Chapter 24: 20. 𝗛𝗮𝗮𝗹, 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗶 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮..

❛Hum toh samjhe the ki ek zakhm hai bhar jayega,

Kya khabar thi ki rag-e-jaan mein utar jayega..❜

Third Person's POV:

Mahoor put her finger behind the glasses of her spectacles and rubbed her eyes. She lifted her eye lids only to be welcomed by the darkness again.

“Yaar, ye banda yaha hai nahi toh kisne kaha andar aane?”

Her eyes widened in fear, “Haye, bhoot!”

Mahoor turned around and tried to unbolt the door.

“Yeh khul kyu nahi raha?”

She turned the knob hastily, “Khul jaa bhai, mafia kam tha jo ab aatma bhi piche pad gayi?”

She placed one foot beside the lever handle of the door and putting all the pressure, Mahoor twisted the knob.

Her face scrunched as she put all the energy in turning the lock, “MMMMMMMMMMM, khul ja sim sim.”

But she failed again.

She retreated her hands back and heaved, “Oh bhai! Lagta hai yeh gufa sirf iske maalik se khulegi!”

Mahoor placed her hands on her waist, “Par yeh Ali baba hai kidhar?”

“Bilkul tumhare peeche.”

Mahoor gasped and jumped back only for her to crash her back with the door, fortunately it didn't hurt her.

She placed her hand on her thumping heart, “Hadh hai! Dara ke jaan le loge kya?”

Though she couldn't see him, for the first time Mahoor was grateful for his presence because the absence of light was making her scared and now that the gora gunda was here, she wasn't alone.

Mahoor could feel the heat radiating of his body and then she realized their position.

Though Altan wasn't touching her in any way but he was standing too close to her which only made her want to push him.

Altan placed a hand beside her head and lowered his face to hers; he whispered gruffly, “Aur tumne jo meri jaan apne mein qaid kar rakhi hai uska kya?”

As her jaw tightened, Mahoor glared at him, “Ab agar mujhse dur nahi hatein na, toh woh qaid ki hui jaan ko aisa udaungi ke seedha Allah ke paas pohchegi.”

Altan chortled as he backed away. The entertainment package she carried through her dialogues was even hilarious to him.

“Pehli baar humare kamre mein aayi ho tum. Bata ke aati toh tumhara kher maqdam mein koi kami nahi chodta.”

“Pehli baat toh yeh sirf aapka kamra hai aur dusri baat, agar bata ke aati toh kya dhol wale ko leke khade hote? Teesri baat ye kher badam kaun hai?”

Altan forgot how her urdu was weak so he put his hands in his pants pocket and explained it to her.

“Kher badam nahi, Kher maqdam. Uska matlab, welcome hota hai. Aur tumhe dhol pasand hai? Hai toh kaho mangwa deta hu. Bajate rehna.”

‘Ha aapka sir uss pe maar maar ke bajaungi, kya sukoon degi woh awaz mere kaano ko!’

“Filhal ke liye mere aakhon ko roshni pasand aayegi agar aap light on karne ka kasht karenge.”

“Zaroor par chalo mere saath.”

“Kidhar?”

“Lights on karne.”

“Kyu bacche hai aap chote jise andhere se darr lagta hai aur light khud on nahi kar sakte?”

“Tum yaha tab tak akele khade rahogi?”

“Aap ko kya do ghante lagenge ek switch on karne?”

Altan shook his head, “Nahi. Par...” he lowered his head and whispered, “Koi aatma aa gayi jab tak toh tum kya karogi?”

Mahoor placed her palm on his face and shoved him back lightly, though she wanted to do the opposite of it.

“Daraye nahi.”

Altan's lip twitched at the feeling of her palm on his face. It was only for a second or two, maybe three but it didn't miss to increase his heartbeat.

“Mere peeche aao kam az kam, toh kuch nahi hoga tumhe.”

‘Sorry bolne aayi thi, par aatma, dhol, ali baba, kher badam whatever it is, light, ye sabki convo ho rahi hai, wow!’

Altan knew she was safe in his bedroom and he only wanted her close to him.

He heard the whole conversation of her talking about the aatmas, trying her best to open the door while he was resting on the couch with his head thrown back.

So he took advantage of her fear and Mahoor gave up as she wanted to escape from this cave real soon for her to put the rescue plan on execution.

“Accha, chalein.”

Altan stood there in surprise and he put his hand over his heart, “Tum meri baat maan rahi ho? Waqayi mein meri haa mein tumne aapni haami milayi?”

‘Milana toh zeher chahti thi par sirf haami hi milayi hai.’

“Mere pair dukh rahe hai khade reh reh ke toh socha haa bol du toh baithne ka mauka naseeb ho par aapke toh jhatke hi khatam nahi ho rahe.”

“Pehle kehna chahiye tha na.. Aao.”

Altan walked to the nightstand of his bed and Mahoor trailed behind him.

He turned on the lamp beside his bed and Mahoor sighed in relief, seeing a source of light.

“Baith jao.”

Mahoor nodded and was about to sit on the bed but she didn't. Instead she moved to the sofa which was far away from the bed and sat there.

The room was very dimly lit by the golden crystal lamp, creating a very soft atmosphere.

Altan swiveled around only for Mahoor to gasp in shock.

“Aapne abhi tak apne ghanv saaf nahi kiye?”

Altan trudged towards the sofa and flumped on the couch.

Ignoring her question, He looked at her feet,“Dard ho rahe tumhare paanv? Laao mai daba doon.”

Altan tried to crouch down to take her feet in his lap and give it a massage but Mahoor shrieked.

“Nahi, nahi! Mere pair nahi dukh rahe hai.”

“Par tumne toh kaha tha ke tumhare paanv mein dard ho raha hai.”

Mahoor face palmed herself internally on her own lie, “Abhi araam hai, aap baith jaye sukoon se bas.”

“Sacch kaho. Varna mai daba deta..”

Mahoor crossed her legs to keep them away from his reach, “Thik hu main! Aap he chodein aur mere sawal ka jawab nahi diya aapne?”

Looking at her legs in concern, he asked, “Kya sawal tha, tumhara?”

Mahoor snapped her fingers in front of his face, “Mere pair nahi dukh rahe, unhe dekhne se aapko woh nahi bol padenge ki humein dard ho raha hai, thoda daba do.”

“Woh bol nahi sakte par tum toh bata sakti ho na?”

“Par abhi aaram hai toh kyu jhoot kahun main aap se?”

“Sacchi?” he asked.

“Mucchi.” she confirmed.

Altan felt a bit relieved or else his solicitude for her was shooting up to the sky.

“Jawab dena pasand karenge mere sawal ka?”

“Ji, bade dil se.”

‘Dil hai mushtande ke paas?’

“Aapne abhi tak apne ghanv kyun saaf nahi kiye?”

He sprawled his one hand on the head of the sofa and replied by looking at her, “Dil nahi kiya.”

Mahoor's gaze fell into her lap and she fidgeted with her fingers.

If only she'd have believed what he had said then he wouldn't have gone through a fight.

Altan stared ahead, “Tum yaha mere zakhm dekhne nahi aayi ho,” he turned his face in her direction, “Kya baat hai?”

Nervousness coursed through her system as she wriggled her fingers anxiously. She bit her lip not knowing how to actually say it.

Altan glanced at her hands, writhing with each other.

Unwillingly, he placed his palm over her hands and as if electricity jolted through her body, Mahoor pulled her hands away from his clasp in a brisk.

Altan retrieved his hand. It stopped her from fidgeting her fingers together but he didn't like how Mahoor couldn't even absorb his one normal touch.

“Kaunsi baat tumhe pareshan kar rahi hai?”

“Mujhe koi baat pareshan nahi kar rahi.”

“Phir kya hua aisa jo tumhe mere kamre tak le aya jab ki tumne kaha tha ki ‘Agar aasman bhi tum par girne aa raha hoga tabhi tum mere kamre mein nahi aaogi.’

‘Aasman bhi girne aa raha hoga na mujh par tab bhi aapke kamre ke ird gird na ghumu main, ye baat apni khopdi mein fit kar lein aap.’

Mahoor closed her eyes in regret as her own voice echoed in her ears

“Ya tumne kuch aur kaha..”

“I am sorry.”

Silence fell upon them as Altan watched her with surprise and Mahoor couldn't even lift her gaze to meet him.

To apologize wasn't a big issue for Mahoor. Whenever she realizes it's her mistake, she'd gladly accept it and be sorry for her errors.

But asking for forgiveness from Altan was just difficult and she didn't even know why.

Altan raised his eyebrows, “Tum sorry keh rahi ho?”

‘Behre ho kya mushtande?’

Mahoor nodded meekly, “Ji. I'm sorry for punching you in the nose. Agar maine pehle aap ki baat sun li hoti toh aap ka ye haal nahi hota.”

“Tum sahi mein sorry ho?”

She looked at him with full remorse and bobbed her head.

Altan circled his index finger around his wounds, “Toh mere zakhm saaf kar do. Mai tumhe maaf kar dunga.”

Mahoor batted her lashes at his demand. If her being vocal about her mistake wasn't enough so the man was assigning her a task.

“Jaanbooj ke kar rahe hai na aap yeh sab?”

“Mai toh kuch nahi kar raha. Meri help karne ko keh raha hu.”

Mahoor stood up with a huff, “Uthein! Kidhar hai aapka first aid box.”

Altan hoisted up from his seat, “Mere bathroom mein, aao.”

He led them to the bathroom and by opening a shelf, Altan handed the first aid box to Mahoor.

Removing some wet wipes, Mahoor delicately held the tip of Altan's fingers as his knuckles were bruised as well.

Altan's neck reddened and he gulped. He  never knew how her one touch had the power to melt him to the ground.

Mahoor skated her index finger under his palm, holding the back of his four fingers underneath her grasp as her thumb rested over his front skin.

Once Mahoor held his hand firmly to get a good look at his knuckles, a shiver ran down Altan's spine and goosebumps garnished his skin.

Altan instantly unclasped his hand from her grip and turned around.

He rubbed the shirt over his forearm as the goosebumps from her holding his hand were still there.

These feelings were so pure yet so new to him that every cell of his body bursted, making him hazy of his own surroundings.

Mahoor frowned, “Irada badal diya hai kya aapne? Toh chalti hu...”

Altan spun around and put his strong daddy facade on, “Nahi. Bas..” he made a move to roll the sleeves of his black shirt up, “Shirt ke aasteen upar kar raha tha.”

“Toh uss mein palat ne ki kya zarurat thi?”

‘Kitne sawal karti hai Khuda yeh?’

‘Tumhe kya batau? Tumhari qurbat se haal, behaal ho raha hai mera.’

Altan was literally lost. Lost for words.

The version of Altan before he left for India would come and meet himself right now, he would strike him hard in the face and burn his body in the forest just because he became a weasel over a mere touch.

Ladki ka chakkar, Altan miya, ladki ka chakkar..

He was still befuddled, abstracted from the authenticity as he could still feel her lingering touch on his fingers which officially occupied a place for him in his own la la land for the Lord knows how many days as he'd cherish and play this memory over and over.

“Banyan pehni hai ya nahi woh check karne?”

Mahoor gave him a weird look, “Dekh li?”

Altan nodded dumbfounded, “Haa, black color ki..”

Mahoor shrieked, “Colour nahi janna mujhe! Haath dein, chup chap se apna.”

Altan extended his hands towards her and a faint smile lightened his features, “Dil de chuka hu main tumhe apna, tum haath ki baat kar rahi ho?”

Mahoor took the wet wipe and no matter how wrong the brute had done with her, she didn't have the guts to hurt him back by harshly rubbing off on his wounds as once a phase of her life also evolved around bruises and wounds.

She gently started to wipe the blood over his bruised knuckles, “Maine nahi maanga tha aap ka dil.”

He pushed her glasses back and spoke softly, “Ha par har cheez apne haqdar ke paas hi acchi lagti hai.”

Mahoor peered at him through her lashes, then her gaze lowered again to the work assigned to her.

She ignored his remark and concentrated on the work beforehand. She knew if they'd keep talking, it would only consume her time and she wouldn't be able to escape.

Altan stared at her hand as Mahoor tied a white gauze over his knuckles.

The soft tendrils of her hair were falling at the side of her face. The urge to brush them away from her face was getting high as he made a move to remove them from her face but he backed away thinking she'd be angry and he didn't want to do so.

He called out her name.

“Mahoor.”

“Sun rahi hu, bakein kya bakna hai.”

His sea green eyes dimmed and they sparkled with delicacy as a lock of his jet black hair fell over his forehead.

“Tum se pehle meri zindagi mein na koi tha, na tumhare aane ke baad koi aayega.”

Her hands froze as she was tying the white gauze. Mahoor didn't dare to raise her eyes because she was far away from seeing him confess to her as if listening to him wasn't just a curse to her.

His voice was low, yet it was laced with utter softness, “Tum meri zindagi ki pehli aur aakhri aurat ho. Tum mere liye kabhi dusri nahi thi na kabhi banogi.”

Mahoor knotted the gauze securely and took the wet wipes to clear the blood from his face.

She raised her hand to rub the blood off his left eyebrow but Altan put his hand in between, ceasing her actions and causing her to close her eyes in distress.

Mahoor opened her eyelids and she blankly looked into his vision of sight

His sea green eyes never looked so full of life until now. The intensity of delicacy which sparkled in a bright green as his pupils dilated when he spoke didn't waver her attention from him.

“Ek mauka dekar dekho mujhe, mai chahe kitna hi neech, kitna hi bada darinda sahi, tumhare liye sirf tumhara Mirza hu aur Allah kasam! Main tumhe tumhare ye faisle pe kabhi nadamat ka ehsas nahi hone dunga.”

His eyes spoke everything she didn't want to hear or witness as it only pushed her further to remember how he snatched away the only motive of her living, how he threatened her with her sister's life.

Altan lightly touched her fingers with his fingertips as he whispered in despair, “Ek mauka, Hoor. Ek mauka..”

Mahoor pushed his hand and stood on her foot toes, as he was ten inches taller than her.

She narrowed his eyes at him and glared, “Agar aapne mujhe choone ki koshish ki toh jaan se maar dalungi.”

Altan sighed. He at least expected an answer from her but deep down he knew she wouldn't give in, not for now and he wasn't willing to give up no matter how long it takes.

Mahoor shot her eyebrows up, “Samjha?”

Altan's lips curled a little, “Jaan toh tumne le li hai meri already aur kitni logi?”

Mahoor lips smacked together and she pressed the wipe a little hard unintentionally, making Altan wince.

It bothered her that it hurt him but she genuinely avoided it so as not to show her concern or he'd take out several other meanings of it.

“Dard hua mujhe.”

“Jaan boojh ke nahi kiya.”

Altan lowered his face to hers and smirked, “Mujhe pata hai tum jaan boojh ke mujhe takleef nahi dogi.”

Mahoor gritted her teeth, “Seedhe khade rahein varna na aage ke dard ke liye mai zimmedar nahi rahungi.”

Altan's chest rumbled as he backed away whilst chuckling, “Cute ho tum.”

Mahoor rested her feet on the floor and threw the wipe to take a fresh one to wipe the blood off his right cheekbone which was swollen.

She stood on her toes which were now aching as it was taking a lot of time and the position wasn't comfortable either.

Altan saw her discomfort and tried to slouch a little but one glare from Mahoor, he stood up straight.

She raised her hand to his right cheekbone and rubbed the wet wipe on it.

Altan's breath hitched and his heart beat fastened. His fingers curled into a tight fist and two pink spots took their territory on his cheeks.

To distract himself from her touch, he asked her a question, suddenly out of breath.

“Tum..tumne padhai shuru kar di apni?”

“Mere phone mein hi hai sara padhai ka content, aap agar mera phone lautayenge…” She smiled sardonically at him, “toh bohot badi meherbani hogi aap ki.”

“Thike.. Jate hue yaad se…”

Suddenly, Mahoor's balanced slipped and a yelp escaped her mouth.

In the heat of the moment, to save herself from falling, her hands fell on Altan's chest and her forehead collided on it with a thud.

Everything around them froze and only the throbbing of Altan's heart could be heard.

And felt too.

Altan breathed heavily. His hands held on to the marble slab tautly and sweat trailed down the side of his face even in five degrees of the cold.

The thumping of his organ increased rapidly under her left hand which was resting above his heart.

Mahoor's brows creased a little as she looked at him with worry and shock.

Altan sank his head down in shame, not being able to meet her eyes, asking questions to which he didn't have answers to.

What would he have said? That he was being a teenager who wasn't even able to handle her single touch and his heart sped every time her eyes met with his?

Goosebumps would rise on his skin, just because she touched him.

His breath always gets stuck in his throat whenever she comes close to him. He sweats profusely just because she was standing inhaling and exhaling the air near him while cleaning his wounds.

Pathetic.

However..

Mahoor understood. It was her touch, her who had him sweating, out of breath, out of words.

She didn't believe Altan's feelings for her at first but now that his heart had gone crazy under her grasp, it only made her cower in fear.

Mahoor retreated her hand and stepped back. She glanced at him once and ran away from there to her room.

Altan stood there rigidly away from the world, lost in her thoughts, lost in her touch, lost in her.

•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•

My mafia man isn't like every other cliche mafia male lead ;)

When I was writing the scene about Mahoor's hand on Altan, the moment seemed very intimate to me and I kinda felt like I'm intruding on them 👉🏼👈🏼

In every other book, it's always the female lead feeling things so I turned the tables in my novel and believe me Altan is all monster, beast, Hulk and all but when it comes to Mahoor.. baaki ka aap sab jaante hi ho.

Are you all able to see the gif on the top?

I'll meet you all soon, till then tata!