Poora Chand

Noori

It was January and the moon was magnificent and full and I would describe its beauty a little more but just then I saw her walking in my direction to close the main gate wrapped in black and crimson jamawar around her arms, she raised her gaze, she knew I was there at the tapri opposite to her doorstep holding a kulhad, I laid my eyes on her as I sipped kareem's chai. For a moment I almost caught her sight but the moment passed and I paused.

" Jidhar uthai nazar qatl e aam tumne kiya,
Qaza ka naam hua, aur kaam tumne kiya"

After weeks at a wedding her ammi smiled at me, her abbu asked me about the work I do. Thus the following Jumuah, I put on perfumed pathani kurta and left for the khutbah make sure I encounter shuaib chacha somehow.

It was unusual today at the mosque, there was some chaos in management. I had to come back home early, amma had specifically asked me, I had to take her to khala's in an hour. So I had to reach home as soon as possible. But being there I didn't think it was possible.

"Ab aap intezam kiye! Humse wada tha aaj ghar nhi jayenge"

It was her voice. I stopped. My heart stopped. For a moment everything was quiet and tranquil. The chaos and commotion faded. I think I cried out of joy. I held myself together and turned to her.

She perfectly, completely avoided me, in a way that made me question was I actually there or was it a dream. But soon when she couldn't find anyone to listen to her she looked at me.

"Yahya"
"Ji?"
"Say something. They said they'll make room for women this week."

I had no idea how would we make space for women. Men barely could fit inside the mosque, another reason I came early, those who were late had to pray outside in the sun.

"Why don't you ask chacha to take you to the badi masjid in the bazaar, there's plenty room for women and special arrangements too?"

"Can you take me there today? Yahya please."

The prayer had already started. I couldn't say no, she hopped on my bike, I didn't know how I rode that day, all I was grateful for was how perfectly she managed to sit with a gap between us or else she would feel me shivering which would very well make her jump from the seat.

However by the time we reached, the prayer was over there too. We had to return, I dropped her near her house and then left for mine.

"Ammi bas 5 minute namaz padhke nikalte hain!" I said before Ammi could even speak
"Beta abhi kya karne gye the aap?

..............................

// Achchi surat ko sawarne ki zaroorat kya hai?
Saadgi me bhi Qayamat ki ada hoti hai!
Tum jo aajate ho Masjid me Ada karne Namaz
Tumko Maalum hai kitno ki Qaza hoti hai? //

..............................

After a heck of a day, I lay on my bed and I couldn't stop thinking about how unexpected Noori had been today. She had never spoken to me before, all contact we ever had was stolen glances. She had her own scooty so she never needed pick or drop help from anyone. She was shy and bold. She had dark brown eyes. Her smile could win wars. Her laugh could end famine. Her frown could make the soldiers bow. She was awkward at times. She was sad. She could speak to everyone and that's why it hurt when she didn't speak to me. I never saw her hair, it was almost always covered. She looked most beautiful wrapped in her shawl around her.
And someday I hoped I would be the one to wrap a pashmina around her arms.