Trigger Warning- You can tell I happen to be a sadist and a huge SRK fan.
He never understood Umeed's fascination with Kidney Hill. But all these years, since they were together, he was there with her, every single time. Even if she wanted to be here at 3 in the morning, he'd drive her to her favourite place and look at her with the softest gaze, looking at the sky. She believed Allah listened to her duas closely when she was here. He'd laugh whenever she'd say something like that. Not that he didn't value her words, but he grew up believing that Allah was everywhere and He was closer to you than you could imagine, so why would you need to come to a hill and pray for something?
But his was a practical approach that kind of practicality never implied on Umeed, which was absolutely fine because he loved her for the very same thing among many others. He lived with this reality all these years without any complaints.
However, today he was standing on the same hill praying for something he wanted desperately. A lonesome tear escaped his eye, and he looked above at the sky, searching for words but he believed his Rabb would understand. He could see his helplessness. The wind whipped around him, and he felt lost and alone in the world's vastness. He wished desperately that he could turn back time and fix everything that had gone wrong, but he knew that he couldn't. As he stood alone and defeated on top of the hill, he felt lonely and his entire world crumbled around him. Farjaad's eyes were fixed on the sky, as if searching for some kind of answer, some kind of solace. But the sky was empty, and there was no one there to comfort him. He felt as though he was standing on the edge of a precipice, about to fall into an abyss of darkness and despair.
Tears rolled down his eyes but he didn't bother to wipe them. He finally noticed that his phone was ringing, probably for the past 30 minutes now. Carrying the baggage of raw and unbridled emotions, he made his way to his destination.
✨
"Ap kahan thay? Umeed kb say apka pooch rhi hai." A concerned Haya rushed towards Farjaad. His heart almost skipped a beat.
He shouldn't have left.
How would he forgive himself if something happened to her in his absence?
Farjaad's steps faltered as he entered the hospital room where his heart lay captive in the frail body of Umeed. The door creaked as he pushed it open, and he took in the sterile, antiseptic scent that hung heavy in the air. His eyes swept over the room, taking in the stark white walls, the machines beeping in the background, and the sun's weak light filtering through the window.
"Mera ghariyal aj kese late hogya," she uttered weakly. Farjaad noticed she was struggling to speak, and her once luminous eyes were dulled by sickness. But even in the midst of her frailty, her smile was like a beacon of light, lifting his spirits and giving him hope.
"Bohat buri ho tum," He complained like a baby, and the tears prickled at the corners of his eyes. He couldn't do this anymore, he wanted to be strong for her, but his inner turmoil was greater than his strength. He was at a loss, unsure of how to confront the overwhelming grief that was threatening to drown him.
"Dekhein ge bh nhi meri trf?" Her eyes were fixed on him, taking in every detail, every nuance of his expression. The way her hand twitched in the bed, every little thing was a precious memory that he would hold onto for the rest of his life.
"Mtt jao na please," He uttered helplessly, feeling a lump rising in his throat. He couldn't help the tears he was holding back for days. They came pouring out of him in a flood, hot and salty, running down his cheeks like a river. His body was wracked by sobs, and he could barely breathe.
"Please mtt jao" He pleaded once again, his voice hoarse with emotion. He latched onto her in bed, hugging her desperately. His face buried in the crook of her neck, and his muffled cries echoed in the grim hospital room. He felt her body getting weaker by the second and his heart sank further.
Umeed raked her fingers through his half-grey half black hair. She wept inaudibly, placing silent kisses on his head, wrapping him in her frail arms, trying to comfort him as much as possible.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Farjaad," She whispered, remembering 25 years ago when he asked her not to ever talk about leaving him.
He was always scared of losing her.
And today, he did lose her. Forever.
END.
