Humsafar (short stories)

Atish e Ishq

"Hamza I didn't expect this from you"
Burhan said looking at Hamza disappointingly after Saad took Heyam into room

"Sardar Saeen didn't you see what she did to my mother"
Hamza said trying his best to be respectful

"And what's my relation to your mother?"
Burhan asked sarcastically

"She's your Khala"
Hamza muttered

"So if someone did the same with my mother what would have you done?"
Burhan asked with a blank face

"I would have killed her"
Hamza fisted his hands

"Do you  think my feelings are different for Khala? Do you think I am that shameless to bear her words against my one and only Khala and let her kill her"
Burhan glared at Hamza angrily

Hamza nodded no staring at the floor

"Hamza has beaten her in front of everyone. Now villagers whose women are not even at fault would beat them making an excuse that if Sardars can then why can't we? Don't you know the mentality of people here? Who do yor think  I am? Huh"
Sardar Burhan asked folding his hands on his chest

"You are my Sardar, my brother, my best friend, the only person I can trust the most in the world"
Hamza looked at Burhan lovingly

"No, I don't hold such a place, Hamza. I am nothing for you. If you consider me even one of that. You would have complained about Heyam to me. I know she was gonna kill Khala so you ran towards her but what do you think, I would have stood here and watched the show. Is this what Pathans are? Is this what you think Sardar is? I would have thrown her out of Haveli right away Hamza. I would have gotten her married to someone but never let her live under the same roof with my Khala. I would not even allow her shadow to come near my Khala. I would have punished her badly. She was wrong. She was totally wrong but what you did was also not right. You decided to beat her in front of everyone without my permission. You made me feel so useless to be a Sardar. Now whenever any man beats a woman I wouldn't be able to punish him because my own brother did the same with his sister. How could I punish him? That's injustice, right? She's not your fu..... step-sister. She's your real sister as you both have the same father and according to Islam, you are real siblings. She is just like Alina to you. Here I am not justifying her Hamza. I know what you felt at that time. Any person would have done the same as you. But I chose you out of everyone to be Sardar if I die. Are you capable enough to be a Sardar by making decisions being emotional and not being practical? A Sardar should be the same for his family and the outside world. You're my best friend Hamza. Your behavior hurts me the most"
Sardar Burhan glared at him angrily and went towards his room kissing his Khala's dupatta-clad forehead. He was unaware that Saad beaten Heyam. He thought Saad took Heyam into the room to lock her inside

Hamza was not able to look up. He and Burhan are best friends. They used to eat on the same plate their whole childhood. They used to wear each other's clothes. Burhan used to share everything with Hamza although he was a big introvert and Hamza used to do the same. There were no secrets between them. When Burhan took an oath as Sardar everyone was expecting Shaffat's name to be a Sardar after Burhan as he was the second born of the family but he chose Hamza and even ordered to make a turban for him

"Heyam was wrong but I never expected this from you"
Faisal Khan said looking at Hamza with hurt eyes

But Hamza was stuck at Burhan's remarks. Whenever any of them becomes angry, the other one can't sleep well

Saad who entered the hall just now looked at the blood on his hands and gulped thinking about Burhan's reaction. They all loved their Sardar and he loved them too but he was strict about his rules as people follow leaders and try to justify themselves by taking their name whether the situation is completely different. He feared Burhan's anger. Saad went towards his best friend Adam and told him everything making him facepalm himself