Hassas- Pt 6

*****

The night sky was- and is beautiful.

It was like a universal truth for Humaid. Something that no matter what someone else said would always be true for him- just the dark sky above his head, mostly bare of any stars and light breeze around.

With a coffee mug in his hands, Humaid leaned a little on the railing of his balcony. Even though it was past 10, the streets were still bustling with life. The chatter around was like a nightingale's secret tales being told in the dark night.

The incident he had witnessed with Mayza struck a sensitive nerve. The memories that had been buried for more than 2 years found a way to surface and he couldn't bring himself to even close his eyes- because everytime he did, the fading screams and dried tears imprinted themselves in front of his vision.

A little over 2 years ago, he had sent a proposal for Mayza's eldest cousin, Faeezah Bukhari.

But who would've thought that destiny would play such a cruel game?

Just a few hours before they were set to get married, Humaid's taya abbu was seen harassing Faeezah. The incident wreaked havoc like it should have and the Mirza family was sent into an uproar.

He wasn't asked to take a side, maybe because his family thought that it would be them whom he'd favour but when he spoke, he spoke on behalf of Faeezah, he spoke on behalf of a woman who had been wronged in spite of his family being in the opposing court and as anyone would have it, that was the last day Humaid spoke to any of his family members.

".....You are worth more than being part of my toxic family and hence, I can't let you enter this environment, not that you'd want to be in the first place."

His words from that day rang in his ears every now and then, trying to prove something or maybe, they were just trying to torture him more than he already was.

Who said standing up for the right always gave way to something good?

Humaid might have secured his beliefs, he had been successful in safeguarding his morals but in the process, he had lost the only thing that he had called dear to himself since childhood.

His family.

His parents.

It wasn't ego that had stopped him from contacting them in all these months- no, in fact, he had tried to mend the broken relations but the other side was always closed- always ready to ignore his presence even when he was physically present in front of them.

His taya abbu was sentenced to three years of imprisonment and was set to release the following year. Humaid had not bothered about him though. It was better if he stayed feet away from such personalities.

But it didn't mean that he didn't miss the way things were before all this.

He was confused- confused regarding thoughts leading him back to his family and the slightest guilt of leaving them alone but the sane part in him knew that it was needed.

Humaid sniffled when another gust of cold wind blew past him. Gently tapping his nose, he smiled towards the sky and as one would have it, he slowly closed his eyes only to feel a trail of tears running down his cheeks unknown to himself.

Being left all alone in the world might be one of the worst things that could possibly happen to someone.

Or was it perhaps being called dead by their own parents?

*****

As Mayza stared at her phone's screen with a conflicted expression another whisper from her mind crept to her heart.

Groaning in annoyance for the umpteenth time, she threw the phone beside her on the bed and fell flat on the plush surface. Her eyes narrowed themselves on the ceiling that stared back at her with a bored expression and she had to stop herself from making any more sounds than she had already done for the past hour or so.

Now that everything was in place and her mind had the courtesy to clear itself, Mayza found her dirty little secret from years back knocking again in her thoughts. Back then, she hadn't admitted it even to herself but now, what was stopping her now?

Maybe, just maybe, Mayza had developed a crush at first sight when she saw Humaid for the first time.

Though back then, she had to be respectful since the proposal was sent for her favourite cousin and not her, though, she could always appreciate beauty.

The thought made her want to drown herself in a puddle of water because for goodness sake, it wasn't even one day since Aha- her ex-husband was officially out of her life.

No, she wasn't disloyal to him- even if he didn't deserve her loyalty- but she was hopeful enough to put all the efforts into a marriage that she could see would end badly. The past her had buried all thoughts of Humaid Mirza, had locked him away from her memory but meeting him after these years didn't lessen the small crush she had on him.

Was it embarrassing?

Yes.

Will she dwell on it and let her present insecurities dictate her bright future?

No.

Somewhere within her, Mayza had sensed a shift- a shift or more like an eclipse that was finally coming to an end. The self of hers that she loved had been covered by a tint of dark memories and interactions and now, she could finally see through all the problems and reach out to who she really was.

Mayza gasped in horror when her phone rang directly beside her ear. Caught off guard, she jumped off the bed, stumbling in the process and successfully hit her knee on the drawer beside the bed.

"Oww!"

Massaging the sour surface, she glared at the lit screen of her phone and begrudgingly answered the call when she saw that it was her father.

A hurried salam was exchanged and Mayza frowned when she couldn't hear the voice properly.

"Hello?"

The connection seemed to be lagging and she winced when a shrill sound came from her phone. Again, with an annoyed look, she looked in the mirror and did a quick check of her pyjamas in hopes that no human would be out at the moment and putting on her slippers, she peeked out of her room and took to the open longue that was meant to chill and sip beverages.

"Abbu, awaaz aa rahi hai?"

There was no reply from the other side and Mayza nervously glanced around only to sigh in relief when a handful of people were only present around- each of whom were busy in their own tasks.

"Abbu?"

Mayza tried again and tip-toed casually to the corner of the place where lay a huge window that overlooked the extravagant garden at the back of the hotel. The scenery was decorated no less than that of a castle out of a fairytale and Mayza had almost forgotten that she was supposed to be replying to her father's anxious voice.

"Mayza? Beta, you there?"

Mayza shook her head and cleared her throat when the network was finally in touch.

"Ji ji, kya hua? You sound so worried."

She heard him releasing a deep breath. There were fading sounds of almost everyone whose voice she could recognize and that was enough to worry her.

"Mayza, I-I got a call a few hours back. Did you- did you meet him?"

The way Amir Bukhari spit the word 'him' made Mayza realize in an instant who he was referring to. Confused as to how he came to know about it, Mayza looked around and gladly took a seat on the vacant couch not far away.

"Abbu, how did you know?"

She heard another set out mumbles and whispers before her father pressed the question gently, clearly not wanting to let it go.

"Was it him?"

With a sigh, Mayza massaged her temples and hummed in response.

"Ji abbu, it was him but don't worry. Everything's been taken care of."

"Why didn't you call any of us? You're coming back today itself."

The words were said with conviction and Mayza stopped herself from panicking. Forming a fist, she gently breathed in and out and tried to persuade him.

"Abbu, I promise sab theek hai. It all happened so fast ki I didn't get time to call anyone. Humaid-"

Mayza bit her tongue as soon as the name left her lips. They had never talked about him after that day and Mayza had no idea what thoughts her father held regarding him.

"Plan on completing the sentence?"

Swallowing the curses that lay at the tip of her tongue, Mayza chuckled nervously and cleared her throat. Shuffling on her seat, she once again looked around only to find it all empty.

"Humaid- Ahm, he took care of everything."

"I know. He was the one who called me since my daughter was busy taking her beauty sleep."

"It happened just a few hours ago, abbu!"

Mayza whined in protest at the taunt in her father's voice and the older man only chuckled lightly, finally sounding at ease.

"Woh bhi pata hai. Khair, you're coming back and that's not up for debate."

"Abbu-"

"Mayza, bacha please. I'll be more at ease if I see you in person."

There was an underlying plea in her father's voice and Mayza couldn't bring it to her to deny his wish.

"Ek din baad abbu, I promise."

Mayza negotiated with her father and he agreed, albeit with reluctance. She didn't know what difference a day would make, but something told her she'd need it. There were a few places she needed to see- desperately -and maybe, a few people to bid goodbye to.

"You're leaving?"

"Oh dear-"

Mayza jumped in fright and her already bruised knee suffered a little more by the side table. Almost on the verge of crying at how badly it hurt, Mayza breathed deeply to not glare at the man who was now looking at her apologetically yet somehow amused.

"Always. Sleek as a lizard should not be a compliment."

"Did- did you call me a lizard?"

"It was a phrase."

Mayza deadpanned at how horrified Humaid looked. She would have laughed if not for the pain in her knee. Rubbing it gently, she raised an eyebrow at him, silently asking what he was doing there at the hour.

"Needed a little time out of my room. Woh chodo, you're actually leaving?"

Was it-

No-

But-

Mayza could swear she sensed disappointment in his tone. Was it disappointment or was her stupid crush taking toll over her mind? She met his eyes that were already staring at her and when she looked closely, they were rimmed with red, as though he had cried.

The thought made her frown.

Why did he-

It was none of her business.

- But he looked sad.

"Aap-"

Mayza paused, not wanting to cross any line while trying to dissolve her curiosity- and maybe, just maybe, a little concern.

Humaid took a seat on the couch placed beside hers. He had given her his sole attention and assessing the way she stuttered, shook her head and then mumbled a few things to herself- made him smile. It was adorable.

She was adorable.

What-

Humaid wasn't in the mood to look comical and hence turned his gaze away from her when he sensed the obnoxious whispers of his mind. Frowning at the table ahead of him, he rubbed his palms together in an attempt to not spill something that would create trouble for him and possibly her.

Mayza felt the slightest bit of shyness creeping through when he was this close. It looked intimate. To sit alone with him in silence- a silence that could've been filled with words if only hesitation wasn't the base of whatever they had.

But the question was, did they have anything in between?

She had a crush on him- she knew and had come to accept it but that didn't make things easier. No, it made it tough especially when she came to the realisation that he was bothered by her departure.

Or was he?

One's fantasies could always bias their judgments and Mayza did not want to risk it.

"Aap-"

"What-"

The two had started together and Mayza smiled sheepishly at him. Humaid felt his thoughts draining just like his senses seeing the smile directed towards him. It wasn't like the one she had given him when they first met at the entrance of the hotel- no, it was far more genuine and dare he say, even more beautiful.

"Go on."

Mayza ushered for him to continue and turned to face him, resting her back on the far end of the couch. Humaid cleared his throat and copied her posture, earning himself another wide and carefree smile. Trying to ignore the idiocies of his heart, he asked the same question.

"You're leaving?"

"And who's courtesy would that be?"

Mayza sassed back, slightly upset that he didn't consult her before calling her parents. She felt like a child on a field trip who had just gotten in trouble and was ranted off to her parents without her knowing.

"Mujhe kya pata."

He shrugged casually- innocently- but the mischief in his eyes was bright as the moon in the night sky- one that Mayza had fallen in love with.

The moon.

Not-

Humaid watched amazed when the passing autumn shed its shade on her cheeks, albeit a little more pink, a little more warm, a little more beautiful.

Humaid sighed, knowing well that no matter what he tried to make himself believe, his mind would always throw in another metaphor even though he hated literary devices- the whole English grammar- in general.

"We'll argue in the morning. I need my beauty sleep."

The words were rushed and so were Mayza's actions. She bid an awkward goodbye with an even more awkward wave and was out of sight. Humaid kept his eyes on her until she was out of his line of vision and soon, the silent hall rang with a lively laugh- one that had been lost for days.

After all, for how long could one be lost?

*********

I'm officially in love. Period.

When will someone describe me like that? Ik it was pretty cliche but does it look like I'm in for dramas? Nope, I have enough of that on my plate.

Just 1-2 chapters more before we get to the epilogue and ta-da! We bid them a goodbye!!

Cry. I luv you all, but still, cry....

**********