Wishpered Promises Of LoVE

Ruhani!!

    In Fayza's room,
   Fayza was sitting on the rocking chair, leaning her head on the headrest of it.  While tears kept on falling down her closed orbs.
   When she felt someone caressing her hair, she didn't need to open her eyes to recognize the person. The soft touch was enough for Fayza to know that it was none other than her Api. A sob escaped her lips…her wounded little heart could no longer suppress her inner feelings. The girl who was shedding her tears in silence till awhile ago…was now crying hysterically in her Api's arms. It was the place Fayza could laugh or cry wholeheartedly without caring for anything. Zohra was the person to whom Fayza could place all her wishes, her demands, her dislikings and her complaints as well…because Zohra would do anything to see her Fay happy.
    "Shh, Baby…it's okay. You don't need to shed your tears because of someone who doesn't even matter to us,"Zohra caressed her younger sister's head, cooing sweet nothings to her. "And the next moment, he even tries to misbehave with you…just punch him exactly on the face. Your Api will handle the rest,"she once again tried to console the little girl.
    Hearing Zohra's words, Fayza's wailings stopped…as she looked at her Api with wide eyes. Did she hear it right? Did her Api just tell her to beat someone? Was she the same Api who always hated violence? "You…*(sob)* are asking…*(sob)* me to hit him?"Fayza asked her elder sister in between her sobs. Zohra nodded her head in the affirmative,"Only then when he is getting out of line. But not when you know he is wrong yet things could get solved without violence, okay?"The next moment, she clarified her point not wanting for Fayza to get too enthused about the topic and start fighting for nothing.
   "I don't hit people without any reason,"Fayza rolled her eyes, at the false accusations of her Api…making Zohra to gasp,"Yes, says the girl whose teeth marks Rian carries in his hand till date,"in return Zohra smirked, intentionally mentioning the incident when Fayza had bitten Shahriar mercilessly on his hand. Fayza's face turned red…in embarrassment remembering her glorified acts. "It was Shahriar Bhai's fault. He was teasing me,"Fayza stated in her defense…Zohra's eyebrows danced in curiosity.
   Till date none of these two told her what Shahriar had said to her…or why Fayza bit him? "And what did he tease you with?"Zohra asked, too interested to know the reason. "Shahriar Bhai asked me not to tell you this,"Fayza said meekly, playing with the tips of her own fingers. Looking like a thief…a cute little thief. "Why?"Zohra raised one eyebrow at her little sister. Why they never told her the matter…Zohra could not understand that.
    "Bhai said you will hit him if you get to know our talks,"and our innocent Fayza totally forgot about the deal she had with Shahriar. After all, who would remember the chocolates after finishing them? The little girl took a handsome bribe of chocolates in return for keeping her mouth shut. "That's nonsense! Why would I beat him? Don't you know your Api? Tell me…and I will give you..umm…as many chocolates as you want, okay?"Here our Zohra was not a fool as well. She knew very well how to bribe her baby sister.
   And there it goes, Fayza's eyes brightened like lights hearing the name of chocolates which made her open her mouth,"He asked me to call him 'Bhai' always but when I said that my Bhaijaan is my only Bhai…then he threatened me saying that he will marry you and take you away from here. On top of that he would not let me meet with you unless I will love him like I love Bhaijaan. When I said that you would never marry him he told me that you love him so much..and you will surely marry him. I told him that you only love me…but he was adamant in his words that you only love him. With that we both got into a fight about whom you love the most…and at one point I was very annoyed at him. So I beat his hand,"Fayza narrated the whole story…ever so casually as if it was not anything for her to bother about.
    Whereas, Zohra's eyes widened in disbelief…her mouth hung open in utter shock….and she felt her ear tips becoming red in embarrassment,"That shameless man, he doesn't even have the common sense regarding where he should open his mouth and where not,"Zohra internally face palmed herself at the childish behavior of Shahriar. At this moment, she wanted nothing but to knock some common sense in his crazy head. How could someone be like this?
   But at the same time, a kind of warmth…the sense of love knocked on her sense again and again. She had fallen for her Rian a long time ago…but his craziness for her, the zeal he always made her feel, the persistence with which he would always pursue her…only made her fall for him again and again.
    "Apiiii, where are you lost?"Fayza shook Zohra holding her hands…bringing her back to reality. "Huh? Ye…yeah, nowhere,"she was a bit startled at first. Fayza gave a suspicious look at Zohra…who was stammering awhile ago…and now was smiling out of nervousness,"Are you going to marry that Shahriar Bhai for real? Do you really love him more than me?"Fayza asked, horrified at her own questions. Her eyes immediately turned glossy…how was she to live without her Api?
   "Silly girl, stop crying. Your Api loves you the most, my little cockroach,"Zohra pulled Fayza's nose mischievously…who glared at her even in between her tears. "I'm not a cockroach, you monkey Api,"Fayza slapped away her sister's hand from her nose, making her chuckle. "Really, if I'm a monkey, then I ain't sharing this with you,"saying Zohra held a scroll of paper in front of Fayza's eyes…before opening it. The next moment, the beautiful sketch that Fayza had made came in front of her view.
   Fayza could not believe her eyes,"It…it…Zafar Bhai had torn it apart. How come…?"She could not finish her sentence when Zohra turned around the paper where the torn mark could be seen a little. Zohra fixed up the paper with waxed papers and glue. At the front of the sketch she applied the colors in a bit of dark shade so the ripped out mark could not be seen that prominently.
   "Yes, Zafar had pulled apart the page…but how could I let all your hard work and this beautiful sketch go to waste?"Zohra said, smiling at her sister. In this world, she loved three people…even more than her life. And they were her Bhaijaan, her Fay and her Rian. She could do anything and everything only to see them happy.
    Fayza jumped on her sister's embrace, hugging her by her waist while keeping her head on Zohra's chest,"I love you, Api. I love you so much,"Fayza's eyes shed tears…yet her lips were stretched out in the most beautiful smile. "I love you too, my little Princess,"Zohra placed a soft kiss on Fayza's forehead. "I would not let you go away from me ever. Not even if Shahriar Bhai bribes me with chocolates,"Fayza's innocent words made Zohra chuckle heartily. "I would never go anywhere leaving you behind, my little cockroach,"with that saying Zohra pulled her nose before starting to run inside the whole chamber…wanting to save herself from her crazy sister. "You just wait, you monkey Api,"Fayza kept on running behind her Api to catch her…while their giggles echoed throughout the whole chamber making all the gloominess of some time ago vaporize in the thin air.
—-------
After a few months,
    "Bhaijaan, what has happened to you suddenly? Would you not tell me as well?"Zohra pleaded Zeeshan for the umpteenth time…regarding the same matter. "I'm absolutely fine, Zohi. Nothing has happened. What will happen to me, child?"Zeeshan caressed his sister's baby face. She was still a little baby for him…yet she looked so mature nowadays. It had been so many days since he last saw her. Zeeshan really felt angry at himself and Abu Tariq as well because of whom he was not able to be there for his babies.
    "Stop lying, Bhaijaan. Look at yourself once! When did you have your last meal? And sleep? Did you even forget that you are a human not a robot who needs rest as well to keep functioning? And the previous night, you…you were drunk, Bhaijaan. You touched alcohol? Why?"Zohra once again questioned Zeeshan. Although at first she thought to not discuss the topic of Zeeshan's drinking. But how could she not? When he was not even ready to share his problems with her. What had happened for him that he wanted to drink his sorrows along with the sips of alcohol? What kind of peace did he want to find in the bottles of Braindies and Rums?
   The moment Zohra asked him the question…Zeeshan felt as if someone just knocked him out of his breath. He closed his eyes while lowering his head…feeling utterly ashamed of himself. He never wanted his Zohi or Fay to see him in that condition. But when was his destiny in his favor anyways?
   Zohra sat down on the floor in front of Zeeshan, holding his hand she pleaded with him to open up to her at least for once,"Please tell me, Bhaijaan. Please. I'm unable to see you in such a condition. It's…it's hurting me more than anything,"she could no longer suppress her tears…the current condition of her Bhaijaan was hurting her way more than she could ever express it.
    "Zohi, first you get up,"Zeeshan tried to pull Zohra upwards…who only shook her head in the negative, conveying that she would not do so. "Please don't be like this, child. I cannot see you in tears. Stop crying, Baby. It's really nothing. I'm absolutely fine,"he once again tried to assure his sister…who paid no heed to his words. What did he think? She would believe anything he would say to her? Didn't she know her brother?
    "It's enough, Zeeshan. Stop lying to her every single time, damn it. Can you not see she doesn't believe your lies one bit? Instead it's only making her cry,"for the first time, in all these while, Shahriar spoke out. He could no longer see his Zoh in tears. In this world, if Shahriar really hated something…then it was to see his love, his Zoh in pain.
   "Shahriar, stop it,"Zeeshan hissed at his best friend, trying to make him shut his mouth. But who was he kidding? Zeeshan could surely make his best friend stop by taking a promise from him…but how would he stop a lover from taking every possible means to see his love from any kind of suffering? Shahriar had seen how Zohra was getting affected by the changing demeanor of Zeeshan…which was absolutely not in a positive way at all.
   "Why should I, Zeeshan? Why should I? You are suffering day and night. And you are not sharing your pain with any of us…making all of us suffer as well. Leave me…but don't you always say that you cannot see her in tears? Look at her today, can you not see her miserable condition today?"Shahriar asked, the anger was clearly heard in his voice…but both Zohra and Zesshan perceived the overshadowed helplessness in his tone. Shahriar was feeling way too helpless…not being able to help his best friend in any way. After all, which friend could see his closest friend, his best friend, on the verge of breaking down? The bestie with whom he had spent countless days of joy, had endless fun, together went through various hardships…still at the end of the day, they both were there for each other. But now suddenly Shahriar felt so outcasted…as if in a blink of an eye, he was not a part of Zeeshan's life anymore.
    "Yes, Bhaijaan…if you are not going to tell us today, I promise you that you would not see my face again,"Zohra's statement turned heads towards her. Both Shahriar and Zeeshan looked at her in a bewildered manner. "Zohi? How could you say that?"Zeeshan whispered…a lone tear escaped his eyes. How could his Zohi say something like that…so casually? Why didn't she want to understand his situation even a bit?
   In fact, Zohra, herself was quite shocked at her such assertion. Really! How could she say it…just like that?
   "I love someone,"the words that came out of Zeeshan's mouth, lightened up the faces of Zohra and Shahriar. Both immediately raised their heads…looking at Zeeshan first and then at one another. "That's amazing, man. Look, Zoh…how your brother is such a dark horse,"Shahriar immediately chimed in, trying to tease Zeeshan. Zohra smiled at Shahriar,"Mashallah, Bhaijaan. But…what's the…?"Before Zohra could complete her sentence, Zeeshan's lips stretched out in a self-deprecating smile,"She is Ruhani…the third of our royal cook. I met her at the Eid-Ul-Adha a year back. And I would not lie, everything about her was…just enchanting. She is indeed one of the loveliest girls' I have met in my life. She is much like you Zohi…soft spoken, caring, helpful and sweet. Every time I saw her, I…I felt alive again…the peace that she brings me…is incomparable. She tries to understand me as me. She practices fencing in a local center…just to stay a little close to her, I also joined the same class. Though I know fencing, I loved to be near her…being able to talk with her was the best thing of my everyday routine. As the practice center is in the village, she would never treat me normally if she gets to know my identity…hence, I disguised myself as Toufiqur only. Everything was going well. Soon, we became friends and then we both developed feelings for each other…it was quite evident from both of our actions. Two months ago, I proposed to her…that day before she could answer me, her father came looking for her. She went home with him but before going back she promised me that she would give me my answers the next day.
   I was very excited and happy….waiting eagerly for the next day…which never came into my life. The next day I kept waiting for her for hours…but she…never came. And after that day till today she didn't come back to answer me. I was heartbroken, sad…still I tried to meet with her. Went to her house, looked for her father, asked her neighbors…but nothing. There was absolutely no clue about her or her whole family! It all felt as if they vanished into thin air as if they never existed at all. Her father left his job, and they left the village or maybe the country…I have no idea about it. And yesterday, suddenly Abbu taunted me saying if I don't mend my ways then I will lose each and every person that I love dearly just like I lost Ruhani. The moment he took her name, I was more than surprised…because I didn't even tell you or Shahriar about Ruhani…then how come he knew it!
   And then the bell rang in my head. I linked up the scattered pieces and everything was crystal clear in front of me. I don't know why it took me so much time to understand the simple fact that it was impossible for a commoner to move out from his motherland overnight….that without leaving a trace, until or unless he had some powerful background or someone powerful enough forced him to do so.
   And my guess was right, Abbu was behind everything. He threatened uncle Russel to leave this country with his whole family and to marry off Ruhani somewhere else. And Abbu was also the one, who erased all of their traces from behind. Yesterday it was…it was her…her wedding. She got married to someone else, who is not me…Zohi. And this fact is…killing me. It's burning me alive…brutally. I…I lost her, Zohi…I lost the girl I love,"Zeeshan broke down into tears. Not being able to handle himself anymore.
   All his suppressed pain and sufferings gushed out today…in the form of his tears. Zohra immediately took her Bhaijaan into her arms,"Shh…Bhaijaan. Everything….wo…would be…fine,"Zohra gulped her sorrows…yet her tears brimmed out of her orbs. Would everything be really fine…ever? She didn't know.
    Shahriar's hands turned into fists…tears glistened in his eyes as well. He could not even imagine the pain Zeeshan was going through. Losing the only person you love more than your own self…hurts you the worst ways possible. Shahriar also had someone special he loved the most…as a lover, no-one could understand Zeeshan except for him at the moment. And Shahriar swore, he hated that man Abu Tariq with each and every fiber of his body. How could a father be this evil…this cruel to his own kids?
    Allah! Shahriar could not even count him in the line of humans…let alone a father!
………
After sometime,
   "How is he now?"Shahriar asked Zohra who stood beside him in the open balcony. "The same. I just put him to sleep with a lot of difficulty,"Zohra's voice shook once again as her brother's face came into her view. Shahriar looked at his Zoh with sad, pained eyes. He slowly kept his right hand on her left one which was resting on the railing of the balcony.
   "You know, Rian…in all these years it was the first time I have seen Bhaijaan cry like a child. Till date he might have shed tears of happiness or pain…but the way he wailed in my embrace today…it was something I have noticed for the very first time in my life. I was feeling as if someone was cutting my heart into two while trying to rip out my soul,"And it was also the first time Zohra expressed her pain to the man she loved so much.
   Shahriar slowly pulled her in his embrace…caressing her back, trying to provide some sort of comfort to the destitute soul a little. Zohra didn't try to move away from him today…rather she quietly kept her head in his chest…closing her eyes. At this moment, she needed it badly…way too badly. For a moment, none of them exchanged any talks…only emotions were swapped in between.
    After some comforting soothing moments both broke the hug, Shahriar brought out something from his pant's pocket before handing it over to Zohra's hand,"What is this?"Zohra asked, looking at the letter in her hand.
   "Open it and you will know by yourself,"Shahriar instructed, which she followed without any other word. "You deceived me, Zeeshan. If not for your father I would have never got to know your real face. I hate you, Mr. Zeeshan Toufiqur Bin Tariq. You proved yet again that rich people like you can never love someone truly. Because of you, my father will have to leave his everything behind…and I will have to leave all my dreams and aspirations behind. After all, I'm the reason for the miseries of my family. But you….you are no less than a culprit for me. And for that I will never forgive you. I just loathe the fact that I once loved a man like you. Wish we would have never met at all. One more thing, I will be getting married in two days, please come to my wedding ceremony, your highness. Though it would not be that grand like you people normally witness yet it would be a scene to behold,"the letter ended…and so did the little bit of hope Zohra had in her heart.