At last her patience broke as she started crying

(I can't tolerate this anymore..)

"Iman! Bas kuch hi mahino ki baat Hai, Mera ek baar Indian army mein selection ho Jaye toh.. hey! Look at me.. Zindagi mein agar main kisi bhi cheez ko leke serious hoon to woh sirf tum ho." Getting up from his chair, he went to her side, taking her in his arms as her head was on his chest now, when her cries didn't stopped, he raised her head to look into her eyes

(This all is only for few months, once I get select in Indian army then... You are the only thing which I'm serious about..)

"Mujhe Kabhi Kabhi bohot darr lagta Hai."

(I'm really scared.)

"Shh! Kuch nahi hoga... main Hoon na..." He out her head on his chest, as he placed his chin on her head

(Don't worry,.. I'm here..)

"Kab Tak rahoge tum? Agar Meri Shaadi kisi aur se ho gayi tab?"

(And if I get married to someone else? Then?)

A lone tear, which was in his eyes since 15 years, escape from there. Because now, hope has taken that place

≤≥≤≥≤≥

If I have to pick which chapter is the hardest one to write in this book.. I'll pick this one😫... Which I'm still not satisfied with.. but yeah! Kaam chal raha Hai toh chalne dete Hain🙈

And... There is a thing which I wanted to ask but hold myself back.. but now I can't hold my curiosity anymore

I just wanted to ask.. do you guys really enjoy my works?

I mean.. is my work is same old boring type.. or there is something new and fresh in it too?

Is my story like the ones which you have read numerous times before by other writers or there is something new?

Ah! I don't know what am asking.. all I wanna know is there something.. bad.. hole or something in my story which I need to improve?

I need honest opinion🙊

-Ufaq

P.S. before you guys assume that someone said anything to me that's why I'm having these thoughts.. then no.. no one said anything to me.. it's just my thoughts 😬