𝗗𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗮𝗿-𝗲-𝗗𝗶𝗹

اضطرارِ دل ۱۲۔

آنکھیں دیکھیں تو میں دیکھتا رہ گیا
جام دو، اور دونوں ہی دو آتشہ
آنکھیں یا مَے کدے کے یہ دو باب ہیں؟
آنکھیں ان کو کہوں یا کہوں، خواب ہیں؟ 

Aankhein dekhi toh main dekhta reh gaya
Jaam do, aur dono hi do aatisha
Aankhein yah mehkade ke yeh do baab hain?
Aankehin inko kahun yah kahun khuwab hain?

When I saw the eyes, I was mesmerized.
Give me a drink, and both are equally intoxicating.
Are these eyes or the two chapters of a tavern?
Should I call them eyes or dreams?)

Flashbacks Only:

An eight-year-old Ibrahim was crying while holding his injured knee. He had fallen while trying to learn to ride a bicycle without training wheels.

He was in pain, and his knee was painfully abraded.

Safeer sat near him and, in a stern tone, said,

"Ladkey thodi rotey hain! Ladkey strong hotey hain! Jo ladkey rotey hain woh kamzor hotey hain aur kamzor logo ka iss dunya mein kaam nahi."

(Boys don’t cry! Boys are strong! Those boys who cry are weak, and weak people have no place in this world.)

Ibrahim's sob caught in his throat, and with a mix of shame and determination, he quickly wiped away his tears, fearing rejection by the world.

Safeer had passed on to him what he learned from a misogynistic society: men are stronger, men can't cry.

That incident left a lasting imprint on his mind, causing irreparable damage. After that, he never cried in front of anyone, no matter how much pain he was in. He was even afraid to cry in private, and after a year or so, he stopped crying in private altogether.

He didn’t have anyone his age in his family, and he made friends infrequently, as he was very reserved. Over time, his personality evolved into someone who found contentment in his own company. He didn’t need anyone and disliked others invading his privacy. He preferred being alone and hated disturbances.

He was a very obedient child to his parents and showed great respect towards his elders.

At 25, as his master's was nearing its end, he was passing by his parents' room when he heard his name. Thinking they were calling him, he approached the door, but his mother's next words made him freeze with his hand still raised to knock.

"Main soch rahi hun Inaya ka rishta Ibrahim ke liye maang lun! Mujhe woh bachi bohatt pasand hai! Ibrahim ko isse zyada achi ladki koi nahi mil sakti! Haseen jodi hogi dono ki, InshAllah."

(I’m thinking of asking for Inaya’s hand for Ibrahim! I really like that girl. Ibrahim wouldn’t find a better match. They would make a beautiful couple, InshAllah)

Ibrahim's eyes widened. He had always kept his distance from the opposite gender, and having a friend circle that included girls was his only interaction with them.

Inaya, the youngest daughter of his father's best friend, had just been admitted to BDS. She had a pleasant nature but was also a notorious troublemaker and the clumsiest person he had ever met. Since childhood, their interactions often involved her causing some kind of disruption. She was a constant source of disturbance, the greatest fear of people like Ibrahim.

He couldn’t hear his father as he was lost in his thoughts. With a shaky sigh, he returned to his room.

After that day, he began to notice Inaya, almost unintentionally.