𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐤-𝐞-𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐭

4.

aaj to dil ke dard par hañs kar
dard kā dil dukhā diyā maiñ ne

آج تو دل کے درد پر ہنس کر
درد کا دل دکھا دیا میں نے

•••

Zorawar was initially directed to Fahad's room by the receptionist information but took a wrong turn and ended up in front of a partially ajar room. Believing it might be his friend's room, he went near the door, now a bit surprised and intrigued, cautiously observed the girl he had seen earlier in the receptionist area. She was wearing a white salwar kameez with a bright red dupatta gracefully wrapped around her head his curiosity grew as he wondered about her connection to this place in the hospital and the old woman in the bed.

'Get a grip, Zorawar' he scolded himself and was reverting back but her voice reached his ears, freezing him in place.

"Assalamualaikum ammi" Noor said to her mom but he couldn't wonder and think how can someone have such a captivating voice.

Zorawar was trying to adjust his position, attempting to catch a glimpse of noor's face but the angle he was standing made it nearly impossible to see her features.

"Salam ka jawab to de dein ammi aap apni bachhi ko?" Noor asked her mom and made Zorawar wonder why her mother doesn't responded.

"Ammi aur kitni din aap yaha aise sote rahegi, humara toh khayal karle aap, teen mahine hogaye hain ammi abh toh uth jaaye naa,
Pata hain doctor keh rahe the ajh ki abh yeh patient pe depend karta hain ki unhe uthna hain ya nahi, shayad aapki ammi ko abh uthne ki chah nahi hain hum kitna dar gaye the ammi aap aise toh naa karey mere sath, aap kisi ka na sahi humaarey baare me toh soch ley aapke siwa koi nahi hain, humara yaha, pata hain aapki awaaz sunne ko abh taras gayi hun main, thoda toh sochle humaare baare me please uth jaaye na" as she spoke to her mother, her voice quivered.
Meanwhile Zorawar's heart's wrench listening to her.

"Chaliye chode yeh sabh" Noor said while trying to control her tears.

"Ajh pata hain kya hua ammi woh Aaliya hain na uska rishta gaya tha par saamney waalo ne mana kar diyaa toh pura ghar sir pe utha liyan dono maa beti ne aur iss sabh mein hume bhi ghaseet liyaa aur fhir kya wahi chiz hui jo har din hota hain bee jaan ka kehna ki yeh iski ammi ki hi tarbiyat hain baba ka kehna sorry kehdo inhey aur bhai woh toh kuch kehte hi nahi hain, ammi yeh sabh sey dil baith gaya hain humaara abh, bilkul bhi dil nahin lagta abh uss ghar me woh ghar nahin bass char diwaari lagti hain ammi," Noor said and held her mom's hand.

"Aapko hum batana hi bhul gaye ammi abh ghar me hum ek dafa khana bhi banate hain itne saarey log hain ghar pe kaam karney ke liye par bee jaan aur sameena begum ne hume duty pe lagaya hain taaki jab hum dusre ghar jaaye toh inka naam na kharab ho, yeh sabh toh bahaney hain ammi yeh bass naye naye tarkeeb lagate rehte hain hume tang karney ke liye aur woh sameena begum apney bachhi ke liye rishta dhund rahin hain par ussey na taameez sikhayi hain kisi chiz ka naa lihaaz, aur aapko ek aur baat bataye abh hum public transport use kartey hain hume unki ehsanat ki jarurat nahi hain uss din woh Aaliya hume itna sunayi hain kyun pata hain bass isiliye hum woh gaadi me baith gaye jisme woh safar karti hain aur isme bhi baba ne kya kaha pata hain maafi maango, tabse hum unki gaadi bhi istemaal nahi kartey, aur ajh jabardasti bhabhi ne humaare sath gaadi bheji kyunki hum aapsey milney aarey they, lekin ammi abb aur kitni din yeh sabh sahege hum, humsey humaarey baba, bhai aur abh aap sabh chin gaye ammi, hum akele hogaye hain" Noor started crying and Zorawar felt a deep sense of empathy as he watched her cry and sudden urge to soothe her.

"Ya allah utni hi taklif dena jitni mai seh paaun" noor looked up and murmured.

"Aur sach bataye ammi ajh achha hi huaa ki woh Shah log ne mana kar diya rishte ke liye in logo ko akal toh aayegi, haa maloom hain aap kahegi apney hain humaarey lekin ammi aise apno se toh koi anjaan hi behtar hain humaarey liye" unbeknownst to her, ANJAAN is actually there and listening her heartfelt confession.

From this state Zorawar realised one thing that she belong from Malik haveli because the Shah she is referring who refused for proposal is him only but who is she? What's her name? Why is he getting affected by her? All this thoughts came into his mind.
'Chor yaar Zorawar tenu ki?'

His phone started ringing and from ringtone voice Noor lost in a deep trance, suddenly snapped out of her reverie when a ringing tone pierced the air. Her gaze shot toward the direction of the mysterious voice at the door, but to her bewilderment, there was no one to be found.

••••••