Love brought me closer to you, as if your aura surrounded me? We were childhood friends? companions in every journey, in every challenge. There was a girl, a student at one of the top universities in Islamabad - The Bahria University. She wasn't the most beautiful, but to the world, she appeared like a fairy. With her fair skin, shapely eyes, delicate pink lips, and long, silky hair, she truly looked like an enchantress. Her name was Hayat Shah, the only daughter of the Shah family. She was the apple of her family's eye, cherished like no other.
In the Shah household lived two brothers: Mubeen Shah, who had two sons - Hadi Shah, studying business abroad, and Sikander Shah, who was attending Bahria University. The other brother, Ahmed Shah, had only one daughter, Hayat, who was also at Bahria University, studying alongside Sikander, both pursuing business because their family was involved in it and expected them to take it over in the future.
Hayat was innocent, more so than the other girls, sensitive and soft-hearted - a trait she inherited from her family. She was always eager to help others, so much so that it was as if she had opened an Edhi Center. It was through this selfless attitude that she helped Sikander get admission into the university. They both liked each other, but neither their families nor they themselves ever confessed these feelings. Both were caught in the whirlpool of one-sided love.
As usual, they arrived at the university together. That day, their class had arranged a farewell party for Sikander's class. The department was brimming with excitement as if the entire world had gathered there. Everyone was busy, some taking selfies, others adjusting their makeup, or showing off their attitude with sunglasses. Sikander, seeing all this, laughed and said, "Wow, cousin, what a day." They met their friends, had fun, and then headed towards the party hall, which was beautifully decorated with balloons and flowers. It was a happy day, full of laughter and memories. Juniors gave their seniors farewell gifts, read heartfelt poems, shared jokes, pulled each other's legs, and captured these moments in pictures.
As the event neared its end, Hayat suddenly felt uneasy and stepped aside. She couldn't understand why her heart felt so heavy, like it was sinking. Just then, the crowd began chanting, "Sikander, sing a song!" Sikander hesitantly went up on stage to perform, but while singing, he looked around, searching for Hayat, who had quietly left the hall. He cut his song short and rushed out to find her. He looked everywhere until he reached the back of the hall, where he saw Hayat talking to their mutual friend, Ali, who was kneeling with a flower in his hand. Before Sikander could hear anything, he became furious. Without thinking, he ran over and started hitting Ali, yelling, "How dare you talk to my Hayat! She's mine, only Sikander Shah's. No one else has the right!" He was consumed by rage and jealousy, beating Ali senselessly.
Without giving Hayat a chance to explain, Sikander grabbed her hand and dragged her to the parking lot. He shoved her into his car and drove off at full speed. Hayat, terrified, pleaded with him to slow down, knowing well the wrath of Sikander Shah, a temper that even the Shah family feared. But Sikander ignored her pleas, driving faster until they were far from the city. Finally, he stopped the car, got out, and collapsed in front of it, clutching his head in his hands, trying to calm himself down. Hayat, scared, got out of the car and saw him crying - this lion of a man, with tears streaming down his face. She quickly went to him and asked, "Sikander, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Did something happen at home? Please tell me."
Sikander wiped his tears and yelled, "Why were you with Ali in the back area?"
"I didn't go there intentionally," Hayat stammered. "I felt suffocated in the hall, so I stepped outside. I didn't even realize Ali was behind me."
But Sikander wasn't ready to listen. "And then he came with flowers! On the last day of our time together, of all days! What does he want from you?"
Hayat, gathering courage, responded, "What's your problem with him giving me flowers? He's out of caste; it's not like anything would happen."
This ignited a fire in Sikander's chest. He grabbed Hayat by the shoulders and shouted, "You're not just Hayat; you're my life, my everything. You're my first and only love. I don't know if it's love or obsession, but whatever it is, it's all for you. Without you, I'm nothing. You're my world."
Hayat froze, stunned by his confession. Just then, Sikander's phone rang. It was his brother Hadi.
He composed himself and took the call, "Hello, my dear brother, how are you?"
Whatever he heard on the other end caused Sikander's expression to change. He gestured to Hayat to get back in the car, and they returned to Shah House at full speed.
When they arrived, the house was quiet, with all the lights off. Sikander turned on his phone's flashlight, and suddenly, all the lights came on. "Surprise! Surprise!" Hadi, back from London for good, stood in front of him. Sikander and Hayat's joy knew no bounds. The family was overjoyed, and the night passed in happiness. Sikander felt like it was the best day of his life, but little did he know, happiness never lasts forever.
Later that night, as they were all sitting together, Mubeen Shah turned to his brother Ahmed and asked, "So, when are you going to fulfill your promise? When will you give us what's ours?"
Ahmed's wife Naseem and Mubeen's wife Shahida were also there, as were both brothers, but Hayat had just stepped out to take a friend's call. Naseem replied, "Whenever you want, brother. Hayat is yours now and will always be." Sikander didn't quite understand what they were talking about until Mubeen Shah's next words hit him lIke a ton of bricks. "Brother, she's always been ours. But now I want to see my eldest son as a groom. When will Hayat stop calling him brother?"
Sikander felt his world collapse. Just that day, he had confessed his love for Hayat, but she hadn't even responded yet, and now fate had thrown this curveball at him. Unable to handle it, he excused himself, saying he needed to go to the washroom, but instead locked himself in his room, where the mighty lion broke down, crying like a child. Later, when he couldn't find peace in his tears, he went outside to the back area of the house, hoping the cold night air would soothe him. As he sat there, Hadi came out to join him.
"What are you doing here, Sikander?" Hadi asked, noticing his brother's distress.
"Nothing much, just needed some fresh air," Sikander replied, turning his face away.
Hadi sighed and said, "I was just thinking about Hayat. How will she react when she finds out? Does she even know I love her? I don't know. Maybe she loves someone else. But no, that can't be. She's my fianc?e. Our uncle promised her to me. I've spent my whole life dreaming about her. I've never looked at anyone else because I love her so much."
As Hadi rambled on about his love for Hayat, Sikander felt like the ground beneath him was giving way. Listening was more painful than anything he had ever experienced. His heart was breaking, but he masked it, simply telling Hadi, "It's late. You should get some rest."
Hadi nodded and went back inside, leaving Sikander in his despair. Sikander's mind was racing, but then he received a notification on his phone. It was from Hayat. "Hey, look up," the message said. When he looked up, there was Hayat standing by his window, holding a sign that read, "I love you too, Sikander. You are the king of my heart, and you always will be. You are my first and only love."
Sikander smiled faintly but turned away, walking back inside. Hayat couldn't understand his reaction, but there was nothing she could do.
Days passed, and Sikander, unable to bear his love for Hayat anymore, buried his feelings deep inside. The day of Hayat and Hadi's wedding arrived, and despite his breaking heart, Sikander attended. During the ceremony, he sat there, knowing he had lost the love of his life. Hayat, too, struggled to hide her emotions. She hated Sikander for making her go through this, but her heart still loved him. When the final marriage rites were completed, Sikander's world crumbled.
That night, he left the house at midnight, his whereabouts unknown. Later, at 1 a.m., Ahmed Shah received a call from an unknown number informing him that Sikander had been in a terrible car accident. The news hit the Shah house like a bomb. While everyone was celebrating Hadi and Hayat's union, Sikander had lost his life.
He was certainly an unknown to many, but for the one he loved, he was their entire world.
Sikandar had met with a car accident. This news hit the Shah household like a bombshell. Hadi and Hayat's happiness was still ahead, but now Sikandar's accident had occurred.
Ahmed Shah, stunned, shouted, "What happened to my son?" On the other end, a voice replied, "The accident was severe, and your son is no longer in this world." Hearing this, Ahmed Shah collapsed to the ground. His wife, Naseem, began asking questions but could only say,
"Sikandar, Sikandar," before fainting. She ran towards Hadi's room and began knocking. Inside, Hayat, dressed as a bride, sat trembling as Hadi had just entered the room. Naseem entered with the dreadful news, and Hadi rushed out, leaving everything behind. He revived his father and upon hearing the news, felt like the ground beneath him had disappeared.
Hayat, sitting nearby, didn't know how to react. She covered her face with her hands and went back into her room, sitting on the ground, crying, and throwing everything off. Sikandar's body had arrived at the Shah house. No one knew how the accident had happened, and for the time being, they didn't want any investigation. The accident had been horrific, and because of that, he was quickly buried.
One lover became a "Ranjha," lost in his grief. Another Ranjha lost his beloved Heer, and yet another Ranjha lost his life.
A few days after the burial, Hadi searched the car and found some strange things. A cigarette packet - Sikandar had never touched cigarettes before. A locket with "SK" inscribed inside a heart, and a white piece of paper with "I love you" written on it. There was another blank piece of paper. These were found in the car's inner compartment, which had somehow survived the wreck, otherwise, the car's condition was terrible. Hadi couldn't understand any of it.
He shared it with Hayat. "Hayat, Sikandar loved someone else." He was crying over his brother's love. Hayat was confused and asked, "What?" Hadi, sobbing, said, "Sikandar was in love with another girl. But something happened between them that night, and he took his own life. He did it all for her. I need to find out who she is, the girl who is still breathing after taking my brother's breath away. I will destroy her because she doesn't deserve to live." He had become obsessed, and seeing this madness, Hayat grew frightened. She knew, and she was blaming herself for what she had said to Sikandar before the wedding. His words echoed in her mind, "What have I done, Sikandar? Why did you do this?"
She was crying, unable to face Hadi. In her heart, she was talking to Sikandar, "Why didn't you tell me, Sikandar? You should have said it was all a joke. I married your brother, and that was the biggest mistake of my life, my sin. You could have stopped me, Sikandar, but instead, you became a disloyal lover and a loyal brother. But Sikandar, you did me so wrong. You should have told me. I would have told everyone, I would have told Hadi. Sikandar, why did you do this? You've left me unworthy of life. How will I live with this burden?"
She was having this inner conversation with herself, crying uncontrollably.
A month later, Hayat fell ill. She couldn't forget Sikandar's face from that last moment. In one month, she had become like a stranger to everyone. People couldn't recognize her anymore. Everyone asked Hadi, "What has happened that our daughter has become like this? A flower that has wilted before its time." She remained silent, locked in her room, trying to sleep, but sleep never came. All she could think of was Sikandar. Hadi had given her those items from the car, and every day she would look at them and cry, without anyone knowing. This had become her daily routine.
One morning, she had a nervous breakdown. A blood vessel in her brain burst, and she passed away, becoming beloved to Allah. She was reunited with her first and true love, Sikandar, and also with her Creator.
When love is true, life cannot be lived without the beloved. In love, it is not "I" but "we." Wherever the beloved goes, the lover follows.