PHIR MOHABBAT

Is the sun shining brightly or is it the warmth of love? (5)

The soft clinking of bangles and the scent of roses filled the air. Maheer was getting married. After all the chaos and uncertainty, this day had finally arrived. The grand occasion took place in an opulent marquee, draped in gold fabric, with fairy lights twinkling like distant stars. Despite the grandeur, a heavy silence pressed against Saad's chest as he stood in the shadows, watching Maheer walk away from his life.

Saad had officially divorced Maheer a few weeks earlier—a clean, clinical end to a marriage that had been fractured long before. He had told himself it was the right thing to do, an act of selflessness. She deserved to be happy, and Areeb seemed like the man who could give her that. Saad's love for Maheer had always been quiet, almost too quiet, and now, it was time to let go.

As the Qaazi recited the words of the nikah, Saad glanced down at the divorce papers he had signed. With that act, he had released her into a new chapter of life. His gaze drifted to Maheer across the room. Their eyes met briefly, but there was no sadness or regret in her expression—only a calm acceptance. A moment later, Areeb leaned towards her and whispered something in her ear, making her smile—a smile that Saad hadn't seen in years.

He turned away. This wasn't his place anymore. He had come only because Maheer had asked him to be there, perhaps to witness the closure of what once was. Maybe she needed to see him letting go too. Regardless, he kept himself in the background, hidden among the guests, unnoticed and quiet.

As Saad left the hall, the cool night air wrapped around him, offering no solace. There was an odd emptiness within him, but it wasn't the kind of heartbreak he had anticipated. Instead, it felt like finality, as though a book had closed. Maheer was no longer a part of his story, and perhaps, in truth, she had never been entirely his.

Back at home, everything seemed quieter. Sehrzeen had become a part of his world now, her presence no longer temporary. Originally, she was only meant to stay until she could find her feet again, but time had passed, and she had settled in with his family. Neelo had taken a liking to her and even Saad's mother had grown fond of the young woman who had become an unexpected part of their household.

Saad found himself noticing Sehrzeen more and more. At first, she had been someone in need, someone he had helped out of a sense of duty. But now, there was something more—a connection, an understanding. It wasn't love, not yet, but it was something that lingered between them, soft and unspoken. Neither of them acknowledged it, but it was there, slowly growing, like a quiet flame.

One evening, a week after Maheer's wedding, Saad found Sehrzeen sitting in the courtyard, a sketchbook in her lap. The weather had cooled, and the sky was painted in shades of orange and pink, the day slowly surrendering to the night. Saad walked outside, drawn by the stillness of the scene.

"You draw?" he asked, surprised. He hadn't known this about her.

Sehrzeen glanced up, smiling softly. "I do. It helps clear my mind."

Saad sat beside her, watching as her pencil moved gracefully across the paper, sketching the intricate branches of a tree.

"You're really talented," he said after a few moments, genuinely impressed.

"Thank you," she replied quietly, her focus still on the sketch. "It's one of the few things that bring me peace."

Saad found himself observing her, noticing how the fading light played across her features. She looked different now—more composed, more at ease than when he first met her.

"Sehrzeen," he began hesitantly.

She turned to look at him, her brown eyes warm and attentive. "Yes?"

"I... I never really thanked you," he said, his voice faltering slightly. "For trusting me. For staying here."

A small smile touched her lips. "You don't need to thank me, Saad. You gave me a place when I had nowhere to go. If anything, I should be the one thanking you."

They shared a quiet moment, their eyes locked in an understanding that words couldn't quite capture. There was something between them—fragile but undeniable.

Just then, Neelo came bounding into the courtyard, her lively energy disrupting the calm. "Dinner's ready! You two better come quickly before everything's gone!"

Saad chuckled as Neelo dragged them both inside. They sat around the dining table, surrounded by family, and for the first time in a long while, Saad felt a sense of peace. It wasn't happiness exactly, but it was something close.

Later that night, lying in his bed, Saad found his thoughts drifting back to Sehrzeen. It wasn't the same kind of intense, all-consuming love he had once felt for Maheer. This was different—softer, slower, but no less real. It was a warmth growing quietly, and he knew it, even if he didn't say it out loud.

Across the hall, Sehrzeen lay in her room, thinking about Saad. She remembered the way he had looked at her earlier, the way his voice had softened when he spoke to her. A small smile crept onto her face, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a gentle hope stirring within her.

Neither of them spoke of it, neither made any promises. But something was beginning, something delicate and new. And this time, they would explore it at their own pace, discovering a kind of love that neither of them had expected.