Laal Ishq - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

" Ha…
Dil charkhe ki ik tu dori
Dil charkhe ki ik tu dori
Sufi iska rang haaye
Ismein jo tera khwaab piroya
Ismein jo tera khwaab piroya
Neendein bani patang
Dil bharta nahi,
Aankhein rajti nahi.....
Dil bharta nahi
Aankhein rajti nahi
Chahe kitna bhi dekhti jaun
Waqt jaaye mai rok na paun
Tu thodi der aur ther ja,sohneya
Tu thodi der aur ther ja.....
Tu thodi der aur ther ja, zaalima....
Tu thodi der aur ther ja "
A drop of tear rolled down her face as Dua stopped singing. Today she had completed her last exam and she was positive that she'd pass with flying colours. However it was still not enough to make her heart happy. There was a feeling of emptiness in her heart and no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't stop crying. The overwhelming realisation that she'll no longer be going to her school with her friends didn't help her either.
But exactly what triggered her ?
Azaan Jamshed Ali.
Earlier in the evening, Irham and Seher had ordered a cake as a celebration for her exam completion. Aamirah had gathered everyone around the huge circular table to wish her sister.
She happily cut the cake and fed everyone as Ayaan caged her and Seher applied the frosting over her face.
However she kept looking at the door, waiting for someone. Her wandering eyes did not go unnoticed by anyone but they were sensible enough to not tease her too much.
She stomped her food and rushed towards Faraaz and whined.
" Bhai ! Dekhein, mere face pe laga diya inhone. "
He pulled her to himself and showed eyes to his brother and sister.
" Kyu chhedte ho usse !? "
She stuck her tongue out for the two to see as Zaraan chuckled at his sister.
Faraaz picked up a few tissues and slowly cleaned Dua's face who was busy arguing with Seher over something extremely insignificant.
Just as he wiped the cream off her cheek, the door opened revealing a very exhausted Azaan, he had his coat on one arm and phone in the other. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up making him look extremely attractive.
" Azaan bhai aaye, Dua ke liye cake order Kiya hai hamne. Aaj uska school informally khatam ho gaya hai. "
Seher asked him to come to them.
Dua smiled to herself while murmuring, “ informally kya hota hai !? ”
She could care less though, her mind was almost too busy looking at her husband to hear or process whatever Seher was saying.
Azaan's gaze hardened as Dua smiled at him and he nodded at her saying,
" Congrats Dua "
That was all he said before making his way up the stairs.
Dua wiped the ears off her face and continued gazing at the moon. A car horn drew her attention as she saw through the window that Azaan was coming in. She frowned realising that he had gone out so late at night.
Before she knew, she was walking out her door to the corridor. As she reached the stair case she saw Azaan standing in front of it. His hand had a crepe bandage wrapped around the knuckles.
She took a step and he did the same, soon enough they were in front of each other. Dua looked dead straight in her eyes and asked,
" Yeh khoon kiska hai ? "
She pointed to the dried blood stains over his blue t shirt and he replied without removing her from his sight.
" Mera. "
She visibly flinched and bent to grab his hand. Azaan kept looking as she tried to examine his fist from over the bandage.
She looked up and said,
" Mere kamre mei chale. "
He did not protest and allowed Dua to softly hold his arm as she lead him to her room. She made him sit on the bed and went to the cupboard to grab the first-aid kit.
All this while Azaan did not utter one word, he kept looking at her. Dua didn't seem to mind the lack of conversation as she was worried about his hand.
Grabbing the chair by the study table, she sat in front of him and slowly unwrapped the bandage as he heard her gasp when the bandage fell from her hands. Her eyes welled up as she ran her finger over the various cuts.
" Yeh kai- kaise hua ? "
She stuttered through her words. He was almost amused by the way she was trying so hard to hold her tears back.
" I was working out. "
" Gym ke punching bag se aisi chotien nahi lagti ! Kaise lagi aapko ? "
Dua and Azaan were both kind of shocked with the way she was authoritative and demanded an answer.
" Kyu jaan na hai tumhe ? "
He replied to her question with one of his own and she glared at him with her teary red eyes.
She decided to ignore him and took out a cotton pad and rubbed some alcohol spirit before gently wiping the dried blood from his knuckles and palm. Azaan sat there simply without even hissing but with every wipe of the cotton against his wound, he saw Dua flinch and bite her lip so as to not cry in front of him. She applied ointment and put on regular bandages so that the wound doesn't get pressured.
She took the dirty crepe bandage and took it to the washroom. After coming back, Dua neatly rearrange the box and closed it. Just as she was about to go, Azaan held her by her arms and before she could say anything, he whispered,
" Stay "
She sighed before sitting back in front of him and saw that he still hadn't let go of her hand.
" Tum bohot pure ho. "
He was not really talking today, so hearing something from him, that too something so intense, scared Dua. She decided to take a chance and leaned closer to him, asking,
" Agar mai itni hi achhi hun, toh fir mere shohar mere apnane se inqar kyu karte hai ? Unke laayak nahi hun kya mai ? "
Her voice was innocent yet firm at the same time. Azaan sighed before cupping her face with his hand and said,
" Dua tumhara shohar tumhare layak nahi hai. "
Seeing him indirectly reject her yet again, Dua teared up and went away with the first aid kit on her hand.
•|•
" Aree Azaan kaha hai ? Abhi tak aaya nahi niche, woh toh kabhi late nahi hota. "
Jamshed asked his wife when he didn't find his son on the dining table.
" Pata nahi taya jaan, mai bhi unhe dhundh rahi thi kabse, kuchh kaam tha. "
Aamirah said making Jamshed wonder where was hi son.
Sameena, who was going to wake Dua up, gasped when she saw Dua and Azaan, cuddled up on the couch. Her head laid on his lap and his one hand was on her head.