Date: 19/06/2020

The Blue Eyes (Rifa Fathma)

Episode 2:

The Departure!!

London is one of the world's most important global cities and has been called the world's most powerful, most influential, most expensive and most popular-for-work city.

London is called The Big Smoke, The Old Smoke or simply The Smoke.

A bird was perching on the tree, ogling him, who was sitting beside his friend on his garden steps without caring about the cold weather of London.

"And you know what happened then?" Laughing, his friend asked him, who was not listening to a single word from the start.

"Hmm..." He hummed in response, staring at a distance.

He was a 25-year-old good looking man with silky brown hair and captivating blue eyes. They both were best friends since he stepped into college.

The cold breeze hit his face, making him enjoy the last moment in London. The murky clouds gradually began huddling, indicating that the rain will come soon.

Pit! pat!

He blinked his mesmerising blue eyes when a few drops of rain started falling on him.

"....And he just ran out of there." His friend laughed, throwing his head back. By then, the rain was started pouring onto them.

"Are you even listening to me?" Sensing the lack of response, his friend narrowed his eyes at him, who hadn't uttered a single word till then.

His blue eyes were capturing every drops of rain, which was spreading out, after falling on the ground.

He sighed.

Aise hi nahi girte hain ye moti zameen par
Thaharte the kabhi baadal ke jo shaakh-e-haseen par
Husn-e-barsaat ke is jaam ka rahmat bhi naam hai
Qudrat kaha parakhe inhein noor-e-maheen par
Inhein hai kya fikar, kys waasta inka udaas se
Hote hain fanaa dekar ke kaliyon ke ruheen par
Hone se inke mausam-e-jahaan mein jaan hai
Kuchh toh asar hoga kisi dil-e-zaheen par

The corner of his lips curled up into a small smile as he continued observing the beautiful drops of the rain. His friend's mouth was wide open.

TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE POETRY:

It's not an ordinary phenomenon; falling of these pearls on Earth
The ones which once used to stay in the beauty branches of clouds.
This drink of beauty of Rain has another name called blessing
And even Nature doesn't use moonlight to verify it.
They are carefree and have nothing to do with flight and elevation
They immolate themselves offering their souls to blossoms
Their occurence adds liveliness to the season alteration of this world
At least to some extent they'll impact heart of a thinker.

"Wow! Just... WOW!" His friend exclaimed after a few seconds, contemplating the words in his mind.

"I sure am going to miss your poetries, Zayaan." His friend said with his lips curved downwards.

Zayaan side glanced at him, narrowing his eyes at his best friend. "Yeah, yeah! I know, Shehriyar! how much you would miss my poetries. After all, you won't be able to narrate them to Sara."

Shehriyar let out a laugh reckoning about his thief like behaviours.

"And she thinks that all those poetries are made by you which is absolutely WRONG," he said gritting his teeth. Shehriyar was still laughing watching his pissed face.

"Haha... I truly am guilty of my amazing deeds." Shehriyar raised his hands in surrender, trying to control his laughs.

"Whatever."

"Don't act smart, Zayaan! What if I remind you of your most mischievous act... EVER?" Shehriyar raised his eyebrows, challenging him.

"Astagfirullah!! Me? And mischievous act? Like seriously? Excuse me, Mr Shehriyar Ubaid, let me remind you that I'm Zayaan Ibrahim and I'm the most innocent and most well-mannered person... ever." He smirked.

"Oh yeah?" His eyebrows straightened as he looked at Zayaan wearily. "What about you, pouring water on my car? What about that broken car handle? What about that cracked Mirror in my car? What about..."

"Ok, ok, fine Shehru! Enough of your blabs." Shehriyar rolled his eyes at him. There was a peaceful silence between them. They were engrossed in thinking about their memories.

FOUR YEARS AGO:

When Zayaan stepped his foot in England to continue his Higher Education in London in the University College Of London (UCL) he didn't know specific locations. Even in college, he didn't even know where the Café was.

He was searching for the Staff Room when suddenly someone bumped into him.

"Oops, sorry!" Apologised Zayaan, who was in a hurry. All of his notes fell with a thud!

He knelt to take the notes unaware of someone's constant gaze on him. His eyes followed from his notes to the foot, which was constantly being tapped on the ground. He slowly lifted his head only to see a pair of golden eyes, narrowing at him. He quickly stood up.

"S-sorry, I'm searching for the staffroom. As I'm a new student, I..."

The golden-eyed guy showed his right palm, indicating him to stop. "Hold on! What have you said? New student... I see..."

Zayaan gulped hard hearing his deep voice. Goosebumps rose all over his body as that golden-eyed guy looked him through his skin. He seemed to be the boy who rags the new students around.

"I have to go." He pressed his notes closer to his chest and was about to make his way to escape from there when...

"Hey, don't you even think of escaping from me. Do you even know who am I?" The guy spoke up not allowing him to escape.

Of course, DEVIL!!

He closed his eyes and sighed. He turned around to face the guy who had been wasting his precious time.

"Name!" The guy tapped his foot on the ground.

"Huh?" He raised one of his perfect eyebrows in confusion.

"I guess, there must be a name for such an Idiot like you." The guy asked without any kind of emotion.

Wait... He called me what?

Clenching his jaw, he replied."Zayaan!"

The guy's next action made his mouth hang open. The guy extended his hand and said,

"Hi! Shehriyar is the name. My friends call me Shehri. If you want you too can. By the way, welcome to the new school." Shehriyar smiled...

PRESENT:

"I'm going to miss you a lot, Zayaan" He jerked out from his chain full of thoughts, hearing Shehriyar's serious voice.

"And here I'm desperately waiting to get rid of you," he muttered under his breath.

"Come again?" Shehriyar glared to which he cackled.

"Of course, I will miss you too, dude!" said Zayaan and hugged him tightly.

****

"Assalamu Alaikum!"

Zayaan was pacing here and there with his phone pressed against his ear, when, finally, Shehriyar spoke from the other end.

"Wa Alaikumus Salaam! Just wanted to check whether you have slept in the bathroom itself or what. WHERE ARE YOU, IDIOT??" cried Zayaan, fisting his hand.

"Woah! Haha, coming bro. I'm on the way."

Shehriyar was always late in getting ready as if he was a girl. That was the thing that he didn't appreciate in Shehriyar. He disconnected the call and took a deep breath.

Few more minutes, Zayaan!

He looked around his home, trying to fit everything in his brain. He was living there for four years. After his graduation, he decided to go to his hometown. It was so hard to leave everything especially his best friend, Shehriyar.

The sound of the car's horn, being made by his friend outside made him jerk back to reality. His eyes became wet. After a last, sorrowful glance at everything, he closed the door of his ex-home making his beautiful memories in that home closed... forever.

He quickly descended the garden steps and headed towards Shehriyar's car. He threw his luggage in the last seat, closed the door and hopped into the passenger seat.

"Let's go..."

"Zayaan?" A few minutes passed in silence when suddenly, Shehriyar called him. He hummed in response without taking his gaze off from the window.

"Actually... Your mother called me, yesterday," hesitating, Shehriyar said.

"WHAT!!" He turned his head hastily towards Shehriyar.

"Ha-haha, yeah!" Shehriyar nervously laughed and was looking uncomfortable which made him scared.

"What did she say?" He stretched his hand back to take his water bottle, opened the lid and started drinking.

"Since she thinks I'm close to you, she requested me to ask you that it's the time for you to marry an-" Before Shehriyar could finish his sentence,  he puked the water all over the car. The chilliness under his foot made him realise what he had done. He slowly lifted his head only to see his furious friend shooting glares at him. He gulped hard. As he lifted his hands in surrender, the water bottle from his hand fell with a splash!

"Oops!!"

"Zayaaaaan!! You are going to be the death of me!!"

And he knew that he could not get rid of Shehriyar so easily.

****

Heathrow Airport in London otherwise known as London Heathrow is the UK's largest and busiest airport as well as being the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world based on passenger traffic.

That day, it was busy like always with people rushing here and there carrying their luggage and as well as their heavy hearts as they were departing from their loved ones.

Through the hurry, there they were, standing outside the airport, talking for some time before the departure.

After giving a manly hug to Shehriyar, he bid him goodbye and headed towards the airport. After showing his passport and necessary cards, he went to the counter for his luggage to be checked. The secretary checked his luggage, gave him his board Pass and told him to wait for the flight in the waiting area. He bought some beverages and snacks and went to the waiting area. There were still 20 minutes left for the flight to arrive.

He sat there, admiring the scenery of the people rushing here and there. Some people were crying that their loved ones were going away from them. Some are sad to leave their family/friends. To all of these, his eyes caught the stunning scenery before him.

A boy was kneeling in front of who seemed to be his little sister. He was trying to console his sister who was sobbing.

"Okay, okay, don't cry princess. I will be back, Zara... Oho! Why are you crying?" He tried to take her hand out of her eyes. But Zara was so stubborn.

"D-don't go, please," she said in between her sobs. He drew out something from his jeans pocket and handed it over to her. She stopped crying on seeing a beautiful doll in front of her.

Smiling, she stared at the doll. He too smiled on seeing his sister smile. After a few seconds, she again began crying and hugged her brother tightly. "I w-will miss you."

On seeing this scene, a smile made its way across Zayaan's lips. This reminded him of his younger sister, Ayesha...

FLASHBACK:

"Make sure to eat and sleep on time."

It was the day when Zayaan was about to go to England to proceed with his studies. The whole house was silent as the 'heart' of the house was departing from them.

"Sure, Ammi!" Zayaan answered his mother, setting his hand on the jeans pocket.

"Oh, son! I will miss you so much." By saying this, the mother's eyes became wet. He slowly wiped the tears from the corner of his mother's eyes. On seeing his mother, his heart became heavy.

"I love you soo much, Mehar begum." He hugged her tightly. Mehar slightly hit the back of his head for calling her by her name. He chuckled.

He broke the hug and heaved a sigh of sorrow. He took a glance at everything and everyone around for the last time. His father was standing at a distance, smiling at his son and wife. The servant of the house was watching him sadly. He was the charm of everyone in the house. It was a sorrowful moment to live without him for few years.

Everyone was present to bid him goodbye but his sister.

Where is she?

"Shafi, where is Ayesha?" He asked the servant knitting his eyebrows.

"She must have locked herself in her room," his father replied on behalf of Shafi.

"I have no idea how I will handle that stubborn of a girl hereafter, Ibrahim." shaking her head, Mehar directed towards his husband.

Ayesha was a year old from him. She was a stubborn girl. He was the only person in the house, who was able to handle her. They were so close to each other like if someone tells something bad about Ayesha, he didn't spare that person easily and the same went for Ayesha. In other words, they were 'partners in crime'.

"Let me check her." He took long strides towards her room. He knocked on the door but no reply came from the other side. He slowly opened the door and peeked in.

Ayesha was standing on the balcony and was staring at the sky. His heart became heavy. He stepped in and closed the door behind him. He took slow steps towards her sister to scare her.

"BOO!!"

Ayesha didn't move a bit as if she already knew that he was there. He sighed and ran his hand through his beautiful brown hair.

"I'm sorry," he said, staring at her. She didn't reply and continued staring at the sky.

"Ayesha? Are you listening?" She turned her head to the other side.

"Ayesha, I have to go. I have no other option left. Please try to understand!" He pleaded. He couldn't see her face as she had turned towards another side. But he was sure that she was crying.

"I don't have much time left. Please talk to me for the last time." Now he could even hear her sobs.

"Don't cry, please! You know very well that I don't like seeing you c-cry." His voice cracked at the end. It was so hard for him to leave his sister.

"Are you sending your handsome brother like this, huh?" Tilting his head to the side, he slightly smiled.

She turned and glared at him. "I wish I could kill you." He laughed.

"And I know that you won't kill your handsome brother." He winked.

****

He smiled thinking that he was finally going to meet his sister. Ayesha got married three years ago and he couldn't able to attend her wedding. At first, she was so angry at him. But he, like always convinced her. He took the cool drink, opened the lid and closing his blue eyes, he started drinking, making his mind fresh as his heart was beating fast as he was finally going to his hometown.

****

Lahore is the second biggest city in Pakistan. It is also known as the 'City of Gardens' as it has numerous parks and gardens. This city is known for its rich culture and lively atmosphere.

That day, Lahore was busy. The vehicles were buzzing off at full speed. Some children were wailing, some were cheerfully relishing the day. The people were moving in and out of the markets, bumping someone on their way.

To all of these, he was casually walking towards his home, keeping his hands in his jeans pocket with a cap on his head. It had been two days since he had returned to Pakistan.

He ringed the bell and waited for someone to open the door. He tapped his foot on the ground and gazed at his wristwatch. When the door was opened, he looked up to find no one standing. He wondered who had opened the door when suddenly he felt a pair of hands gripping his legs.

"Zayaan Mamu?"

He lowered his gaze to see a pair of blue eyes staring back at him.

"Aww! Aimon!" He held Aimon in his waist and entered the home.

"Do you know who am I"? Zayaan asked Aimon who was peeking at him without taking her eyes off.

"Mamu!" She replied with her baby voice, still staring at his beautiful face.

"Aww, how cute you are." He pinched her cheeks.

So, Ayesha has come!

"Where is your Ammi, Princess?" She stared at him blankly as she tried to think where her mother was. She widened her eyes a little as if she knew where her mother was. She stretched her hand towards a closed door of the room which was upstairs. He thought that she must be reciting Qur'an like always.

She whirled her head towards her doll which was laying on the sofa. Thinking that she wanted to play, he placed her on the sofa.

"Yo, Man! Long time no see?" He turned and saw his cousin and childhood friend coming towards his way.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Hammad! How are you?" He went towards the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"I'm good, bro! How are you? and how was London? Found any girl?" Hammad smirked. He rolled his eyes at his last sentence and took the water bottle.

"Come on, Zayaan don't be innocent. I know as you are a 'Good-looking and well-educated man.' how do you expect me not to ask about that? Hiding from me, huh?" He intentionally addressed the adjectives which were often said by Zayaan.

Zayaan gulped down the water in one go and turned his attention to Hammad who was smirking from the start.

"For your first question, Alhamdulillah, I'm fine. For your second question, It was Awesome! I really am missing England's life, especially my jerk of a friend, Shehru... For your third question, No. I didn't find any girl as I went there to study." He said gritting his teeth forcing on the word 'study.'

"And as for your last question, no, there is nothing like that and I'm not hiding anything from you." He winked. Hammad stared blankly. He waited for Hammad to say something. But when Hammad didn't say anything, he asked.

"When did Ayesha come?" He crossed his hands across his chest and leaned against the kitchen counter.

"Just a few hours ago."

"Where is Musa?"

"Has gone to Mosque." He was shocked to see Hammad, answering in one sentence that too without any expression.

"What happened to you now?" He asked raising his eyebrows.

"Actually... Your Mom told me to tell you this that..." And he knew very well what was coming. He sighed.

"...That it's my time to marry and she asked whether I have any girl in my mind so that I can marry her. Yeah, right! Whatever!" He rolled his eyes and shrugged.

"Hmm, tell me if you have some-"

"Hammad!! Do you even know what you are saying? I'm just 25 and I'm not ready yet." He growled disbelievingly.

"Woah! Calm down, bro! Calm down." Hammad held his hand in the air.

He shook his head and asked tiredly, "Where is she?"

"Probably in her room talking with Mom."

Ever since he stepped foot in Lahore, Mehar was after him, telling him to get married. She always listened to what he said. But now, it seemed that she really wanted him to get married. Even his father is now on her side.

There is only one way, and that was...

"Wait, I'm coming." He ran upstairs. After reaching in front of her room, he took a long breath and knocked. No reply! He again knocked and again there was no reply from the other side. So he decided to eavesdrop. He brought his ears to the doorknob and stopped to hear Qur'an being recited so beautifully. He slowly twisted the doorknob and peeked in.

She was there, sitting on her bed with a veil neatly wrapped around her face. He stepped in and closed the door behind him. He dragged the chair, which was placed in front of the mirror and sat on it. He stared at Ayesha, who was beautifully reciting the Qur'an.

When few minutes passed, she closed the Qur'an and spread her hand in front of her face and started her supplication. He bent his head down with his hands joined together on his knees.

"Assalamu Alaikum!" He lifted his head on hearing Ayesha's voice.

"Wa Alaikumus Salaam Warahmatullah!" He had noticed that Ayesha had improved a little. She had been reciting Qur'an and praying and all before too. In fact, she had been a pious Muslim. But he noticed that her stubbornness had long gone. She had turned into a silent and preserved woman.

She stared at him and waited for him to say whatever he had in his mind for which he had come in her room.

"Speak, Zayaan!" When he didn't say anything, she asked. Sighing, he ran his hand through his brown hair.

"Please, convince Ammi, Ayesha! Please!" He pleaded.

"You know what, Zayaan? It's me who has requested Ammi to get you married."

"What? Wait... Whaaaat?? He was stunned. He didn't know what to say.

"A-Ayesha, have you gone mad? You know I'm still not re-"

"Listen up, Zayaan! Listen up!" She told nodding her head to stop him to continue further. But what Ayesha said next, made him cease on his track.

"Marriage completes half of your Deen..."