translated by Qudrat khan
     
Mother is a great name of relation. The paradise is under her feet this is a mother who sacrifices her self for the children. But some time it also that children sacrifice themselves for mother this. Afsana was also sacrificed for her mother.

Its real that all mothers cant be same, some are not able for this stage. Afsana mother was also one of them. Who make her daughter in real dream because happiness was not in her luck?

Ahsan was my loving brother. Whose life was destroyed because he believed on shagufta aunty?

First I will tell that in these days my father had a fruit shop in very beautiful area. That when ever my brother Ahsan get free from the school then he was coming to this shop to help his father.

Where father has a fruit shop there was one colony in front of the shop. In this colony rich people were living.  Afsana’s father was an officer. Whose name was Ahsan khan? He was too good man. He was buying fruit and vegetables from my father shop. He was buying the things by borrow. Whenever his wife needed much fruit or vegetables then he was going to take it or he was sending the servant. Sometime his wife Shagufta with her daughter Afsana was coming to buy fruits and vegetables.

In these days Ahsan was studying in tenth class. My brother was handsome and healthy guy. And Allah has given very good attitude also with beauty .he was in real belonging to poor family but just because of his fashion he was not looking like poor. In real we were also not that much poor, my father was selling vegetables but he had his own shop, which was too big.

Our house was on the top flour. And father has made three shops in the basement. He was taking fare from two shops. And in third shop he had opened for the vegetables that was too good and we were getting enough amount from that. We were five brothers and sisters. And on these days we all were studying that’s why we needed a lot of money for running the home.

Just because of what I said that we have a poor family because we were not competing the Ahsan khan. My father had don’t till inter and all family member were also not that much educated all were doing small works but Ahsan khan was an officer and his family structure was also better then us. Why I am telling all of this, that you will know a head.

Father was taking care of this customer and giving fresh vegetables to him.

Afsana was in eighth class on these days. She was like her father in attitude. She was sometime coming to take vegetables from the shop. Because she was going to school at morning time. She was coming with her servant or with her driver and always she was laughing, at night my brother was at shop, he was talking with this girl. Ahsan was also respecting her.

One day when Ahsan was on work. My cousin Abdul went to shop and he sat on his place, father was taking rest for sometime at home so he was coming to home at five or six O clock for taking rest.

On the day when Abdul was in the shop on the same day Afsana came to take vegetables and fruits from the shop and when she came there she asked a question to Abdul that why you are here today? Where is Ahsan?

Abdul said that he is sick that’s why today I am here in place of him

When Afsana heard this she become upset and tears came in her eyes she was that much upset that she forget to take vegetables and fruits. My cousin was too surprised on this reaction of Afsana, when he came to home that who was that girl . When she heard about the illness of Ahsan and she become upset? When brother came then we told and asked him that what relation do you have with this girl? That Abdul said in joking that he is sick and she started weaping ?

I swear that I don’t have any relation with her. She some time comes to buy fruits and vegetables and enough.so we accepted Ahsan reaction. And we know that there is nothing else except that.

So on the other day when Ahsan was going to school on the same time she was also going to school. in the way she said to Ahsan that yesterday you were not in the shop we heard that you are sick?

No I am not ……if I was ill then how I am going to school? I am feeling well. Your cousin told the same thing to me that you were feeling ill. He was just joking because you asked about me that am why.

Thanks to God … then Afsana was happy. Said that just because of you I haven’t slept last night and I was praying whole night to God that he give you soon good health. Please tell to your cousin that he shouldn’t commit such kind of joke. She said that and she went to school.

Ahsan became to surprised that why she is praying for me what relation she has with me? Its that my brother was handsome his face was like rose, straight guy healthy and wise he was that much attractive that God give such kind of personality to very less people. Afsana was also not bad looking but she was amazed by my brother personality. It’s also that my brother attitude was great and he was innocent guy and he was not looking to any girl by bad thinking and he was saying that it is sin.

Some days passed then one day Ahsan came to the shop and said. Ahsan mother always talks about you and she said that today you would come to our home. Ahsan thought that she is just telling allies then he said that father went to the city to bring fruits and vegetables and I am alone here that’s why I cant come to meet your mother. She went without saying anything.

After some days again she came to the shop and said that I had said about chakoo have you brought or not? That’s not the season after some days I will bring father answered and she said its ok no problem but our electricity is damaged. My father said that please send to Ahsan. He will be with electration.

Father said. Daughter! Why you haven’t said to Ahsan yesterday. Now he will come at night. Uncle!  She said. I told to him yesterday. But he was not agreeing to come our home with me. When you will say to him then he will come. Ok. I will tell. Father answered. Then father compel Ahsan to go their home so Ahsan went there. Two three time before also he went their home for taking their vegetables and fruits. When he went to there home then in the loan she meet with him and said that I was joking. Our home electricity is not damaged but neither we have called any electration but mother was missing you too much. Then brother said that Afsana please don’t tell alie to me and I will not come again to your home and I am not free with aunty I can’t talk with her.

Just because of that talking Afsana become upset and she started weaping. And said that just because of me (she swear) then he was compels and he went inside their home.

Aunty shagufta was pleased to see Ahsan. The same like she was waiting for Ahsan that when Ahsan will come to home.

She brought the tea and said that you are a good guy you have to take admission in college and if you passed the F.SC with highest marks then I will take your admission in engineering college. Just work hard and never leave studying. One day will come when you will be an officer.

Some time they talked then Ahsan said that aunty I have to go home then aunty said that please stay here and please have a dinner with us and then you may go. And he said that I have to go now because I said to my cousin that I will come soon and then I will close the shop ok just close the shop and then come then we will take dinner together.

No aunty its our duty that we serve you because you came new to our colony and its our duty to serve its our duty to serve you then aunty said that no its ok! Ahsan. We all are Pakistani. We all are one nation that’s why no1 is else for the other one for us all cities are one. Your uncle transfers some time and sometime where ok you go and close the shop and come ok.

And then on the same day Ahsan closed the shop early and he went to home to put the keys and at eight O clocks again he went to Afsana’s home. And just because of his coming again to her home she becomes so pleased. Her mother has made delicious food.

Mother, daughter took meal with Ahsan because uncle was in the other city just because of work so that he was not at home.

When Ahsan said for going then aunty said that please stay here with us because our servant is on holiday and driver is also with your uncle there is no male at home we are alone.

Aunty I haven’t taken permission from home that’s why I am sorry at home all family members will be upset about me. She said that ok go to home and take permission and then come so brother was compels and he come out then Afsana was also with her and requested that please take permission and you have to come must ok. Because we are alone.

So Ahsan came and he told father about this story and he said that son! It’s ok no matter if aunty says that if she is saying that you have to stay there because they may feel dread.

Father gave permission just because of Ahsan khan because he was respecting too much of him. When brother came afsana become too much happy, as she was keen too see him. Aunty was also satisfied. After doing some chit chat aunty gave him guest room to sleep and they also went to their room for sleeping. They woke early in the morning because he was going to school. After coming from school he went to shop. On that time father was also in the shop. At night five o clock Afsana came to shop. She takes fruits and vegetables from the father and came toward Ahsan and put one letter in front of him. Brother hide this letter from father but he was surprised that why this girl is doing that? Because she belong to high family and she is the daughter of an officer but we are selling fruits. We were not that much educated that we can thing same to them.

When Ahsan came to home he opened the letter. It was written that. Ahsan! I like you and I want to marry you its not even my decision it’s the decision of my family member. Whenever I remember you I become sad I wish that I had to see the same time. And I talk you but I am compel that I cant do that I cant come everyday to your shop so that just by saying anything you come to our home . when my mother see my conditions she also say that don’t be worry you will marry with him . But God knows better that when that lucky day will be when we will live whole life together ……just your Afsana … after reading the letter my brother was sad, he told to me to read the letter and said – jawadah! What should I do? Whenever I meet them I become surprised I think I am in ahsas kamtarie. I don’t think that I am same to them is it possible that I will marry there?

I told. Brother! It’s real that she is a good girl. She is beautiful she is educated any belong to good family. If her parents are agreeing then why our parents will not be agree.

If this relation was accepted by God did not accept Afsana parents and my parents but it. And in front of God human being cant do anything. So after some days just because of fruits and vegetables Ahsan went to their home and I was also with him.

Afsana was doing schoolwork. When she hears the voice of my brother she stand and ran to welcome us. Her mother also came to the door and she takes us to inside the home. Her mother brought tea and Afsana said. Ahsan! I can’t understand this lesson. Then Ahsan went to understand that paragraph that she was not able to understand.

At the same time Ahsan came and he also meet with my brother and become happy and said that be sincere with your studies inshallah you will be success and the day will come that you will be a big gun ok carry on your studies.

Now Afsana came to shop alone. After five o clock when my father comes to home she was coming to take fruit and vegetables. In the colony where she was living. There was the distance of one road between the shop and that colony. So it may take five minutes to come from her home to the shop.

Ahsan told to her that doesn’t come alone everyday. People are looking then what they will think when you come again and again and you talk with me people are judging that.

I want to marry you so I don’t care anyone she said.

Afsana its life. I belong to the poor family and there is big difference between your status and mine. Look that even our life style is different by being that much difference how can we be having a success life?

By saying of this she become upset and said. When my mother is agreed then understands that my father is also agreed. Just you get good marks in inter and take admission in college. Then everything will be ok. Because I am their one daughter when they will not agree with me then they will agree with whom?

So that the days passed Ahsan passed the inter level and took admission in college he was going to Afsana home by saying of aunty. He was taking care of him and talking beautifully with him and she was saying again and again that don’t leave the studies and you will be a big man because we don’t look to cast we look to boy’s attitude.

So that three years passed then one day Afsana told to him that his father job transfer to pindi. This made my sad and I asked aunty that you people are going to pindi is it real? Yes. She said. Then she told to Ahsan that don’t be worry we will be in contact with you. You must come to pindi. She gave the address of that home. When that day arrived when they took their goods when she saw his Afsana was weeping and cant tolerate and parents were saying to her that why you are weeping. Pindi is a good city you will be happy there you will make friendship with new friends. Aunty was saying again and again to my brother that you must come to pindi.

After twenty days Afsana letter came she has written to Ahsan to come pindi so he went to pindi …… on the same time she came from the school when she saw Ahsan she become pleased aunty made the meal and all sit to eat but he didn’t meet with uncle because he was on trip to the other area.

Ahsan stayed their one night and one day and after that he came. When he was coming Afsana gave phone number to him and take promised that he will call. For some days my brother was also sad. One day he become brave and he called to the number, which Afsana had given to him so she was weeping? She said that my father was died because of heart attack and he died before one week

This was really sad news. Father was not able to leave the shop to go. So he sent Ahsan to say sorry from our side so that they were also calling my brother too much. He went and said sorry. He went at morning and came back at night. After two months Ahsan again went to there home he meet with aunty. She offered good dishes to him and they talked some time they were talking about uncle. In the last Ahsan asked that where is Afsana? She answered that she has gone to grandma so he called to her and she talked with Ahsan. She was sorry that you come so late to our home why you haven’t asked about our health?

You have come now and she said that I am sorry not to meet you as like she was weeping.

Ahsan off the phone and said to aunty Shagufta. Aunty I think Afsan was weeping. She said don’t say to me aunty. I am not that much old. When I go marry at that time my age was sixteen. Now my age is thirty-two and in this age woman is not aunty.

When he heard this he was quite. Now he was not able to stay there because she was not there for whom he went to pindi. When he was going to say good-bye to aunty so aunty caught his hand and laughed and said.

I saw you after that much time if Afsana is not here then so what I am here she was talking in that style so he become surprised. Such kind of things comes in human life that he/she can never forget.

Such kind of time was that when Ahsan thought that to run from the home will be better for him he was missing Afsana talking and thoughts. When she said at last that Ahsan you have to come must … so after that my brother said good-bye forever.

And he decided that he will never come again to their home but there was something in heart wishes that if once I meet to Afsana. God listened. He went because o something to pindi then he went toward their home in the way he meet to Afsana she said to come home then Ahsan denied and. She asked the reason. He said that first daughter like some one then if her mother likes him so will any one will go to that home?

Ahsan told the whole story to Afsana and said that I can’t go to your home and so that I cant never meet you again. So you forget that we had promised to marry. Because now your mother need to marry first she find husband for her life and then she will think about you.

When she heard this she started weeping she caught his hand and said goodbye last time. Her tears were going to dropped on the hands of Ahsan 

After two months Ahsan went to pindi because of some work so he went toward Afsana home. He was standing in that street and looking to the home of Afsana at that time his brother came out from the home. Ahsan asked that where is Afsana? So…

He came from the Iran at that time he had taken a gift for her which he brought from the Iran for her and he was happy that he must will meet with her but her brother said that she died one week before how? ……. Ahsan said. I don’t know she had taken poison she was saying to mother that you are a bad woman and I don’t want to live.

When he heard he was not able to tolerate. He didn’t believe on that but that small guy was telling the truth.

Ahsan didn’t go inside the home. He gave that gift to me, which he brought for Afsana and said in angry mode. My sister! You liked Afsana you want her that she must be your brother wife but God was not agree. So that before full fill your desire she has died.

After that brother left studying. And he went to foreign country by his friend help.  I don’t know for making his life good or just to forget afsana . That God knows better. He was sending the money after six months to home. He was not coming. And we are thirsty to see him…