“ I lost something,

I never had.

Yet it hurts, just as bad. ”

...

He was standing their waiting for her to come out. He wasn't going to leave her, without saying a proper goodbye.

"You're going?"

She said looking at his luggage bags. Is it too soon? Its been just three months and his going away.

Her own expectations and dreams are now crushing down on her, he didn't promised her anything, then why she's feeling betrayed?

"Yes I'm going for good now." He muttered to himself, still Izzat heard it and her heart felt heavy.

"So, you're going away for good." Azil looked at her, their eyes met for a second and then the talisman broke, she closed the door on his face and went away.

A broken smile passed his lips, he will miss her, especially her shutting every door on him.

"Izzat."

Azil shooked his head and walked back on the path where he came from, he was going back home, leaving a havoc in someone's life.

Azil didn't knew his silent Gazes and warm words, has melted the ice on Izzat's heart. He will never understand that a girl never gets over her first love, especially if the man left her heartbroken.

The cruelty of fate for Izzat Raheem is that she fell for a man who could never be hers, he didn't promised her anything yet she fell harder, she should've controlled her emotions.

...

Izzat was sitting on her bed, books were sprawled out and she was chewing on the back of her ball point pen. When she felt a breeze of cold air hitting her face, she looked and saw that her windows are open. She got up and was about to close the windows, her eyes looked up in search for him.

Shooking her head and closing the windows. She goes back to studying and then she heard his voice, playing on the radio, she closed her eyes and tried to control her anger.

Azil Khan, the rising star of film industry, heartthrob of the country.

And she was Izzat Raheem, a medical student with no fame.

Unknowingly or knowingly she let herself wander on the lands where she wasn't allowed to go, yet she did go there, breaking herself into pieces.

"Ya Allah. Please forgive me. I shouldn't have looked at him. I should have controlled myself, my nafs. Ya Allah please ease this pain. I don't want to remember anything....."

She was crying like a kid, wiping her own tears, Patting herself, consoling herself. Nobody's going to understand her pain and feelings, because they're not in her shoes. They may think it was just a teenage crush, which crashed her heart.

Izzat was a strong girl and she held herself firmly. She let herself wound her bleeding heart and working on chasing her dreams. She has to be happy for her Dada jaan. She has to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor, she didn't want to spoil her Dada's hardwork. She didn't wanted to walk on her parents path who ruined themselves. She will get pass through this phase. She will.

...

"Sir, Azil Sir. We have come home."

Azil who slept through the ride, getting lost in memories. He saw the house his Grandfather built, a lavish mansion. Yet this mansion never felt like home, never did. The only home he had, was her.

The Girl he will never have.

He shooked his head and walked inside. Masking his face for the sake of ones who now rely on him.

"Daddy."

He was walking on the doorstep, when a six year old girl came out, hugging his legs. His lips stretched into a huge smile, he moved a little down towards her kissing her hairs, lifting her up in his arms.

"Daddy. I missed you so much."

"I missed you to Izza Pizza."

Azil replied in the same tone as her, childish and complaining.

"Where is your Mummy?" Izza was hugging her father tightly, like he would leave her.

"Mummy said she was going on a trip with Varun uncle, so i will be at Daddy's house."

"Ahhm. So lets go inside."

Azil walked inside holding his daughter in his arms.

"Salam Abbu."

Azeem Khan who was sitting on the couch watching TV, looked at Azil. And a guilt washed over his face.

Its been thirteen years, he made him choose between his dreams and his father's dreams. Azil didn't wanted to be an actor, he wanted to study Medicine. But he had to carry on his family's legacy so he killed his dreams. And then killed his heart too, marrying Sonia, superstar of her times and two time national award winner. His father thought it would be a great match. Azil let him play with his life once again and married Sonia.

Sonia was an ambitious girl and she wasn't ready to be a mother, she wanted to abort her child. But she couldn't, as it would've put her life in Risk, so she gave Birth to a girl, whom Azil named Izzah.

After Izzah's birth Sonia filed for a divorce and left a month old Izzah in his custody. Azil didn't said a word, he took care of his daughter very well. Just then after years Sonia came back, claiming her motherly rights on her. Azil didn't Wanted to give his daughter's custody but he also cannot stop her from meeting her.

Azeem Khan couldn't hold his self together anymore, he felt so bad seeing his only son, broken. Although Azil never complained for anything but he knew, he knew, how much he was going through from the inside, yet smiles like he was living his best life.

Azil khan has everything successful career, loving daughter, money, fame.......still he can't have her.

That one Girl who lives in his soul.

"Papa.. I'm going to change. Have a look on Izzah."

Azil said to his father and went towards his room.

Thirteen years ago, he went to his hometown for a mere trip, and unknowingly his heart strings gets attached to the girl, who is known as Izzat Raheem, a jolly and moody girl.

Time passed but nothing has changed. She still dances in his bleeding heart.

Azil left a heavy sigh, the winter nights are too long, for remembrance.

...

"Dr. Izzat Raheem."

She heard the anchor saying her name out loud. She stood up from her chair and went towards the dice, she has been invited for her school as a chief guest. For motivating young girls and for promoting her campaign learn together, grow together.

Izzat was now a surgeon, has her own clinic. She still doesn't know who sponsored her scholarship, but she knew that time, if she get a chance to help young girls like her, she will do it and now her campaign had been sponsored the education of almost five hundred girls and still working for more.

In the last thirteen years she has gain so much, but has lost her only family too. Her Dada, Raheem Sahab passed away after seeing her Graduating with a medical degree. If Hooriya hadn't consoled her, she would have lost her mind. But she didn't and after that there's only her work and work.

Izzat opened the door of Car and sitting inside she saw, Hooriya standing outside with her husband Jawad. She come out and greeted them, but soon she realised someone else was their too, who was continuously oggling her.

How can she forget that Gaze?

"Azil."

"Izzat."

She felt a hand on her waist and tugging her in himself.

"I missed you so much Izzat." Tahir said hugging her sideways and there's an unknowing tension in the environment. Hooriya looked at Azil and then back to Izzat.

"Oh Azil Bhai, this is Tahir Laghari, Izzat's husband."

Azil looked at Hooriya, like he didn't believed her and then his Eyes went back to Izzat, who was feeling awkward.

"Goodbye everyone. I'm going late for my flight."

Azil said his goodbye and silently went away. He didn't knew that the programme he was coming, was in honour of Izzat Raheem.

His heart was still bleeding, but now he has to leave with this scar for life.

Izzat saw Azil's retreating back and she wanted to stop, but she couldn't. She isn't an eighteen year girl anymore. She is now someone's wife and a mother. She cannot go back to the doors she had closed on herself years ago.

Azil stopped walking, for a moment he turned around and saw Izzat's face, which was showing the same helplessness, his face had. He smiled brightly and a lone tear left his eyes.

And finally he gathered the courage to say what he wanted to say all along, "I love you."

Azil said it so lowly, but Izzat had seen his lips movement and she understood what he said, but it was too late. She turned back her face. Closing the doors on him again.

And Azil went away again, this time for forever.

“Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along.”

- Mawlana Rumi.

The End.

••••••••••

Note: Hows it?