Beloved, Still

Baarish bhi kab puchti hai aane se pehle, vo to bs aa jati hai,
Just like him.

"A-aap... aap yahaan?"
Her voice trembled-surprised, confused, shaken. Of all times, she never imagined him, definitely not here, not in front of her.
Not today.
Not Ever Again.

He slowly lifted his right hand up supporting it with the other and gently placed it on his chest, right above his heart, the same way he always did when words felt too heavy.
"Haan..." he breathed.
"Aajkal, ...is dil ne kaam karna chhod jo diya hai."
"Maine socha agar ek baar apni Jaan ko dekh lega, toh shayad fir jee uthega..."
He smiled-broken, soft.
"Aur ab dekho... rukne ka naam hi nahi le raha."

His smile- it was everything to her. So precious, she wanted it to preserve it in her sight forever.
But destiny? It was cruel.
A little too much to them.

She looked away. She had to. Otherwise, her emotions would take control and ruin everything she had built in all these years.
Because even after all this time, after she had buried him deep within herself- His presence... It still made her heart forget its promises.

But she couldn't afford it. Not now, not ever. So, She clenched her heart tight trying to keep it in place and stood firm.
Her voice- cold now.
But her eyes?
They told a different story.
"Main ab aapki kuch nahi lagti Azeez."

And he,
He just smiled. Not bitter. Not angry. Just... aching.
"Kehti ho kuch nahi lagti..."
"Phir bhi Azeez keh ke bulati ho."

~Some people never really leave. Some names still taste like home.~