Ishqiya 2 (Continued)

The Khula

Hamza looks at her like he's about to break any moment. There's so much guilt in his eyes and Rumi can feel that but she doesn't budge from her feelings of hatred and anger. Her expression is as cold as it was the last time he met her 2 years ago.

"Tumhein pata hai Rumi, woh thappad ki awaaz mujhe raaton bhar sone nahi deti (you know Rumi, the sound of that last slap doesn't let me sleep every night." Hamza says in broken up voice.

"If you want me to go far away from you, I will go, bas mujhe maaf kardo (just forgive me). Mai mar rahaa hun (I'm dying) Bas ek baar mujhe (please only once)-"

"-I need divorce!", Rumi interrupts and blankly looks through Hamza.

Hamza's ear feel like they are ringing. His head is 1000 pounds heavier.

"Rumi, please don't do this, the only good thing that happened to me is I get to be your husband, please don't take this away from me, I won't be able to survive."

Rumi initiated a Khula 2 years ago when she left Hamza. But then she was so broken that she wanted to do nothing with him, and moved on with her life.

"Mujhe toh tumhara chehra dekhna bhi ek gunaah lag raha hai Hamza (It feels like a crime to even look at your face). But now I want this divorce for my mom."

"Ammi ke liye (for mom)? Rumi I will talk to her, I'm sure she would listen to me. Please don't decide this based on your ammi's decision."

"It's not Ammi's decision for me to divorce, it's to marry. But in order to marry, I need a divorce first. You didn't respond to my Khula. If you don't want to give divorce I'd have to go to the court. I've already talked to Azeem bhai."

Hamza looks blankly and lifelessly at Rumi, shocked beyond any limit. His heart starts to thump, eyes start to close and breath fading, "Rumi, mujhe kuchh ho raha hai, please Sharib ko call kar do (Rumi something is happening to me please call Sharib."

"I'm running out of breath and it feels like my heart is going to explode, she just sits there, looking at me like I'm faking it. I can't seem to keep my eyes open. What is happe-"

As his eyes close and his head hits, Rumi realizes he's not faking it.

"Hamza, Hamza utho (wake up)!"

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"Opening my eyes feels like a chore. I look around, I'm in a hospital. Sharib is sleeping on the couch. I wonder what day it is. Wait! Where is Rumi? She was with me in the car. I wonder if anyone in the family got to know that I met her. The door opens, that would be Rumi." Hamza thinks.

"Hamza, shukar hai Allah ka tumhein hosh aa gaya (thank God you've woken up now)!" Zoya says as she enters, followed by mom and dad.

"Where is Rumi?"

"Beta Rumi ko gaye 2 saal ho gaye (son, it's been 2 years since she left)" His mom cries as she holds his hand.

Sharib jumps from the couch and says, "Aunty actually when he got the heart attack, he was talking about Rumi with me. That's probably why he's asking for her."

"So I had a heart attack. He covered for me, that means he's the only one who knows. Sharib is looking at me with pity in his eyes." Hamza thinks to himself

"Aunty you guys can go I will stay here." Sharib interrupts.

"Mera Bacha (my child), I will come back in the evening and I will bring your favorite food made only by your mom's hands." Saman, his mom says with a heavy voice while stroking his hair.

"Do you even know what you got yourself into. Aunty was inconsolable Hamza, why did you meet her?"

"Please not now."

"Now is the time, she told me everything that happened before she left."

"But why did she leave?"

"You might consider her your wife, but she doesn't consider you her husband. She was a different person, not the Rumi I saw who fell in love with you. And she left saying she only helped you for humanity's sake and wants you to give her divorce as soon as possible. Koi itna be-dil kaise ho sakta hai yaar (how can someone be this heartless)."

"Jab mere jaisa Shohar mile, be-dili toh tay hai (when the husband is like me, then heartlessness is bound to happen). Uski shaadi ho rahi hai (she is getting married). Isiliye divorce lena chahti hai (that's why she wants a divorce." Hamza lets out a deep rooted sob.

"What?!"

"Please samjhaa na usko jaa ke yaar main mar jaunga uske bina (please go and make her understand, I will die without her)."

"Tu Zinda hi kahaan hai? Mar toh ussi din gaya tha tu jis din tujhe Hamna ne dhokha diya tha (when are you even alive? you died that day when Hamna betrayed you.)"

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Hamza's parents forgave him a year after everything happened. They saw how Hamza spent every day of that year longing for Rumi and mourning the loss of his child. But they told him that they would not support him if he tries to get Rumi back because she deserves better.

-------------------4 days later-------------------------

Someone is knocking at the door a little while after Rumi leaves for school. She had decided to go back and teach the kids.

"Ha-Hamza, beta tum yahaan (son you? here?)"

"Assalamualaikum Aunty."

"Walaikumsalaam beta."

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Hamza looks at Rumi's mother with nervousness and request.
"Beta mere bhaiyon ne uska rishta tay kiya hai. Woh chahte hain ki Rumi ko koi saath dene wala mil jaye. Kya pata kab Allah tala mujhe bhi Rumi ke Abba ke paass bula lein (son, my brothers have found a match for her. They want that Rumi should have a supporting partner. You never know when Allah may call me to be with Rumi's father"
"Please don't say that Aunty. Aap jaanti hain uska ghar hai. Agar aap usseh samjhayengi toh shayd woh maan jayegi. (Aunty who know she already has a home. If you talk to her, maybe she will understand."
"Beta, I've been trying for 2 years."
"I will go away. I will leave Pakistan and go abroad and never bother her. Please ask her not to give me divorce." Hamza says while joining his hands to request her.
"Beta aise mat karo (Son, don't do this) I know very well nobody can replace you and your love for her. I saw her at her happiest when she was with you. But now, it seems like she doesn't want to be happy anymore even if happiness comes knocking on her door. She will die a slow death when she gets married"
"IF, she gets married." Hamza corrects her with anger.
"Aunty let me get something very straight. I will give her the divorce. Lekin jis din uski shadi hogi ussi din mera janaaza uthega, aur uske zimmedar sirf aur sirf aap log honge. Aunty please bataa dena Rumi ko, agar jee sakegi iss bojh ke saath toh divorce papers bhej de main sign kar dunga (But the day she will get married, I will die, and you all will be responsible for that. Aunty please let her know this, if she can live with this guilt, then please send me the divorce papers I will sign)."

Hamza breaks into tears, says "Shukriya" and leaves the house immediately.

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Hellow guys, how was the second chapter. It's finally longer than the first one. Do leave your feedback in the comments, I will reas each and every one of them. Thanks for reading, stay tuned and please vote if you like it.🙏🏼