C
hapter 12 -
Shafaq and her family left Pakistan after that day. They lived in the United States for the past two years. Her parents tried their best to give Shafaq all the happiness the world had to offer, but it still wasn't enough. There were wounds inside of her that would never let her be happy.
Today they were returning to Pakistan because her parents think she has forgotten her past. They were returning home after two years.
After sixteen hours of travelling, their flight landed at the Islamabad airport. Umer had come to pick them up, they had to travel four hours in between, so Umer took them to a restaurant.
"So how are you Shafaq?" Long time no see!" He asked her.
"I'm fine." She replied with a small smile, but he could clearly see that she was not.
Her smile was just from her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes. It was fake. Umer had always seen that Shafaq who couldn't keep quiet, whom no one can stop from talking but not she's changed. It seems that there are still wounds inside of her that hurt her every moment, but she is hiding them behind her fake smile.
Umer stayed quiet, and the waiter brought their dinner and they began to eat silently. After eating they left, everyone was quiet in the car. Umer and Manzur sahib were sitting on the front seat and Amina begum and Shafaq were sitting in the back seat.
Umer was feeling quite strange because he had never seen the family like this before.
"Shafaq! You know Fariah is very excited. She wanted to come with me, but I told her not to. I told her that there has to be someone at home to welcome all of you!" Said Umer.
Umer was trying to start a conversation because no one was talking but Shafaq just gave a small smile in reply, so Umer played music in the car.
Zaroorat.. Of ek villain played.
tere jism ki woh khushbuein
Ab bhi inn saanson mein zinda hai
Mujhe ho rahi inse ghutan
Mere gale ka ye phanda hai
When these verses began to play, Shafaq, began to feel uncomfortable. "Stop the song!" She said, and Umer stopped the music.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Nothing, I don't like songs!" She replied. Umer stayed silent because he knew that in school, Shafaq was the one out of all of them who would always listen to music.
"Umer, I think we should stop at this service area and we should all have tea. I think you're tired." Manzur sahib said.
"Okay Uncle." Umer said with a smile.
After a couple of minutes, the service area came and Umer stopped the car. Manzur sahib went to the washroom.
Umer and Amina begum went to have tea, and Shafaq was sitting in the car. It was the same service area from where she was kidnapped years ago.
She moved towards the chair where she had seen Rehaan in for the first time, she ran her hands over it as the tears began to flow.
It pained her, and she couldn't bear it any longer. "Rehaan!" She shouted. She was sitting in the chair and cried as people gathered around her.
"Rehaan, where are you? Please come back!" She yelled.
Amina begum and Mazur sahib rushed towards her after hearing her. "Shafaq, what are you doing! Stand up!" Manzur sahib said in a hard tone.
Shafaq stood up and moved towards him. "Daddy, did you know Rehaan was sitting here when I saw him for the first time. Dad, where is he? I need him! He must be here, I have to find him!" Shafaq rushed towards the washroom.
"Rehaan, please kidnap me!" She was crying while rushing around.
"Rehaan, please kidnap me! I will not leave you this time, please Rehaan kidnap me! I know you love me! Please kidnap me!" Shafaq was yelling, but she couldn't find him anywhere.
"Shafaq, please stop this nonsense! Let's go back." Amina begun said while hugging her.
"Mom, am I really that bad? Mom, tell me, am I that bad that he left me!" She cried.
"No Shafaq, you are my good daughter. Let's go back!" Amina begum said while wiping her tears.
She walked her over to the car, Umer and Manzur sahib also came.
"Shafaq, are you alright?" Umer asked.
"Yes." She replied. After another hour, they reached Lahore.
They rang the bell and Fariah opened the door. She hugged Shafaq tightly. "I missed you Shafaq." She said after hugging her.
"I missed you too, Fariah." Shafaq said with a smile.
Shafaq was acting naturally with Fariah, it was as though she had become normal. Actually, she had the habit of pretending to be happy, so it wasn't a big deal for her.
"I missed you too, Aunty and Uncle!" Fariah smiled at them.
"We missed you as well, dead daughter." Manzur sahab while Amina began caressed her cheeks.
"Now come inside, I have prepared dinner and Shafaq's favorite chocolate delight!" She beamed with joy and Shafaq smiled.
Amina begum, Umer, Fariah and Manzur sahab moved inside while Shafaq stayed in the garden.
She was reliving memories. Some moments that hurt her, give her tranquility. Some memories cause pain, but she loves them.
She sat on the swing and started thinking about the old moments when Rehaan told her about his past. When she hugged him, she told him that she will always be there with him. When she told him that she will become that light that will illuminate inside of him.
She started crying because she had failed.!
She failed her love!
She failed to discover the light!
She failed to make him hers!
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