"Voh mar chuki hain! Aur tere vyjase! Tere iss jaal mei phaske voh mar gayi hain!" Shabnam's father barked to Rehman who lost all meaning to live. Ice dismounted his skin, freezing it numb. When she had approached him with lights anew, he evaded her calls, cowing from the path. What was the worth of his existence now, being dewy-eyed when the final blow was struck? He eyed Shabnam's father for the last time, disdain weighed his tongue. I have never seen such a father who murders his child just for a yearning!"

"Shut that mouth of yours! She took her own life!" The sight when she plunged into the mighty tides of river haunted him.

"Because of your torture!" A slap snapped Rehman's neck aside. He remained in that pose until the whole occurrence absorbed him. Shabnam's father fumed, red-faced. Rehman's palm crept the red fingerprints on his cheek. He darted a nasty glare at the ruthless elder and inched away.

Yusuf's shoe tripped on the threshold of the door. He was to stumble back when his hands pulled him steady. Asad cried 'CUT!" with an aggrieved moan. It was the third time he messed up. Faajal squirmed in her seat nearby.

Yusuf hissed in frustration and cracked his knuckles, ready to capture this scene for the 4th time. Faajal drifted her eyes to her script where Shabnam returned to Rehman's life after he confronted a fatal accident. They shot about 4 scenes each day. Sometimes, the number lessened when more shots were taken. Asad was always alert of shots because film rolls were expensive now. He had to save money for colouring film negatives and promotion.

They filmed two of Yusuf's scenes and two of Faajal's. Ravinder had returned last night and blabbered with his playmates now. The days he hadn't been here were the best of her life. Visiting the fair with Yusuf, that golgappa contest, that exhilarating ride on the Ferris Wheel, those moments still swayed in her mind afresh. Faajal removed the minimal touch-up pasted on her skin and finished her lunch. "That, Yusuf isn't visiting his home?" Ravinder frowned.

"No," Faajal crammed their boxes in her bag. "He will after the shoot ends." His sudden concern for Yusuf astounded her.

"He should. Things are rapidly changing here. If he wants to earn here, he has to stay here." Ravinder urged. Faajal nodded, engaged with packing their boxes. Ravinder washed his hands and trailed off. Faajal wandered to Yusuf's room and knocked on door. He opened, moving aside to let her enter. Postcards laid scattered on the sofa. Faajal grabbed one. It was written a week ago with Yusuf's mother, Rehana's name. He sighed. "They have been pressuring me to come here."

"You should go. Even baba seemed a little worried." She plopped on the sofa, pushing the cards aside.

Yusuf wiggled his brows, gasping. "Your baba? Shocking things be happening. By the way, I have got a proposal." He sat beside her.

"A new film or–" She narrowed her eyes to dig deeper into his eyes. Girls ran madly after him after all. It was a common occurrence for him to receive love letters.

He licked his lips, working on his throat. "Baba has found a nikaah proposal for me. The girl is the daughter of the IGP of Rawalpindi."

"What did you say?" Faajal whispered, making sense of his words.

"No, haven't answered yet. But, was writing when you came in."

"So, what's your answer, Yusuf?" Her manner softened, masking the strain writhing her gut.

He picked up his letter. "Ammi, I know I shouldn't be saying these when I am miles afar, not bothering you all. I need time. Life has only embarked for your son and I don't want to miss it. I don't want to engage in this thing now. Regardless of the might they hold, I have my own perception. I shall explain everything to you when I reach home."

"How will you explain to them?" Faajal wondered. His strict father wasn't easy to turn from his beliefs.

"I have someone of my dreams, of my life. She is an angel under the guise of a human. She resembles the soothing gale of night." He closed the space between them. Pink dusted her cheeks as she inched back slowly but he was swift. He neared until his breaths washed across her face. "She has the most beautiful brown eyes that intoxicate me with their golden shine." Faajal could perceive her reflection glazing in those deep blue eyes. "Her heart renders the most heartfelt verses in the world beyond surveying. She is–" He paused as he placed her palm on his chest. The steady rhythm knocked against her palm constantly. "The beats of my qalb. My existence is vain without her."

Faajal felt the pounding inside his chest quicken. "What if they don't pay heed?" She wondered.

"I shall take my life." He announced, stiffening his posture. He spoke as though it were a trivial matter. Faajal pressed her finger on his mouth. "Never that!" She released a whispering scream. Vile utterances courted in ominous consequences.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

"Rehman, yeh tumne kya kardiya! Yeh tumhe kya hogaya hain!?" Shabnam jostled the ashen frame in her lap. His body was discovered bloodied after a car crash by the villagers who had provided Shabnam shelter after she survived drowning in river. Mud and blood streaked his forehead. Others rushed to arrange for an ambulance while she dragged him in her barn. His skin was freezing against her hand. Precious time was ticking away. She tore the rim of her kameez and wrapped it around his bleeding head.

Faajal failed to rip apart her kameez despite practising twice before the shoot. Asad growled, "CUT! Faajal Kaur, do it again!"

Faajal noticed Ravinder hardening his stare at her. She already felt unnerved performing proximate scenes of her and Yusuf before him, and now, a chiding!

The clapper boy emerged forward as the cameraman fixed the lens. "1, 2, 3 and ACTION!" The clapboard clicked as the actors reverted to portrayal mode.

Shabnam braced his frail body in her arms. Perhaps, it was the ule of true love: one can't die leaving the other. That's why, Allah rescued her from the river, to live for him. "Nothing would happen to you, sawaariya." She whispered, pulling his temple to hers. Suddenly, the door of the barn blasted open. Juggut miah, the creepy bachelor of this village who longed for her, fumed from the gateway. The concern on his face morphed into a sinister smirk.

"Dekho mil gaya mera Rehman! Dekho!"

"Huh, Rehman?! Main abhi iss lash ko kuye mein phekke aata hu. Tera Rehman?! Chaal haat!" Juggut tugged her away from Rehman and lifted Rehman on his shoulders. "NAHI!" Shabnam chased from behind but Juggut had almost shut the door. Her hand slithered through the slim slit, clasping his trousers. Juggut kicked her hand off.

"Cut!" Asad walked to them. "I think Yusuf is better laying down than dangling on Juggut's shoulder." He indicated the actor playing Juggut. "You thrust Rehman down when grappling with Shabnam."

"I have to bear with this much bashing and thrusting!" Yusuf exclaimed.

"We won't focus on you, then. The camera will be on these two. And your fall will be cushioned. Don't worry."

"Alhamdulillah," Yusuf said under his breath and repositioned for the scene.

They finished shooting around 9.30 and headed out of the set. While Yusuf set to the train station to purchase tickets beforehand as tickets were rapidly running out, Faajal and Ravinder went home.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

At home,

"He said a proposal came for him, for his nikah." Faajal faltered, biting her lips. Chanchal's eyes widened as she sucked in a gasp. "What!? What did he reply?"

"He doused the matter for now but will explain about our relationship once he reaches home. The proposal came from a high police official."

"He shunned it! For you!" Chanchal squealed. "I can't wait to see your nikah with him."

Faajal pressed her fingers on Chanchal's mouth. "We are too young now, Chanchal. We have a lifetime ahead to think of this."

"But, there's a saying that fortunate things mustn't be delayed."

Faajal never spared any thought to this issue. She was 17 and he, 19. At this age, they should proceed with their goals while preserving their bond simultaneously. It wasn't that she didn't wish for ceremonies like this to seal a lasting commitment. But, for now, she wanted to enjoy youth and focus on establishment in the film industry.

Faajal dialled Yusuf's number after everyone went to slumber. "Oye, have you bought your ticket?"

"After wrestling with a crowd for an hour. Aish, it's hard to find now. I would have opted for a second-class seat but it was all packed. Has to suffer in third class now, I guess."

"You should be grateful to have found a ticket. People are resorting to illegal transports, not finding any tickets." Faajal said.

"Yeah, maybe. Once this Asad discharges me, I will finally have some time to organize things and settle down here."