An Unfading Desire

The Crimson Anarkali

As Aahan stepped through the threshold of his home, his mother Kiran greeted him with a warm smile, her eyes filled with concern. "Kya hua beta, itni jaldi ghar kese aa gaye?", she inquired, her voice laced with tenderness.

(What's the matter, dear? Why are you home so early?)

Aahan, his face etched with worry, replied, "Wo maa, meri tabiyat kharab thi toh mai aa gaya" 

(Mom, I wasn't feeling well, so I came home).

Kiran's concern deepened. "Kyu kya hua?", she asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

(What happened?)

Aahan, trying to reassure his mother, explained, "Bas thoda sa headache tha" 

(Just a slight headache).

Kiran, though not entirely convinced, nodded her head in understanding. "Accha thik he", she murmured, her voice laced with relief.

"Agar zyada tabiyat kharab ho toh kamre se awaz laga kar bula liyo", she instructed, her voice filled with motherly care.

(Okay then)
(If you don't feel well, call out from your room)

Aahan responded, "Haa maa", his voice filled with gratitude.

(Yes, Mom)

With that, he retreated to his room. As Aahan entered, the tears he'd been controlling all day finally broke free. He sank down, sobbing quietly into his hands, desperate not to be heard. His eyes squeezed shut, but the only image that burned behind his eyelids was the face of the girl 

"Hey Shyaam," he whispered into the quiet room,"mera kya kasoor hai, bas yahi ki mai canteen chala gaya? ya phir ye ki mai ek ladka hu" 

(Hey Lord Shyaam, What is my fault, just that I went to the canteen? Or that I'm a boy)

A bitter thought rose in his throat, a truth nobody seemed to understand. In that situation, his only mistake was being a boy.

He had never cried this hard before, not even as a teenager. The tears seemed to come from a place deeper than he ever knew existed.

***************************************

The news of the accusation against Aahan spread like wildfire through the college grapevine. One person deeply disturbed by the turn of events was Saaz. 

Determined to offer his support, Saaz dialed Aahan's number, but it went unanswered. Repeated attempts yielded the same result. 

With a growing sense of worry, Saaz decided to head straight to Aahan's house.

Just as he was about to leave, he spotted Suhana approaching him. "Bhai, ruk jaaiye!" she called out, her voice laced with concern. 

(Brother, stop!)

Saaz turned, a question etched on his face. "Kya hua, Suhana?" he inquired. 

(What happened, Suhana?)

"Bhai, aapko pata hai ki Aahan bhaiyya..." Suhana began, only to be interrupted by Saaz.

"Wo aisa ladka nahi hai," Saaz interjected firmly, his voice filled with conviction. "The girl was wrong not him, Ta told me"

(He is not such kind of boy)

"Arre, bhai! Main unpe shaq nahi kar rahi," Suhana reassured him, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Bas batana chahti thi aapko ki aapko unke ghar jaake unse baat karni chahiye. Pata hai wo professor ka call bhi nahi utha rahe."