Love... as it happened

Could there have been a better day... he didn't know. It wasn't just a day for him. It was the reckoning that came after, which left him stranded.

He was waiting for her by the bus stop that they always hung around. She stepped down from the bus that just arrived. He stood there not knowing that what was to come was no where pleasant. She smiled and asked him how he was. Biding the time, he replied, already curious about the mehendi on her hand. She was silent, but after a deep breath she began telling him a story.

Rahim and Rehnum were their names.

Another man, just then, walked up to them and grabbed Rahim by his collar and threw him on the ground. Rehnum tried to intervene but the best she did was call on to that man. She was frozen. Rahim shook off the surprise, blocked the next attack, and countered it with a blow to the man's ribs. The man buckled and fell to his knees. This cleared the scene for Rahim to see that Rehnum's parents stood just behind them. Rehnum ran towards him, and he stepped back to hold her. This must have been scary for her too, he thought. He opened his arms slightly. Rehnum neared him and dropped to her knees. She held the man on the ground.

Rahim couldn't understand what was happening. Rehnum's parents rushed towards them and pushed Rahim away to get to the man. Rahim stood there bewildered, he hadn't seen the man ever before in his life. Two other strange men caught Rahim and pinned his arms to his back. The man on his knees, whom they were referring to as Shehnavaz, stood up and staggered towards Rahim.

Rahim caught a glimpse of Rehnum's eyes, they said nothing. Shehnavaz punched Rahim in the stomach, and face. Rehnum didn't move. Rahim got himself kicked and slapped. Rehnum didn't utter a word.

Rahim broke off his hold and pushed Shehnavaz to the ground, and in spite of the other men, who seemed to be Shehnavaz's friends, trying to pull him off, he was set to land a hard blow on Shehnavaz's face. But his hand was held by her. He looked at her, she had tears in her eyes. She clasped her hands in front of her, and silently pleaded Rahim to not hit Shehnavaz.

Rahim lost his grip and his mind. He didn't understand, couldn't even begin to comprehend, what this strange man meant to Rehnum.

The other men pulled him back, and Shehnavaz got up to kick him in the face.

The punches and kicks didn't hurt Rahim anymore, he kept looking at Rehnum, confused and surprised.

The parents broke the scuffle off, and asked the friends to take Rahim to the police station.

When they were gone, they asked Rehnum how she knew that guy.

Rehnum told them... she didn't, it was just some guy who had been bothering her.