Izra sat on the floor of her room, her diary open in front of her, she wrote down her thoughts, wishes.
Things I want to experience in life:
Stay in a quiet small house with my love
Also Try street food and buy alot of jhumkas.
Go to mountains with my love.
Walk hand in hand with Daniyal without hiding.
Wear pretty clothes.
Own cats and birds alot of them
She paused, tapping the pen against her chin. Would i ever be able to do any of this?
Before she could write more, the door burst open.
"Appi!!"
Izra snapped her head up as Iqra ran inside, breathless.
“Abbu was talking to someone on the phone i think they’re talking about your marriage!”
"What?!" She stared at her younger sister, hoping she had misheard.
"Yes, Appi! I heard it myself!"
Izra scrambled to her feet, grabbing her phone off the bed. Without another word, she ran into the washroom, locking the door behind her.
Her fingers shook as she dialed Daniyal’s number. One ring. Two rings. No answer.
She called again.
This time, he picked up. His voice was casual and Unbothered. "What happened?"
Izra’s breath hitched. "Why weren’t you picking up?"
Daniyal sighed. "I’m busy with work, Izra. What do you want?"
Her throat tightened. How could i tell him this over the phone?
She swallowed hard. "I need to meet you. Come to the lake."
The lake is their place. A quiet, abandoned spot in her village, where they had spent countless beautiful moments together.
Daniyal’s reply came without hesitation. "I can’t. I’m busy with work."
Izra clenched her jaw. "You’re always busy for me! If it were your friends, you would’ve gone running, but coming to me is a problem?!"
Then, his voice hardened. "Izra, dimag mat chato mera. Just tell me what’s so urgent, or I’m hanging up."
Tears burned in her eyes. How could he talk to her like this?
How could she tell him that her father was looking for a groom, That her world was about to be ripped apart, That she needed him more than ever?
Her voice wavered. "Please, come na. Please."
Daniyal’s tone remained flat. "I told you, I can’t. It’s an hour’s journey from here to your village."
Izra’s heart sank. "You used to come before! Now it’s suddenly difficult for you?!"
Daniyal exhaled sharply. "I don’t want to argue. I’m hanging up."
The call ended as Izra stared at the screen, waiting.
Waiting for his name to flash back,expected him to soften his voice and try to understand her and tell her he would come.
But as always he didn't call again the phone stayed silent, sob tore through her chest as she curled into herself, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Izra wiped her tears and forced herself to stop crying. She looked at herself in the mirror, swollen eyes, a red nose. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the bathroom and let the cold water wash over her.
After changing into fresh clothes, she walked outside, grabbed some food, and sat in the courtyard where birds always came to eat. She scattered a handful of rice on the ground, watching as the birds eating the rice, lost in her thoughts her mind drifted back to the past.
Two Years Ago…
It was the college fair a day, Izra, a first year nursing student, walked in with her dupatta neatly draped over her head, eyes lowered as she navigated through the crowd. She had no idea that someone had already noticed her
Daniyal Sheikh, a senior medical student, four years older than her.
The moment Daniyal saw her, he was fascinated by her beauty specially her modesty. Without wasting time, he sent one of his female friends over to deliver a message.
“hey actually Daniyal likes you, if you want to talk to h-” the girl told Izra.
Izra didn’t even hesitate cuts her in between. “No, thank you”
The next day, as she entered the college gates, she found someone standing in her path. She looked up slightly..
Daniyal stood there with a smile, hands in his pockets.
“ap izra hai na?,” he said.
Izra frowned but ask in her soft voice. “ji ap kon? ”
His smile widened. “I’m Daniyal Sheikh, your senior.”
Izra immediately recognized the name. So, this was the guy who had sent that proposal through his friend.
“ji? ” she asked
Daniyal put his hands in his pocket and ask "apne toh meri dost ko bolne ka mauka hi nhi diya nhi our mujhe reject kar diya , wajha jaan sakta hoon?"
Izra hold her books tightly to her chest and said nervously "nhi, mujhe bas ye sab ka shauk nhi. Ab mei chalti hun" she start to walk away but he again stand on her path.
She look up to him with questionable glare,
asked "ji.. apko kuch chahiye?"
Daniyal looked straight into her eyes and, without hesitation, said “ji mujhe ap chahiye.”
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