IZEL POV

As we reached the basement, my phone buzzed. It was Irfaz. I answered, and before I could say anything, he spoke.

"Begum, hogaya kya apka kaam?" (My love, is your work done?) he asked, his voice teasing as always.

I smiled, rolling my eyes. "Ji, hogaya, but aap kaha ho?" I replied, a hint of playfulness in my voice. (Yes, it's done. Where re u?)

There was a pause on his end, then he chuckled softly. "Aapke dil ke kareeb," (Close to your heart) he replied, making my heart skip a beat.

"Flirt mat karo, Irfaz," I replied, rolling my eyes even though he couldn't see.

He laughed, his voice warm and rich. "Main flirt nahi kar raha, Begum. Sirf sach keh raha hoon." (I'm not flirting, my love. Just speaking the truth.) "Arey, meine call isliye kiya tha," (Hey, I called for a reason) Irfaz said, his tone a bit more serious now. 

"Mera ek dost yahan hospital mein hai, so I thought I'd check on him. Tum wait karo 5 minute lobby mein, main usse mil ke aata hoon." (One of my friends is in the hospital, so I thought I'd check on him. You wait in the lobby for 5 minutes; I'll meet him and come back.)

I nodded, glancing at Sana beside me. "Then mein Sana ke sath ja rahi hoon, kuch khane. Bula lena ho toh," I added, giving Sana a mischievous look. (Then I'm going with Sana to grab something to eat. Call me if you need anything.)

"Ha, go ahead. I'll pick you up afterward," he replied casually, as if he was already planning everything.

"Alright, I'll see you soon," I said, hanging up with a smile. My day had been full of unexpected events, but it seemed like it was going to get a lot more interesting from here.

************

IRFAZ'S POV

As I waited in my car for my begum to return, my phone buzzed with a call from Ahaan. He's been my best friend since childhood, but we had to part ways in the 11th grade when he pursued a career in gaming, moving to different states and even countries for his tournaments. We manage to talk almost every week, though it's tough for guys to chat much on the phone. Despite the distance, our bond remains as strong as ever.

"Hmmm," I answered, humming my usual greeting.

"Where are you? Mera accident hogya hai!" (Where are you? I've had an accident!) Ahaan exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency.

"Phone karke bata raha hai ki tera accident hogya hai, toh tu mara nahi hai, got it?" (If you're calling to say you've had an accident, then you're not dead, got it?) I replied, trying to keep it light.

"Kutte, tujhe meri janaza ki wait karni hai! Tujhe toh mein milke bataunga," (You dog, you'll have to wait for my funeral! I'll tell you when we meet) he screamed, his dramatic flair coming through.

"Milne ke liye tujhe yahan aana padega. Aise tu kuch nahi kar sakta, aisi technology aayi nahi hai," (To meet me, you'll have to come here. You can't do anything like this; technology hasn't advanced that much) I shrugged, trying to ease his panic.

"XX hospital pe aa emergency ward pe. Abhi sab kaam chhod ke, tera ek lauta masoom dost zindagi ke akhri kalma parh raha hai!" (Come to the XX hospital's emergency ward. Stop everything; your only innocent friend is reading his last prayers!) he said, playing the drama king. 

I thought I should get there before Izel arrived.

"Aaraha hu, 5 minutes. Ab phone rakh," (I'm coming, 5 minutes. Now hang up) I said, ending the call.

I pulled into the hospital's parking lot and rushed inside, my heart pounding in sync with the hurried footsteps of nurses and doctors. After asking for directions to the emergency ward, I finally spotted Ahaan lying on a stretcher, his foot bandaged up.

"Tere ko dekh ke lag nahi raha tu akhri kalma parh raha," (Seeing you, it doesn't look like you're reading your last prayers) I said, raising an eyebrow.

"Itne saal milne ke baad tu yeh bolega Mujhe? tameez bhool gaya? Salam walam dena bhi hota hai!" (After so many years of not seeing each other, you say this? Have you forgotten your manners? You should greet me properly!) he complained.

"Asalamualikum Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu." (Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.) I gave him the longest salam.

"Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu," (And peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you) he returned my greeting. "Itni lambi salam dene ko bhi nahi bola tha. Tera bas chale, meri janaze ki namaz bhi padh de tu," (You didn't have to give such a long greeting. If it were up to you, you'd even pray for my funeral) he pouted.

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un." (Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, we will return to Him.) I said.

{Rebeca: Basically, these lines are recited after hearing news of someone's death.}

"Sudhar ja kamine, warna teri mayat bhi mere sath nikalunga," (Get your act together, or I'll come along with you when you die) Ahaan said, slapping me on the shoulder.

"Kaise hua yeh accident, yeh bata?" (How did this accident happen, tell me?) I asked.

"Ek ladki ne gadi chadhadi mere upar," (A girl ran her car over me) he said.

"Police complain kiya?" (Did you file a police complaint?) I asked.

"Nahi kiya, bandi cute thi." (I didn't file one; the girl was cute) Ahaan said, and I opened my eyes wide.

"Shock mat ho, mein bhi ladka hoon. Mere paas bhi dil hai, mujhe bhi kuch kuch hota hai." (Don't be shocked; I'm a guy too. I have a heart, I feel things too) he said.

As I was about to say something, I got a call from my begum. "Haan g, Begum" (Yes? wife) I received the call.

"Mil gaya apka dost? Mein bhi aau kya?" (Did you find your friend? Should I come too?)  she asked.

"Haan g, begum. Uske paas hi baitha hoon," (Yes, wife. I'm sitting right next to him) I replied.

"Okay, enjoyy heheh tata," (Okay, enjoyyy heheh bye) she said and hung up, then turned my attention back to Ahaan.

"Overacting ki dukan, hosh mein aa," (Drama queen, get a grip) I said, seeing Ahaan still acting faint.

"Tujhe aise baat karte hue mere kidney mein heart attack aa gaya tha," he exaggerated dramatically. (Talking to you like this gave me a heart attack in my kidney.)

"Toh kaun thi woh? Begum-begum kare ja raha tha?" he asked, pausing as if to process something. (So, who was she? Running around saying 'begum-begum', where were you going?)

"Wait... don't tell me teri nikkah ho gayi hai?" His eyes widened with disbelief. (Wait... don't tell me you're married now?)

"Ha, ho gaya hai. Lambi story hai, fursat se sunaunga," I replied. (Yeah, it happened. It's a long story, I'll tell you when I get the chance.) "but haan pdso dhumdham ke se functions strt hoga toh tu ab yaha h toh ana lazmi h," I said. (But yeah, when the functions start with a bang, you'll be here, so it's a must that you come.)

"Arey, teri nikkah ka toh mujhe sabse zyada intezaar tha. Zayn ne toh kab ka shaadi karke baith gaya. Itna bhi na socha usne mere baare mein. Mera intezaar bhi nahi kiya. Milne de usko, phir batata hoon," he said, pouting. (Oh, I was waiting the most for your wedding. Zayn has already married and settled down. He didn't even think about me. He didn't wait for me either. Let me meet him, then I'll tell him.)

"Woh tera boyfriend hai? Jo woh tujhe bata ke shaadi karta hai?" I asked.
(Is that your boyfriend? The one who gets married after telling you about it?)

Ahaan looked at me with drop-dead eyes. "Mujhe tumhara sarcasm samajh mein aata hai, par yeh kuch zyada ho gaya." (I get your sarcasm, but this is a bit too much.)

"Ghar kaise jaa raha hai? Ya main chhod doon?" I asked. (How are you going home? Or should I drop you off?)

"Ghar pe toh kisi ko nahi pata ke main wapas aaya hoon. Toh ab tera duty hai mujhe apartment chhodke aane ka," he said. (No one at home knows I've come back. So now it's your duty to drop me off at my apartment.)

"Okay, chal phir," I said, and took him to the car, driving to his apartment. (Okay, let's go then.)

------

I drove toward his apartment, and along the way, Ahaan tried to keep the conversation going, despite his still dramatic behavior. 

"Toh bhai, yeh shaadi ka scene bata, kisne kaise kismat ke saath khel li?" (So, tell me about this wedding, who played with fate like this?) he asked with a teasing tone.

I smiled a little, though the thought of Izel filled my mind. 

"Lambi kahani hai, Ahaan. Jab milenge, tab bataunga," (It's a long story, Ahaan. I'll tell you when we meet) I said, feeling the weight of the moment.

"Yaar, tu toh sach mein shaadi kar gaya. Main toh sochta tha, yeh toh hamesha khelta rahega." (Man, you really got married. I always thought you'd be the one to keep playing around.) Ahaan said with a mock serious expression.

"Chup kar, tujhe kya pata. Sab kuch apne waqt pe hota hai," (Shut up, what do you know? Everything happens at the right time) I said, trying to keep it light as I drove.

As we neared his apartment, Ahaan gave me a side glance. 

"Pehli baar lagta hai, tu badal gaya hai," (For the first time, it feels like you've changed) he said, his voice suddenly turning serious.

I chuckled softly, glancing at him. 

"Har insaan badalta hai, Ahaan. Zindagi ka hissa hai," (Everyone changes, Ahaan. It's a part of life) I said.

"Bas, shaadi ke baad tu mujhe mat bhool jaana," (Just don't forget about me after your wedding) Ahaan said with a grin as I pulled up to his apartment building.

"Tujhe kaise bhool sakta hu? Tera janaza toh main apne kandhe pe uthake le jaunga," (How could I forget you? I'll carry your funeral on my shoulders) I joked, getting out of the car to help him out.

Ahaan shook his head with a smile. "Tu waise hi drama kar raha hai, jese pehle kiya karta tha, jab woh thi teri zindagi mein." (You're still doing drama, just like you used to when she was in your life.)

"Shut up, Ahaan! Woh waqt guzar chuka hai. Ab mazi se sabak le, haal mein jee, aur mustaqbil mein khush rehne ki koshish kar." (Shut up, Ahaan! That time is gone. Learn from the past, live in the present, and try to be happy in the future.) I said, my voice stern but filled with a mix of exhaustion and resolve.

"irfaz... phir bhi..." (Irfaz... still...) he tried to state something, his voice softening as if he wanted to continue.

"Jab usse pyaar kiya tha tab yehi socha tha ki yeh hi hai jo mere saath rahegi, yeh hi hai jo mera hai... Usse maine hamesha... khud se zyada pyaar kiya, lekin woh mere pyaar ka value na samajh paayi, aur chali gayi... Aur ab, yeh meri life mein yeh aayi hai... to jab girlfriend thi tab maine itna kuch kiya, ye to wife hai, jo meri life hai... ab meri." 

(When I loved her, I thought she was the one who would stay with me, she was the one who was mine... I always loved her more than myself, but she couldn't value my love, and she left... And now, she has come into my life... So when she was my girlfriend, I did so much for her, now she is my wife, the one who is my life... now, mine.)

I paused, the weight of my words settling in. "Woh sab kuch tha, Ahaan. Ab main kuch aur hoon, aur jo ab mere saath hai, woh meri zindagi ka hissa hai. Samajh?" (That was all in the past, Ahaan. Now, I'm someone else, and the one who is with me now is a part of my life. Understand?)

Ahaan paused for a moment, his usual playful grin replaced by a more serious expression.

 "Samajh gaya, yaar. Tu badal gaya hai... Par yeh jo tu keh raha hai, usmein bohot kuch hai." (I understand, man. You've changed... But what you're saying, there's a lot in that.)

I could tell he wasn't just talking about the surface-level changes. Ahaan always had this way of seeing through things, even when I tried to hide my emotions.

"Ahaan, jab insaan dard se guzar ke aage badhta hai, to usse kuch seekhna padta hai. Mujhe uski uss waqt zarurat thi, aur ab, jo bhi hai, bas... " I said. (Ahaan, when a person goes through pain and moves forward, they need to learn something. I needed that at that time, and now, whatever it is, I just...)

"Yaar, tu jo keh raha hai na... yeh baatein..." (Man, what you're saying... these words...) he paused, as if searching for the right words.

Before he could continue, I interrupted, my voice a little more vulnerable than I'd intended.

 "Mujhe mohabbat hai Izel se." (I love Izel.) I confessed, my eyes meeting his, bracing for his reaction.

Ahaan blinked, clearly taken aback. For a moment, there was silence between us, the weight of my confession hanging in the air.

"Tu... Izel se?" (You... with Izel?) he asked, his voice softer, almost unsure, as if he were processing the sudden shift in everything.

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and uncertainty. 

"Haan, yeh sach hai. Pichle kuch dino mein... sab kuch badal gaya." (Yeah, it's true. In the past few days... everything has changed.)

Ahaan leaned back, taking a deep breath, clearly trying to wrap his head around it. 

"Izel se mohabbat... ye toh naya hai. Par agar tum sach mein usse pyaar karte ho, toh phir... tera saath dena toh mera farz hai." (Love for Izel... this is new. But if you really love her, then... supporting you is my duty.)

Ahaan's eyes softened, his expression shifting from playful to more reflective.

"Yaar, I never thought I'd hear you say this," Ahaan finally spoke, his voice quiet but full of meaning. "Izel... she's become more than just a part of your life, huh? She's your world now."

"Ahaan... Marjaunga agar usne kabhi chhod diya toh. Kabhi azma ne ki koshish bhi mat karna meri mohabbat uske liye." (Ahaan... I will die if she ever leaves me. Don't ever try to test my love for her.)

His face grew serious, his teasing nature vanishing completely. 

"Tu itna serious hai, aur main samajh raha hoon. Tu usse sach mein apni zindagi bana chuka hai, hai na?" (You're this serious, and I get it. You've really made her your life, haven't you?)

I nodded firmly, my gaze steady, despite the wave of emotions inside me.

------

there was a long silence between us. The car hummed softly as we drove through the city, the quietness somehow filling the space more than words ever could. It was as if the weight of the conversation had settled between us, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

Ahaan sat next to me, unusually quiet, his gaze out the window. I could tell he wasn't his usual playful self. Maybe he was reflecting on what I had said, or maybe just soaking in the change in the air.

Finally, we reached his apartment. The familiar tall building loomed ahead, and I slowed down as I pulled into the parking area.

Ahaan let out a dramatic sigh, but he was clearly relieved to be home. "Chal, mujhe thoda rest karne de. Tu apne ghar jaa, begum ka intezaar kar." (Come on, let me rest a bit. You go home and wait for your wife.)

"Chal, phir milte hain. Apna khayal rakhna." (Alright, see you later. Take care of yourself.) I said, pulling away.

" Begum ke saath time spend kar. Aur sun, next time Izel bhabhi ko bolna biryani bana ne ke liye." (Spend time with your wife. And by the way, tell Izel to make biryani next time.) he waved bye, his usual teasing smile on his face.

I couldn't help but chuckle as I drove away, the thought of Izel's cooking bringing a smile to my lips. Ahaan's drama aside, it felt good to know that, despite everything, he still had my back.

As I turned the car toward home, I felt a little lighter, ready to see my begum and start this new chapter, with all its highs and lows.

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TO BE COUINUE.......

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THODA THODA KRKE BOOK KE SECRETS REVEAL KR RHI HU IF U RE LIKING MY STORY LET ME KNOW. 

DUA MEIN YAAD RKHA MUJHE HEHEH (winter aagyi h toh thode se blessing dena ki mein bimar na pardu or ch update slow ho jye)

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