chapter 2

'Fiza beta, your cab has arrived.' Shabana calls Fiza.'Coming in two minutes.' Fiza replies.Fiza completes her makeup and smiles, looking herself into the mirror. Usually, Fiza does not care about her makeup, but today she dressed beautifully as if a bride is getting ready to go to her in-laws' house.'Aman, hurry up. Don't get late.''Will it be okay for me to go with everyone?''What's this new drama, Aman? You know that I don't like to say the same thing over and over again. (Pause). Is it that you have changed your mind? Aren't you coming with me?''No, no.''If you ever think so, I will kill you.'Aman smiles. Fiza regrets what she just said. Tears rolled down her eyes.'It's okay, baby. Don't shed tears. You know that I hate tears. Now leave before Maa calls you again.''Aren't you coming?''You go ahead. I'm coming.'Shabana was going to call Fiza again when Fiza came out of her room.Fiza is wearing a raspberry color gown with matching accessories. Fiza has never worn a deep shade of clothes, but she looked like a princess in them.Seeing Fiza, Arif and Shabana get astonished.'Good evening, darling.' Arif greets Fiza and approaches her to take her luggage.'Oh, you have come. I didn't expect you.''Since childhood, I have been by your side in all your ups and downs. Today is an important day for you, and I will not be here to congratulate you. Is it possible?'Arif takes the luggage from Fiza and follows her. Fiza couldn't understand a single word of Arif, yet her cheeks turned red with shame.'Now, what have I done?' Fiza whispers to Arif.'At last, you took the step to run out of the jail. I am happy for you.' Arif whispers.'Thank you.' Both smiles.Shabana was watching Fiza and Arif from her room. The two look so cute together. I wish they could be together forever. Shabana thought.As Shabana comes out of her room, Fiza notices that her mother has dressed to go out.'Maa, where are you going?'Before Shabana could reply, Arif replied,' We are coming to see you off at the airport.''What?' Fiza gets shocked.'Yes.''No, no, you are not coming with me.''Yes, we are coming, but we will come in my car. (Whispers) Don't worry, we will follow you.'Fiza knows that when Arif has decided to come with her, he will not listen to anyone. Arif takes care of her too much. But, sometimes, it becomes suffocating for her, but he never listens. So, she kept silent.'Uncle would have come, but he got stuck in an important business meeting. He has sent a message for you.' Arif gives her a 'Happy Journey' wish card and her favorite chocolate given by Junaid.Arif kept speaking, but Fiza did not respond. She knows Arif is doing all this to make her feel good. Since childhood, Fiza had differences with her father. Her father, Junaid, never tried to listen to her. He always imposed his opinion on her. Even though she never wanted to do it as a child, she had to obey her father. But, ever since she decided to do what she wanted, her father has stopped talking to her.Arif puts Fiza's luggage in the cab.'Are you taking my heart with you; that your luggage is so heavy?' Arif teases Fiza.'It's in your father's custody. No one can take that away from him.'Shabana enjoys Fiza and Arif teasing each other.As Fiza's cab leaves for the airport, Arif and Shabana follow them in Arif's car.Fiza smiles, thinking about Arif's smartness.  No matter what Arif does, he has always been supportive of her.'Arif has always been your best buddy.''Yes, he understands me more than my parents.''He can do anything to make you happy.''Yes, he cares about me.''He loves you a lot.''Aman, are you jealous?''No. It makes me happy to think that other people also love the one I love most.''Lier.''But, it's true that Arif loves you more than me.''It doesn't matter who loves me. What matters is whom I love.''No, it also matters who loves you.''Don't you love me?'Aman kept silent.'Aman, don't you love me?' Fiza says with teary eyes.'You know my compulsion.''I don't know why you say this again and again. Can't we find any solution?' Tears rolled down Fiza's eyes.Arif intentionally enters the airport about 10 minutes after Fiza. Then it took a little longer to park the car.Fiza was getting annoyed standing with luggage.'Always late.' Fiza said in an annoyed tone.'Since long, I wished you to wait for me. At last, you fulfilled my wish.' Arif smiles. Fiza frowns at Arif and walks to her mother. Arif smiles while arranging her luggage. Fiza hugs her mother and bids goodbye.'Call me when you reach Mumbai.' Shabana's eyes fill with tears.'Okay, Maa.' Fiza ignores her mother's tears and moves to Arif.'Bye, Arif.''All the best for your new life.' 'But where is my farewell gift?''I can only give you a heart full of love.' Arif spreads his arms to hug Fiza, but Fiza smiles and goes inside the airport, taking her luggage from Arif.'So, when are you coming to Mumbai, Aman?''Just after you.''I' m not kidding.''Me too. I'll get there as soon as you shift to your rented apartment.''Okay. Bye.''Take care.'Fiza enters the airport building.Shabana and Arif stared at Fiza for as long as they could see her.'I am worried about Fiza. How will she manage there alone?' Shabana shares her worries with Arif.'Don't worry. I'll always be in touch with Fiza.' Arif assures Shabana.But the mother's heart still cries for her child.'I wish Junaid had bowed down a bit. How can someone punish his daughter like this?''Like father, like daughter, both are stubborn. You can't blame anyone. But the situation Fiza has gone through; it would have been better if Uncle had been a little softer towards her.'I tried to convince him, but he stuck to one point, 'Fiza has ruined my status in society.'Arif and Shabana stood outside the airport till Fiza's flight left.After seeing the plane fly, Shabana prayed for her daughter.'See you soon, darling.' Arif mumbled.(Continued ...)