Broken desires

31. Mateen Ahmed

A year ago, Huzaifa attended a dinner with his father, where he met all his father's business partners and some of his special friends, including Mateen Wahab Haider, who partnered with his father on a new project.

Even though Mateen was younger than Huzaifa's father and of the same age as Huzaifa, his father was extremely fond of him. That's why he had brought Mateen along so Huzaifa could meet him.

Huzaifa and Mateen sat together during the whole gathering. During those two or three hours, Huzaifa found out why his father kept praising Mateen. Mateen really had a very charming personality.

After that dinner, they met again at another event where they discussed many issues, and this time their understanding turned into a good friendship.

Because they lived in the same city, Huzaifa would often meet Mateen once or twice a month, sometimes with his father at a business gathering or sometimes at a function of a famous politician. Over time, they became friends who could share their joys and sorrows with each other.

When Huzaifa decided to marry Ruby, he needed friends who could keep his secret, and the first name that came to mind was Mateen.

His other friend already knew about Ruby, but when Huzaifa told Mateen about his intention, Mateen's first reaction was to stop him from the marriage. But even after explaining enough, when Huzaifa's decision did not change, Mateen was compelled to become a witness in the marriage.

But that doesn't mean he agreed with Huzaifa's decision. Today, seeing Huzaifa like this, Mateen saw his fear come true.

"Now tell me the whole thing. What happened? There must be some big reason for your saddened face..." Mateen said, looking at him.

"Baba has found out about Ruby..." Huzaifa said softly, his eyes still on the sea in front of him.

Mateen did not react to his response but looked as if he already knew it would happen.

"I told you before that you were doing wrong. Marriage is not something you can hide for long, especially from your whole family."

Huzaifa knew this too, but he could not stop himself from falling into this deep abyss.

"You know, I thought I loved Ruby, and I promised her mother that I would not leave Ruby alone... and now I can't go against my promise," Huzaifa said.

"What would you have done if you were in my place?" He wanted to know how he had made such a big mistake and what Mateen would have done if he had been in his place.

Mateen looked at him with a smile. "I... I can't think of anyone but Aayat. Because at first sight, I was convinced that if I ever married someone, it would only be Aayat. Why? Because for me, love either exists or does not exist. There is no room for any other option."

His gaze softened at the mention of his love.

Huzaifa stared at him, curious. This was not the first time Mateen's deep emotion could be gauged with just the mention of his love. He always showed his deep love for a girl named Aayat.

"If you were really in love with Ruby, you would never have married Moomal, nor would you have any remorse in your eyes right now," Mateen said, pointing at his eyes.

"You can only know who you love when you are on the verge of losing her. When the very feeling of losing her kills you. And who is that precious person in your life? No one can tell you this better than yourself."

When Mateen said this, the face that came to Huzaifa's mind was not Ruby's but Moomal's.

He would never forget the moment when Moomal refused to go with him.