Khaani Reboot

Know that I love you

It is almost midnight when they reach the police station. Hamza had called Officer Ahmed to come as well.

Hadi had been kept in a separate cell away from others since his execution is the day after tomorrow. As per his request to Officer Ahmed, he was given religious books to read.

Sanam and Hamza reach in front of his cell, and find him leaning against the corner of the wall, reading a book. It is mostly dark but there's a small light in the hallway, which is the only light source for Hadi to be able to read. He has extended the book further to the light source to get more light.

He notices someone come up to him but he doesn't look up, thinking it might be constables.

Ahmed enters the hallway and clears his throat.

"Mir Saab. Miss Sanam." He pays his respects.

That's when Hadi looks up in disbelief. He puts the book away and stands up.

"Sanam?" He whispers, enough for Sanam to hear. She controls the mountain of emotions on her shoulders.

Hamza looks at Hadi and Sanam, and then over at Ahmed.

"Ahmed Saab, ab koi rukavat nahi hai. Aap mujhe batayiye aage kya karna hai." Hamza states sternly. Hadi is so shocked over Sanam coming here at midnight, he didn't even listen to Hamza.

"Ji ayiye." Ahmed directs them to his office.

"Mujhe Hadi se kuchh baat karni hai. Main yahan ruk sakti hun."

"Uh- Ji. Sure."

"Main andar ja sakti hun?" Sanam asks, making Hadi even more perplexed.

Ahmed looks over at Hamza and then back to Sanam and nods. He comes and opens the cell to let her in, and locks it back again hesitantly.

"What an irony! I'm locking up the same person I will be fighting for the next 24 hours or so, to free him, to save him." Ahmed thinks and sighs, suppressing his laugh at this ironic thought.

Hamza and Ahmed go to his office, while Khaani is with Hadi inside the cell.

"Sanam? Kya hua? Bhai firse toh nahi tumhein zabardasti laaye? Mujhe pata tha woh tumhara bayaan change karvayeinge. Main baat karunga unsey. Tum-tumhein apna bayaan change karne ki ya maafinaama jaari karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Main-"

"Chup kar jao Hadi."

"Nahi Sanam, tumhein nahi pata. Mera bhai bahot daraata hai ke yeh kardega woh kardega, lekin mera yaqeen maano woh tumhein kuchh nahi karega, kyunki ussey pata hai ke main tumse mohabbat karta hun. Isi wajah se woh mere marne ke baad bhi tumhein-"

A tight slap from nowhere lands on Hadi and the echoes are heard in the hallway. Hadi can't even catch up to what happened in 2 seconds.

 "-kuchh nahi karega". Hadi finishes his sentence in a low voice, puttting a hand on where, he realized, Sanam had slapped him.

"Marna marna marna. Marne ka bahot shaunk hai na tumhein? Toh maro, meri balaa se."

Hadi stares at her with wide eyes, hand still on face.

"Lekin marne se pehle aik baat jaan lo!" Sanam says and pauses to lock eyes with him, until they become soft and somehow weak. Hadi is waiting for her to speak, expecting what she is going to say. 

He plays all the words in his head. "Apne bhai ko door rakho mujhe! Main tumse nafrat karti hun. Main tumhari shakal nahi dekhna chahti. Tumhein apne gunaahon ki sazaa akhir mil gayi. Tum jaisa janvar-"

"Ke I love you Mir Hadi!" Sanam's voice breaks and tears blur her eyes. Hadi had never heard this softness in her voice.

She breaks into a sob again, leans forward and take his face in her hands. Hadi's heart beats so fast that if it beat any faster it would come out of his body.