Second Chance (BOOK 1)

Prologue

A room is shown which was completely surrounded by darkness, the sun rays were trying their best to enter but it seems a difficult task for them. A guy in his mid-twenties was sitting on the bed and was staring the photo of a beautiful girl on his mobile screen like there is no tomorrow or absorbing her every feature again and again when he heard a knock.

Hashir beta come! it's time to leave.

Hashir (wiping his tears): Coming Ammi!

Saying this he wiped his unshed tears and stands up then keeps the mobile in his pocket. He goes downstairs where he saw his mother Mrs. Munawar Ali was excitedly waiting for him while his father Syed Ali was looking at him trying to judge his emotions making him look away.

Hasir (looks at his watch): We should leave now, they must be waiting for us.

Both his parents nods their heads in yes, he was about to sit when his father stops him

Mr.Ali (concerned): Hashir, think once again beta. It's about your whole life.

Hashir (smiles): My whole life is served for your and Ammi's happiness. Abbu (both the father and son looked at the woman whom they care most) look how much happy she is!

Mr.Ali (looks at his son): And you? Are you happy?

Hashir (sighs): Abbu you only told us that we should leave everything on Allah as He is the best planner (Mr. Ali nods in yes) I also have left everything on Him and I'm sure that I won't be disappointed.

Mr. Ali looked at his son proudly.

Mr. Ali (keeps hand on his son's shoulder): Yes, you are right! (looks at the sky) He knows what is best for us!

Hashir nods his head then he takes the driving seat while Mr. Ali takes the passenger one and Mrs. Ali sits at the back. The whole journey Munawar Ali was busy in blabbering excitedly.

Munawar Ali (cheerfully): I had never seen a girl like her, when I met her in Zoya's Rukhsati for the first time I had this intuition that she will be the best for My Hashir.

Hashir smiles looking at his mother who was very much happy, soon they reach at their destination. they all get down from the car and proceeds to the house which was looking beautiful with garden on it's both sides. Mr. Ali rings the bell, a boy of about 18 or 19 years old opened the door. Shortly they meet a man and woman whose name were Syed Ahmed and Mrs. Ameena Ahmed, probably the parents of the girl they came to see. They all exchanged greetings and settle down after a while a girl enters and sits beside Mrs. Ameena. Hashir who was busy talking with Mr. Ahmed and his son Arish looked at that girl who was introduced as Mahira and found her a bit familiar, like he had seen her somewhere but the question was where? His trance was broken by his mother's excited voice.

Munawar (eagerly): Sister Ameena, I'm really excited to meet your daughter.

Ameena (smiles and looked at Mahira): Go bring her.

Mahira gets up and comes after sometime with another girl while Hashir was looking downwards.

Munawar (pats on the side beside her): Arisha beta! Come here.

Hashir (mumbles): Arisha! (then shakes his head to jerk his thoughts)

Arisha looked at the lady who was calling her lovingly to sit beside her, she looked at her mother who nods her head in yes then her eyes falls on the guy who was looking downwards, she found him somewhat familiar in fact quite familiar. She was looking at him with a frown when at the same time he lazily looks at her as his mother whispers something in his ear. Arisha's and Hashir's eyes widen by looking at each other.

Mahira/Hashir (shocked): You!

Then they looked at their parents who were looking at them with questioning eyes.

Ameena (looked at Arisha): You both know each other?

Hashir/Arisha (first both looked at each other then their mothers): We were classmates!

After sometime bother Hashir and Arsiha were sitting in a room and were looking at each other

Hashir/Arisha (suspiciously): Did you know about this? (Both nods in NO) Obviously not!

Hashir (whisper yelled): If I would have known that we would be coming here then I would have denied a long ago.

Arisha (stands up): Excuse me! I'm also not dying to marry you. I'm not at all interested in marrying a person who LOVES MY BEST FRIEND.

Hashir looked at Arisha and thinks that she was still the same. The same ridiculously and annoyingly straightforward and honest girl.

Hashir (chuckles): You didn't change a bit.

Arisha (narrows her eyebrow): Why would I? (then takes a good look at him) You are also the same; you still love her, don't you? (Hashir sighs helplessly but Arisha got her answer) Then why hell you agreed for marriage when you still love her?

She asked furiously, it's not like that she has any feelings for him but his decision will ruin his life as well as that girl's life who will marry him.

Hashir (defeated): My decision will make my parents happy and their happiness is my happiness.

Ariaha (retorts): And what about that girl's happiness? Do you think any girl will accept you knowing that you are deeply and hopelessly in love with someone else? (Hashir stays quite as he know that whatever she was saying was true) You are still that same Selfish.

Hashir (weakly): Then what do you want me to do?

Ariaha (something clicks in Arisha's mind): Wait! You were about to leave the country after our final year, right? Then why didn't you leave? (Hashir stares at her for a while) will you like to answer me?

Hashir (calmly): I didn't want to leave my parents

Arisha (fakely cheerful): Really? And how this miracle happened (mockingly) because as far as I remember you were desperately trying to run to the other country leaving your parents alone like a coward.

Hashir (irritated): Your habit of speaking bitter didn't leave?

Arisha (smirking): Truth is always bitter Mr. Hashir. (Hashir rolled his eyes) Now tell me, did She told you to not leave?

Hashir (nods in no): No, Tahreem didn't say anything in fact she was insisting that I should leave the country as soon as possible.

Arisha (curiously): Then who? As we all know that Tahreem is the only person who can make you do anything against your wish.

Hashir (inquires): Why are you so curious to know about that person?

Arisha (trying to explain): Because it's unbelievable you see! That there is another person except for Tahreem of whom you listened.

Hashir (looked at her intently): You really want to know?

Flashback Starts

Hashir was sitting on the bench having some documents regarding his studies in Canada, when Arisha comes to him sit beside him.

Arisha (glances at his documents): So! You are going?

There was neither sadness nor happiness in her tone. just a normal tone.

Hashir (nods in yes): Yes, If I live here then I don't think I won't be able to survive.

Arisha (having a faraway look): And what about your parents? Will they be able to survive without you?

Hashir (monotonously): I had talked to them, they have no problem.

Arisha (chuckles): Why would they have a problem? They were always sacrificing their happiness over your happiness. (Arisha speaks in an obvious tone) You are going then your younger brother Zain will also go to Australia then what about your parents? (looks at Hashir) Don't you have any responsibility towards them as an eldest son?

Arisha and Hashir became friends due to Tahreem but still they share a good and friendly connection, it was like that Arisha was the only person who can understand Hashir's feelings for Tahreem.

Hashir (clears his throat): They will understand.

Arisha (sarcastically): You are right! They are understanding you from your childhood, thy will also understand now.

Hashir was trying his best to avoid this guilty feeling but Arisha's words were like scratching the same wound again and again.

Hashir (snaps): Arisha! Will you stop being judgmental?

Arisha (points her index finger to herself): Judgmental! Me? Oh please! I don't need to be judgmental for people like you Hashir.

Hashir (irked): What do you mean by people like me?

Arisha (sighs): Hashir think once again! Your parents were with you all those times when you needed them but soon they will grow old and that time they would need you but you won't be there for them.

Hashir (vulnerably): Then what should I do? You know how much I love her and soon she will be with someone else.

Arisha (calmly): Running away is not the solution Hashir, you need to face it and in all this what is your parents' fault. Why are you punishing them?

Hashir (closes his eyes): I can't!

Arisha (stands up before she loose her temper completely): Fine! (mumbles audibly) Selfish Jerk

Saying this she goes from there while a smile appears on Hashir's face

Hashir (smiles): She and her temper

Flashback Ends

Arisha (snaps her finger): Earth to Hashir.

Hashir (coming into senses): What?

Arisha (questions): What, what? You were lost somewhere.

Hashir (looks down): Sorry!

Arisha (normally): It's ok, now let's go!

Hashir (confused): Where?

Arisha (in a duh-tone): Outside! (nonchalantly) We will tell our parents that we are not ready for this marriage, Stand up!

Arisha passes Hashir when Hashir holds Arisha's hand making her shocked, Arisha turns and gives a deadly glare to Hashir as he clearly knows that she never liked when anyone touches her especially any guy. She was friendly with boys too but she never shared any kind of physical contact.

Hashir (leaves her hand): Can't you?

Arisha (frowns): Can't I... what?

Hashir (instantly): Can'tyousayyestothismarriage?

Arisha (tries to understand): Sorry?

Hashir (takes a deep breath): I'm saying can't we say yes to this marriage?

Arisha (folds her arms): Tell me honestly Hashir, are you taking drugs or something?

Hashir (furiously): What nonsense!

Arisha (shows her index finger): Exactly! What (stresses) NONSENSE are you speaking?

Hashir (shrugs his shoulder): You only told me that I will do wrong by marrying other girl when I still love Tahreem (Arisha nods in yes) but if I will marry you then there would be no problem like that because you know every single thing about my past.

Arisha (want to kill him but controls): And what do you think about me? An i***t (Hashir nods in no) who will ready to marry you even after knowing that you love someone else. (Arisha says casually) If you think like this then you are highly mistaken mister.

Hashir (requests): Arisha please! Aren't you my friend?

Arisha (nods in no): If it is a sort of test of friendship then I would love to fail.

Hashir (pulls his hair on her stubbornness): Arisha what is the problem in it?

Arisha (dramatically): Problem! (Hashir rolls his eyes) Problem is that dude I'm a normal girl who has some dreams regarding her husband which I don't prefer in sacrificing over this friendship test.

Hashir (tries to emotional blackmail her): You know that our parents are very much happy for this alliance and after knowing that we know each other then their hopes must be high.

Arisha (speaks after a minute): You are right! (Hahsir smiles but soon his smile vanishes) but still I will say no and I'm sure my parents will understand.

Arisha started to go.

Hashir (blurts): My mother is a heart patient Arisha! (Arisha stops in her tracks) She already had a heart attack because of stressing about me and I don't want her to suffer any more (comes in front of her) please I beg you Arisha, marry me!

Arisha stares at Hashir as the Hashir she knows never begs in front of anyone or requests anyone.

Arisha (rubs her temple): Hashir, try to understand. Marrying you will be like I'm betraying my best friend.

Hashir (about to put his hand on her shoulder but removes immediately): We both know that you aren't betraying her as she is already married with Haider so there is no question of betrayal or (pauses) you still have some feelings for Omar?

Well that's we call a disadvantage of good friendship, like Arisha knew everything about Hashir's feelings same was Arisha's case as Hashir also knew about her feelings for her crush Omar who was also their class fellow.

Arisha (rage fully): Are you nuts? If I would have any little bit feelings for him then you won't be sitting here as (taunts) I don't like to live in my past.

Hashir (pleads): Then please say yes! Please!

Arisha (takes a deep breath): Fine, I'm ready to marry you.

Hashir gets happy, he knows that he is acting selfish but he don't have any choice. Both come to their parents.

Munawar (asks): So what did you decide?

Hashir (announces): We are ready for marriage!