Mohabbatein - A Farmeed Fanfic

Chapter 16

Farjaad watched the cab drive away, refusing to believe what had just happened had actually happened. He felt like the world was closing in on him, nothing made sense, how did it all go so wrong, so fast?

His fingers trembled feeling the little velvet box in his pocket, tonight was supposed to be so different, they were supposed to leave the venue together, her ring back on her finger, everything was supposed to be perfect. This moment, however, was the antithesis of perfect, he was losing her all over again, his breath was caught in his throat along with all the words he wished he said to stop her, to try and fix things, but nothing left his mouth.

"Farjaad beta, Umeed kahan hai?" Pasha Sahab's voice snapped him out of the trance he had found himself in. He looked at him, unsure of what to say, he could see the worry in his eyes, her entire family slowly collecting around him. Farjaad felt lost, wondering what the right answer was, wondering how to apologize to them, his mouth dry.

Sameer shook him by the arm, understanding he was probably in a state of shock, "Farjaad bhai, are you okay? Where is Umeed?" Finally catching his breath, finding his tongue, he managed to stutter out, "U-Umeed...woh..woh chali gayi..."

Pasha Sahab placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to steady him, "Chali gayi? Kahan chali gayi?" Farjaad blinked a couple of times, the cogs in his mind turning, as he felt himself come back to his body. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and tried to take the first step towards his car, "M-Main gaadi nikaalta hoon. Main le jaata hoon."

Before he could take another step forward, his mom's voice stopped him, "Farjaad, Umeed ko uski family se milne dou. You go home or go back to your guests." Her voice was firm, but every bone in his body wanted to protest, "Maa, please I have to go. Woh aisehi chali gayi hai. Main aajaunga thorhi deir mein." He took his keys out of his pocket, unlocking the car. Nighat held onto his forearm, "Farjaad," her eyes narrowed at him, "Tum kahin nahi jaa rahe ho."

Mimi watched them from a distance, the tension evident amongst everyone, Umeed's family observing Farjaad and Nighat's conversation impatiently, probably wanting to see Umeed as soon as possible. Farjaad's fingers wrapped around his keys tightly, he didn't want her to deal with everything on her own, especially because he created this mess, "Maa, bass kardein. Main jaa raha hoon. Aap samajh kyun nahi—"

Pasha Sahab noticed that the situation seemed to be getting heated, he was also a little cautious of the fact that perhaps Umeed was not in the right headspace to deal with all of this if she had left that suddenly. He stepped between them, interrupting Farjaad, "Beta, aap kyu takleef utha rahe hain? Umeed thorhi pareshaan hogi, hum log millenge ussey." Nighat nodded towards Pasha Sahab, grateful. Farjaad's face fell, he couldn't say no to her dad or go back and forth with him.

He gulped, reaching for his wallet, slowly pulling out the key to Umeed's hotel room that he had. He had a feeling that Umeed might not answer the door if they just showed up. Handing Sameer the card, he explained, "Ye...Umeed ke hotel room ka card hai. Bhool gayi thi woh. Aap log le jaayein." Sameer and Haya refused to believe she had just "forgotten" her key and Farjaad had kept it in his wallet, they knew there was more to the story. Mimi eyed her brother suspiciously as well while he told Pasha Sahab the address of her hotel and her room number. 

Something was definitely going on, everyone standing there realized. No one acknowledged it though as Umeed's family hurriedly piled into their car to head over to find Umeed, and the Bahadurs headed back inside to say goodbye to their guests.

***

"Sab kharab hogaya," Umeed sobbed to herself, throwing her heels against the wall, they clattered to the ground. She almost tore the saree off her body, the same fabric she had bought so eagerly, now just a bitter reminder of the dreadful night she had had. Her earrings, reminding her of the way Farjaad had put them on earlier that evening, were hurled mercilessly towards one corner of the room, she heard beads and stones scattering against the floor, none of it mattered anymore.