Wishpered Promises Of LoVE

Unique love, Luckiest beloved

Zeeshan immediately knelt down beside his friend, wrapping his arms around Shahriar's shoulders…trying to provide some warmth to the destitute soul in his embrace. Tears escaped Zeeshan's eyes as well. Nothing hurts more than seeing your closed ones, torn apart into shreds.
    "Why did she leave me, Zeeshan? I..I had only asked for a little bit of time from her…I had promised her to punish each of them who hurt her! Then why didn't she wait for me? Sh…she knew how much I..I love her! Still she chose to make me all alone…in this cruel world! How am I to live without her? She asked me to be happy…but didn't tell me how I will stay happy when she is my happiness? She asked me to move on, find someone who will love me wholeheartedly! Despite knowing the fact that nobody could ever love me like she did…and I would never be able to love someone like I love her!
   And…the last promise she took from me was to never hurt myself…why did she do that? Was it too necessary…."Shahriar sobbed hard…letting his heavy tears fall down without any restraint. After Zohra's demise there are only a few occasions when Shahriar would have such a breakdown!
   But it certainly didn't mean that his eyes never shed the salty tears of pain…for getting separated from his beloved! Never passed a night when the night sky, the walls of Shahriar's room, his pillows and Zohra's lifeless yet mesmerizing photos didn't hear the painful whimpers of this lover. The prayer mat after each prayer was the witness of heart wrenching solicitation towards Allah with a hope that the Almighty would forgive his Zoh for the sin she committed by taking her own life.
   "It was necessary, Shahriar…because she was well aware of your craziness. She knew you would try to harm yourself…if you had to live a life without her. You think she didn't know or understand how much you loved her? Crazy guy! She loved you with the same passion.
     You remember, once you were visiting Oman…and due to the weather change, you got a high fever causing you to lose your consciousness. That night, I saw my sister shedding tears in her Esha prayer….and it was the first time that neither me or Fayza were in her entreaty, rather she was crying, begging for your well being and safety towards Allah. And it was the same night, my sister asked something from me for the first time as well. She requested me to get the best doctor for you. She took a promise from me that I should never let any harm befall on you ever.
   You were always there in her prayers. You know whenever you used to visit Oman, there would be a dish of your choice in every meal…that Zohi used to cook by herself. And when you used to go back to your realm, I had to keep my phone on speaker as she used to sit beside me so that she could hear your voice over the phone.
   You remember your 24th birthday, I had given you a knitted sweater?"Zeeshan asked Shahriar…who seemed to be in a daze. Yet he could hear and understand Zeeshan absolutely loud and clear…which made him nod his head in affirmation. "I lied to you at that time that I specially ordered it for you…whereas it was Zohi, who learned knitting in order to make that sweater for you. She wove it all by herself. I had offered her as well that we could buy it anytime, but her response was,'Bhaijaan, we can always buy a gift for our loved ones…but the love with which we make some present holds an unexplainable warmth. It can never be replaced with something more pricey or unique. It shows just how much we love that person.',"Zeeshan narrated each of the words said to him by his sister. He was amazed at first how his sister could love someone this beautifully! He never realized how maturely Zohra grew up to be a pure soul until her love for Shahriar was visible to his eyes. She never really professed that she loved Shahriar…but never backed off from showcasing her feelings for that man as well.
   Hearing Zeeshan, Shahriar was now absolutely speechless. He still remembered the night of his birthday…that time the whole Tariq family was invited at Qatar, to celebrate this special day of Shahriar.
   After distributing food and clothes among the poor…and offering his namaz, Shahriar went back to his chamber. Piles of wrapped gifts were filling his room. He was showered with various kinds of costly gifts. But in all those gifts all he was searching for Zohra's one…hers was the most special for him…even if it's just a small wishing card. But alas! He didn't find anything.
   A small flashback…..
Shahriar's shoulders slumped in sadness…not finding even a single trace of a piece of paper from Zohra's side. She didn't even wish him properly. "It's…it's okay, Shahriar. It happens. So what she didn't present me anything…after all, she is the most precious gift of Allah towards me. I'm also acting like a kid…only for a gift. What is wrong with me?"He scolded..more like consoled himself for his childish behavior. Yet all these logics could not help him feel even a little better…instead of making him more sad. Nowadays his heart and mind both acted so differently…that it would make him feel weird in front of his ownself.
   Poor him! He was just unable to figure out that now his heart was not his anymore. It belonged to someone else. And there was no significance of that love story where a little bit of craziness was not involved.
   A sigh of despair left his lips while he closed his eyes in order to calm his inner turmoil down. And once again…like always, she came into his view. A beautiful smile crept on her lips…she looked so gorgeous…so breathtaking even in her absolute ordinary form. It was her simplicity, her generosity, her precious heart and beautiful soul that made him fall for her without any leaps and bounds.
   "I never knew humans could sleep so peacefully while sitting…in fact they could even fantasize pleasant things at such a posture!"Zeeshan's words interrupted Shahriar in his world of imagination. His brows creased in displeasure as Shahriar opened his eyes while clicking his tongue,"How would you know that? After all, you only have the skills to disrupt people's beautiful dreams landing in front of them out of nowhere,"Shahriar gave a bored look at Zeeshan who didn't even mind that man. Instead, Zeeshan pushed Shahriar from the couch while sitting down like some king…making himself all comfortable.
    "You are such an insolent man! Sometimes I really wonder why am I even friends with you?"Shahriar huffed in annoyance…his best friend could literally irritate him till he went crazy. Zeeshan immediately hit Shahriar at the back of his head,"Ouch,"Shahriar whined…rubbing that place. Though he didn't get hurt at all…yet he threw a deadly glare at Zeeshan as if Zeeshan just strangled him. "Thank you so much for the compliment, man. And the feelings are quite mutual, you know,"Zeeshan winked at his best friend…he loved to be playful at times as well. Specially when it came to Shahriar, Zeeshan loved to tease his best friend. Shahriar also played along…acting to get hurt,"You not only hit my head…you hurt my heart as well, bestie! I will never forget this betrayal of yours…never ever…huh!"Shahriar wiped away his invisible tears, making Zeeshan roll his eyes over his dramatic nature.
    "Stop over acting and here keep this,"Zeeshan handed him a gift wrapped in a white wrapper. "What's this?"Shahriar started looking at the box in his hand, without even uncloaking it. While Zeeshan observed his best friend who always acted no less than a child.
   "You can also unwrap it, you know,"Zeeshan mocked Shahriar ever so casually…making the other man scowl. Shahriar opened his mouth to say something, when the door of his chamber opened as a nervous Zohra was seen fidgeting with her fingers. As soon as Shahriar's eyes landed upon the person he had been waiting since only GOD and he knew when, his melancholic face lightened up like a starry night. A charming smile made its way to his lips while he immediately stood up from his place…he wanted to run towards her. Yet not everything that we want to do, we can actually do it always. He halted in his steps, refraining himself from taking any further advances.
    "Bhaijaan, you had called for me,"Shahriar's face dropped hearing Zohra's words…where he had thought that she came to meet with him. And now look at her! She had actually came here because Zeeshan had called for her. When she would take a single step towards him? How long would she make him this restless with her indifference? Shahriar was ready to take 100th of steps towards her, walk all the paths that would lead him towards her, cross every boundaries that were in between them…all he needed was to hold her hand! Or at least a sign…a sign that she accepted him in her life…the way he always dreamt off. And he swore to fight against the entire world…just to be with her.
    "Yeah, Zohi. Come inside,"Zeeshan gestured his little sister. A mischievous smile was desperately trying to appear on his lips…looking at the unannounced yet beautiful couple. They looked 'Made for each other' even when they had a vast wall of differences amongst themselves. Zohra took slow steps as if she didn't even have the energy to drag her own body…inside. Her eyes looking downwards at the floor…as if it was the most crucial thing to do right now. How much Shahriar wanted to be the carpet underneath his feet…in that way, at least Zohra would glance at him for the time being. If someone got to know the inner thoughts of Shahriar…then he surely was going to faint out of astonishment knowing the only Prince of Qatar was actually jealous of…A carpet!
   As soon as Zohra reached near Zeeshan,"Shit! I forgot my phone in the room. I was going to get an urgent call anytime soon. I'll get it back…Zohi, you stay here, okay? I will come back real soon,"Zohra's head snapped towards Zeeshan's direction, glaring at her brother with the most deadliest stares of hers. While Zeeshan only winked at his little sister…he was indeed the biggest shipper of this 'Zohriar' couple. On the other hand, Zohra could not believe her brother. He just back stabbed her in the cruelest way possible. Literally leaving her in the den of a lion…a wounded at that!
    "But Bhai…."Zohra's words remained unfinished…because Zeeshan didn't even stand there a minute longer to give her a chance to decline his idea. She blinked her eyes quite a few times…feeling way too nervous under his gaze…which held sadness, helplessness…yet immense love for her. "Relax, Zoh! I'm never going to hurt you. Why do you always be on guard around me? Do I..I make you feel unsafe…somehow?"Shahriar asked, his voice almost whispering. But the pain it held…didn't go unheard by her.
   She immediately shook her head, still not being able to gather up the courage to look into his eyes…making him sigh! "Then why…"
  "Did…did you see what Bhaijaan bring for you? He specifically ordered it for you,"Zohra cut him in between, wanting to change the topic. And he got the hint that she didn't want to talk with him regarding anything…that concluded his feelings. At times, Shahriar's mind wanted to be way too stubborn…to confess his love for her…in front of her. But then his heart would always stop him from doing so…knowing she didn't want it to happen…maybe not now at least!
   Shahriar brought back his lost smile…not wanting to lose even a slight opportunity to converse with her…even if it's about absolutely nothing in particular. "No, I was just going to. How about you unwrap it for me?"Shahriar kept forward an innocent demand…along with the gift. "But how can I? I mean why should I?"Zohra was a bit baffled…not knowing exactly how to deny him. Why he needed to be this sweet?
  "Please, you can at least do this much, right?"Shahriar's tone pleading…so were his eyes. As if her unwrapping the gift for him was the most significant thing in his life right now. Zohra could no longer decline anymore…she didn't say anything to him instead just forwarded her hand in front of him. Only this small gesture of her accepting his request made him smile broadly…as if he just won the whole world. Or maybe it was way more precious than that for him.
    "Thank you,"his voice was chirping with happiness right now. Zohra glanced at him once…how could someone love someone else the way he loved her? She didn't know. But all she knew was, day by day, minute by minute, she was falling more deeply, more crazily for this man. She slowly tore apart the covers from the box before opening it…as a beautiful creme colored sweater with a touch of sky blue mix came into his view. "I hope you liked it,"she asked him, biting her lips in tension…worrying about his reaction. It was her first time doing something for someone…who was the most special person of her life.
  "It's beautiful. I liked it,"Shahriar took the sweater from the box before wearing it over his thin jacket. And Zohra swore that she had never seen someone who looked this charming…before him. Gosh! That man looked more gorgeous than she imagined. And at this point she really wanted to make a law that…Shahriar Ibne Junaid Khan should never look this beautiful in front of others…ever! And if he did so…then he should certainly be punished by getting caged in the love cell of Zohra.
   If only Shahriar knew about Zohra's such plans, he would have surely made an extra effort to look more handsome…and after that he would happily surrender himself in her cage…because it's the only dream he had, since then only Allah and he, himself knew. "How am I looking?"He asked her…with a hope to get appraisal from her. "G…good,"she stuttered, making his heart have quite a few flips inside his chest…if that was even possible.
   "Thanks,"he offered her a sweet smile as his heart wanted to be a little bit more greedy now,"And where is your gift?"He asked the most awaited question of today's…not even knowing that the sweater he was currently wearing was the gift she had prepared for him with her own hands. "I..I'm sorry, I could not bring anything much for you. I just got these for you,"saying she took a small handmade wishing card and a white Jasmine from the center table before forwarding them towards him. He didn't even notice these things in her hands earlier. And how would he? When his whole focus was on her face and in his own thoughts only?
   But this was it! Shahriar almost snatched the contents from her hand,"Thank you…thank you…thank you sooo much. These are the best gifts I have ever received, Zoh. I cannot explain just how happy I'm. You don't even know how precious and priceless these are for me,"Shahriar expressed whatever he felt inside…finally he was feeling genuinely happy…in fact over the moon actually! His Zoh gifted him something…what more he would want?
   While Zohra only kept on looking at this man…whose whole room was stuffed with almost uncountable costly gifts…yet he looked so happy and content just by getting a wishing card and a flower? Just because it was she…who presented it to him! He was indeed the most unique person in this world….and she was absolutely the luckiest girl to have someone like Shahriar to love her.
—------Flashback ended…….
   "Z…Zoh made the sweater for me?"Shahriar asked Zeeshan in disbelief. Zeeshan nodded his head…affirming that it was indeed Zohra. While Shahriar felt as if he was still having one of his many beautiful dreams about his Zoh. He knew it from the beginning that Zohra also loved him. But there was something…something that was stopping her from holding his hand. Though he assured her many times…yet he never wanted to force her to be with him. At some points he also thought maybe things were not the way he presumed those to be. But what he didn't have a clue about…was how tactfully she was hiding her love behind the curtains of her unbothered attitude.