It
was constantly raining hard since morning. The headlights and wipers of the car
were on. Azhar, a doctor 32, a lively person with tall and broad features was
driving a car in frenzy. It was zigzag drive through the mountains from hours.
The highway unusually was deserted on that day. It seemed weather was furious
as there was the thundering and lightening going on. The vapours inside the
windows started slithering and making ways to join other drops. Suddenly there was a jerk and a screeching of
brakes. “Azhar, drive slowly, it is a national highway. I know you are very desperate to arrive but don’t put us in a peril.” giggled his sister. Azhar filled
with contentment and joy said, in a vigorous voice, “Shenu, don’t worry just
enjoy and feel the pleasure.” Shenu laughed “Ha-ha. Mr. Pleasure, concentrate
on your driving.”
Mr.
Babar Khan their father, a retired advocate sitting on the back seat said, “Shenu
let him concentrate, don’t disturb him”. Silence followed but not for a long
time as Mrs. Babar start snoring, due to which all the three start laughing and
Seyeda all of the sudden woke up claiming “Bismillah! What happen?” Azhar said, “mama we have reached almost and
you have been sleeping all the way”.
At
last after a long 8 hour travel they arrived at their destination. Where they
were received by Baber’s brother Shinaber, in the house of Azhar’s grandfather.
Shinaber hugged his brother “welcome, welcome, so, where is our bride groom?” Azhar entered the room. “Ah, here he comes, Congratulations
my dear.” Shinaber said and hugged
Azhar.
Next
morning, Azhar is sitting in the drawing room drinking a delightful noon chai
(salt tea) and bread, gazing at window “hmmm the fragrance of the air is so
good that it takes me out of the world. It is of the only land, my land, Kashmir”.
The house was soon in the hustle and bustle. Relatives and friends also start
pouring in. The engagement preparations were on full swing. Butcher, caterer,
decorator were all appointed for the preparation.
Azhar’s
engagement was an arranged one and he had never met the girl before. Aliza, the
girl was also from Kashmir but was settled in Dubai, where she had her own flat
and a job in a bank. Azhar agreed only after putting the clause that she will
have to leave the job there and get settled in Jammu with Azhar. He and his
family were permanently living in Jammu as Azhar’s mother was from Jammu. He also had his clinic there. They just came
to Kashmir for the engagement so that they could celebrate their happiness with
their own people.
After
accepting the proposal Aliza started calling him and they only had an
interaction through phones and internet. They both now started chatting for a long
hour. They both decided for their new life. There were commitments and planning’s.
Azhar thought his life is now complete.
The
preparations and arrangements were done hurly and burly as only one day was
left. Everyone was busy with their assigned work. But suddenly noise turned
into silence when Mr. Baber got a call from Aliza’s family for the apologies
that they have to cancel the engagement. After the query it was said that Aliza
left home in the morning and in the afternoon the family received the call of
Aliza from Delhi where from she had a flight for Dubai in the evening.
It
was great shock for Azhar who just by knowing her through different
communication medium, had fell for her. He couldn’t understand her step back. Her
promises and commitments, her way of talking and laughing all was fake. She
gave him nothing than deception.
Four
months later in Jammu, Syeda entered Azhar’s room where he was sleeping. She
opened the curtain and woke him up. It was a morning of the new start like a
new sunlight entered the room. He came down for the breakfast. “Uncle Shinaber has
brought proposal for you. Zainab, she is from Kashmir.” Sayeda said. Though
Azhar was not ready at that time but obedient son agreed to his parents. But
somewhere the name Zainab stuck his mind. There was a further talk on the
proposal. Azhar without interfering left everything on his parents.
After
a week everything was fixed again. They again left for Kashmir, the house again
turned out noisy. They decided to have a small ring ceremony first where they
will get to know each other. By that time Azhar made his mind.
Next morning he went to his friend’s coffee
shop to have a look on this new setup. While
sitting, Azhar turned towards the door where from a girl in a white dress and
veiled head entered, which drew his attention towards her. She seemed soft and
delicate and with the elegant modesty that she was wearing. Azhar from his
inner voice said “God bless her.” He thought as if he has never seen such a
girl. “It is not, she is most beautiful one but it was her diffidence from
other girls, specially a girl like Aliza”.
So
finally the day of ring ceremony came. He has to see zainab for a first time.
It was zanaib’s home, he was sitting on the sofa and abruptly got a glimpse of
a girl coming inside and realised that she is the same girl from that coffee
shop. Sombody said “Azhar meet Zainab” Thus he made out that he had seen Zainab
in the Coffee shop. Azhar couldn’t believe it that is he getting engaged to a
girl who he praised in the coffee shop. They both talked with each other and
Azhar found whatever he had thought of her was very less as she was much more
commendable. He wore her ring with satisfaction and gladness. It was decided
that after a one week there would be a proper engagement but this time it would
be a nikha Ceremony.
So,
the house was again in the hustle and bustle, from caterer to decorator
everyone was called because this time it was on the large scale. In a rush
nobody was ready to listen as all were busy with their assigned work. Meanwhile
Azhar got a VISA and an appointment letter from Qatar which added more happiness
to the celebrations.
Before engagement he had to go to Jammu to get
her old maternal grandmother and his friend for an occasion. All the things
were arranged like sweets were ordered, huge dry fruit trays were made,
trousseau was prepared and jewellery was ordered from Delhi.
For
the sake of love and blessing, he departed for Jammu with Shenu, three days
before the occasion. He reached and met his old grandmother. They stayed there
for a day and the next morning, Azhar hold his grandmother and made her sit
with Shenu on the back seat. They left for Kashmir with great excitement and
eagerness. Azher,s friend who was sitting next to him was very keen to attend
the Kashmiri function.
All
the four were enjoying the zigzag trip. But suddenly at Qazigund, the car
collided with the Scorpio and the front portion of the car was totally smashed and steering bumped into Azhar’s chest. The
bridegroom due to the internal injury died on spot with the painful smile on
his face.
