Episode 7
1538 Words
Teen saal baad:
Subha Sadiq bohot itminan se tulu hui thi, sooraj dheere dheere badlon ki oat se apna chehra nikal raha tha. Naye saal ki shuruaat mein mausam bohot suhana tha. Aise mein Jamal House mein aao to Shanzy kitchen mein khadi chai ki ketli se cup mein chai andail rahi thi. Uske haath sust rwi se kaam kar rahe the. Achanak alarm ki awaaz se uske haathon mein tezi aayi...
Andar kamray mein Aisha alarm clock par haath rakhte hue uthi. Time dekha aur kapray badalne gusal khane mein dakhil hui. Aaj usay thora late jana tha, lekin phir bhi wo tayar ho rahi thi. Bahar nikli to Shanzy kamray mein tray pakray dakhil hui, uske dono haath kanp rahe the. Kal raat ki baat ne usey bechain kar diya tha. Wo Aisha se nazrein milaye bina cup rakhne lagi.
Aisha aage badhi aur bed par baith gayi.
Shanzy paas paray istri stand par coat rakh kar istri karne lagi.
"Shanzy..." Aisha ki awaaz par wo tezi se palti.
"Ji..." Usne kaam chor kar Aisha ko dekha. "Shaid chini kam reh gayi hogi."
"Ah, chai achi bani hai..." Aisha ne qadre muskurate hue kaha. Aaj uska mood kuch badla hua sa tha.
Wo jo kuch sunne ke liye khud ko tayar kar rahi thi, achanak se Aisha ki is baat par hairan hui. "Yeh shaid daantne ka naya tareeqa hai... aur kal raat to..."
Aisha ne cup side par rakha aur uski taraf badhi. Shanzy peeche hone lagi, "Ab wo mujhe daantegi..."
Aisha uske qareeb aayi aur apne bazu uske gird haail kar diye. Shanzy ne karb se aankhein band kar lein, lekin jab Aisha ne usey kuch nahi kaha to usne dheere se aankhein khol lein. Aisha uski aankhon mein dekh rahi thi. Shanzy ne nazrein jhuka lein.
"Shukriya Shanzy..." Aisha abhi bhi usi ko dekh rahi thi jaise usay chorne ka koi irada na ho.
"Kis liye, Boss...?" Bamuskhil uske halaq se alfaaz nikle.
"Mera itna khayal rakhne ka... Aaj shaayad wo sare gile door karna chahti thi jo wo pichle das saalon se usse thi."
"Mein... mein khana tayar karoon Boss aapke liye?" Shanzy abhi bhi kuch samajh nahi pa rahi thi ke kya hua.
"Ahaan, aur apne liye bhi bana lena..." Aisha ne kaha aur phir usse alag hone lagi.
Shanzy ke bahar jaate hi Aisha ka phone bajne laga.
"Hello, Happy New Year jaan..." Phone se Saima ki awaaz goonji.
"Oh, tumhe bhi Happy New Year, dear..." Aisha ne khushgawar lehje se kaha.
"Oh ho, kya baat hai? Aaj zara bhi talkhi nahi... kya hua, Shanzy ko farigh kar diya kya?" Saima ne use chhedte hue kaha.
"Nahi, aisa to kuch nahi hua aur koi irada nahi hai usay nikalne ka, samjhi?" Ab ki baar wo thoda zor se boli.
"Acha, kahin dosti to nahi ho gayi? Kasam se main to yahi chahti hoon... Arey, ek baar uski aankhon mein dekho to sahi, tumhe bohot pyaar nazar aayega apne liye."
"Haan, maine dekha tha uski aankhon mein..." Aisha ne bahar dekha jahan Shanzy nashta tayar karti dikhai de rahi thi. Wo shaayad uski baatein sun rahi thi, is liye uske chehre par aaj ek ajeeb muskan thi.
"Acha waqai? Tumhe daantne se fursat mil gayi thi kya jo uski aankhon mein dekh liya tumne?"
Saima dil hi dil mein khush bhi thi.
"Ab bas bhi karo, main itni bhi buri nahi hoon." Aisha ne darwaza khola aur bahar nikalne lagi.
"Acha batao na, kya tha uski aankhon mein?" Saima ne bechain ho kar poocha.
"Arey bas karo yaar, mujhe tayar bhi hona hai... kya baatein le kar baith gayi tum bhi!" Aisha ne phone neeche kiya aur band karke jeb mein rakh liya. "Isay to main office ja kar poochti hoon..."
"Shanzy, khana tayar hua ke nahi?" Wo qadre narmi se poochti hui maiz ki taraf badhi.
"Ji, ho gaya Boss..." Shanzy ne khana uske samne rakha.
"Tum nahi khao gi, Shanzy?" Aisha ne uski taraf dekhte hue kaha.
"Main baad mein kha loongi..." Shanzy ke alfaaz adhure the.
"Nahi, yahan baitho aur abhi khao." Aisha ne pyar se kaha.
Shanzy kaise uski baat taal sakti thi, wo to bara saalon se is lehje ko sunne ke liye taras rahi thi. Pata nahi aaj achanak kya hua, sab theek hone laga tha.
Wo darti hui apna khana bhi saath le aayi aur kursi kheench kar baith gayi.
Aisha ne use dekha, wo bas nazrein neeche kiye double roti dono haathon se pakde kha rahi thi.
"Yeh bhi lo, Shanzy..." Aisha ne apni plate se use khana diya aur phir khane ki taraf jhuki.
"Nahi, main bas... theek hai..." Shanzy se bola nahi ja raha tha.
"Kha lo, Shanzy..." Aisha ne apna khana khatam kiya aur use kehte hue andar ki taraf badhi. Aaj usay bohot sukoon mehsoos ho raha tha.
Shanzy ki aankhein bheeg chuki thi. Itna pyaar to wo hamesha chahti thi... lekin kya faida? Wo to yahan se jaane wali thi... Ek aansu toot kar neeche gira aur wo dukhi lehje se khana khatam karne lagi.
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Three Years Later:
The early morning was peaceful.
The sun was slowly rising from behind the clouds.
The weather was calm and fresh, perfect for the start of a new year.
In Jamal House, Shanzay was in the kitchen, pouring tea into a cup.
Her hands were moving slowly.
Suddenly, the sound of an alarm made her move faster.
Inside the room, Ayesha woke up and turned off the alarm.
She looked at the time and went into the bathroom to change.
Even though she had to leave a bit late today, she still got ready.
When she came out, Shanzay entered the room with a tray.
Her hands were shaking.
Last night's talk was still on her mind.
She couldn't even look at Ayesha.
Ayesha sat on the bed.
Shanzay went to the ironing stand and started ironing Ayesha's coat.
"Shanzay..." Ayesha called her.
Shanzay quickly turned.
"Yes?" She stopped working and looked at her.
"Maybe the tea is not sweet enough..."
"No, the tea is good." Ayesha said with a little smile.
Her mood felt different today.
Shanzay was ready to hear something bad,
but she was shocked to hear kind words instead.
"Maybe this is a new way to scold me... but last night..."
Ayesha put the cup aside and walked toward her.
Shanzay stepped back.
"Now she will scold me..."
But Ayesha came closer and hugged her.
Shanzay closed her eyes tightly.
But when nothing happened, she slowly opened them.
Ayesha was looking into her eyes.
Shanzay looked down.
"Thank you, Shanzay..."
Ayesha was still looking at her like she didn't want to let her go.
"For what... boss?"
Shanzay could barely speak.
"For taking care of me so much..."
Maybe today, Ayesha wanted to fix all the old pain between them.
"Should I make breakfast for you, boss?"
Shanzay still didn't understand what was happening.
"Yes, and make some for yourself too."
Ayesha said and started to walk away.
As soon as Shanzay left, Ayesha's phone rang.
"Hello, Happy New Year, love!"
It was Saima on the call.
"Oh, Happy New Year to you too, dear."
Ayesha replied with a happy tone.
"Oh wow! No anger today? What happened? Did you fire Shanzay?"
Saima teased her.
"No! I didn't fire her, and I have no plans to do that—got it?"
Ayesha replied a bit strongly.
"Hmm... did you become friends with her? Honestly, that's what I always wanted. Just look into her eyes once—you'll see so much love for you."
"Yes... I did look into her eyes..."
Ayesha looked outside where Shanzay was making breakfast.
Maybe she heard the words, because there was a soft smile on her face today.
"Really? You had time to look into her eyes instead of scolding her?"
Saima was secretly happy.
"Stop it, I'm not that bad..."
Ayesha said, opening the door.
"Tell me then, what did you see in her eyes?"
Saima asked excitedly.
"Oh please, I have to get ready too now... stop asking silly things!"
Ayesha ended the call and put the phone in her pocket.
"I'll ask her at the office later..."
"Shanzay, is breakfast ready?"
Ayesha asked gently as she walked to the table.
"Yes, boss..."
Shanzay placed the food in front of her.
"Aren't you eating, Shanzay?"
Ayesha looked at her.
"I'll eat later..."
Shanzay's words were soft and unsure.
"No, sit here and eat now."
Ayesha said kindly.
Shanzay couldn't say no.
She had waited years to hear that soft voice.
She didn't know what happened today, but everything was starting to feel okay.
She brought her food and sat down quietly.
Ayesha looked at her.
She was eating silently, holding bread with both hands.
"Here, take this too, Shanzay..."
Ayesha gave her some food from her own plate.
"No, I'm fine..."
Shanzay couldn't even speak properly.
"Eat it, Shanzay..."
Ayesha finished her food and walked inside.
She felt peaceful today.
Shanzay's eyes were full of tears.
This was the love she always wanted.
But what was the point?
She was going to leave this place soon anyway...
One tear fell down as she quietly finished her food.
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- Writer
