درون حلقۂ زنجیر ہوں میں

شکستہ خواب کی تعبیر ہوں میں

مجھے حیرت سے یوں وہ تک رہا ہے

کہ جیسے میں نہیں تصویر ہوں میں

مری باتیں تو زہریلی بہت ہیں

مگر تریاک کی تاثیر ہوں میں

میں زندہ ہوں حصار بے حسی میں

محبت کی نئی تفسیر ہوں میں

اک آئنہ بھی ہوں اور عکس بھی ہوں

کہ شہر سنگ کا رہ گیر ہوں میں

نماز شب کا سجدہ ہوں تصورؔ

اذان صبح کی تکبیر ہوں میں ؟

...

“I love him alot but he seems to be so distant.” the girl was trying to control her tears but her red hooded eyes are telling the story of her unrequited love.

"Layla i don't know when i fall for him, he's married and..." The girl was constantly sniffing and looking here and there to control her tears.

"Don't hold back your tears Zhalay. Let this tears flow and cleanse your heart." Zhalay looked at Layla who gave her an encouraging look and then the tears started to fall like waterfall, with every drop her heart was getting lighter and lighter.

"Layla, why did he came in my life when we are not meant to be? Why did Allah put so much love for him in my heart?" Zhalay was asking the question many girls ask her whenever they seek for therapy.

Layla smiled and her eyes shone like the first ray of sunshine. She looked at her bracelet it was a black leather band and it has a name engraved on it عبدل منان encircling it, her eyes fixated on Zhalay. And she spoke in her soft tone that can make oppressors falls to their knees.

"Love is a very pure feeling. Allah has given us a way of life but how many of us follow that? Do we lower our gaze when a non mehram passes by? Even if we forgot to guard our eyes and accidentally falls in love who is not for us...then we always have a choice either to destroy ourselves by staying with that feeling or chose to turn our back, controlling ourselves. Eventually the second option is much better for the longest run. Time is a great healer, it heals everything. And you're doing great Zhalay, you've chose to turn your back on the man whose not yours. Just keep going strong like that, my dear.”

Layla stood up from her chair and hugged Zhalay who is feeling much better now. She was right when she decided to go for therapy for her unbearable pain.

"You always makes me feel better and comfortable in my own skin Layla. Thank you so much for that." Zhalay hugged Layla tightly and she laughed.

Layla has studied mass communication but she didn't knew what has future holds for her. From blogging and hearing people's problems, she started doing it as her job. She is a good listener and advisor. The kind of person whom you can talk freely without any judgy looks. She's neither a certified therapist, nor did she portray herself as that.

"I should get going Layla. I will meet you next week Inshallah." Zhalay sad her goodbye kissing on her cheeks.

Layla was still standing where Zhalay has left her and her eyes went to the clock 3:07 PM. Her heartbeat raced and she quickly went towards the door locking it. Tears started flowing down her eyes, she was sitting on the floor holding her knees and crying silently.

Ten years ago somewhere in the Ocean,

She was feeling as if someone is beating her head and she couldn't grasp the hand of that person. Suddenly her windpipe felt clogged and a salty taste filled her mouth, she throw up and started coughing. "Water....water..." Her voice was low and indifferent.

"Here grab it girl." She took the bottle from whomever it is and gulped it down like she hasn't drank anything for years.

When her senses got back and she looked around, she was stunned. She was on a ship and a bulky man was standing infront of her, his expression was saying that he would kill her any minute.

"Where i am?" Her broken voice came as plea, cry for help.

"Don't ask questions girl. Stay silent its good for you." The man looked at her and snatched the bottle from her hands.

When her head got a clear hit that she's in danger, she looked at herself. Her clothes are intact. She was wearing her ivory abaya but her hijab has loosened up a bit showing the strands of her black hair. She quickly wrapped it tightly and fixed it. Standing up, walking around she saw the same man sitting on the deck of the ship.

"Why am i here? What did i do? Please send me back. Please...."

"Shut your mouth girl or I'm gonna kill you." The man got up from his place and came near her, she horrifyingly moved her face away.

The bulky man looked at her and smiled devilishly,"you are Layla Hassam, illegitimate daughter of Hassam Qureshi, the famous and corrupt politician who is running for Prime Minister post. Your mother was a famous courtesan and your Father had a really long fling with her until you were born. Your mother wanted to keep you but your father took you from her because he didn't wanted his daughter to be a courtesan. You have lived all your life out of Shaam. And now your father invited you here, he wanted to marry you off to his colleague who is thirty years your senior. You are doing bachelor's in Mass Communication from Sharjah. Do you want to know more Habibti?"

Layla was looking at him with wide eyes," Okay now you want to know why i kidnapped you? Right?" The bulky man looked at her and Layla was surprised how come he knows all of her thoughts so easily.

"Well your own father plotted your kidnapping.And now you're All alone with me in the middle of nowhere." He laughed evily and Layla shooked her head in fear.

...

Sun has sat down and the sky is getting darker and darkest. She was sitting looking at the moon and compiling her whole life. She was born and given away to an elderly woman who took care of her needs but she wasn't loved. Always changing cities and countries because if anyone got hold of her true identity her father would have been destroyed completely.

"Hey. Here eat this girl." The bulky man came with a plate of rice and water. She looked at him and turned her face towards the moon again.

"Layla eat this."

This time Layla took the plate from his hands and started eating the boiled rice.

"Its not eatable....

"I'm not your chef. We have only got stock for two days."

The bulky guy growled at her and she started laughing. "Okay so will you please tell me your name because in my head I'm calling you The Bulky guy."

"What? The bulky guy? Really?"

"Yes."

He looked at her amusingly and started laughing. Layla has never saw a laugh so beautiful and full of life.

"I'm Abdul Manan Han. And before you ask where i live.... I'm from nowhere." He leaned closer to her and blow a breathe of air on her forehead.

"Manan so beautiful name. What does it mean?"

"Slave of Allah. Now tell me why are you so comfortable with your kidnapper?" He sat beside her looking at the moon.

"Because you told me my father ordered you to kidnap me and you only have two days stock of food left. And two days later my marriage is going to happen that means my father wanted to keep me somewhere so that I don't escape from his paws." Layla looked at Manan and arched an eyebrow.

Manan was stunned looking at her. Her face was glooming in the moonlight, his heart skipped a beat. He shooked his head he knew this isn't going to end well for her.

"Common get up. Its getting cold here. I've made your bed inside."

"Where are you going to stay?"

"Don't worry I've lived my whole life in the Ocean. I'm going to stay here. You sleep peacefully."

Layla looked at him one last time and went inside sleeping.

...

The day arose and the sun was setting in the middle. She came out and saw Abdul Mannan standing with all his glory. A smiled passed her lips. All of this feels like an adventure for her.

"Merhaba Layla."

"Merhaba Mannan."

Layla greeted him in a chirpy voice.

"Do you know what Halqah means?" Abdul Mannan asked her looking suspiciously at her.

"Circle." Layla replied and stood beside him.

"Yes, circle." Mannan shooked his head and jumped in the water. He started swimming in circles and Layla was worried for him. He stayed doing that for atleast ten minutes and then holding the wiring harness he mount up to the ship.

"You were worried for me?" Mannan asked her sheepishly.

"Yes i was." Layla looked at him with teary eyes and Mannan knew in that moment the girl has fallen for him.

...

It was her second night on the ship and she couldn't sleep inside. She came out to walk for a bit and saw Mannan singing ;

رسمتلي صورة للجن

في أول مرة نتلاقى

مشيت وياك بطيب خاطر

لقتني ف حيرة ومتاهة

عرفت ف قربك الوحدة

في حضنك كنت متغرب

وسيرة الحب لو تيجي

بقيت منها بخاف و اهرب

You painted a portrait of a paradise for me

in the first time that we met

I trustingly walked with you

I found myself in confusion in a maze

I knew loneliness in your presence

In your arms I felt isolation

And the mention of love,

I began to fear it and flee from it.

"Mannan." Layla sat beside him and diverted his attention from singing to her.

"Yes." Mannan looked at her with so much warmth and comfort that Layla averted her gaze. Eyes are the opening to sins and she has committed the sin.

"Do you want to live a life free from this prison." Manan asked her his eyes fixated on the moon.

"Yes." Layla whispered, "and i want to live a life with you if it's possible." She could only thought off.

"Here wear this." Mannan gave her a leather bracelet and Layla wore it smilingly.

...

Layla was sleeping peacefully when she heard sounds of helicopter and gunshots. She rushed out and saw three helicopters running in circles in the sky. Mannan was fighting with two men who had shot him in the left arm. She rushed to guard him but Mannan took her hostage. "Don't come near me, otherwise i will kill her." Mannan shouted.

"Don't worry Layla I'm not going to harm you." He whispered in her ears.

And that was the moment of ignorance that left a hole in Mannan's chest and he jumped carrying Layla with him. They were encircling in the depth of ocean. And Mannan didn't knew that Layla don't know how to swim.

Before loosing consciousness Layla could only hear Mannan's voice,"Halqah completes itself......"

...

Layla stopped crying when she heard a door on her knock, wiping her face, she gave permission to her secratary to come in.

"Ma'am there's MR Han who wants to meet you." Layla looked at her and said to send him in.

"Yes Mr Han please have a seat." Layla said not looking at the face of the man. She was staring at his boots.

"Halqah completes itself from where it begins."

Layla has Heard that voice ten years ago and now the same voice is calling her out.

"Abdul Mannan Han." She looked at him and the tears started flowing down her face.

"Mannan...." Abdul Mannan wiped her tears with his handkerchief and take out a diamond ring from the velvet box.

"I see you. I heard you. I loved you but from afar. I wanted to be worthy of you Layla thats why i double Crossed your father and send you here in Egypt. Don't cry my love."

"Lets complete the Halqah of our lives Layla. I'm waiting for you since the beginning of the world and now i want to spend eternity with you."

"Will you marry me Layla."

"Yes. Yes. Yes."

The End.

......