Tough Decisions

I’ve made mistakes and made some choices, that’s hard to deny -End Game.

Humayun removed his glasses and looked up at Jalal, who stood with his head lowered before him. He frowned slightly. The boy was emotional and not thinking straight. Why would he want to give up his position in the company and give it to Rukaiya? Humayun respected Sultanam and treated Rukaiya as family. That didn’t mean he would readily hand over his company to her. He had seen her working well, but at the end of the day, Jalal was his son. Jalal cleared his throat. 

“Well, the only thing stopping her from getting a good groom is that she doesn’t own anything. That solves it. I will still have the property.”

“Son.” Humayun shook his head. “I get that you are emotional right now, but...”

“No, Baba, I have thought of it. I have never wanted to run the company. I don’t understand the world of business like you do, or she does. This is for the better.”

“Really? What will you do then?” Humayun rebuked his son. “Sell fruits?” Jalal smiled faintly.

“I told you that my passion was photography, and I want to pursue that as a career.”

“That is a hobby. It won’t feed you.” Humayun snapped. “You can do it in your free time.”

“No, Baba, I don’t want it as a hobby. I want to be a full-time photographer. Travel the world. Capture its essence. I don’t want the cubicles and meetings to suffocate my existence.”

“I will not allow you to do this.” Humayun shook his head. “The company position belongs to you.”

“And hence I can give it to whoever I want.” Jalal shrugged, “And if you oppose, I will give her my inheritance too and leave home to follow my dreams.” Humayun observed his son. He had never seen him being so determined and brave. Was it right to admire his stupidity? 

“I will think about it,” he reassured Jalal as Pratap arrived at the threshold to leave for the hospital. Jalal nodded gratefully and left with a faint smile.

“What was that?” Pratap asked as they stopped at the red signal, and he rested his hand on the steering wheel. “With uncle?”

“Just something I should have done a long time back.” Jalal shrugged.

“I will drop you off and take Shakti home… err… he needs to rest. Meanwhile, you can talk to Ajabdeh.” Pratap hoped his voice didn’t sound uncomfortable at his implication of giving the couple space. Jalal shook his head. “Take them both home; they both need to rest.”

“I thought you should talk to…” Pratap didn’t want to sound intrusive, but he also knew how Ajabdeh could calm broken hearts. Maybe she was what Jalal needed to ease out. Jalal was silent for a while before he spoke with a faint smile.

“We broke up…” Pratap’s heart made a funny leap as he sounded too casual about it. “I mean, it is not a break-up since it wasn’t technically a relationship, but we decided we aren’t working… For the better.”

“Why?” Pratap asked almost in a reflex and regretted it instantly, “I mean, I am sorry, I shouldn’t intrude.”

“You are my best friend, Pratap, and I am sorry I didn’t tell you anything sooner.” Jalal shook his head, “Maybe because I let everyone walk over me and I didn’t see what was right and wrong, what was before my eyes and look what it caused…”

“Rukaiya’s decision was not because of you. You need to stop blaming yourself.” Pratap reminded him firmly as they drove into the hospital premises. “You need to be there for her, and you can’t do it if you blame yourself.”

“Right.” Jalal agreed. “I am not thinking straight. Everything I never imagined is happening to me.”

“I know things are complicated… But if you need a friend to talk to…” Pratap sounded genuine as Jalal nodded. A silence followed as Pratap concentrated on parking the car, and they walked inside. 

Ajabdeh was allowed inside the room while Sultanam went out to get some coffee with Shakti, and she sat down in the eerie silence with the occasional beeping monitors, and Rukaiya appeared to be in a calm slumber. Her hands had saline pipes attached, and Ajabdeh gently walked up to the bed and held her hand on her own. 

“I am so sorry I wasn’t a good friend.” She whispered to the sleeping figure, teary-eyed. Her eyes instantly travelled to Rukaiya’s wrist, and she noticed marks of self-harm. Ajabdeh’s throat felt dry. She couldn’t remember one instance when Rukaiya didn’t seem happy and smiling. She was going through so much. Ajabdeh’s throat dried as the door opened and Sultanam walked in to inform her that Jalal was in the waiting area. It then struck Ajabdeh that nobody knew they parted ways. It wasn’t the right time to tell either, so she nodded gently and left them alone. The moment she saw Jalal and Pratap, she composed herself to say that she had spoken to the nurses, and they said Rukaiya was improving and she would have her senses back any time soon. Jalal smiled faintly at her tone and nodded, “I did it.”

“What?” She frowned slightly, clueless at him as he nodded, “I told Baba.” Ajabdeh’s eyebrows raised in surprise as her eyes sparkled in hope. “And?”

Pratap realised it was a private conversation he wasn’t a part of, and somehow felt odd to be the witness of it, and took two steps back to give them space as Jalal said, “It doesn’t matter what he says. I am doing it anyway.” 

“Oh, I am so proud of you.” Ajabdeh hugged Jalal as she reassured him, “Rukaiya will be happy too.”

“I know. I should go see her.” Jalal let go of the hug first as she nodded. “You should go home.” She agreed. “I also have to go back to the wedding.”

“I will keep you updated, and you can see her once she gets home,” he reassured her as Shakti walked up behind them and Jalal took their leave. Pratap observed them keenly, saying their goodbyes and wondered what went wrong. They seemed to be right together. He shook his head and reminded himself that it was not his role to overstep his boundaries between his best friend and… Pratap looked up at Ajabdeh, nodding to Shakti's words. Her. 

“I will drop you two off at home first. Then we can go back to the wedding in the evening. You need to sleep.” He looked at Shakti as he spoke and felt her glance at him. The car ride home was otherwise quiet and insignificant as they dropped Ajabdeh off at her gates and went home. Pratap had never seen Shakti or her so silent. 

It was in the evening when Shakti walked into Pratap’s room to see him getting ready to go back to the wedding for the cocktail party. He cleared his throat and sat down on the edge of the bed, making Pratap frown as he stared at his brother being restless through the reflection in the mirror where he was adjusting his hair.

“Do you want to say something?” He asked at last as his sibling looked up at him.

“Umm… Ajabdeh said… Bhaijaan and she…” He stopped, unsure of whether Pratap knew about them, as Pratap sighed. 

“I know, Jalal said they broke up.”

“Did he say why?” There was a sense of curiosity in Shakti’s voice as Pratap narrowed his eyes at his sibling and shook his head.

“You should stay away from people’s personal lives.” He suggested.

“I am just worried for her,” Shakti spoke genuinely. “She said he fell out of love with her. Is that even possible?” Pratap’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced over his shoulder at Shakti. That was the last reason he could imagine in his mind. Shakti was waiting for his answer. What would he tell his sibling? Was it possible to fall out of love? He had gotten over Samaira faster than he thought he would, and he assumed he had loved her. And then there was Ajabdeh. Did he ever forget her? Could he? But was it because he tried too hard? Pratap grunted at his thoughts involuntarily as he spoke to Shakti. 

“I don’t know, Shakti, I have never been in love. But you should stay away from other people…” he didn’t finish as Shakti strode off, shaking his head, implying that he didn't get the answer he was looking for from his sibling. Pratap knew his brother was going to Ajabdeh; there was no stopping him. In a way, Pratap was glad that he cared so much. At least Ajabdeh wasn’t alone. His phone rang as Jalal’s name flashed on it. He made his way downstairs to where Shakti was in a hurry to inform him that Rukaiya had regained consciousness and Jalal was there with her. She would be discharged soon.

Ajabdeh looked at herself in the mirror as she adjusted the Dupatta. She looked like a sleepless zombie and had no heart to go to the wedding. But she also knew her cousin would expect her there and that her parents and Heer would also want to know how Rukaiya was. She sighed and smiled at her reflection almost forcefully. A sudden thought crossed her mind, and she shuddered. Did Rukaiya also act happy like that all this while? She was so blind. The car honked outside her gates, and she knew she had to leave. She picked up her phone to find a text from Jalal. Relieved, she thanked God before stepping out of the house.