Kashmakash

Part 24

***
I had to republish it as old draft had few inaccuracies which continued to show even after republishing the same chapter multiple times
***

The name "Naaz" escaped Hyder's lips like a whispered prayer, pulling him back from the abyss of his dark memories. He wasn't free from the haunting fears of his past, yet he had made a decision that defied his own fears and reservations. It was an ironic twist of fate that he had resolved never to marry, all to protect any innocent girl from a life of misery, and now he found himself on the precipice of marrying the very girl who held the most special place in his heart.

'Usko dhoka nahi de sakta' he thought. Determined to be honest with her, he sent a message, asking her to meet him at the front gate.
'Kya hua?' Naaziya cheerfully inquired as she hopped into the car. 'Aapko pata hai kaise chupte chupate aayi hu'.
Hyder remained silent, still pondering how to reveal the truth to her. He shook his head and started the engine. They drove for an hour until they reached their farmhouse. The drive to the farmhouse had been quiet, with tension hanging in the air. Naaziya couldn't help but feel a growing unease as they arrived at the secluded retreat. The distant city lights twinkled like a sea of stars beneath the vast, moonlit sky, creating an enchanting backdrop for their conversation.

Hyder hand was extended to help her out of the car, and led Naaziya to a cozy garden sofa, and she couldn't help but notice the solemn expression on his face.

Hyder sighed, his eyes locking onto hers. There was a deep sadness in his gaze, a weight that seemed to pull at his very soul. He knew he had to tell her the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

' Kuch zarori baat karni thi' he started, his voice filled with worry. Naaziya giggled nervously, trying to lighten the mood as she glanced at his solemn expression. 'Aap propose to nahi kar rahe..jo itna ghabra rahe' she asked.
Hyder frowned, a bit puzzled by her comment, but then broke into a smile, realizing she was joking.
'Naaz,' he started, his voice trembling slightly, 'there are things about my past, things that I've kept hidden from you. I thought I could protect you by keeping you away from me, but I think that now you deserve to know the truth.'
'Ex girlfriends ke baare mein mujhe nahi sunna' she teased closing her ears with her hands.

Hyder remained silent but implored her with his eyes not to interrupt him again. Naaziya fell silent, observing his serious expression.

"When I was young..." he paused, attempting to choose his words carefully to make it sound less grim than it actually was. But before he could continue, he heard Naaziya speak, causing him to freeze. "Aap choti Tayi ki baat batana chahte hai?" she asked.

"T..t..tumko kaise pata?" He inquired, stuttering.

'Maine suna tha unhe aapse baat karte hue kayi saal pehle. Tab sahi samjh mein nahi aaya tha, baad mein observe karne lagi to reaslise hua wo kaise aapko pareshan karti thi', she paused briefly to collect her thoughts 'I saw aap unke presence se bhaagte the, unki banayi cheeze chuthe bhi nahi the, na hi unka diya saman lete the', she continued 'Aap to mujhe bhi nahi lene dete the'
Hyder closed his eyes to compose himself and began, 'She had abused me for more than a year. She used to...'. He was silenced as her hand covered his lips, and she shook her head. But Hyder removed her palms holding them in his and with a deep breath, Hyder began to share the painful truths of his past, knowing that it was a necessary step in their journey together. As he spoke, Naaziya listened, her heart breaking for the pain he had endured and the secrets he had borne. But what saddened her the most was the way Hyder viewed himself, tainted and impure. The scars from his past had left deep emotional wounds, and he couldn't see the strength and resilience that others saw in him.

The night stretched on as the truth spilled out, and by the time Hyder had finished, both of them were emotionally drained.
She pulled him into a hug and whispered, 'I don't want you to remember that anymore'. He closed his eyes, inhaling her rosy scent, finding solace in her embrace.
They stayed in each other's embrace until Hyder opened his eyes and looked at Naajiya with adoration.

'Tumhe pata hai main tumhe angel kehta tha..kyunki jab bhi wo aati thi tum suddenly appear karke unhe bhaga deti thi' he said. Then, a realization hit him, and his eyes widened. 'Did you do it intentionally?'
Naajiya stuck out her tongue and immediately looked down, blushing.
'Thank you' he said with a big smile 'I always thought of you as a godsent angel who always appeared to save me but now I know you are a self-created angel. Tumne bataya kyu nahi?'
'Kahi hum awkward naa ho jate' she replied timidly.
He looked at her intently and asked, 'Aur ab? Are you ok? Ok marrying a person who was..'

Hyder listened intently, his eyes locked onto Naajiya's.
'Hyder, aap bahut aache ho. Dil ka aacha insaan maine kabhi nahi dekha hai, aapse mohabbat karna, nikah hona meri kush kismati hai. Aapne bahut kuch akele face kiya. Uske baad bhi aapne pure ghar ko sambhala. Koi aur hota to shayad unki maa ka gussa, Zain aur Shoaib pe nikalta par aapne kabhi nahi kiya. In fact aapne to unhe itna pyar aur dhyan diya hai jitna shayad taya ji ne bhi nahi diya' she paused briefly and spoke again 'Maine dekha hai aapko humne protect karte hue, humko sabko khud se upar rakha hai hamesha apne. Bas ek galti ki you should have destroyed that vile women' she said, reminiscing about their shared past.
'You know I can't. Abbu chacha ka ghar nahi tabah karna chahte the, to main kaise karu' he replied.
Her words were like a soothing balm to his wounded soul. He had always seen himself from that one perspective, victim, but hearing her perspective now filled him with a sense of pride he hadn't felt in a long time.

Hyder gently cupped Naajiya's face, his eyes reflecting gratitude as he murmured, "Thank you," and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Her smile warmed his heart, and for the first time in a long while, he felt like he could breathe freely.

As he got lost in his thoughts, Naajiya leaned in, giving him a tender peck on the lips. She whispered, "Till now, you fought it, and now I will make sure you forget it." Her words were filled with love, reassuring him that his life will brighten up with the sunshine called 'Naaziya'.

****
Aprilyaawk thank you for extending out to help and reformatting the chapter. ramaenfatima23  Cecilievonspitzweg : thank you 🙏 for your support. Fortunately, I did get it reformatted by then