Uns Ki Mohabbat : Heartstrings

Chapter: 16 - Dream or Reality

I was half asleep and wanted to sleep more, but her fragrance abruptly awakened me. It's the jasmine scent she always wears. I opened my eyes only to find her standing in front of me.

Before, when I closed my eyes, I used to see her, and now, even when I open them, I am seeing her. "Aziz, you're losing your mind," I told myself. For the past 24 hours, I haven't seen her, and now, she's everywhere I look.

"Pull yourself together, Aziz," I reassured myself, trying to convince myself it's just another dream of her, that she's not actually here.

But when I hear her voice and when she called me "bhegairat," all my doubts vanished. Is she really here in my room? If it's a dream, I don't want it to end because this is all I desire - her presence with me.

And if it's real, I can't even begin to describe how peaceful I feel right now, seeing her, seeing the woman I've always longed for.

I rose from bed and approached her slowly. She stood motionless like a statue, her cheeks turning into a shade of tomato with each step I took.

My "tomato" looked incredibly cute yet elegantly adorned in that blue attire - kurti, palazzo pants, with a loosely draped blue dupatta covering her head.

Her almond brown eyes avoided meeting mine, but they had a mesmerizing effect on my foolish heart, unlike her voice, which sent shivers down my spine.

How does she have such power over me? No one, absolutely no one, has ever dared to insult me or command me the way she does; she indeed rules over me, not by her actions but simply by her presence.

I was never interested in anyone or their lives, but she made me do things I never imagined doing. I still can't fully describe the feelings her presence evokes in me.

Having her with me is the most gratifying thing, the most precious possession I have, and I don't want to lose her.

She is precious, pure, serene; she is everything, she is my everything. I've never worshipped anyone in my entire life, but now I want to worship her, to keep her by my side.

As I passed by her towards the washroom door, I heard her call me "bhegairat." I felt elated, believing my "uns" was right there with me in my room.

I never imagined that getting caught in the rain could benefit me so much that Ms. Gusrail would actually come to my mansion to see me.

Now, I eagerly await another rainy day, hoping to fall sick again so she'll visit me once more. I might sound crazy, right?

I sometimes think so too, but I'm helpless; my heart is no longer mine. It doesn't beat for me anymore; now, it beats only for her - for my Gusrail "uns."

I gazed at myself in the mirror, then glanced at my wardrobe, pondering what to wear. She was here, and I didn't want to overdo it, lest she suspect I was pretending to be ill.

But I also wanted to look good in front of her. "Ah, Aziz, pick something," I muttered to myself. My eyes landed on the white shirt I wore at her cafe, and the memory of her blushing cheeks replayed in my mind when she saw my abs.

"Alright, Ms. Reza, I want to see those tomato cheeks again, so a white t-shirt it is," I decided. The fabric was thin, ensuring my abs' outline would be visible. "What about pants, Aziz?

I'm not going out, so I guess tracks would be best," I concluded. I changed into them and emerged from my room, only to find her still standing in the same spot.

As we settled and talked, I found myself saying, "I will fast from tomorrow." But why did I lie to her? I don't fast, so why did I feel uneasy after saying it?

It's normal for me to make promises to others, like saying I'll offer salah, but when she asked, I wanted to refuse. I wanted to tell her I don't believe in her Allah, that I never did, but I couldn't bring myself to say it.

Why? Was it because I feared losing her? Afraid that if she knew the truth about me, she would leave immediately? Even if I don't believe in her Allah, why am I scared? Pushing aside these thoughts, I focused on her.

I didn't want my thoughts to spoil the beautiful moment I was sharing with her, but unfortunately, a third party interrupted our moment.

He approached with a wide smile and was about to sit next to Uns when I quickly got up and took the seat beside her, leaving him to sit opposite us.

"Hello, bhai. Hi, bhabhi... I mean, 'Uns,'" he said with a strange smile on his lips.

"Samir!" I exclaimed loudly, as if urging him to stop his nonsense talk. But it seemed like my words had no effect on him as he continued to engage with her.

"I suppose you're here to see me, right Samir? After all, I'm the one who's unwell," I tried to remind him, as since he arrived, he had been continuously talking to Uns without even glancing at me, as if I were invisible to him.

"Yeah, I know, but you look good right now. Why should I worry about you when I have the most beautiful bhabhi sitting in front of me? Would I waste my time on you, Aziz?" he replied.

"I'm your Bhai, Samir," I retorted.

"She is my bhabhi, Aziz," he countered.

"Seriously, Samir?" I said, not believing his words.

"Yes, bhai," he replied innocently, with a smile.

But before I could say anything else, someone knocked on the door and entered. It was Sahara now.

Ek haddi kaafi nahi tah, joh dusri bhi?

"Did you say something, Nader?" "Uns" asked upon hearing me murmur something.

"No," I replied, unable to tell her that I was cursing them for ruining our moment.

They just wouldn't let me have a peaceful time with "Uns."

Meri aadi love story toh, in logon ki wajah seh hein kharab ho jaogi.

They all three engaged in deep conversation, not even bothering to look at me. Am I not the one who's sick here? I began to doubt.

My health is deteriorating, yet Samir is having fun. Uns came here for me, yet Samir is stealing the spotlight.

I can understand Sahara and Samir, the lovebirds, talking continuously to each other, but "Uns" too is so engrossed with them that she isn't even acknowledging my presence? Why? Why? Why did you come, Samir?

Feeling utterly fed up with her ignorance, I decided to leave when finally, Uns called me.

"Where are you going, Nader?" she asked. Finally, I felt some peace; now she would tell me to stay, thank goodness.