The Much Awaited Confession

Yashfeen

@Bhatakti_atma

He stepped out looking for her. He had almost searched all the corners of the banquet hall but she was no where to be found.

"Kaha chali gayi yeh ladki?"

He said in a low tone.

"Shayad woh garden area me ho?Haan ek baar check kar leta hoon."

He made his way to the garden and soon spotted her on one of the benches. He took a deep sigh and looked towards the Almighty as if expecting some help from him. Before he could approach her, something struck his mind.

"Par main usse kahunga kya? Kya woh meri baat samjhegi? Kya woh sach much mujhse mohabbat karti hai? Maria ne saaf saaf to nahi kaha par uski baaton se to aisa hi laga. Kya mujhe usse baat karni chahiye? Nahi iss baar mujhe kar ni hogi baat usse chahe uska jawab haan ho ya na. Is baar main dair nahi kar sakta."

He took a deep breath and tried rehearsing his lines

"Kaise kahun? Kaise kahun? Haan yeh theek rahega."

He cleared his throat and said

"Kashaf main Maham ka pappa banna chahta hoon."

He closed his eyes and hit himself on his head.

"Aise to woh yeh sochegi ki main Maham ko adopt karna chahta hoon aur meri jaan lene me woh do second bhi nahi legi.Kuch aur sochna hoga.Haan."

"Kashaf kya tum meri begum sahiba banoge?"

He closed his eyes again with irritation.

"Is baat pe to wo mujhe do thapad maregi. Aur yeh kaha ki 60s ki line keh raha hoon main.Kuch soch Zaroon kuch soch. Kya karun direct keh doon?

"Kashaf I love you. Will you marry me?"

He waited for a minute and concluded

"Haan yeh sahi rahega. Simplicity always wins."

He slowly moved towards her.

Kashaf was still in her thoughts.

FLASHBACK

Sahir had left the house and it was late at night that he returned to find Kashaf in the same position and Maham crying beside her. He picked Maham in his arms and spoke

"Tumhe talaak chahiye na. Woh main tumhe dedunga. Tum mujhse mohabbat nahi karti lekin main toh tumse beyhad mohabbat karta hoon. Main tumhe baandh ke nahi rakh sakta. Tumhe ghut te huye nahi dekh sakta. Tumne mujhse yeh baat pehle hi ki hoti toh baat yaha tak nahi pohnchti. Par Kashaf zindagi me tumhe kabhi bhi ek dost ki kami mehsus ho, koi kaam ho tum mujhe sabse pehle yaad karna. Tumhare saath bitaya har ek pal mujhe yaad rahega aur main uske sahare jee lunga.Par Mera dil itna bada nahi hai ki main Allah se yeh dua kar sakun ki tumhe Zaroon ka pyaar mil jaye par main tumhari khushi ke liye humesha dua karunga."

Flashback ends

Kashaf's eyes were filled with tears. She did not love that man but had immense respect for him. She never met him after her divorce for he shifted to London but he always makes it a point to know about her whereabouts. Love, really doesn't always need reciprocation. She always wondered why couldn't she be this strong. Why couldn't she accept reality like Sahir did?

"Kashaf"

Spoke Zaroon softly.

Kashaf immediately wiped her tears and turned around.

"Maham mujhe dhund rahi hai kya?"

"Nahi filhal to woh so rahi hai aur Maria ke paas hai."

"Maria bhi ayi hai?"

Her face lightened a bit.

"Main abhi usse milke ati hoon."

She was about to leave, when Zaroon caught her hand and said

"Pehle meri baat to sunti jao."

Zaroon knew Kashaf was trying to escape this awkward confrontation with him. On the other hand, Kashaf's heartbeat was at a rise. She closed her eyes tightly . Zaroon left her hand. He moved closer to her and whispered in her ears softly, making Kashaf go weak on her knees.

"Kashaf I know yeh baat mujhe tumse bohot pehle karni chahiye thi. Par shayad abhi bhi dair nahi huyi. Shayad tum meri galtiyon ko maaf na karo. Par main aaj khud ko nahi rok sakta. Aaj main aur tumhe aise nahi dekh sakta. Aaj mujhe samjh agaya hai ki tum itni sehmi kyu rehti ho. Main tumse Mohabbat karta hoon Kashaf. Beyhad Mohabbat karta hoon."

Kashaf could no longer control her feelings and hence hugged him passionately. She had both tears and a slight smile on her face. She could not believe that this man had finally said what she wanted to hear since ages.

Zaroon too was happy to hold her in her arms and sensing that they have been in this position for a fairly long period he said

"Kashaf mujhe aise khade hone me koi problem nahi hai par log kya sochenge?"

Kashaf looked at him while still resting her head on his chest.

"Kashaf tumhe mujhse bohot gile honge.Mujhe pata hai magar maine kabhi socha hi nahi ki tum kabhi mujhse mohabbat karogi. Tum to ek suljhi huyi ladki ho aur mujh jaise ladke se tumhe mohabbat ho jaye iska to main tasawwur hi nahi kar sakta kabhi. Main khud tumse mohabbat karta raha hoon par is baat ka ehsas mujhe tab hua jab main tumse nikah ke pehle milne aya tha yaad hai? Tumne mujhse milne ko mana kar dia tha. Mujhe bohot bura laga tha. Us raat jab tum kisi aur ki ho jarahi thi aur mujhse dur ho jarahi thi tab mujhe tumhari ehmiyat ka ehsas hua par tab shayad dair ho chuki thi. Usse pehle to mujhe tumhare shaadi na karne ke reasons hi samajh nahi aarahe the aur usse zada tumhara wo rukha pan samajh nahi aa raha tha. Aur aaj jab cheezein samjh ayi hai to ehsas hota hai main kitna bada gandha tha jo itni saaf cheezin nahi dekh paya. Maine sirf apni ya tumhari nahi Sahir aur Maham ki bhi zindagi is qadar kharab kar di. I know tumhara divorce meri wajah se hua hai. Main kitni bhi maafiyaan kyu na mang lu woh kam hi hongi. Lekin phir bhi main tumse maafi magunga aur hope karunga ki tum mujhe maaf kar sako."

"Zaroon sach kahun to bohot nafrat huyi thi mujhe tumse. Mujhe laga tha tum jante ho ki main tumse mohabbat karti hoon. Jo harkatein Maria ne mujhse karwayi thi uske baad toh cheezein kitni saaf thi magar tumhe samajh nahi aya. Phir jab Sahir ka rishta aya toh mujhe laga ki at least tum ab samjahoge par tum phir bhi kuch nahi samjhe. Tab mujhe lagne laga ki jaan kar bhi tum is baat ko nazar andaz kar rahe ho kyu ki tum mujhse mohabbat nahi karte. Aur rahi baat humari divorce ki to woh tumhari wajah se toh nahi par meri hi wajah se huyi thi. Main us jhut ke rishte me nahi reh sakti thi. Sahir ne mujhe bas azaad kiya tha. Aur maaf to main tumhe kab ka kar chuki hoon. Mohabbat jo karti hoon. "

"Phir bhi Kashaf.."

"Ssshhhh.."

She placed her finger on his lips and said

"Yeh baatein hum aur kabhi nahi karenge. Tum mujhe kuch aur batao."

"Umm.. Acha..to kaisi baatein karein? Censored or uncensored?"

"Zaroon."

"Acha acha. Gussa na ho. Par Kashaf ek baat hai jo main kehna chahta hoon."

"Kaho."

She said looking into his eyes.

"Kya tum mujhse shaadi karogi."

She simply nodded her head and hugged him again. While they were still in each others arms they heard a voice.

"Toh finally ap logo ne ek dusre ko dil ki baat batayi."