Chapter : 6 - Mulaqaat

It was Sehri time, and everyone was seated at the dining table in the Reza mansion, engulfed in silence, with only the sounds of spoons and forks clinking.

Hassan Reza sat at the head table, with Amira and Sahara to his right, and Uns to his left. The dining table was very long, with only four people eating silently, The maids were serving them dishes.

The one who was eager to converse with Hassan was now sitting next to Hassan but hadn't uttered a word to him yet.

Uns finished her meal in silence and went to her room, her face devoid of any expression.

Hassan, seeing Uns after so many days, wanted to talk to her, but he remembered their conversation from the previous night, so he too ate his meal in silence and headed to his room.

At the same time, Amira and Sahara both were observing this silent demeanor of father and daughter. The stubbornness was equal in both, one being as determined as the other.

Entering Uns's room, Sahara made another attempt to remind her that the Nader family would be coming over for iftar tomorrow. With that, Sahara stated her reminder and left the room.

*******

"Aziz, wake up, it's time for Sehri, please get up." Zaina was waking Aziz up for Sehri.

Aziz, in a sleepy voice, said to his mother, "Ammi, you know I don't fast, nor do I believe in these things, so please don't bother me." Saying this, Aziz went back to sleep.

Every year, the same thing happens; Aziz doesn't have faith in Islam. Khalid tried hard to explain to him. He wanted to save his child from the paths of deviation, but Aziz had become so addicted to the luxuries and comforts of life that he forgot to be grateful to the God who had given him all this.

********

Laughter echoed through the halls of the Reza mansion as Khalid Nader arrived with his wife and elder son, Aziz. Khalid Nader and Hassan Reza were business partners, with Hassan managing his hospital and his father's business.

They were also longtime business friends. Today, Hassan was at home to engage in conversation with Khalid Nader.

Aziz was anxiously looking around, wanting to catch a glimpse of Uns. Despite not believing in these things, he had come along just to see her.

While his parents were conversing with each other, Aziz's gaze was fixed on one person who hadn't arrived yet.

A little while later, Sahara came downstairs, and Zaina embraced her, Sahara sat beside her. Aziz saw Sahara and approached her, sitting a bit away from her.

Then, in a quiet voice, he asked Sahara, "Where is your elder sister?" Sahara seemed shocked because she wondered why Aziz was asking about her sister.

Before Sahara could say anything, Zaina asked Amira, "Amira, where is Uns? She hasn't come downstairs yet? It's time for iftar, call her downstairs."

Amira, giving an awkward smile, replied, "Oh Zaina, well, Uns is not at home."

Upon hearing this, Aziz's happiness vanished instantly. He had been driving, smiling at the thought of her and planning what to say when he met her, but upon hearing Amira's words, he sat there motionless like a statue.

Amira continued, "Uns went to visit one of her friends. She had received an invitation there earlier."

Once again, a silence fell over the room. This time, Hassan broke the silence with a smile, saying, "Let's sit down for prayer." After iftar, everyone prayed together before engaging in conversation once again.

Amidst all this, there was one person who wasn't happy at all, the one he had come for wasn't there. Then, Aziz's gaze fell on Sahara, who had become silent during the time. He gestured Sahara to come to the lounge with him, and she quietly accompanied him.

Aziz asked Sahara gently, "What's wrong? Why are you so quiet?"

Sahara looked up and replied, "Nothing."

Aziz asked again, "Come on, tell me now, sister. What's bothering you? That innocent look doesn't suit you."

Sahara smiled at the innocent remark, then Aziz smiled lightly and said, "Thank God, at least you smiled."

After a moment of silence, Sahara told Aziz, "Uns appi left home in anger". Aziz didn't say anything; he was just listening.

Then Sahara continued speaking, "Uns appi was upset because abbu wasn't giving her time, but he had taken a day off from the hospital for his business partner.

He only prioritized work, not his children. That's why she went to her friend's place to break the fast on the first day of Ramadan".

Aziz tried to comfort Sahara and said to her, "Why don't you bring your sister to the basketball match tomorrow?"

Then Sahara, looking at Aziz, asked, "And what about it, what will happen?"

Aziz, pondering for a moment, replied, "Maybe her mood will improve."

Sahara laughed and said to Aziz, "bahi aap bhi na, You know, when it comes to Uns, no one can improve her mood except for coffee, books, and prayer."

"Still, bring her along. Tomorrow at 3 p.m. sharp, at the college basketball auditorium. I'll be waiting," Aziz said.

"But I don't understand one thing, bhai. You take care of me like your younger sister, but why so much concern for Appi? Do you consider Appi as your sister-" Before Sahara could complete her sentence, Aziz started coughing very badly.

Sahara hurriedly handed water to him and asked, "What happened?" Aziz, looking at Sahara, responded, "What happened, Sahara? Talking like that will give me a heart attack",

"But what did I say?" Sahara, contemplating, asked Aziz.

"It's good if you don't remember." Aziz said before joining his parents.

********

The next day, Sahara somehow convinced Uns and Ezzeh to come with her to see the basketball match. Uns didn't want to go at all, but then she agreed.

Uns was sitting wearing a pink kurta, with blue cargo jeans, carrying some books in her hand. Ezzeh was sitting to the left of Uns, and Sahara was sitting on her right side.

Very soon, the players arrived, and the match began. While playing, Aziz glanced around to see if she was there or not. Then, his eyes caught that particular person who was sitting and watching the match. For a moment, Aziz thought,

"Is this what they call anticipation? A month ago, I met her. Then, two days ago, I saw her. Yesterday, I was at her house, and today, she's in front of me, watching the match. Is love so easy? And if it is, then why do people in the books I read, where they fall in love, end up destroyed, ruined, waiting for years just to see that person again? Is all that a lie?"

********

Ezzeh saw Uns lost in watching the match and asked her, "What happened to that Bhegairat insaan of yours? Why aren't you looking for him? You love him, Uns, so why are you giving up like this?"

Uns, still watching the match, looked towards Ezzeh and said, "I don't love him, nor do I want to. I've lost faith in love. A girl who couldn't earn her father's love, what love of someone else could she ever experience, Ezzeh? I just like his eyes, and nothing more. But fate is such a strange thing, isn't it, Ezzeh?

The person I never wanted to see, Allah has now placed him in front of me. The person whose eyes confused me, the person in whose eyes I found a moment of true peace, the eyes that attached me to him, he's playing basketball in this auditorium right now." Uns completed.

"What?" Ezzeh asked, shocked.

"Yes, the person with disheveled hair, wearing a red tshirt, black trag, and a black wristwatch, who is about to score a goal," Uns said, pointing towards him.

*******

With the last goal, Aziz's team won the match. After scoring, he glanced at her again, only to see her chatting with her friend.

Disappointed, he went to the washroom to change his clothes. When he returned, both she and Sahara were nowhere to be found. Aziz thought that by now she might have noticed him and would be waiting to meet him. Concerned, he went out in search of her.

While looking around, Aziz didn't notice someone coming from behind. He turned instantly and bumped into the person, causing both of them to fall down.

The person he bumped into was a girl, her books scattered around her as she held an ice pack to her head, already in pain. Now, the additional pain of falling down made her curse at the person.

"Yaah allah, saare Bhegairat insaan mere kismat mein hein kyun hai". Trying to get up amidst the pain and frustration, she struggled. Aziz offered his hand for support, and she took it, getting up with his help.

As she looked at him, Aziz couldn't believe it-it was Uns, his everything was standing right in front of him.

He tried to say something, but Uns, in a cold voice, asked, "What are you looking at? Have never seen anyone cursing like this before."

Aziz was surprised; he thought she might not recognize him, so he tried to remind her, "Don't you remember me?

Why should I remember you, are you my brother-" Before she could finish her sentence, Aziz started coughing uncontrollably.

Quickly, Uns fetched water and handed it to him. After drinking, Aziz looked at her concerned expression and said with a playful smile,

"Wow, a moment ago you were cursing at me, and now you're so concerned, Miss Bhedhang?"

Uns looked at him expressionlessly and said, "These days, goodness is considered foolishness. If you do something good, people mistake it for flirting. And you, Mr. Bhegairat, weren't your friends enough, that even your doing this?"

Aziz didn't understand what she meant, so he asked her, "What? What do you mean? What did my friends do to you?"

Uns, putting an ice bag on her head, said, "Go ask them only whether they intentionally threw the ball or if it was just a mistake, but seeing their creepy eyes-" Before Uns could finish her sentence, Aziz got up and walked away towards the auditorium entrance.

Uns watched his disappearing figure and then glanced at the scattered books, reluctant to say all this to that person.

Uns didn't want him to recognize her, but when he mentioned "Miss Bhedang," Uns realized that he had recognized her.

She recognized him in the auditorium itself. How could she not recognize those eyes? But Now, when she mentioned his friends' actions,

Aziz left without saying anything. His eyes darkened, he clenched his fists, and walked with large strides towards the auditorium.

Uns grabbed her books from the table and headed to library. Ezzeh was waiting for her, and seeing the ice pack on Uns's head, she instantly asked, "What happened? When did this happen, Uns?"

Uns placed her books on the table and said, "Just after you and Sahara left for the washroom. When I was picking up my books and leaving the auditorium, a few guys threw the ball towards me, coming close to me with disgusting looks.

They said, 'Oh, sorry, Miss Beautiful, we didn't know there's such a beautiful girl in the college, otherwise we would never throw the ball.' Hearing their disgusting remarks, I felt the urge to punch them right then and there,

But I'm fasting and can't commit a sin by hitting someone. So, I just glared at them and walked away."

*******

Although Uns couldn't raise her hand, Aziz could, and he did. When Aziz heard Uns's story, he stormed into the auditorium filled with anger and forcefully asked, "Who threw the ball at her?" There was complete silence.

He asked again, this time raising one hand, and a person stepped forward, shamefully lowering his gaze.

Then Aziz asked, "Who looked at her with ill intentions?" This time, three hands went up, and the three individuals stood nervously in front of Aziz.

********

Abhi aage ka kya plan hai? Ezzeh asked Uns, who was currently busy with her books. "Nothing special," replied Uns,

"I have to go to my mom's friend's place, who visited us yesterday. Then I'll go to cafe from there and then back home." Uns continued while her gaze was still on her book.

Uns and Sahara both arrived home. Amira and Hassan were sitting in the living room. Uns greeted them and headed straight to her room to get ready.

After a while, Uns and Sahara came downstairs. Uns was wearing a white embroidered kurta with white designer palazzo, while Sahara was wearing a blue kurta with white palazzos.

As everyone was getting ready to leave, Hassan asked Uns and Sahara to sit in the car, but Uns politely declined, insisting that she would come in her own car. Not wanting to argue, Hassan gave her permission to come in her car, and Sahara decided to go with her.

******

Zaina and Khalid were busy explaining things to all the servants, while Aziz sat on the sofa, preoccupied with looking at his hands.

Zaina noticed Aziz sitting on the couch and approached him, glancing at his hands. Concern filled Zaina's voice as she asked, "Aziz, what happened to your hands? Why are they bruised?"

Aziz looked at her and gave a small smile, saying, "It's nothing, Ammi. Just got hit while boxing, nothing serious."

Zaina insisted that he apply some ointment, but Aziz refused, saying, "It's nothing, Ammi, don't worry. What else do you need me to do?" Aziz asked, standing up and facing Zaina.

"Aziz, Uns is coming to our house for the first time. Can you bring a bouquet for her?"

Aziz suddenly realized, "A bouquet? Oh no".

"Ammi, ask all the maids to come in front of me right now," Aziz said as he stood up.

"In two minutes, all the maids were in front of Aziz." In a cold tone, Aziz addressed them, "I'll give you all ten minutes. Every daisy in the house should disappear. Not even a petal of a daisy should be visible to me. Understand? Now get to work." Saying this, Aziz took his car and went to buy a bouquet for Uns.

********

Reza's stood in front of Kahalid Nader's mansion, welcoming everyone. Zaina and Khalid greeted them all, then Zaina saw Uns after so many years and started feeling affectionate towards her. Uns also smiled warmly at Zaina.

Then zaina said, "Mashallah, you've become so grown up and beautiful, Uns."

"Thank you Aunty" Uns exclaimed with a smile.

She was used to talking to her on the phone, so she knew her well. Then everyone entered inside.

When Uns took a step forward, a person was approaching her. She paused upon seeing him.

The same man with deep blue ocean-like devilish eyes. Uns was shocked to see him.

Introducing him to Uns, Zaina said, "This is our elder son, Aziz Nader." As the man approached, Uns instantly turned towards Sahara and asked her softly in her ears,

"kya Yeh Aziz Nader hai?" Sahara nodded, and smiled gently, saying to Uns, "Yes, this is him, Aziz bhai"

Uns was feeling completely incredulous; it all felt like a dream to her. Fate seemed to repeatedly bring her face to face with the same person.

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Thank you so much for reading📖