"Lekin apne to comparison kia hua hai" Umeed said, taunts at him.

"Meinay koi comparison nahi kia, mohabbat karna mere ikhtiyar mein nahi tha" Farjaad replied.

"Hmmm"

"Tum rest karo, mein zara dad ke sath office jaraha hun, thori der tak ajaonga" Farjaad told her.

"Theek hai" Umeed responded.

Farjaad went outside the room.

********

Umeed lost in her thoughts, Mimi enters in the room while holding the stuff.

"Umeed, ye rahi wo sari cheezen jo tumne maangwai thi" Mimi told her.

Umeed stood her and went towards her, took the stuff.

"Acha hua Mimi tumne ye sab sambhal kar rakhlia, ye Farjaad ke hath nahi laga" Umeed said relaxingly.

"Wese is mein calenders aur card ke ilawa kya hai?" Mimi asked curiously.

"Is mein Farjaad ki cheeze, meri diaries aur wo sari yaadein hain jo meri mohabbat ka saboot hain" Umeed replied smilingly.

"To ye sab bhai ko dikha do, kya pata inhe bhi tumse mohabbat hojaye" Mimi requested meekly.

"Mimi mein confession par yaqeen nahi rakhti, mere liye mohabbat wo jazba hai jise samne wale ko khud samjh jana chaiye" Umeed explained sadly.

"Acha tum ise rakhogi kahan?" Mimi asked.

"Meinay apni cupboard mein ek lock up set karlia hai, mein ye sab wahi sambhal kar aur lock karke rakhongi" Umeed stated.

"Acha, mein tumhari help karti hun aur phir ham batein karenge" Mimi said excitingly.

Umeed smiled, they went towards the cupboard and opened it, started putting the stuff inside the portion. Umeed took a small lock from the side table and locked the portion.

*********

In night, Shujaat Sahab and Niggo Jee were in the launch, sitting on the sofa while sipping on the tea. Umeed and Farjaad enters there, they smiled towards them.

"Umeed, tabiyat kesi hai?" Shujaat Sahab asked.

"Theek hun baba" Umeed replied respectfully.

"Ao Umeed, mere pass betho" Niggo Jee said lovingly.

Umeed went towards her and sat beside her, Farjaad smiled and took his seat.

"Farjaad ne sorry kaha?" Niggo Jee asked jokingly.

"Hmmm" Umeed mumbled, Niggo Jee smiled while patting her head.

Mimi came there while scrolling her phone, she sat on the sofa.

"Mimi beta, phone mein aisa kya dekh rahi ho?" Farjaad asked teasingly while smiling.

"Ap logo ko pata chala?" Mimi said, created a suspense.

"Kya?" Umeed questioned.

"Reena ne engagement karli hai" Mimi said arrogantly.

Farjaad smile was disappeared, they all got surprised.

"Tumhe ye sab kisne bataya?" Shujaat Sahab asked.

"Baba, Saim ne mujhe bataya hai, ise landon mein koi larka pasand agaya hai" Mimi replied.

"Kher shukar hai, hamari ise jaan chut gayi" Niggo Jee said annoyingly.

"Excuse me" Farjaad said, leaves from there.

"Mimi, tumhe kya zarorat thi Farjaad ke samne ye baat discuss karne ki" Umeed complained tensely.

"Umeed, meinay ye sab isliye hi kia hai taake bhai ise bhool jaye" Mimi replied.

"Han beta, Mimi is right, tum jao aur jakar ise dekho, ise abhi tumhari zarorat hai" Niggo Jee explained her.

Umeed nodded, stood up and went towards her room.

*******

Farjaad was desperately sitting on the bed while keeping his hands on his head, he locked his hands tightly and tried to relaxed himself.

Umeed enters in the room and slowly went towards him, she looked at him surprisely. Farjaad looked at her.

"Kya hua Farjaad, apki tabiyat to theek hai?" Umeed asked in sympathy.

"Betho" Farjaad whispered.

Umeed sat beside him, kept her hand on his shoulder. Farjaad eyes was teary, he slowly held her kness and kept his head on her lap. Umeed was totally shocked and surprised, he hided his face on her lap. The tears were filled in Umeed's eyes, she slowly kept her hand on his head and patted his head.

"Farjaad, please khudko sambhalein" Umeed said softly, tried to consoled him.

"Umeed, i am sorry" Farjaad said while looking at her.

Their eyes met, the tears were in their eyes. Tears started falling from Farjaad's eyes, Farjaad didn't understand why he is crying. Umeed turned his face towards her, she cupped his face.

"Farjaad, Reena apko deserve nahi karti thi, ap iske liye apne aansu nahi bahaye" Umeed said confidently while wiping his tears.

"Mein bhi tumhe deserve nahi karta" Farjaad said in authorative tone.

"Nahi, mein bht lucky hun ke mujhe ap jesa life partner mila hai" Umeed replied meekly, the tears were falling from her eyes.

They both looked into each other eyes, Umeed wiped his tears slowly. He was just starring at him

"Tu jaane naa,
Tu jaane naa"

Umeed went towards the side table, she took the glass and poured water from the jerk. She again came back to her position, she extended her hand and Farjaad drank water normally from her hands.

"Farjaad, ap thori der aram karein" Umeed said softly.

Farjaad blinked his eyes, he went towards his bed side and relaxingly sat there. Umeed went towards her side and sat beside him. Farjaad looked at her and quickly kept his head on her lap. He closed his eyes, Umeed got another mini heart attack.

"Umeed, tum lights off karna chaho to kardo lekin mein aisi sona chahta hun" Farjaad said innocently.

Umeed controlled her tears, she slowly kept her hand on his head and patted his head. Farjaad fell asleep within two minutes. Umeed was just starring at him.

"Mujhe yaqeen nahi araha hai ke jis shaks ko mein apni dairy mein likhti thi aj wo mere itne kareeb hai" Umeed thought in her mind and smiled heartly.

Umeed smiled, leaned her head against the bed, she fell asleep also.

*******

Next morning, the sun rays fell on Farjaad's face. He opened his eyes, looked at Umeed. He quickly sat on the bed. Umeed was still sleeping peacefully but in uncomfortable position. Farjaad rubbed his eyes, slowly move closed to her and held her head, he tried to fixed pillow under her head but suddenly Umeed woked up. Their eyes met, they both were very closed to each other. Farjaad was totally lost in her. Umeed blinked her eyes.

"Jab se juda, tujh se jiya,
Cheino qaraar, dil ko mila,
Jab bhi rahun, sang tere,
Bhoolon har gham, shikwa gila"

"Good Morning" Farjaad whispered.

"Good Morning" Umeed replied softly.

Farjaad move backwards, awkwardly looked at her.

"Sorry, meri wajah se tumhari neend kharab hogai" Farjaad apologized innocently.

"Nahi, i am fine" Umeed said and smiled brightly.

Farjaad lightly smiled, went for freshen up.

********

Mimi and Umeed were walking in the lawn, Mimi was talking with her but Umeed was not in her senses, she was in her own seperate world. Her face was pale, she was tensed and anxious.

"Umeed, ab Reena ka chapter close hogaya hai" Mimi said happily.

"Lekin Mimi, ye chapter Farjaad ke dil se to close nahi hua na" Umeez replied and smiled.

"Wo bhi hojaiga" Mimi said confidently, they sat on the bench.

"Mimi, meinay jis tarah kal Farjaad ko rote hue dekha hai na, mujhe nahi lagta ke kabhi inhe mujh se mohabbat hogi" Umeed said surely and desperately.

"Umeed, tum apni mohabbat ko understimate karahi ho, tumhari feelings pure hain" Mimi said, tried to explained her.

"Mimi, ye kya horaha hai, mein ye maangti thi ke Farjaad hamesha khush rahen lekin ye to same wohi situation agai hai jo mujh par ayi thi" Umeed said anxiously.

"Shayad kismat mein jo likha tha wohi horaha hai" Mimi said and smiled.

"Lekin mera aur Farjaad ham dono ka rishta to sirf ek saal ka hai na" Umeed said and lowered her glaze.

"Chahe ek saal ka bhi hai lekin mohabbat hone mein ek second bhi nahi lagta" Mimi replied flirtingly, Umeed lightly slapped her and giggled.

Mimi did a side hugged, tried to make her comfort and calm. She changed the topic and they started their own conversation.

********

Umeed enters in the room, Farjaad was sitting on the bed, looking at the photo frame of Reena. Umeed looked at him and sat beside him.

"Reena ko yaad karahe hain?" Umeed asked.

"Ab meri zindagi se Reena ka chapter close hogaya hai" Farjaad said truthfully.

"Dil se to nahi hua na?" Umeed questioned.

Farjaad looked at her, their eyes met, "wo bhi hogaya hai, dhokebaaz logo ki meri zindagi mein koi jaga nahi hai" Farjaad said annoyingly.

Farjaad throw the photoframe outside the window, Umeed was surprised.

"Mein chai lekar ati hun" Umeed said while lowering her glaze.

Umeed about to went but Farjaad held her arm, Umeed heartbeat was fast. She looked at him, he turned her towards him.

"Tumhe nazrein churane ki zarorat nahi hai, tum bht achi ho, infact sab se achi ho" Farjaad said softly, smiled lightly.

"Ab zyada ache hain" Umeed said and giggled.

"Ek baat aur, tumhara jo decision hai wo mujhe qubool hai" Farjaad said lovingly.

"Matlab?" Umeed asked.

He held his ears, "i am sorry, meinay Reena ki wajah se tumse bht misbehave kia tha, tumhe ek saal ke liye kaid karne ki koshish ki thi" Farjaad apologized.

Umeed nodded negatively, she held his hands, "nahi, agar mein apki jagah hoti to yahi karti"

"Umeed, mein Reena ko kho chuka hun aur ise bhool gaya hun, lekin" Farjaad said and stopped in between.

"Lekin kya?" Umeed asked in suspense.

"Tum mujh se alag hona chahti ho?" Farjaad asked hesitately.

"Mujhe kuch samajh nahi araha ke ap kya kehrahe hain?" Umeed said confusingly.

"Meinay jo ek saal wali commitement ki thi, tum is par abhi bhi" Farjaad said, tried to explained her.

"Wo apki commitement thi, apki jo marzi aye ap wo karein, mujhe apke kisi decision se koi problem nahi hai" Umeed said respectfully.

"Theek hai, tum chai banane jao" Farjaad said, changed the topic.

Umeed nodded her head, went from there.

"Mujhe Umeed ko dekh kar ho kya jata hai?" Farjaad thought in his mind, sat on the bed.

*********

"To Be Continued🫶"

How is this??