In The Pursuit Of Love

The Haunting Past - I

"And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent" [Quran 65:3]

"Eight years ago, I and Bhai had gone out for ice cream to celebrate my good grades. Back then I was in twelfth class and Bhai was in college. We were a handful back then, mischievous, always up to something notorious. But that day was the end of it. It was the last day of our playfulness."

"Mehr, you passed with flying colours" Zeeshan shouted encircling his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground. The smile was almost immediately wiped off from their father's face as his eyes widened.

"Zeeshan you put her down, right this instant" he warned while the siblings smirked at each other. And a second later, Zeeshan started twirling her around, their laughter echoing in the house.

Nargis saw Mehreen's face lit up at the memory, and she wondered what had happened that day that changed the family to a drastic extent.

"As we were leaving the house, we had told Ammi that we would return in an hour or so and Ammi said that she would be waiting for us over lunch. But, she kept waiting as we never returned" a lone tear trickled down her face as she found herself running along the haunted memories.

"Bhai, let's go to Baskin Robbins" Mehreen hopped from one spot to another.

"What? No. It's far from here and I don't have that much money. You know Baskin Robbins is expensive" he raised a brow at her and saw her face droop down. Mehreen had pulled out her weapon, she knew he can't stand her sad face and he tsked.

"You know what, lets go. I have the money which I saved for buying the cricket ball. I can always buy it next month when Papa gives me allowance money" he said grabbing her hand and stopping her from once again hopping all the way.

"Yay, lets go" she ran dragging him behind her with a huge smile on her face.

The duo entered the ice cream parlor, but Mehreen's eyes were stuck to the samosa stall across the road. She saw the huge line for the ice cream and immediately grabbed onto Zeeshan's arm.

"Bhai I want samosa"

"What? Come on, Mehr, our turn is about to come"

"No, it isn't, we just entered the shop and there are only two people behind us. Plus I am not even asking you to go. See that shop is just across and if you give me ten rupees, I'll be just back in two minutes"

"No" he shook his head.

"Please bhai. Please please please" she started jumping on her spot earning glances from the other customers.

"Fine, you stay here. I'll go" he said and she shrugged. He took out his wallet and grabbing a ten rupee bill, he thrust the wallet in Mehreen's hand and was about to leave the queue when a hand came upon his shoulder. He turned to see his school friend standing with a smile on his face. They greeted each other and much to Mehreen's irritation, started having a boring conversation.

A minute later, she snatched the ten rupee note from Zeeshan's hand and gave him back his wallet, making Zeeshan look at her with furrowed brows.

"I'll be back in a minute" and with that she left.

Zeeshan's friend left a few moments later while Zeeshan bought the ice cream, waiting for Mehreen to return. It had been full five minutes and he was sure she must have been loitering around the shops, which she usually does.

As soon as he reached the glass door with ice cream in his hands, he felt as if the ground slipped from beneath his feet. Mehreen was being carried away by two people, as her body lay limp in their arms.