“ zindagani ke safar mai

lutf hoga tab naseeb

hum-khayal-o-humnava

jab humsafar ho jaenge ”

...

They both were sitting under the bridge of Nawabgarh, that has witnessed their secret meetings, stupid conversation, laughs full of life and the hearts that beat in syn now.

"Tou tum London chale jaoge?" Afeerah was sad since the moment she heard Salma khanam and Saman Begüm talking about the departure of Rayyan.

"Hmm."

"Phir.."

"Phir hum nikaah kar lete hai."

"What do you mean? Are you out of your mind Rayyan?"

Afeerah's mouth was open in a big Ö, she couldn't believe he would say something like that.

"Yes we will get married." Rayyan's tome was firm.

"But how? You know my parents works in Khan Mansion..."

"Yarrrrrrr listen to me first. We are going to do court marriage without telling our parents and when i came back completing my studies will get married with our parents blessing. Nice plan na?"

Rayyan smiling showing all of his teeths and all Afeerah wanted is to break those teeths.

"I'm not going to do this. I can't break my parents trust. No. Never."

Afeerah got up from her place and without looking at him for once, started walking back to her home and Rayyan didn't stopped her.

Afeerah who said she was never going to do as Rayyan said was now standing behind the local court waiting for him to come with the witnesses.

A night before she fought with Rayyan and after thinking alot about it. She found Rayyan's plan good. Afterall they're not doing any sin. Rayyan will go to London for studies and she'll complete her studies too in the meantime. And after his return, he will came with her proposal and they'll got married. How naive she was.

She was lost in her own thinking when she saw Rayyan's car. She sighed in relief.

Afeerah was wearing her school uniform and the same black shawl was covering her, hiding her face from its one end. Rayyan shooked his head, seeing her. If the advocate hasn't been a friend of his, they would've gotten caught.

"Itne dair kardi tumne?" Rayyan didn't even greeted her and she started scolding him.

"Yarrr kya karta mai witnesses dhundh raha tha. Inn logon ko laya hun ik theatre show se."

"Accha woh thik hai...lekin meri id par age seventeen hai...koi issue hua tou?"

"Meri jaan tension na lo maine tumhari fake id banawa li thi."

Rayyan winked at Afeerah and they both inside the court with the theatre actors following them.

Afeerah was feeling scared and horrified. She wasn't a bad girl and she has heard horrible stories About how the girls who elope were sold into prostitution by their so called love or how some parents kill their daughters in the name of honour Killing.

"Mere abba tou phir kasai hai .....kahin bakro ko jiss tarah halal karte hai mujhe bhi halal na karde."

"Kon halal karega tumhe?" Rayyan looked at her and knew she was feeling scared.

"Abba ko pata lagega tou mujhe halal kar denge." Afeerah's eyes were now so big that they would pop out any moment from the fear. Rayyan had sensed that she will demand to go back anytime now, so he tightly holds her hand and gave her a nod.

"We are not eloping Afeerah and after few years we will get married with our parents consent. Believe me."

Afeerah got some courage and with that courage she signed all the papers.

Coming out of the court, she felt as if she has killed her parents expectations. At this point she realised she did wrong in anticipation....but the damage is done. She did it intentionally, even if she tries to put the blame on anything.

"Look Afeerah we've not done anything wrong. I will never let your parents know about today. We will get married again with their blessings believe me..."

Afeerah looked at him and then their intervened hands.

How could she tell him she didn't even believe herself at this time.

"Rayyan you were right."

Afeerah who was thinking about the day of their court marriage, murmured, and Rayyan heard it.

"Yet you didn't believe me and never tried to contact me or even write a email to me." Rayyan who was sitting beside her, whispered in her ear and kissed her forehead.

"Ohho."

"Ohho."

"Oyee cameraman humara khana khate hue photos lene se aacha hai...dulha dulhan ke candid romantic pictures le le."

Rayyan's brother, cousins and sister in law all came on the stage and started Their hootings and teasing. And Afeerah was laughing wholeheartedly ignoring saman Begüm's glaring.

Rayyan was just seeing her and praying that this laugh will never leave her lips. Salma Khanam came on the stage and tookthe whole gang from their, she sat on the chair beside Rayyan's and both of them shaked hands like mafia. After all they've done such a huge planning to see this day.

"Ammi."

"Hmmmm."

"Ammi what about me and Afeerah?"

"I have a plan."

"What plan Ammi?"

Rayyan still didn't know how she convinced Zubair khan and Afeerah's parents for their wedding. But now he really wanted to know about her plan, he leaned on her chair and whispered in her ear.

"Ammi your plan worked."

"Hmmm."

"Will you tell me what is it?"

"I just said to your father that you will not go back to London, if we married you to a girl who loves Nawabgarh more than anything and who loves Nawabgarh more than Afeerah. Saman Begüm and Farid bhai, they were hesitant at first but then Maan hi gaaye." Salma Khanam whispered last words and started laughing crazily.

Everyone heard her laughing crazily and then, Afeerah looked at Salma Khanam her breathe hitched. She saw her eyes turning red and her taunting smile.

Salma khanam got from her sit and hugged Afeerah whispering in her ear,"I'm not who you're thinking, i just came here to tell you have a blessed life. Gaud jinn will never bother you and Rayyan again."

This voice is feminine but its not Salma Khanam's. Her heart felt heavy again, she had heard Gaud jinns and Zukhruf Al-Amin's voices but not this voice.

Before she could think anything again, she saw Rayyan getting up from her side and taking a guitar in his hands, he started playing it and signing along—

Aye Mere Humsafar

Ek Zara Intezaar

Sun Sadaaye,

De Rahi Hain Manzil Pyar Ki

Jis Ko Duaaon Mein Maanga

Tu Hain Wahin Rehnuma

Tere Bina Mushkil Hain

Ek Bhi Kadam Chalna

Bin Tere Kahaan Hain

Manzil Pyar Ki

Aye Mere Humsafar

Ek Zara Intezaar

Sun Sadaaye,

De Rahi Hain Manzil Pyar Ki....

Everyone was hooting and clapping on Rayyan's performance. And for the first time tonight Afeerah cried with happiness. She took his hand and kissed it affectionately.

Her tears were Falling down, he wiped it with his fingertips and hugged her affectionately.

They both get the fruit of love, but only they knew how much wait and patience they've shown.

"I thought you will leave me Rayyan."

Afeerah's voice was merely a whisper, yet she forget he can listen her silence very well, how could he not listen her whispers.

"It may sound cliché but without you I'm nothing."

"I love you Afeerah. I may not say it everyday but remember this always. I'm grateful that you're my life partner."

"I love you too Rayyan."

We fell In love,

the same way

moon and sun

fell in love

with the light and

darkness collision

when the dawn comes.

Yes, we fell in love.

The End.

•••••••••••••••

Note: this is the first story I've ever thought off....to write myself and now i finally wrote it.