Faajal basked in the morning sun on the rooftop, propping her arms on the falling. A breeze grazed her skin, soothing the gashes beneath. Her hair flitted in the wind which cooled her strained nerves, but what about the heart strains? She was tired of this heavy heart. 

Suddenly, treads punctured the silence. Chanchal appeared. "Didi, a letter has come for you." She handed Faajal an envelope. It was from Yusuf. She immediately ripped apart the envelope's mouth and unfolded the paper within. Her pulse pacing faster to devour words from him after what felt like, ages.

Faajal Kaur,
Once again, my heartiest apology for bothering you again. You were right. I was blinded by the heady foolishness of what you call momentary attraction.

I won't tarnish your life again. I won't annoy the person I had perceived my friend; then, someone special I dreamt of having. The words you had spoken that day erased my naive fantasies and proved I bore no worth to you. And the things of no worth are meant to be dislodged from our lives. So am I.
I will never show my face again. I will fade with my desires forever, where they once blossomed in my heart.

Yusuf

No! Faajal crushed the paper to a ball, her gut wrenching for the vile thoughts overshadowing her mind. He was right. She was a coward, a hopeless child hiding behind the cage of malice.

"Chanchal," Faajal couldn't speak further, having a sore lump at the back of her throat. She stretched the letter to Chanchal. The younger's keen eyes scanned the paper and weighed each word on her knowledge. " Didi, I told you not to spurn him. He is the most precious boy you'll ever get in your life."

"You know these people, right? They'll make my life hell!" Faajal choked on tears.

"And they'll continue if you don't prove yourself independent! You don't show them your freedom!" Chanchal's voice raised, now echoing around the roof. A beat of silence pulsed upon them, both steeling their eyes at each other's. "Please, tell him once that you love him. Tell him once you feel the same as him." Chanchal's voice shook, not with a heat of fury but begging. Faajal didn't utter a word. She couldn't. 

"I see ma in you; rebuked by baba all her life, deprived of care and love. She deserved better, di. But, now she has no choice left. You have that! Profess to him! Badi amma and baba will visit Roshan uncle's this evening. You can go and meet Yusuf bhaiya. You know where he lives?" 

Faajal shook her head. "I don't think he's there. Maybe-" The words flooded back in her memory. I  will fade with my desires forever, where they once blossomed in my heart. Rehmatbagh? Where they met for the first time? Where her heart skipped a beat to his unprecedented dazzle? 

"Perhaps, Rehmatbagh? I am not sure, Chanchal. His last sentence seemed like that," 

"Ma is going to Bazar today. Then, you can check?" 

Faajal's brows curved in confusion. If she didn't find him there, her venture would go futile and suspicions could arise. But, she couldn't lose the last attempt to disclose the truth, to confess to him. To tell him that her heart also thumped to his. 

"I guess, I wouldn't be able to accompany you. But, Harleen di may come." Chanchal pursed her lips. Harleen, the second of the 5 sisters, was a quiet, peace-loving girl if not Saira had torched a thorn of resentment in her, towards Faajal. She even acted bitter and grim with her younger, though less cold than Saira. Faajal reprimanded her accursed luck for this. How would she escape under Harleen's watch? Still, threats were less as Ravinder wouldn't be present. She might get the chance.  

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

In the evening,

"Ma! I am going with you!" Faajal hurried downstairs, elaborating her dupatta over her shoulder. "Harleen is going with me, you take rest," Gurbani assured.  

"No, ma. I really want to. We haven't outed together for days!"

"Or you have another plan?" Harleen asked with a straight face. 

Fire sparked in Faajal. But, she didn't foster the impatience spawned by wrath. Her jaw clenched firm but she softened immediately and replied, "No, I don't."

Gurbani spun her eyeballs at the mute bickering of their house she was used to. "Will you come?" she huffed. 

The three women headed to the bazaar. 'Nawab Bazaar' as it was called, was one of the largest marketplaces of Bombay. It was located on the aisle between the boundary of two British bungalows. Those bungalows had been the residence of two magistrates in the 1930s until they left a decade after and now these were utilized as official departments. 

The bustling bazaar bore squeaking and racing kids on its road. Countless stalls stretched to the far end of the bazaar. Women disputed with salesmen, men blabbered with one another like they weren't utter strangers but relatives. After almost a year of residing in Bombay, it was Faajal's second time here. "How much time will it take, ma?" Harleen asked Gurbani.

"Over an hour, you see the crowd?" 

Faajal exhaled in relief. Rehmatbagh was quite near. She could reach the park within minutes, by a rickshaw. 

"How about we see some jhumkas?" Harleen jabbed Faajal in the rib. Faajal winced in pain, narrowing her eyes at the elder. "You see those," Faajal growled, rubbing the spot still aching from her poke. 

"Ma, can we visit the jewellery shop? We will be here after shopping."

"Leaving you two alone," Gurbani relucted. She still thought they were some frail toddlers. 

"We'll be okay, ma!" Faajal couldn't despise her tongue more for the sudden spring of energy. 

Harleen appeared astonished by her zest but ultimately, Gurbani permitted them and they strolled to the jewellery shop. The sparkles of intricated accessories blinded Faajal for a moment. Harleen grabbed a jhumka and hovered it up on her ear. "How's this?" she asked Faajal.

The jhumka was small, but something about the elegant design made it stand apart. "You look beautiful." Faajal smiled. No matter how much bile they had in between, they were sisters. They tolerated Ravinder's conduct under the same roof.

"Di, I am going to the churis." Faajal hoped Harleen didn't follow along. 

"Don't get lost." Harleen kept her focus fixed on the jhumkas.

Faajal mixed in the throng and slid through the gaps among the crashing bodies. None willed to spare her some space. Lastly, she hired a rickshaw and advanced towards Rehmatbagh. precious time was ticking away. If he was actually there, she shouldn't be late. Not when a frayed hope still glinted afar. 

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

When she reached Rehmatbagh, the sun had dimmed to a muted orb in the horizon. Dusk was approaching, having varied a colour blend this evening. Pink, red, orange, violet, blue, azure-everything. 

The lake facing the greeneries shimmered, its tiny ripples wrestling within themselves to whip nearshore. The trees reeked just as the time of their first meeting. Faajal stepped forward. Dry leaves crunched beneath her shoes. She coursed near the Banyan tree, where he had stood. That recollection felt so lively to catch him there. But, now, in reality, he lurked behind an unending shroud.  Don't do this to me, Yusuf. 

Faajal bolted through the thick woods. Perhaps, he was hiding there, declining to show his face. She dug into every possibility crammed in her head. As she navigated deeper into the trees, his absence glared prominently. Her footsteps were the only origin of sound. Lengthy branches scratched her hair as she sprinted across the meadows. The rustle of leaves sang a melody of devastation. Their gnashes echoed around like a sighing whisper, despite the warm glow on earth. He was nowhere.

Faajal returned under the banyan tree. A gust of breeze crossed through her, flapping her curls. Two lines glistened from her eyes on her cheeks for the cascade of tears streaming below her chin as she tugged her hair. "Yusuf! Don't leave me!" she cried, overwhelmed by a mess of emotions.

"I am sorry! I was wrong!" her scream reflected to her. "Mainu is tarha di saza de ke tenu ki khushi miladi hai?!" 

"Mainu maaf karde!" She clutched her sides, collapsing on the ground. 

"YUSUF!" 

A face beamed at her, upside down. He swung upside down on a branch of the banyan tree, setting her with a crooked smile. "Tainu bohot der kardi," 

Faajal didn't care for his tease. She collided her lips on his forehead, channelling every fleck of love left within her. Her body now sufficed with warmth, gained its glitters back. Her fingers clamped the curve of his cheeks, pressing them tight. Just hours ago, her temperament was inked in the murk. Now, a thousand glittering sensations surged inside her veins, delighting her body with colours. She lost track of how many seconds she passed smearing her lips on his temple until he flipped down. 

"You think I'd leave you this easily?" he dusted off the dried leaves on his clothes. 

"That letter, you sent me that damn letter!" she was hit to his chest but he reared. 

 "Well, about that letter—" Yusuf flickered his eyes rapidly, pouting his lips. "That was a little play to make you confess," he scratched the back of his head.

Volcano ruptured inside Faajal, its lava slimmed her composure. "How dare you do this to me!" she drove a fist into his stomach, careless of his reaction. He yelped and flinched back, dragging a sharp inhale. She was to hit another time but he blocked her wrist. "Stop, now, yarr. I am sorry." His hand still rested on his stomach.

"You know, I thought–" her speech broke as she gagged a sob. Yusuf sighed and cupped her face. "I said nah, I won't leave you this easily."

She pushed him away and turned away, having no wish of getting her emotions toyed with. "Faajal, wait–" Yusuf paced behind. He was much nearer and she fled faster when his foot tumbled upon a stone and he dropped over her.

Faajal remained still for a minute under his watchful eyes. His warm breaths collided on her neck; laced with heat. His gaze pinned her where she laid, infusing with a flush of serenity. She wrestled to flee, almost returning to her feet when his clutch hauled her back in his arms. "You can't leave me like this,"

"Then, why did you threaten me like this?" she whined, though accepting his meek embrace.

"Arey pagli, jab main sachh me apni akhri saas lunga, tabh tere baahon mei apna sar rakke hamesha keliye apni ankhein band karlunga," Yusuf whispered, grazing his head on her chest. She ran her fingers through his hair. He nuzzled his nose on her clavicles. "Chhi, aisa mat bol. Mujhe bohot dar lagta hai,"

His audible exhales seeped into her skin, chilling her bones. Minutes passed. The moon peered in the sky. Twilight was approaching.

"I must go, now." She caressed his cheek. His fond gaze dwindled to a disappointed stare. "This early?"

"Ma will be worried, Yusuf." She cradled his hands into hers. His eyes twinkled like the stars settled above.

"Sorry for that letter," He bit his lips.

"I am also sorry for lying. Wada karo, mujhe kabhi akela chhorke nahi jaoge? ," she squeezed his hand. 

"Waada raha," He kissed her knuckle.  

Before exiting Rehmatbagh, she stole a glimpse of him. A lean silhouette flared his arms out in the rash gust blowing through him.

This evening would remain carved on her heart till her last breath. 

A/N:

"Jab Pyar Kya toh Darna Kya?"