Flashback is in Bold.
Clad in her peach colour bridal attire, she is looking like an angel, a forbidden one. But happiness is prominent in her eyes, her smile is screaming how happy she is today. And for that happiness, Zain Amir can bury his love, for many more times.
The room is filled with some of her friends, standing outside he is still in doubt whether to go inside or not. He wants to give her back her charm token, the first thing that she gave him in a fair back in Lucknow years ago.
●◆●◆●
The music is blaring the surround. The whole place is filled with colours, people are buying random stuffs from stalls, street food of various kind, a very young Zain is looking around for his Seher Aapi.
Soon his eyes goes to a strange stall, making his way towards it he stands there. The Destiny . As it reads, after talking with it's owner, he gets to know about the weird stall.
According to him, two different people will stand in two different cubicles, unaware of the other person, they will leave something of their own, as a token, and the other person will take that, if destiny wants them together they will meet again and this token will help them to identify each other. Zain thought to give it a try.
Entering the cubical he waits for sometime, soon the next cubical is filled, he can feel his heartbeats, this feeling is something.
Though he cannot see who is there next to him, but the smell of ladies perfume signifies it is a girl. He clears his throat and about to speak but before that she breaks the silence.
"Do you believe in all this?"
"I really don't know about that. What about you?"
"Same no idea Dude. But I believe there is nothing wrong to try something new I guess."
"Yeah of course. Mind if I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead, anyhow you don't know me, maybe never will."
"What you think about loving someone and ourselves?"
"Love is an eternal feeling. And we should always love someone who will make us fall in love with ourselves more with every passing day.
Fall in love when that person make you believe that you are worth it. Before falling for someone, remember to fall in love with yourself."
With that she gives him her charm bracelet and in exchange he gives her his handkerchief. Without any other word they left.
Coming out of the booth, the sky is painted with several shades of pink, orange and blues. The few tiny raindrops welcomes him. The serein is giving him peace today, for the first time in life.
Later that evening he saw a simple silver chain bracelet in Hadiya's hand when she came with Seher. Seher was asking her if she had lost her old charm bracelet, and that stuck his mind.
The words, the booth, The Destiny. Zain Amir is in love with Hadiya Khan. She was the one next to him.
◆●◆●◆
But now destiny is not what we think it is. She may even not remember a thing about that meeting. He never told her anything not about his feelings for her. And today he have to bid her a last goodbye. And he is not sad, he is happy for her.
That is what love does to you. You learn to be happy in others happiness, and her happiness lies with Ayaan Khatoon.
So this time he made his way inside the room. Hadiya pass him a smile with guilt in her eyes. Though Zain never told her anything about his feeling, she knew it, she can feel it. But as his eldee sister Seher would say, 'For long term, remember to choose happiness' and she chose Ayaan. Her heaven.
"So...?"
"You are looking beautiful Hadiya."
"Zain I am sorry."
"For what?"
"You don't know for what?"
"No I don't. I honestly don't know why you are sorry. There is nothing you need to be sorry about.
You are happy with Ayaan. He is a great guy. He loves you a lot and moreover you love him too. So I don't think you did anything wrong to be sorry about."
"And you?"
"Me ? I will move on with time. I know I will. I will be happy.
Take care Hadiya, have a happy life ahead with Ayaan"
"I hope the same for you too Zain. Just remember never hold back yourself to fall in love, never. And I know you will get what you want."
"I will remember this, I promise I will. Congratulations."
"Thank you. Ayaan ko lootna mat bhuliyo"
"Kabhi nahi. Golden chance hai aj toh pura wallet khali karna hai."
And he is back to his joyful self. And left without giving her the bracelet, he leaves.
Something inside him stopped him from doing so. An unknown voice that screams in denial. Maybe Hadiya was not the girl, just maybe.
The past is past.
And today is present.
There is no need to bring the past in the present.
●◆●◆●
As night falls, the celebration is in full swing. Arhaan Ahmed and Ahad Ahmed is no where to be found. And to be honest Zain is not even looking for them. Both the brothers have done much of damage in his sister's life. Seher may forgive them but Zain can never.
For him it is impossible to forget the pain Seher had to bear because them. He wants a happy life for Seher, nothing else.
And no matter what Seher Mirza's happiness lies with Arhaan Ahmed, her love, her husband.
Rubina, Seher's mother in law who is more like a mother to them, wants them to get back home tomorrow and he can't agree more to this. Staying in Lucknow only brings back memories of the terrible night Seher had to face years back.
Delhi is peace, it is their home.
●◆●◆●
Looking for Seher, his eyes moves towards the exit. A certain figure catches his eye.
Clad in a simple bridge color Salwar, her back is only in his view. His heartbeats arising again, just like that day.
A sudden feeling engulfs him again after all these years. The same breezes carrying a similar kind of fragrance. Someone is here, someone who is always been near yet afar.
And without looking back for once that figure rushed outside, leaving an uneasy Zain behind.
" Zain?" Seher's voice brings back him to reality.
"Aapi come inside, Rubina aunty is looking for you." Calming his heart he said, and both walk inside.
But that certain feeling leaves a chaos in Zain's mind.
//Is it always what it seems or the truth is deeper than we think it is.//