A painful smile

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.