Her mobile vibrated for the umpteenth time this morning. Aasma wiped her tears. She did not feel like speaking to anyone. It was another night of tossing and turning without being able to sleep.
Last night again she had a huge fight with Qaizar. It was the same old thing of he not having time for her. Since the last six months his travelling had increased so much that even the weekends were not theirs. On the rare occasions when he was at home on weekdays, she was not able to be at home due to the new product development going on in her office. She was leading the project and had to work late nights.
It was not that she did not understand but somehow things were going out of control. Sometimes when in the midst of her busy routine she would message him, he would not care to reply or even if he did, it would be one or two words. This angered her even more. It was like he did not care any longer. Their first anniversary was not important but a client dinner was. Her success party at office did not hold any importance for him but his sleep was.
These small things gradually built up a wall within her. She felt herself getting more and more enclosed within the walls of self doubt, jealousy, loneliness. It was like she was no more the person whom Qaizar had fallen for. She was some witch who was making his life wretched by her constant nagging.She herself started detesting the person she was changing into.
Her insecurities had finally made her blurt out the D word yesterday. This had given their argument the ugliest of turns. Qaizar was angry. She was surprised to see a flicker of hurt in his eyes.He stomped out of the house much before his scheduled departure time.
Her train of thoughts was interrupted by the phone call.She cleared her voice and received it. Qaizar's mom was on the line.
"Beta, how are you? Are you crying?"
"No mumma. Tell me."
"Beta,did Qaizu go for his conference in Bangalore?"
"Yes mumma"
"Hai, Allah",she cried out.
"Mumma, what's wrong?"
"Switch on the TV and put on some news channel."
With a suden tightness in her heart,she quickly turned on the TV.
Seeing the news, her phone fell on the floor.
She quickly picked up the phone and sobbed into the phone,"Mumma I will call back."
She dialled Qaizar's number. It was not reachable.
The TV was blasting with the news of the terrorist attack at the hotel where Qaizar is staying and attending the conference.
Her mind was in a whirlwind."No,no.Nothing will happen to him.I know it. I can feel that he is fine.I can feel him with me."
She tried her number again.Again.Again.Response was the same. Qaizar's phone was not reachable.
She did not want to enquire about him.That would mean that she believed that he was harmed.
She went into the store room. Climbed up the small ladder to take out a box full of memories-their memories.As she trembled down the ladder with her box, she slipped and fell on the floor.
As she fell,books tumbled down. A small box fell with a thud beside her.It was labelled "To my sweetheart" in Qaizar's handwriting.
With trembling fingers, she took the box and opened it. Her heart skipped a beat by what she saw.Tears of relief, confusion, anger clouded her eyes.Her mind went back to 1.5 years back.
Sitting in the coffee shop with her book she was dreaming.She heard a voice.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
A man with kind of attractive features was standing in front of her. She looked around and found that the coffee shop was crowded.
Unwillingly, she removed her bag from the chair in front of her.
"Thanks a lot! Had a tiring day.Need a piping hot cup of black coffee."
She smiled understandingly.
"I see that you have finished your cup .Do you mind giving me company ? Shall I order something for you?'
"Thank you but please don't bother. I am fine."
"Please. I would love to. Consider it as a gesture of thanks for allowing me to intrude your blissful privacy."
"Aww. Okay. Thank you."
That crowded coffee shop saw the budding of a love story on shaky grounds.
Qaizar was the brand manger at a reputed organisation. He was visiting the city for a conference.The coffee shop was a regular hangout whenever he visited the city. Aasma told him that she was new to the locality and it was her first visit there.They spoke about each other, their hobbies, their likes and dislikes.Seconds passed into minutes and minutes into hours.
"Sir, we are about to close.", said the waiter.
Surprised, they looked around.There was just one or two customers in the shop.
"Didn't realise that its become so late.Sorry to keep you back."
" Hey no problem. I totally enjoyed your company.Thank you for the coffee. See you then."
"Hey Aasma, I would like us to be in touch. Here is my number.",said Qaizar handing his card to her.
Aasma glanced at the number and gave the card back.
"It was nice meeting you."
Qaizar's face fell.He did not expect her to snub him like this. He liked her. He had enjoyed her company immensely. Something about her had made him go on and on and on.
After few days,Qaizar received a message.
"Hi, Aasma here. How are you doing?"
"Hey. So glad to hear from you. How did you get my number?"
"Strange! You gave me right?"
"Yes I surely did. U did not save it."
"Dear, both you and your number were in my mind.Was waiting to see how I feel about you,about us."
"So, what do u feel?"
"Meet me next time and I will tell."
They kept in touch through chat.
On his next visit, Qaizar met her. She had a small box in her hand.
"Here. This is for you. You asked me how I feel about you and us.Let the universe say."
"What are you talking about" asked Qaizar with a bewildered expression in his eyes.
"See, take care of this plant.Show this to me whenever we talk. If you are able to nurture this plant, then I promise to nurture our relationship."
"Relationship!"
"Ya. This relationship. This friendship."
"You are crazy.I wasn't even thinking of one."
"Ok. If you don't want then I will take it away. Don't ask again as to how I felt."
Aasma got up and turned to go. Qaizar caught her hand and pulled her back into the chair.
"Hey, give it to me. Let's see what the universe conspires."
After that, Aasma recollected,it was a great journey of falling in love,being together and getting married. Wiping away her tears, she opened the letter that was there with the plant.
It read:
Dear Love,
I hope you never find this. I know if you find it, you will feel cheated and angry. You will come to me with tear stricken face and complain that how I could do this to you.Ha, ha!
Well, you gave the plant to me and said that you want the universe to decide our fate. Can you even imagine, how kiddish that thought was? However, I must confess that I found it very adorable. I found it so adorable that even after two days, when the plant died and caused a bad odour in the room, I did not throw it out. Did not have the heart to do so.
Then one day after coming back from my office, I found that your plant was gone. It was like the universe had shown the signs.(Actually my maid seized the opportunity and threw it out.)
I knew the mad female that you were, you would take this very seriously.
Then my eyes fell on the Collection of short stories by O. Henry that you gave me. I remembered the last story that I read-The Last Leaf. I jumped up in joy. Baby, it was a sign. The universe showed me the way.
I went and bought an artificial plant which looked exactly the same as the one you gave me. Placed it on the table where you could see and allowed the universe to bring us closer.
Love, today is the happiest day. I proposed and you said yes.
I did not want to face the guilt of lying to you everyday. Also, soon you will be with me and you will find out the truth.
That's why today I told you that I am going to give the plant to a friend who needs some good signs in his life.I knew that the sweethearet that you are, you would not mind.
However, I cannot give this away. It is ours forever.It will be a reminder of my promise to not let you go, to keep you happy today and everyday.
Do not be angry or scold me after reading this!!
I Love you!!
My arms waiting for you
Yours and only yours!!
Aasma could not control her tears. She was wrong. They loved eac another. The love was still there. That's why it hurts.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. She wiped her tears away.
"Mumma must have come. I should ask her not to worry."
With her mind filled with Qaizar's thoughts she opened the door. She gave a scream and hugged him.
Qaizar wiped her tears and hugged her.
"Baby, I am sorry. I could not attend the conference after leaving you in that state. I took the first flight out."
"Qaiz, your hotel,"Aasma stamerred breaking off in the middle of her sentence.
"I did not go there.I stayed the night at airport.I am sorry for whatever I did to hurt you. In the midst of being busy.."
Aasma kissed his lips to shut him up.
"The skeletons stumbled out from your closet."
For a moment, he looked at her with a confused look which made Aasma want to just embrace him. tightly and never let go.
"Qaiz, I love you. We will make it work. Now let the universe take rest. Its time we worked harder at our promises."
"Yes baby."
Last night again she had a huge fight with Qaizar. It was the same old thing of he not having time for her. Since the last six months his travelling had increased so much that even the weekends were not theirs. On the rare occasions when he was at home on weekdays, she was not able to be at home due to the new product development going on in her office. She was leading the project and had to work late nights.
It was not that she did not understand but somehow things were going out of control. Sometimes when in the midst of her busy routine she would message him, he would not care to reply or even if he did, it would be one or two words. This angered her even more. It was like he did not care any longer. Their first anniversary was not important but a client dinner was. Her success party at office did not hold any importance for him but his sleep was.
These small things gradually built up a wall within her. She felt herself getting more and more enclosed within the walls of self doubt, jealousy, loneliness. It was like she was no more the person whom Qaizar had fallen for. She was some witch who was making his life wretched by her constant nagging.She herself started detesting the person she was changing into.
Her insecurities had finally made her blurt out the D word yesterday. This had given their argument the ugliest of turns. Qaizar was angry. She was surprised to see a flicker of hurt in his eyes.He stomped out of the house much before his scheduled departure time.
Her train of thoughts was interrupted by the phone call.She cleared her voice and received it. Qaizar's mom was on the line.
"Beta, how are you? Are you crying?"
"No mumma. Tell me."
"Beta,did Qaizu go for his conference in Bangalore?"
"Yes mumma"
"Hai, Allah",she cried out.
"Mumma, what's wrong?"
"Switch on the TV and put on some news channel."
With a suden tightness in her heart,she quickly turned on the TV.
Seeing the news, her phone fell on the floor.
She quickly picked up the phone and sobbed into the phone,"Mumma I will call back."
She dialled Qaizar's number. It was not reachable.
The TV was blasting with the news of the terrorist attack at the hotel where Qaizar is staying and attending the conference.
Her mind was in a whirlwind."No,no.Nothing will happen to him.I know it. I can feel that he is fine.I can feel him with me."
She tried her number again.Again.Again.Response was the same. Qaizar's phone was not reachable.
She did not want to enquire about him.That would mean that she believed that he was harmed.
She went into the store room. Climbed up the small ladder to take out a box full of memories-their memories.As she trembled down the ladder with her box, she slipped and fell on the floor.
As she fell,books tumbled down. A small box fell with a thud beside her.It was labelled "To my sweetheart" in Qaizar's handwriting.
With trembling fingers, she took the box and opened it. Her heart skipped a beat by what she saw.Tears of relief, confusion, anger clouded her eyes.Her mind went back to 1.5 years back.
Sitting in the coffee shop with her book she was dreaming.She heard a voice.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
A man with kind of attractive features was standing in front of her. She looked around and found that the coffee shop was crowded.
Unwillingly, she removed her bag from the chair in front of her.
"Thanks a lot! Had a tiring day.Need a piping hot cup of black coffee."
She smiled understandingly.
"I see that you have finished your cup .Do you mind giving me company ? Shall I order something for you?'
"Thank you but please don't bother. I am fine."
"Please. I would love to. Consider it as a gesture of thanks for allowing me to intrude your blissful privacy."
"Aww. Okay. Thank you."
That crowded coffee shop saw the budding of a love story on shaky grounds.
Qaizar was the brand manger at a reputed organisation. He was visiting the city for a conference.The coffee shop was a regular hangout whenever he visited the city. Aasma told him that she was new to the locality and it was her first visit there.They spoke about each other, their hobbies, their likes and dislikes.Seconds passed into minutes and minutes into hours.
"Sir, we are about to close.", said the waiter.
Surprised, they looked around.There was just one or two customers in the shop.
"Didn't realise that its become so late.Sorry to keep you back."
" Hey no problem. I totally enjoyed your company.Thank you for the coffee. See you then."
"Hey Aasma, I would like us to be in touch. Here is my number.",said Qaizar handing his card to her.
Aasma glanced at the number and gave the card back.
"It was nice meeting you."
Qaizar's face fell.He did not expect her to snub him like this. He liked her. He had enjoyed her company immensely. Something about her had made him go on and on and on.
After few days,Qaizar received a message.
"Hi, Aasma here. How are you doing?"
"Hey. So glad to hear from you. How did you get my number?"
"Strange! You gave me right?"
"Yes I surely did. U did not save it."
"Dear, both you and your number were in my mind.Was waiting to see how I feel about you,about us."
"So, what do u feel?"
"Meet me next time and I will tell."
They kept in touch through chat.
On his next visit, Qaizar met her. She had a small box in her hand.
"Here. This is for you. You asked me how I feel about you and us.Let the universe say."
"What are you talking about" asked Qaizar with a bewildered expression in his eyes.
"See, take care of this plant.Show this to me whenever we talk. If you are able to nurture this plant, then I promise to nurture our relationship."
"Relationship!"
"Ya. This relationship. This friendship."
"You are crazy.I wasn't even thinking of one."
"Ok. If you don't want then I will take it away. Don't ask again as to how I felt."
Aasma got up and turned to go. Qaizar caught her hand and pulled her back into the chair.
"Hey, give it to me. Let's see what the universe conspires."
After that, Aasma recollected,it was a great journey of falling in love,being together and getting married. Wiping away her tears, she opened the letter that was there with the plant.
It read:
Dear Love,
I hope you never find this. I know if you find it, you will feel cheated and angry. You will come to me with tear stricken face and complain that how I could do this to you.Ha, ha!
Well, you gave the plant to me and said that you want the universe to decide our fate. Can you even imagine, how kiddish that thought was? However, I must confess that I found it very adorable. I found it so adorable that even after two days, when the plant died and caused a bad odour in the room, I did not throw it out. Did not have the heart to do so.
Then one day after coming back from my office, I found that your plant was gone. It was like the universe had shown the signs.(Actually my maid seized the opportunity and threw it out.)
I knew the mad female that you were, you would take this very seriously.
Then my eyes fell on the Collection of short stories by O. Henry that you gave me. I remembered the last story that I read-The Last Leaf. I jumped up in joy. Baby, it was a sign. The universe showed me the way.
I went and bought an artificial plant which looked exactly the same as the one you gave me. Placed it on the table where you could see and allowed the universe to bring us closer.
Love, today is the happiest day. I proposed and you said yes.
I did not want to face the guilt of lying to you everyday. Also, soon you will be with me and you will find out the truth.
That's why today I told you that I am going to give the plant to a friend who needs some good signs in his life.I knew that the sweethearet that you are, you would not mind.
However, I cannot give this away. It is ours forever.It will be a reminder of my promise to not let you go, to keep you happy today and everyday.
Do not be angry or scold me after reading this!!
I Love you!!
My arms waiting for you
Yours and only yours!!
Aasma could not control her tears. She was wrong. They loved eac another. The love was still there. That's why it hurts.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. She wiped her tears away.
"Mumma must have come. I should ask her not to worry."
With her mind filled with Qaizar's thoughts she opened the door. She gave a scream and hugged him.
Qaizar wiped her tears and hugged her.
"Baby, I am sorry. I could not attend the conference after leaving you in that state. I took the first flight out."
"Qaiz, your hotel,"Aasma stamerred breaking off in the middle of her sentence.
"I did not go there.I stayed the night at airport.I am sorry for whatever I did to hurt you. In the midst of being busy.."
Aasma kissed his lips to shut him up.
"The skeletons stumbled out from your closet."
For a moment, he looked at her with a confused look which made Aasma want to just embrace him. tightly and never let go.
"Qaiz, I love you. We will make it work. Now let the universe take rest. Its time we worked harder at our promises."
"Yes baby."
