Blending Colors

Haaris chuckled as Adam hugged him tightly soothing his tensed muscles. His mind, his heart was becoming tranquil by every passing minute and being in that serene state Haaris again fixed his amused gaze on Ghazal who quickly moved her eyes away from him.

With Adam still in his arms, he moved forward towards Ghazal and cleared his throat.

"Assalamualaikum."

It was the first time after a long time that he greeted somebody. Those words had forgotten their way as he saw his mother going away with another man. Ghazal moved her gaze away from the clay lamp to him and replied to his greeting in a clipped tone.

"Walekumassalam."

"You didn't remember me, did you?"

He saw with a hidden smile as her cheeks turned somewhat pink at her error and in another minute she looked at him with pure confidence.

"Mr. Haaris, I treat approx ten patients every day. It's hard for me to remember everyone's face."

Haaris pursed his lips in order to stop his laughter which was bubbling up inside him seeing Ghazal's attempts to cover up her mistake.

"Haarish, itsh new?"

Adam asked innocently touching his glasses and Haaris nodded smiling at him.

"Can I try?"

"No, Adam."

Ghazal tried to interrupt them but Haaris stopped her with a shook of his head.

"Yes, of course. "

He said and with that, he carefully placed his specs on Adam's cute button nose. Adam giggled and held the glasses on his face gingerly as they were too big for his bubbly face, he was looking happy adorning those specs forcing a chortle from both of them. Haaris quickly fished out his cell phone and saw Ghazal creating some distance from them. Ignoring her, he clicked some selfies with his friend, he didn't want to miss the chance to capture that adorable moment with Adam.

A horrifying sound of tyres screeching from outside brought him back to present but his mind got muddled up in his past. It was just a sound of car but his forehead perspired as his past events began to run in front of him. Maybe Ghazal sensed it, that's why she took Adam back from him and asked,

"Are you ok, Mr. Haaris?"

He sufficed his answer on mere nodding.

"Come, Adam. Let's go inside. "

Haaris felt somewhat empty thinking of being alone again. He needed to keep his mind at place, he surely was making mistake by walking at the path where he knew, he couldn't get anything except loneliness and just that.

"Bye, Haarish."

"Bye, Champ."

He said looking at Adam and unwillingly his gaze found Ghazal's face who was fixing Adam's black blazer. She turned around and disappeared in the hall, leaving him with his thoughts of ferment.

Haaris clearly know, he was betraying someone. That someone who was his first love, Azkiya, who was the first who showed him the meaning of love when he least wanted it. That horrible sound of some minutes ago had brought back all the memories which used to haunt him to sleep. He was feeling guilty of forgetting about her, how could he? He couldn't, he shouldn't do it. He was wrong, he knew he was totally wrong.

But, it feels right...

I know, it's not.

Seeing her, thinking about her doesn't seem wrong to me.

I am cheating on her, I know that..

But, she calms me.

What should I do?

Raking his hand in his messy hair, he thought helplessly. Today, he experienced a new thing, he experienced a sort of loneliness which he was unaware of. A loneliness you got, when something very precious leave you.

I need to sort these feelings, else they will kill me.

***

Ghazal fed the spoonful of rice to Adam and took a bite from the salad on her plate. Haaris's sweat-drenched face was revolving in her mind, sometimes she got fed up with her profession as she couldn't ignore people's expressions easily like everybody else. Haaris's past held something related to tyres screeching, maybe he got into an accident or something like that.

"Ma, You eat. I am full."

Adam said patting his stomach. Ghazal shook her head at his antics. " But, look here this is empty..." Ghazal said poking a side of his stomach resulting a giggle from him.

"Thish ish not empty, ma."

Adam said in between his fit of giggles. "I want to eat, ish cream."

Ghazal put her plate on the table and moved with Adam towards the dessert section, her gaze involuntarily found Haaris in the bunch of people and she shivered at her place as he was already staring at her.

"Vanilla ice cream?"

"No, shtrawberry."

Ghazal ignored Haaris who was standing alone at one corner with a glass of beverage, but not any alcohol. Taking a cup of ice cream, she began to feed Adam neglecting how Haaris's eyes were glued on her. She just wanted to get away from there as soon as possible, didn't know why he was looking so intently at her which was making her heart whacking at it's place.

After one hour, bidding adieu to her staff members, Ghazal came outside the plaza with sleeping Adam in her arms. Neha had left early due to some emergency at her home so she had to fetch a taxi soon. As she was about to move ahead, a car stopped just in front of her ceasing her further movements. The front seat glass rolled down revealing none other than, Haaris Yousuf.

Why couldn't he just do his own work? Why he always made her uncomfortable with his penetrating gaze? Maybe, Haaris was the reason she was getting those bad vibes about today's event.

"Let me drop you, Dr. Ghazal."

"No, I will get a taxi."

Ghazal quickly denied his offer and began to stride away from his car. She could take care of herself and her son easily, she only needed Allah and no one else was needed in her life to protect her, least Haaris.

"Yes, Bhopal government has kept some of their trusted drivers for your majesty. "

Ghazal heard Haaris's sarcastic reply. She just rolled her eyes and turned around to face him.

Maniac.

Haaris was staring at her, folding his arms on his broad chest. A smile spread on his lips showing his pride on his own sarcastic reply.

"Maybe they aren't trustable. But, who says that I can trust you?"

***

Silly woman!

He was offering his help, his help which was so rare just like a four leaf clover. But she was only one of her own, the great doctor Ghazal Fatima instantly rejected his offer.

Yes, he was in turmoil, his mind was whirling between his past and present but his heart was just telling him to stay with Ghazal. Like she was an antidote to his every venom, his every problem. He didn't want to cheat on his first love but also he didn't want to leave Ghazal on her own in that time of night.

"Yes, Bhopal government has kept some of their trusted drivers for your majesty. "

Haaris yelled sarcastically, getting out of his car. He was irritated at her insensitiveness, she was taking her and Adam's safety for granted. Ghazal didn't know how much danger was for her to be outside the house in that hour and the way she was looking adorning that white dress, he didn't want to risk her safety.

"Maybe they aren't trustable, but who says that I can trust you?"

Ouch!

That hurt, her words pierced like a small needle in his heart. A straightforward woman, who told at his face that she couldn't trust him. What he did to break her trust? Did he ever misbehave with her? Did he ever try to take advantage of her? His behavior with Adam was also good.

Then why the hell, she doesn't trust me?!

"Very well then. Go ahead and fetch a taxi. "

"Yes, I was going to when I was rudely interrupted. "

Ghazal replied haughtily and moved ahead towards the main road. Haaris drove off, messing his hair just to overcome his anxiety. He stopped his car at one corner from where he could see Ghazal taking a cab.

That woman was digging deep inside Haaris and finding a man which was invisible to him, also. Who could say that Haaris would follow a taxi just to assure that the woman in it would reach safely to her house? Haaris stopped his car just a little away from his grandmother's house and saw Ghazal getting out and going inside the house after giving the fare.

Haaris took a sigh of relief putting his head on the steering wheel. He didn't know what type of relief, solace at the mere thought of someone being safe and secure. What was happening to him? It was surely not good, because now his past was battling with his present and future also but this battle would only defeat him and only him, he knew it.

A pinging sound attracted his attention and Haaris looked at his mobile to see a message from his father.

Dropped Ghazal safely at her home? ;-)

Haaris shook his head with a knowing smile and drove off again to Panaché Plaza.

***

It was Sunday, at last. Being in a busy schedule, Ghazal always craved for it. She craved a little more time with her small bundle of joy, Adam. Just like right now, she was playing hide and seek with her son and it was her turn to seek Adam. Nanna had gone to some trip two days ago and Ghazal was living with Batool khala only.

Didn't know why, but she was sort of missing Nanna, Ghazal was getting habitual of seeing her own mother in her. Maybe Nanna was too missing her that's why she used to give a call at her phone every night. Ghazal sometimes felt utmost gratitude towards Allah for giving such fine relations in this world full of miseries.

Batool khala gave her a knowing smile as she failed to find Adam in the kitchen.

"You know his hideout, don't you?"

In return, khala zipped her lips and Ghazal shook her head with a smile, narrowing her brows at her. She huffed and left the kitchen to find her son. Ten minutes would have passed and still, she was unable to find, Allah knew where he was hiding. Taking the staircase, she first searched her own room for the second time. Failing again, she moved towards that lone room at the other corner.

There was some sound of shuffling from inside. Smiling to herself, Ghazal opened the door and quickly closed it again, squealing. Her heart was thudding at a rapid pace, she rested her back to the wall and blew a breath of anxiety to calm down herself. She bit her tongue and shook her head to move the images of some seconds ago.

When did he come?

It was Haaris who had met her opening that door, but it was not a big deal. The big deal was, he was changing his clothes and at that time when Ghazal opened the door, he was buttoning his shirt.

"Gotcha." Adam hugged her legs and she smilingly picked him up.

"Where were you hiding? "

"Itsh my shecret."

"Pleashhh..." Ghazal pleaded while nuzzling his nose, forcing innocent laughter from Adam. Ghazal suddenly straightened up hearing the click of the door.

"Haarish, Ashlamalikum."

"Walekumassalam, kid. Firstly you should teach your mother, how to knock on the door."

The words were said to Adam but his gaze was boring on Ghazal who was doing her best to avoid him. Adam patted Ghazal's cheek, smiling at her.

"I will teach her."

He happily announced and Ghazal was surprised, she didn't have any doubt of her own son's betrayal.

"Firstly Adam, you should teach him how to lock the door, properly."

Ghazal said pointing her slender finger towards him, he was annoying her to an extent. It felt like they were a part of some kind of courtroom drama, two victims and one judge, Adam.

"Yesh, I will teach him."

"Oh really, as it is my fault that you have a habit to peek in every room," Haaris said furrowing his brows and fixing his glasses.

"It's not my habit, I was playing with Adam."

"Excu-"

"Pleash, shtop."

Adam said covering his ears with his small hands. " You are fighting like shmall kidsh."

Ghazal narrowed her brows at Haaris who was looking at both of them with a small smile, burning her with anger and aggravation. She turned around and left the corridor quickly.

Impossible man!