Closed Composition

Ghazal moved the cellphone away from her ear for the third time in a row, cursing the moment when she had decided to reveal the news of her engagement to her beloved friend Neha. Now she was giddily squealing in her ear and Ghazal was sure by the time she would end the call she wouldn't be able to hear.

"Neha, please stop with the squealing. You will murder my ear."

"Oh, I am sorry." Neha said clearing her throat, " We don't want Haaris to have a deaf wife."

"Haha, very funny."

Ghazal said with an eye roll and moved towards the bed where Adam was now sleeping with his storybook on his face. She smilingly pried the book from his grasp and kissed his forehead.

"So tell me Dr.Ghazal, when is the big day?"

"Ten days from now."

She felt the burden of words as Ghazal realized the heaviness those words had created. After ten days, her life would change again and she was hoping for the change to be good for her and Adam.

" My, my. Someone is eager. " Ghazal's cheeks flushed pink at Neha's straight remark and she hid it behind a groan, " I knew it, you were meant to be with each other. No one can miss that chemistry. "

Chemistry! Really Neha.

Her friend had a stupid habit of playing a matchmaker, not that she actually tried it but Neha always told looking at people whom they had a perfect match with or who they secretly like. Didn't know where she saw the chemistry between her and Haaris because whenever Ghazal thought about her last moments with Haaris, either she remembered slapping him, yelling at him or sulking in anger due to his blunt replies.

"What are you planning to gift him at the wedding?"

"He's getting married to me, Neha. How can I gift him anything?"

"Dumbo, bride and groom exchange gifts on the wedding day."

Ghazal fell silent on her reply, she never thought about it. She never gifted anything to Farzan nor he gifted anything to her. Their first meeting after the Rukhsati was the most awkward moment of her life. Farzan didn't bother to acknowledge her presence in his room and left, leaving her alone in his decorated room.

"I didn't think-"

Her speech was interrupted by the beep of her cellphone showing the other call on the line. It was Haaris's, glancing at the clock she knew it was his nightmare which would be bothering him.

"Neha, it's Haaris on the other line. See ya later."

"Ya doll, have fun with the fiancé."

Shaking her head, Ghazal accepted Haaris's call without wasting a second only to be welcomed by heavy breath as if he was having trouble to do so.

"Haaris, are you alright? "

"Ghaz- you will leave me."

Ghazal furrowed her brows in confusion, didn't know whether it was a question or a statement. Or he was just checking her.

"No, Haaris. I won't. Please be calm."

"You are lying. Everybody leaves me at one point in life, you will too."

She knew what he was implying at, his mother. That woman who maybe hadn't thought for once what her single action would do to her son. Surely, Ghazal pitied his mother due to the hate she had invited for herself from everywhere.

***

There was a silence from the other side of the line as those words left his lips. He was woken up again by that awful nightmare and Haaris didn't know what had happened but his mind was reminding him all the sadness of his life. Only one person occupied his senses as he found it difficult to tackle everything around him.

Ghazal.

He couldn't put his finger on the reason why he was asking such absurdities to her. Wasn't he the one who would leave her at the end? Then why such fakeness? But, the mere thought of leaving her was creating a hollow inside him, leaving him anxious and worried.

"Look, Haaris." Ghazal took a long sigh before continuing "I can't make vague promises but one thing I can assure you, I will stay by your side till my last breaths, In Shaa Allah."

Those words were enough to silence his mind, Haaris could only hear his breathing with his thudding heartbeat which had accelerated hearing her response. He was thankful that Ghazal was not in front of him because if she would, he would definitely hug her.

I want to hug you, lady.

His lips tilted in a low smile thinking about her reaction, Haaris would clearly get his fourth slap for his shamelessness. But it would be worth-

"Hello, Haaris. Are you ok?"

"Never been better. You know you should thank God that you aren't here."

"Why?"

"I must have hugged you after your reply." A deep chuckle erupted from him as Haaris heard a shy gasp followed by an orating silence.

"You are the most shameless person I have ever met in my life."

"Trust me, I am one and only."

Haaris replied uppishly, his fingers trailing on the edges of his wooden cupboard. In reply, he got a groan from Ghazal lifting his lips in a wide smile.

"What Adam's doing? "

"Sleeping. "

"So early?"

"Haaris, have a look on the clock."

Haaris glanced at the clock which was showing half-past one. He laughed at his own silliness, didn't know why all of a sudden he was feeling too happy and giddy.

"Hey Haaris, Baba wanted to invite you for dinner at our house. Is that okay?"

Ghazal's voice was soft as if she was slightly afraid to ask him.

"Yes. When?"

"Is tomorrow alright with you?"

"More than alright. Do I have to behave differently in front of him to impress?"

Haaris asked with a chuckle, fully knowing how these talks irritated his lady.

"Don't start again. He is already more than impressed by you." Ghazal said with a hint of amusement, "See you tomorrow, Allah Hafiz."

With that, the line went dead but something inside him sprouted. A feeling, a rare one, he was still unable to understand properly.

***

"Baba you know, if you eat all of this I have to order a pizza for all of us."

Ghazal warned her father, eyeing him as he took another spoonful from the plate of the dessert she had prepared. But that was not enough, her own son was devouring the dish with his grandfather. It was after a long time, she had returned to her house and that was just because her brother and sister-in-law had gone on a vacation.

Baba wanted to invite Haaris for the dinner and was bugging Ghazal for the same. On the cue the doorbell rang, Ghazal wiped her hands on a napkin and moved out of the kitchen not before warning the duo.

"Just come out of the kitchen you two."

Fixing her cream dupatta properly on her head, she opened the door to find a smiling Haaris at the door. Her mind became somewhat relaxed seeing him at the door, maybe she was afraid he would call off the dinner all of a sudden just due to his moodiness.

"I am not late lady, am I?"

Haaris asked extending a bouquet of white roses towards her, which she hesitantly accepted.

"No, you are just on time." she gently smelt the serene fragrance of the roses and gave a small smile to him, "Flowers are wonderful, thank you."

Haaris sufficed on mere nodding and followed her inside the house. By the time, Baba and Adam were waiting for him in the living room, thankfully. Adam quickly lunged forward and Haaris picked him up in his arms with a chuckle.

"Welcome home, Haarish."

"Thanks, champ." Haaris put his hand on his chest as he slowly bowed his head in front of Baba for his blessings, "Sir."

"Oh, please just call me Baba."

Baba said smiling at his way and patted his shoulder. Was he really that Haaris who didn't understand the single meaning of respect? Now he was conversing like-

Has he again started taking drugs?

"Ghazi, we should start dinner."

Baba said looking at her and she nodded watching closely how Haaris was behaving. He was normal, his appearance was normal, his face seemed fine. Ghazal was stealing glances of that weird man the whole time when she prepared the dinner table, Haaris was talking with her father. Adam was as usual seated on his lap, Haaris's face was looking concerned as if he was listening to him deeply.

Isn't it what you wanted? A man who will respect your family?

Her conscience asked the question to which she didn't want to respond, she knew the answer. Farzan never bothered to come to Ghazal's house let alone talk to her family with softness.

"Come over, dinner is ready."

Ghazal said quickly in order to move her mind away from her past and present. Haaris gave a smile as she pulled out a chair for him and made him sit. She started to serve the dishes one by one on everybody's plate and took her seat next to Adam, just in front of her fiancé.

Haaris was chatting with her father and she could see on Baba's face, how he was enjoying his company. It was visible on his face, the happiness which was a rare sight after her mother's death. A sense of gratefulness took birth inside her for Haaris.

***

"It was not needed, son." Ghazal's father said looking at the wrapped gift, "Your company proved a gift as I have discussed cricket after a long time, now."

Haaris wholeheartedly laughed at Baba's remark. He would never regret coming to his fiancée's house and meeting her father. What a wonderful man he was! Thorough knowledge about every single thing, his way of talking, one couldn't get away from him without getting impressed.

But that was not the only thing which had made him happy, it was small gestures of Ghazal, who was taking care of everything for him. When did he get this type of treatment? Never. Yes, he had been raised with the clutters of servants and maids who could give their life for him but they were paid to do so, to obey his every single order.

That was not the thing with Ghazal, he didn't have to say anything and she was understanding everything. Pulling a chair for him, serving him dishes, filling his glass with water every now and then and so on.

The food was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted in his life and was surprised when he came to know that it was all Ghazal's hardwork behind it. Haaris didn't know names of some of the dishes but they were also amazing. It was clearly seen, how much effort Ghazal had put as a host. His heart just swelled at her care.

"Haarish, my gift?"

Adam was standing in front of him extending his hand. Ghazal came forward to her son somewhat embarrassed but he stopped her with a shook of the head. Haaris sat on his knees, holding Adam's small shoulders.

"I think", he fished out a small package from his pocket, "this is yours. What's say?"

Adam's eyes widened and his lips extended into a bright smile. He tightly hugged Haaris, mumbling thank you in his embrace. Soon his departing time came, Adam and Ghazal were waiting for him at the gate when Baba stopped him at the threshold of the living room.

"Son, take care of my daughter. She has faced many things alone but I know Ghazal also deserves to be happy. " Haaris took his hand in his reassuringly.

"I promise you, Baba."

He came towards the mother son duo who was busy staring at the winter sky. His mind still muddled up in the promise. Wasn't he a great liar? He just lied to Ghazal's father. What about the glint of hope in his eyes? What about the trust he was putting in him?

"Thanks for coming, Haaris."

Ghazal said as he was about to open the gate, he turned to face her who was already looking at him, waiting for his reply. Adam was long gone inside bidding him goodbye.

"Thanks for inviting me."

She just nodded in reply, twisting the edges of her dupatta around her fingers. Ghazal glanced at him with her slightly lowered gaze, her lashes wavering maybe just because of his intense peer.

"Have you taken some kind of etiquette classes?"

Her sudden question caught him off guard and next was his chortle which left his lips as he was more than amused by the lady's thinking. How sure she was that Haaris could only behave rudely with people!

"No, maybe it's your aura around me which is changing me."

"Cheesy man."

That was Ghazal's reply, her voice slightly dipped in shyness and eyes narrowed at him. Haaris inched a little closer to her, moving his lips nearer to her ear, careful in not to touch Ghazal as it would only ignite the anger of his tigeress.

Tigeress. Nice nickname.

"I am not as bad as you think I am."

Haaris whispered and moved outside the gate winking at his blushing lady. Her soft voice again grabbed his attention as he was about to move away from there.

"Drive safely."

He nodded with a smile. His heart missing a beat at her statement of concern. His life was clearly changing but that was not the only thing, his life was also bringing a change in him. A change he didn't know what would do to him. He fixed his gaze on the empty road with only face in his mind.

Ghazal.