Nayab, a brilliant and meticulous MBBS student, possesses a mind built for calculations and precision. Her dreams are set on excelling in her medical career, leaving no room for frivolities or romantic distractions. Meanwhile, Danish, a vivacious an...
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Nayab felt tears brimming in her eyes as she hugged her mother outside the departure gates of the airport.
Haider looked sideways towards Danish before saying to him, "I don't like you."
Danish was taken aback by that, but cleared his throat. "I am aware, sir."
"But my daughter does." Haider added.
Danish smiled.
"If I ever find my daughter unhappy because of you, I will kill you." His words held a promise.
"If I ever end up hurting your daughter, I'd be the one killing myself." Danish replied.
Haider stared at him for a few seconds before nodding in acknowledgment.
Nayab, then, hugged her father before Haider and Gulshan made their way inside the gates. Wordlessly, Danish and Nayab walked to the car. She got behind the wheels.
With some soft music playing on the radio, he closed his eyes and rested his head back. When he felt the car stopping after almost half-an-hour, he opened his eyes and looked outside. They were in front of the Vaziri bangalow.
"Why did I know that you'd be bringing me here?" He asked with a small smile.
She turned off the engine, killing the music. "Maybe because you know me well enough." She smiled back. "Or maybe because I know you well enough to know that you're dying to go inside."
His smile died and he looked back towards the house.
"Shall we?" He heard her asking before the sound of her door opening and closing reached his ears. She came to his side and opened his door. As if his legs had a mind of their own, he was stepping down the car and walking towards the main gate.
He pushed the metal gates open, ignoring the dirt and overgrown plants on it. As they walked through the foyer, he could hear the voices of his parents. He could see them. His father getting out of his car late in the evening as he and his mother waited for him at the door. The Sundays that he had spent playing football around the house.
They climbed the couple of stairs to reach the porch when they noticed that there was a huge lock on the door. He raised his hand forward to touch it, when a voice called them from their left.
"Who is there?" It was an old man walking towards them.
Danish recognized him immediately. "Raghu dada," He said, "It is me, Danish."
Nayab saw a flicker of recognition pass through those old, tired eyes. "Danish baba," The old man cried in joy as he tried walking faster.
"Danish baba," He said again as he cupped the handsome man's face. "I have been waiting for you to return."
Danish felt his heart getting heavy. He hugged the old man. "What took you so long, baba?"
"I am sorry." Danish whispered. "I am sorry."
They broke the hug. Danish, while wiping the corner of his eyes, turned towards Nayab. "This is Raghu dada. He has been working for our family from even before I was born. He is the one who takes care of the bungalow now."
Nayab folded her hands and bowed in front of Raghu. He kept his wrinkled hand on top of her hand. Their moment was interrupted by another person coming in, Raghu's wife, Sita.
"Dadi," Danish hugged her as well.
She looked so surprised to see Danish. "I can't believe you're actually here."
After a very prolonged reunion, Danish asked for the keys of the bungalow. Raghu went to the outhouse that was situated at the back of the bungalow where he and Sita have been living for the past so many years. He returned a few minutes later with the keys.
Then Raghu and Sita gave them some privacy to explore the house. Danish unlocked the door and pushed it open. Both of them were not surprised by the amount of dirt that welcomed them. Nayab sneezed at that.
"You're okay?" He asked.
She nodded before sneezing again. They stepped inside and saw the spacious living room in front of them. All the furniture was covered with black sheets. And on top of the sheets was a thick layer of dust. Even the white walls had turned dull.
She saw him turn right and start walking up the stairs. Hesitantly, she followed him. Upon reaching the first floor, he went to open the first door that was on their left. It was a bedroom that she instantly knew was his. The room was painted a cool shade of blue, with posts of his favorite superhero stuck on the walls. All the furniture here was also covered up.
"Dad designed this room himself as my eighth birthday gift." He said.
She smiled sadly. "It is beautiful."
He didn't reply, just stood there quietly, reminiscing the memories. Then they came back downstairs. He crossed the living room to reach another bedroom.
This looked like the master bedroom.
"Your parents' room?" She asked.
He nodded. Keeping a hand on his shoulder, she caressed it. A few minutes later, she heard him whimper.
"Danish?" She called out, worriedly.
She could feel his shoulders shake underneath her palm. "Danish, hey." She came in front of him only to find him crying. He pushed himself closer to her and buried his face in her neck.
"It is fine. I am right here. And so are you parents." She ran her hands on his back as she felt his tears wet her skin. "They would not want you upset, baby."
"I mi-iss them so..so much." He was speaking with his face still pressed against her neck.
"I know." She rubbed his hair. "I am sure they do too."
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They stayed in the bedroom with him telling her so many stories of his parents till he received a call from one of his managers. He had completely forgotten that there was the sangeet function in the evening. They went to bid goodbye to Raghu and Sita in the outhouse.
"Will you come to meet us again?" Sita asked.
Nayab held her breath, waiting for his response.
Danish smiled and nodded, "Yes, I will be back very soon."
Nayab beamed at that. They took their leave after that. He dropped her home before going to the venue.
She called her mother to make sure they landed safely in Delhi before taking out Gulshan's cooked food from the fridge to heat it up.
It was an unexpected day, but Nayab was glad it happened the way it did. She knew it was difficult for him, but she was proud of him for facing his past. When he talked to her about his parents, sharing their stories, she could see him healing. He was slowly getting the closure he needed. He was finally remembering them with happiness.
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Epilogue would be the 40th chapter.
Let's start remembering these characters with happiness, guys!
