In The Pursuit Of Love

Good Samaritan

"..And never give up hope of Allah's mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah's mercy, except the people who disbelieve." -12:87

-----------------

The marriage preparations had started for it was about to happen in a month. Mehreen was happy and her happiness was rubbed onto everyone in the house. Even Zeeshan was content on seeing her. After all, all he ever wanted was her to be happy.

"Zeeshan" he heard a frustrated voice and his head jerked to the side on realizing who it was.

"Yes Papa" he stood up. "I know you are of no good help to us in all these preparations, but can you please go and pay the electricity bill. I have to book the marriage hall" he said rather sarcastically. Zeeshan slowly nodded and took the bill along with the money and left the house in anger. His father was right about him being of no use, but why did he feel bad whenever he heard something like this from his parents. He knew his parents were embarrassed because of him and he hated that. He wanted to do so many things for them but he couldn't do it, because he just couldn't do anything else with all his heart and mind.

In his early twenties he had the opportunity to get selected in the cricket team, when he was in college, but due to an accident he lost that opportunity and till now has been struggling with his dream and passion. And with all that going around, he was seeing himself falling into the pit of despondency.

He paid the bill amidst these thoughts and walked towards the huge playground where he practiced cricket. Reaching the centre of the ground, he sat down not worrying about the dirt that might spoil his clothes. He looked around, his eyes holding a cluster of emotions, excitement, sadness, and above all hope. He then looked above at the sky and prayed to his Rabb, to make it easy for him and his family.

A commotion broke him out of his reverie and he looked towards the direction of the voices, some hushed and some hollering. He saw people, men, running or particularly chasing someone and before he could see the person who was being chased, the person entered some building, giving him only a glimpse of the cloth the person was wearing. An unsettling feeling emerged in the pit of his stomach and he thought to have an idea of what was happening, but thinking about the events at his home, he decided otherwise and stood up dusting his clothes and left for his home.

Upon entering his house, he was met with the puppy eyes of his sister and he instantly groaned, knowing all too well that she was going to ask for some favour. He walked further inside, completely ignoring her only to be pulled back, with her grabbing his neck from behind.

"What the hell?" he half yelled and instantly got hit on the head.

"Language" his mother warned, passing by, making Mehreen chuckle while he glared at her.

"I want to eat paani ke batashe" she said, her eyes sparkling at just the mention of the food.

"So?" he said and she glared at him making him raise his eyebrows.

"Please bhai.. Mom will not let me go alone and I don't want to order at home. There is no fun in that" she folded her hands and almost begged him.

"Fine, lets go" she squealed and running to her room she came back with her head covered. Informing their mother, they left, with Mehreen walking or rather jumping and hopping while Zeeshan followed her.

"Who would say that you are getting married? Grow up" Zeeshan said and she stopped to glare at him and then resumed her activity. Zeeshan smiled at her and prayed to Allah that she remains the same always. He was obviously teasing her as he loved to see the reaction out of her.

She was munching on the delicacy, when Zeeshan saw a person running. He couldn't see the face, but he felt that he had seen her somewhere. Behind her were some men, who were running and many on the jeep which went sometime after. He suddenly remembered the girl he collided with at the market and realized that she was the same girl who was being chased. The next thing he saw made his insides turn.

A gun. Which was tucked inside a man's pant, the handle showing a little.

"Woah, look who is hogging down everything she could get" came a voice and they both turned to see Rudra standing with a smirk on his face. Mehreen rolled her eyes and continued eating.

"Mehr, don't you have any fear of bursting up. Look at your size" Rudra again said, obviously teasing her and she kept the bowl on the table with a thud. "Rudy, don't you have any fear of stepping out of the house. What if the dogs chase you hoping you to be their brother" and they continued their bickering. Zeeshan's mind was stuck on the girl and he couldn't think straight.

"Rudy, can you please take Mehreen home. I just remembered some really important work" Zeeshan said in a hurry.

"Sure, but what's –" and without letting him complete, he ran towards the direction the girl went.

"Are you done?" Rudy asked looking everywhere else but her.

"Umm.. No" she replied with a smirk, "but I'll be, only if you have this last piece. You know, my stomach is full." She said fully knowing that he can't eat spicy food.

"NO. Mehr, please, I-" and as soon as he opened his mouth, she stuffed the last piece in his mouth, a little carefully though, and laughed wholeheartedly, while Rudy froze in his place for a few seconds. He regained back his composure as his initial shock subsided and coughed badly as the spiciness of the food melted in his mouth.

"I'll kill you Mehr" he shouted and off they went after he paid the bill, bickering on their way.

As Zeeshan ran, he got a glimpse of the yellow colour dress she was wearing and increased his pace. He saw men chasing her and then turned into a lane knowing his way around. After a few seconds, he saw the girl running for her life looking behind and bumped into him with full force. A shriek left her mouth and without thinking she kicked Zeeshan in between his legs. He instantly saw stars in the broad daylight. She ran past him but Zeeshan caught her hand, "I-I am trying to help you" he said with much difficulty and stood up from his previous position, which was him sitting on his knees.

"Just leave me" she chided trying to break her hand off his grip. Just then they heard their voices and without any thought, Zeeshan pulled her into an alley and started running. She ran along with him without any further arguments, her hand tightly gripped into his and though she knew that this was wrong, and that whether she could trust him or not, all she had in her mind at this particular moment was that this man was somehow helping her and saving her life and she had to come out of this mess alive.

They ran holding their breath, and she followed wherever he was taking her, occasionally looking back to spot any traces of the goons following her. After sometime when she was confirmed that they didn't had any follower, she stopped. Zeeshan stopped breathing heavily and looked back at her raising a brow.

"I think we have lost them" she replied to his silent question and he looked around. At spotting no one around them, he took deep breaths of relief, resting his hand on his knee. He felt a tug at his hand and looked up only to realize that he still hadn't left loose her hand.

"Oh Sorry" he said immediately taking his hand back while she nodded.

"You okay?" he asked still looking out for any man to appear.

"Umm..yes. I'll leave then. Thank you for the help" she said and turned to leave, when his voice stopped her making her groan. All she wanted was to leave this secluded place, for all she knew he maybe a rapist or a murderer. Though he didn't look like any of it and he had already helped her around with these unknown lanes but she knew better than to trust anyone even if he helped her.

"Who are those men? And why are they chasing you?"

"None of your business," she turned around and looking at his expression, sighed.

"Look, I really appreciate the help. But I cannot involve anyone else in this mess. Besides I don't even know you" she said calmly but she was nothing of that inside. "So now I'll take your leave. And once again thank you." Having said this she turned around only to be stopped once again,

"By the way, its Zeeshan" he said making her turn with a raised brow, "My name is Zeeshan" he said with a smile.

"Well, Thank You Zeeshan. Assalamualaikum" she said, and with that they both turned around and went their own ways.

Do tell me your thoughts on this.

Vote. Comment. Share.