After 7  YEARS.

Abbas open the door and he was shocked to saw me standing there covering my head with dupatta.

"Shama tu!"
(Shama you!)

He couldn't help but exclaimed

"Haan main"

(yes me)

That was a meek reply from me

"Aaj pind wich aan da irada kive kar lia?"

(How have you decided to visit village today?)

He asked bitterly, and his behaviour was expected!

"Kese ho? Andar Aane ke liye nahi kahoge?"

(How are you? Won't you allow me to come in)

I asked a question in the reply of his question, but my tone was quite different then before.

"Haan Haan aa, main ta bhul hi gaya si ki mahimana nu andar aan layi kiha jaunda hai, ghar wale ta bina ijazat ke aa jaunde Haa"

(oh yeah come, I was completely forget that we should offer guests to come in, family members does not need any permission they directly come in)

Abbas fired a satire while providing me space to enter and half shut the door after me.

I was already regretting for what, I had done with him moreover his satires were making me more guilt-rudder

"Esi baate mat karo please, main bohot sharminda rahi hu."

(Please don't talk like this, I'm already regretting)

I requested and for a few moments his facial expressions were changed, maybe he detected guilt and sorry in my tone, but soon that soft feeling was gone and hatred towards me was clearly visible in his eyes.

"Tu kiu pachata ri hai? Uha be... Beel edu.. Edu.. Men'nu taa bolna vi ni aaunda"

(Why are you regretting? Where is that well Ed... Educa... I don't even know how to pronounce these words)

He chuckled bitterly remembering the past and I cried but he again continued.

"Uh parhia-likhi'a te sabhikari aadmi kithe hai?"

( Where is that well educated and civilised man?)

He added and I was answerless, my life took many turns in these seven years.

"Chala gya wo mujhe akela chhod kar, usne dusri shadi kar li, usne kaha ki main jahil hu, do Kitabe parhne se koi badal nhi sakta. Usne apne sath ki ek wakeel se shadi kar li"

(He left me alone, He have done second marriage. He said that I'm uncivilised, no one can come civilised by studying few books. He married with his college)

I informed a small part of my life to him while crying, he was watching me without blinking. Maybe because I've changed in those seven years. I had gain few kgs which made my cheeks chubby and nose more fine. I also examined his condition, he aslo gain some weight which made his fat belly little more fatter than before and his shave was grown up as if he hadn't clean that since many days. In short there wasn't any positive change in his personality.

"Sun ke bahut dukh hoya!"

(I'm sorry to hear this!)

I looked up, he was sounding very sad.

"Lekin tu ta samajh sakdi ha na, jahil loga de naal zindagi guzarna mushkil hounda ha... Theek hi kra us bhale aadmi ne. Aakhir har ek nu usdi zindagi da feesla karne ka haq hai. Theek gal hai na?"

(But you can understand that its not easy to spend whole life with uncivilised people... He did correct. After all everyone have right to live their life and make decisions regarding that. Am I right?)

Abbas said very politely, but he made me remember my own words which I'd said  about him, I felt guilty one more time.

"I'm sorry, please mujhe maaf kar do! Bhul jao sab kuch. Tum jesa achha insaan mene aaj tak nahi dekha... Mujhse galti ho gayi thi."

(I'm sorry, please forgive me! Please forget everything, I never meet anyone who is so kind like you.i was on mistake)

I cried out in front of him, I did wrong with him and that guilt wasn't letting me live in peace.

"Galat bol gayi shama, mere jeva jahil insaan tune aaj tak nai wekha"

(You're making a small mistake in your statement, you haven't meet anyone who is so uncivilised like me)

While stressing on jahil (uncivilised) He made me remember about my own words.

"Maaf kar do, please maaf kar do, bhul jao sab kuch. Ye guilt mujhe jeene nahi de rahi"

(Forgive me, please forgive me. Please forget the past. This guilt is killing me)

I pleaded while crying and joining my hands together

"Maaf to ten'nu usi din kar ditta si jis din ten'nu us rishte to azad kitta si, magar kuch bhula nahi saka aaj tak"

(I had forgive on the same day when I released you from that relationship, but till now I'm unable to forget anything)

Abbas said bitterly after a sigh.

"Sab, kuch bhul jao... Mujhe maaf kar do, Tumhara ehsaan rahega mere upar. Tum jo kahoge main wo hi karungi bas is guilt se azadi de do"

(Please forgot everything, I'll be grateful in front of you. I will do whatever you say, just give me freedom from this guilt)

Abbas keep looking at my face for a very long moment and smile.

"Men'nu ek gal das, agar main ten'nu ek mooqa de du ta sab kuch theek ho sakda hai?"

(Tell me one thing, will everything become fine if I give you another chance?)

He asked and I nodded while wiping my tears.

"Sab kuch theek ho jayega... Sab kuch! Tumhare dil se bhi bojh utar jayega aur mere dil se bhi. Tum bhi khush rahoge aur main bhi"

(Everything will be fine, believe me everything!  The burden will be vanish from your heart as well as from mine too.  You will be happy as so I will)

I said with a burden like smile while wiping my tears and sat down on the near by cot, Abbas was just watching me, maybe he was remembering about my past statements and tone. But that day I was sounding completely different. He was completely shocked as well as out of words due to my transformation. But honestly these seven years made me a different Shama.

"Kuch jal raha hai kya?"

(is something burning?)

I asked when I felt that burning smell and Abbas smacked his forehead then ran towards the kitchen in hurry.

"Phitte muh, main jado wi chawal banauna ha, te zarur jalde ne"

(Damned! I always burn the rice while cooking)

He said to himself with frustration while looking towards the utensil of rice as if he was scolding the half burned rice, I went to the kitchen and couldn't control myself to laughed at his condition as well as the condition of the rice.

"Hato main karti hu"

(Lemme do it)

I said without meeting my gaze with him and took the spatula from his hand.

"Rehn de, aunda hai men'nu ye kaam karna, waqt ne sab sikha ditta hai"

(No need, I know how to do this work, after all time is the best teacher)

He said bitterly before taking the spatula back from my hand, and I took a step back without saying anything.

"Hmm.. Waqt sab sikha deta hai, magar Waqt sab bhula bhi to deta hai na"

(Hmm.. Its true that time is the best teacher but it's also true that time is the best healer. Isn't it?)

I said meekly and he jerked his head.

"Haan shayad"

(maybe)

Abbas mumbled and served those half burnt rice for himself before going outside the kitchen and i followed him, we both sat down on different cots, Abbas ignored my presence as if I wasn't visible and started having those rice with his hand, as usually without using spoon. For a moment I felt irritation but then I controlled myself. I was there just for forgiveness!!

"Ese jale hue chawal kab tak khaoge?"

(Till how long you'll eat these half burnt rice)

I couldn't help but questioned in hushed tone.

"Bas kuch din hor"

(Just for few more days)

With a smile He replied looking towards me and I was confused on his answer as well as tone. At the same time I listened the voice on doorway and Abbas looked there, but I was watching the home, that was exactly in the same way what I left many years ago. I was amazed that Abbas was keeping everything of the house in the same way.

"Babaaaaaaa" a two and a half years old boy entered in with loud call and run towards Abbas, a smile made its way on his lips, he didn't waste a single second to place the plate on floor and open his both arms.

"Haye mera sheer puttar aa gya! Baba ki Jaan hai tu to"

(oh my little lion have come back, you're my life my son)

Saying that very loudly Abbas lift that boy in his arms and kissed his both cheeks many times, but suddenly looked towards the figure who was entering in the home holding a small baby wrapped in a red towel in her one arm and struggling with an iron truck in other hand.

"Ki kar rahi hai Nagma.. Ten'nu wazan uthane di lod na hai, hor tu men'nu bataye bina kyu aa gai?"

(What are you doing Nagna, you don't have to lift the weight. And why you have come here without even informing me?)

Abbas made his son stand on the floor and moved towards the lady, he took the trunk from her hand and put that in one corner and then held that baby with a smile.

"Meri pari"
(my angle)

Abbas muttered and kissed the forehead of that small baby

"Eh kon hai?"

(Who is she?)

The lady who was must be his wife asked about me and Abbas held her both hands before taking her toward the cot protectively.

"Nagma Tu pahile araam naal beth"

(First you sit down carefully)

Abbas said with a smile while giving the baby to his wife.

"Eh hai Shama Saheba, shaher to aayi hain madam ji, bohot waddi wakeel hain ye"

(She is Ma'am Shama, she has come from city, she is  a famous lawyer)

Abbas introduced me but the satirical tone worked as a dagger for me

"Shama Madam, meri ghar wali to milo Nagma. Apne peehar gai hui si, do mahine to, isi layi ta main eh chawal kha rawa si. Hor eh hai mera sheer puttar mera  ALI"

(Shama Madam meet my wife, Nagma. She was living in her maternal home since two months that's why I was eating that rice. And meet my brave son ALI )

Abbas introduced his family with a smile, and wave of happiness on his face, then looked towards the little baby.

"Eh meri beti hai, abhi sirf ek mah di hai, to abhi kuch naam nahi socha."

(And she is my daughter, she is only one month old that's why I haven't decided her name yet)

Abbas added while taking the small baby in his arms and kissed her forehead one more time.

"Wakeel sahiba Nu kyu bulaya hai? Koi mukadma karna hai ki?"

(Why you have called Lawyer madam? Do you wanna file some case?)

Nagma asked and Abbas smiled before shaking is head.

"Mukadma ta kai baras pahile hua si, duniya di Santo waddi adalat wich, aaj to usda Fesla aaya hai, wahi bataune de waste ta wakeel saheba aayi hain ithho"

(No, actually many years ago the case was registered in the biggest court of this world and today its judgment is out so the lawyer madam is here to tell me about the same)

Abbas said and I was silent, I wasn't in senses to react.

"Ki Fesla aaya mukadme da? Kheer ta hain?"

(What is the judgement? Is everything fine?)

Nagma asked worriedly.

"Sab Khair kheriyat hai bibi, adalat ne insaaf kar ditta, main jeet gya."

(Don't worry everything is fine! The court has done justice and I have win)

Abbas said happily while lifting his little daughter in his arms, and I felt hurt with his statement.

"Rabba tera lakh lakh shukrana"

(Thank God)

Nagma said happily and shift her gaze towards me

"Aap ji da wi shukriya madam ji"

(Thanks to you too madam)

Nagma said happily to me and I looked towards Abbas.

"Rab di meher hain mere ut'te, us jeet to waddi jeeta ta ye Haan mere waste"

(I have God's grace on me, These are my biggest victory)

Kissing the cheek of his small daughter Abbas said and gestured his son to come towards him. He embraced his both children lovingly and I got tears in my eyes for what I had done. I suddenly stood up and moved towards the door without uttering a single word.

"Madam ji, tusi thodi deer ta ruko, khana khaa ke jana"

( Ma'am you you please stay for some time, go back after having dinner with us)

Nagma said happily and I turned to saw her.

"Jaane de Nagma, wadde log hain, ihna de kol humare warge chhote loga de waste waqt nhi hunda. Main darwaje tak chhod kr aata han"

(Let her go Nagma, they are great people, they don't have time for small people like us. I'm going to see her off till the door)

Abbas said while making his daughter lay down on cot and moved towards the door, to see off me.

"Meri ghar wali zyada parhi likhi to na hai, magar ek Kitaab bahut achhi tarah to parhi hai isne"

(My wife is not very well educated, but she have studied one book very well)

Abbas said when I stepped out from the home and I keep looking at his face with tear filled eyes.

"Konsi Kitaab?"
(which book?)

"MOHABBAT KI KITAAB"
(THE BOOK OF LOVE)

Saying that Abbas shut the door on my face and my eyes dropped the tears. But wiping them I wear my sunglasses and hopped in my car.

I have just started driving towards city when my mobile started ringing and I picked the call.

"Yeah Richa?" I said while sniffing

"Yaar Shama.." Richa was saying something but suddenly stopped and yelled

"Vaibhav... Vihaan hold him... He is going towards stairs"

I removed the mobile from my ear as that yell could made a hole in my eardrum.

"Roshni... No beta... Don't do this" Richa again yelled again and I giggled.

"Shama where are you?" after all she come back on call and asked me.

"I'm Coming back" I replied and pushed the accelerator when I again listened.

"No Khushi, don't play with Vaibhav near stairs... Vihaan why aren't you doing anything" Richa again yelled and I hanged up the call with a smile.

I was driving my car out from village and many people were entering in the village, a palanquin was being lifted by few men and I remembered the incident of eleven years back, the day when I entered in that village as the bride of Abbas.

"God knows how many Shama and Abbas are living in this world!" I muttered and my car exit from the village.

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To be continued....
===============

I again made this chapter long!!

So you have to wait for next update to know that happened in these seven years.

And please point out the mistakes in this chapter, because last night I had severe pain in my back and legs and I made many changes in this chapter in that situation, I don't know what exactly I have done in this.

_Naaz Jamal