My star

Aslan

I stared through the opaque glass window at the beautiful night. The lights from the houses appeared as if stars descended down the sky and spread on the floor of the earth. I like to pass my handful time staring out of the window.

This gives me a delusion that some stars can even land on the earth. But it's only my delusion. I told you. Such things can never happen in reality. And those lights are just cheap bulbs like my life which could be replaced anytime.

There’s a saying that - Behind every successful man there is a woman. In my case it’s no different.

Today I'm one of the top ten businessman. The credit behind my success only goes to her. She is the star in my darkness. The star whom I watched every night afar from that bench.

My Zara.

My star.

People in the society gossips that she was born fortunate. The fate of her parents changed when she was born and mine the day, I met her. This sumptuous cabin, giant office, deluxe hotels, extravagant resorts and clubs , luxurious cars, opulent mansion and elegant bedroom, I earned everything only for her. I knew she was raised affluent and I want to give her more than what she had. I want to bestow everything on her feet to prove my love.

If she could feel how much I love her. She is the only woman I desired, craved and worshipped. She is my first love ever. After Allah, I prostrate my head only for her. But just like every time, she just stabs my heart. Every day and night I have to gulp down the glass of venom she offers me. And without any hesitation I do accept it. Because she is the only one who gave me shelter, rest of the world just disowned my presence.

Till that night everything was going fine. That night changed everything. Even our destiny... Sometimes I ponder over the fact why I met her that day.

That day she holds my hand and gave me a new life. From darkness to the light.

*Flashback *

I was returning back from my school. The sky was cloudy and the sun hides behind it. Maybe it doesn't want to be the witness of my misery.

From that day my heart slumped into the darkness. I was heading hotel like any other day. My parents left me behind when I was ten years old. My mother died of cholera disease and after six months my father died while returning back from work. My father was walking absentmindedly when a truck hit him from the back and his body laid on the road lifeless.

As my parents married despite being of different religions so, none of the family members bothered to join the funeral. And they never cared for me. Never worried how a small boy would survive in this brutal world. Nobody gave a fuck about my existence. From then on, I started earning my own bread working in a hotel. It wasn’t enough but I manged somehow.

The cloud roared and when I just crossed the Holy place it started drizzling. My steps grew faster in search of some shelter when all of a sudden it began pouring water heavily.

Already I was completely drenched but still I put my school bag over my head as a shield and started striding fast. I passed the St. Mathew school when my eyes spotted the bus stoppage. I rushed inside refuging shelter. I dropped the bag from my head and peered outside.

The rain dropped on the ground like some missile and started filling the soil. Suddenly I heard a soft sound. My head followed and to my left side was a chubby girl munching an apple.

On account of my exam, I didn't get time to prepare my breakfast and seeing her with an apple my stomach growled. The girl could feel my gaze because now her whole attention was on my physique. She was studying my appearance with keen interest before returning her gaze back on my face. Different kind of emotion covered her face. After a minute she passed me, her half-eaten apple. I peered at her with uncertainity but she was sure of what she was doing. Without wasting any further, I took and ate the last few bites. When I finished eating, I saw her watching me and smiled.

"You are hungry."

"Yes, I do."

"Here, have my tiffin also," she searched inside her bag and brought out and forwarded her tiffin. Once again I looked at her and back at the tiffin. She was unreasonably being very kind towards me.

"How is it? " She asked looking at my chewing face.

"Nice... Tasty." I said in between and she giggled.

"What happen? " I asked.

“Nothing " saying she shook her head in denial. Although she stopped giggling but there is a satisfied smile in her face. Time passed as i emptied the box and she watched me in content. When I returned back her tiffin box, she offered me her hanky.

Being a slum boy, I never felt its necessity. My shirt used to do the needful deeds but I didn't decline her offer instead I fully utilize it to rub my displayed face and hands. The hanky turned a bit brownish. Soon an expensive car stopped and a man in uniform walked out.

"Zara Beti, come, let’s go, what are you doing here. Don’t step out of the school gate." She stepped down from the bench and left with the man without taking her tiny piece of cloth.

Next day I was waiting outside her school to return her washed hanky. After the departure of few rich kids, she came out busy talking with a boy.

That rich lad left bidding her and she turned back. She gave a heart-warming smile and reached near me as soon as she saw.

"Are you hungry today? " The first thing she did was enquire about my tummy as soon as she reached near me. I smiled and shook my head declining.

"Your hanky. " I forwarded her hanky.

"Keep it... I have hundreds, " she said with her big doe like eyes. There is a constant smile in her face.

"Your mother doesn't give you tiffin?" She asked me out of nowhere.

"My parents are no more." I mumbled enough for her to hear. Her face appeared sad.

"Who cooks food for you?"

"I eat sometime in the hotel where I work." She looked thoughtful. She was about to say something when the same car stopped near us.

A man wearing sunglass stepped down. She turned and rushed towards the man. He crouched down and embrace her in his arms.

"You came!!" Surprise and happiness reflected in her voice.

"Yes, my princess, but why are you outside and who is that boy? I asked you not to talk with strangers. " She turned back to look at me and again looked back at the person.

"Dad, he is my friend. He has nobody. He has no food to eat. Please take him with us... Please daddy..." This time the man peered at me. Because of the sunglass I couldn't see his eyes.

"What's your name boy? " The man's authorative tone boomed and my mal-nutritioned body shook. In fear.

"As.... Aslan Wali." Hearing my name, the men lips curled into a smile and said, "lion. Protector."

Flashback ends –

The knock on the door halted down my memory.

"Yes, come in." I knew Fahad entered. To reach such position one must have sharp sense organs.

"Bhai, bad news, " his voice shows his hesitation and anxious.

Without turning back, I asked, “What?"

"Zara madam, she escaped and... " An evil smirk appeared on my face.

"And what? " I knew this was going to happen but after that what he said it shook my existence.

"Met with an accident. The guards found the car but she was nowhere. I got information that, Rihan sir took her hospital." This time my face hardened.

" Get the helicopter ready. Immediate! " My voice growled. Once I had let her go but not this time.

She is mine.

Only mine.

***********