A known stranger | Ft. Abhyutami

Chapter 16

Recap - gulnaaz has now discovered that aalim is actually a hindu.

Gulnaaz's pov

I thought and thought for the whole day, if I should confront aalim Or not.. I think it might get awkward but it's definitely important..

Today I left for my office after aalim, when he left for his office, I went to his cupboard and searched for some important documents, on every document the name is - aalim ali and the religion is - muslim.. Even in his birth certificate it's mentioned that.. Is he actually a Muslim but is into hinduism?? I don't get it.

I eventually left for my office as well, today there was nothing important for me to do there so I kept on thinking about this and i think tonight I have to confront him regarding this.

I got home after aalim today and let me tell you he's the sweetest man any girl can ask for. When I got home he came running to my car and held the door open for me, then I got out and he ran to our main door to open that for me as well, I'm flattered by his behavior, when I entered our house he ran to the kitchen and got out with a delicious looking sharbat in his hands, he gave it to me with a sweet forehead kiss, I wasn't much tired of the work but I was pretty tired of all the thinking I'd done today, so I gulped down the drink really quick and it was the most delicious sharbat ever, I think the sweetness wasn't just because of the sugar, it was also because of the sweet gesture by aalim..

I have to ask him this nerve wracking question now.. Okay, I think I'm ready but is he.. He was just sitting in the couch looking at me smiling, his smile looks so innocent, how can such an innocent smile hide such a big truth.

I gathered the courage to ask him.

Gulnaaz's pov ends.

Gk - uhm aalim, aapse kuch puchna tha.. Thoda zaroori hai..

Abhi - haan haan puchiye na, kya hua?

Gk - actually kal maine aapko apne room mai kuch padhte hue dekha tha, and vo namaaz nahi thi..

Abhi - ji??

Gk - actually maine aapko hanuman chaalisa padhte hue suna tha, even aapke phone me hindu God hanuman ji ki picture on thi padhte hue...

Abhi (in mind) - shit shit shit shit shit... Mai kal gate lagana kaise bhool gaya.. Shit shit ab kya karu mai.. Shit..

Abhi -  uhm vo, aapko jaisa lag raha hai naaz vaisa hai bhi aur nahi bhi hai aur hai bhi..

Gk - ji kya?? Dekhiye aalim mai aapko bina judge kare poori baat sunungi, you can tell me..

Abhi - naaz, aap jaanti hain, ki Pakistan ek islamic country hai, aur yahan pe government positions keval Muslims ko hi milti hain, and aap yahan par hindus ki situation se bhi waakif hongi, bohot poor treatment milta hai.. Jab mai maa..i mean ammi ke pet me tha tab mere parents ke saath yahan bohot hi unfair treatment hota tha, to unhe na chahte hue convert hona pada taaki mera future barbaad na ho, lekin bachpan se chup chupke hi sahi, mujhe hindu values hi mili hain.. Aur uski hi vajah se mujhe mera career path follow karne mila hai, agar me hindu hota to entry tak nahi milti, isiliye, mai hu muslim lekin hindu values ko maanta hu, lekin iska mai mention nahi karta kabhi kyuki agar ye baat bahar aai to mera job khatre me aa sakta hai, and trust me when i say this, bhale hi mai hindu values follow karta hu lekin mai apne mulk se sabse zyaada pyaar karta hu, aakhir desh ke liye pyaar religion se thodi na pata chalta hai..right??...i know maine aapko ye naa batake aapke saath dhokha kiya hai, aap chahe to aap mujhe talaq--

Gk - aalim ye kya bol rahe hain aap?? Aapke religion ki vajah se aapko mai talaa dedu?? Aalim I understand yahan par hinduon ke saath kaafi unfair treatment hai, to aapki baat fully justified hai, but at the end of the day, aap hain to muslim hi? Bas aap hindu values follow karte hain, aur kuch nai? Aapne mujhse koi jhooth nahi bola hai.. Aur haan, mai ya fir yahan koi bhi aapke mulk ke liye pyaar par sawaalon nahi utha sakta, I know aap apne mulk se apni jaan se bhi zyada pyaar karte hain..

Aalim starts shedding a few tears

Gautami was touched by aalim's story as she did know that hindus were treated poorly in Pakistan.
She goes to him and hugs him tight and gives him a forehead kiss.

Gk (while caressing his hair) - aalim lekin agar aapne mujhe pehle bata diya hota to ham hindu customs ke hisaab se shaadi kar lete..

Aalim looks at her astonished and suspicious.

Gk - I mean, I believe I'm God but not any religion.. Mai kehneko muslim hu, aur allah ko maanti hu, lekin allah ka bhi matlab God hi hota hai, to indirectly me God ko maanti hu koi religion ko nahi, agar aapne mujhe pehle bataya hota to mai aapke liye hi sahi lekin hindu customs follow kar leti, apko khush karne ke liye.

Aalim holds naaz's hands with both of his so perfectly that their hands intertwine.

Abhi - sach?

Gk - yes..

Abhi - aapse sweet insaan maine duniya me aaj tak nai dekha naaz..

Gk (wipes his tears) - to bolo jai shri ram..

Abhi (smiles widely) - jai shri ram.
(Gives her a forehead peck)

Aalim's pov

Aaj jo hua vo mai believe nai kar paa raha, we are on our bed currently and naaz has fallen asleep. But I'm here, just wondering how pure hearted can someone be.. I thought ki aaj to divorce pakka hai, but naaz proved what true love is.. I can't betray such a pure soul.. Har raat we discuss ki office me kya hua hai, and what ever naaz tells me about her day at ISI office, I tell tej sir, even though she's not allowed to share much with anyone, atleast thoda bohot pata chal jaata hai, jitni information apart from mine mile utna acha.. I also share my stuff with her and why not, aakhirkaar she's pakistani, to fir usko batane me kya burai.. Lekin ab ye karte hue mujhe lag raha hai ki I'm using her.. My younger self must be happy, ki properly nahi lekin atleast uski wife ne jai shri ram to bola..

I managed to fall asleep somehow and then I got up, I saw that my naaz has already woken up as she was not on bed.. It was just 7:30 though, and office 11 baje shuru hota hai and generally she wakes up at around 8 and I wake up at around 5:00..aaj mai late ho gaya uthne mai.. Khair..

I was roaming around the house searching for her, as I was doing this, I hear something from the guest room.. I hear naaz talking to someone so early in the morning..
Hmm.. I go near the room and listen to the conversation and for some reason her words sound so oddly familiar.. Chai?? Padosi??? Whatt??

___________________________________________

𝐍𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞.. 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐚 ❤

𝐃𝐨 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

𝐁𝐲𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 ❤