DREAM GIRL

Chapter 1 : Wake up!

It was a pleasant night, with the cool breeze flowing gently, caressing the trees and bushes like a mother doing the same to her baby. For the first time, with no clouds in sight, the moon was bright, shining in all its glory, a sparkling opal in the inky black sky, with stars littering the expanse like speckled diamonds—a rare sight in a bustling city.

And there was one person who noticed these and admired them: Farhan.

Instead of sleeping and waking up refreshed for the next day, Farhan stared at the night sky, awed at the fact that even beyond the world that he knew, there were millions of planets and galaxies that were still unheard of. And all of this humbled him, filling him with a sense of gratitude for the infinite glory and majesty of the Creator.

Art was a passion for this doctor, always observing the finer details of life that most people were sure to miss—from the meticulous structure of a leaf to the delicate patterns on a butterfly, all of these interested him. He would spend hours sketching and painting, capturing the beauty and intricacy of the natural world. It was through his art that he found solace and a way to express his awe and reverence for the Creator's creations. Each stroke of his brush was a tribute to the boundless creativity and perfection that he witnessed in every living thing. Through his artwork, he hoped to inspire others to pause and appreciate the extraordinary beauty that surrounded them in their everyday lives.

But treating patients?

That was something he had no interest in.

Did his parents care? No. They didn't.

His parents; his father, a well-known cardiothoracic surgeon, wanted his dearest son to follow in his footsteps, irrespective of his wishes. His mother...let's just say that she had an image to maintain in her social clique and shot down all of his excuses ruthlessly.

If there was a possibility to use words as bullets to kill a person, his darling Ammi could shoot down even a seven-foot-tall enemy with just her sharp, razor-like words, and any army in the world would happily recruit her in a heartbeat. Her tongue was as lethal as her husband's scalpel, slicing through any resistance with surgical precision. She believed that their family's reputation rested on their son's success in the prestigious medical field, and she would not tolerate any deviation from this path. Her words were not just words; they were weapons, and she wielded them with unwavering determination to shape her son's destiny.

Jokes aside, all this happened years ago, when he had just graduated from high school and bright-eyed Farhan naively asked his Abba if he could apply to art school instead of becoming a medical doctor. Abba refused and said a few words that included khaandaan, izzat, and mein ne Itna bada business Kiske liye set up kiya? and everything has gone downhill since then.

There was an unspoken rift that was created between them, despite Farhan quietly obeying his parents. He was resentful. And the feeling grew with each passing day.

He felt alone. Lonely without anyone truly understanding him. Nobody in his family could comprehend his passion for art and the immense joy it brought to his life. Farhan longed for someone who could appreciate his creative spirit and support his dreams. The isolation he felt weighed heavily on him, casting a shadow over his aspirations. Despite his quiet obedience, the loneliness gnawed at his heart, leaving him yearning for a connection that seemed impossible to find within his own family.

His sisters lived in their own worlds, stepping into his, once in a while to check up on him as if they were strangers. He knew they meant well, but they were so indifferent. Their conversations were shallow and lacked depth, making him feel like an outsider in his own home. His parents, too, seemed to prioritize their own interests over his, barely acknowledging his creative endeavors. It was as if his dreams were invisible, lost in the sea of indifference that enveloped his family. Despite the isolation, he held onto a glimmer of hope, believing that someday he would find the support and connection he longed for, even if it meant searching beyond the confines of his own family.