THE DESTINED CONFLUENCE

RECONCILIATION

Zaviyaar looked confused "Who is he and why is he here" he thought

A young boy came out and stood with his eyes hooked to the ground

"Assalamualaikum Zavi bhai" he spoke timidly

"Walekumassalam Hassan, tum kab aaye?" Zaviyaar took him in a deep hug

Hassan smiled "Ek week pehle aaya bhai"

"Dadu wo mai aapko batane aaya tha ki mujhe parso ke tickets mil rahe mai wapas London chala jaunga" he told

"Pagal ho kya ab aaye ho to meri shaadi attend karke hi wapas jaana, mai pichle ek hafte se Haider se connect karne ki koshish kar raha tha ki tumhara kuch ata pata hi mil jaye to mai invite karu" He spoke

"All the best bhai may you have a very happy married life maaf kariyega mai aapke nikkah tak nahi ruk sakta" Hassan replied

Zaviyaar sat quietly, his gaze fixed on his Dadu. The old man’s face was etched with worry and confusion "Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha in dono bhaiyo ko kya hua hai. In dono ko paal kar bada kiya hai maine, itni naittefaqiya kab aagayi inke beech? Haider ko bachpane se ispe jaan chhidakte dekha hai maine."

Hassan, seated nearby, shifted uncomfortably. His voice was tinged with a mix of frustration and resignation "Lekin ab nahi, wo nafrat karte mujhse. Itni nafrat ke meri shakal bhi dekhna nahi pasand karte. He doesn't care about me dadu, Sirf zindagi mein ek baar mai unki marzi ke khilaf chala gaya."

"Agar farq na padta hota Hassan, to London jaise desh mein tum itne aaram se nahi reh rahe hote. College ki fees, hostel ki fees, humesha bina kahe usne bhari hai. Warna mujh jaise school teacher ke paas kya hai? Aur tumhare convocation pe bhi usne zid karke mujhe bheja, taaki tum akele na pad jao"

"Wahi to baat hai, dadu. Wo sirf apna farz nibha rahe hain, asal mein bohot khafa hai mujhse."Hassan spoke revealing a mix of disbelief and hurt, as if the weight of unspoken grievances was becoming too heavy to bear

"Agar wo khafa hai, to tumne bhi to kabhi manane ki koshish nahi ki. Warna jo Haider tumhe chor kar school picnic pe bhi nahi jana pasand karta tha, wo tumhe itne din bagair dekhe reh le, main nahi maanta."
Zaviyaar, unable to stay silent any longer, spoke with a hint of frustration in his voice

"Kaise manau bhai, pichle do saal se mera phone nahi uthaya hai, mai ab wapas aaya hoon to wo ek minute ghar pe nahi ruk rahe kaise manau" Hassan said breaking down

"Waise hi jaise humara chota Hassan manata tha" Zaviyaar suggested

"Chalo mere saath" Zaviyaar got up and drove towards the academy

Zaviyaar drove Hassan through the gates of his brother’s academy. As Hassan looked around, memories of his own childhood resurfaced. He watched young boys jogging around the field, chatting with friends, and felt a pang of nostalgia.

The familiar grounds reminded him of his past, including the times when he got punished here the extra laps, or extra set of workouts, the place seemed to blend his joyful memories with the lessons learned, evoking a bittersweet mix of emotions.

Zaviyaar guided him towards Haider's cabin

"Nahi bhai mai nahi jaunga please" he pleaded

"Just do what I say" Zaviyaar spoke firmly

Zaviyaar walked confidently into Haider’s cabin, the guard nodding in recognition and letting him pass. Hassan, however, stayed put, not moving from his spot outside the office.

Inside, Haider looked up, surprised to see Zaviyaar.

"Tum yahan?" He asked

"Haan, kyunki tumne phone uthana to seekha hi nahi." Zaviyaar taunted