Chapter 15: Chapter 13

Behzad stared at her lifeless state wrapped in the white hospital's sheets. It had been 2 days since the accident and 2 days since he kept wishing it was him instead of her in that bed. He kept wishing they hadn't taken his car, like Mehr wanted. If they hadn't, she would have been nagging him ; lecturing him and not fighting for her life. The doctors told him that she had sustained an internal injury. Long story short, she was hanging on her life, and he was hanging on to the hope that Allah won't take her away.

Mehreen Khala and her cousins were gathered around the bed. Everyone was saying some sort of goodbye to her! Behzad disapproved. She wasn't dying! NO, she couldn't! Not after she had told him that she loved him.

For two days, he had been wondering if she had really said those words or if his hysterical self-had imagined them. And he last words, "Don't ever change, Behzad." kept ringing in his head. Her bloody forehead, her out of focus eyes, her smile as she told him not to change ever! But wasn't she the one who kept telling him what a red flag he was? And now she told him not to change. It couldn't be sarcasm.

If she was being sarcastic, she would have called him Simp! Not Behzad! She called him Behzad when she was dead serious! Why did she say what she had said? And why did it all had this uncanny similarity with what his mother said. In her own weird way, Mehr-un-Nisa had always reminded him of Ammi. And now her words. He ran his hand into his hair in frustration.

The doctors had told them that if Mehr-un-Nisa didn't wake up, there was nothing they could do to save her! Damn it! She had to wake up! Even if it was the last thing that she did!

Behzad eyed her vulture cousins who were sniffing and shedding tears as if, they were really in love with her! It was talking all of his self-control to not shout, "STFU! She didn't even like you! You were mean to her all her life."

His friends who were now, Mehr's friends were waiting outside the room. Abdullah hadn't left since he was informed of her accident which was a new! Because Abdullah had never put anything above his sleep! And Mustufa was out there calling different doctors, just in hope that they'd tell him that it was going to be alright. That they could do something! That she could be saved.

Umer had brought huge yellow daisy bouquets because, "Mehr-un-Nisa would not approve of the melancholy hospital. And Diasy would cheer her up a little." Umer had also got her Snickers and Behzad wanted to tell him that she preferred Ferrero Rochers. And then there was her bestfriend Irsa and her husband Wahab. Behzad had had a brief encounter with her prior to this. So, he hadn't expected Irsa to offer him the kind that 'it was going to be alright'. Or when she had held on his shoulder and given it a light squeeze. Behzad had expected Irsa to hate him after all she was Mehr-un-Nisa's best friend. What had Mehr been telling her, he wondered.

Behzad hunched over, few inches from Mehr-un-Nisa's motionless body. Holding her limp hand in his, he looked at Ala, "Alaa, app ghar jayen... I'll stay." He told Mehreen Khala who had been sitting by her bed reciting dua.

"Par beta..."

"Ala, do din say app ghar nai gaen. App ghar jayen fresh hoon, main idhr he hoon."

"Ghar tu ap bhi nai gaye beta..."She said as she looked at Behzad .

"Bus Mehr say bhi ap nay yehi jhoot bolna hai...." Behzad joked and Ala reached for his hand and held on it firmly. It was her way of telling him that she was there. And he realized just like Mehr had stolen his friends, he had hijacked her 'rishtay' too. First her Mamo, and then her Ala! PETTY indeed!!!!

Mehreen Ala took in his dark eyes, that were darker and glossy than ever due to the unshed tears. "Sub thek ho jae ga, baitay! InshALLAH", She told him as she left the room!

Coming over to the bed, he sat down beside her where Ala had been sitting. Holding her hand in his, he gently tightened his hold.

"I have been wanting to do this since forever! Par app k rishtay daar ja he nai rahay thay...aur us say phele app nay kabhi ijazaat he nai ..." He said as he smiled through the tears. And then continued.

"Apka bestie, bhi bahr kahara almost roo raha hai! Uski khatir he uth jayen? Mera tu khayal apko hota nai." He said and then added, "Shade nai throw kar raha!"

"Mustufa and Abdullah are worried sick about you. When I told them about the accident and your Bestie arrived at the hospital, his eyes were red! And it was the most serious I had ever seen! Ase lag raha tha gari main roo k aya hai. You really have hijacked my friends. I don't know what to feel about it though. Shuru main I didn't like how you went "Bestie nay bata dia..." and he also went 'Bestie Bestie'... Par apka Bestie genuinely cares about you. What I don't like is, you do too! You care about him too! A lot. The way you used to care about me, before I left.........."

"Pata hai they both didn't even ask me k main thek hoon. Bhai accident tum era bhi hua tha... My Achilles tendons got ruptured."

"You call me petty, but you are the one who is really petty! You refuse to wake up and now you are leaving me because I left you back them. Aisay koi karta hai kya? Who am I going to beat in Tekken hain? And who is going to steal all my bounties? I know you do. Let me tell you a secret, I buy them for you. I am the twix guy."

"Thora selfish ho raha hoon na.... Humesha say hoon. Par apke mamlay main nai hona chahta tha....Isi liye tu bar baar apko janay deta tha... Because you deserve better.....Par ab please maat jao Mehr-un-Nisa.... I'd miss you a lot! Please uth jao..." He begged.

"I am sorry! There, I said it. I am really really really really sorry! Wapis ajao please...." He sobbed.

"Thek hai, jao!!! I won't stop you! Don't you then ghost me or follow me, when I am hanging out with Maheen, Saba or Sana or Ismara! Kyunke you refused to stay! Thek hai!" He said a little gruffly not liking that she lied their response-less!

"Sorry, bol tu raha hoon. Ab uth jayen na please. I know I have been acting like a complete ...... And you kept seeing past that......"

He stopped as he choked back the tears.

"You, for you I have always wanted to be the better man! Someone you could grow to love. But then, if Baba couldn't, how could you. I am sorry, Mehr-un-Nisa."

"I didn't know. I think I knew, but I chose to be ignorant. Because it was felt too good to be true."

"I love you. I love that you cheat in monopoly. Funny, haina! But when you cheat, I feel like you are someone for me. The badie you. Warna tu you are too good for the likes of me."

"I love it every time you beat me in Fifa though I pretend that I am upset. It makes me so effing proud. Yes, that's my gurl! But then I think about how you aren't my gurl and never will be. Because from time to time you kept telling me you hate me."

"I love you for the things you do , sometimes so thoughtlessly. Like getting the peachtea, from the grocery stores because you know I love it. Or when you got me that stupid, snitch keychain because it reminded me of you."

"I love that you have stolen my spotify playlist and listen to it every day but refuse to admit it."

"You are so thoughtful and compassionate and sweet. Doing things for my gurls, you don't even like because of me. Funny, how when you are being nice to them because of me, you are throwing shade to me."

"And I love it, everytime there is a joke, you look at me to see if I noticed it. Sometimes it amazes me how we think the same thing."

"I never meant to leave you! You are my best friend, the girl I have always wanted. Not Sana! Not Saba! Not Mehreen! I love you, Mehr-un-Nisa. I always have and I always will. I know it now! Please come back."

He reached around his neck where the ring his mother had given him dangled. Pulling the chain off, he slipped that shiny silver ring in her hand and closed her hand. "This belongs to you! And it forever will, just like my heart." He said and left the hospital room!

*************************************************************************************

Why was it so foggy! Mehr couldn't see a thing as she walked back to the house. The thick mist made it seem like she was in the clouds. She could barely see what in-front of her was. How had she ended up here? FUCK YOU BEHZAD! She thought as she moved ahead. It definitely was his fault! She didn't remember how but she knew it in her bones that it was his doing!

She should have known better than to trust him or let alone allow him back in her heart. How many times was she going to let him walk all over her? She sighed as she pushed through the gate! Strange, there was no guard at all!

Mehr walked through the door to through the gallery. She was feeling a sense of Deja vu. Like this had all happened to her before. Like the moment she'd walk through the hallway she'd see....

"Chachuu khaldii!!!" Mehr called out! Strange! All the doors were open! And there was no one in sight. Halat intay kharab hain! Koi bhi ghar main ghus sakta hai! Kahan chalay gae sub! Kahin koi chor....

"ALAAAA!!!" Mehr shouted. She could hear panic in her voice.

Should I call the police? Mehr looked down at her hands that were empty. She had no bag! No phone! Shit! She cursed as she moved ahead, a little hesitant!

Her heart, beat faster as panic pulsed through her. She stepped all the way in the house. "Is anyone home?" She stood frozen, letting a few seconds pass. Complete silence. This was how really bad horror movies started out. Her heart was thumping out of the rib cage as she thought of countless scenarios.

One of them, with Chachu and the guard and everyone was put in ropes and tied to the chairs by the dakku! Mehr felt as if she had walked straight into a trap that was set for her. But it didn't feel like a trap. It felt home! Everything was familiar. The gallery, it had pictures of her Mamo! She didn't remember hanging them there. What was it? She inched her way into tv longue. She could hear voices. Voices, that she recognized. But how was it possible! Nothing was making sense.

Mehr looked at the rocking sofa infront of her. Strange! Yeh sofa tu Mamo nay day dia tha kabriye ko. Yeh wapis kese agaya? Mehr wondered. It was occupied by the woman who from her back reminded Mehr of....

"Kon hai?" A voice said and Mehr's jaw dropped at the sight of her mother. She ran over and hugged her!

"Mama, app kaab ayeb... Kese.....kuch samaj nai araha.." She said as she kept hugging her mom.

"Ohhh, Ammaa !There is so much... Apko pata hai.." Mehr began and then stopped. She kissed her mother, and then hugged her again and then kissed her again.

"Shh! Meri jaan , sub thek hai..." Her mother told her.

"Yeh khawab tu nai hai na??" She asked and got no reply. "Khawab main tu main thori patli nai hoti Mehr?" And they all laughed.

Her head was in her mother's lap who was sitting on the sofa looking at the screen just like old times , and her mother was running circles in her hair and humming , "Bibi Amna k phool , Allah he Allah... Jashn-e -Ammad-e-Rasool Allah he Allah...."

Mehr was content! Was this family reunion really happening? Maybe she should just pinch herself to see if she was dreaming. But then if it was a dream, pinching herself would wake her up and Mehr didn't want to wake up. She didn't want to wake up from this dream ever.

Her mother noticed her restlessness and asked, "Kya hua meri jaan..."

"Mama main uthna nai chahti...bohat neend arahi hai"

"Tu kaam kon karay ga? Apke exhibition bhi tu honay wala hain na..." Her mother asked.

"Woh sub Maneeha nay kharab kar dia! Sub kuch kharab hua hai Behzad aur Mamo ki wajay say!" Mehr complained.

"Don't you love to blame Behzad for everything?", Her mother asked. And Mehr signed.

"App uski side lein ge? Apko pata nai hai kuch bhi Mama! App nai thee tu Behzad nay kya kya kiya. Behzad, Baba! Sub ...." Mehr wobbled.

"Shh! Mujhe sub pata hai..."

"Nai pata apko. Woh chala gaya tha! Sub chalay gae thay mujhe choor kar! Mamo bhi!"

"Aisa nai hai, bete!" Her mother argued.

"Jee haan! Aisa he hai! Apko pata bhi hai, he left when I needed him the most!"

"Uski koi majboori bhi tu ho sakti hai! App nay kabhi pocha us say?" Her mother reasoned.

"App aur Mamo humesha aisa kartay hain! Apko pata hai Mamo nay kya kiya?"

"Kya kiya Bhai jaan nay?"

"He had this will, that made me live with Behzad...."

"Par Behzad tu apka sub say acha dost hai...."

"Woh mera dost nai hai Mama!"

"Agr woh apka dost nai hai tu phir why does he care about you?" Her mother asked.

"Care about me? Usko kabhi mera khayal nai hota Mama!" Mehr argued.

"Acha? Aisa hai.... Shayad mujhe galat laga ho..."

"Jee! Apko galat he laga hai. Bestie mera khayal karta hai. Bestie say milaon ge apko. Bestie acha hai! Height main mere he jitna hai! Kabhi kabhar tu log humain bhai behan samajhtay hain. Woh mera khayal bhi ase he rakhta hai. Hum kahin bahir jaen tu bestie, dekhta hai main kahan ho. Aur he knows me so well." Mehr said as she laughed.

"Bestie?" Her mother asked.

"Woh Behzad ka dost hai...."Mehr told her mother.

"Shayad app kehna chahti hain k "App ka dost"?" Her mother asked.

"Haan mera tu dost hai par Behzad ka dost tha tu mera dost bana na!" Mehr told her mother a little frustrated with her not getting the point.

"Behzad ki wajay khayal rakhta hai apka bestie?" Her mother asked.

"Nai meri wajay say!" Mehr replied.

"Tu apka dost hai naaa....." Her Mother concluded.

"Thek hai shuru main Behzad ki wajay say rakhta ho ga, par ab mera khayal Behzad nai rakhta. Bestie rekhta hai, Mustufa bhi rakhta hai! Mustufa ka nickname pata hai sheep hai...... Aur main aur bestie na UNO partners hain. Har game jetay hain!"

"App rehkti hain uska khayal?"

"Jee, rakhti hoon na! Bestie ko humesha pick karti hoon jab bolta hai! Usko ring bhi bana kar de! Aur ek dafa bestie ki gari kharab ho gae the tu gari bhi de usko....Aur Bestie jab kehta hai pick karlo I pick him up. Aur jab bestie kehta hai ajj mood nai hai , tu I say thek hai... nai jatay bahir.... " Mehr was narrating when her mother interrupted.

"Main Behzad ka poch rahi the, meri jaan!" Her mother asked and Mehr sat there like an idiot.

"Bhae main apko Bestie ka bata rahi hoon...Ap idhar dehan dain na Mama! Nai, rakhti Behzad ka khayal shayad!" Mehr replied feeling like a complete moron.

"Shayad?" Her mother asked.

"Bilkul bhi nai rakhti! Kyunke who bhi mera khayal nai rakhta...Aur uska khayal rakhnay k liye Sana, Saba aur Maheen hain...." Mehr argued.

"Achaaa!!!" Her mother said disapprovingly!

"Mama yaar, main thak gaen hoon bohat. Humm yeh behass bad main karain. Abhi thora soo jaon?" Mehr asked suddenly!

"Thori see dair k liye bus?" Her mother asked.

"Wada! Acha kahain jaye ga nai. Bohat sari batain karni hain... Yeh na ho k main uthon aur Amma jo hain khala k ghar pohnchi hoon." She told her mother, and her mother kissed her forehead.

Running her hands through Mehr's hair, her mother began ... "Bibi Amnaa k phool.. Allah hi Allah... Jashnay Ammad-e-Rasool(SAW) Allah he Allah" and it felt like she was back to being her toddler self. With a smile she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.

The sleep was supposed to be blissful and comforting then why the hell was she in pain. It felt like someone was sucking the life out of her and Mehr had none left in her. Why fight for life? And for whom? There was no one waiting for her on the other end. Or was there? Then why did she feel as if someone was. Someone who loved her a lot. Someone who believed in her and wanted her to fight. Fight for what they could have been!

ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں  ضروری بات کہنی ہوں

کوئی وعدہ نبھانا ہو  اُسے آواز دینی ہوں

اُسے واپس بُلانا ہو  ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں

کسی کو موت سے پہلے  کسی غم سے بچانا ہو

حقیقت اور تھی کچھ   اُس کو جا کے یہ بتانا ہو

ہمیشہ دیر کر دیتا ہوں میں

Hamesha Der Kar Deta Hun Main ( For those who cant read Urdu...)

Zaruri Bat Kahni Ho

Koi Wada Nibhana Ho

Use Awaz Deni Ho

Use Wapas Bulana Ho

Hamesha Der Kar Deta Hun Main

Kisi Ko Maut Se Pahle

Kisi Gam Se Bachna Ho

Haqiqat Aur Thi Kuch

Us Ko Ja K Ye Batana Ho

Hamesha Der Kar Deta Hun Main

Assalam-Alikum Phir say ?

Khair so  zyda drama add kar dia ... Haina ? Par kya kaara jaa sakta hai..

I just typed kara and it reminded me of my friend-A  begging me to not "Urdu ki tang toro ...." I am not from karachi.. But i picked this kara , yaar and abay from my cousins from Karachi ..... hehehe

I just want a review...On the last chapter of the book or on my profile . If you guys can please :)

Lots of love Alyna 💕💕💕