Past

Lover (ashiq)

"Kya ghoor raha hai?" She says glaring at me and coming in front of my bicycle. Even in her two braids she looks so pretty. Her school just ended right now. Today was her 12th final exam.

"Tujhe dekh raha tha" I reply with a smile.

"Kyu kabhi kisi ladki ko nahi dekha?"

"Tujhe dekh lia kisi aur ko dekhne ki zaroorat kya hai"

"Pagal ashiq" she says and turns to leave.

"Paper kaisa gaya?" I ask.

"Sahi tha"

"Pass hojaegi?"

"Tujhse toh zyada hi number aajaege chatti fail"

"Kya?! Uss samay mein bimar tha. Aur 12vi mei bohot acche number aaye the mere" I say in my defense.

"Bahane" she says and turns her back to me.

"Ab toh maan ja"

She knows what I am talking about. She just shakes her head in no. Her usual answer. I know it's not going to change but still, I like to ask her. I watch her leave knowing I'll see her again in the evening. She just lives few streets away from my house. She is always so stubborn and cute. I know she likes me too but wouldn't say it openly. She respects her parents a lot and won't go against them. One day I'll go to her house to get her hand in marriage. I am just waiting for the result of my exam. Once I clear it, I'll get a job in court. Then I will also get her a job there since she wants to work. She studies so religiously. We both will go together and work. In evening we both will return home and take turns making food. I can't wait for this dream to turn into our reality.

"Kitni baar bezzati karaega yaar" my friend says coming beside me.

"Kaisi bezzati?"

"Wahi jo yeh roz karti hai"

"Bhabhi hai teri" I say glaring at him.

"Haan wahi jo roz bhabhi ji karti hai teri" he says sighing.

"Bezzati kaisi. Uska toh sab kuch pyaara lagta hai" I keep my hand on his shoulder, smiling, dreaming about her.

"Arz kia hai"

"Irshad Irshad" my friend says.

"Wo ghuzre toh yeh shama bhi saj jati.."

"Wah wah"

"Wo ghuzre toh yeh shama bhi saj jati hai. Unke deedar par toh maiyat bhi ruk jati hai"

"Phir shuru hogya yeh shayar" my other friend says.

"Tareef toh karo kameeno"

"Wah wah wah wah. Ab iska kya matlab tha?" My friend asks.

"Tu nahi samjhega" I say knowing fully well that they can't understand. They have never been in love. They don't know about the dangerous beauty of their beloved and her bewitching eyes. Her beauty has the power to revoke the dead. Just for her sight even a dead man comes alive, stopping it's funeral. Everyone will call me crazy but in my eyes it's true.

"Sach Mei pyaar mei pagal hogya hai humara dost"

"Tune kabhi socha hai agar wo tujhe nahi mili toh kya hoga?"

I turn to look at the friend who asked this question. Why are they so negative?

"Mein aisa hone hi nahi dunga" I say looking at their faces seriously. I don't want to make her mine instead I want to be hers. I don't want a life where she isn't a part of my life. She's everything for me.

"Uska baap nahi mana toh?"

"Bhaga lunga"

"Aur wo bhag jayegi tere saath?"

"Nahi bhagegi wo" I say smiling.

"Aur tu iss baat par khush ho raha hai?"

"Uski issi ada par hi toh dil khurban hai" I say keeping my hand on my chest. "Kitni izzat karti hai apne ma baap ki. Haar rishta anmol hai uske liye."

"Yeh phir shuru hogya"

"Tu kabhi uske baare mei bolna bandh karega"

"Kabhi nahi. Tum chaho toh apne kaan bandh karlo"

"Abe yaarrrr"

Well I will never get tired of talking about her. She's my first and last thought and all others that fill my day.