Wishpered Promises Of LoVE

I hate her!

In a VIP room of a luxurious hotel,
    Zeeshan was sitting down on a lavish couch placed on the open balcony of his suite. There was a glass of chilled scotch in his hand…while earphones were plugged in his ears. "Dear Brother" by Tate McRae was playing…only the difference was that it was Zohra who was singing the song.
   Tears kept on falling from the corner of his closed eyes. He missed her…every single moment he took a breath, he was reminded about the fact that she was not here breathing the same air as he. And he was the one to be blamed for everything. "Why? Why did you leave your Bhaijaan like this Zohi? Don't you know he didn't have anyone else except the two of you. You know, now…now Fay also doesn't talk with me. In…in fact she hates me. She doesn't even consider me as her Bhaijaan anymore…and you are not here to resolve our issues like you always did in the past. Did you not promise me to always stand beside me? Then why are you so far away from me now, Zohi?"Zeeshan's heart weeped in pain…he wanted to scream these words out…but what difference would it make anyway? She would still not come back to him…he would still fail in getting back his Zohi. Now Zeeshan could not hug his little Zohi…even if he wanted to. Now she didn't hide herself in his embrace…because she has hid herself in the black casket for the rest of her life! He never thought about the game they used to play in their childhood, a day would come when she would take it so seriously that she would hide herself far away from him…so far that despite knowing her whereabouts he still would not be able to catch her!
    Why was destiny so cruel towards them? What was their fault? They never harmed any innocent soul ever. All they ever wanted was to live with each other…then why could fate not withstand that as well? Why?
  Zeeshan was lost in his own thoughts…when suddenly he felt that the glass of drink was snatched away from his hand. A groan escaped his lips…knowing well as to who had such an audacity to do such a thing. He opened his eyes, looking towards the man standing in front of him…with his red puffy eyes. Those orbs were carrying the evidence of his tears, his pain, his sufferings and his sacrifices.
   Zeeshan pulled out his earphones from his ears,"Shahriar, don't mess with me now. Please. Just give that glass back to me,"Zeeshan's tone was gruff, ordering Shahriar with an absolute finality. "Enough man, how much are you going to drink? Is this intoxication enough for you to drink down your sorrows as well?"But Shahriar was also adamant. It had been twenty years since Zeeshan was burning in his own guilt. His conscience would always hold him responsible for all the things that had taken place twenty years ago.
    "No, but at least…I see my Zohi, when I'm not sober enough to keep my eyes open. She…she looks at me angrily…and I swear it…it hurts me everytime she does that. But at least I can see her staring back at me…even if it's for just for a few minutes. Every time I drown myself in liquor, you know she comes to scold me…she asks me to stop drinking. And those are the moments I can hear her once again…talking with me, complaining about me to myself. And I don't want to lose this chance to see my baby sister again and again, Shahriar. Please man, give it back to me,"Zeeshan almost pleaded in front of Shahriar…making him close his eyes…pain, was all he could feel.
    "It's been 20 damn years, Zeeshan…let her go! You cannot bind her with you, by doing all this craziness. Instead it would only destroy you from every bits and pieces. Moreover, why do you still think about her like a mad man? Did she ever think about us before taking that decision? Did she think of you, when she…she decided to leave us forever? Did she think even for a second about you, Fay or m..me…before she drew the knife over her slit? She was a selfish girl…who only thought about herself, her pain, her grief. But she never thought as to how we would live without her? If she could leave us here alone, why can you not let her go, Zeeshan? Why?"Shahriar asked Zeeshan the question…grievance filled in his voice. He had a lot of complaints against Zohra. And he swore to never forgive her…for what she did.
    Hearing Shahriar, Zeeshan started laughing humorlessly,"Are you lying to me or to yourself?" Zeeshan pointed his finger at Shahriar. Who was that man kidding with anyways? Didn't Zeeshan know him enough to understand when he was lying and when not? Shahriar opened his mouth, wanting to present his side of the argument but…."Abbuuuuuu…."a child of almost seven years old came running inside the room, taking both Zeeshan and Shahriar off-guard.
   She was about to hit her leg on the center table kept inside the room, but Shahriar was quick enough to engulf her in his arms, before she would get hurt. "Baby, you didn't get hurt anywhere, did you?"Shahriar asked the girl in his arms, worry was evident on his face and voice as well. The girl cupped his face with her small hands,"No, Abbu…I didn't get hurt. You saved me and I'm absolutely fine,"she offered him one of her adorable smiles showcasing her dimples in the process. Her eyes held a unique kind of happiness while she conversed with her father.
   "Why were you running like that, kiddo? You might have got hurt for real,"the next moment, Zeeshan asked her…in concern. The kid encircled her arms around her father's neck, keeping her head on his shoulder,"There was a lizard in the washroom,"her voice was meek…conveying her fear. "It's…it's nothing, sweetheart. My Sharah is the bravest of all, right?"Shahriar caressed his daughters back, who snuggled more getting his warmth.
   "But I'm scared of lizards, Abbu…just like Ammi,"she clutched onto his shirt…so tightly as if the lizard would harm her if she loosened her grip on him…even a little bit. Immediately Shahriar's eyes brimmed with tears…unshed tears.
—----
In Azan Inc.,
    Rehan broke the hug, hearing Azel laughing her heart out at his last statement on his jealousy regarding Zachary Remizera. "What is so funny here for you to laugh like this?"He asked her, an extremely cute pout had already formed on his lips. Azel shook her head, covering her mouth with both her hands…trying to stifle her laugh a little.  Yet the giggles kept on escaping at times.
    He kept on looking at her, narrowing his eyes to intimidate her…even a little bit. Which didn't seem to work…at all,"Wild catttttt,"making him whine at last. With a lot of difficulty, Azel somehow controlled herself,"Okay…okay, I'm sorry. I would not laugh anymore,"she suppressed her chortle not wanting to tease the already vexed soul anymore. "You know, you are so cute! Especially when you get jealous,"she pulled both of his cheeks lightly…it only made the light ambience even lighter.
   Rehan's ears turned red…a shy smile making its way to his lips. He scratched the nape of his neck, as if it would stop himself from blushing. Azel looked at her Lunatic in aww. How could someone look this innocent, this endearing…even without doing much! Suddenly she came too close in front of him…startling him with her sudden intrusion. As if it was not enough to shock him, she grabbed the collar of his suit…pulling him downwards at her level. His already widened eyes, enlarged more,"Wi…wild…cat!"Rehan breathed out…his own voice seemed way too foreign for him to hear.
   "Shh, don't say anything…just look into my eyes,"she placed her index over his lips, silencing him before he could say anything further. Rehan blinked quite a few times…his eyes capturing her face as if memorizing every single detail in her.
    Her mesmerizing pair of oceanic blue orbs…were as beautiful and deep at the same, just like the sea. Her naturally long eyelashes would kiss the spot under her eyes occasionally whenever she would blink her eyelids off. Though it's quite unusual for someone to have such prolonged lashes…yet for her, it was GOD gifted. And those only made her eyes look more attractive. A perfect pair of eyebrows which was shaped in a not too thin line neither too thick ones…rather just in an exemplary line. Her button nose was not reducing her beauty…instead of adding more to her cuteness. A small, almost invisible brown mole could be seen on her right cheek…from upto very close to her. As if GOD also wanted to protect this innocent enchantress from all the evil eyes. And last but not the least, her small thin cherry lips…only made her look breathtaking.
   No matter how many times he looked at her, yet it always felt less. His eyes never got the satisfaction of watching her…and he knew as long as he had life inside him, his honey brown orbs would never get tired nor contented observing her. Her slow minty breath was caressing his face, flipping everything inside his stomach. He felt as if something was fluttering inside his tummy…making him feel ticklish every now and then. Azel slowly inched her mouth closer to him…both their lips were at a distance as if it would touch each other the moment even a little bit of movement would take place in between them. Rehan's breath quickened…while his already thudding heart started hammering now. He was sure that his heartbeats were audible even from outside…because Azel slowly kept her hand at the left side of his chest…exactly at the place underneath which his heart was caged inside his ribcage. She slowly rotated her hand over there…as if rubbing the spot would soothe his beating heart. Getting her touch, his heart went crazier…instead of slowing down at a normal pace, it kept on beating in its own insane form.
    Azel lifted up her face towards him, looking at him with her doe eyes,"Am I the reason?" Though she knew the answer of her own question very well…still she wanted to hear the same from him. "What do you think?"He questioned back…losing himself in her eyes again and again. "I want to hear it from you,"she gave him a wink, smiling playfully.
   He placed his one hand on her waist, pulling her even closer…absolutely killing the distance in between them. Now it was time for Azel to widen her eyes, as she looked at both of their faces…which were separated only by the hand Rehan kept over her lips. He slowly kissed the back of his own hand,"This barrier would vanish away in between us soon as well,"Rehan winked at her mischievously and that was enough to banish away all her boldness from a minute ago.
   Now she was in the same condition in which Rehan was in just awhile ago. He slowly…way too carefully, cupped her cheeks as if she were a glass doll and placed a tender kiss on her forehead,"You know everytime I look at you…my love for you only keeps on increasing. Can you please tell me why you are this adorable?"Rehan asked, caressing her chubby cheeks with both his hands. It was one of his many ways to adore her. Azel's cheeks turned a darker shade of red, she lowered her head…feeling extremely shy under his loving gaze.
   "You are making me feel shy,"her voice came out meekly…making him smile even wider,"And you making me feel even crazier for you, Wifey!"He gently lifted up her face, by placing his index and thumb under her chin…making him face her. Rehan leaned his face downwards…leveling for Azel's height…and the next moment his lips were placed over her right cheek. He took his own sweet time to kiss both her cheeks, as if his lips never wanted to lose their contact with her skin. Azel's breath and heartbeat both quickened at the same time at an immeasurable rate. She closed her eyes, losing herself in the waves of his love. Her knees felt too weak to carry her own weight, making her grip his shirt as tightly as she could as if it was her last straw to save herself from drowning. Whereas she knew it better how she had already gotten inundated in the sea of his love, submerging herself to him.
   "I love you, my crazy Princess,"he nuzzled his nose against hers…."I love you too, my silly Lunatic,"Azel wrapped her arms around his neck…while he made his way to her arms, snuggling into her embrace,"This is the best place I could ever be!" Rehan seemed to be more like a little kid than a grown up man now…his this kind of silliness only made Azel smile as she started caressing his hair after planting a kiss at the crown of his head.
—------
   In Zeeshan's hotel room,
"Baby, you can use my washroom here. It's that way,"Zeeshan softly informed the child, showing her the way towards the bathroom. "Okay, thank you so much, Mamu *(mother's brother)*,"Sharah offered a bright smile to Zeeshan, making him smile as well.
    Shahriar kept his daughter on her feet, when her curious eyes landed upon the table where the bottle of scotch and the half filled glass was kept. "Abbu, what is that?"She pointed her fingers at the bottle of the drink…grabbing the attention of both the men present there. Shahriar glared at Zeeshan when he saw what Sharah was pointing at. "Sweetheart, it's…it's juice,"Zeeshan answered, fumbling in between…trying not to mess it up at all.
    Sharah's eyes twinkled in happiness as she almost ran towards the bottle,"I also want to drink this juice. The color of this juice is so amazing,"saying she was about to lift up the glass till her lips, when Shahriar held her hand in the middle…though he was hell angry at Zeeshan right now. But in front of Sharah, Shahriar chose not to lose his cool,"Babies cannot drink this, darling. It's for grown ups like me and your Mamu. So, you go and get freshen up…I will order your favorite juice for you, okay?"Shahriar reasoned with Sharah so calmly…for a moment, Zeeshan was mesmerized at his patience and tender love towards the child.
    Indeed! How responsibilities could change people overnight! Who had thought that the once carefree Shahriar would one day transform himself as the most careful father, just for his daughter? "Okay, Abbu. Thank you,"Sharah chirped happily, placing a soft kiss on her Abbu's cheeks as she bolted towards the washroom in order to freshen up. "She is such a sweet kid! So well mannered and obedient…just like Zohi,"Zeeshan mumbled, as the whole room was silent hence it was quite loud and clear for Shahriar to hear his statement.
    "She is only my daughter, you get that? Your Zohi has nothing to do with her!"Shahriar spat furiously…his year's age pent up anger was nowadays taking an unnerving form…wanting nothing but to destroy everything coming his way. "Is that so? Then why did you introduce Zohi as her mother since the time she has started understanding things? Why did you adopt a baby girl and named her Sharah? The same name you wanted to keep for your daughter which you had dreamt of having with Zohi! You claim to hate her…then why do you visit her grave every Friday after offering your Jummah salat? Why do you always recite the holy Quran sitting beside her grave for hours..huh? Why did you open madrassas, orphanages and mosques in her name? Why after every six months you donate a hefty amount to those institutions under her name? You told me that you don't love her anymore! Then why does one of the vast walls in your bedroom have a portrait of hers? Why still your phone screen has her picture in it? Why did you not move on yet? Why are you still burning in the vengeance of her death? Why do you still want to give Abu Tariq the worst death of all times? Why, Shahriar? Tell me why?"This time Zeeshan almost yelled out at his best friend not being able to tolerate the things going on.
    "Because I'm still madly in love with her, damn it! I still love her more than anyone else in this world! I…I still want to reverse back the time and make everything alright. But the reality everytime slams on my face as to how I can never do that! And then I hate her…hate her that I could never actually hate her even if I want to! I want to hate her for leaving me alone here! I want to hate her for breaking the promise she made. I want to hate her for not trusting me enough. I want to hate her for taking her own life by her own hands…I want to hate her for taking her last breath in my arms…but I cannot do that either, damn it! I cannot. No matter what happened…I still can never hate her,"with that Shahriar broke down into tears…kneeling on the floor while weeping his heart out. How much he hated feeling this vulnerable…yet after her, all his life was filled with such pathetic feelings only!