HEARTBEATS

دہلیز عشق کی

"Amma ji Noori ko apne saath shehar le jana chahti hai" Abdul who is in his mid thirties said to his wife Rukaiya

"Kyon kyon le jayengi humari bachchi ko shehar......mana ki humari paanch betiyan hai lekin iska matlab yeh toh nhi ki hum apni bachchi unhe de dein.......tumne unhe mana nhi kiya" Rukaiya who was washing dishes puts plates on the stool.

Abdul tiredly rubbed his forehead with his right hand "mai kya bolta, tumhe toh pata hai amma ji ka wo kisi ki sunti hai bhala"

"Waise tum kuchh bhi kaho Amma ji dil ki buri nhi hai......unhe andaja hai humari maali halat ka tab hi toh wo noori ko Apne sath ke Jana chahti hai"

"Aur tum yeh bhi toh socho ki humari noori shehar me rahegi.....wahan use padhai likhai achchhe se achhe schoolon me hogi" abdul tried to convince Rukaiya.

"Woh sab toh thik hai par pata nhi kyon mera dil nhi maan raha apni bachchi ko un haveli walon ke sath bhejne ka. Aur toh aur woh abhi kaafi chhoti hai" Rukaiya's heart was not ready to leave her jigar ka tukda

"Achchha hi hai na....amma ji keh rahi thi ki abhi schoolon me dakhila chal raha hai. Agar noori abhi jayegi toh uska pehla darza me dakhila ho jayega"

"Par phir bh..." Rukaiya again tried to object but this time Abdul shouts at rukaiya
"Maine keh diya hai amma ji ko noori unke saath kal subah jayegi...tum use subah taiyar kar dena"

Next morning a seven year old Noor was crying hystricly clutching her mother's waist she didn't want to leave her sister's,
seeing her tears her father grabs her hand turning her around he lovingly kissed her forehead he tried to convince her saying that she will live in shehar going to big school and make new friends after that he will come and get her .

Abdul's mother and Amma ji were cousin sisters but Abdul's family was not as rich as the haveli wale.
Abdul's father was in Army , when Abdul was in his mother's womb his father died serving his country. after that his grandfather who has few Acer's of field and a shop raised him , but after his grandfather's demises his uncel's didn't gave him any field, he only got his grandfather's grocery shop, which he named after him ,  with only a small grocery store he could barely sustain his entire family.

Amma ji many times tried to help him but Abdul was a very self sufficient man who couldn't take money from Amma ji.

Whenever Amma ji came to the village, Abdul always used to visit her however this time when Amma ji came he took Noor with himself to meet Amma ji, when Amma ji saw the little girl she couldn't help but fall in love with her so she asked Abdul that she want's to take Noor with her.
Abdul was hesitant at first but on Amma ji's constant reassurance and the loving look Amma ji gave his daughter he couldn't help but agreed.

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She was not even crying properly due to Amma ji's fear, only her sobs were echoing in the car, Amma ji held the innocent girl close to her who was submerged in the corner of the seat.
On the outside, Amma ji seemed very strict but was very soft at heart, hugging the little girl close to her heart Amma ji affectionately stroked her hair turning her sobs into soft snors.

When Amma ji reached the mansion, all the people of the house were waiting for her outside. Amma ji's driver quickly opened the door of the car. Amma ji had just got out of the car when her elder son Irfan Malik rushed to her side, grabing Amma ji's fragile hand in his rough hand he kissed her knuckles and said salam.  Amma lovingly caressed her hand on her eldest son's head, and asked the driver to wake up Noori. Noor groggily opened her eyes,
her hazel eyes full of sleep, her cute nose sruchend in irretation the driver gently grabs her hand taking her out of the car.