***

تم جانے نہی یہ درد میرا
یـا جان کے بھی انجانے ہو
اک پل یہ لاگے اپنے ہو تم
اک پل یہ لاگے بیگانے ہو

Tum jane nahi ye dard mera
Ya jaan ke bhi anjane ho
Ik pal ye lage apne hi tum
Ik pal ye lage begane ho.

***

"Isi raunak ki to baat hoti hai Alamnagar mein,  Shah Haveli ki shaan hai bhai."

"Sari taiyari kitni umdah hai."

"Woah, look at that...that's something else."

"They are so humble and elegant."

Shah Haveli was once again lit up,  giving tough competition to the glory of the full moon. The magnificent palace like haveli was decorated just appropriate for the event. Ivory beauty covered with white lights.

Front garden was decked up for the party and the pastel theme was making the already beautiful place more breathtaking. People entering couldn't stop themselves from appreciating the beauty  of the haveli and even those present for a while were still not done with that.

People from Alamnagar and beyond were dressed in immaculate attire and moved around meeting and greeting each owner. The residents of Shah haveli too, were busy in receiving guests and fulfilling the role of hosts.

" Sara, Mansha and Saman here," Badi ammi introduced them to another guest. They had lost the count of how many times it was now.

"Pleased to meet you." Saman spoke smiling softly. The lady smiled radiantly in return.

"Night has just started and I already feel drained!" Nadia exclaimed coming towards the table where currently her girls stood. Some political announcement was going on, so they could catch a break.

"Same here, I feel I will be smiling like this for the next few days." Sara added sipping on her drink. Saman shook her head smiling. They all were at their best today. It was not the first time such a party was held, the only difference was that earlier ,they all were kids. Now they all were quite noticed.

"Alizeh kidhar hai?" Sara asked looking around for her friend.

"I saw her with Mahi bhabi few minutes ago." Nadia spoke taking a look around. That girl was looking no less than a fairy today. Nadia couldn't take her eyes off her and so were so many people. But what pricked her was that maybe a certain someone too, wasn't able to look away from her. 

She shook her thoughts away. It shouldn't matter now...when she knew what the truth was. But it didn't hurt less.

"Ah there she is!" Nadia exclaimed  watching as Alizeh waked towards them.

"I am so done with aunties!" She groaned earning a chuckle from everyone. Oh they knew what she was talking about.

"That's the punishment for looking like a fairy...trust me if I were at their place I too would want you for their sons." Nadia spoke smiling at her.

"Sahi kaha. I mean look at you!" Sara exclaimed,making Alizeh narrow her eyes.

"Oh please darling, look at yourself. I am sure badi ammi might have got a few proposals already.." Nadia spoke, shaking her head.

There was no denial there, the girls had catched attention from aunties, that were ready with their binoculars to select brides for their sons.

Saman was dressed in an elegant grey dress with embellished grey dupatta, her golden skin shinning under the bright light. Mansha had gone for a wine coloured outfit , Sara was in pink and white matching her friend who was also in pink. Nadia as usual opted for something simple in mauve, a shade she always thought suited her the best. And it did.

"Iske baad kya hona hai?" Alizeh asked gesturing towards the thing going on in tbe political circle.

"Some more congratulations, meet and greet and then dinner. Probably will take two hours max." Saman spoke for the first time. The girls got indulged in causual talks but Saman couldn't find herself engaging.

Her father didn't come.

Everyone was disappointed and upset but didn't show, at least to her. But she knew her family, she knew how hurt they were. All because of her. Maybe she should have agreed.

She had also seen some people watching her with questioning and judging eyes. She was aware why. Alamnagar was a small town and gossip spread faster than wildfire here. But she didn't pay any attention or that's what she thought to convince herself.

Saman was very much paying attention and was feeling self conscious, out of the place and pathetic. Thankfully nobody had stated the obvious infront of her till now or else she didn't know how she will handle it.

"I will be back." She excused and walked away from them. Making sure she was as invisible as possible,she made her way towards the drinks section but guess who wasn't lucky?

"Assalamualaikum aunty." She greeted politely.

"Walekum assalam, Saman where were you?" I didn't see you once around! Where were you hiding?" The lady laughed, as if it was a funny joke.

"Just around here." Saman replied.

"Tanveer, this is Saman, you know the one I was talking about." She spoke turning towards the lady standing beside her. The two exchanged a look. Saman could easily comprehend what it meant.

"Aur batao Saman sab khairiyat?" she asked.

"Ji aunty."

"Acha Saman suna tha Zafar sahab ke bete ka rishta aya tha tumhare liye. Mujhe to kisi ne bataya ki tumne khud hi mana kar diya. Main to hairaan hui pehle, lekin maine nahi mani wo baat. Akhir Shah haveli ki bachiyan itni bebaak aur bewakoof to nhi ho sakti."  Saman couldn't believe her ears. She was stunned at her boldness and shameless words. The lady was smiling sickly.

"Meri mano to dubara baat chalwa lo. Tum to janti hi ho aajkal ache rishte milte kahan hain...abhi bhi wo ladka single hai." she said and laughed. Saman  felt something pricking her eyes. How can someone be this insolent? If it were the Saman from a month back she wouldn't be silent. Saman knew how to shut trashy people's mouth but that Saman was no longer here. The one who stood like a statue now was a Saman who had lost her strength.

"Khair...Ihsan kaha hai?" she asked making Saman look at her, lost of words. She didn't have an answer to this question.

"I will tell him to reconsider this again. The guy is really nice and you will be lucky, Saman." she said, placing her hand on Saman's arm. Saman felt herself burn there. Oh how she wished to speak!

"Are Tanveer, Razia..." Saman heard someone's voice from somewhere. Razia and Tanveer both turned away from her and Saman didn't waste a second in walking away from there.

Her eyes had lost the battle with her tears and now they ran down her cheeks. Uncontrollably. Burning her skin as if they were lava.

Rashly wiping her eyes she made her way towards the table where others were. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't leave the party. People will talk more.

She was moving swiftly only to bump into someone.

"I am sorry." She whispered without looking up and tried to move away, only for the person to hold her arm. She looked up,shocked at this and found a pair of familiar brown eyes staring at her. The same eyes she often found herself losing in, but this time, instead of holding the galaxy those eyes held fire.

She could see flames, blazing as if ready to burn everything. She knew the reason, she grasped it. He had heard whatever had happened. She didn't know how, but she knew he heard them. Just a look in his orbs and Saman knew.

"Please." She whispered. Armaan knew what she wanted. Just a word and he knew what she wanted.

He left her hand.

She walked away.

Yet again, but this time...it had pained like never before.

________________

"Ahad bhai!  Where were you all the time?" Mansha exclaimed. The girls turned towards the person who was now walking towards them.

"Yahin bas tumhari bhabi ko dhund raha tha." He replied grinning cheekily.

Clad in a white kurta shalwar with chocolate brown waist coat Ahad Shah was certainly pleasing eyes. His usually ruffled hair was set in a sleek hairstyle with few strands falling on his forehead. And the cherry on top was his charismatic smile.

Nadia couldn't look away,not even for a second. He came, stood beside Sara and looked around briefly, Nadia still watched him. But when his eyes fell on her, she looked down. Nadia was strong but not as strong to match his gaze and not be bewitched more.

But what Nadia didn't know was that, just like her, he too couldn't look away. And he didn't even try. All the time she spent in escaping his eyes, they followed her more religiously.

And what she also didn't know was that Alizeh too was here but barely once had he looked her way. Nadia couldn't see how wrong she was.

_________

Saman felt herself breath in relief seeing the empty ground. Her family members were crowded in a corner and she had escaped them, making sure she was discreet. She had taken a few steps inside the living area when she felt someone come from behind.

Saman couldn't even react. The person had already  grabbed her arm and now was dragging her with him. Shocked at the suddenness ,she gasped and looked towards him. He wasn't looking at her, yet she could feel the anger from him.

Entering the kitchen Armaan pulled her infront of him and left her hand. Saman looked at him with confused eyes.

"Akhir kis mitti ki bani ho tum?" He  yelled.

"Kya samjhti ho khudko tum? Tumhe kya lagta hai tum ye sab karke koi tamghah hasil kar logi? Log tumhe shabashi denge? Wohi log jo aaj tumhe sabke samne zaleel karte nahi chukte."

Saman was horrified. She had never seen him this angry and yelling? Saman couldn't even overcome her initial shock when he had bombarded her with his words.

"You find all of us crazy right? Everyone of us has been telling you, that Saman no it's not your fault and we are with you but no. Miss Saman is so desperate to become the damsel in distress, doesn't she?" He chuckled angrily.

"What are you saying?" Saman barely whispered.

"Oh you don't know what I am saying? Kal raat ko bhi maine tumse kaha tha na ki tum ghalat nahi ho? Ahad ne, badi ammi ne, sab ne kitni dafa tumse kaha hai ki tumne kuch ghalat nahi kiya phir kyun? Phir kyun tum mujrim bani phir rahi ho?"

"Kehna kya chahte hain aap?" Saman asked loudly.

"Besharmo ki tarah unse ladti main?" She felt rage filling her. Her eyes were bruning and so was her heart.

Armaan froze. He had not realized that rage had taken over him. He watched her with wide eyes now. Regretting already.She looked hurt and he couldn't understand why he acted so rashly.

"Saman I was trying to-" he spoke calming himself but she raised her hand, asking him to stop.

"Saman-"

"Kya Saman? Kya? Keh diya apne jo kehna tha. You spoke enough. Main mazloom nahi hun aur na hi koi mujrim, par itni mazboot bhi nahi hun. Log to baat banate hi hai par apno ne bhi aaj koi kasar nahi chori." Wiping her tears she spoke.

"Saman is exhausted now, she has no ounce of strength left. Not when her own father had disowned her, without even listening a word. You think these people and their words affect me?" She gulped the lump in her throat.

"I have been listening to such nonsense from childhood but you wouldn't know Armaan Shah! So please stay out of it. You think I am some damsel? But I did not ask you to become my hero,did I? Leave me on my own."

"Saman I am sorry I-" Armaan couldn't end his sentence as Saman had already walked past him. He clenched his eyes.

What had he done!

_______________

Smashing the door behind her Saman threw her losely hanging dupatta on the floor. Anger surged through her veins making hot tears pour out of her eyes.  Wiping them roughly, she made her way towards the dresser and pulled out her earrings and bangles. A bangle broke and pierced her skin, painting it red yet she did not pay any heed.

The ache she was feeling in her heart was way too intense. No physical pain could match this, it felt like someone had clenched her poor heart in their fist. Her breathing was shaky and she hiccuped continuously, trying to calm herself.

Yet all went in vain.

She used to find comfort in him. She wanted to scoff. How foolish of her to even think that he was becoming her safe place.That she liked him, saw him as someone whom she wanted around always. How absolutely foolish of her that, she realized she was falling for him when he had unraveled her wounds.

The same wound he had been healing.

Her healer, her breaker...all of it was him.

________

Assalamualaikum everyone.

An early update for all the lovely people.

There was alot of effort put into this chapter.

So shower some love.

Also there are  many urdu dialogues, so if you guys need translation do tell me.

Vote, comment (please) and share.