Raah-e-ishq

CHAPTER 9

ZIMAL'S POV :

My ears couldn't believe what I just heard. Or maybe I'm hallucinating? Me and him? It's impossible.

"Itna bura bhi nahi hai wo" Bi Jaan's voice sliced through my swirling thoughts, pulling me back to reality. I realized I had been staring at her in shock, my mouth slightly agape. I folded my legs on the sofa, trying to collect myself, the soft cushions beneath me doing little to soothe the turmoil inside.

"Aap mazakh kar rahi hain na?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, hoping she would laugh and say yes, that it was all just a joke.

She looked at me with a serious expression. "Ab is umar mai mazakh karungi mein?" Shaking my head, I felt a wave of confusion and anxiety wash over me. The room seemed to shrink around me as I tried to process her words. "Ye... ye na mumkin si baat hai" I stammered, the disbelief thick in my voice.

"Keon?" she asked, her tone firm yet gentle, as if urging me to explain the reasons behind my shock.

Biting my lips, I held my head in my hands, my fingers threading through my hair in a futile attempt to calm myself. "Hum dono ek dusre ko jaante tak nahi" The words spilled out in a rush.

When she didn't respond immediately, I continued, my voice trembling. "Un ke saath 2 minute banda beth jaye to bari baat hai, aur aap saari zindagi guzarne ki baat kar rahi hain?"

Bi Jaan sighed deeply, her eyes filled with a mixture of patience and understanding. "Meine kuch soch samajh ke hi ye sawal kiya hai tum se" she said softly, her words carrying a weight that seemed to settle over me like a heavy blanket.

I hid my face in my hands, feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation. My mind raced, images of Sikander flashing before my eyes—the stern lines of his face, the piercing intensity of his gaze, the way his presence seemed to command any room he entered.

When I finally looked up, I struggled to find my voice. "Aap ko pata hai un ko dekhte hi mujhe kya hota hai?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

She raised her eyebrows, waiting for me to continue. "Aisa lagta hai mera dil bahir aa jaega" I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

I looked at her, the anxiety clear in my eyes. "Mein aaj tak kisi ke saamne itni nervous nahi hui jitna aap ke shah ke saamne ho jaati hoon."

Bi Jaan's lips curled into a mysterious smile, and I felt a flush of embarrassment creeping up my cheeks.

Her smile was gentle, but it held a depth of understanding that made me feel exposed, as if she could see through the walls I had built around my heart. I wished the ground could swallow me whole. The happiness and excitement I had felt just half an hour ago seemed to evaporate into thin air.

Her smile remained, and she reached out to place a reassuring hand on mine. The warmth of her touch was comforting. "Zimal, kabhi kabhi zindagi humein aisay mor par le aati hai jahan humein apne dil ki baat sunni hoti hai" she said gently.

"Tumhein lagta hai ye na mumkin si baat hai, par kabhi socha hai ke ye tumhari zindagi ka naya safar bhi ho sakta hai?"

Bi Jaan got up from the sofa. "Zimal, agar tum shaadi nahi karna chahti to koyi baat nahi" she said, her voice steady but with an undertone of concern. She paused, her eyes meeting mine with a deep intensity. "Lekin ek baar phir se soch lena."

She picked up her shawl, draping it over her shoulders, and walked towards the door. As she reached it, she turned back to me, her gaze softening.

"Shah se shaadi ek bohat mehfuz faisla hoga tumhare liye." Her words lingered in the air, a subtle echo that seemed to seep into every corner of the room. With that, she left the bethak, the door closing behind her with a soft click, leaving me alone with my thoughts, which felt like they were about to explode.