Ishq-e-Nazar

CH21

IZEL POV

As we reached the basement, my phone buzzed. It was Irfaz. I answered, and before I could say anything, he spoke.

"Begum, hogaya kya apka kaam?" (My love, is your work done?) he asked, his voice teasing as always.

I smiled, rolling my eyes. "Ji, hogaya, but aap kaha ho?" I replied, a hint of playfulness in my voice. (Yes, it's done. Where re u?)

There was a pause on his end, then he chuckled softly. "Aapke dil ke kareeb," (Close to your heart) he replied, making my heart skip a beat.

"Flirt mat karo, Irfaz," I replied, rolling my eyes even though he couldn't see.

He laughed, his voice warm and rich. "Main flirt nahi kar raha, Begum. Sirf sach keh raha hoon." (I'm not flirting, my love. Just speaking the truth.) "Arey, meine call isliye kiya tha," (Hey, I called for a reason) Irfaz said, his tone a bit more serious now. 

"Mera ek dost yahan hospital mein hai, so I thought I'd check on him. Tum wait karo 5 minute lobby mein, main usse mil ke aata hoon." (One of my friends is in the hospital, so I thought I'd check on him. You wait in the lobby for 5 minutes; I'll meet him and come back.)

I nodded, glancing at Sana beside me. "Then mein Sana ke sath ja rahi hoon, kuch khane. Bula lena ho toh," I added, giving Sana a mischievous look. (Then I'm going with Sana to grab something to eat. Call me if you need anything.)

"Ha, go ahead. I'll pick you up afterward," he replied casually, as if he was already planning everything.

"Alright, I'll see you soon," I said, hanging up with a smile. My day had been full of unexpected events, but it seemed like it was going to get a lot more interesting from here.

************

IRFAZ'S POV

As I waited in my car for my begum to return, my phone buzzed with a call from Ahaan. He's been my best friend since childhood, but we had to part ways in the 11th grade when he pursued a career in gaming, moving to different states and even countries for his tournaments. We manage to talk almost every week, though it's tough for guys to chat much on the phone. Despite the distance, our bond remains as strong as ever.

"Hmmm," I answered, humming my usual greeting.

"Where are you? Mera accident hogya hai!" (Where are you? I've had an accident!) Ahaan exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency.

"Phone karke bata raha hai ki tera accident hogya hai, toh tu mara nahi hai, got it?" (If you're calling to say you've had an accident, then you're not dead, got it?) I replied, trying to keep it light.

"Kutte, tujhe meri janaza ki wait karni hai! Tujhe toh mein milke bataunga," (You dog, you'll have to wait for my funeral! I'll tell you when we meet) he screamed, his dramatic flair coming through.

"Milne ke liye tujhe yahan aana padega. Aise tu kuch nahi kar sakta, aisi technology aayi nahi hai," (To meet me, you'll have to come here. You can't do anything like this; technology hasn't advanced that much) I shrugged, trying to ease his panic.

"XX hospital pe aa emergency ward pe. Abhi sab kaam chhod ke, tera ek lauta masoom dost zindagi ke akhri kalma parh raha hai!" (Come to the XX hospital's emergency ward. Stop everything; your only innocent friend is reading his last prayers!) he said, playing the drama king. 

I thought I should get there before Izel arrived.

"Aaraha hu, 5 minutes. Ab phone rakh," (I'm coming, 5 minutes. Now hang up) I said, ending the call.

I pulled into the hospital's parking lot and rushed inside, my heart pounding in sync with the hurried footsteps of nurses and doctors. After asking for directions to the emergency ward, I finally spotted Ahaan lying on a stretcher, his foot bandaged up.