What is Love?

Love, quite a strange feeling.

For some, the reason to live. For some, a painful memory.

Just like the feeling when the first drop of honey touches the tip of the tongue, love can prove itself sweet. And just like bitter gourd, it can be too bitter at times.

Love is really a queer feeling.

Chahe to dil abaad kar de aur chahe to zindagi barbad karde!

(If it wants, it can make your heart prosperous and if willing, it can ruin your life)

•••

Taimoor was sitting on a bench. The metal of the bench cold against his skin. But the scene in front of him gave him enough warmth to bear the piercing cold of December. An old lady was pushing a wheelchair that accommodated an old man. His hair white but his face glowing like he was just 35, even his wrinkles were unnoticeable as he laughed at something the lady told him.

The way they communicated made Taimoor conclude that they were a couple. That's the beauty of love, even at that age Taimoor could clearly see the way, their eyes twinkled as they looked at each other. At last, the old man said something which left the lady a blushing mess.

Taimoor couldn't help but picture his future. When he will unable to walk, he probably will also need a wheelchair. But he couldn't picture Daneen, his claimed lover, pushing the wheelchair for him. Heck, she would rather die than push the chair.

But someone would do it like a duty, his heart whispered. The person he referred to as his wife would undoubtedly do everything for him, whether it was taking care of his house, his family, his office, or him she has done that before and she could do it again without any complaint.

Heaving a sigh, he got up and went to his car. He picked his phone which lay on the car dashboard. One missed call Nayab

Ironically, his wife always worried about him and his Akhirah, even! It was Asr time and the missed call was a reminder for him to return to his Creator.

He started his car and drove to the place, he called, home.

"Papa!"

When he entered his house, his three-year-old daughter, Qirat, came running towards him and hugged his legs. Taimoor adored her.

After all, she was a piece of him. He picked her up.

"Qirat! Just come here and complete your homework." Said Nayab, who was sitting on the floor beside the coffee table checking Qirat's homework.

"You should first complete your homework, then we will play together." Taimoor kissed her forehead. Seeing a pout on the little devil's face, he couldn't control the chuckle that left his mouth. Putting her down, he saw her going to her mother.

"Complete your homework and don't even think about slacking off. I'm watching you." Nayab warned her and got up to make tea for Taimoor.

•••

Nayab was brushing her hair. Her hair was really long just how Taimoor liked it. She resigned herself to Taimoor's likes and dislikes.

Taimoor was her father's best friend's son. They knew each other since childhood. And the cherry on top, they were also engaged.

Taimoor was carefree, egoistic, who believed in enjoying life to the fullest. Whereas Nayab was the person of integrity, always responsible, selfless.

When they got betrothed, Nayab was 17 years old, still a high-school student. Taimoor wanted to go abroad for higher studies and his father put one condition and that was to agree to marry Nayab. Only then he could go.

Nayab couldn't believe her fate when she heard of this news. Nayab was in a denial. Even after their engagement, Nayab used to think of it as a beautiful dream, not a reality.

She was brought back to reality when she showed her friends the pictures of her engagement. Her friends were stunned seeing Taimoor's picture. One of her friends even taunted her.

"How did you manage to bag such a handsome boy?" Nayab knew she wasn't a hoor pari. She was a plain, average girl, and Taimoor looked as if he just walked out of a Vogue magazine.

(Dollface)

"Mumma, Lunch? I'm hungry! " Qirat pulled her arms.

"Yeah just wait." She put her hair in a bun and got up to leave the room with Qirat.

•••

You shouldn't be here, his heart told him many times.

But he was here, with her. Your so-called beloved, his heart – once again – taunted.

"How are your parents?" Taking a sip from his cup, he asked her. The hot coffee bitter on his tongue.

"They are not uh...in talking terms with me." Nervously laughing, she put a lock of her jet black hair behind her ear.

Daneen was a beautiful woman. Her hazel brown eyes and those high cheekbones could make anyone falter. Her 5'6 height added to her killer figure. She had in possession everything that could make a girl envious or a boy want her.

In university, she was a dream of every boy, but Taimoor was the exception. And that was what caught Daneen's attention. And she successfully seduced him and made him fall for her. He completely forgot that he has a girl ready to be wedded to him at home.

When he returned home, his parents welcomed him with the news that he was to be wedded to Nayab in a few months. But Taimoor was so intoxicated by Daneen's love. He couldn't even decipher right or wrong.

He refused to marry Nayab and even threatened to leave the house, if his parents forced him to marry Nayab. His parents tried to make him understand but he locked himself in his room and didn't come out for days. His parents backed away from the alliance for him. After all, he was their only son, the apple of their eyes.

His parents ashamed returned the ring to Nayab's mother. Nayab, who was innocent, couldn't understand her fault. Her worst nightmare had come to reality. Society would kill her, she thought.

Nayab was blaming herself. She knew she wasn't good enough for Taimoor. Maybe that's why he rejected her. No matter what she told herself, nothing could mend her broken heart.

On the other hand, though, Taimoor was over the moon knowing that he was marrying the love of his life.

But no matter how stubborn or dear you are to your parents, destiny doesn't work simply like that. If someone is written for you, that person will come back to you. Destiny had written Nayab for Taimoor, not Daneen.

But here he was again, sitting in front of her in a cafe.

"Why?" He asked, placing the cup on the table.

"They are furious. " Shrugging her shoulders, she said. Daneen recently got a divorce. Feeling dejected she came running back to Taimoor.

Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Taimoor's phone.

Nayab Calling

Taimoor picked up the call and Daneen saw his demeanor changing. The wrinkles on his forehead showing the stress.

"What?" He shouted. Looking at Daneen, he said on the phone, "I'm coming."

"What happened?" Daneen saw Taimoor getting up, worry evident on his face. She also got up to follow after him.

"Qirat! She.....she fainted in her playschool....." Panic was visible in his voice. Taimoor picked his coat from the other chair and left without spacing Daneen a glance.

"What?" Daneen said to herself, she could clearly see how tense Taimoor got for his daughter.

•••

Edited by @aqdushira