" Sir, jinko hum foundation dete the, unka aaj graduation ho gaya hai Sir. "

" Okay. Good. "

" Sir, aap Convocation pe jayenge as guest? "

" Nhi. But insist kare toh VJ ko bula lena. "

" Okay Sir. "

I hung up the call and closed my eyes. It was a boring day for me. So, I skipped my office today.
Laying on bed was over boring.

" What is this, huh? You didn't want to go to convocation and you picked up a name. I too graduated today but you were not there for me. "

I looked at the young man in white shirt and jeans carrying the graduation gown with a hat on his hand.

" Na Salam na dua, kya tareeka hai yeh? Huh? "

" Assalamualaikum Bashir Bhai "

" Walaikum assalam Vajahat. Bahut bahut mubarak aapke graduation pe aapko. I am sorry, main bhool gaya Gaya tha, VJ. "

" Bahut hi badhiya tareeka hai yeh. Mujhe samajh nhi aata aap har mahine mein aise beech beech mein kaise ho sakte hai. Bas room mein pade rehna. "

" Theek hai phir. Let me organise the party for you. Isi bahane farmhouse jaana ho jayega. Aur party iss khushi mein ki you will join the company next week. "

" Aisa sochne ki bhi zarurat nhi hai. Main company nhi join kr rha. Main poori duniya dekhna chah rha hun. Bhale hi aap mujhe ek saal ki chutti de dein phir zarur company join karunga. "

" Vajahat Khan "

" What are you full naming me for? Mera yeh pehle se plan tha. Aapko bataya bhi tha maine. "

" Theek hai.. diya ek tumhe... "

" Kya ek? Ek Saal? " Vj looked at him in excitement. His mind was already gone to the places he wanted to visit.

" Nhi. Mahina. You have one month. "

" Nhi!! " Vj was a grown man but sometimes acted like a child.

" Vj "

" Stop Vjing me. " He poured and went to his room.

*****

" Congratulations Yaaraa "

" Congratulations to you too meri Jaan. "

" Yaar yeh sab mat bola kr. Mujhe achcha nhi lagta... "

" Chal theek hai. Toh phir use dhund deti hun jo meri Jaan ko jaan bulayega... "

" Rehne do, Bahar "

" Oye Afsha. Meri shaadi ho gyi hai, at least main ladka toh dhund ke rahungi tumhare liye. "

" Yaar Bahar. Tum jaanti ho mere paas tumhare siwa aur koi hai bhi nhi. Yeh degree mujhe foundation se mili hai. Ab aise mein mujhe kaun pasand karega. "

" Bahut hai meri jaan. Bas ab tum yeh mujhpe chhod do and let's go celebrate. "

" Kahan? "

" Aur kahan? Mere miyan k hotel mein. " Bahar winked and Afsha made a shocked face at the style Bahar said.

" Tum Bahar hi ho na? " Afsha asked and Bahar laughed as she pulled her with him.

They were busy having lunch when a call upsetted them.

" Why is he calling you now? " Bahar asked her.

" I don't know. I have paid the rent. And our contract doesn't end for like 2 years. Maybe some emergency. "

" Then don't pick up this call. Let him call again if it's emergency. "

" But we will be wasting the time of its emergency. " Afsha replied and picked the call.

" Hello Sir?! "

*****

" Bashir! Bashir! " Vj kept calling him as he was laying unconsciously on the floor.

" Sir? " Vj heard the voice and let her enter the room.

" He is laying unconsciously. I didn't know the time ...but i found him around 10 minutes ago like this. "

" He has a low pulse. Has he eaten today? " Afsha asked.

" I don't think so. But he was going to have one. "

" What? Carrot juice? Who drinks that? " Bahar noticed and said.

" Carrots should be eaten raw or cooked as halwa but not make juice. It causes diarrhoea in some people. Does he know the effect of it? "

" Nope. "

" I think I need to perform the process to remove the obstruction of the tract. And I need a pointed tool and a pipe like thing. "

" Here " Bahar passed the pen.

" What? Pen? No way. I'll find something better. Pen can be dangerous. "

" Don't worry. We are trained with it. "

" Here " Afsha first checked his oral cavity and found a small piece of carrot stick between the air pipe and food pipe and so she took out the piece with her hand and he started breathing.

" Shukr Allah " Afsha whispered and took out the gloves and threw them in the dustbin.

After coughing for a few seconds, Bashir opened his eyes and looked at the surroundings. The blurred picture of three people. But he wanted to sleep more.

" He needs to eat. If you want, we can IV him with some nutrient fluid. "

" Yes, Please. "

After doing that, they left the place.

" Vj " Bashir called after a few minutes.

" Ohh, you are saved. Shukra Allah."

" But who saved me? Dr. Wahaj? "

" No. I called Dr. Afsha. "

" The one who lives in your apartment. "

" Yeah. "

" And you allowed that? "

" Come on, she studied under your foundation. That's how I know her. "

Bashir always had fear that people wanted to kill him and so he allowed very few people to know about his life.

*****

After 2 years,

" Ammi! Main bata rha hun na. Woh phir ayai thi meri khwab mein. Woh pooch rhi thi main theek hun na... Woh dua karte hue bhi aati hai jab woh apne liye shohar ki dua karti hai. Mujhe use dhundna hai. "

" Main samajh rhi hun Bache. Pehle tum yahan Dubai mein wapas aao. Yahan pe bahut saare log hai tumhari madad k liye. Aur waise bhi shaadi k baad tumhe yehi rehna hai. "

" Ji theek hai. Main kal Tak aata hun, InshaAllah "

" Vj!! Vj!! Pack your bags, we are going to Dubai. "

" Shaikh Bashir Saheb, achanak 5 salon k baad kaise khayal aaya aapko wapas Ghar jaane ka? "

" You know. It's her. "

" Toh mujhe kya pata tha woh aapke khwabon mein aati hai. Pehle batate toh main uss contract ko cancel nhi karta aur woh gayab nhi ho jaati. "

" Tumhari galti hai woh. Address nhi likhwa sakte the ki kahan jayengi woh rehne k liye. "

" Kaun poochta hai aisa? "

" Are. Doctor hai woh. Hume zarurat padh sakti hai uski. "

" Rehne dein aap. Jab uski madad Li thi toh bahut daata tha aapne. " Vj pouted and left.

They packed the bags and left for his home.

*****

" Assalamualaikum " He greeted entering the hall.

" Walaikum assalam, meri Jaan. " Ammi greeted back and hugged him.

" How was the journey? "

" It was good. Where is Salma Hayat? "

" Your sister is in her room. I'll call her. "
Ammi told the maid to call her and saw Vj entering with greetings.

" MashaAllah, kitna bada ho gaya hai Vj. "

" Khala, yeh aapne 5 saal pehle bhi boli thi... " They laughed at his stupid comment and saw Salma entering the room.

" Yeh bhi toh kitni badi ho gyi hai. " Vj said while looking at her.

" Tum mere marhoom dost k Bhai ho. " Bashir whispered to Vj.

" Yeh yaad dilane wala time toh nhi hai... "

" Jab Ibaad Salma ko behn bulata tha, toh tumhe bhi bulana chahiye. "

" Kyun Bhai? Compulsory thodi hai ki Mera Bhai bulata tha toh main bhi bulaun. "

" Vj! "

" Aap sun le Bashir Saheb... Yahan aane ki wajah aap nhi Salma hai. Meri bachpan ki dost hai woh. "

" Mohabbat mein na badal lena use ab tum. "

" Kuch bhi ho sakta hai... "

" Vj!! I am warning you... "

" Ab toh iss Ghar ka damad main hi banuga " Vj announced and left for his room.

Bashir instructed his employees to find the girl.

*****

One day, Bashir was going to the park. And while walking, he felt something and looked around. But found none.

A few days later, he felt the same and this time, he saw her. He tried following her but the traffic made them parted again.

Luckily he saw the number plate of the car and asked Vj to search for it.

And then another day, the same happened.

His heart was beating his desire to meet her.

*****

" Ammi mujhe shopping pe laane ki wajah? Shaadi meri nhi ho rhi hai toh Aaj se hi khareedke kya karenge. "

" Bete, aap jis tarah se unhe dhundh rhe hai. Mujhe lagta hai jiss din woh aapko milengi aap usi din nikah kr lenge. Isiliye keh rhi hun ki ek sherwani le lein aap. "

" Mujhe nhi Leni. Karni hogi toh Abba ki sherwani pehn lunga. "

" Mere Bache, aapka yeh khayal mujhe pasand aaya. Pr aapne liye bhi kuch le lein. Walimah k liye hi sahi. "

" Aur woh kya pehnegi? "

" Nikah k liye toh woh Mera joda pehn sakti hai. Walimah k liye aap le lein uske liye. "

Bashir's eyes were not on the sherwani but on the wedding dresses of the bride in the opposite shop. He walked and selected a dress, his heart was saying yes to. A dark green sharara kurti and dupatta with hijab all embroidered with golden designs.

" You picked the best one. " His mother said.

" Let's go to the park. It's been days since I went there last time. Salma and Vajahat are also there. "

" Vj has taken it seriously to be my brother in law. "

" Woh ek achcha ladka hai, Bashir. Upar se tumhare saath raha hai toh zimmedari aur mehnat woh khoob jaanta hai. Salma ka bahut achche se khayal rakhega woh. "

" Janta hun, Ammi. "

" Dono ko khushi khushi shaadi krne do phir. "

" Pehle meri shaadi ho Jaye phir uski. "

" Are, pehle behno ki shaadi karate hai. "

" Aisa kisne bola hai. Woh mujhse 3 saal choti hai. Uski baad mein hogi. "

Ammi looked at Bashir with an annoying face, who was driving.

*****

At the park, Bashir saw Salma and Vj in the parking lot.

" Kya hua? Ghoom liya itni jaldi? "

" Nhi Bhai. Shayad Vj ne uss ladki ho dekha hai. Isiliye hum yahan khade hai taaki woh kahin na Jaa paye. "

" Theek hai toh main jaanta hun andar dekhne. "

" Main bhi aati hun. Vj tum Ammi k saath aa jana. " Salma said and followed her brother.

And finally, after a few minutes, he saw her.

She was talking to someone on her mobile and the group she was in walked away from her. She was standing still and talking.

His heart belated differently like it did everything she was around.

In a second, he pulled her behind the trees.

" Allah mujhe bachaye. " She said.

to be continued...