She looked frantically at her phone. Azaan hadn't reached yet, but somewhere deep down, she didn't want him to turn up. It would be hard facing him after knowing something so gut wrenching. She dialled his number, deciding to cancel their date.
"Mariam!" A familiar voice called out. She turned back to face Azaan, the guy who she had loved since sixteen and always wished to marry. The moment she saw him, she saw a pool of happiness.
"Hey, boyfriend."Mariam winked at him with absolute uncertainity.
She smiled out her worries, not letting Azaan know what she was thinking of.
"How come you turned up late?" Mariam asked. Before Azaan could reply to his ladylove, the wind toyed with Mariam's headscarf and set it lose, displaying her lustrous hair.
Her hands reached for her scarf as a reflex, trying to get it back to position, she was always uncomfortable without her hijab.
"Let it be. I love the way your hair looks today. It's so sleek, if you were a model , you'd give others a run for their money. I wonder,how did I get someone so impeccable?"
A tear drop appeared at the corner of her eyes. 'This is going to be hard'she thought.
They walked along the shore, watching the buzz that took place in the beach. There were different kind of stalls, but none attracted Mariam today.Theywalked along the shore, watching the buzz that took place in the beach. There were different kind of stalls, but none attracted Mariam today.
"Look at that stall there, you want some cotton candy?" Azaan tried his best to get Mariam enjoying.
"Azaan, there's something I need to tell you." Mariam told as Azaan dragged her towards the stall.
"Yes, baby, tell me." Azaan rested his hands on her shoulder.
"This can't happen. Us. We aren't meant to be. This will be our last date." And tears poured out of her eyes.
Unable to digest what he just heard, he cried "Don't do this. We both love each other, what else matters? It's been seven years now, we have made it through thick and thin. The only reason I've the courage to face life is because you've always been beside me, being my constant pillar of strength. When we've got love, what else do we need?"
"Life." Mariam said one word, only to confuse Azaan.
"What? Tell me clearly, what's bugging you."
"Nothing is bugging me, but something is surely killing me. Listen carefully, Azaan. I am serious and I am playing no prank on you like last time. I've been diagnosed with cancer and I have the least chance of recovering. You were complimenting my hair a while ago, I'll be bald after my chemotherapy sessions. You always adore my face, that'll turn pale after all the medications I'll have to take. I'm battling with life right now, Azaan.And I don't want you to be a part of it. I don't want you to fight a war ,that ain't yours and end up wounded. I'll only turn ugly: physically, mentally and emotionally. I won't be stable. I don't want to put you through hell when I know you deserve to experience paradise. And the only way that can happen.."She fell silent.
"The only way that can happen is if we part ways?" Azaan completed the sentence for Mariam and let out a light laugh that tickled her soul. "You really think that I am so shallow to love you for your appearance? What's the big deal if you have no hair? Your hijab will cover that up and you know, I love you for your modesty. And about your face getting wrinkled, you'll always be the most beautiful girl in my life no matter what. I'll never leave you alone in a battle, my lady. You're my queen and I am ready to put my whole army at stake for you. And the only paradise I would ever want to be in, would be the one where you reside. You are the sole reason I'm on the right track and you expect me to leave you on the tracks, letting the train of life hit you? That's not going to happen. Don't forget, love can heal anything, Cancer will eventually give up. You got to stay strong."
Mariam sobbed as Azaan lifted her chin to let her eyes meet his.
"You might have cancer, but we have love, something that spreads faster than cancer. We have already marked our victory, haven't we?"He passed on a cotton candy to Mariam, letting a smile spread across her face.
