Kahi Ankahi

Chapter 19

Qirat's p.o.v.

"Aapse koi milne aaya hai." The waiter informed me.

"Kahan hain woh?" I inquired.

"Bahar garden mein." He responded and walked away.

Everyone had left by now. It was just Jahanzeb and myself. Shehry and Iqra too went home half an hour ago. Jahanzeb was supposed to drop me home. It was kinda weird how Shehry or Iqra not even once asked me if I wanted to go home with them. It's very unusual for them to not ask me. I brushed away the thought.

"Main dekh ke aati hoon kon hai." I told Jahanzeb. He nodded.

I walked outside. It had started to drizzle. I saw someone sitting on the bench, staring at the sky. I stopped in my tracks when I realised who it was. He looked at me. So this is why Shehry and Iqra left early. Because they wanted me to meet him. He got up instantly as he saw me and walked towards me.

"Qirat." He said my name out. This voice.

I just stood there, not looking at him. I didn't want to break down into tears in front of him. My phone beeped in my hand but I didn't check it.

"Qirat, I need to talk to you." He said.

"What's there to talk about, Hussain?" I questioned.

"I am sorry." He said. It was so easy for him to say this. It had started to heavily rain by now. I took a few steps back, so the rain didnt affect me.

"You're sorry? For what?" I asked, now looking at him. His eyes were red and puffy. He stood under the sky, soaking wet.

"Mujhe yun rishta todh ke nahi jaana chahiye tha." He replied.

"Tumne koi rishta nahi todha, Hussain. Uss din tumne humari dosti todh di thi." I spoke my heart out and felt tears filling up my eyes. "Tum itne khudgarz hogaye thay, ke tumne mere aansoo'on ki parwah nahi ki. Woh Hussain, jo meri asli aur nakli smile mein farq pechaanta tha, woh Hussain jo meri aankhon mein aansoon nahi dekh sakta tha, woh Hussain jiske liye meri khushi duniya ki sab se zyada important cheez thi, woh Hussain toh pata nahi kahan chala gaya. Its like I don't even know you now." I choked a sob on the last part. "Mujhe humara rishta tootne se zyada gham iss baat ka hai ke tum mujhe pehchaan nahi sakey; ke tum mujhe rota chhorke chale gaye, Hussain. Mujhe gham humari dosti tootne ka hai." He stood still, looking down.

I felt tears rolling down my cheeks and that's when I decided to go inside.

Hussain's p.o.v.

"Mujhe gham humari dosti tootne ka hai." She spoke as tears rolled down her cheeks. Each word that come from her stabbed me right in the heart; made me hate myself. How could I be so selfish? I honestly had nothing to say in my defense. I stood there, almost numb, not even able to look in her eyes. I was disappointed in myself. I was ashamed of myself.

She walked back inside and I dropped to my knees. I had broken her. The rain, along with my tears, flowed down my face. I guess I hadn't realised how much hurt she was. Her words expressed every inch of pain that had been buried within her. I had to mend her heart. I wanted to mend her heart. But I also had to give her some space. I got up and wiped my face with my hand. That didn't quite help because my hands were already drenched in water. I walked towards the entrance of the hall and stood on the little piece of carpet that was placed just outside the hall, most probably for the muddy footsteps. I stood there for quite some time. Seeing me makes her sad. I'll keep my distance from her. I want to see her happy. I closed my eyes for a while and then opened them. Everything she said today was correct. I was selfish enough to break our friendship that day. I was selfish enough to leave her crying that day.

I walked inside. She was sat on a chair. She had her hand placed on her forehead and was looking down.

"Chalo main tumhe ghar chhor deta hoon." I told her, looking down.

Qirat's p.o.v.

I told him everything that I had in my heart all this time. I had to let it all out. I was brought out of my thoughts by his voice.

"Chalo main tumhe ghar chhor deta hoon." He said, looking down, with no expression on his face.

I had no other option but to go with him. I had checked my mobile and the message I had received then was from Jahanzeb saying that he had leave. I got up and he began walking outside. I followed him to his car and he unlocked it. We got in and he drove off. It was still raining so he drove very carefully. The drive was awkwardly silent; the only sounds were the water drops hitting the windscreen and the tyres splashing water on the road. I kept looking out of the window; the water droplets rolling down. Drives with Hussain were never silent and I had never even imagined to be. I never wanted drives with him to be like this.

Hussain's p.o.v.

I decided to give her the space she needed.

The awkwardly silent drive finally came to an end. I stopped my car in front of her house and she got out of the car as soon as the vehicle halted. I watched her walk inside the gate.

I hit my head on the steering. I stayed sitting in that position. All I wanted right now was to hug Qirat and let her cry in my chest. I wanted Qirat in my life. I wanted her by my side forever. I was beginning to realise that she was the reason behind my loss of interest in Maya. I know our relationship ended because of a different reason but I had lost my interest in her a while ago. I had stopped paying attention to what she was saying or talking about because I'd be seeing my and Qirat's pictures in my phone. I had stopped being with Maya because my mind was with Qirat...and so was my heart.